'$££& YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 't,> 3 9002 07100 6473 YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 1945 JOHNSON BRIGIIAM State Librarian of Iowa and Author of the New History of Des Moines and Tolk County DES MOINES The Pioneer of Municipal Progress and Reform of the Middle West TOGETHER WITH THE HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA The Largest, Most Populous and Most Prosperous County in the State of Iowa By JOHNSON BRIGHAM STATE LIBRARIAN OF IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME I CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 191J 0153 • CONTENTS PAGE Introduction xv BOOK I The Des Moines River part I From Marquette and Joliet to Captain Allen — 1673- 1843 Chapter I The Discoverers of the Des Moines River and the Origin of the name Des Moines 3, 4 Chapter II The Des Moines Traversed by Faribault — 1800-1803.. 5 Chapter III The First White Man since 1803 to Penetrate the Des Moines Valley to Raccoon Forks 6, 7 Chapter IV Lieut. Albert Lea's Explorations in the • Upper Des Moines Region 8, 9 Chapter V Colonel Kearny Reports Adversely on "The Forks" as a Site for a Fort 10, 1 1 Chapter VI Colonel Croghan Examines "The Forks" and Reports Favorably 12, 13 Chapter VII Side Lights Thrown on the Picture by a Son of Daniel Boone, also by General Parrott 14, 1 5 Chapter VIII Lieutenant Fremont Explores the Upper Des Moines to "Rackoon Forks" and Reports 16-18 Chapter IX Conditions Leading Down to the Founding of Fort Des Moines — Captain Allen Views and Reports 19-24 Chapter X The Red Men of the Des Moines Valley — The Treaty of 1842 25, 26 part ii Government's Costly Attempt to Make the Des Moines Navigable Chapter I The Navigation of the Des Moines — The Inception of the Plan — The State's Initiative — The Generous Re sponse of Congress 29S~~ Chapter II The Work in Progress — The Happening of the Unex pected 32-34 Chapter III New Complications 35 Chapter IV Looking to the General Assembly and to Congress for Relief 36 Chapter V Legislators Take a Hand in the Game of Cross Purposes 37-39 Chapter VI The Governors Urge Action 40 Chapter VII The End at Last ! 41 v vi CONTENTS BOOK II Fort Des Moines — From Garrison Town to Capital City — 1843-1857 Introduction: The Marked Individuality of Local History in Iowa.... 45 Chapter I The Founding of Fort Des Moines 47"49 Chapter II Garrison Life in Fort Des Moines — 1843-46 5»54 Chapter III Captain Allen Explores the Upper Des Moines Valley above Fort Des Moines 55-57 Chapter IV From Garrison to Frontier Village — History and Rem iniscence 58-65 Chapter V Pioneer Newspapering in Fort Des Moines 66-81 The Fort Des Moines Star — The Fort Des Moines Gazette — The Iowa State Journal — Fort Des Moines Journalism from '54 to '58 Chapter VI Frontier Town Life, as Reflected in the Newspapers of the Period 82-90 Chapter VII "Uncle Billy" Moore and Pioneer Merchandising in Fort Des Moines 91-94 Chapter VIII The Hegira of Forty-Niners and Mormons 95"97 Chapter IX Fort Des Moines' Varied Experience as the "Head of Navigation" 98-105 Chapter X The Part of Fort Des Moines in the Iowa Movement for Railroads 106-111 Chapter XI School Life in Fort Des Moines, 1846-57 112, 113 Chapter XII Looking Backward on Fort Des Moines in the Fifties. 114-1 17 Chapter XIII The Stage-Coach and Fort Des Moines 118-121 A Typical Stage-Driver — The Man behind the Box Chapter XIV The Medical Profession in Fort Des Moines 122-125 Chapter XV The Pioneer Courts of Fort Des Moines 126-130 Chapter XVI The Bar of Fort Des Moines 131-133 Chapter XVII The Long Campaign for the Removal of the State Capital — 1847-1857 134-142 Chapter XVIII The Question of Removal Reopened in the Constitu tional Convention of '57 143-146 Chapter XIX The Actual Removal of the Capitol 147-149 BOOK III From an Obscure Western Capital to the Foremost City in the Twentieth Century Movement for Municipal Reform part 1 the capital city before the war — 1857-1860 Chapter I The Reorganized Capital City — A Forerunner of the Commission-Governed City of Today I53-TS5 Chapter II The City Started on Borrowed Capital 156, 157 Chapter III The First General Assembly in Des Moines — Capitol and Capital City Come Together 158-163 Chapter IV Business and Professional Life in the Capital City in '58 164, 165 Chapter V A Nearer View of Life in Des Moines in the Late Fifties 166-173 "Peaceable Secession" — East Side vs. West Side CONTENTS vii Chapter VI The Capitol Location Scandal — Charges of Graft in the Location of the Capitol 174-178 Chapter VII Capitol and Capital City in i860 — Premonitions of the Coming Conflict 179-182 PART 11 The Heroic Period of Des Moines History — 1861-1865 Chapter I The Great Uprising in '61 185-193 Chapter II Des Moines and the Second Year of the War — Donel- son, Pea Ridge and Shiloh 194-214 Major Byers' Vivid Picture of the Second Iowa at Donelson — A Flower Episode in a Year of Tumult Chapter III The Third Year of the War — 1863 215-219 Chapter IV The Last Full Year of the War — 1864 220-228 The Last Great Uprising — An Episode of the War: Des Moines Women at the Front Chapter V The Closing Scenes — The Glad and Sad Home-Coming — The Return of Peace, 1865 229-238 From Heights of Joy to Depths of Gloom — Death of General Crocker — General Sherman the City's Guest PART III The City's Reconstruction on a Peace Basis — 1866-1869 Chapter I Advent of the First Railroad in Des Moines — Events of 1866 241-244 At Last — the Whistle of the Locomotive! Chapter II Business in Des Moines in 1866-67 245-248 Chapter III A Second Great Hope Realized — The Rock Island Enters Des Moines — Events of 1867 249-251 Chapter IV 1868 — The City's First Street Railway — Events of 1868.252-254 Chapter V A Brilliant Social Event — A Million and a Half Added to the Material Wealth of the City in '69 255-257 PART IV Four Decades of Progress: Annals of a Growing City — Its Events and Occurrences — Its Failures and Successes — 1870-1909 Chapter I The First Decade of Progress 261-287 1870: The Year of the Grand Reunion — Grand Re union of Iowa Veterans — 1871 : The Year "Winter- set" was "Annexed" — Business in Des Moines at the Beginning of 1871-1872: The Year Allison De feated Harlan — 1873 : The Year the Mexican War Veterans Held a Reunion — 1874: The Year of B. F. Allen's Ill-Fated Change of Base— Terrace Hill — The Attack on Kasson — The Lynching of Howard — 1875 : The Year Grant Came to Des Moines — General Grant's Welcome in Des Moines : His Famous Speech — Kasson Turns on His Accusers — 1876: The Centennial Year in Des Moines — 1877: The Year the Old Des Moines Hotel was Pulled Down — 1878 : The Year the Old Savery was Closed — 1879: The Year of Kasson's Return from Vienna, etc. viii CONTENTS Chapter II Second Decade of Progress 288-316 1880: The Beginning of the Building Boom in Des Moines — Des Moines and the Glasgow Plan — 1881 : The Year Garfield was Assassinated — The Last of Captain Allen's Men — 1882: The Year of the Amendment Campaign — The Close of the Amend ment Campaign — 1883 : The Year of Party Protest Against the Defeat of Prohibition — Prohibition in Politics — 1884: The Year the Northwestern En tered Des Moines — 1885 : The Year the New Capi tol was Dedicated — The Fair Ground Permanently Located at Last — 1886: The Year of the Street Railway War — 1887: The Year of Reaction Against Enforcement — An Enforcement, Murder and Its Consequence — 1888: The Year Street Cars Were Electrified— 1889: The Year the "Greater Des Moines" Movement was Born, etc. Chapter III The Third Decade of Progress 317-364 1890: 'The Year North Des Moines was Annexed — A Patriarch Removed by Death — 1891 : The Year the New Kirkwood Opened — 1892 : The Year of Des Moines' Commitment to Public Parks — Parks for the Public — 1893 : The Year of Waterworks Agitation — 1894: The Year Kelly's Army Took Des Moines — Battle-Flag Da)' — Then Came "Kelly's Army" — The Scotch-Irish in Des Moines — Battle- Flag Day — 1895 : The Year Mercy Hospital Opened — 1896: The Year of Des Moines' Semi centennial — "Devisive Strife" — Des Moines' Semi centennial — 1897: Year of Waterworks Reorgan ization Agitation — Waterworks Complications — The Woman Suffragists in Des Moines — 1898: The Year of the War with Spain — Des Moines' Famous Parks — Des Moines and the Spanish-American War — "High Carnival" — 1899: The Return of the 51st from Manila, etc. — The Fifty-first Iowa Welcomed Home Chapter IV Fourth Decade of Progress 365-412 1900 : The Twentieth Century Well Begun — A Half- Century of Odd Fellowship — Congress of Mothers — A Gloomy Fourth of July — A Great National Gathering — After All, on 'the Old Site! — Des Moines as it Looked to J. S. Clarkson in 1900 — 1901 : A Year of Many Deaths Among Pioneers — The City's Parks in 1901 — The Builder of the Capitol — 1902 : In Which a Des Moines Man Be comes Governor — A Man of Large Constructive Ability — The Folly of Party Politics in Municipal Affairs — Again the Bugle-Call — The Register Ab sorbs the Leader — The Odd Fellows of the Country in Des Moines — 1903: The Year Roosevelt Cap tured Des Moines — Still Higher High-Water Mark ! — Three Prominent Iowans Pass Away — 1904: The Year of the State House Fire — The Congregational ists of the Country Convene in Des Moines — 1905 : The Year the Methodist Hospital was Put Upon Its Feet Financially — 1906: The Year the Municipal CONTENTS ix Reform Movement Megan — The Presbyterian Gen eral .Assembly in Des Moines — 1906 Compared with 1905 — 1907: The Year that Made Des Moines Famous — Jefferson S. Polk's Dream of ITeaven — 1908: The Year the Des Moines Plan went into Operation — The First Local Campaign under the Des Moines Plan — "Seein' the Wheels Go Round" — Senator Allison's Successor Chosen — Death of P. M. Casady — Candidate Taft Given a Royal Re ception — 1909 : The Eventful Last Year of Our "Four Decades of Progress" — Senator Cummins' Triumphal Return — General Grant Number Two — Death of Isaac Brandt — President Taft Visits Des Moines — The Great Tournament of 1909 — A Year of Unusual Progress and Promise, etc. Chapter Chapter II PART V Schools and Colleges The Schools of Des Moines 415-423 West Des Moines, 1858-1911 — East Des Moines, 1858- 191 1 — North Des Moines — Capital Park — The Con solidated Schools of Des Moines Des Moines' Higher Institutions of Learning 424-434 Des Moines College, 1864-1911 — Drake University, 1881-191 1— Highland Park College, 1889-1911 — Grand View College and Theological Seminary, 1895-1911 Chapter I Chapter 11 Chapter 111 Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X Chapter XI Chapter Xll PART VI Pioneer Churches and their Successors The Methodist Church 437-440 The Congregational Church 441-445 The Presbyterian Church 446-450 The Baptist Church 451, 452 The Catholic Church 453~457 St. Ambrose St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church 458, 459 The Episcopal Church 460-462 The Central Church of Christ 463-465 The United Presbyterian Church 466-468 The Jewish Congregations 469, 470 The First Unitarian Church 471, 472 The Christian Science Church 473 PART VII The Learned Professions 1. the law Chapter I Bench and Bar of Des Moines 477 Chapter II The Law Schools of Des Moines — Iowa's Pioneer Law School 478-481 Des Moines' Second Law School x CONTENTS Chapter III The Pioneer Law Journal and the Pioneer State Bar Association of Iowa 482-488 Chapter IV The Des Moines Bar Association — 1885-1911 489"499 A Well-Intended Non-Partisan Movement — Law Re forms Proposed — After a Lapse of Nearly Twelve Years — Jury Reform Chapter V Incidents and Events in the History of the Bench and Bar of Des Moines 500-504 II. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION Chapter I Meetings of the Iowa State Medical Society in Des Moines 505-508 Chapter II Des Moines and the Medical Profession 509-512 Chapter III The Reorganized Polk County Medical Society and Other Organizations 5*3 part viii The City's Insurance Interests Chapter I Des Moines an Insurance Center — The Local Companies. 517-520 Life : Level Premium Companies — Assessment Life Associations — Assessment Accident Companies — Fraternal Beneficiary Societies — Eire Insurance Companies : Stock and Mutual — County Assess ment Associations, Fire — Casualty — State Mutuals — Exclusive Tornado — Exclusive Hail Chapter II Local Field Notes 521-523 PART IX Banks and Bankers Chapter I Pioneer Banks and Bankers and Their Successors 527-540 The Des Moines Branch of the State Bank of Iowa — The B. F. Allen Failure — Banking in Des Moines in '78 — The Failure and Reorganization of the Ger man Savings — The Des Moines Clearing House Chapter II Des Moines and the Iowa State Bankers' Association. .541-543 Chapter III The Bankers' Club 544, 545 PART X Journalism — 1857-191 1 Chapter I Journalism and Journalists 549-560 PART XI Prominent Clubs, etc Chapter I The Grant Club — A Club with a History 563-579 The Prairie Club — "The Octogenarians" — The Des Moines Pioneer Club — The Iowa Press and Au thors' Club — "The Hyperion" — The Commercial Club — The Greater Des Moines Committee — The East Des Moines Commercial Club — The Golf and Country Club — University Club — The New Des Moines Club— The Library Club— The Press Club —The Des Moines Admen's Club — The Des Moines Real Estate Exchange — The Des Moines Women's Club— The "P. E. O." Sisterhood— "The Greeks" CONTENTS xi — The Professional Women's League — Women's Club Galore Chapter II Patriotic Orders 580-583 Kinsman Post, Xo. 7, G. A. R. — Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R. — Kinsman Woman's Relief Corps — Crocker Corps, Woman's Relief Corps — The Loyal Legion, Commandery of Iowa — Abigail Adams Chapter, D. A. R.— Beacon Hill Chapter, D. A. R. Chapter III Prominent Institutions 584-587 The Cumming School of Art— Y. W. C. A.— Y. M. C. A. — Capital City Commercial College — Business Women's Home — Home for Friendless Children — Anti-Tuberculosis League — The Home for the Aged — The Public Library — Des Moines' Conservatories of Music PART xii Past and Present Chapter I Story of the New Capitol 591-596 The Long Fight for the New Capitol Building — 1868- 1872 Chapter II The Laying of the Corner-stone in '71 597"599 Chapter III The Army Post — The Third Fort Des Moines 600-602 Chapter IV Present Status of the Public Utilities Corporations and the City of Des A [oines 603, 604 Chapter V Evolution of Des Moines' Railroad System 605-610 The Old "Des Moines Valley"— The Rock Island : The Mississippi & Missouri — The Des Moines, Indianola & Missouri- — The Des Moines, Winterset & South ern—The D. M., I. F. & N.— The Minneapolis & St. Louis — The Northwestern — The Burlington — The Milwaukee — The Des Moines Northern & Western — The Des Moines, Adel & Western — Des Moines Northwestern Railway — Des Moines North ern and Western — The Great Western — The Des Moines Union Des Moines' Evolution Measured by Figures 611, 612 "The Des Moines Plan :" Its Genesis and Exodus — Its Significance — Its Operation 613-619 The Plan in Outline and in Operation — Organization after Election Former Methods of Financing the City Compared with Present Methods 620-622 The Twentieth Century Movement for the Navigation of the Des Moines 623, 624 Recent Events and Occurrences — 1910 625-629 The Second Election under the Des Moines' Plan — ¦ The Xew Municipal Building Chapter XI Recent Events and Occurrences — 191 1 630-635 Unexpected Benefactions — A Market-place at Last — A Vanishing Landmark Chapter XII The Des Moines of Today 636-638 Enormous Increase in Postal Receipts — Des Moines' High Standing Among the Chief Cities of the Country Chapter XIII The Des Moines of Tomorrow. 639 Chapter Chapter VI VII Chapter VIII Chapter IX Chapter X xii CONTENTS BOOK IV Polk County part I From an Indian Reservation to First Place Among the Counties of Iowa — 1846-1911 allen beaver bloomfield — camp clay crocker delaware des moines douglas elkhart four mile franklin jefferson lee lincoln madison saylor valley walnut washington webster Chapter I Polk County Geologically 643-647 Chapter II Polk County's Evolution Geographically 648-650 Chapter III Polk County in 1846 651, 652 Chapter IV The First Deed of Record in Polk County 653, 654 Chapter V Polk County Votes against the Constitution of '46. .. .655, 656 Chapter VI Polk County's "First Families" 657-660 Chapter VII The First General Election Held in Polk County 661 Chapter VIII A Study in Local Self-Government — The Part Taken by Polk County Pioneers in a Socialistic Movement in Defense of Their Homes 662-667 Chapter IX "All Roads Lead to Polk" 668-670 Chapter X Sawmills in Polk in 1850 671, 672 Chapter XI The Rivers and Creeks of Polk 673, 674 Chapter XII The Watercourses of Polk So Many Gateways to Future Settlements 675-679 Chapter XIII Polk County Fairs and the State Fair 680-682 Chapter XIV Polk County's Representation in Iowa Legislature — 1846-1912 683-685 Chapter XV Polk County's Prominence in State and Congressional Politics 686-688 Chapter XVI The Early Settlers' Association of Polk County — 1868- 191 1 689-695 Chapter XVII Minor Civic Centers of Polk County 696-699 Valley Junction, Valley Township — Mitchellville, Beaver Township — Grimes, Jefferson and Webster Townships — Ankeny, Crocker Township — Altoona, Clay Township — Runnells, Camp Township — Polk City, Madison Township — Bondurant, Franklin and Douglas Townships — Sheldahl, Lincoln and Madi son Townships — Elkhart, Elkhart Township PART 11 The County's War Record Chapter I Polk County's War Record 703-722 First Infantry — Second Infantry — Third Infantry — Fourth Infantry — Fifth Infantry — Tenth Infantry — Thirteenth Infantry — Fourteenth Infantry — Fif teenth Infantry — Sixteenth Infantry — Seventeenth Infantry — Eighteenth Infantry — Twenty- third In fantry — Thirty-second Infantry — Thirty-third In fantry — Thirty-fourth Infantry — Thirty-sixth In fantry — Thirty-ninth Infantry — Forty-first Infantry — First Cavalry — Second Cavalry — Third Cavalry — Fourth Cavalry — Fifth Cavalry — Sixth Cavalry CONTENTS xiii — First Battery Iowa Light Artillery — Second Bat tery Iowa Light Artillery — Dodge's Brigade Band — Seventh Cavalry — Eighth Cavalry — Ninth Cav alry — First Iowa Infantry (African Descent) — Second Cavalry — First Battery — Field and Line Officers from Polk County Chapter II Polk County's Contribution to Iowa's Roll of Honor in the Spanish-American War 723-727 Forty-ninth Regiment — Fiftieth Regiment — Fifty-first Iowa Infantry — Fifty-second Iowa Infantry — Fifth Battery Iowa Light Artillery — Sixth Battery Iowa Light Artillery — Volunteer U. S. Signal Corps — Seventh U. S. Infantry Volunteer Immunes part iii The County's Evolution — 1850-1910 Polk County's Evolution — 1850 to 1910 731, 732 Polk County in i860 733, 734 Polk County in 1870 735-737 Polk County in 1880 738-740 Polk County in 1890 741 Polk County in 1900 742-744 Polk County in 1910 745, 746 Chapter I Chapter II Chapter ill Chapter IV Chapter V Chapter VI Chapter Vll INTRODUCTION The early history of Iowa is essentially sectional and in a large measure local. Sectionally it divides itself like "all Gaul" into three parts. These divisions are determined by "the lay of the land" and the consequent flow of streams. The region along the Mississippi has a pioneer history all its own. So has the Des Moines valley, and so has the region along the Missouri. The pioneer history of the Des Moines valley centers at Fort Des Moines — the objective point of every movement of trade and population — from the land ing of the dragoons at "the Point" in 1843 to the oncoming of the railroads in the late Sixties. The history of Des Moines clearly has its origin in the history of the river that gave the city its name, and its foundation is directly traceable to the military occupation of 1843. To trace this origin, and to show the con nection between the present City of Des Moines and County of Polk with the trend of events and occurrences which in the Forties and Fifties centered in and about Fort Des Moines, is the main purpose of this work. Reluctantly undertaking the task, after having recommended a half dozen local historians, all far more competent to undertake it than himself, the author has conscientiously endeavored, and with only a moderate degree of success as he fully realizes, to lay before his readers a continuous outline of the march of events from the discovery of Raccoon Forks down to and including the present awakening of the City of Des Moines to its Twentieth Century possibilities ; also, to present, along with the main trend of events a series of occurrences, in themselves not great, but important as showing the daily life of the people Who have made this community life what it is today. In one respect at least, he has measurably succeeded. He has developed from first-hand sources several whole chapters, and many events and incidents not even referred to in previous local and general histories. The chief distinction between general and local history is that the one groups events and occurrences as so many first aids to generalization, while the other is a chronicler of events and occurrences which, separately considered may have been regarded at the time as historically valueless, but which, viewed collec tively, enable the reader of one era the better to understand the daily life led by another.A large part of the work which follows may be classified as "annals," yet the author will have succeeded in all he has undertaken if he shall have held a mir ror before his readers at such an angle as will enable them to see the yester days from which the community of today has been evolved. That a work of this nature, prepared without that exhaustive research of years which a Bancroft could give to his great work, should be faulty in con struction and should include not a few errors — notwithstanding the valuable corrections which have been made by several experts in local history — was to be expected. But the author would assure his readers that he has spared no pains to verify every important statement, and has called to his aid the best informed citizens of Des Moines and Polk county in verification of facts, names and dates. xv £Yi INTRODUCTION While the author has undertaken to go deeper and farther than any other local historian has yet gone, he would not undervalue the work of other authors who have plowed this field before him. The most faulty local history is worth far more than it costs, as the librarians of historical departments everywhere attest. Even the grouping of names in connection with events and incidents is more valuable to later times than the author could have anticipated. For ex ample: Turrill's list of members of the Claims Club of Polk County in 1847 makes the story of that primitive organization a thing of life. Dixon's group of names — mere fill-up matter at the time — people the past with the men behind the deeds and events of which they were a part. Porter's more recent "Annals," open to criticism in many respects, has more than justified its publication, as stu dents of local and state history testify by their frequent recourse to the work. Andrews' "Pioneers" has peopled this region with the men and women who con verted a wilderness into a rich and populous county, — real, live and very human beings, not pedestaled gods and heroes. To these and other writers, liv ing and dead, the author has aimed to^ give full credit for the good work upon which he has drawn. There are also personal obligations which the author is pleased to acknowledge. To the members of his advisory board, so far as he has been able to draw on them -for advice and assistance, he is under many obliga tions. His indebtedness is especially large to Judge Cole, Tacitus Hussey, William H. Fleming and Simon Casady, for the time they have given him in straighten ing out certain of the more crooked places in his story, also to Mr. L. F. Andrews for the correction of many names and dates in the proof, and for val uable counsel and advice. To scores of public-spirited men and women of city and county who have freely supplied data, in response to calls for information, the author is under many and great obligations for services rendered. It was only by the aid of many that it was possible, in the time allotted, to cover a field so large, and including so many ramifications. The author is under many obligations to Curator Plarlan and his assistants of the State Historical Depart ment for placing at his disposal the resources of that department. In appre ciation of his indebtedness to the State for access to first-hand material in that department, his publishers have indicated to him their purpose to present to the State all the maps, pictures, and portraits specially engraved for the his tory. The author would not omit to mention the valuable assistance rendered by Superintendent Stiles of the State Archives department, enabling him to use to advantage not a little material which has hitherto been inaccessible to the student of local history. It will be observed that the author, having no thought of "working the townships" as such, has chosen to treat them as component parts of a great whole, — the county — as they are essentially and inevitably, rather than as so many separate domains, each with a history distinct from the rest. By this treatment the "write-up'"' style of a former period is avoided and artificial boundary lines are in the main submerged to make larger room for the move ment of events and incidents down through the years. It is to be hoped that the reader will see in the latter method an improvement on the former, even though the author may not have developed his method very satisfactorily. BOOK I. THE DES MOINES RIVER. PART I. FROM MARQUETTE AND JOLIET TO CAPTAIN ALLEN. 1673-1843. THE MOINGONSA OR DRS MOINES IN 1703 From "The History of Louisiana, or of the Western Parts of Virginia and Carolina : containing a description of the countries that lye on both sides of the River Mississippi : London, 1763." CHAPTER I. ISCOVERERS OF THE DES MOINES RIVER AND THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME DES MOINES. The first white men to set foot upon the soil watered by the Des Moines river were father Marquette, missionary, and Louis Joliet, explorer and trader. On the 17th day of May, 1673, the two, accompanied by five voyageurs, started in two birch canoes on one of the most notable voyages of discovery in the history of the New World. Starting from St. Ignace, on the west shore of Lake Michigan, they coasted the northern shore of the lake, thence up the Menomonee, thence to the box river; thence by portage to the Wisconsin; and, on the 17th day of June, they entered the great river known to the Indians as the Father of Waters. Thence, pursuing their journey southward, on the 25th day of June, 1673, they landed on Iowa soil, on the west shore of the Mississippi, near the mouth of the swift-flow ing river now known as the Des Moines. Journeying westward about six miles, they came upon two Indian villages, from one of which, Moinguena, the name Des Moines was in all probability derived.1 It is, therefore, a matter of history, fairly well authenticated by Father Marquette's journal and the accompanying outline map, that the discoverers of the Des Moines river were no less personages than the Marquette and Joliet of history, and a matter of history beyond question that "the first recorded interview between the white man and the Indian, within the limits of the present State of Iowa," occurred on the banks of the Des Moines near its confluence with the Mississippi.2 That the region now known as Polk county, Iowa, including the site of the Capital city and metropolis of the State of Iowa, was the center of human activi ties centuries before the westward retreating Sac and Fox Indians found a halting place in the Des Moines River valley, is a fact well attested by numerous and various relics of prehistoric occupation unearthed at points along the river, both above and below the junction of the Raccoon with the Des Moines. Aside from evidences of their meager constructive ability and of their pious care for the re mains of their dead, the so-called Mound Builders left few traces of the life they led. The name "Des Moines," early attached to the river and later formally given the Capital city, is the one remaining monument of the event — and that, of doubtful derivation." Some writers state, but without convincing authority, that the name "Des Moines" signifies "The Mounds," referring to the many mounds to be seen near the mouth of the river and near Raccoon Forks. Others are of opinion that it applies to "the Monks"4 who are said to have lived in huts on the bank of the river near its mouth. The consensus of opinion appears to be that it is simply an abbreviation of the name "Moingona," or "Moingonan," or "Moningouinas," as found in some form in very old maps. The French who followed Marquette and Joliet, as was their wont, clipped the long name and "by spurious etymology" 1 Parkman-La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West, p. 56. 2 Weld-Joliet and Marquette in Iowa. Iowa Journal of History and Politics, v. I, pp. 3-16. 3 Gue — History of Iowa, v. 1, p. 33. * Keyes, — Annals of Iowa, v. 3, p. 554. 4 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY termed the river "la riviere des Moines." Dr. Keyes gives the following as among the many different spellings of the name : De Moin, Des Moins, Demoin, Demoir, Demon and De Moyen. These variations doubtless had their origin in the tendency of people on the border to spell words phonetically. One of these spellings, however, invites a reference to an interesting fact in this connection. "De Moyen," a popular form of abbreviation, is interpreted as "middle," and was so understood as applied to the principal river between the Mississippi and the Missouri. This middle river is represented on the old maps5 as of even greater length and importance than the Mississippi or the Missouri. In a part of the Carte du Canada par de Lusle, printed in Paris in 1703, "R des Moingona" is pictured as wider and longer than neighboring rivers. In a part of the "Sinex Map of North America," printed in London in 1710, "Moingona R" is pictured as extending far to the northwest, having its rise in a great lake in the Saskatchewan region of Canada. The "fac simile of the Autograph Map of the Mississippi or Conception River drawn by Father Marquette at the time of his voyage — from the Original preserved at St. Mary's College, Montreal," gives no such importance to the "Moingouena," but places it midway between the Mississippi and the Pekittanoui, or Missouri. It is natural that, whatever may have been the etymological origin, the coincidence of the term "de moyen" (the middle) and "Des Moines," the abbreviated form of "des Moingona," is at least a good foun dation for the popular use of the term as a designation for the middle river be tween the two great rivers of the West. Bancroft, speaking of the visit of Marquette and Joliet, says : "The river was the Mon-in-gon-e-no, or Moingoun, of which we have corrupted the name into Des Moines." Mr., L. F. Andrews, a local historian,6 has an opinion which runs counter to all the authorities above referred to. He says the term "De Moins" signifies "the less" or "the smaller," and was applied by the early explorers to a small band of Indians who were on one side of a river, while those on the other side were called the greater. The early settlers applied the name to- the river itself. From a careful study of the authorities and their critics, it may with safety be concluded that the name "Des Moines" is an abbreviated form of des Moin gona,, equally applicable to any one of the several theories as to the significance of the word as used by the pioneers. 5 Keyes, — Annals of Iowa, v. 3, p. 557. 6 Annals of Iowa, v. 2, p. 468. LOI'IS JOI.IKT MAUQT'ETTE From a painting at St. Mary's College. Montreal CHAPTER II. THE DES MOINES TRAVERSED BY FARIBAULT— 180O-1803. Until the present time the historians of Iowa have passed in silence the inter val of centuries between the landing of Joliet and Marquette near the mouth of the Des Moines in 1673 and the journey of John Dougherty up the Des Moines to Raccoon Forks in 1834. But an all too brief contribution of Gen. H. H. Sib ley to the Minnesota Historical Collections,1 a "Memoir of Jean Baptiste Fari bault," — breaks the silence of centuries by the important announcement that sev eral decades before Dougherty, Albert Lea, Kearny, Fremont, Boone, and Allen, the adventurous fur-trader Faribault canoed down the Des Moines river with sup plies of furs for the St. Louis market. General Sibley relates that in May, 1798, young Faribault with three other young men was sent by the Northwest Fur Company to the then far Northwest. Faribault displayed so much tact during his first winter at Kankakee, that he was assigned to the charge of "the more important post on the Des Moines river about 200 miles above its mouth. . . . The post was named Redwood." His dealings were with the Sioux. With the aid of an interpreter "a successful trade was carried on with the savages, and Mr. Faribault, the following spring,2 ac cording to the instructions he had received, wended his way with the furs he had collected to the mouth of the Des Moines river, and delivered them to Mr. Craw ford, one of the accredited agents of the company. Mr. Faribault was continued four years in charge of the same trading post. During this long period he saw no white man but his own assistants, except on his annual tour to the mouth of the river." The treasures of the Minnesota Historical Society yield nothing further rela tive to this interesting and all-too-brief chapter in the history of the Des Moines river. Secretary Upham of that Society finds only one other reference to Fari bault's descent of the Des Moines, and that in a memoir of Jean Baptiste Fari bault, in Volume I of Joseph Tasse's Les Canadiens de I' Quest, (1878), pp. 309- 31, which, says Mr. Upham, closely follows General Sibley's narration. 1 Minnesota Hist. Coll., v. 3, 1870-80, pp. 168-79. 2 Probably the spring of 1800. CHAPTER III. THE FIRST WHITE MAN SINCE 1803 TO PENETRATE THE DES MOINES VALLEY TO RACCOON FORKS. Maj. Thomas F. Hunt, acting Quartermaster General of the army, in a report to the Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of War, dated Washington, January 8, 1836, relating to the proposed opening of "a military road from Fort Leavenworth to the right bank of the Mississippi, above the State of Missouri," informs his chief that "the distance from Fort Des Moines [No. 1] to the mouth of the Raccoon is about 150 miles, by land, and by water about 260, at which place or some other point in that neighborhood on the Des Moines, it is understood a military post will probably be established, and from such point to Fort Leavenworth the distance is probably between 200 and 230 miles."1 Accompanying this report are extracts from a communication from one John Dougherty to Major J. B. Brant, Quartermaster U. S. Army, dated St. Louis, Missouri, December 16, 1834. This is the first official reference to the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines, the present site of the Capital city of Iowa. Quarter master General Hunt, in his report enclosing the communication of Dougherty, says : "The views and opinions of the writer of that communication are no doubt worthy of much consideration from the fact of his long and familiar acquaintance with the regions of the west, manifesting, as they seem to me to do, much knowl edge of the Indians and their habits, connected with which and their future wel fare, as well as the mode and manner of defense against their inroads upon our white settlements, is the road contemplated by the resolution." In the Dougherty report occurs a reference to the changed conditions in the Indian country within a few years, — "the game nearly exhausted, the Indians hungry and naked, already beginning to feel very sensibly the effects of their intercourse with our hunters and whiskey dealers." This writer urged a protective policy, which should treat the Indian "as un tutored children, and not as wise, learned and independent men. Encourage them," he says, "to raise corn, beef, pork, and horses, for the supply of the fron tier posts ; furnish them with goods at cost ; restrain their warring and hunting, and prevent all intercourse with military posts, except by their chiefs," and dis courage the demoralizing mingling of Indians and soldiers. He proposed the es tablishment of "a line of military posts along or near the boundary between the settlements and the Indians, and the building of "a compact and well-constructed fort, sufficiently large to garrison about two companies of infantry and one of dragoons, at or near the following named places : At Des Moines rapids, on the Mississippi ; at Raccoon fork of the Des Moines; at the intersection of the west line of the State of Missouri and the Missouri river ; at Ft. Leavenworth ; at Har mony mission on the Ne-o-sho; ... at Fort Gibson; at a point between the Arkansas and Red rivers ; and on the Red river." He would establish a citizen farmer at each post ; open a road from post to post, bridge the small creeks, establish a ferry at each river crossing; build stables at each post for a company and a half of dragoon horses; "keep the -dragoons constantly on the trot patrolling along the road," their principal, business being 1 Senate Document yy, 24th Congress, ist session, accompanying Senate Bill No. 90; also American State Papers, Military Affairs, v. 6, p. Tj. 3* ~"3PP:T-*Slpr S^fejjgjo THE MOINGONA OE DES MOINES IN 1763 From "The History of Louisiana, or of the Western Parts of Virginia and Carolina: containing a description of countries that lye on both sides of the River Missisipi: London 1763." the Enlarged section of the United States including Louisiana bv William Darby (nninived by James D. Stout) inserted opposite title pa^e of William Darby's "Kiniy;rant's Ouide to the Western and Sonthwcslern States and Territories, ISIS." CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 7 "to take up every strolling white man or Indian, . . . and convey him to the nearest guard-house for punishment; establish a weekly mail between posts and headquarters ; appoint four Indian agents — no more." Lest Major Brant should conclude that his fears in regard to the danger on the frontier had gotten the better of his judgment, he recurred to "the consterna tion which Black Hawk, with a few followers spread over the States of Illinois and Missouri, and the Territory of Michigan." The sound judgment of this man unknown to fame is attested by the subse quent history of the region covered by his report. That nothing obtainable relative to the author of this first published report descriptive of the region centering at the Raccoon fork of the Des Moines might be omitted from this history, the author in October, 1910, wrote Secretary Dick inson, of the War Department at Washington, asking for information relative to John Dougherty — his standing in the Department in 1834, and, if procurable, a copy of the Dougherty report in full. In due time came a reply from the Hon. Robert Shaw Oliver, Assistant Secretary of War, stating that the original report referred to could not be found, and that the document containing extracts from the said report, to which reference had been made in the author's letter to the Secretary of War, was the only document to be found referring to or quoting from the said Dougherty. The reply includes a report from Adjutant General Ainsworth who finds "that John Dougherty was Indian Agent at Fort Leavenworth in 1834, 1835 and 1836" — thus settling the question of fact and, at the same time, enabling the reader to get the view-point from which this first official explorer of the Upper Des Moines reached his conclusions relative to the relations of the Department with the Indians. CHAPTER IV. LIEUT. ALBERT LEA's EXPLORATIONS IN THE UPPER DES MOINES REGION. The earliest published record of exploration along the upper Des Moines is printed in a little book entitled "Notes on Wisconsin Territory." It was written by Lieutenant Albert M. Lea, United States Dragoons, and is in substance the author's report to his chief, Colonel Kearny in 1835.1 In this book of only 53 pages the author designed, as he says in his preface, "to place within easy reach of the public, correct information in regard to a very interesting portion of the Western country, especially of that part of it known as the Towa District,' one of the divisions of the new Territory of Wisconsin." Lieutenant Lea adds that "he has been employed in his professional duties for more than a" year, within the limits of the country represented by the accom panying map. During this time, he has traveled extensively, and has been sedu lous in collecting information from surveyors, traders, explorers, and residents. The whole route of the dragoons during the summer of 1835, as designated on the map, was meandered with a compass, and the distances estimated by the time and rate of travelling them ; and in like manner, the Des Moines river was re- connoitered from Racoon river to the mouth. .. '. . ." His "designation of the Indian boundaries were," as he says, "procured from the proper bureaus at Wash ington," and are copied from "the maps sent in by the surveyors of the several Indian boundaries laid down, and of the far-famed Half-Breed Tract of the Sauk and Fox Indians." The one portion of this pioneer publication which has a direct bearing upon the subject of this work is the following, from Chapter II, entitled "Water Courses and Local Divisions :" "The Des Moines River and its Tributaries afford fine lands, well diversified with wood and prairie, as far up as I am acquainted with them, some fifty miles above the Upper Forks. There is much that is inviting in the general character of the country bordering on the Des Moines ; level meadows, rolling woodlands, and deep forests, present themselves by turns. The soil is usually rich and pro ductive ; and when there are no natural springs, there is no difficulty in obtaining water, by digging, at almost any point in the highland-prairies. "Having specially reconnoitered the Des Moines river during the summer of 1835, I can speak of it more confidently than of any of the other smaller rivers watering the District. "From Racoon river to the Cedar, the Des Moines is from 80 to 100 yards in width, shallow, crooked, and filled with rocks, sand-bars, and snags, and is impetuous in current at high water ; yet it is certain that keel-boats may navigate this portion of the river, being 96 miles, during a great part of the spring and fall ; and it is not impossible that even steam-boats may run there. "But from the Cedar river to the Mississippi, except a few miles near the mouth, there is no obstruction to the navigation of the Des Moines in a tolerable stage of water. For four months of the year, boats of two and a half feet draught, will perform this distance of 170 miles without difficulty. The width is from 150 to 250 yards except a few miles above the mouth, where it is only from 80 to 100 yards wide ; its bed is perfectly smooth and flat ; and the bottom 1 Printed in Philadelphia, in 1836. PART I3>, fa f*. yn&aomwi xraaraoaiY \ ) / ¦-( L LIEUTENANT ALBERT LEA'S MAP Showing the Prominence Given the Des Moines River by the Early Geographers ALBERT LEA Pioneer Explorer of the Des Moines CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 9 is generally a thin coating of sand and gravel over a blue limestone rock, until you descend within the influence of the back water from the Mississippi, where there is much alluvial deposit with many snags. By the removal of a part of these snags and a few loose rocks above, every thing will be done for the navi gation that can be done without augmenting the supply of water. The first rapids that occur in the river, above the mouth, are those near the lower end of the Great Bend. There is a ledge of limestone rock running across the river here; but the chief obstruction is caused by loose rocks lodged upon this ledge. The chief rapids between the Racoon and the mouth, are some 40 miles above Cedar river. Here is considerable fall for several miles, a sudden pitch of sev eral inches, many large loose rocks, and a very sudden bend, altogether making a difficult pass in the river. "The mineral productions of this river are interesting. Sandstone, suitable for building, occurs frequently, as far down as Tollman's, 14 miles from the mouth. Limestone is found along the whole distance, from a point 15 miles above Cedar river, to the Mississippi bottom. Bituminous coal- of excellent quality oc curs abundantly at many points between Racoon and Cedar rivers, and also near the Missouri line. I also found large masses of the oxide, sulphuret and native sulphate of iron, lignite, and the earths usually found in coal formations. "It is about seventy-five miles from the mouth, by water, to the Indian boun dary. The lands, on both sides of the river, throughout the greater part of this distance, are exceedingly fertile, and many of them are covered with forests of the finest walnut, oak, ash, elm, and cherry; and back of these wooded bottoms are extensive prairies, both flat and rolling. The settlements have long since, that is in the fall of 1835, extended along the river entirely up to the line, and are beginning to spread out on either side, especially towards the head waters of Sugar creek. There are already some extensive farms along this river, and others are in rapid progress." In reminiscences published many years afterwards, Lieut. Albert Lea gave an intimate personal touch to his description found lacking in his book. Of the re gion covered by this work he said:2 "Thence our march was still through rich prairies, interspersed with lakes, and groves; across the Des Moines River, which we descended to the mouth of the Raccoon Fork, a grassy and spongy meadow with a bubbling spring in the midst, near which my tent was pitched; and the side of a fat young deer was spitted before the fire, and despatched with great gusto by the aid of two brother officers, and a bottle of fine old French brandy, obtained from Chouteau's stock, and car ried the whole campaign in my wallet, untasted. The capital of Iowa now covers that site. "The next morning, a bright Sunday, I got orders to reconnoitre the Des Moines River by descending it in a canoe, to ascertain the practicability of navi gation with keel boats, with a view to the establishment of a military post. A goodly cottonwood was selected ; my men set to work with a will, and at sun rise Tuesday I bade adieu to the camp and, aided by a soldier and an Indian, started on my toilsome task, sounding all shoals, taking courses with a pocket compass, estimating distances from bend to bend by the time and rate of motion, sketching every notable thing, occasionally landing to examine the geology of the rocks, and sleeping in the sand despite the gnats and mosquitoes. We made the trip without accident, and leaving our canoe at the trading-house (Keokuk), we footed it to the fort, where we arrived many days before the main body, who re turned leisurely by land, and arrived in fine order, without the loss of a man, a horse, a tool, or a beef, which were fatter than at the starting, after a march of eleven hundred miles." 2 From Salter — Iowa the First Free State in the Louisiana Purchase, pp. 184-6. CHAPTER V. COLONEL KEARNY REPORTS ADVERSELY ON "THE FORKS" AS A SITE FOR A FORT. The first detailed official description of the site of the present city of Des Moines is well worth reading. Colonel Kearny reports that on the 8th of August, 1835, he reached the mouth of the Raccoon river where he "halted to reconnoitre the country with a view to the selection of a site for a military post in that vicinity as directed." "After riding over a considerable portion of the country myself," he con tinues, "and sending off officers in different directions with a view to the same object, I could neither see, nor hear of any place, that possessed the necessary advantages, or in my opinion was suitable for the establishment of a Military Post. The point of land, in the fork, at the junction of the Raccoon with the Des Moines, would probably answer as well as any other place in that vicinity. It is about eight feet above high water mark — a narrow strip of prairie Com mences here, but widens out as the two rivers recede. On the opposite side of the Des Moines, which is there about 360 feet wide and 3^2 deep, being a good ford, is a great abundance of timber, Oak, Walnut, Elm, Ash, Linn and Cotton wood, which would answer for building and firewood. We saw no springs near the place ; wells however could be dug. About a mile up the Des Moines is a bluff containing stone coal, and a small quantity of silicious limestone, but ap parently not enough for the necessary chimnies of a small post, nor do I believe it can be burned in lime. If a Post should be established there, I think stone and lime must be brought to it from near the mouth of the North Fork, a distance by land of about 45 miles, and 60 by water. It is by land 150 miles from Fort Des Moines,1 and 266 by water to the mouth of the Des Moines River." The following, from Colonel Kearny's report, is interesting, as the first offi cial opinion given as to the navigability of the Des Moines : "I caused a canoe to be made in which Lieut. Lea, with a few soldiers de scended the Des Moines, to its mouth, to examine the practicability of navi gating it, and the means by which supplies could be obtained there. I send you his Report. Unless some obstructions are removed the navigation of the Des Moines to the Raccoon, by boats sufficiently large to carry stores, etc., for a Mili tary Post, I am convinced will be at all times uncertain, and but for a very small portion of the year, practicable." The report quotes Lieutenant Lea as favoring a point near the mouth of the Cedar, 96 miles by water below the Raccoon. Unacquainted with "the views of the Department as to the object to be obtained by the establishment of a mili tary Post at the Raccoon," Colonel Kearny confesses he "can imagine nothing to make it necessary or advisable." If the department would interpose a barrier be tween the Sacs and the Sioux, he deemed a fort at this point quite unnecessary since the Sacs were disposed to peace and adequate restraints could be imposed upon the Sioux. The two Indian villages on the Des Moines were within fifty- five to seventy-five miles of the mouth of the river and could easily be reached by troops.If a military post were still thought necessary, "then," the Colonel guardedly added, " a post at the Raccoon is not sufficiently advanced — it should be about 1 Fort Des Moines, No. 1, near tbe mouth of the Des Moines river. 10 STEPHEN WATTS KEARNY Appointed from civil life first lieutenant in the regular army March 12, 1812, and rose to the rank of brigadier and brevet major general (From an engraving in the Midland Monthly, Des Moines ) CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 11 ioo miles above there, viz: at the Upper Fork of the Des Moines." If the De partment would protect the frontiers of Missouri, then "one at the Raccoon would be altogether too far advanced." Colonel Kearny concludes by. stating that "all the Sauk Indians (and they were many) who spoke to me, of the probability of a Military Post being established near the Raccoon, were strongly and most decidedly opposed to it, giving as one of their objections, "that the whites would drive off the little game that is left in their country." Colonel Kearny was accompanied on this journey by "about 150 men — Company B, commanded by Brevet 2d Lieut. Turner;2 Company H, by Cap tain Boone,3 and Company I, by 2d Lieut. Lea." 4 Assistant Surgeon Joseph J. B. Wright,5 accompanied the expedition. 2 Henry S. Turner; adjutant, 1836; later, Acting Asst. Adj. Gen. to General Kearny, on march to California; Captain, ist Dragoons, 1846; Brevet Major, for gallant conduct in battle of San Pasqual ; resigned, 1848; died in St. Louis, 1881, aged yo. (Army Register.) 3 Nathan Boone; Major, 1847; Lieut. Col. 2nd Dragoons, 1580; resigned, 1853. (Army Register.) 4 Albert M. Lea; resigned, 1836. (Army Register.) 5 Joseph J. B. Wright; Major and Surgeon, 1844; Col. and Surgeon (brevet Brig. Gen.), 1876; retired 1876; died, 1878. (Army Register.) CHAPTER VI. COLONEL CROGHAN EXAMINES "THE FORKS" AND REPORTS FAVORABLY. Another early report 1 on the region covered by this history is of unknown origin, but is supposed to have been written by Col. George Croghan. While no accurately authenticated report of Colonel Croghan covering the proposed abandonment of Forts Armstrong and Des Moines No. i is on file in the War Department, yet the Adjutant General of the United States, in a letter to Curator Aldrich of the Historical Department of Iowa, in 1908, stated that from a comparison of the manuscript with records on file, "it is believed the handwriting of the manuscript is that of Colonel George Croghan, formerly Inspector General, United States Army." The Fort Des Moines referred to was the original fort near the mouth of the river. The Second Fort Des Moines was not established until more than seven years later. This writer favors the abandonment of the original fort; but, prior thereto, the establishment of an agency on the Des Moines river. He finds both Lieut. Colonels Davenport and Kearny opposed to the selection of a site on the Des Moines, Davenport favoring "Ioway" river and Kearny opposed to the erection of any new forts. He finds all agreed in that Ft. Arm strong should be abandoned, "but they cannot so readily fix upon a point on the Des Moines to which its garrison shall be sent, being unacquainted with the navigable character of the river." Left, then, to his own judgment, and required to designate some place for a military location, he writes, "I will fix upon the mouth of the Raccoon fork as combining perhaps more advantages than are presented by any other point on the river. It is very nearly, if not equally accessible by water as Cedar Point, and is besides much farther removed from the Missouri state line than that point, a circumstance not to be forgotten when recollecting that the In dians when not upon their hunting grounds will most generally be about the agency and trading horses, be they near or at a distance from the white settle ments and it should be a care to keep them as far as possible separated. You will perceive by the accompanying map that Raccoon fork is 50 miles N. of the Missouri line." "The Upper fork of the Des Moines," he adds, "is not without its ad vantages and could it be provisioned as easily as the Raccoon fork (and it might be for ought I know) it might be esteemed the most eligible situation of the two from its admirable location with respect to Council Bluffs and St. Peters, being directly in line between the two and not more than 125 miles from either, and more than this it lies within the neutral ground separating the Sauk and Sioux upon which both tribes wish that a garrison should be located. Keokuk has already expressed great unwillingness to the erection of a fort upon the Des Moines unless it be upon the neutral ground as above stated. ... If your sole object in erecting a fort upon the Des Moines be the preservation of the peace between the whites and the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians, I should advise its location lower down so as to interpose between the white settlements and the Indian towns, but believing that peace with the Sioux 1 Annals of Iowa, v. 8, pp. 495-99. 12 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 13 is also considered by you it is therefore that I have located at the Raccoon fork as a point, as more likely to be properly considered by that tribe." Colonel Croghan doubting the expediency of establishing a post anywhere on the Des Moines river, contented himself with a recommendation that, should one be established, five or six companies of infantry should be ordered to assist in the erection of the necessary buildings, adding that "in all probability" the fort proposed would "not be occupied beyond a few years." He predicted that in a very short time the only posts needed on the frontier between the two rivers would be those at St. Peters and Council Bluffs. While many settlers had pushed on farther west, the reservation around the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers still remained the hunting grounds of the Sacs and Foxes. These tribes were extremely jealous of the settlers who invaded their possessions, and not without good reasons for jealousy. CHAPTER VII. SIDE LIGHTS THROWN ON THE PICTURE BY A SON OF DANIEL BOONE, ALSO BY GENERAL PARROTT. Another distinguished name has an incidental connection with the region covered by this history. Captain Nathaniel Boone, son of the great Daniel Boone, after whom a neighboring county was named, came to Fort Des Moines [No. I,] at the head of one of the three companies of dragoons sent up the river from St. Louis. In pursuance of instructions from the department, Col onel Kearny sent Captain Boone with his company on an exploring expedition into the wilderness above Raccoon Forks. Boone started June 6, 1835. He followed the ridge between the Des Moines and the Skunk river till the 22nd of June, when he arrived at the mouth of what is now known as the Boone river. He pursued his journey as far as the Trout river, thence to the Mis sissippi in about latitude 44. Thence he pursued a southwesterly course, finally reaching the present northern line of the State of Iowa, near the Sandy, or east, branch of the upper Des Moines, where on the 30th of August, near evening, he was attacked by a party of Sioux. A fierce fight ensued. The encounter seems to have changed the Captain's course, for from this time on he hastened southward. He crossed over to the west side of the Des Moines, and by forced marches reached the Raccoon fork of the Des Moines river on the 8th of August, 1835, where he camped, a short distance up the Raccoon, rest ing there for a day. He thence proceeded by easy marches back to the Des Moines.1 Gen. James C. Parrott, of Keokuk, contributes through the Annals of Iowa 2 his reminiscences of the expedition to the northwest to settle the difficulties between the Sacs and Foxes and their old enemies the Sioux, in June, 1835. The General was then a sergeant in one of the three companies sent on this expedition. On the return of the detachment, they reached the headwaters of the Des Moines and followed the river down to the Raccoon Fork. Gen eral Parrott says : "They crossed the river at a point where it was very deep and as smooth as a canal. It was full of shrubbery that formed a thick tangle and was alive with leeches. The horses and mules succeeded in swim ming across, but the men relied on the aid of ropes stretched from bank to bank. Their wagon beds, constructed like boats, were easily managed. They moved down to the place where the capital city now stands, and went into caniD on the east side of the river, opposite the mouth of the Raccoon." Lieut. Albert M. Lea, the talented engineer, was with the company. General Parrott was his intimate friend, and when the Lieutenant was suffering from a long illness in Camp Des Moines, he used regularly on Sunday mornings to write for him the letters that were forwarded to the beautiful Baltimore woman whom he afterwards married. "The soldiers while encamped at the mouth of the Raccoon built a canoe from a huge cottonwood tree, axes being their only tools. In this canoe, Lieut. Lea, with one other white man and two Sac Indians, embarked and floated 1 Negus — Early History of Iowa. Annals of Iowa, January, 1872. - Annals of Iowa, v. 3, pp. 364-83. 14 ^7 r- ¦ ¦ /°«=~w=^_ CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 15 down the Des Moines river to the point where Keokuk now stands. They made the trip in about twenty days. Many times they were obliged to portage their boat over the shallows.- This expedition was for the purpose of locating a new fort, and no more suitable spot could be found than near the Raccoon, where, later, Fort Des Moines No. 2 was built." The regiment followed by land reaching Camp Des Moines in fine condition after a tour of 1,100 miles. CHAPTER VIII. LIEUTENANT FREMONT EXPLORES THE UPPER DES MOINES TO "rackoon forks" AND REPORTS. A valuable addition to the history of the region included within the scope of this work is the fact1 that in 1841, Gen. John C. Fremont, "the Pathfinder," and the first nominee of the Republican party for the presidency, began his career as explorer and scientist with an exploration of the Des Moines river, making Raccoon Forks the objective point of his journey. In John Bigelow's Memoir of Fremont,2 the author mysteriously intimates a connection between this journey and the suit of Lieutenant Fremont for the hand of Jessie, daugh ter of the great Missouri Senator, Thomas H. Benton. Says Mr. Bigelow : "During the summer of 1841, and while the poor young officer was strug gling as best he might with the obstacles which his suit had encountered, he received a mysterious but inexorable order to make an examination of the river Des Moines, upon the banks of which the Sacs and Fox Indians still had their homes, Iowa being at that time a frontier country. He sat out to the discharge of this duty with such spirits as he could command, finished it, and returned to Washington, when shortly after his return, and on the 19th October, 1841, the impatient lovers were married." Turning to the Executive Documents of Twenty-seventh Congress,3 we find, first, a long report by Captain W. Bowling Guion, of the Topographical Engineer Corps, as to the rapids in the Des Moines river, in which report dated St. Louis, October 1, 1841, he states that at the trading establishment of the American Fur Company, about a hundred miles from the river's mouth, he "procured a very small and light draught keel boat, moved up that stream an estimated distance of 17 miles above the mouth of Rackoon Fork, one of its principal tributaries." Here the funds in his hands, with due regard to an examination of the Iowa river, were so depleted that he turned about and descended the river to the Mississippi. In support of his report as to the navigability of the Des Moines, he states that "a heavily laden keel boat has been taken up nearly to the mouth of Rackoon Fork." He does not hesitate to assert the propriety of making the improvements indicated in an accompany ing estimate, the total cost of which he places at $29,000; "for," he adds, "the Des Moines is a beautiful river, 220 feet wide where I ceased operations, and increasing in width from 440, below the mouth of the Rackoon Fork, to 630, at the trading house, whilst its banks present one of the most fertile and lovely countries nature ever presented to the view of man, abounding in immense fields of bituminous coal from Rackoon Fork nearly to its mouth." He pre dicts that, with the varied temptations which this region offered, it would "no sooner pass into the hands of the United States than it" would "be crowded with whites." Immediately following the report of Captain Guion, appears the report of "J. C. Fremont, 2d Lieut. Top. Engs," to Colonel "J. J. Albert, Chief Topo graphical Engineers." Lieutenant Fremont, writing under date, "Washington, April 14, 1842," states that pursuant to orders received in Washington in June, 1841, he left Churchville, on the Mississippi, on the 27th of the month, evidently 1 Not even noted in any previous history, local or general. 2 Published in 1856. 3 Third Session, Document No. 38. 16 JOHN C. FREMONT Pioiieer Explorer of the Des Moines CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 17 overland and on horseback. He minutely describes the flora of the region traveled. Crossing the Des Moines at Portland, he rode along the northern bank of the river to lowaville, on the line separating the Indian lands from those to which their title had then been extinguished. "After leaving this place," he writes, "we began to fall in with parties of Indians on horseback, and here and there, scattered along the river bank, under tents of blankets stretched along the boughs, were Indian families ; the men lying about smoking, and the women engaged in making baskets and cooking. . . . Late in the evening we arrived at the post of Mr. Phelps, one of the partners of the American Fur Company." Most readers of history associate the name "Fremont" with soldierly ad venture: but the reading of Lieutenant Fremont's reports confirms the state ments made by his biographers, that he was a man of scholarly attainments. It will interest the student of botany at this point to read his observations on the flora of the Des Moines valley before it was modified by the seeds of civilization.4 He found "the psoralia onolaychis,5 which prevailed in the bottom near the mouth of the Des Moines, gave place on the higher prairies to a species of causalia,0 which was followed, on its disappearance further up, by parthenium integri folium.7 The prairie bottoms bordering the river were filled with lyatris pycnostachya ;8 and a few miles above Portland, on the north bank of the river, were quantities of lyatris resinosa,9 mingled with Rud- backia digetata."10 On the bluffs he found the growth to be "principally quercus alba,11 interspersed with tuictoria12 and malrocarpa,13 and sometimes carya alba.14 All these now and then appear in the bottoms, with carya olivjeformis15 and tilia."16 In the river bottoms subject to inundation, he saw groves of populus canadensis17 and salex;18 and everywhere, the celtis accidentalis.19 On the ist of July, 1841, supplied with a guide and other necessaries, he left the quarters of the fur company, and late that evening reached the home * The botanical terms which follow will not be readily identified by the general reader, and some of them might easily confuse even the trained botanist. The author is indebted to Dr. L. H. Pammel, professor of Morphology, Physiology, and Systematic Botany (Iowa State College of Agriculture- and the Mechanic Arts), for the notes which follow, correct ing the botanical names when found to be incorrectly printed in the report, and translating the same into the vernacular, for the benefit of the unscientific reader. Dr. Pammel, to whom this chapter was submitted with that end in view, writes : "The names used in the report are in part obsolete. The spelling is bad, doubtless due to the carelessness of the printer, or the indistinctness of the copy, or both. Hence any one not very familiar with the terms used would have trouble in identifying the plants mentioned." 5 Psoralia onolaychis [Psoralea onobrychis]. The common name of this happens to be Psoralea. It is related to the old pomme blanche or pomme de prairie of the old voyagers. This plant, however, does not occur in the vicinity of Des Moines. Its distribution is more southward. 6 Causalia [Cacalia]. This is common everywhere in the state and there are several species. The common name is Indian Plantain. It is probable that the species Fremont mentions is the C. tuberosa. 7 Parthenium integrifolium. This plant is known sometimes as Feverfew, or Feather- few. It is found also to the south of Des Moines. "I do not think it occurs in the vicinity of Des Moines." s Lyatris pycnostachya [Liatris pycnostachya]. This is known as the "Blazing Star," or "Button Snakeroot." It is common in Iowa. 9 Lyatris [Liatris] resinosa. This is another "Blazing Star." 10 Rudbackia [Rudbeckia] digetata. [Lepachys pinnata.] Prairie Coneflower. 11 Quercus alba. White oak. 12 Tuictoria [Tinctoria.] Black oak. Now know technically as Q. velutiua. 13 Malrocarpa [Macrocarpa.] Bur oak. 14 Carya alba. Shell bark hickory. 15 Carya olivaformis. Pecan in southeastern Iowa. 18 Tilia. Basswood. 17 Populus canadensis. [P deltoides.] P. monolifera cottonwood. lsSalex [Salix.] Willow. 19 Celtis accidentalis [occidentalis]. Hackberry. Vol. 1—2 18 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of Mr. Jameson, an agent of the fur company, about twenty miles farther up the river. On the morning of the 3d, in conformity to instructions, he pro ceeded to study the topography of the southern side of the river. With his instruments and provisions in a canoe manned by five men, he forded the river and proceeded by land toward the "Rackoon Fork," to determine the position of which was, he says, one of the principal objects of his visit to this country. He reached "Rackoon Fork" on the evening of the 9th of July, 1841. He "found the whole region densely and luxuriantly timbered." The uplands on the east, an open country, were covered with "innumerable flowers and copses, of hazel and wild plum." The engineer did his work faithfully. He not only determined for all com ing time the astronomical position of "Rackoon Fork," but in the course of his survey from this point, the mouth of the Des Moines, he was enabled to fix four additional positions along the river. The engineer in our explorer never permitted the botanist to neglect his opportunities; and since this exploration of Lieutenant Fremont, in 1841, is undoubtedly the starting point for the history of the flora of the Des Moines, even the formidable Latin terms which came trippingly from his pen are full of interest. He found "acer saccharium20 of extraordinary size, inglans21 cathartica and nigra,22 with celtis crassifolia,23 . . . flourishing as well on the broken slopes of the bluffs as on the uplands." Almost the only open land he found was "between the main tributaries of the Des Moines. . . . On the northern side of the Des Moines, the ridge appeared to be continuously wooded, but with a breadth of only three to five miles, as the streams on that side are all short creeks." The survey made by Lieutenant Fremont from the Forks to the mouth of the river extended from the 9th until the 22nd of July. The explorer esti mated a fall of about one hundred feet from "Rackoon Fork" to the river's mouth. He estimated that about one-third of the supply of water in the Des Moines came from the Raccoon. He reported the Des Moines "350 feet wide between the perpendicular banks at the mouth of the Rackoon ;" and the Rac coon "200 feet wide a little above the mouth." The one allusion made by Fremont in his fragmentary "Memoirs" to the Raccoon forks expedition is the following : 24 "In the surveys that had been made during his [Nicollet's] last expedition, the upper part only of some of the larger rivers had been embraced. The Des Moines was one of these ; and at his request I was sent, in July, to make such a reconnoissance of its lower course as would nearly complete it. Whether or not this detachment of myself from Washington originated with Mr. Nicollet, I do not know, but I was loath to go. "I had again with me on this survey one of my companions of the former expedition in Mr. Charles G.eyer, who accompanied me as botanist. I estab lished the course of the river upward from its mouth about two hundred miles, which brought the survey to the Racoon Forks ; and Mr. Geyer did all that the season and time allowed for botany. . . There were many snakes along the river and botany became a hazardous pursuit. As had been proposed, our examination was confined to the immediate valley of the river, but we fre quently ranged into the woods, where deer and wild turkey were abundant; and the survey was a health-giving excursion, but it did not cure the special complaint for which I had been sent there." 25 20 Acer saccharium. Hard maple — Acer nigrum. 21 Inglans [Juglans] cathartica. Butternut — Juglans cinerea. 22 Nigra. Black walnut — Juglans Nigra. 23 Crassifolia. Hackberry. Probably Celtis occidentalis. 24 Volume 1, p. 68. 25 A reference to his love affair with Jessie, daughter^of Senator Benton, with whom he soon after eloped. CHAPTER IX. • CONDITIONS LEADING DOWN TO THE FOUNDING OF FORT DES MOINES — CAPTAIN ALLEN VIEWS AND REPORTS. Unlike most other cities in the Middle West, the capital and chief city of Iowa owes its origin to the military arm of the service.1 An act of Congress in 1833 provided for the better defense of the frontier by the raising of a regiment of dragoons to scout the country west of the Mississippi. Lewis Cass, then .Secretary of War, in his report to President Monroe dated No vember 29, 1833, stated that about six hundred men had been enlisted under this act, and that in the following spring the entire body would be moved "to the extensive Indian regions between the western boundaries of Missouri and Arkansas and the Rocky Mountains." The ill-fated expedition to the country occupied by the Pawnees, led by Col. Henry Dodge, in the early sum mer of 1834, compelled a reorganization of the regiment. Of the ten original companies, three, under Lieut. Col. S. W. Kearny2 were dispatched to "the Indian country near the mouth of the Desmoines." Here, at the present site of the small town of Montrose, Iowa, the first "Fort Desmoines" was erected. It received its name from Secretary Cass, in recognition of the river upon whose bank it was located. In 1841, two years before the founding of Fort Des Moines, a party of Sioux surprised a hunting camp of twenty-four Delawares in the bottom lands of the Raccoon, and only one survived to tell the tale. The survivor fled to "the Forks," swam the Des Moines and appeared before the astonished Pash-' e-pa-ho, a veteran chief of the Sacs, who with a party of his warriors was encamped near the present site of the Capitol. Notwithstanding his eighty years, "The Stabber," thirsting for revenge, mounted his pony and made the circuit of his tribe and their allies, the Foxes. Led by their chief five hun dred braves followed the trail of the retreating Sioux for more than a hun dred miles. Finally overtaking the enemy, with a fierce war-cry, they charged upon the camp. A sanguinary battle ensued, lasting several hours. The de feat of the invaders was overwhelming. It is reported that while the Sacs and Foxes lost but seven, the retreating Sioux left more than three hundred on the field.3 The chief significance of this narrative is the fact that the present city of Des Moines, with about a hundred thousand population, with its proud position as the capital and chief city of a great State, and the acknowledged head and front of the Twentieth Century movement for local self-government, — that Des Moines is less than seventy years removed from undisputed Indian occupancy. It is hard to realize that less than sixty-eight years ago, one early spring day, a squatter near Tool's Landing looking up from work on his log cabin, was astonished to behold the stars and stripes floating in the breeze from the mast-head of a steamer and on its deck caught a glimpse of the soldiers 1 Annals of Iowa, Aldrich series, v. 3, p. 351. 2 Spelled "Kearney" by Parkman and Schoolcraft ; but spelled without the "V in the official reports. 3 Gue — History of Iowa, v. 1, p. 104. 19 20 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of the First Dragoons on their way to plant the flag of the Union over a forti fication which should be known in history as Fort Des Moines.4 In time, new causes of disquiet and danger arose. One of these was the presence on the reservation of a band of horse thieves and surreptitious traders who stole horses from Indians and white men alike, and drove a profitable illicit trade with the Indians by selling them whisky. The occasional depre dations of the fierce Sioux on the north and the eagerly waiting and fast- increasing throng of ho^me-seekers and land speculators on the east, united with the demoralizing presence of these outlaws to compel the Government, in justice to its wards, to take active measures for their protection in their treaty right to undisturbed possession of the lands allotted to them for the three years following "the Treaty of '42." Thus confronted with conditions which did not measurably exist in 1835, when Colonel Kearny reported ad versely on the question of a fort at "the Forks," General Scott was quick to act. Captain James Allen, of the First Dragoons, then stationed at Fort Sandford, lower down the river, in a letter to the War Department dated December 30, 1842, gives us this interesting picture of conditions as he had seen them, the month before, at the junction of the two rivers, a point of land1 in the heart of the present county of Polk, and almost under the shadow of Iowa's State Capital : 5 "I went up, as you know, last month as high as the mouth of the Raccoon River, and had in view at the time to look out a suitable point for the station ing of troops for the time required. And I did select, with a view to recom mend it, the point made by the junction of the Raccoon with the Des Moines. "My reasons for selecting that point are these: The soil is rich; and wood, stone, water and grass are all at hand. It will be high enough up the river to protect these Indians against the Sioux, and is in the heart of the best part of their new country, where the greatest effort will be made by the squatters to get in. It is about equidistant from the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, and offers a good route to both, the direct route to the Missouri passing around the heads of many ugly branches of Grand River. It will be 25 miles within the new line, about the right distance from the settlements, and above all of the Indian villages and trading houses (all of the Sacs have determined to make their villages on a larger prairie bottom that commences about two miles below, and the traders have selected their sites there also). It will also be about the head of keel-boat navigation on the Des Moines. I think it better than any point farther up, because it will be harder to get supplies higher up, and no point or post that may be established on this river need be kept up more than three years, or until these Indians shall leave. A post for the north ern boundary of future Ioway will go far above the sources of the Des Moines. "i\Tow, as to the process of establishing this post. I do not seek the job; but I am willing to undertake it, if my suggestions for that purpose shall be approved. I would build but common log cabins, or huts, for both men and officers, giving them good floors, windows and doors, stables, very common, but close and roomy, Pickets, Block-houses and such like, not at all. The buildings to be placed in relations of comfort, convenience and good taste; and of defense, so far as the same may comply with the first rule. "Ten mechanics, and five laborers, and four yoke of oxen, and -tools and implements, and the small material, ought to be furnished by the Qr. Master's Dept. All to be ready to go up and begin early in the spring. Pine lumber for the most necessary parts of the buildings ought to be sent up in keel-boats, in the spring rise of the river. Provisions, and corn, &c, may be sent up at the same time. "With such means and the force of my company, I could make a good and 4 C. L. Lucas — Recollections of Early Times in Iowa, Annals of Iowa, v. 6, p. 380. D Annals of Iowa, v. 4, pp. 164-65. "M\sso\j».\. \-fet tft*M^\Mja CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 21 comfortable establishment at the mouth of the Raccoon during the next sum mer, and, in the meantime, give to the Indians all necessary protection. One of their agents has told me that the Am. Fur Company would probably send up a steamboat, to the Raccoon on the spring rise. If they do, it will be a good time to send up army supplies. "I could easily have corn raised for me in that country if I could now con tract for it, and permit a person to open a farm there. Such is the desire of people to get a footing in the country that I believe that now I could hire corn to be raised there, next summer, for 25 cts. per bushel. I could get lum ber on as good terms, by allowing some one to build a mill. In short, there will be no difficulty in establishing and maintaining a post there if notice of such a design shall be given in time. But I hope that it will not be required of my company that they shall build this new post without the assistance of the hired labor that I have suggested. I have not the necessary mechanics for the purpose; and if I had, it would be requiring too much of them. It is not competent for dragoons to build their quarters and stables, and get their wood and do their duty as soldiers. "I have but little to add to what is contained in the foregoing extract of my letter to the colonel. The new post will be so purely temporary that this char acter of it ought to be kept in view in its construction. According to the plan and method that I have recommended, this post may be built and established, for one company of dragoons, for about twenty-five hundred dollars. "If a company of infantry could also be sent to this new post, it would be well, although it would increase somewhat the expense of its establishment. Of the propriety of such an arrangement, the Department will best judge. "But I will respectfully urge upon the Department the necessity for a speedy decision on the subject of this new post, that if it is to be established early measures may be taken to secure the timely transportation of the neces sary materials and supplies. The rise of the Des Moines will occur in March. "In regard to the point recommended for the new post, I may remark, that I have seen much of the territory of Ioway, and particularly of the valley of the Des Moines, having, in addition to my observations from there to the mouth of Raccoon, crossed the territory with my company last Summer, on a direct route from Ft. Leavenworth to Ft. Atkinson, crossing the Des Moines above Raccoon, and from all that I have seen and learned I would recommend the point that I have designated as the most suitable for the post in question. "All of this is predicated on the supposition that the late treaty with the Sac and Fox Indians will be approved and ratified; but this treaty is so very favorable and advantageous to the United States that I feel no apprehensions for its fate." Captain Allen's recommendations found favor with General Scott, and with the War Department, and Colonel Kearny was directed to proceed to establish, soon as the weather would permit, "a temporary post on the River Des Moines, at or near the junction of the Raccoon, for the protection of the Sac and Fox • Indians, and the interests of the Government on the frontier." 6 The order designated Captain Allen's company of dragoons and a company of infantry from Fort Crawford, on the Mississippi, for garrison duty at the new fort. The site of the post was to be designated by Captain Allen. The Captain was also given full charge of the erection of the requisite buildings for the accom modation of the command. The only limitation put upon him was that the buildings should be constructed "with as strict a regard to economy as may be consistent with the health of the troops." Not until the 29th day of April, 1843, was the weather deemed sufficiently settled to warrant a start up the river. On that date, Captain Allen, with a 6 Order No. 6, Headquarters 3d Military Department, Jefferson Barracks, February 20th,. 1843. See Annals of Iowa, v. 4, p. 166. 22 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY few of his men and a small quantity of supplies, started on his history-making expedition. A small steamer, which had but just arrived, with supplies from St. Louis for the Agency near Fort Sandford, conveyed the party to its desti nation. The pioneer historian of Des Moines, in his valuable little book of "His torical Reminiscences," published in 1857, gives the name of the pioneer steamer as "lone," and most subsequent writers have followed Mr. Turrill's account: but Aaron W. Harlan states7 that the lone was sunk near Clarksville, Mo., late in the fall of 1838. Leaving his men at "the Forks" to guard the stores, Captain Allen re turned to Fort Sandford for the rest of his company and additional stores. On the ioth of May, writing from Fort Sandford, the Captain reported: "I have located the post on the point I selected for it last fall, the point made by the junction of the Raccoon with the Des Moines. ... I have delayed taking up my "horses or removing my whole company because of the lateness of the Spring and the consequent scarcity of grass. It is too expen sive now to take up full rations of corn, and, the Des Moines river being low, I could not induce the steamboat that took up the corn and quartermaster's stores to make another trip at reasonable rates. I am using a small keel-boat and wagons, all public, for transportation of corn and some other stores, and will move with my company on the 18th instant. Fairfield, Ioway Territory, will be my first convenient postoffice, until another . shall be established in the new territory just vacated by the Indians." The return trip to "the Forks," begun on the 18th of May, was accom plished by means of keel-boats. It proved to be very difficult and laborious. We are indebted to Tacitus Hussey, of Des Moines, * for drawing out, and to YY". C. Morris, of Van Buren county, for the publication of an extremely inter esting reminiscence of this journey, from which the following passages will be found of especial interest to Des Moines and Polk county readers : "... A few days after the ice went out, a steamboat by the name of 'The Agatha,' came up to Farmington and tied up just below Death's Mill. The captain of the boat, J. M. Lafferty, was afraid of the condition of the dam at Plymouth Mill. There was a beginning cf a lock for the benefit of boats but it was not in a condition for them to pass through. He made the attempt, however, and got about half way through and had to stop. As she dropped back she raked off about twelve feet of her guard against the corner of the mill. Then she went back down the river and was gone a few days, return ing with two large keel-boats, which were to be used in case the steamboat could not reach Raccoon Forks with her load of supplies for the garrison there. This time she hired fourteen men to push these keel-boats up to the Forks, provided the steamboat could not get there. I give the names of the men who were engaged to take up the keel-boats, with the assistance of the Agatha, which divided her load with them : "Captain, Charlie Millard, Pilot, Levi Millard, Clerk, Mr. Ward, Charles Davis, poleman, Moses Davis, poleman, George Ten Eych, poleman, John Ellis, • poleman, Jim Willits, poleman, Tom Burns, poleman, Ed. Slaughter, poleman, Eli Sellgroves, poleman, Eli Glimpse, poleman, Sam Snow, poleman, W. C. Morris, poleman. "I was the youngest of the fourteen, being eighteen years old. They had poles made about twelve feet long and two inches thick with a knob on one end to place against the shoulder, and on the other end was an iron socket and point. When a pole was provided for each pusher, the start was made. This time the steamboat took the left hand side of the island lying just below the clam, which was made of brush and stones . 7 Hussey — Early Steamboating on the Des Moines, Annals of Iowa, v. 4, p. 331. 8 Hussey — Early Steamboating on the Des Moines. Annals of Iowa, v. 4, pp. 333-35. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 23 "The next stop we made was at Fort Sandford, a place where Captain Allen had been stationed with a company of dragoons. It was almost deserted, as most of the soldiers had gone to Raccoon Forks with their horses some days before. Captain Allen, a few soldiers, and their belongings remained until we arrived. "We had been towing a small keel-boat all the way. It belonged to the soldiers and it was brought up empty to Fort Sandford. It was there loaded with their property, and if anything was put into our boats I do not remember it. Captain Allen and a few soldiers took passage on the Agatha. A short distance above we came to an island. The pilot chose the south side, and just above the head of the island there was a sharp bend in the river. Just before we came to the turn the keel grounded on a ledge of rock which extended clear across the river, and was called at that time 'Appanoose Rapids.' We worked from four o'clock in the afternoon until dark and then tied up. We began again at daylight next morning and about sunrise we succeeded in shoving the boat off. . . . "The next stop we made was at Eddy's Trading Post. . . From this point we had no stop unless it was to chop wood for the steamboat, or take on board some of the big Indian chiefs, such as Keokuk,9 Appanoose, and their squaws. They were on board two or three days. We found several islands before we reached the Forks, and had to stop at most of them, sepa rate the three boats and take them through the narrow channels one at a time, as the current was very swift. We had to chop all the wood used for making steam after we struck the new purchase. About seven miles below the Forks we found the last island and just as we reached the head of it the steamboat went fast on a rock. Then we keel-boat fellows had to push the keel-boat seven miles against a stiff current, up a very crooked channel, which I after wards learned was called 'Rattlesnake Bend.' We landed at the point of land where the Raccoon river empties into the Des Moines in the evening, about sundown, and set to work unloading at once. It was a big job to handle a boat load of barrels, mostly pork and flour, and it was about two o'clock in the morning when we started for the steamboat. It was one of the windiest nights I ever saw, and the river being crooked, sometimes we were going straight down, and then sometimes crosswise. When we were within two hundred yards of the steamboat the wind blew our keel-boat against the shore and on to some rocks, where she stuck fast. We had to get out into the water and lift her off with levers, and finally managed to get her alongside the steam boat. The freight was then divided, which lightened the Agatha, and we started for the Forks, which we reached by the middle of the afternoon. "On attempting to make a landing the steamboat grounded on the sand, and it was dark before we got to work unloading. We worked all night and about 9 There is now living in Des Moines one Lois Octave de Louis, who lays what seems to be a valid claim to direct descent from Keokuk. Miss de Louis is the daughter of Henri de Louis, a member of the Legion of Honor of France, and Elizabeth Hunt, the Indian daughter of Keokuk. The mother was baptised in the Roman Catholic church and given the English name by which she was married. Father Lucian Gaultier performed the wed ding ceremony, proof of which event is retained by her daughter. De Louis and his Indian bride lived in luxury in the city of Keokuk, for a number of years, and here their two chil dren were born to them. When Lois was eleven months old her mother died, and before she reached her eleventh year her father died. Some time prior to his death, the father gave his children over to the care of one James L. Estes, a Keokuk merchant. Miss de Louis "believes that the fortune which should have come down to her from her father and mother was wrongfully diverted into' other channels. Friends have tried to interest her in making claim for land under legislation granting land to half-breed Indians ; but she has taken no action in the matter, preferring, with true Indian pride, to retain her independence and make her own way. She is a music teacher by profession. Mrs. Virginia W. Ivins, of Keokuk, was present at the marriage above referred to, and recently wrote Miss de Louis enclosing a copy of the description of land claimed by her mother in the division of the half-breed land under the court decree of petition recorded at the time. 24 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY sunrise we had the last article ashore. The temporary barracks were about four hundred yards from where we unloaded, but we did not have time to go out and see the soldiers. As soon as the unloading was done, we shoved across the river and cut a lot of wood, as there was none suitable on the point where we landed. Then with a good head of steam we started down the river at a lively pace. . . . "... We made the trip to Raccoon Forks and back with a steamboat crew, fourteen of us 'country pick-ups,' and never had a fight nor even a quar rel. There was plenty of whisky on the boat but we had only one drunk." Returning to Captain Allen's report,10 after having selected a site, the Cap tain asked the Secretary of War to sanction his choice of a name for the pro posed fort. That choice was "Fort Raccoon." "I have recommended this name," he adds, "because the place has a great notoriety under such designa tion for a great distance around it, as Raccoon River, Raccoon Forks, Raccoon, The Raccoon, &c, &c, by all of which it is known as perhaps the most conspicu ous point in the territory, and no other name will so well designate the position of the new post." Adjutant General Jones forwarded the report to the Secre tary of War with the endorsement: "Fort Iowa would be a very good name: but Raccoon would be shocking; at least in very bad taste." A few days later, General Scott informed Captain Allen that the word Raccoon was not considered a proper designation for a military post and that unless otherwise directed he would call the post "Fort Des Moines." But the Captain still remained of the same opinion, for he replied expressing fear lest the name chosen might di vert mail and supplies to the late post of the same name on the Mississippi, the recollection of which was yet in the minds of many of the postmasters and public carriers. He recommended that some name be given the post to which this inconvenience might not attach. The outcome illustrates the axiom of the modern business world : that no single letter should carry a double burden. The letter of Captain Allen contained also a request for "double rations" for the garrison. The question of double rations happened at the time to be a subject of controversy between the War and Treasury Departments. Prob ably because of that embarrassment, the letter was temporarily pigeon-holed, and it did not see the light until nearly two years afterwards. By that time, General Scott's choice of name had become well fixed in men's minds and settled in official and general correspondence. To this mischance, the Capital city of Iowa probably owes its present name, — a name of value because it has no duplicates, also because of its inevitable association with the historic "middle river," or "river of the mounds," or "river of the monks," and, too, because of its liquid quality, as pronounced by the French,11 or even as it is commonly pronounced at the present time, — with the letter "s" eliminated from each syllable.12 10 Annals of Iowa, v. 4, pp. 167-68. 11 "Day Mwoin." 12 "De Moin." &k. <^4. wit? THE OLD INDIAN AGENCY The official residence of Gen. J. M. Street while acting as agent for the Sacs and Foxes. It is just below the present village of Agency City. Wapello County. Iowa. Gen. Street died here and was buried a few rods distant and near the grave of the Indian Chief Wapello. CHAPTER X. THE RED MEN OF THE DES MOINES VALLEY THE TREATY OF 1842. There is no discoverable link connecting the so-called Mound Builders and the Indians whom the first white settlers found in possession of the valley of the Des Moines. In their westward retreat before the onrush of the whites, the allied Sac and Fox Indians found the bottom lands of the Des Moines an inviting halt ing place, its forests and prairies teeming with game, its streams swarming with fish. Here they remained protected by treaty until the 12th day of Oc tober, 1845, when, having sold to the general government, three years before, their right and title to the reservation, and the period fixed for their departure having arrived, they reluctantly took up their line of march toward the reser vation provided for them beyond the Missouri. The Sacs and Foxes whom the whites found in the Des Moines valley are described by Fulton in his "Red Men of Iowa" as belonging to the great Al gonquin group of Indians. Though the two tribes after their union resided together as one people, they retained their distinctive tribal name and lineage. Each tribe had its chief, "though in later years the principal chief of the Sacs was recognized as the head chief of the united tribes." This same author con cludes that their language, customs and traditions indicate a common origin. They were well organized and obedient to authority. According to their meas ure of justice, they were just. They were warlike and brave, more humane than most other tribes, and far more considerate in the treatment of their wives. They were athletic and fond of contests of strength and skill. They were religious in their own way, attaching much importance to rites and ceremonies. In their part in the negotiations which resulted in the treaty of 1842, they were dignified throughout, their chiefs evincing not a little business shrewd ness, and yet not disposed to make exorbitant demands. In carrying out the provisions of that treaty, three years later, they were reluctant to leave their hunting grounds; but, at the same time, most of them evinced a fine sense of honor in carrying out the provisions of the treaty to the letter. Fulton describes the Sacs and Foxes after their removal to Kansas as still "proud and independent, pursuing the chase during the hunting season, not as much given to intemperance as the Iowas, who were placed in the same agency, and entertaining greater respect for the whites than the Iowas." The Treaty of October 11, 1842, quickly following that of 1837, evinced more liberality than its predecessor in its provision for the future of these wards of the nation. The treaty was executed by John Chambers, Governor of the Territory, representing the United States, and twenty-two representative Sacs (or Sauks) and the same number of Foxes. Ke-o-kuk was the chief negotiator for the Sacs and Pow-e-shick (Poweshiek) for the Foxes. The witnesses to the treaty were: John Beach, United States Indian agent and sec retary; Antoine Le Claire and Josiah Swart, interpreters; Capt. James Allen, of the First Dragoons, who later was placed in command at Fort Des Moines; Lieut. C. F. Ruff, also of the First Dragoons ; Arthur Bridgman, Alfred Hebard and Jacob O. Phister, Indian traders. The time was ripe for the treaty. The Indian had begun to feel the pres- 25 26 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY sure of the oncoming millions ; game was becoming scarce ; the vices of the fron tier, and particularly the vice of intemperance, were making inroads among their braves, not even sparing their chiefs; and many of them were hopelessly in debt to the traders, their indebtedness aggregating nearly a half-million dollars.1 After sifting the claims against the Indians, the total was reduced to $258,- 566.34. The claims of one company of traders were scaled 75 per cent. Among the items in their bills were "Italian cravats," "Sattinette coats," "looking glasses," "fine satin vests," "dress coats," "surtout coats," "super overcoats," etc., and these at exorbitant prices. Two traders, who had built their house upon the line of the reservation, and had been guilty of selling whisky to the Indians, presented a bill of over six thousand dollars, but realized nothing. The biographer of Governor Chambers pronounces this treaty "the most important ever negotiated upon Iowa soil." By the terms of this treaty2 the Sacs and Foxes were, on or before the ist day of May, 1843, to remove beyond a boundary line running north and south from the painted or red rocks on the White Breast fork of the Des Moines, about eight miles below the junction of the White Breast river with the Des Moines.3 They were guaranteed government protection in their temporary oc cupancy of the land. Thence, in three years from the date of the treaty, the Indians were to remove westward to a suitable and convenient point beyond the Missouri to be designated by the government, which was to be their permanent and perpetual residence. In compensation therefor, they were to receive an nually five per centum interest on the sum of $800,000.00. Their debts amount ing to $258,566.34, were to be paid. Minor provisions of the treaty were: the erection and maintenance of blacksmith and gunsmith shops on the reservation and the employment of workmen for them; ample supplies of provisions for both removals, the cost to be deducted from moneys payable from the govern ment; each principal chief to receive an annuity of $500 out of the annuity to be paid his tribe, to be used 'as he might choose, with the approbation of the agent; the sum of $30,000 to be retained at each annual payment, to be expended by the chiefs, with the approbation of the agent, "for national and charitable purposes among their people, — such as the support of their poor, burying their dead, employing physicians for the sick, procuring provisions, ... in cases of necessity, and such other purposes of general utility as the chiefs may think proper, and the agency may approve." A final clause in the treaty contained a generous provision for the widow of the late General Joseph M. Street, Indian Agent, who had been buried side by side with Chief Wapello, on the Des Moines river at Agency City, near Ot- tumwa, Iowa. 1 Parish-Life of John Chambers, Iowa Biographical Series, State Historical Soe, pp. 180-89. 2 Farrell's Indian Affairs, Laws and Treaties, v. 2, p. 546. 3 A point in the northern part of Marion county. I'ASH-E-PA-HO "THE STABBER" A chief of the Sac tribe who in 1.X41 was in camp on the site of the present capital of Iowa. BOOK I. THE DES MOINES RIVER. PART II. GOVERNMENT'S COSTLY ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE DES MOINES NAVIGABLE. CHAPTER I. THE NAVIGATION OF THE DES MOINES THE INCEPTION OF THE PLAN THE STATE'S INITIATIVE THE GENEROUS RESPONSE OF CONGRESS. The history of the Des Moines river would be incomplete without at least a review in outline of the movement begun in the Forties, continuing in the Fif ties and Sixties and ending in a series of long-drawn-out legal complica tions haunting every Governor and General Assembly and vexing every Attorney- General, State and National, from the failure of the enterprise in the Sixties down to the long-deferred decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1902. The movement, in its inception, was nothing less than one to make the prin- . cipal river of interior Iowa navigable from its mouth to its junction with the Raccoon. The success of the gigantic enterprise would have speedily trans formed the little community at "the Forks" into a great metropolitan city, and would have made Polk county prosperous beyond the wildest dreams of the most optimistic settler. It would have given to the farmers of the Des Moines valley a home market readily turning into gold the rich products of their fields and pastures. Governor Clarke, in his first annual message, December 3, 1845,1 officially inaugurated the movement having for its object a land grant for the improve ment of the Des Moines in these alluring terms: "The improvement, by slackwater or otherwise, of that most beautiful of all rivers, the Desmoines, is a subject in which deep interest is felt by our fellow citizens, residing in the Western and Southern counties. Coursing, as it does, through a very fertile and densely populated portion of the Territory, this stream once rendered susceptible of steam navigation, would soon become the thorough fare for a vast amount of inland trade. The practicability of so improving it is generally conceded; but being destitute ourselves of the means necessary to its accomplishment, the question at once presents itself, 'how, and at whose expense, is the work to be done?' At present, we have but one resource to turn to, and that is the general government. Grants of lands have been made in several in stances by Congress to works of infinitely less importance; and for any reason able donation of this kind to the improvement in question the government might safely calculate upon being speedily reimbursed, in the increase of its receipts from the lands lying contiguous to the river. A memorial to Congress, setting forth the subject in its proper light, might possibly receive a favorable reception at the hands of that body." The message of Governor Clarke, a year later,2 officially informs the General Assembly of the speedy action of Congress in response to the memorial of the Territorial legislature, — an act, approved August 8, 1846, granting lands to aid in the improvement of the navigation of the Des Moines river, from its mouth to the Raccoon fork. The Governor doubted not that the new State would accept this "extensive grant." "The Des Moines," he says, "is known to present fewer obstacles to navigation than any other river within our limits, and its improvement has ever 1 Messages and Proclamations, v. 1, pp. 324-25. 2 Messages and Proclamations, v. 1, pp. 343-44. 29 30 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY been regarded as an object of the first importance. The practicability of so improving it by locks and dams, as to enable reasonably sized steamboats to pass as high as the Raccoon Fork, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, has been affirmed by engineers of experience; nor, from the regularity of the river, its high banks, rock bottom, and extremely favorable character generally, is it be lieved the work would be attended with any very heavy expenditure of money [ !]. It is an improvement in which nearly one-half of the people of Iowa are directly interested, as furnishing them with an easy, safe and cheap mode of transit for their vast and increasing surplus productions, and one which, when completed, will greatly add to the population and wealth of the State." Congress had been persuaded to make an extremely liberal grant for the pur pose of aiding the territory to improve the navigation of the river — not "to make the river navigable" 3 — conveying every alternate section of public land on each side and within the limits of five miles from the river. The grant was to become the property of the State of Iowa as soon as the State was admitted into the Union, and was to be devoted to the improvement of the river from its mouth to the Raccoon Fork. The lands thus granted and accepted by the State, upon the conditions imposed by Congress, were to be selected by agents to be appointed by the Governor and could only be disposed of as the work of improvement of the river progressed. Governor Clarke appointed three commissioners to select the lands. But it afterward appeared that it was not expected that they should proceed in the discharge of the task assigned them until further advised. If re mained for the First General Assembly of the State to take such action as might be found necessary to make the donation available. Governor Clarke estimated that at least two-thirds of the entire donation was occupied and claimed by settlers, many of whom, under the erpectation of obtaining a title to their lands at the minimum price, had made extensive im provements. In his judgment a change of proprietorship should not be per mitted to place these claimants in a worse condition than they were at the time, either by increasing the price or by shortening the period allowed for payment. He recommended that the State should enact a special preemption law, giving the claimants the privilege of entering their homes at $1.25 an acre, and should prescribe the arrangement and execution of the work in every detail.4 Iowa legislation in furtherance of "the Des Moines River Improvement," as it was officially termed, began with an act passed during the first session of the last Territorial Assembly, creating a Board of Public Works and empowering the Governor to appoint three commissioners to serve on such Board. The first report of the commission elected by the voters of the State, dated December 1, 1848, detailed their organization for work, their hard task to be no less than to make the Des Moines river accessible for steamboats to the Raccoon Forks. The Board was fortunate in procuring the services of Samuel R. Curtis8 as chief engineer, with Messrs. Wells, Jacobs and Hayden as his assistants. Curtis commenced the survey of the river December 16, 1847. Contracts for the build ing of locks and dams were let, arid the work was vigorously begun. The first day of March, 1851, was set as the day for final estimates, when all the contracts were to be delivered up in a manner acceptable to the Chief Engineer. U. S. Commissioner Young, in a letter to Charles Corkery, secretary of the Board, dated February 23, 1848, noting a question having arisen as to the extent of the land grant made to Iowa, by the act of August 8, 1846, gives his opinion that the grant — an "equal moiety, in alternate sections, of the public lands remaining unsold and not otherwise disposed of, . . . within a strip 3 A point made by Colonel Gatch, an attorney in the case. See Annals of Iowa, v. 1, P- 355- 4 Messages and Proclamations, v. 1, pp. 342-45. 0 Afterwards a member of Congress from the first Iowa district, and a major-general in the Civil War. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 31 five miles in width on each side of said river, to be selected within said Territory — entitled the State to the alternate sections within five miles of the Des Moines river, throughout the whole extent of the river, within the limits of Iowa." 6 This opinion seemed to the Board to remove "all ground of cavil as to the extent of the grant." The same literal construction seemed also to extend the grant beyond the new limits of Iowa, for the language of the act, "within said Territory" covered a region extending from sixty to ninety miles north of the State line subsequently designated by Congress. But, after this construction, Commissioner Young advertised a part of those same State lands for sale! The Board called the Commissioner's attention to the "error;" but the sale went on, and portions of the State lands were sold' by the Commissioner. The Board, called the attention of the legislature to this inconsistency and urged im mediate action, since the success of the improvement depended on the extent of the grant. It was recommended that Congress empower the selection of other lands in lieu of the State lands sold by the Government land officers. The Board represented that the country was "well settled in the vicinity of the river for some twenty miles above the Raccoon Forks, and sparsely settled as high up as the Boone Forks," adding, "it will not be many years before that country will be inhabited by an enterprising people who will demand that the im provement shall be continued into this region." 7 Farther on the report reads : "Already the neighborhood of the Forks and all the country east of it, is anxiously desiring the completion of the improvement in order to send off accu mulating stores of corn, wheat, pork and other commodities. These demands have induced the board to anticipate the proceeds of sales, and the contracts already let are so constituted as to progress, though the payments must await the sale of the lands ; but with abundant means which, with the aid of the State, can be obtained in advance of a sale of lands, these contracts can be sooner ac complished, and others put in progress."8 The Board recommended the issuance of bonds, believing that the Improvement so expedited, would enhance the value of the unsold lands of the State, and so warrant the issue. Here, almost at the outset, was laid the basis for well-nigh interminable law suits, — these varying interpretations making all the difference between about 300,000 and' 1,300,000 acres. 6 Senate Journal, 2nd G. A. Appendix C — Report of Board of Public works, p. 349. 7 Senate Journal, 2nd G. A. Appendix C — Report of Board of Public works, p. '•51. 8 Senate Journal, 2nd G. A. Appendix C, p. 359. CHAPTER II. THE WORK IN PROGRESS THE HAPPENING OF THE UNEXPECTED. Engineer Curtis, during his three years' service as chief engineer of the Des Moines River Improvement, made three able reports, the prophetic part of, which, though delightfully optimistic in tone, might all have been realized but for the happening of the unexpected which so often defeats the best-laid schemes. The "Engineer's Report, No. i" 1 is chiefly a report on surveys along the lower Des Moines from Ottumwa to the Mississippi, and specific recommenda tions as to locks and dams. It is remarkable that the present-day arguments for making the Des Moines river navigable by means of locks and dams should so closely repeat the argu ments of Engineer Curtis. In his second report2 (March 20, 1848) the engineer maintains that freight between St. Louis and Council Bluffs via the Des Moines would be at a saving of 92 cents per hundred pounds over the Missouri river route, with a corres ponding saving in time and insurance. His figures are as follows: Freight, per hundred, St. Louis to St. Joseph, via the Missouri, as quoted in the papers 1.50 From St. Joseph to Council Bluffs, 50 $2.00 Freight, per hundred, St. Louis to Keokuk, via the Mississippi, as quoted : .12 Add freight on the Des Moines, Keokuk to the Forks of the Des Moines,. . .15 Add freight by wagon from the Forks to Council Bluffs, at rate paid Keokuk to Eddyville 7% cents a mile 80 51.07 The report continues : "By extending this improvement up the Raccoon river, as far as possible, and adopting a rail plank road, or other means to cheapen the transit across the Forks to Council Bluffs, the difference will be more in favor of this route, and must secure the trade of that point." "No other river can compete with the Des Moines in susceptibility of per manent improvement in this region, and in competition with this design. Neither can a railroad injure our prospects. Transportation on water, where large crafts, such as flatboats, keel boats, and steamboats, can easily float; will always be much cheaper than on railroads. The heavy products of a count [r]y, such as the agricultural and mineral, will always pursue the channels of rivers when large boats can navigate them; and such is the character of the Des Moines improvement that flatboats, and even rafts may pass down. . . "I would not discourage the progress of railroads. On the contrary I re gard them of equal if not greater importance than canals. They will carry travel and light transportation, even in competition with the best steamboat navigation. They are especially applicable to a populous country on great lines 1 Senate Journal, 2nd G. A. Appendix C, p. 367. - Senate Journal, 2nd G. A. Appendix C, pp. 398-99. 32 IrBUfr— --— - Eifr>^^61f5~- -rJUrV -sira^ o 5 6 J'ou.^f, Jh.^Jl, u^, 1^53 EtTlfXCATE H entitle "^^ -6 f£ A St >n or order to / w "#-J Shares in the Stock of the »f.s otoixes steam nc»vr .SJMNT. W.CRETABY. ~ms-^^==ens5= CERTIFICATE OF STOCK, DES MOINES RIVER STEAMBOAT COMPANY Bsxnsn it Steamboat PEMOINE BELLE, ^ X r/„f m //,c- malwn-j mul to h rfdtu-eled m ate* olfa and cor,r/,./,r?,, / Jamnai* <•/ /LrjA'vci cccr/i/w 'J unja ^O^o/ C&^^w/ %\\ MiMM Whcvcof , /L e/Ui ./ m:j HLmU L/l ,fr,,«i /, 5* fl\ /M BILL OF LADING— DEMOINTC BELLE CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 33 of thoroughfare. But most of the heavy agricultural and mineral products will float down the channel of our rivers when railroads have intersected them with a thousand lines." Engineer Curtis's third and last report3 (September i, 1849) goes over in detail the subject matter of the Report of the Board, bringing out certain mat ters of interest in this connection. His observations were as follows : "Racoon Forks are in latitude 41 degrees 24 minutes, 44 seconds — and longitude 93 degrees 37 minutes 7 seconds. These observations show that Fort Des Moines is 124^2 miles West, and 73 miles North of the mouth of the Desmoines, and the straight line from the mouth to Racoon Forks is therefore 144 miles; which determines the difference between the straight line and the line of our improvement to be 30 miles. The road usu ally traveled varies almost the same, and a railroad which may be located on the ridge parallel to the river, would not save much in the distance, compared with the river improvement. . . . The time therefore which will be required to pass this improvement, will be sufficiently reduced to compete with stage travel by road, and the business and travel of the Upper Des Moines country will justify the employment of a line of packet boats between St. Louis and Fort Des Moines, as soon as the improvement can be completed. Steam boats of 500 ton burthen run on the Muskingum improvement where the locks are much smaller than those we are constructing on the Des Moines. Transportation of freight will therefore be cheaper, even if it is made to pay the same exorbitant tolls."* The engineer proceeds to illustrate the gain to be derived from the improve ment, giving estimates which are of melancholy interest to those who know the heart-breaking outcome of it all. He estimates the freight on a barrel of flour from "Racoon Forks" to the mouth of the Des Moines at 25 cents, and on a bushel of wheat at 8 cents. "By flatboats it would cost about one-half that sum." "Go up to Racoon Forks," he says, "and it is certainly fair to say this improve ment, with its milling and manufacturing power and other inducements, will draw in the trade within 60 miles of Racoon Forks." He sees no prospect of a rival, and "cannot doubt the reasonable prospect of this point being the center of busi ness for a country one hundred miles West and North-west of it." Referring to "the Desmoines coal field" Engineer Curtis speaks of finding coal "in many places in bluff banks, where it can be wheeled directly from the mine into the boat." Even with the then present inconveniences, it was "deliv ered at the mouth of the coal bank at Fort Desmoines at 2% cents per bushel." This was a five foot bank belonging to a "Mr. Van." He "found the strata of coal in different places to vary from two to eight feet in thickness." He found gypsum near Fort Des Moines "in large cliffs of inexhaustible masses," and building stone at "Red Rock" and other points below the Fort. He eloquently pictures these "noted landmarks that have stood for ages as silent and gloomy sentinels, guarding the clear bright river that flows at its base," as in the near future "rent by the blast and broken by the workmen; and their fragments . . . removed and erected into mansions which will adorn the cities of the Mississippi, and the valleys and hills of the surrounding country." With this pleasing bit of optimism, Engineer Curtis disappears from the his tory of the Des Moines River Improvement. The documents relating to "this proposed improvement" published in 1850 are full of interest to the reader who would follow the after-complica tions of the case. The Board of Public Works, Messrs. William Patterson, Jesse Williams and George Gillaspy, took ground5 that the grant of land to the State, in aid of the Des Moines River Improvement was expressly from the mouth to 3 Senate Journal, 3d G. A. Appendix D, p. 86. * Senate Journal, 3d G. A. Appendix D, v. I, p. 113. 5 Senate Journal, 3d G. A. Appendix D, pp. 43-44. VoL 1—3 34 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY the source of the river, extending from forty to sixty miles into Minnesota, a position based upon the decision of Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury. Later, the Department of the Interior decided that the grant did not extend above "Racoon Forks." Meantime land above the Forks had been "located" by actual settlers. This unexpected decision, coming at a time when the Board was looking to the sale of lands above the Forks to supply the means with which to progress the improvements, proved disastrous, the sale of lands below the Forks having fallen off, chiefly because of the extraordinary emigration to California. The survey had been made from sixty to eighty miles above Fort Des Moines, and settlements had been made more than a hundred miles above. An appeal was made to the President by the Iowa delegation in Congress. The President promptly referred the whole matter to the Attorney-General, Rev- erdy Johnson, who sustained the decision made by Secretary Walker, under which the State had acted. Meantime President Taylor died, having taken no action on the opinion of the Attorney-General, and the changes in the Interior Department following his death indefinitely postponed any action on the opinion. It was therefore deemed expedient to suspend operations on the "steamboat canal" for about ten miles above the mouth of the river. There was then an indebted ness of $30,000, for work done below Farmington, with only $10,000 in the treas ury. Certificates of indebtedness were issued to the contractors. For the lands sold by the government above the Forks, conflicting with the original grant, the Board recommended that Congress be asked to allow the State to select other lands in lieu of those above the Forks which legally belonged to the State, thus preventing injustice to innocent purchasers. "The lands sold," says the report, "situated as they are immediately above the prosperous and rapidly advancing young city of Fort Des Moines, 'are in trinsically at the present time worth from four to ten dollars per acre, while a similar quantity selected in lieu of them, would never realize to the State over one dollar and a quarter per acre." The report describes at length the destructive freshets of the late winter and early spring of 1849, the river having risen higher than it had ever before been known to rise. These, with the prevalence of cholera, and the advance of 50 to 75 per cent for labor, occasioned much loss and a vexatious delay. These con ditions compelled the then Chief Engineer to make many changes in contractors and terms of contract. The Board advised a loan on the improvements, to raise money necessary to vigorous action, assuring the General Assembly that "when the difficulties shall have been overcome in this portion of the river by slack- water and the canal, a continuous steamboat navigation will have been accom plished to Fort Desmoines, for from two to four months each year, which will be productive of vast benefits." CHAPTER III. NEW COMPLICATIONS. The State, through Commissioner Gillaspy and Register Antwerp, made a contract with Bangs Brothers & Company of New York for the vigorous pros ecution and speedy completion of the improvement. The firm failed, both in pushing the work toward completion and in remitting for work done. The State drew on the firm and its paper went to protest. The contract was de clared forfeited. An attempt was then made to interest other eastern capita! in the enterprise ; but the passage of the Homestead act at this time, deterred timid capital from investing in lands which might be brought into ruinous com petition with cheap government lands. The handwriting on the wall — the cabalistic word "Railroads" — was clearly seen by the public in 1852, thereby adding to the perplexities of the commis sioner. The report takes up the question : "Will the railroads entirely supercede the canals, or lead to the abandonment of any of our important rivers as chan nels for transportation?" Without underrating the railroads, the report makes a strong argument for the canalization of rivers. In 1852 Commissioner Gillaspy presented to the State the alternative of a twenty-five-year contract, with the deeding of all the land remaining under the grant, to Messrs. Page & Bacon, St. Louis bankers, or the issuance of bonds by the State in violation of its non-debt-creating policy. The State accepted neither horn of the dilemma : it appointed an investigating committee, and sat down to wait results ! The report would be incomplete without a bit of reassuring prophecy : "Rail roads may be built, and will be built rapidly," it says, "when once commenced — which will be ere long; and by the score in after years — probably within the 19th century ; . . . and, when so built, they will be of noble benefits to the people, and advance, with giant strides, the wealth and power of the State. Yet, build as many railroads as we may, the Desmoines River Improvement, once finished, from the mouth of the river to- Fort Desmoines, will, we repeat, remain forever Iowa's great work, occupying the position which the great Hudson and Erie Canal does to New York, and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to Maryland." "Passing diagonally through the State, fully four hundred miles, and by its center, where her future Capitol will be reared, and her greatest inland town grow up around it, upon the bosom of the beautiful Des Moines, when once permanently improved for uninterrupted navigation, as is contemplated, will float to the 'Great Father of Waters' much of the largest portion of the products of her entire valley — nay, probably, of the entire State itself, of which that valley is the great heart and center; while upon her banks will spring rapidly into existence numerous thriving manufacturing towns, finding, in the vast water power created by the works, perpetual food upon which to found a growth as substantial, and durable, as it will be gratifying and surprising." 35 CHAPTER IV. LOOKING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND TO CONGRESS FOR RELIEF. The Des Moines Navigation and Rail Road Company through Henry O'Reilly, its secretary entered into the complicated situation June 9, 1854, with a contract "for the entire and final completion of the improvement." The company agreed to pay all debts against the improvement, all salaries, etc., and to complete the improvement to Fort Des Moines, in accordance with the original plans, by July, 1858, ensuring the navigation of the river by that time and agreeing to complete at least one fourth of the work each year, the company to have the use and con trol of the work for sixty years. The reasons given for thus turning the prop erty over to a corporation for sixty years was that the lands had been so far doled out that the proceeds from future sales would be insufficient to pay for the work to be done, and further that "railroads seemed to be the all-absorbing topic of interest." Commissioner Manning, filling a vacancy caused by the resignation of Com missioner McKay, in '57, investigated the new situation and found that the com pany had admittedly failed, that its course had "excited suspicions among the best men that there was a want of good faith and intention on the part of the company," but he had won valuable concessions from the company and the work would go on. There had been, to date, an outlay by the State and the company, of nearly $800,000, and that portion constructed by the company was still in an unfinished condition. Further differences and longer delay would prove disastrous. The main points of agreement between Commissioner Manning and the company were: (1) The titles to lands for right of way and mill purposes were to remain in the name of the State; and (2) the balance claimed by the company was scaled down from $109,849.73, to $37,286.67, this balance to be reserved by the State until the performance of a certain contingency set forth in his agreement with the company, namely that the company complete a fourth part of the line from the mouth of the river before it should become entitled to the balance above named. 36 CHAPTER V. LEGISLATORS TAKE A HAND IN THE GAME OF CROSS PURPOSES. The report of the Joint Committee on the "De Moine River Improvement" 1 made to the Sixth General Assembly 1856-7, aimed to set at rest the reports in circulation that at least a portion of the committee were unfriendly to the fur ther prosecution of the work and in favor of diverting the appropriation to railroad construction. There had been but one wish on the part of the com mittee, and that was to secure the greatest possible advantage to the Improve ment, and that any attempt to divert any portion of the grant or the proceeds thereof, would be illegal, impolitic and unjust. The legislative committee was of opinion that "no legal contract was ever made with the De Moine Navigation and Railroad Company," the essential signa ture of the Governor not having been attached. The committee found that over a million dollars of full-paid stock had been issued by the company, upon which had been received but $167,000, leaving a deficit of $823,000, for which certificates had been issued; but nothing had been realized by the company. It reported that this stock was at the time mainly in the hands of innocent purchasers. "A gigantic fraud" had therefore been perpetrated upon the stockholders. Not only had the company forfeited its charter but "every officer or stockholder" who had "participated in, or been cognizant of, said fraud," had "rendered his individual property liable to any party injured." By the terms of the original contract the whole Improvement was to be completed July 1, 1858, and a quarter of the work to be done annually. Up to December 1, 1856, a period of nearly 2,y2 years, the company had expended in actual construction $185,957.44, and in engineering and incidental expenses, $104,180.74. A quarter of the work was not done during the first year of the contract. The committee, after making all allowances, could "find no reason able excuse for the extraordinary sluggishness . . . compatible with an honest purpose of prosecuting the work to completion. There remained un sold, June 9, 1856, of lands assigned to this Improvement only, 266,107.13 acres, which, at $1.25 would amount to $322,633.39. Regarding the contract as void, for the reasons given, the committee were of opinion that the company were justly entitled only to "a fair compensation for the work done by them; but, . . not entitled, unless the State so elects, to payment in land at $1.25 per acre, which was worth six or seven dollars per acre." The committee were not satisfied that the company could be reached by legal process. The recently appointed Commissioner Manning had entered into a modified contract with the company, which was apparently advantageous to the State ; but the committee saw no reliable guaranty in the new agreement of the com pany. The committee recommended the passage of a law authorizing the appoint ment of an additional commissioner, who with the one then authorized by law, 1 Consisting of D. T. Brigham, chairman; W. F. Coolbaugh, Wm. G. Thompson, J. W. Jenkins, J. J. Matthews, D. Edmundson, B. F. Roberts, John H. Fry, Miles Jordan, David Doud, Jr., John E. Kurtz and James Galbraith. 37 38 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY should be authorized to make, if practicable, an arrangement with the company upon such terms as would "insure the speedy and vigorous prosecution of the work," and, in case of failure, then to settle with the company for money ex pended on the work. The committee saw no good reason for further continuing the office of Register, and recommended its abolition, also that the office of Assistant Com missioner be abolished. By an act approved January 29, 1857,2 the State of Iowa became still fur ther committed to a policy of river improvement which resulted in no end of embarrassment and large expense to the State. It was enacted that the Gov ernor should appoint a commissioner who, with the commissioner already created, should be empowered to contract for a speedy and early prosecution of the "Desmoines river improvement," and to pay all just debts on account of such improvement. In case of a disagreement, the attorney general was to act as a third commissioner. It was declared lawful for the commissioners to sell lands belonging to the Des Moines river grant, or make them the basis of bonds issued. The commissioners were directed to advertise any and all such sales in "one newspaper published at Fort Desmoines at least thirty days before the sale," the sale to be at the county seat of the county in which the land was situated. In a report dated January 1, 1858, Commissioner Manning informs the Gov ernor that subsequent to the adjustment of December 24, 1856, namely, Jan uary 29, 1857, the Legislature had passed an act requiring the commissioner and assistant commissioner to proceed to settle and adjust all matters relating to the affairs of the Des Moines Improvement Company, and that accordingly, in March, the two had met the agents of the company at Burlington and endeavored to make such adjustment. After two ineffectual attempts, on their part, the company had concluded to resort to the courts. A suit was therefore instituted against the commissioner in the district court of Des Moines county, asking a mandamus, requiring the conveyance of over 89,000 acres of land from the State to the company. To this application a demurrer was filed, raising the question as to the validity of the contracts between the State and the Company, "also assigning that the application for a mandamus did not show such a compliance with their contracts upon the part of the Company as entitled them to a spe cific performance on the part of the State." The Supreme Court, of Iowa, held that the contracts of the 9th and 29th of June, 1854, were valid, and that the act of the General Assembly approved January 29, 1857, declaring the con tracts invalid, was of no effect. The supplemental contracts of September 27 and December 25, 1855, were held to- be void.3 The adjustment of December 29, '56 was sustained. The court dismissed the application for a mandamus, on the ground that there had not been such a compliance with their contracts as en titled the company to a specific performance on the part of the State. R. P. Lowe, and C. C. Nourse conducted the cause for the State, defeating the claim for a mandamus, as well as for salaries, office expenses, etc. The Commissioner and the company's agents met August 5, '57, and the company proposed a more vigorous prosecution of the work and agreed to com plete all unfinished work. Consequently an agreement to that effect was signed by Mr. Manning for the State and O. Clark, Vice President, for the company. The end was not yet ! The work was commenced, but as a whole was not vigorously prosecuted. Certain orders given were countermanded, "thereby defeating the spirit and intention" of the agreement upon which the company were demanding 24,000 acres of land. But that was not all. The company failed to expend the sum of $1,300,000 for the lands, and consequently were - Acts and Resolutions, 6th G. A., pp. 383-86. 3 Colonel Gatch in "The Des Moines River Land Grant," Annals of Iowa, v. 1. p. 477, refers to this decision as rendered at the June term, 1857, but "not found in the printed reports." CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 39 not entitled to the remaining lands more or less. The company now refused to acknowledge any liability for land beyond $1.25 an acre. The commissioner attended a meeting in New York in September, '57, and he and an agent of the company visited Washington, but came to no agreement as to the case. The company's latest alternative was that henceforth the State must admit the company's interpretations of the contract of June 9, '54, and for every $30,000 expended they should have land at $1.25 an acre, without regard to whether the lands would aggregate $1,300,000 as stipulated in the latest agree ment. The difference between the State and the company involved at least $400,000, thus justifying the commissioner in holding the company to its agreement. To justify himself in countermanding the company's requisition for 24,000 acres, Mr. Manning charged : That the company had failed to prosecute the work as agreed, had not paid sub-contractors ; had not performed additional work as agreed; had presented claims for repairs which he had rejected; had refused to vest the title to rights of way and water power in the State; had failed to pay old liabilities, had made excessive estimates on work done; had threatened suspension of work unless the company were released from the con tract artd new stipulations were made. The commissioner was satisfied the work would not progress as required under the contract of '54. Even greater reasons remained — according to Manning — for recalling the order for the land : After 3^2 years the company claimed to have expended nearly a half-million, and yet not a single lock or dam had been completed, thus failing to comply with its agreement to complete a fourth every year. They had obstructed the river causing great loss to boatmen and shippers. The com pany had practically suspended work, leaving much of it unfinished and in a dangerous condition; old liabilities were pressing, and the necessity of prompt action was urged. The citizens of Fort Dodge, encouraged by a few steamboat trips extended from Des Moines to their city, saw millions in prospect and organized for com mercial and legislative activities. A law had been passed by the General Assembly declaring the river navigable only as far as Des Moines. Ft. Dodge demanded a repeal of the law, and pro ceeded to take legislative steps to require a draw to be placed in each of the; bridges at Ft. Des Moines, and that an appropriation from lands theretofore granted for that purpose be made to clean the river from such obstructions as exist between Ft. Dodge and Ft. Des Moines, etc. But the season of i860 was a dry one, and notwithstanding a cash bonus, no steamer would venture so far up the river; "and Fort Desmoines turned her determined face hopefully to wards the coming railroads." The final report of Commissioner Manning in '59 noted that no work had been done on the improvement since January 1, 1858, except lock repairs. Then came Judge Mason, commissioned by the State to procure, if possible, the remaining lands belonging to the grant of 1846. and turn them over in aid of the Keokuk, Ft. Des Moines & Minnesota Rail Road Company, for the con struction of a railroad from Keokuk along the river by way of the City of Des Moines to the northern line of the State, excepting all lands previously sold by the State, or conveyed to the Des Moines Navigation & Rail Road Company — the grant to become operative as soon as Congress should permit the proposed diversion, the company to complete the improvements begun and to protect the State against the improvement company and other claimants if any. Commissioner Drake, in i860, reported the apparent purpose of the Govern ment to refuse to permit the diversion of the remaining lands from its original purpose to that of a railroad, and urged prompt action to obtain a decisive judg ment on that point. CHAPTER VI. THE GOVERNORS URGE ACTION. The vexatious Des Moines River complications early confronted Governor Kirkwood. Inhis first biennial message, January 15, 1862, the Governor turns from war's alarms to the report of the Register of the State Land Office, to find "very serious and embarassing questions" have arisen from conflicting interests, attributable to vacillation and differences of opinion in regard to the extent of the Desmoines River land grant. Three different opinions had been given. The clear-headed War Governor brushed aside the technicalities in which the conflicting interests were enmeshed, and declared that "the State having only conveyed what title it had to these lands may not be legally liable to make good any loss that may result to others from a failure of that title, but certainly is morally bound, at the least, to do what may be reasonably and fairly done to protect the rights and interests of those threatened with such loss." Speaking of the companies then in default that were asking the indulgence and clemency of the State, he says, "it seems to me the State may very properly before extending such indulgence and clemency, enquire and know what in dulgence and clemency these companies will extend to the unfortunate holders of land." He recommended that the terms for settlement and adjustment of the matter recommended by Governor Lowe be the basis of settlement and that power be given "to reconvey to the United States any excess of lands yet remaining unsold." 1 In his second biennial message, January 12, 1864, Governor Kirkwood notes that portions of lands above the city of Des Moines have been sold to individuals whose titles are contested by certain railroad companies. He repeats his sug gestion of two years before. In his judgment, the joint resolution of Congress, March 3, 1861, and the act of Congress, July 12, 1862, concerning the lands in question had put it in the power of the State to do something toward an amicable and equitable adjustment of differences, and he recommended that an effort be made to that end. He further recommended that, if such effort should fail, the Attorney-General of Iowa be directed to bring suit or suits in the United States courts, that a final decision might be obtained from the Supreme court.2 1 Messages and Proclamations, v. 2, pp. 290-93, 2 Messages and Proclamations, v. 2, pp. 329-31. 40 ¦""22L J v°s ^ -/K/ssout/ M} llrttd. Jiacl- 6utT«a'tu,l6i'T CHAPTER VII. THE END AT LAST ! Meantime, bona fide settlers and speculators were united in pressing their claims for titles to lands which in good faith they had settled and improved. Governors Stone, Merrill, Carpenter and Larrabee in turn took up these claims and urged an equitable settlement. In 1888, Governor Larrabee called attention to the veto by President Cleve land of a bill for the relief of these settlers. In 1890 the Governor reported evictions and threats of bloodshed. Pending investigation by the government, Judge Shiras, of the Federal court, ordered a suspension of evictions. Finally, on July 8, 1888, the Government yielded to pressure and brought suit in the name of the United States against the Des Moines Navigation and Rail Road Company and others. U. S. Attorney-General Miller, Attorney-General Stone of Iowa and Hon. D. C. Chase of Webster City appeared for the government; Benton J. Hall appeared for the company, and numerous grantees of the com pany by Gatch, Connor cc Weaver, of Des Moines. The decision1 was in favor of the defendants. On January 11, 1892, the Supreme court confirmed the title of the Navigation Company and its grantees. All parties accepted the decision as final. Congress appropriated $200,000 — and later $150,000 additional — which moneys were dispensed by special commis sioners Berner of Georgia and Stevens of Boone, Iowa, and with this distribu tion the long-drawn-out controversy came to an end. 1 43 Federal Reporter, 1. 41 BOOK II. FORT DES MOINES. FROM GARRISON TOWN TO CAPITAL CITY. 1843-1857. INTRODUCTION. THE MARKED INDIVIDUALITY OF LOCAL HISTORY IN IOWA. There is in the first settlers of a community a starting point of character and habits. Unconventional in manner and crude in expression as many of our pioneers were, their potent spell is upon us; the strongest among us feel it, and the wisest, after a brush of experience, cease fighting it. Though these "rude forefathers of the hamlet" lived and died in scorn, or ignorance, of the Socratic method of reasoning "with all the modern improvements," and enjoyed a sublime confidence in those rational instincts which we call intuitions, though we may pronounce their vision short and its range narrow, yet the product of their aggregated individual experiences, as crystallized into tradition, is in many instances as irresistible as dialect, or climate. Every community, every people, every age, must be measured by itself alone. The closest comparisons are, at most, but remote approximations. Speaking with literal truth, they are not comparisons at all. Like rival lines of railroad, their general direction and destination are the same though they may wind in and out and cross each other, one tunneling where another goes round or climbs. The wise philosopher of history, or student of social science, will differentiate one community, or one group of communities from another. In fact, at every turn of original investigation into the condition of society as he finds it, and of states as they present themselves ready-made for his inspection, the histori ographer, or the sociologist, is forced to establish, and all along the line main tain, close and reliable connection with the local, the original, sources of history, just as an invading army must establish and maintain connection with its base of supplies. As introductory to Book Second — with which this history commences in so far as it relates to actual community life — another interesting condition should be made clear to the Iowa reader who would know the relative value of our local and State history. This condition was well presented by the Hon. Irving G. Richman, the historian of Rhode Island and of California, in a recent address.1 Said Mr. Richman: "While Iowa as a political or social entity may not in its entirety be of any particular significance and hence for historical purposes be little else than a geographical expression, Iowa as a bundle of localities bears a significance by no means to be underrated. Indeed, the State enters more com pletely into solidarity with the nation through her local than through her general history ..." Thus is the work before us with its infinitude of detail dignified by the con ditions which invite it. 1 Before the State Library Association of Iowa, at Davenport, October n, 1910. 45 CHAPTER I. THE FOUNDING OF FORT DES MOINES. On the afternoon of May 20, 1843, Captain Allen, with fifty-two dragoons — four officers and forty-eight men — landed on the point between the two rivers, the Des Moines and the Raccoon, and went into camp on the banks near the edge of the woods. The next day they were joined by the Fort Crawford con tingent, Captain Gardenier, of Company F, First United States Infantry, and forty-six infantrymen, — two officers and forty-four men. The camp was or ganized by Captain Allen with First Lieutenant King, of the First Infantry, Adjutant of the post, and Second Lieutenant Ruff, of the First Dragoons, Post Quartermaster and Commissary. Captain Allen being commander of the post, the command of the dragoons devolved upon Lieutenant Grier. Captain Gar denier continued in command of the infantry. Assistant Surgeon Griffin was appointed Post Surgeon. The entire corps of officers was organized into a Council of Administration, of which the commander was ex officio, the head. The first piece of constructive work done was the building of a temporary wharf at the point at which the two streams converge. Along with this was the laying out of truck-gardens and of grounds for such buildings as would be needed most at the outset. The first building erected was a store-house, at a point about fifty yards from the north bank of the Raccoon. The next, was a hospital at the north end of the grounds laid out, about three hundred yards west of the Des Moines. The hospital was ready for occupancy late in June. De ferring the erection of the officers' quarters until fall, the barracks for the men were next erected. These were substantial log structures, one story high, with puncheon floors, each capable of comfortably housing ten. They were built along a street line running northwest and southeast, the southeastern end of the street extending to the wharf. The horses were comfortably housed in stables a short distance west of the barracks, and, to the southwest of these, were three relatively large corrals. Still farther southwest, to the north of the first wide bend in the Raccoon river, were laid out gardens to supply the gar^ rison with vegetables. The more commodious officers' quarters erected during the fall months were located near the Des Moines river, a few yards north from "the point," facing west, on a street running north and south, now known as Second Street.1 The Council of Administration early selected Robert A. Kinzie as post trader. Mr. Kinzie built, that year, a combined store and dwelling, or sutler's house, a 1 Turrill in his "Reminiscences" thus fancifully describes the scene of activities in the summer of 1843 : "While thus employed they encamped along the bank of the river, above what is now Court Avenue. Their labors were severe, and they had many privations to undergo, but a soldier's disposition grows very facile, and readilv accommodates itself to every change of circumstances. Their gay songs, and loud laughter, at evening, mingled with the dashings of the river, and the beating of the morning drum, or the loud bugle-notes awakened to new responses the echoes of the surrounding hills, and gave the western breezes their first lessons in our national melodies. The balmy air was invigorating and healthful, the beauties ' of summer adorned the forests and prairies, the enchantments of nature inviolate from the despoiling hand of civilization, were profusely spread around them, all combining to render their situation pleasing and attractive, so far as natural charms could do so." 47 48 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY few yards northwest of the hospital, at or near the present corner of Third street and Court avenue, — the site on which, in 1853, was built the Sherman block, long the trade center of the town of Fort Des Moines. As the needs of the garrison developed, other privileges were granted to civilians. Charles Weatherford was permitted to build a blacksmith shop, and John M. Thrift,2 an enlisted man, was induced to open a tailor shop near the post. Per mits were given "Ben" Bryant, John Sturtevant and "Aleck" Turner to culti vate garden patches near by, that they might minister to the wants of the troops. Other attaches of the garrison were James Drake, a builder, Dr. Thomas K. Brooks, afterwards prominent in the history of Polk county and the State of Iowa, and J. B. Scott, a contractor for food and supplies, who had secured a permit "to open and cultivate a farm in the Indian country," to be selected by him at any place not nearer than a mile from the post, he to enjoy the use of the land until the expiration of the treaty with the Indians, in 1846. Mr. Scott had selected a section near the east bank of the Des Moines, and on the north west corner of the section, opposite the officers' quarters, erected a commodious dwelling. The Ewing brothers were given trading permits and a claim to a half- section north of the Scott farm. The Ewing structure antedated the Scott cabin, and was the first dwelling erected in East Des Moines. South of the Scotts, on the eastern edge of a thick growth of timber was the claim of the Phelps brothers, sub-agents of John Beach, the Indian agent who preceded the dragoons and prepared the way for them. Adjoining the Phelps farm, about four miles due east from the Fort was the home of the Indian agent. The prominence of Captain Allen in the affairs of this epoch in the history of Des Moines calls for all the light which can be thrown upon the man. That he was a man of unusual intelligence and discernment is already evident from his reports, and becomes still more apparent to the reader of his extended ac count of an expedition up the Des Moines, the features of which, so far as they are deemed essential to the author's present purpose, appear in a subsequent chapter of this work. Negus, in his "Early Times in Iowa," describes the Captain as "a man of small stature, but of a natural military turn, and very popular with his men." He further says that Allen was a classmate of Charles Mason, afterward Chief Justice of Iowa, and of Robert E. Lee, of the Con federate Army. In addition to his soldierly qualities and general administrative ability, Cap tain Allen was a road-builder — in fact, the pioneer road-builder of the upper Des Moines valley. He saw from the first that the navigation of the Des Moines, without artificial help, would be unreliable and at best would be impossible in winter and midsummer for the transportation of troops and supplies. St. Louis was then the great mart of trade for this region, and the Mississippi river was the thoroughfare. Hence, the desirability of an open road from Fort Des Moines to the Mississippi. We find the Captain as early as 1843 engaged on plans for a military road from the post to Tool's Point, now near Monroe, Jasper county. At that point, connection could be made with a road to Keokuk and the Mississippi, via Oskaloosa, Eddyville, Ottumwa and Agency City. To effect this purpose, he utilized the "land-lust" of Peter Newcomer and Thomas Mitchell, giving Newcomer a special permit to file a claim on condition that he would build a bridge over Four Mile creek, about four miles east of the Fort, and Mitchell the same privilege on condition that he. would bridge Camp creek. Like inducements were extended to others, on condition that they would open, or improve, the desired roadway. The Captain early induced one Moses Barlow to join him in building a saw-mill about ten miles south of the Fort primarily to supply the Fort with timber, and secondarily to assist the squatters in their efforts at home-building. 2 Father of Wm. H. Thrift, who, from Feb. 1, 1905 to Feb. I, 1907, was Adjutant General of Iowa. JOSEPH B. STEWART Pioneer Capitalist and Promoter J. D. SEEBERGER A Pioneer Wholesaler DR. M. P. TURNER Pioneer Street Car Magnate JOSIAH GIVEN MAJ. THOMAS CAYAXAI III DR. CHARLES H. RAWSOX llayor of Des Moines Pioneer Physician and Promi- in 1S62 nent Army Surgeon JAMES C. SAVEItY MARTIN TUTTLE CAPT. ISAAC W GRIFFITH PrOP1Kh-kwoodtld°,Ne^V''ry' Pi0"eer Ml'IChant a"d Packer Hero of the Mcxica" War Savery Hotels OLD FORT DES MOINES IN 1851 Showing the Unprecedented Flood of That Year DES MOINES. THE NEW CAPITAL OF THE STATE OK IOWA AS IT LOOKED IN 185S CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 49 Not content to haul grists all the way from Bonaparte, 150 miles away, Cap tain Allen induced one John D. Parmelee, an energetic young builder, who had been employed by the traders, to buy Barlow's interest in the saw-mill and to add thereto a grist-mill for the' convenience of the garrison and the settlers. Once assured of the success of the dual interprise, he sold his interest to Par melee and retired from the milling business. There can scarcely be any more fitting conclusion to this story of the be ginning of things than the record of the soldier who planted the colony known in military history as "Fort Des Moines, Number 2," from which subsequently grew the community life that forms the foundation of the present work.3 Captain James Allen was born in Ohio in 1806, and at the age of 19 entered the Military Academy from the State of Indiana. He graduated July 1, 1829, assigned to the Fifth Infantry with the rank of Second Lieutenant, and was stationed at Fort Brady. He served in that capacity until the 4th of March, 1833, and was then transferred to the new regiment of dragoons organized for service on the border. A writer in the War Department — to whom the author is indebted for much of the subject-matter of the history of Fort Des Moines4 — states that "from this time until his death, his services on the frontier were con tinuous and of the highest value to the Government." He joined his regi ment at Fort Dearborn, and remained on staff duty until May 31, 1835, when he was promoted to a First Lieutenancy, and assigned to engineer duties "in connection with the reconnoisance of the Indian country." During the next decade he served, respectively, at Forts Leavenworth, Gibson, Atkinson, Sand ford and Des Moines, — and meantime was promoted to a captaincy. After quitting the Des Moines post in 1845, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel and was made commander of the Mormon Battalion of Missouri Volunteers for the Mexican War. He was enroute to New Mexico with his command when, near Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he suddenly died, on the 23d of August, 1846. The last work which devolved upon Captain Allen was the enlistment of a battalion of five hundred pioneer Mormons, in 1846, for service in the Mexican War. He appeared at Mount Pisgah, a Mormon station in Iowa and, organiz ing the battalion, marched them to Fort Leavenworth where, says Jesse C. Little,5 "they were fully mustered into the service of the United States, against Mexico." Though a veteran in service and experience, he was at the time of his death only forty years of age. 3 The data from which the following biographical outline is founded was obtained from the Army and Navy Register. 4 Annals of Iowa, v. 4, pp. 161-78. 5 History of Church of lesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, v. 3, p. 191-92. CHAPTER II. GARRISON LIFE IN FORT DES MOINES 1 843-46. A fleeting picture of garrison life is given by the Rev. Benjamin A. Spauld ing, circuit rider, in his report for 1844. One Sunday, he preached to the garri son — to as many as could be crowded into a single log-cabin, — "officers, soldiers, merchants, mechanics, farmers, gentlemen, ladies, children and servants — both black and white." The new year, 1844, found the little garrison well housed and in good health and spirits. The discipline imposed, while presumably not severe, was clearly ample to employ the time and occupy the minds of both officers and men. Then, too, the frequent rumors of incursions by the irrepressible Sioux, and occasion ally an actual incursion, the raids of individual and organized horse-stealers upon the widely scattered Indian camps, the outbreaks of Indian wrath because of some real or fancied advantage taken by unlicensed traders, and the inevitable pres sure of westward-moving civilization keenly felt by those whose treaty rights were, as they thought, inadequately protected by the government, — all these in fluences combined to impart not a little zest to garrison life at "the Point." Then, too, the spirit of the explorer was stirred by the fact that little in detail was known of the region roundabout. Short excursions were made into the un known interior, sometimes for the purpose of exploration; at other times to dis cipline rebellious Indians, and oftener to repress some anticipated outbreak be tween the Indians and some irrepressible squatter, or illicit trader. Capt. J. W. Campbell, well describes a voyage to Fort Des Moines in the late spring of 1844. ] Infatuated in his early youth with "the catfish and drift-log business" he "naturally drifted on board a keel boat named the Des Moines Belle, of sixty tons burden plying on the Des Moines river between its mouth and Raccoon Fork." He was paid $7 a month as "chief cook and tin-pan washer." Sac and Fox Indians still lingered along the river, though they were preparing to depart for their new home beyond the Missouri. On this his first trip the boat was chartered by Lamb & Turner, the cargo being supplies for Fort Des Moines. The crew consisted of fourteen men and a boy, six polesmen on a side, the pilot, supercargo and cook. The boat averaged twelve miles a day, as far as Keosauqua. The rainy season then set in and the river had overflowed its banks in many| places ; but they plodded along as best they could "by wrapping in one place and bush-whacking in another, reducing the average to four miles a day." After many incidents and "no end of hard labor," he writes : "While we were cordelling up the shore of a prairie bank, upon our right, we espied ten miles distant the converging bluffs upon which now stands the capital of Iowa, and before sunset we landed upon the west bank above the mouth of the Coon river ; while immediately in our front stood the log barracks upon a flat-iron shaped piece of bottom-land, which then constituted the military post called Fort Des Moines. "The following morning we called upon Maj. Allen, the commandant of the post, who extended a cordial reception to us all and notified one of the orderly sergeants to tally the cargo as soon as it was unloaded, after which we visited 1 The account is credited to the Chicago Times, but without date. It was found in a scrap-book left by the late Charles Aldrich. 50 1 , o C V s T 1 / 1' » 1 i r. • 1 1 » ! .- ' i L : - - 1 ' ' bt i t ' :f : 'r '1 ' ^ -1 L A/ {/ ir, 7~0 c ** * <* # y t\~±4 * ,. 1 ! j 15 o- p 11 '""' H ¦ 1 1 . ;.J PT~]i F LxJLLl_ ffl :*; ;-l! .1 - 1 '- 1 vac % rcu ' i j ;i .' f r * ,/ £ . I ' ,'~~\ -, SO . P ] 29 ' - <5>- -^ J S,!»5 v , ->' I L *J L j- . * 1 EEI J f ' 27' I ' 'I m s ,p 4 .Jtf XJ Vis, i. / ¦ • f-sv 1,1 j ^ i ' - "J! 1 .. . ... r J j ,_L — ^ 0 {'/";¦ c'o'< 5^- g "? '> Of 3 • ¦¦*¦ > ?a©" > 'o . U Ml/ .(" / THE FIRST PLAT OF FORT DES MOINES, DATED JULY 8, 1846 Photographed for this history with permission of Mrs. Frank W. Dodson, County Recorder of Polk County CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 51 the various surroundings of Raccoon Forks. Upon the east bank of the river stood a double log house having been formerly occupied by Mr. Ewing as a trad ing house. We visited the coal bank on the east side with Joseph Smart, the Indian interpreter, . . . who expressed the opinion that it was better for blacksmithing purposes than Pittsburg coal. The coal cropped out at the base of what is now called Capitol Hill." He concludes with: "The next morning we said farewell to Fort Des Moines, and were once more headed homeward." The trip began April 26, and ended June 5, 1844. In the spring of 1844, the number of white settlers largely increased, to the chagrin of Captain Allen and to the annoyance of the Indians. Several times squads of his men took to the woods in search of white and red trespassers ; but all these expeditions were comparatively free from danger, so firm was the cap tain's grasp of the situation. Early in 1844 Lieutenant King was given an extended leave of absence, and his place was supplied, first, by Brevet Second Lieutenant Joseph H. Potter, afterward a brigadier-general in the regular army; and later, by First Lieutenant Robert S. Granger, who in 1865 returned from service a brevet major-general of volunteers. During the summer of 1845, in anticipation of the opening of the land, the rush of settlers and the righteous indignation of the Indians created a situation which called for all the firmness of the trained soldier and the tact of a trained diplomat. Most of the invaders of the reservation were eager home-seekers, but there were also not a few speculators well entitled to the term "land-sharks." And, too, there were a few horse-thieves and purveyors of bad whisky who made depredations into the Indian country in defiance of law and military discipline. As illustrative of the restraining influence of a military post in the heart of the reservation, the case of Jonas Carsner may be cited.2 Carsner was an outlaw who afterwards left a trail of felonies in several counties of the territory. His latest offences consisted of incursions into the Sac and Fox reservation with quantities of whisky which, in defiance of law and authority, he sold to the In dians, at exorbitant prices. After demoralizing his too willing victims with liquor, and gaining their confidence, he would disappear, taking with him their best horses, which he would sell beyond the border of the reservation. Finally Captain Allen sent out a detachment of dragoons in pursuit of him. 'Carsner was captured and brought a prisoner to the fort. He was tried by court martial ; but, notwithstanding the man's known culpability, no direct proof of his guilt could be produced at the time, and the court decided it could not convict him "on general principles." Thinking it not best to pass formal sentence upon the culprit, in the absence of positive proof of his guilt, yet doubting not that he was richly deserving of punishment, Captain Allen and his associates turned Cars ner over to certain Indians they could trust to do the subject justice. The In dians took the man out into the woods, tied him to a tree, and gave him "a most unmerciful whipping." This punishment would have more than satisfied an ordinary outlaw; but Carsner was soon "at it again." A horse stolen by him had been found, and he was given an application of cat-o'-nine-tails, and released on promise to do better. His was evidently the gambler's definition of the word "better," for on the night after "the cat" had been administered to him, tzvo horses were stolen — this time from a trader named Fish who was conveying sup plies to the garrison and had encamped for the night a few miles from the Fort. The Indians loaned the trader the animal they had just reclaimed. He mounted the horse and started out in pursuit of his property. While he was following the outlaw's trail through the timber, suddenly Carsner appeared, mounted on one of Fish's horses. Riding boldly up to his pursuer, Carsner cut the saddle-girth of Fish's borrowed horse, hurled Fish to the ground, and rode off at full speed 2 Turrill's Historical Reminiscences, p. 14. 52 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY with the horse he had first stolen ! The discomfited trader trudged back to the Indian camp with a tale of woe which set the red men wild with rage. But, meantime, the horse-thief was well on his way beyond the border. Fort Des Moines in 1845 is described by a writer in the Mail and Times of Des Moines, fifty years afterward, in this fashion: "Fifty years ago, if one could have climbed to this lofty elevation [the Observatory Building opposite the Savery Hotel] what would he have seen? A row of cabins up and down the two rivers, a few straggling cabins here and there, and a vast open space where our city now stands, dotted here and there with hazel brush and an occasional duck pond. . . . Where the Rock Island depot and the Morgan House now stand, there was a famous duck pond, or slough, which extended diagonally across our city from one river to the other. All was open space as far as the eye could see, where game abounded and from which the hunter never returned empty-handed, To the north, south-east and west was not the sign of a habitation, unless of a hardy backwoodsman or two who kept ever on the van of civilization." Editor Clarkson, of the Des Moines Register, in the early Nineties, gives this all too brief outline of Thanksgiving Day at the Fort in 1845 : "From an old dingy paper before us we learn that on one occasion of this kind in the old times there was a Thanksgiving dance in the barracks, tickets, one dollar. The same day there was a rifle-shoot for turkeys and a beeve on the ground now bounded by West Walnut and Twelfth and Fourteenth streets and Raccoon river. That would be a poor place for a shooting match now." As the date of the treaty's expiration neared4 the number of "squatters" measurably increased. "The woods were full of them," many camping down on the boundary line ; some taking their chances on the reservation itself. Another difficulty arose. Several of the tribe became dissatisfied with the treaty. Some were sullenly disinclined and others stubbornly refused to "move on." The oc casional shooting of an Indian on his own ground, with the swift vengeance of the outraged survivors, and the incursions of the warlike Sioux, gave the garri son no end of annoyance. During the summer of 1845, tne dragoons from the Fort and Captain Sum mer's dragoons from Fort Atkinson were constantly riding over the reservation, "assisting" the reluctant Sacs and Foxes in preparing to comply with their treaty obligations. August 29, Captain Allen wrote urging the Department not to vacate the post at the expiration of the treaty in October. Should the troops be compelled to use force in removing any number of the Indians, the garrison could then be utilized in the process. Then, too, he thought the 12th of October too late in the season for a removal of government stores to another post without much inconvenience and expense, the contract for forage and other supplies being let for the winter. There would be loss and inconvenience on that account also. He recommended that the post be abandoned as early in the following spring as practicable, — • not before. General Brooke, the Department Commander, was not convinced. Writing on the 9th of September, 1845, after a conversation with Colonel Kearny, he informed Captain Allen that he deemed it wise to break up the post at once, after the expiration of the treaty, and to compel the Indians to remove on the 12th, for immediately after the 12th a great number of white persons would enter the country, for the purpose of squatting, and that much disturbance and difficulty might be expected between them and the Indians if they were suffered to remain. He was informed by Mr. Beach, the Indian agent, that the Indians were even then making preparations and were willing to comply with the treaty. But, notwithstanding their apparent readiness, he doubted not but that some would scatter on the march and many would endeavor to remain. The War Department sustained Captain Allen's contention, and the post was kept up during the winter. But Company I, ist Infantry, was ordered to Jeffer son Barracks, and the garrison was reduced to fifty-two dragoons. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 53 Most of the Sac and Fox Indians, true to their treaty obligations, quit the reservation, on or soon after the expiration of the privilege accorded them in the treaty, removing to the lands set apart for them beyond the Missouri. As had been anticipated several hundred remained, their continued presence creating no end of embarrassment and inconvenience to Captain Allen. January i, 1846, the commandant reported from one hundred eighty to- two hundred Sacs and Foxes yet remaining in the territory, but expressed the belief that all would quietly remove to their new reservation before their next annual payment. Of Poweshiek, the relatively great chief of the Sacs, who in 1845 led his tribe into exile, a single incident remains to be told. It is related that Poweshiek and his people temporarily encamped on the Grand River, not far from the set tlements of northern Missouri. While there, some time in the winter of 1845- 46, the Sacs had some disagreement, or misunderstanding, with the settlers, and for a time bloodshed seemed inevitable. Rumors of these troubles reached Fort Des Moines, and several white men, among whom were J. B. Scott, Hamilton Thrift and Dr. Campbell, all trusted friends of the chief, immediately mounted horses and proceeded across country to the Sac encampment on the Grand. They found the camp in arms. They held an interview with Poweshiek, impressing upon his mind the inevitable consequences of an attack upon the white settlers; reasoning that many of their women and children as well as braves, would be killed, or would perish with hunger and cold; that it would be better for them to break up their lodges and go in peace to- their reservation beyond the "big Muddy." After some hesitation Poweshiek pledged himself to follow the ad vice of his friends. He soon resumed his westward march, and in due time he and his people were gathered around the camp-fire on the new reservation. The land now in possession of the United States, the government set aside a military reservation of one mile square, of which the flag-staff of Fort Des Moines was the center. On January 17, 1846, — the day on which Governor Clarke signed the bill creating the county of Polk — the new county received its first recognition from the national government, by the setting aside, to the new county of 160 acres of the military reservation at Fort Des Moines with all the buildings thereon. On the 23d of February, 1846, was issued the departmental order for the abandonment of the post; First Lieutenant Grier, commanding Captain Allen's Company of dragoons, was directed to leave as early as practicable for Fort Leavenworth, escorting all the Fox Indians who had not yet left the Territory of Iowa, leaving in Fort Des Moines "one steady non-commissioned officer and two privates, as care-takers, until further orders." Preparations for evacuation were begun at once. Lieutenant Noble with twenty men was dispatched up the river in search of a party of Indians encamped there; and another detachment was sent to the Skunk river to assist the Indians lingering there. In March, Lieutenant Grier wrote that he found about one hundred and ten Indians assembled about thirty miles up the river, and thought their intention was to move still farther on. He found them in a destitute condition. They were temporarily supplied with provisions by Mr. Scott on behalf of the government. Lieutenant Noble had started on the 8th for Fort Leavenworth. He (Grier) was not aware that there were any more Foxes in that territory. At noon on March 10, 1846, Lieutenant Grier and his handful of dragoons marched out of the garrison, "and Fort Des Moines as a military post ceased to exist." Later, Lieutenant Grier returned from Fort Leavenworth, via St. Louis, to direct the sale of what remained of government property at Fort Des Moines. The sale occurred on the ist of May, 1846. By that time a community of some pretensions had sprung up around the fort, and the town of "Fort Des Moines" which had, meantime, been designated the county seat of Polk county, became a 54 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY factor to be reckoned with in all questions relative to the future of the county and of the State. In the midst of and shadowing this little group of log huts stood a tall flag staff, and, for three years, there had floated from that staff the flag which to Indian and white man, to both friend and foe, meant Power, — power to be ex ercised only for the protection of the weak against the strong, a guaranty that the treaty rights of the Indians should be maintained inviolate. While the stars and stripes did not always command unqualified respect, while white men and Indians were not always scrupulously honest in their observance of treaty rights, yet, in the main, the presence of this small body of government troops in the heart of the Indian country was a wholesome restraint generally felt and recognized. Without preconcerted movement on the part of the civilians who, with mingled feelings of sadness and satisfaction, saw the flag which they had fol lowed hauled down for the last time, there had sprung up in the wake of the departing troops a community life which was destined to have wide influence in the future of the State and Nation. A memento of the occupancy of Fort Des Moines was recently found by C. L. Lucas, of Madrid, Boone county. It is a stone 15x16 inches, and about an inch thick, and sloping toward a point at the bottom. It bears the following in scription evidently carved with a jack-knife, or hunting-knife: DECEMBER IO, 1845. FOUND 200 INDIANS HID ON AND AROUND THIS MOUND. THEY CRIED NO GO ! NO GO ! BUT WE TOOK THEM TO FORT D. LT. R S GRANGER. Mr. Lucas supplies the key to this tablet.3 When the treaty of 1843 became operative, October 11, 1845, a number of the Sac and Fox Indians, less conscien tious, or more attached to the soil than the rest, instead of joining the proces sion of expatriates, withdrew to a point about thirty miles up the river, near Madrid, in the vicinity of the Elk Rapids mounds where the tablet was found. Captain Allen sent an officer and a troop of dragoons to capture them, and con duct them to the reservation assigned them. The inscription establishes the in ference that Lieutenant Granger was the officer detached for this service, and that the expedition was successful. The fact that the Indians were overtaken in this region and were returned to Fort Des Moines for a fresh start was sub stantiated by the late C. W. Gaston, a Boone county pioneer, who was one of the soldiers detailed for that service. While on this expedition, Mr. Gaston decided to locate in Boone county at the end of his term of enlistment, and, later, he carried out his purpose.4 3 Iowa Journal of History and Politics, v. 8, No. 4, pp. 542-43. * Historic Rock, etc. Register and Leader, Des Moines, July 17, 1910. CHAPTER III. CAPTAIN ALLEN EXPLORES THE UPPER DES MOINES VALLEY ABOVE FORT DES MOINES. Buried deep in the Executive Documents1 is a letter of W. L. Marcy, Secre tary of War, dated March 20, 1846, addressed to Flon. John W. Davis, Speaker of the House of Representatives, in response to a resolution of the House, passed January 29, 1845, requiring the Secretary of War to communicate to the House "a copy of the report, journal, and map of Captain J. Allen, of the first regiment of dragoons, of his expedition during the past summer to the heads of the rivers Des Moines, Blue Earth, etc., in the northwest." The report of Cap tain Allen was transmitted through Adjutant General R. Jones, who informed his chief that "instead of the map of the route accompanying the report," he would submit "the more perfect map of the Upper Mississippi by Nicollet (from which Captain Allen's sketch no doubt was taken,) upon which the route of the troops under his command" had been carefully traced, in red lines, in the topo graphical bureau. Then follow the Report and the Journal of Captain Allen, in which we learn that the company was organized for this expedition in the early part of July, but was detained by orders until August 11, 1844. It marched from Fort Des Moines with the following strength: Captain J. Allen, ist dragoons, commanding; Asst. Surgeon J. F. Griffin, medical aid; First Lieut. P. Calhoun, 2d dragoons; Second Lieut. P. Noble, 1st dragoons; brevet Second Lieut. J. H. Potter, ist infantry, A. C. S., and A. Q. M. ; 50 rank and file of dragoons ; and 2 privates of infantry. The troops were provisioned with pork for forty days, flour for sixty days, and small rations for seventy days. The route designated in the department orders was "up the Des Moines river, and to the sources of the Blue Earth river, of the St. Peter's ; thence to the waters of the Missouri, and thence returning through the country of the Pottawatomies." The full report,2 with the accompanying journal, giving daily observations will make a valuable addition to the next history of Iowa. So much of the report and the journal as describes the region along the river at Beaver creek and be yond, within the present limits of Polk county, is an especially valuable addition to this work, as being the first official observations made along the Des Moines above the Raccoon Fork. The party followed the river on the west side, as far as the "Iron Banks," when they crossed, "a few miles above its forks and 100 miles above the mouth of the Raccoon ; thence up between the forks, but near the west branch, to the extreme source of this branch, in a lake which," says Captain Allen, "I have named 'the Lake of the Oaks,' 248 miles from the mouth of the Raccoon. This lake," he takes to be "the true source of the Des Moines river, being at the most northerly point of any of its waters, and the furthest from its mouth." He finds the lake "remarkable for a singular arrangement of peninsulas, running into it from all sides, and for a heavy growth of timber that covers these penin sulas and the borders of the lake." He found, by 'several observations, its lati tude was 43°57' 32": but, with only a small and imperfect sextant, he does not vouch for the correctness of these figures. Thence he explored the country north yj miles ; thence east to the St. Peter's river. Thence he made a circuit 1 Twenty-ninth Congress, First Session, Doc. 168, pp. 1-18. 1845-6. 2 As yet not mentioned in any history of Iowa. 55 56 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of 57 miles to the southward, returning to the Lake of the Oaks, where a por tion of his command had remained encamped. Thence he marched nearly due west 38 miles to a river which he took to be the Big Sioux of the Missouri. He followed this river down 159 miles to its mouth, in the Missouri, and thence took the nearest practicable route back to Fort Des Moines, crossing on the way the Little Sioux and several minor streams. Captain Allen describes the features of the country from Fort Des Moines to the upper fork as "much the same as those of the country bordering this beautiful river below — elevated rich prairie, broken by points of timber, and well timbered ravines extending into it from the river every few miles. The valley of the river often expands to make bottoms, sometimes prairie and some times timber, of one, two and three miles in breadth, and always of the richest quality of soil. The timber of the Des Moines for this distance he finds "fully equal to the wants of its share of the prairie dividing it from other streams, and," he doubts not, "will easily supply all of the farms that may be made tributary to the river." Beyond the "Iron Banks" he finds "the timber falls off very much." Fle describes the first twenty miles of prairie north of Fort Des Moines as "elevated, rolling, and dry ; the soil sandy, and mud mixed with pebbles and small fragments of lime and primitive rock." On the return, approaching the upper branches of the Raccoon, he finds the prairie "flat and wet, and much filled up with marshes and grassy ponds," through which it would be "difficult to find a practicable route." Crossing the Raccoon, he finds the country between it and the tributaries of the Des Moines is "rolling, dry, and rich, and easy to march over." He reports the Raccoon as about 100 miles long, running all the way in a deep, narrow val ley clothed with the richest of timber. "This river," he declares, "is one of the most beautiful in the territory, and will soon induce settlement and cultivation of its borders along its whole length." Responding to a demand for information as to recent floods, Captain Allen reports that the Des Moines at the Raccoon fork "rose 13J/2 feet above its com mon stage; but it was at this point, and generally above, confined within its proper banks. It did not overflow any of its prairie bottoms" as far as he had observed, up to its extreme source. "Its timbered bottoms, being generally lower than the prairie, were, many of them, covered from one to three feet. The earthy deposits in the timbered bottoms varied with the depth of the overflow, and would not anywhere exceed a half inch in thickness for three feet of over flow." He reports that the river "seemed to have risen in proportion to its volume or breadth all the way up. Thus at Iron Banks, 100 miles above the Raccoon, it had risen 10*4 feet, and 100 miles farther up it had risen 7 feet; but, he adds, "this river has but few tributaries above Raccoon, and drains a country only extensive in length. It is generally broad and shallow, and much of the country along it being flat and marshy and slow to draw off, it may never rise in height like some other streams of lesser magnitude," — a conjecture far re moved from the actual, as the story of "the flood of '51" will show. He found "the Raccoon had been unusually high everywhere; all of its woodland bottoms were filled with driftwood timber and other vegetable debris, until within 20 or 30 miles of its mouth, after which it appeared, like the Des Moines to have been confined to its immediate banks." The Captain's "journal of march into the Indian country in the northern part of Iowa Territory in 1844," gives the first detailed report of the country north and west of "the Forks" now comprising some of the choicest portions of Polk county. The journal entries relating to the region now included in Polk county are as follows: "August 11. Marched from Fort Des Moines in very good order at 10 a. m. ; followed the 'Oregon trail' three or four miles; then left it to cross the Beaver river, a tributary of the Des Moines ; crossed it and encamped on its left bank From a painting by Forgy, in possession of Major Hoyt Sherman. RACCOON FORKS CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 57 eight miles from the post. Weather and prairie fair; distance 8 miles; course NW. by N. "August 12. We were detained till io o'clock to recover oxen that had strayed during the night. Marched on a narrow dividing ridge between Beaver and Des Moines, the Beaver running close to and nearly parallel to the Des Moines. Encamped at 5 p. m. on a ravine and branch of that river ; there were many of these little ravines thrown out from the river on this day's inarch; they are very deep, and give pure spring water. The ox team is very slow and sluggish, and sticks worse in the mud than the mules; but all the wagons are heavily loaded, and the prairie is soft; it rained hard in the night. Distance 16 miles; course N N W. "August 13. Started at 7, and soon got on a broad prairie; passed the head of the Beaver about 12, where the prairie expands still more; kept on the west side of the prairie towards the Des Moines; many wet places to detain the wagons; encamped at 5 on a deep and well-wooded ravine; found one bee tree with good honey. Course very crooked, but generally NW. by N. ; distance 17 miles." The journal, kept from day to day, gives a detailed description of the slow march, sometimes following the river, at other times exploring its tributaries, and at still other times leaving the water-courses far behind. The entry of August 15 reports elk, "too wild to be chased or shot," deer, bears and turkeys. The close of the day found the party near the neutral ground. On the 18th, the party "struck a deep ravine leading to the Des Moines, the mouth of which is called the 'Delaware battle-ground,' a place where a party of some 20 Delawares were killed by the Sioux three years since."3 Thence, on to the Iron Banks, where they crossed at a rapid ford, — and so on by slow stages from six to fifteen miles a day, with one open prairie march of 23 miles, and another 20, and. another 25 miles a day, finally reaching St. Peter's river. The return was attended with enough of hunting adventures and conferences with Indians to make the marches interesting. On September 29, the party encountered what seemed to be the west branch of the Raccoon. Thence, they reache.d the main branch of that river. The prai rie, though somewhat hilly, was found to afford them easy marching. Resuming the journal report: "The bluffs of this stream, where we are encamped, are high and steep ; its valley is about a mile broad and well timbered. Course S. ; dis tance 20 miles. "September 30. Started late, everything being tired from the too long march of yesterday. The grass has been so much deadened by the many frosts, that it no longer gives the horses a good subsistence; the horses and mules have failed wonderfully since we left the Little Sioux though we have walked (on foot) most of the way. Followed down the bluffs of the Raccoon on our right, and crossed two small creeks running into it, both running in deep valleys clothed with heavy,- good timber. Encamped on the last. Course SE. ; distance 12 miles. "October 1. Marched on the dry ridge between Raccoon and Beaver, the timber of both being in sight nearly all the way. Killed a fine bear on the prairie in chase; Sergeant Williams shot him dead on first fire with his carbine from his horse on a gallop. We move slowly from previous fatigue. Encamped on Beaver river. Course S E by S. ; distance 16 miles. "October 2. The route was a little rough, being intersected by ravines both of Raccoon and Beaver; hoped to reach home, but could not from weariness of teams. Encamped again on the Beaver, near our trail going out. Course SE. ; distance 16 miles. "October 3. Struck our trail going out, and followed it home. Distance eight miles. Reached Fort Des Moines at 1 p. m., having marched, since we left the post, 740 miles, and having been absent 54 days." 3 Gue's History of Iowa, v. 1, p. 104. CHAPTER IV. FROM GARRISON TO FRONTIER VILLAGE HISTORY AND REMINISCENCE. At midnight on the nth of October, 1845, the three years' title of the In dians to the Des Moines valley reservation expired by limitation, and a new chapter in the history of the valley was auspiciously commenced. The event threw open to every squatter on the reservation and every camper along the border-line the opportunity to possess a half-section of the richest land in the world, full title to be acquired when the Government should bring the lands into market. Long before the expiration of the Indian title, the settlers around the fort had organized in anticipation of this event, had arranged one with another as to their so-called claims. Some had even gone so far as to measure and stake off their respective holdings, — not that such course gave any validity to their claims, but to facilitate the official survey by preventing a possible duplication of claims. The day of days, the nth of October, having arrived, hundreds impatiently waited the hour of midnight. By pre-arrangement it was understood that a gun from the Agency House should announce the hour at which "the empire of the red man in the Des Moines valley should cease, and the sway of the white man should commence." "Precisely at twelve o'clock," writes Turrill, "the loud report of a musket fell upon hundreds of eager ears. Answering reports rang sharply on the night air, in quick succession, from every hill-top, and in every valley, till the signal was conveyed for miles around, and all understood that civilization had now commenced her reign in Central Iowa." In view of the far-reaching significance, of the event, our pioneer historian may easily be forgiven for indulgence in a lofty flight of rhetoric. He says •} "The moon was slowly sinking in the west, and its beams afforded a feeble and uncertain light, for the measuring of claims, in which so many were engaged. Ere long the landscape was shrouded in darkness, save the wild and fitful glaring of torches, carried by the claim-makers. Before the night had entirely worn away, the rough surveys were finished, and the Indian lands had found new tenants. Throughout the country thousands of acres were laid off in claims before dawn. Settlers rushed in by hundreds, and the region lately so tranquil and silent, felt the impulse of the change, and became vocal with the sounds of industry and enterprise." Life in the little village of Fort Des Moines, during those first few years after the soldiers had moved on, was without dramatic incidents and events. The total population as given in the first state census, that of 1847, was oniy 127. The usual industries of the country village were carried on in the regula tion way. The hotel was rarely without its transient guests. The home-seekers, the speculators, the circuit-riders, the gamblers, the horse-thieves, and the re turning braves were frequently met on the cross-country roads leading to the town, and these made strange bedfellows at the inns. The doctor was there, but there was little for him to do beyond presiding at the advent of a young pioneer, and administering blue mass and quinine to those who had not yet become immune to the ills of the river bottom in the new country. 1 Turrill — Historical Reminiscences, p. 17. 58 DR. F. C. GEIilMEL'S EESIDENCE First Frame Eesidence in Des Moines, 1848 SHEEMAN BLOCK The first three-story block in Des Moines, erected by Hoyt Sherman in 1856 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 59 The lawyer found little to do, save to advise equable settlement of differ ences between man and man, and to draw up transfer papers in due and ancient form. There were no courts; there was no pressing need of courts. The prin ciples of equity, the rock-bottom foundation upon which the Common Law struc ture is builded, were the bases of every settlement of differences. A development of this illustration of pure and simple local self-government including an account of a public meeting of the citizens of Polk county in Fort Des Moines, early in 1848, more properly belongs to the History of Polk county, and will there be given in full under the title, "A Study in Local Self-Government." The approaching fiftieth anniversary of Edwin R. Clapp's residence in Iowa drew from the Iowa State Register of February 19, 1887, a long biographi cal sketch which contains not a little of interest. In March, 1846, Mr. Clapp, a boy of nineteen, came to Fort Des Moines to clerk for his brother, Wallace, a trader with the Indians. The Register in this connection names only seven other pioneers of Des Moines, then living, who, with Mr. Clapp, had resided a half-century in Iowa, namely: George W. and John W. Jones, W. W. and D. D. Skinner, and Mrs. D. D. Skinner, Colonel J. W. Griffiths and Ira Cook. Mr. Clapp came from Mount Pleasant to Fort Des Moines afoot, having hired a teamster to haul his valise, he helping the team through sloughs and up-hill as occasion required. At the time there were only three houses between Oskaloosa and Des Moines, and these were taverns — one the hospitable home of "Tom" Mitchell, on Camp Creek in what was then Camp township, on the old stage road. "Nearly every one who came to this part of Iowa," says the Regis ter, "or who passed through here going beyond, shared the hospitality of that generous home." Dr. T. K. Brooks's home, on the east side of the present city of Des Moines, was then on the edge of town. When Mr. Clapp came to Fort Des Moines, there were no dwellers on the West side outside the Fort. The Government still owned the land, and the only settlers in the vicinity of the Fort were on the East side, and there were few of them. His brother's store was on the East bank of the river, where the Burlington road now passes. H. M. Hoxie, afterward prominent in political and railroad circles, was then living on the East side. His father had a trading store at the junction of East Walnut street with the river. "Hub". and "Ed" became fast friends. When Mr. Clapp "came to town," all the soldiers had left except Corporal Hill and a squad of eight men. When the old Des Moines House was built, part of the structure was made by covering, over some of the vacated barracks. The large government store was located on the corner of Third and Vine streets. This was the depot of supplies for the troops, and, in emergencies, for the settlers. In 1886 there was a house occupied by "Father" French, at the foot of the first alley south of Walnut street fronting the river, which was thought to be the last relic of old Fort Des Moines. It had been clapboarded over. Mr. Clapp found one "old settler" John Parmelee, twelve miles south of the Fort, on Middle river, who had built on a Government permit in 1842. He had made himself necessary by grinding corn for the Indians and the soldiers. The only man known to be living, in 1886, who was in this region when Mr. Clapp came, was "Tom" Mitchell. The "palaces" of Fort Des Moines in '46 were the vacated soldiers' barracks. These were occupied for many years. As far back in the past as June 8, 1846, Gen. A. C. Dodge made a speech in Congress in which he referred to the Des Moines river as "navigable for a con siderable portion of the year," and as "susceptible, with the greatest facility and slightest expenditure, of being made so for many hundred miles at all sea sons of the year, when not obstructed by ice. The country through which it runs" he declared to be "one of unsurpassed fertility, and is now being densely 60 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY inhabited." He then prophetically pictured the event of eight years thereafter, the removal of the Capital, saying : "From the central position of this river, and its other advantages, there is a very large portion of the people of Iowa who believe and desire their ultimate seat of Government should be upon it." Turrill records an interesting event in the social life of the community at this time: the first marriage ever solemnized within the limits of Polk county, "and perhaps in the Indian purchase which includes it." On the nth of June, 1846, Benjamin Bryant and Elvira B.. Burge were united in matrimony by Aaron D. Stark, Esq. This was also Justice Stark's first case of matrimony, and he is said to have introduced some variations from the ordinary ritual. The parties united were still residents of Des Moines in 1857. B. F. Allen, pioneer banker, merchant, and promoter, in a letter to his for mer townsman, Major Sherman, dated San Dimas, California, July n, 1896, reverted to his coming to Raccoon Forks, or Fort Des Moines, nearly fifty years prior thereto, and of the many events since then crowded into his own life and that of Des Moines. He was saddened by the thought that so many of his friends and neighbors had departed this life. "From the day I first landed in Raccoon Forks, or Fort Des Moines," he says, "I had great faith in its future greatness, and always predicted that Des Moines would grow to be the largest and most important city in the great State of Iowa." The location of the county seat of Polk was attended by a lively contest of conflicting interests. Polk City vigorously presented her claims. "Dudley" tried hard to make for herself a permanent place on the map of the new county. Dr. T. K. Brooks exerted all his influence to secure the location for Brooklyn, or "Brookline," the location of the Phelps trading house, not far from the present State Fair grounds. The Saylors presented the claims of Saylorville. Jerry Church, "the fiddling pioneer," urged "Churchville" situated some distance south of the Fort. But the superior advantages and prestige of Fort Des Moines left little question as to the outcome. The county seat of Polk was located by three commissioners appointed by the Governor as directed by law. The commissioners appointed were Thomas Hughes, of Johnson County, M. T. Williams, of Mahaska, and Giles M. Pinneo, of Scott. . Looking the ground over they were agreed that Fort Des Moines was the most central and accessible point, presenting advantages impossible to be overlooked, and they so reported and their report was duly approved by Gov ernor Lucas. Two of the three county commissioners, Meacham and Saylor, met June 1, 1846, and recorded an order in effect that A. D. Jones, County Surveyor, pro ceed soon as practicable to lay off a town, at the site selected for the county: seat of Polk county. It was ordered that a notice of a sale of lots in Fort Des Moines, on the 15th day of July, 1846, be published for three successive weeks in the Iowa Capital Reporter, at Iowa City, the Burlington Hawkeye and the Iowa Democrat at Keosauqua. The terms of the sale were : one sixth cash in hand, the balance in three equal installments — six, twelve and eighteen months. The town was accordingly laid out by the county surveyor, assisted by Dr. Fagan. The first election held in the new town, April 6, 1846, resulted in the selection of Rev. Thompson Bird, president; members of the Council, Hoyt Sherman, P. M. Casady, L. P. Sherman, C. D. Reinking, R. W. Sypher and Jesse S. Dicks. Turrill in his Reminiscences gives the terms at which several lots were sold at this sale and the price of the same lots in 1857, when the location of the State Capitol had abnormally inflated land values in Des Moines. .MRS. EDWIN R. CLAPP EDWIN R. CLAPP Taken when about twenty-two years of aae I 3i I 20 I 34 7 34 5 35 8 28 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 61 Original Present No. Lot. No. Block. Location. Price. Price. 5 31 Cor. Walnut & Court Av $ 35.00 $5,000.00 Cor. Walnut and Third 18.00 5,000.00 Cor. Court Av. & P. Sq 52.00 4,500.00 Cor. Court and Second 30.00 5,000.00 Cor. Vine and Water 50.00 4,000.00 Sec, bet. Vine and Court 25.00' 5,200.00 Cor. Sec. and Market sts 106.00 4,000.00 At the public sale of lots, after the Government had deeded the land to the new county seat, Mr. Qapp bought the corner lot 66 feet front, and what is now the corner of First and Elm streets, paying $105, the highest price paid at the sale. Lots in the present business part of the city were appraised at $15, $20 and $25. The 132 feet square on which the Kirkwood Hotel now stands was ap praised at $35. Granville Holland sold the square early in the Fifties to J. C. Savery for $600. Mr. Savery here erected the first Savery Hotel. After the sale of lots, building began in earnest, and, as Turrill euphemistic ally puts it, "the incipient town transferred itself from paper plats to an actual terraqueous existence." The hazel brush soon disappeared and shops, stores and dwellings dotted the old-time reservation. A postoffice was established at Fort Des Moines in 1846, with Joseph Smart, the Indian interpreter, as postmas ter. He soon resigned and Dr. T. K. Brooks succeeded him. At first the postoffice was in the abandoned Agency House. It was later removed to a building owned by the Fur Company, near the river, south of the town. It is related that the late Phineas M. Casady, an appointee of President Polk to the postmastership of Fort Des Moines would frequently bring in his hat all the mail for the Fort, "so little correspondence did the pioneers of this region have with the world they had left behind them." Mails were carried on horseback! through uninhabited regions, and were subject to the vicissitudes of storms and floods. The first court house was built in 1848, at a cost of $2,000, — the cost in strik ing contrast with that of the present court house, which was not far from a half-million dollars. McMullin received forty-five dollars for the lot. upon which it was erected. As illustrating the primitive life of the late Forties, Judge Casady in his old age was pleased to recall the good old days when even professional men wene not ashamed to work with their hands. One time he showed a Register reporter two poll-tax receipts signed by E. R. Qapp, street commissioner, certifying that P. M. Casady had performed labor "upon the streets and roads of the corpora tion of the town of Fort Des Moines to the amount of $2." Mr. F. M. Posegate, of Kirkwood, California, in a letter, read at the semi centennial celebration held in Des Moines in 1896, said he was the carrier boy for the Iowa Star in 1849. He vividly recalled the kind, homely face of his first employer, Barlow Granger, and the kindly offices of Drs. Vaughan and Dewey, who occasionally took a hand at editing the Star. Vaughan wrote his first carriers address and Dewey the second. Erom the first he made $7 ; from the second, $14.75. The first foreman in the Star office was "Charley" Winkler; the first pressman, William Buzick. M. L. Morris, afterwards foreman, at Posegate's instance, sent to Iowa City for firecrackers, thus giving Posegate the right to boast that he was the first boy to usher in the Fourth of July in due and ancient form. Mr. Posegate, related that "old chief Keokuk, with a band of Indians, had been in town the day before [The Fourth of July, 1849,] ana was then encamped just beyond the residence of Judge McKay. As the night-capped heads ap peared at the windows of Martin Tucker's hotel, each face carried with it an 62 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY expression of fear as though Keokuk and his braves had suddenly taken to the war path." He tells of "the wolf trap on the point between the Des Moines and the Coon," "the wild turkey trap just up beyond Fuller's blacksmith shop," "the splendid deer that frequently sped across the parade ground," the hunting par ties in the fall that followed the river as far as Fort Dodge, "where bear and elk abounded," and their return "with sufficient game almost to feed the village all winter long." He relates the story of Bob Campbell's return from a hunt, leading a cub bear, his clothes torn to ribbons and his body covered with scratches. When asked how it happened, Bob answered, laconically "I caught the bear!" Asked why he didn't let go, his ready answer was, "let go ! Hell, I wanted to let go, but the bear wouldn't!" His modest fish story is of a thirty-two pound pike caught by him at Hall's mill-dam, and sold to Charley Good for forty cents. Mr. Posegate says the material used in printing the Star was old and worn. But Hoyt Sherman's brother, Lampson P., came on from Cincinnati bringing with him new type and new material throughout. Posegate soon became "the fastest compositor in the Fort." He pays high personal tribute to Mr. Sher man, affectionately referring to him as "kind, gentle and considerate," adding, "and with him I remained until my father's return from California located me in Missouri." He closes with the memory of "that splendid October day in 1848," when he first gazed upon old Fort Des Moines from the point near where the Capitol now stands, and of the satisfaction with which he settled down on the site of the abandoned fort, "notwithstanding the 'Barrack House' over in 'Coon Row' was leaky and rations were not over plentiful." In her response to Major Sherman's invitation Henrietta A. Cole writing from Fort Smith, Ark., recalled, among the many incidents of her childhood in the late Forties, picking blackberries on what is now known as Brown's ad dition to Des Moines, above Pleasant street, and gathering wild plums along what is now known as Grand avenue. In the interchange of speeches in the General Assembly in February, 1886, the veteran Gen. William Thompson, of Dakota, ex-member of the territorial legislature and an ex-congressman from Iowa, made this reference to Fort Des Moines in '46 : It was not quite thirty-nine years ago that he had the pleasure of first seeing the site of the city. He found in the whole city of Des Moines "at that time eight men and one woman !" He made there a speech, as a candi date for Congress, and found "an attentive audience." Evidently the entire populace did not turn out to hear the General speak! Hon. R. M. Burnett, of Muscatine, "went him one better," for he remarked that when he came to Iowa, early in the Forties, "Des Moines was simplv a dot on the map." The first and last territorial election held after the organization of Polk county was on October 26, 1846. In that election, "Desmoines" township cast 107 votes for senator — 51 for Thomas Baker, democrat, and 56 for T. K. Brooks, whig. For representatives, it cast 55 votes for John N. Kinsman and 54 votes for Simeon Reynolds, demo crats, and 54 votes "for Stanford Doud and 53 for C. H. Hamlin, whigs. The township vote for delegates in Congress was : Stephen Leffler, 56 ; A. C. Hastings, 52 — both democrats, and Joseph H. Hedrick 57; G. C. R. Mitchell, 53 — both whigs. The vote for territorial governor was Ansel Briggs, democrat, 55 ; Thomas McKnight, whig, 54. The rest of the territorial ticket followed their respective heads as to the number of votes received. It was clearly a strict party vote. It is evident that at the commencement of Fort Des Moines' political career, the two parties were about evenly divided. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 63 For several- years Dr. James Campbell was mentioned as the oldest settler in Des Moines. He came to Fort Des Moines in 1845, at the time the last pay ment was made the Indians. He returned to Van Buren county for the winter and in March, 1846, took up his residence in Fort Des Moines. He was not permitted to settle on the garrison side of the river. He therefore joined a little coterie of settlers on the East side. Dr. Brooks offered him the hospitality of a blacksmith shop until the West side should be opened. To a Register reporter a half century afterward, he described the town as it looked to him when he ar rived in March, 1846. He found "only a few log huts beside the barracks. There was one where the Savery House now stands, another on the corner of Walnut and Third streets, and a sutler's store down about Third and Vine streets, a little south; just where Third and Vine streets cross was the guard house, a' log cabin of two rooms. The rifle range was laid out from there to the present site of the Diagonal depot, on Fifth street, where the big target was set up. The present location of the Morgan House was a big pond." Dr. Campbell described the inrush of settlers after the departure of the In dians. Most of the settlers were "young married men, who brought their fam ilies. . . . The country wasn't surveyed then, or for several years after ward, so we just went out and marked out our claims as best we could guess. Each man was entitled to take 160 acres of timber and the same amount of prairie. When a man had marked out his claim, by staking it out or blazing! the trees, his title was just as secure as if he had a warranty deed. If he com plied with the law by eating and sleeping on his claim at least twice a year, no> one could take it from him. The settlers stood by each other. If any squatter came along and tried to get a man's claim away from him, the settlers just went to work and moved his things off and if he made any fuss, he got a good thrash ing and was glad to get off with that. These titles were so permanent that afterward when the land was surveyed, and of course the original lines were changed so that the claims were overlapped, there was a general deeding of one settler to his neighbor for the land that lapped. I had a claim of 54 acres, at that time lying northwest of Eighth and Mulberry streets, which was what I had left after deeding the overlapped land to my neighbors, whose claims reached into mine. ... I opened a dry goods and grocery store here shortly after I came". Goods had to be hauled from Keokuk most of the time, where they were brought from St. Louis in boats. In the summer the steamboats came up the Des Moines river with goods. I have seen four steamers unloading here at one time. That was in 185 1. Men used to go down to Keokuk with ox teams and haul big loads up here, for which they got $2 a hundred. . . . It is 202 miles to Keokuk by the Des Moines river, and only about 165 by road. . . "People came here from north and west 80 miles and more to buy what few groceries and dry goods they had to have. There was no settlement west of here — as late as '50 there were only three houses between here and Council Bluffs, and nothing between here and Fort Dodge. They would come in the fall to get the goods, get trusted till spring and pay in hides, etc. Fur of all kinds was very plenty and brought very poor prices, but there was very little money in the country. . . . "It was nothing at all for a man to .go out and shoot a few deer, or elk, or bear. I had a park here, and we used to go out and capture young elk and put them in the park. At one time we had nineteen in the park. . . . They were very easily tamed and I had harnesses made to fit and broke a pair of' buck elks to drive to a light wagon. . . . The only trouble with them was that they stopped to look around too much. "O, but this was. a garden spot then! There never will be another country like it. Timber, water, prairie land, all of the best, and full of game and fish. The prairie was covered with the richest growth of blue grass you ever saw — as high as a man's head. . . . Those were the days for young men." Alfred D. Jones, the surveyor who laid out Des Moines in 1846, in a letter 64 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY to the State Register dated Omaha, February, 1887, gave some interesting mem ories of old Fort Des Moines in 1846, called forth by the publication of the reminiscences of E. R. Clapp. He wrote that Perry D. Crossman was appointed clerk of the courts, and he (Jones) was appointed deputy clerk. They started together from Oskaloosa. They landed at the Meacham Hotel, on the East side, a double log house similar to the officers' quarters at the Fort. At the same time came Major McKay, a young lawyer from eastern Iowa, who as he himself re lated, came to his title from being the leader of a mob at his former home. Crossman and Jones crossed the river next morning to find a location for their office. While sauntering along the parade grounds, they saw a number of men gathered about a small house. They entered the house and there found a county convention in session. Before he had been in the room two minutes he was nominated county surveyor! Tom Mitchell had chosen "Brookline" ("Brook lyn") for the county seat, and the Brookliners were making a ticket thought to be favorable to their town. They put up a "straw man" against Jones who at the polls beat Jones by three votes. Jones contested the election and won. Thus it happened that he had the honor of laying out the new county seat at Fort Des Moines. Later, he was elected justice of the peace, and the Brookliners at the same time elected him constable, which office he declined because he was not able to buy a horse with which to serve papers. He assisted in organizing the county of Polk. Town lots were auctioned off. Clapp paid $160 for his store lot and Jones paid $105 for his office lot. Lots on Walnut street sold for $10, and lots on Second went begging almost. Mr. Jones speaks feelingly of the preva lence of ague in that early day. Long before Lyon & Allen made things lively in general merchandising in Fort Des Moines — away back in the spring of 1846 — Reuben W. Sypher, better known as "Rube" Sypher, cast in his lot with the little community gathered about the Fort. He first occupied a log cabin with the Phelps Fur Company, on the east side of the river. In 1846 he opened a general store in one of the cabins at the Fort. He next put up a frame store building on Second and Vine, ad joining his rivals, Lyon & Allen. As he prospered, he branched out, establish ing branch stores at several outside points. The big floods of '51, cutting off the community from Keokuk and Burlington, its bases of supplies, compelled heroic treatment, the details of which are given in another chapter.2 Suffice to say that after a perilous canoe voyage down the river, Sypher and his assistants landed at the Fort on the 5th day of July, with a steamboat load of much needed sup plies — greatly to the relief of the community. Sypher went on prospering and helping others to prosper until the hard times of '57 overtook him. The climax of reverses came when a trusted clerk robbed him of a large sum of money, compelling him to close out his business. Later, in 1874, he hecame a coal-miner. He operated a shaft on the south side of the Raccoon, until his death in 1879. Sypher lived on Fourth street, on the well known site of "the Brinsmaids," and his home was famous for its hospitality. W. W. Clapp and Addison, Michael were the first grocers in Fort Des Moines. In those clays a license from the county commissioners was a prerequisite to opening a store. The cost of the license was $25 a year, or $6.25 a quarter. In the list of first things published by Turrill, Michaels is credited with having built the first frame house ever erected in the town. It was on the east side of Second street, above Market. The remoteness of Fort Des Moines from the Capital in '48 is brought vividly to mind by a remark made by Judge Casady,3 that when he was a member of the First General Assembly in 1848, he lived thirty-five miles farther west than any other member of the General Assembly, and the district he represented included Madison. Warren, Marion, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Marshall, Story and Boone, and the country north and northwest. 2 Hoyt Sherman's account of the expedition down the river for supplies. 3 Proceedings Pioneer Law Makers' Association, 1892. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 65 At one of the reunions of the "Early Settlers" Association, at the Agricultural hall on the Fair Ground, Hoyt Sherman read a pleasing paper on "Trade and Commerce in the Early Days of Fort Des Moines." He described "the Fort" as he found it in 1848, when there were few buildings except the log cabins which "Uncle Sam" had used for shelter of troops, and bequeathed to Polk county when the soldiers moved west. "Wal." Clapp had put up a shanty at "the Point," in which he "dispensed groceries." James Sherman, Floyt's brother, had taken the little log cabin office vacated by Captain Allen, filling it with "a very queer assortment of dry-goods." R. W. Sypher was moving his stock of merchandise from the old agency to the corner of Second and Vine, and Camp bell & McMullin were putting up a store on the opposite corner for "groceries wet and dry." Cole & Winchester had started business on Second, below -Mar ket. For a time elections were held in their store. Dr. P. B. Fagen, whig, and P. M. Casady, democrat, were running for State senator, and Casady was elected, leaving a vacancy in the village post office which he, the Major, was chosen to fill. "The noble red man" was much in evidence still. Major Sherman describes the prevalence of the treating habit with its perni cious effect upon community life. The drink of that day was whisky, retailed at fifty cents a gallon. He describes a mishap to those who attempted, just prior to the Fourth of July, 1849, t0 substitute ale for the stronger drink. Abe Shoe maker, groceryman, ordered from Keokuk a ten-gallon keg of ale to aid the reformers to celebrate the Fourth in a safe and sane way ( ?). By 11 o'clock the "moderate drinkers" were all intoxicated. The explanation was that to prevent , the ale from fermenting on the long overland journey, the Keokuk merchant had drawn off half the ale and filled the keg with whisky! A great hindrance to trade was the difficulty and danger of crossing the Des Moines and the Coon during high water. Insecure rope ferries were used at such times and were far from satisfactory. CHAPTER V. PIONEER NEWSPAPERING IN FORT DES MOINES. The Fort Des Moines Star. A file of the Iowa Star, the pioneer newspaper of Fort Des Moines, from July 26, 1849, to August 17, 1854, is one of the mostly highly valued treasures in the newspaper collection in the Historical Department of Iowa. It is yellow, torn and patched, and might easily be cast aside as valueless by one not con versant with the fact that, lightly as they are regarded at the time of their ap pearance, the newspapers are the most valuable and oftenest used of all our first hand historical material. Behind the newspaper, in the background of the memory, Barlow Granger can be seen sitting at his rude desk; or standing at the printer's case, printer's stick in hand; or pulling the lever of the old "Washington hand-press" — oi precious memory, — the quaintest, shrewdest, most genial and quick-witted of all the old-school printer-editors who in the pioneer days dictated party politics and stirred self-centered communities to their opportunities. Tall, slender, awkward, rugged in features, plain — even careless in dress, Barlow Granger was so sunny in disposition and clever of speech that, to those who were wont to meet him often, his eccentricities of dress were forgotten and the man behind the manner, became positively good-looking! Granger was a democrat of democrats, in the days when the democratic party was in power in the young State of Iowa, and he never' changed his politics. When he turned his attention, in part, from law and real estate to newspapering, he at once became a political force that had to be reckoned with by politicians and statesmen. The financial backer of Granger in his newspaper enterprise was Curtis Bates, who later ran for Governor on the democratic ticket against James A. Grimes. Bates bought the plant of the Star at Iowa City, and shipped it across country to Fort Des Moines. The office of the Star was in one of the log houses vacated by the garrison. It stood on Second Street near Vine. In a note to subscribers, on the second page, the editor gives his reasons for delay in publication, adding: "Our next will not, therefore, appear under two weeks, after which we will issue every Thursday." The "therefore" refers to the circumstances under which Granger became the publisher. One Blair had, early in the Spring, issued a prospectus and solicited advertising for a paper which he proposed to start in Fort Des Moines. It was to be styled the Upper Des Moines Republic, to be published by A. W Blair & Company, with Granger as its editor. "But the almost impassable state of the roads, for loaded wagons, during the whole spring, and the protracted absence from home of a partner of Mr. Blair, rendered it impossible to get to this place early in the season the establishment contracted for. Believing a newspaper at this point a desideratum, after consul tation with those most interested in the publication, a new arrangement was entered into, and the most convenient press obtained." He therefore presented to the public "Tbe Iowa Star," in lieu of the "Fort Desmoines Star," * and trusted "that this simple change in the name of the luminary" would "not change the Granger explains the change of name as follows: There wasn't enough of the head ing letter ordered to set up "Fort Desmoines." so the shorter word "Iowa" was chosen. 66 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 67 intentions of those who attached their names to the Prospectus." The two weeks' delay was to find out how many subscribers he could count on. While he regarded his views as "purely individual," and while the Star would be "firmly, decidedly, radically democratic," the editor purposed to hold himself "responsible to no party, sect, creed or clique." The editor purposed to discuss all public questions, promising not to forget that "a newspaper is a record of passing events." Nor would he omit to do his part in advertising the region in which he was primarily interested — "in the very heart of the most attractive country in the world, . . . and having within itself all the resources necessary to sustain a dense agricultural and commercial population. This favored region had "settled up more rapidly than any other, . . . with an intelligent, industrious and thriving people." With- pardonable pride he concludes his salutatory with this complacent out line picture of the start the town had made in 1849 ; "But three years since, Fort Desmoines, where now is a flourishing town, containing eight or nine stores, two well kept hotels, twelve or fifteen lawyers, five or six doctors, and a fair supply of mechanics, was occupied by U. S. troops in the midst of an Indian country; and this country, where the red man then hunted, free as the prairie wind, is now dotted with farm houses, surrounded by well cultivated fields smiling at a plentiful prospect." As this highly creditable pioneer newspaper marks the beginning of an . epoch in the history of the little unincorporated community of Fort Des Moines, let us follow its history in brief outline, and along with it that of its two local contemporaries, both of which it survived. The history of these brave attempts to found a representative newspaper in the ambitious community at "the Forks" is a chapter filled with high hopes and bitter disappointments, — a chapter re produced, in its essentials, within the experience of many a pioneer newspaper man still living, — many of whom, as were Granger, Bates, Finch, Sherman, Darwin, Williamson, and others of Fort Des Moines, successful in after years in spite of, or possibly because of, their early failures. The historical value of the advertising pages of a newspaper is seen in this first issue of the Star. Turning to the 2 1-3 columns of advertising, the reader finds the professional cards of the following named pioneer attorneys : Perry & Whitten — -John M. Perry and Lewis Whitten; Andrew Jackson Stevens, Aemilius Reynolds ; Casady & Tidrick — P. M. Casady and R. L. Tidrick ; Ezra Droun; (Fairfield) Barlow Granger; William H. Seevers and William Smith, both of Oskaloosa; and Lysander W. Babbitt, of Knoxville. The hotels advertised are: the Franklin House, New York, the National Hotel, Fairfield; the Marvin House, Benjamin Lucas and William T. Marvin, proprietors, Third and Walnut, Fort Des Moines; the Sherman House, Chicago; the Crummey House and Swan's* Hotel, Iowa City ; and the Oskaloosa House, Oskaloosa. General merchandising is represented by James Campbell, dealer in dry goods, groceries, liquors, hardware, queensware, boots, shoes, hats and caps ; Lyon & Allen, dry goods and groceries; Lauer & Co., dry goods and clothing; and R. W. Sypher, general merchandising, Mr. Sypher thanks his friends in Polk, Dallas, Boone and Madison for favors past and favors to come ! J. H. Posegate advertises his gunsmith shop, on Second street, between Vine and Market, and as a "slogan" quotes the words, "Shoot, Luke, or give up your gun." Elias Feller, advertises his shoe shop on Third and Vine. The late firm of Campbell & McMullin want their debtors to call, settle and save costs. James Mackintosh, an Iowa City book-binder, solicits trade; William Busick an nounces the sale of 122 village lots in Circleville, Polk county, nine miles be low Fort Desmoines, "on the Desmoines river, on what is called Keokuk Prairie," near the confluence of the "Desmoines" and North rivers. Barlow Granger advertises a general land agency; John H. Perkins wants to sell, "very cheap for cash," lots in Block 6, Fort Desmoines. 68 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY In the next issue of the Star, September 7, the editor notes the surprise of the Crawfordsville, Ind., Review that a paper the size of the Star should be published "away out west here in this new and thinly populated country." He thus explains the fact, as many another pioneer editor accounted for it. "Noth ing less would have done in this country. . . . We have large prairies, large farms, tall corn, large crops, large streams, large children, large papers, large everything." The Star devoted most of its space, and its editorial ability, to reports of conventions and to comments on political questions and the twin questions of the period, navigation of the Des Moines and the extension of railroads from the Mississippi to the Des Moines. Instead of following these now obsolete discussions, let us study the Star along the "human interest" side of its history. The Star of November 23, 1849, notes the prospectus of the pioneer Whig paper, the Fort Des Moines Gazette, and remarks : "It tells well for the pros perity of this town — only three years old — that two papers can be established with even a hope of being sustained." On January 7, 1850, the editor apologizes for the issuance of a half-sheet only, owing to a freeze-up which compelled him to stop the press, all of which, he philosophically remarks, is part of "the trials incident to carrying on business in a new country." The present generation need to be informed of the fact that there was once a "feature" of the weekly press called the Carrier's Address, — a production written presumably by the carrier, but in fact by some local "poet," 2 the ad dress printed on a separate sheet, and left by the boy, on Xew Year's Day, at the homes of the local subscribers, with the expectation that every subscriber would in return present the carrier with a five or ten-cent piece — or more. The Star "Carrier Boy's Address" dated January 11, 1850, was a genuine "boost" for Fort Des Moines concluding with these words — words doubtless embodying more truth than poetry: "Now just before I close my song, I'll give our town a 'push along' And sure it stands to all confest, The greatest place in all the West. Altho' no lofty temples rise, To pierce the blue and vaulted skies ; Altho' no gilded domes reflect The noonday rays — yet I expect That when the mills of Van and Dean 3 Begin to puff, sights will be seen. With frolic Fun the town is rife, We've all the luxuries of life, Liquors to drink, Girls to marry — Lots of babies and one to carry" ! Barlow Granger's "Editorial Adieu," January 15, '52, lets the reader into some of the joys and sorrows of editing and publishing "a seven-column paper in a five-column town." First, the joys — a keen recollection of the public's "kind indulgencics" and of its "just appreciation of the many difficulties" which the editor had en countered. He says : "Notwithstanding the frequent freezings up of our press and types causing delays in the issue, and our own editorial neglect, caused by the many difficulties that surrounded us, subscribers have continued to 'take the paper ;' — nay more, they have cheered us on with their kind words and gen- 2 J. H. Posegate attributes this address to Dr. Dewey. See "Reminiscences," etc., in another chapter. 3 Proprietors of a saw-mill then in process of erection on the south side of the Raccoon. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 69 erous sympathies." For his "hard labor and pecuniary loss," the editor feels fully compensated in the assurance that the Star has a "permanent foundation," and will go on "prospering and to prosper !" He has no apology for his democ racy. From his earliest youth he has been a Democrat, and is sure that upon the supremacy of his party "depends the future happiness and prosperity of our mighty Republic." He has aimed to make the Star "a hebdomadal of pleasure and profit, and feels he has in a measure succeeded." The new management pledge the Star to radical democracy. While they regard democratic principles as "changeless and immutable," the new editor believes "that they are progressive in their character and effect." Some of the refinements of modern politics are suggested by this clever play upon words : "A Democrat who falters or goes back is half a Whig. A Whig who gets ahead of his party is more than half a Democrat." On the 28th of November, 1850, Mr. Johnson's name is dropped from the Star, and that of Curtis Bates, stands alone as editor and publisher.4 Mr. Bates begins his editorial career with an apology. Honored with an appointment as a delegate to the railroad convention to be held in Iowa City, December 5, he will necessarily be absent several weeks, during which time the paper will be edited by his worthy foreman, M. L. Morris, "who will do everything up about right." Any scantiness of editorial will only last until the editor gets to "the city, and has time to write and forward by mail." The new editor waxes eloquent over the then much talked-of dissolution of the Union: "What! the union dissolve? As well might you expect to see the stupenduous Appenines crumble away, that have towered for ages in the im maculate ether, and around which the pure sunlight of heaven has played for ever! Not until the last spark shall have died away upon liberty's altar; not until the dark clouds of ignorance and superstition shall lower around our hori zon and the blazing fagots of fanaticism and insane violence kindled to flash and glare on our country — will that great Charter that was signed with patriot prayers and patriot tears, be blotted by discord and torn by disunion." Then, dismounting from his Pegasus, the editor admits that "a few more flourishing speeches, a little more quarreling, a few more conventions, and the people will finally think that there is some danger for the perpetuity of our institutions !" As the campaign of 1850 progressed, the amenities were exchanged between the Star and the Gazette in such phrases as "wanton and unprecedented calumnies and falsehoods," "base insinuations," etc. The Star was the "loco-foco organ," and the Gazette, the mouthpiece of "Whiggery." In its issue of December 15, 1850, the Star accuses the Gazette of plagiarism from the Burlington Hawkeye and insists that the plagiarism embodied a false hood which the Gazette editor published knowingly, thus doubling his culpa bility. On the ioth of January, 1850, Rev. Thompson Bird officiated at the mar riage of Isaac J. Cole and Hannah C. Dean, both of Polk county, and the Star informs the public that "the printer was kindly remembered," and, in return, said printers wished them "the realization of all their brightest hopes." But the affair was not so lightly dismissed. A five-stanza poem on the happy event was "communicated" by some anonymous poet of the period, of which the fol lowing is the initial stanza: "The bridal hour, what thoughts arise To fill the lover's mind ; For now within his bosom lies, Sadness and mirth combined. * Mr. F. M. Posegate, in his youth an employe in the office of the store, a half century, afterwards referred to George Bates as the ideal man of his youth. 70 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The groom looks on his affianced bride, Emotions fill his breast, Of ardent thought; as by his side A lovely form is placed." The original poem closes with the pious wish that the wedded pair may "live happy, free from strife, and be both good and wise," and that "they may enjoy the Savior's love, to all eternity." The difficulties with which our publisher in the early Fifties contended, and the seriousness of the transportation question from the standpoint of the Fort Des Moines merchants of the period, are illustrated in an apologetic item of January 25, 1851, in which the reader is informed that the failure to get out the Star last week was because the necessary print paper lay at Bonaparte, with other freight past due at Fort Des Moines. In his issue of February 20, '51, the editor now announced as Curtis Bates, reads the Democrats the suggestive lesson of the Gazette's enforced suspension, frankly saying: "The Star having suffered everything but death from the same disease very naturally sympathizes with the Gazette in its afflictions." He hopes his paper has passed the turning point; but urges its Democratic readers to "pay." Without patrons and pay the Star must cease. "If any one doubts this," he refers the doubter to "the dying declarations of the Gazette, and such declara tions are always received as good evidence in courts of justice." The advent of W. W. Williamson as "temporary editor of the Iowa State Journal was the signal for an editorial war between Bates and Williamson be side which the "divisive strife" deplored by "Uncle Dick" Clarkson, nearly a half century later, was mimicry of war! In the Star of March 20, '51, "this 'wiseacre' was accused of 'chicanery,' and a host of other offences, and was threateningly advised to emigrate west to some point where rail timber is scarce." "Veritas" comes to the support of the Star with a communication in which Williamson is tenderly referred to as a vanquished coward deserving of the castigation he has received. "Hystrix" uses his cudgel also, berating the "Phoenix of the defunct Gazette," "the Decemviri who managed the concern" and its temporary editor, who would "exist — ass-like — by snuffing up the north wind." About this time the Star readers are informed of the inability of its law yer-editor to write editorials and at the same time try cases in court. In one of his frequent editorial apologies, Mr. Bates frankly expresses his thankful ness for a good excuse, inasmuch as he is "as scarce of something to write about" as he is "of time to write it in." Following the valedictory of the temporary editor of the Journal, the Star of August 21, '51, congratulated that paper's readers on their release! A wedding notice appears September 11, followed by the words "Minus — the cake!" The next change in the management of the Star occurred September 4, 1851, when Dr. A. Y. Hull, associated himself with Judge Bates. In his "bow edi torial" Dr. Hull confesses to misgivings as to his ability, but promises to write "so as to be understood," relying on the "clemency of a lenient public." When his quill fails, he will rely upon "a mammoth pair of scissors." He promises that the Star shall be "no less Democratic than heretofore." The Star, conservative in matters relating to local taxation, in its issue of October 16, '51, is sobered by public responsibility following the incorporation of the town, and gravely cautions its readers that inasmuch as Fort Des Moines is "now incorporated, and must bear the burthens which it [incorporation] will necessarily impose," the taxpayers ought to have "as much of the quid pro quo as possible," and suggests as a starter the grading of the streets. This pessi mistic utterance was followed by a two-weeks'' vacation for the Star. On No vember 13, the editor lamely apologizes for the lapse, attributing it to "circum- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 71 stances beyond our control," and assuring his patrons that for the future he will "guard against similar contingencies." Chill November, a year later, brings from the editor a pathetic appeal for wood in payment for arrearages in subscriptions; and to make the appeal more pathetic the paper comes to its readers reduced to half its regular size. Returning to his "sanctum," after several weeks absence, the lawyer-editor mounts his "old rickety tripod," and patiently waits for "an idea." Waiting in vain, he exclaims, "What shall we do?" He invokes "the Sacred Nine," asking them to vouchsafe their "silvery song," and this' is all the inspiration vouchsafed : "We know we are a poet, And all will surely know it; Our machine it grinds to[o] fast by far, To supply the columns of the Star." The editor soon gets down to prose. In his issue of January 17, '52, he admits the "poor appearance of his paper," but attributes it to the fact that one of his boys "was absent on a visit to his friends," and his foreman "was also several days absent, fixing up the preliminaries in order to join himself to a better half." April 29, Dr. Hull announced his intention to return to the farm — fifteen miles distant, where he hoped to raise sufficient to supply his family with food. From April 8 to June 17, 1852, the Star frequently slumbered. On the 17th of June, Dr. Hull stepped down and out, having accepted the Democratic nomi nation for State Senator, and Judge Bates's name again appears as editor. Vexatious as these suspensions were, the editor says, "to us it is a serious loss, by impairing confidence of the public in the stability of the paper." He expresses a determination to "keep the paper agoing," as long as he was "able to work and think," the stories circulated by his "loco-foco friends ... to the contrary notwithstanding." Experience had severely taught him how hard it was to publish a paper so far from its base of supplies, especially with "a long list of delinquent subscribers to drag along;" but having undertaken it, he didn't intend "to give in as long as flesh and sinew hold out," "buoying ourself with the hope that ultimately we may be rewarded with at least a support for ourself and family." The approaching Fourth of July, 1852, awakens the enthusiasm of the editor of June 16. He waxes eloquent: "Let modest shouts from uncontrolled lips make the welkin ring, as in the days of old, with the huzzas of Heaven-born freedom !" On June 24, the editor, Curtis Bates, says the very delicate state of his health for the last two or three months is the apology offered for the want of editorial attention to the Star. Incidentally he wonders if delinquent subscribers "realize that the Star must have paper and ink and the editor and printers food and raiment." On the 22d of July, the editor had no foreman, but had "three devils, and the way they develop things in the office is a ¦ caution to newspaper publishers." Then, again, he adds: "The weather is getting its temper up to such a heat as to melt our rollers and they run down." But there were other foes of the Star besides extremes of heat and cold, lack of transportation facilities, the interference of courts, conventions and legislatures with the editor's duties. On January 13, 1853, that paper presents a bran-new apology! Sometime past, he says, "we have been compelled to issue a half sheet, as we have not till now been able to repair the injuries which some rascal committed last Fall. We are now in the field once more, ready to receive friends by day and rascals by night." In the same issue the editor announces the defeat of the first Capital-removal bill in the Senate, but adds: "Fort Des Moines still remains in the centre of 72 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY the State; still retains the trade of the rich and beautiful country around about, [is] still on the banks of the Des Moines, the improvement of which promises to be splendidly completed," etc. Between February 3 and April 28, '53, no paper was issued from the Star office. The paper ordered weeks ago, said the editor in a miserably poor half- sheet issue, had not come yet; he had been expecting it for nearly a month. "But," added he, with stoical philosophy, "disappointments will sometimes come in spite of us." In a pardonably ungracious mood the editor, in the same issue scolds his fellow-citizens for being "cool as a frosty morning, apparently resting in fancied security upon the supposition that the natural advantages of Fort Des Moines are such as to attract every railroad hither." The summer of 1853 found the editor feeling actually optimistic! On the 4th of June, he exclaims, "What may not Fort Des Moines become !" In his mind's eye he sees the future commercial importance of Fort Des Moines, "the head of navigation," with six boats then plying the river, carrying the trade of Fort Des Moines and St. Louis, three of the boats at the time "at our levee," and with certain "prospect of railroad connection with the East at no distant day." In a badly printed half-sheet, issued December 1, the editor apologizes for the appearance of the paper in a pitifully facetious fashion. He refers to the sore and crippled hands of his men so crippled that they were "unable to work a part of the time since our last issue and consequently we have been without hands. . . . Next week we expect to do better . . as the crippled hands are able to work again ; unless some new misfortune makes its appear ance. We expect another hand before another week, and 'then and O then' if things don't go a little better in publishing the 'Star' somebody will see 'Stars' if our subscribers don't." Things went better apparently, for in the next number of the incomplete file, that of January 19, 1854, was the announcement of a complete change in the management of the Star. At the head of the Democratic State ticket, "for Governor," stood the name of the Star editor, Curtis Bates, of Polk county; at the head of the editorial page was the name of D. O. Finch as editor, and on the first page, appeared the firm name of S. W. Hill and Company, publishers.5 In his farewell editorial, Judge Bates refers feelingly to "the difficulties of carrying on a newspaper in a country as new and sparsely settled as this was) when he became connected • with the Star. Until within the last year," he adds, "the receipts of the Printing Office fell far short of the necessary ex-i penditures, and the deficit had to be made up as far as possible in some other way, and for this purpose I devoted considerable of my time to the practice of law, and still, with all of the ready means which I could raise, it was all I could do to keep the paper alive." He commends to the public "D. O. Finch, Esq.; as editor, who has had some experience in that business, and who will gracefully fill the editorial chair and wield a ready and vigorous pen and in political matter always on the democratic style." Mr. Finch, in a brief salutatory, says he has "consented to act as the editofr of the Star for a time," and assures his readers in Fort Des Moines that he will continue "in the advocacy of sound democratic principles," and that "the pros perity of our growing town and thriving country will not be forgotten in the excitement of politics." Mr. Finch continued to edit the Star until its suspension, August 17, 1854, 5 The nomination of Bates for governor was celebrated at the Stutsman tavern after wards the Demoine House, corner of First and Walnut. Speeches were made by Casady, McHjenry, Finch and other leading Democrats, in recognition of the high compliment paid their distinguished townsman. ISAAC COOPER Pioneer Builder and Contractor JOHN P. SAYLOR Pioneer Farmer and Government Contractor E. J. INGERSOLL Pioneer Insurance Man. Organizer and First President of the Hawkeye Fire Insurance Company PETER NEWCOMER Pioneer of 1843 JOSIAH M. THRIFT Tailor for the Dragoons of Fort Des Moines and prominent citizen of the town after the departure of the troops R. W. SYPHER Pioneer Merchant CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 73 imparting to its editorial page an attractive individuality and an increase in strength and force. We next find, in May, 1854, the names of Messrs. Hill & Company and Mr. Finch attached to the Fort Des Moines Argus — though without break in the serial number of the Star. In June the old name is resumed, but with Messrs. Hill & O'Grady as the paper's publishers. No editorial reference is made to these changes. The last issue of the Star, included in the file from which these notes are taken, — that of August 17, 1854, — announced editorially and with turned column- rules, the death of Thomas P. O'Grady, for a short time one of the paper's pro prietors. O'Grady had bought into the Star in April, but was prevented by illness from entering on his new career until the following June, when he re moved from Keokuk to Fort Des Moines. The Fort Des Moines Gazette. The first number of the Fort Des Moines Gazette6 was issued January 14, 1850, with Lampson P. Sherman,7 editor and proprietor, the printing office lo cated "at the Point." The paper was well printed, in long primer and brevier type, with seven wide columns to the page. The effort of "getting out" the first number was so exhausting that in the issue of January 18, the editor says : "To enable us to 'put our house in order,' and make a fair start, no paper was issued from this office last week." The Gazette was a whig paper in politics, the growing whig sentiment in the community and county seeming to warrant its publication. But an examina tion of the fifty-one numbers which rounded out its career reveals the fact that, important as the party organ was then regarded, the editor did not lose sight of the fact that a newspaper is primarily a neztts paper. Every number contains a carefully prepared epitome of world, congressional, state and local news and a good selection of general literature. -To all this was added what in its editor's judgment was just enough editorial comment to straighten out the political quirks of the Star and to lead the theretofore unshepherded whigs in the way that they should go. A passing glance at the advertising in this number will reveal to the experi enced eye the fact that the bulk of it is non-paying, as for example, nearly a column of "set matter" given up to the prospectus of The Columbian, about to be issued in Cincinnati ; a half-column, to the perennial Living Age ; and abundant space to the Louisville Journal (edited by George D. Prentice) ; the Cincinnati Gazette; the Congressional Globe, the Home Journal, of George P. Morris and N. P. Willis ; The Cultivator, by Luther F. Tucker ; Graham's Maga zine ; Peterson's Magazine ; Hunt's Merchant's Magazine ; The New York Tribune, by Greeley & McElrath ; Holden's Dollar Monthly (afterwards Bal- lou's), and the Fort Des Moines Gazette. In the Gazette's prospectus, the publisher announces that while the paper will be "a Newspaper in every sense of the word," "in politics it will be den cidedly whig," its editor having "been reared in a school which knows of no 6 The only file of the Gazette known to have survived the perennial peril to old news papers — that of house-cleaning — is that now jointly owned by Miss Minnie Sherman and Mr. lohn Sherman, surviving daughter and son of the editor and proprietor of the paper. The first number of the Gazette was evidently not bound in with the rest. All the other numbers of the initial, and only, volume are fairly well preserved. The author is under many obligations to the surviving son and daughter for opportunity to study this valuable first-hand contribution to the History of Des Moines and Polk County as well. 7 Mr. Sherman was a brother of General and Senator Sherman, and a half-brother of Hoyt Sherman, who had preceded him to Fort Des Moines. He was a practical printer, and had for several years been foreman of the Cincinnati Gazette. 74 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY compromise." But, adds the editor, he "wishes it perfectly understood that under his control the paper shall never become the vehicle of private abuse and personal slander." Farther on he frankly states that "he has by the investment of his entire capital identified himself with the citizens of the Des Moines Valley," and "he will never prove recreant to their interests, or be backward when they can receive advantage from his efforts," — a pledge bravely kept to the end of Mr. Sherman's career as editor and publisher. That picturesque advertising is not altogether a Twentieth Century accom plishment is shown by the "ad" of Messrs. Lyon & Allen. These clever ad vertisers announce that they purpose to supply everything that can be called for, "from a silk dress to a goose yoke." They "always keep a good fire," their "clerks are attentive and polite," and they invite both "Town and Country" to call. They conclude with a pathetic appeal to their debtors to call and settle. Unlike the chameleon, they "cannot live upon air." They find language "in adequate to the stern -necessity that rules" them. Their "emotions upon this occasion are solemn." In short, they insist upon "a general settlement." The "poetry" in this number extends even to the advertising! Messrs. Lyon & Allen embody in their ad. six stanzas, most of them ending with : "And just a little more." They advertise, along with jeans and satinets, "augurs that will bore;" and along with ginger, buttons, nails and flax; fancy sacks "that button down be fore." The last stanza is quite poetical: "By wind and tide our bark was tost Upon the Des Moines shore; We mean to sell our GOODS AT COST, And just a TRIFLE MORE!!" But there were others who, like Silas Wegg, dropt into poetry on occasion with a mercenary intent. Listen to this : "... The White frost, Glittering, hung upon the pendant grass, Reflecting brightly back the slanting rays 'till all the broad prairie in mirror'd beauty Glistened, Far in the distance, dragging slow, Like a wounded snake, its length along, With pontrous strength, on slow revolving wheels, Its snowy canvass shining in the sun, Is seen a mighty train of — four ox teams Loaded to the guards with a most rich freight, Of Dry Goods and Groceries, and Queensware, for E. WISE & CO." In The Gazette of May 24, the editor vents his sorrow that he is not able to issue a paper next week, "scarcity of teams this spring preventing us from ob taining our supply of paper from the river in time." The Gazette's issue of July 19, 1850, appears with "turned rules" in mourn ing for the death of the whig president, Zachary Taylor. Its editor says: "There never has been a president who has manifested more wisdom and mode ration in the conduct of the affairs of the nation than General Taylor, and now that there is nothing to be feared from praising him, we trust those who dif fered with him in sentiment will not refuse to award him some little virtue." The issue of August 2, on the eve of election is largely devoted to editorials and contributed articles correcting the campaign lies of the democrats ! CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 75 The way of the young whig editor was steadily growing harder and more uphill. September 13, "the sickness of the editor" serves as "an excuse for the lack of editorials." Then follows a hiatus extending from September 20 to October 18, which the editor explains as follows: "Sickness of our hands and a disappointment in the receipt of paper has interrupted the issue of the Gazette the last three weeks." The issue of November 1 appears on a half sheet — "paper not reached us yet." The editor announces that as he purposes to move his establishment,8 it will be impossible for him to issue a paper, next week. He trusts that there after he "will not be called upon to make any similar apologies." The issue of November 15 contains a removal notice, adding: "We are just now in urgent need of money. We have published the Gazette for nearly a year now, and during all that time have not received from our subscribers as much money as would purchase the paper used." On the 6th of February, 1851, the Fort Des Moines Gazette suspended publication, in accordance with its announcement to that effect on January 24. In its last issue, the Gazette tells a sad tale of the instability of promises and professions. Its editor, Mr. L. P. Sherman, tells the story: It appears that some eighteen months before, a number of Polk county whigs subscribed nearly $350 as a bonus to any one who would publish a whig paper in Fort Des Moines. Relying on this subscription and supplemental assurance he began the publication of the Gazette. He worked day and night to make the paper acceptable. Disappointments and obstacles soon confronted him: but he struggled on, hopeful "that the whigs would yet come forward and give him at least a living support." As the 52nd. number of his paper went to press, the question arose, should he enter upon another year. With but 125 of the 500 whigs in Polk county on his subscription list — and nearly half of these in arrears, and with the written promises of others unredeemed, should he venture? He felt he would be doing himself wrong to make the attempt. "With shame and mortification, then, he announces that, his party having failed in its promises and engagements to him, the present number terminates the existence of the Fort Des Moines Gazette." For those whigs who had stood by him he had only "grateful recollections." In its issue of February 13, the Star comments at length on its defunct rival's sad tale of benefits forgot, making it the basis for a sharp sermon to its own halting supporters — a sermon lost on its readers as its own after-suspension reveals. Like the Star, the Gazette was too big for the town. A five-column paper might have literally "pulled through," had Fort Des Moines been reasonably satisfied with a paper no larger than it could support. The Gazette never had half the advertising it needed to fill out its twenty-eight columns of space. Nearly all the prospectuses used as fill-ups in the initial number were carried through the fifty-one numbers, simply to save the expense of type-setting. Old- time editors well understanding the dilemma of the publisher who sees loss of prestige and influence in any such confession of weakness as an "ensmallment," and the certainty of suspension somewhere in the near future, unless some un expected "boom" happens along to fill its columns with live advertising at good rates. But, it becomes the local historian's duty to relate another chapter of ex perience, thus completing the hitherto untold story of the rise and fall of pioneer newspapers in Fort Des Moines. 8 To the Alfred Lyon building, corner of Second and Walnut streets. 76 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The Iowa State Journal. The Iowa State Journal succeeded to the good-will of the whig contingent. Its initial number appeared February 28, 1851, four weeks after the demise of the Gazette. Its editor was William W. Williamson, a prominent and am bitious whig politician. Its publishers were Peter Myers & Company.9 Its one sign of financial promise was a three-column advertisement, "Proposals for Carrying the Mails of Iowa," signed by N. K. Hall, postmaster-general. The paper carried a number of the old "ads" and prospectuses which had long filled the waste places of the Gazette. One two-inch ad was a clever bit of editorial satire on the legal profession. It announced that with only nineteen lawyers, Fort Des Moines needed an even twenty, and the town offered "a rare chance for an enterprising young man to make from three to five bits per month, exclu sive of washing !" The ad concludes with a request that the New York Tribune and other metropolitan journals "please copy to the amount of $5, and charge acceptant." The lawyer-editor ably advocates, as accepted whig doctrine, a limited liabil ity law, under which "if it were proposed to build a railroad from Fort Des Moines to Dubuque, Davenport, Burlington or to Keokuk, every man in Polk county would take stock, . . . but if by investing $100 he would thereby risk all that he has obtained by the toil of years, he would forbear to touch it." The Republican of Iowa City is quoted as saying that the new paper is "really the Gazette galvanized into life," and the Journal does not deny the charge. The Journal purposes, soon as its editor can find time, to find out why Polk county "is still in debt some $2,000," since "no public buildings have been erected at the expense of the county." That Editor Williamson had little regard for the latter-day "amenities of journalism" is evident from the second number of the Journal. In the leading editorial, he accuses the Star editor of garbling, of playing the demogogue, and of not being entitled to credence without "corroborating testimony." We have already seen that Editor Bates of the Star was not the man to sit back in his chair and let a brother lawyer editorially abuse him. The Journal editor finds himself in fine fighting trim as he sits down to write for the issue of March 14. That there may be no mistaking the object of his attack, he heads his editorial "The Star." He notes the "viperous hos tility" in the bosoms of those who conduct that paper. "No language is too low, . . no motives too mean to be attributed to their conduct." The animus of the new editor becomes apparent in this personal allusion : "It is doubtless remembered by the citizens of this district how the editor of the Journal was falsely and maliciously charged by the Star press, during the can vass of the past summer. It is well remembered how recklessly and harm lessly they thus assaulted his personal character. The result of the canvass on his part though not successful, yet was a strong and powerful rebuke to those public slanderers, sufficient, indeed, to have driven them loaded with shame, back to their retreats of privacy." The editor promises that for the future no notice would be taken by him "of the insulting matters contained in the Star." But he would "settle personal affairs personally without troubling the public about them." Let us see how well the belligerent editor kept his word with the public. In the Journal of March 21, he breaks his promise just long enough to relieve the "fright" of the rival editor, with an assurance that he has no intention of casti gating him "as he deserves." There are other ways of settling disputes. He "never entertained, for a moment, the idea of chastising 'granny' Bates — much less his blooming nosed sub-editor." The Journal of April 11 pays tribute to "the Editor of the Star" in an 9 Lampson P. Sherman presumably the "Company." CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 77 editorial devoted to "the slanderous course pursued by him." A week later he sheds tears over the discovery that the Star editor is sinking lower and lower in vulgarity until he is become "so far below even common decency" that he deems it "proper to pass in silence his vulgarities." Then follow the unprecedented floods of '51, dampening the ardor of the combatants, and cutting off supplies from the outside world. "Owing to disappointment in the receipt of paper," the Journal of June 25 explained the non-issue of a paper last week, and intimating that there might be "no paper on the following week." The next number did not appear until July 11. In this issue the glad news was given that the steamer Caleb Cope had arrived with a large supply of paper. On August 1, just before election, the Journal editor again broke his good resolutions that he might free his mind on the "palpable and barefaced false hood" uttered in the Star, and the wilfulness of that paper's dishonesty. The election gave the editor great satisfaction, especially in Polk county, proving clearly to his mind that the people of the county had "determined to cut loose" from the faction which for some time had been administering on county affairs. He was especially pleased with the election of F. G. Burbridge, the whig candidate for county judge. He is sure the county will be redeemed from bankruptcy, and her citizens be freed from the burden of taxation "heaped up by mismanagement." With the issue of August 15, 185 1, closed the connection of Mr. Williamson with the Journal. Justice to his business engagements forbade "a longer con tinuance in this interesting relation." He indulged in a few reflections upon the editorial course he had pursued and the motives which had prompted him. Here we have a touch of the man's marked individuality. He frankly admits "that, in moments of excitement, something may have been written, that was not proper for a public journal, notwithstanding it was entirely true. And," he adds, "although I may have touched at times severely, upon certain char acters in the community, yet I am satisfied in my own mind, that if injustice has been done to any one, it has been done to myself in not chastising more severely those same individuals." He is "happy to announce to the many friends of the Journal, that its pros pects for success are certain." ( !) "While its subscription list is daily increas ing, and its circulation widening and extending, it is receiving an additional patronage from other sources, [ ?] that gives it a foundation 'sure and stead fast.' " Mr. Williamson concludes his valedictory with a glowing picture of the future Capital of Iowa." With poet's vision he sees "the speedy completion of those great works of Internal Improvement" which "the enterprise of the citi zens of Central and Western Iowa . . . has set in motion." His prophetic vision includes "the great Eastern and Western railroad" traversing the State, developing "its vast and inexhaustible resources of wealth," and connecting the future Capital city with the cities of the Atlantic States. The State Journal of August 29, 1851, flies at its mast-head as editor the name of Charles B. Darwin, one of the foremost lawyers and whig orators in Iowa. In a lengthy editorial Mr. Darwin states that he has been "invited by the gentlemen stockholders of the Journal to take charge of its editorial de partment." He assumes the responsibility "with some hesitancy," inasmuch as he is unacquainted with the people for whom he is to select and write. He came to the West in early life, and his "sweetest associations are linked with memories of its garden beauties." He gives free reign to his fancy thus : "We love its flower enameled prairies — its mystic groves — its ever advancing hum of on coming improvement — its giant future promise ; and we love the eloquent sim plicity and warm heartedness of its sons." Editing is not his vocation, nor does he desire to make it so. "It shall be for a while, because gentlemen have requested it." He adds : "Pecuniary com- 78 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY pensation we get none, so you will not growl at us if we do as well as you would for the same pay." He admits he is a whig: "but," he says, "while truth shall ever be our loved- one, and error our accursed, we will never be so recreant to truth and decency as to employ either in defence of the one or aggression on the other the weapons of scurrility." He wants contributors to the Journal. "Why cannot the men of Polk county and its neighborhood utter thought as well as those in York or Boston? It is disreputable to lis to ship all our ideas from the East when that rough-looking, silent, almost speechless man, if he would only open his mouth, could tell us for our benefit a thousand things. . . The W'est alone is fit to think for the West — Polk county alone for Polk county." Unlike many a twentieth-century journalist who would silence the rest- disturbing Sunday morning bell, the Journal editor wants to know why some bell, "if only the tavern bell," can't be rung at meeting time. "All have not clocks nor is there any way of knowing when to go." The editor is glad to hear of an effort to form a literary, or library, asso ciation, and predicts its success. "When we think of the comparatively few books we have here, and the difficulty attendant on getting them, we incline to welcome any suggestion that promises help." A debating society is contemplated also. Mr. Darwin extols the educating influence of such societies. His conception of education can scarcely be im proved. He regards that man as "the best educated who can, in shortest time, bring the most mind to bear upon any given enquiry." He inclines to the opinion that a command of good books, aided by the sound suggestions of practical life, with the incentive of a well regulated lyceum, "would do more to give us useful men than all the learned jargoning or musty metaphysical mumblements of our present college system." A cabinet of geological and mineralogical collections, with scientific lectures from time to time, is another probability, rejoicing the heart of the newcomer. Such minor editorial items as these not only reflect the simple life led in Fort Des Moines in the early Fifties, but also reveal the optimistic spirit which the new editor brought with him, and rejoiced to find, in his new home. In his issue of September 5, the new editor has "A Word about Money" which fills a column and a half of space. Also a column and a quarter in criticism of the curriculum of the new Iowa College, Davenport. He finds Latin enough; and Greek enough and Mathematics enough ; but not enough English, Political Economy and History, and the sciences theoretical and applied. In fact, Mr. Darwin shrewdly anticipates, by a half-century or more, the trend of modern schools. Greek and Plebrew do little, he says, "in making a crop of corn, in inventing a useful machine or getting built a railroad, and yet as the system is, the farmer, the lawyer, the mechanic, or the doctor . . . has few or no schools in which he can receive the benefits of association, cognate apparatus and instruction." Evidently the lawyer-editor had made the discovery that editing a paper — even for recreation — does not attract clients, for he begs to be excused for saying that his editorial duties are "mere after-supper recreation" and do not interfere with his practice. He doesn't "want to beg for patronage," but as he depends "entirely upon law for bread," he wants it "distinctly understood" that his present relation is not in conflict with his "entire devotion to the law." Again the editor dips into the future. This time his vision includes the modern "free public library." He questions if it wouldn't be "for the real pecuniary interests of this town to subscribe $500 to such an object." As he heard one of the solicitors say, "What an inducement it would be for the right sortof people to settle among us!" "We are aiming to get railroads and the Capital, &c. But these things will not come about by themselves." He ex horts all to help make the town worthy of the future "emporium of the interior." CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 79 Anticipating the forthcoming railroad convention at Iowa City in October, Mr. Darwin takes up the railroad situation, first with argument and then with a remarkable rhetorical flourish. Accepting his argument without question, let us try to follow him a little way in his aviation. "And when we have a good road laid to Keokuk, and Dubuque, and Davenport, and are upon the main line to the Pacific, we'll not have to read stale books and news — lose a crop to visit a friend or parent in the East, or let our lands lie idle for want of a market. What else would we want to complete the interesting picture? Nothing; but that as the rising sun looks upon our Capitolean hill his 'first rays' may mingle with the radiance of a noble State House dome." At about this time Dr. A. Y. Hull became associate editor of the Star. Mr. Darwin pictures the Doctor as "a fine looking man, -and as gentlemanly withal, as the county holds." He regrets that such a handsome man should "lend his countenance to democracy." After several issues marked by an exhaustive output of editorial essays on a wide range of ethical and sociological subjects, the Journal of October 3 an nounces that "continued indisposition of the editor will account for the lack of editorial this week." A week later, the editor says : "We mix up with our editorial duties this week, cooking victuals, washing the dishes, sweeping the house, making the bed, administering medicine to our sick family, with various other little domestic items, that we never knew before needed in a house — have hardly had time to remember that we ourself were sick." And here follows a pleasant little side-light on the community life on the frontier before the days of "maids," "domestics," or even of their predecessors "hired girls," — not to speak of that modern institution, the "trained nurse." He says: "This is not, gentlemen, a sickly country, but if you are sick, all labor is so greatly demanded that it is difficult to get help sazr that furnished by the native generosity of the people, which is as great as anywhere in the world." October 30, Mr. Darwin announces that continued sickness in his family, and consequent neglect of editorial duties and his own continued indisposition, coupled with "a design to spend the winter with friends a little remote" led him for the present, to resume again "his freedom from the Journal." He tenders his sincere thanks "to the very amiable and gentlemanly co-editor and printer, Mr. Sherman," "for the very kind manner in which he has ever sought to lighten" the editor's cares. In the same issue the Journal gives the Star the credit of first suggesting that the name of the town be changed to "Des Moines," and says the sugges tion is a good one. "It would save much time. It looks better and sounds better, and besides 'Fort' is, to one afar off, always suggestive of Indians and of rudeness." But the Journal suggests "Desmoines," "all written together and pronounced in English," adding that "if written separate, there are and ever will be two modes of pronouncing the name, the French Day Mwoin or Dey Mwan, and the English as by most of us now." Readers of the present genera tion need not be told that "most of us now — in this second decade of the Twen tieth century have fallen into the use of an illogical cross between the French and the English, namely "Day Moine." The Journal of February 19, 1852, has a strong editorial on "our Coal Resources," in which the extent of the Des Moines river coal field and the quality of its coal are presented at some length. In this connection the editor, well says that "the permanent upbuilding of any town depends more upon local enterprise than upon any factitious foreign influences. In our excellent soil and mineral deposits, we have, within an area of a few miles around us, a more golden California than any which the shores of the Pacific can present. And he who will seize his plow, hoe, pick-axe, or mechanical implements, and wield them faithfully a few years, will more certainly reap a [more] golden harvest than 80 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY in any country lying between Salt Lake and the setting sun." A prediction amply verified by time. The Journal of July i announced that it is "the first newspaper issued upon paper of Iowa manufacture." It was made in the new mill of Green & Company, in Bentonsport. The next week's issue of the Journal gave another sign of insufficient nour ishment. It appeared with six columns to the page, but printed on the usual seven-column sheet, leaving a very wide margin. In this issue appears, enclosed in "turned slugs," indicative of mourning, a feeling editorial on the death of the great whig party leader, Henry Clay — which occurred more than three months before — no report of which had reached the Journal on the date of its last issue ! "The structure of his fame," says the editor, "stands side by side with those of Washington and Jefferson, and, like theirs, towers towards the heavens. . . . His fame was not won at the expense of the blood of millions — his conquests were those of peace and com promise." The Journal of July 2-9, in its last word to the voter, compares the two tickets, but more particularly the rival candidates for the State Senate. John Lewis, an old resident of the county, a farmer, and an honest man, was "bound by no clique, nor fettered by strict allegiance to party." If elected, his sole en deavor would be to promote his constituents' interests. Dr. Hull is characterized as a gentleman of talent and ability, "who with 'fair spoken words' promises you well," "but is one of those with whom party is before the people." The issue of August 12 calls attention to the fact that the Journal was ven turing upon volume two. "We say venturing," says the editor, "because our experience has taught us the certain and discouraging truth, that we have to encounter great and harassing difficulties. But the most discouraging item the printer has to contemplate and suffer from, is the total indifference of a class of subscribers to the call or dun for subscription. Some seem to consider it an act of presumptious impertinence on our part to dun them . . . — they ain't used to being dunned, and won't stand it — they'll stop the paper, certain; while others, being admonished every week by the very fact of perusing the paper, give us a wide berth, when they see us, and 'pass by on the other side.' Still another class wrong us and themselves, intending fully to pay, yet put it off — procrastinate, until the very last minute. Now, gentlemen, we cannot stand this much longer — we have creditors who are clamorous, and ought to be paid ; and we cannot pay them unless you pay us. One half of what you all owe us would liquidate all our liabilities, and start us fair and encouraged into the new year. Is there not enough of generosity and justice in your composition to move you in our behalf, without any more delay? You will feel all the better yourselves, and at the same time relieve us. We ask nothing but what is just, and our due. Our individual resources are exhausted, and if you fail us now we must neces sarily go down." August 26, '52 the editor pathetically states that little attention was paid to his call for funds. He again makes his plea for support, declaring that "our necessities are pressing and demand all our resources — we cannot wait any longer, and what's more we wont." — And it didn't. It simply ceased to be, leav ing the still lingering Star in full possession of the field — a field affording scant nourishment for even one newspaper, as is revealed in the story of the Star, already to be told in these pages. FORT DES MOINES JOURNALISM FROM '54 TO '58. Whether the death of O'Grady already referred to as immediately preceding the suspension of the Star, was the final cause of, or only a convenient pretext for, the_ suspension, any experienced publisher can see at a glance at the Star's advertising columns — filled as they were with prospectuses of the previous win- HOYT SHERMAN Taken in the '70s LAMPSON P. SHERMAN Pioneer Whig Educator and Founder of the Journal CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 81 ter and other dead matter — that the growth and prospects of Fort Des Moines had not brought prosperity to the pioneer newspaper. The old order was changing. The democratic party in Iowa, as in the nation, was fast losing ground. Grimes, the whig candidate for Governor, had defeated Bates, editor of the Star. Even in his own county of Polk, where Bates had ex pected a sweeping majority, the vote on the governorship was a tie, and Fort Des Moines, in which Bates had counted on an overwhelming vote, gave the whig candidate a majority of 35 ! In the winter following the suspension, the Star was purchased by "Will" Tomlinson and re-christened the Towa Statesman. Dr. W. H. Farner became as sociated with Tomlinson in its publication. In 1855, "Will" Porter, a bright young journalist, and B. D. Thomas entered the service of the States-man. Tom linson as an editor was as bellicose even as Williamson of the Journal in his time had been. Farner went to the other extreme of "masterly inactivity." Between the two, the Statesman's life was not a happy one. In the fall of. 1856, Tomlin son, a strenuous "East-sider," moved his printing office across the river, much to the chagrin of its West-side supporters. In 1858, Will Porter bought out Tomlinson and moved the Statesman back to the West side. By the time it had reached its destination it had been re-named the Iowa State Journal. Tomlinson attempted to revive the Statesman, but after a precarious existence of a few months it died, leaving the Journal in command of the field. Porter was a good all-round newspaper man, and under his man agement, the Journal had a successful career for nearly three years, finally be coming the property of Stilson Hutchins, afterward a successful journalist in Washington. For several years after the suspension of the Journal, the whigs remained with out an organ. In February, 1856, Thomas H. Sypherd started the Iowa Citizen as a "Free Soil" Republican paper. He was backed by A. J. Stephens, a local banker. After a year's experience, Sypherd retired, leaving the banker "holding the bag." Mr. Stephens installed W. H. Farner and J. M. Dixon as editors and publishers, and under their management the paper became an influential ex ponent of the new republican party. In August, 1857, the Citizen was bought by I. C. Savery, Farner retiring and Dixon remaining as editor. In December of that year, John Teesdale, the newly elected State Printer, bought the Citizen, retaining Dixon as associate editor. The long story of pioneer journalism in Fort Des Moines ends with the ad vent of the State Capitol, in 1857. The new era finds the old democratic party and the new republican party represented, each by a newspaper ably edited and well-conducted, each looking forward to a brilliant future for the Capital city, and eager to lead the way in the constructive work of the coming year. When we compare these primitive journalistic struggles for existence in old Fort Des Moines, with the many-paged and prosperous dailies of twentieth cen tury Des Moines, we cannot but feel mingled sympathy and admiration for the men who bravely bore the brunt of the long-drawn-out battle for the life of their respective journals. Their many pleas and admissions would be amusing, were they not pathetic. Theirs was verily "the day of small things." The money now expended by any one of our four dailies, or by any one of our four phenom enally successful farm and home papers, in a single month, would have bought the entire outfit of both rival papers, paid their editors good salaries and paid all the expenses of composition, press-work, paper, office-rent, etc., from the dates of their birth to that of their death — and would have prolonged their existence — at least to the point of adequate support from the increased trade and population of the town and county! And yet, who can over-estimate the value of -those first crude exponents of the life and the ambition of the little frontier town of Fort Des Moines ! Verily "the day of small things" is not to be despised, for wrapped up therein is the promise and potency of the future. CHAPTER VI. FRONTIER TOWN LIFE, AS REFLECTED IN THE NEWSPAPERS OF THE PERIOD. A community's actual history is not so much a chronicle of official acts as it is a reflex of community life "year in and year out." Even the least pretentious newspaper file is, for this reason, a veritable treasure-trove to the local histori ographer, and' a collection of newspapers1 is of priceless historical value. The only continuous report we have of the life led by the people of the fron tier town of Fort Des Moines, and of the pioneer county of Polk, is that which has been handed down to the present generation in the time-worn volumes of the Fort Des Moines Star, published from the spring of 1849 till the late sum mer of 1854, this supplemented by the shorter-lived Gazette and its successor, the Journal, — the one commencing with January 11, 1850, and ending with February 6, 1851 ; the other taking up the burden on February 28, 1851 and laying it down on the 26th of August, 1852. Between the suspension of the Star in '54 and the close of the pioneer era in '58, there is a break in the newspaper story of com munity life which probably will never be filled. Not that there were no news papers during that period ; but unfortunately, no one, not even the sole surviving editor of that period, Will Porter, of Des Moines, thought them sufficiently valuable to be preserved. Let us run through the files mentioned and note the early happenings in the little community huddled about the forks of the two rivers, — the "unconsidered trifles" which show the run of the current of events in the little town at the Forks. The first death chronicled is that of Mary Eunice, infant daughter of Mr. Thrift, regimental tailor for the First Dragoons. The announcement appears in the Star of August 31, 1849. Among the deaths which soon followed were Mrs. Jordan, wife of John Jordan, and Ruth J., wife of George C. Shell. The first marriage notice published was that of John H. Posegate, the gun- maker of Fort Des Moines, and Miss Harriet N. Kellogg, Rev. Thompson Bird officiating. The event occurred on the 20th of September, 1849. "The printers were not forgotten, but were filled to repletion with the choicest cake, which never fails to secure the happy young couple the constant protection of all good Genii!" The Star of September 28, following, notes the presence of the famous geologist, Dr. Owen, and a corps of assistants who have just completed their survey of the Upper Des Moines valley. After ascending the stream about 150 miles, they returned and ascended the Raccoon, as far as the stream was navi gable with canoes. On the evening of the 26th the Doctor by request delivered a lecture on the result of his explorations. The prophetic utterances of this pio neer geologist of Iowa are well worth copying. "Located as your town is in the center of this great State — a State situated midway between the two great oceans of the world, and washed on two sides by the two mighty rivers of the continent — with a soil of unsurpassed fertility, and vast stores of mineral wealth, yours must assume a proud place among the States of the Union. When, in a few years, the Atlantic and Pacific are united by a railroad, it will in all probability pierce 1 Such as fill the basement of the State's Historical building. 82 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 83 your State and scale your town, giving you easy communication with every part of the world. This is nature's choice for the great interior city of the State, and it needs not the spirit of prophecy to foresee that, such must be its destiny." The Doctor then goes into detail as to the abundance of coal, the immense ledges of gypsum and the presence of iron ore along the Des Moines river; the picturesqueness of the scenery, the abundance of timber and the unsurpassed richness of the soil along the river. The lecturer greatly enlarges the view of his deeply interested auditors and sends everybody home supremely happy ! The Dubuque Express about this time notes the return to Fort Des Moines of a party of surveyors headed by one Marsh. The party were robbed by Sioux Indians of their horses- and everything else of value in their possession. The Sioux, smarting under their recent defeat by the Winnebagoes, indemnified them selves in a measure by attacking the surveyors. Messrs. Buckingham, Dean & Scott began the survey of their addition to Fort Des Moines November 2. A Young Men's Association was organized Saturday, November 3. The meeting took place "at early candle lighting" at the office of Louis Whitten, Esq. Continuing into the Fifties, the story of events and of "unconsidered trifles," we find that the Rev. Thompson Bird begins the year 1850 with preaching at the Court House "on the first and third Sabbath of each month at 1 1 o'clock and also at candle-lighting." The Fort Des Moines Lyceum met regularly that fall at the Court House every Thursday evening. One of the questions discussed was : "Would Iowa be benefited by the introduction of a banking system into the State?" W. T. Mar vin presided, and the debate was opened by Wm. McKay, with Dr. Vaughan, in the negative. The Fort Des Moines Benevolent Society is another organized activity of 1849-50. A meeting is announced to be held at the home of J. E. Jewett. The expensiveness of candles at this time, led to the use of gas lamps, and the enterprising R. W. Sypher was the first to bring them to Fort Des Moines. The Star pronounces them "a decided improvement over candles." On January 18, 1850, appears the Star's first market report. In it we find flour quoted in Keokuk at $4.50 and $5.00 pr bbl. ; at Fort Des Moines at $7.50 ; wheat (fall) at Keokuk 75 and 80; at Des Moines 60. Market prices in Fort Des Moines are quoted as follows: Corn 35, Oats 25, Coffee 15, Sugar 12, Pork $2.50 per 100, Meal 50 pr bu., Butter 15, Eggs 10, Iron bar 10 to 12^, Leather- sole 30 pr lb., kip $3 to $4.50 per side. In the Gazette of January 19, Hoyt Sherman, postmaster, announces the arrival and departure of mails from Fort Des Moines as follows : East, via Oskaloosa, arriving every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 6 p. m. and departing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, at 5 a. m. East, via Iowa City, arriving every Saturday and Wednesday, at 6 p. m. and departing every Monday and Thursday, at 6 p. m. South, via Knoxville, arriving Saturday at 7 p. m., and departing Monday at 7*a. m., the mail closing on Saturday at 6 p. m. West, to Council Bluffs, arriving Sunday at 7 p. m., and departing Monday at 8 a. m. West, to Adel, arriving Friday at 12 M. and departing same day at 1 p. m. Southwest, to Winterset, arriving Friday at 12 M, departing same day at 1 p. m. In this brief schedule of mails we see in outline the entire system of intercom munication with the outside world which the future capital of Iowa then enjoyed ! The same number of the Gazette notes in January, an organization effected by "the ladies generally of Fort Des Moines" — "a Sewing Society, the proceeds of their industry to be appropriated to church uses." It will thus be seen that at 84 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY this early day, before the permanent foundation of any church in the community, there was substantial, working Christian union. The Star of January 25 says the Presbyterians are arranging to build in the spring, quaintly adding: "Our religion is rather prospective than otherwise, yet several congregations have respectable congregations." The Star of January 25 informs "all the world and the rest of mankind" that Fort Des Moines is fast becoming metropolitan, having in 1850, nine dry-good stores, with assortments of clothing, groceries, hardware, etc. ; one hardware store, two drug stores, two provision stores, one tinware manufactory, one bakery, two printing offices, two weekly newspapers, one gunsmith, three or four blacksmith shops, six or eight builders, six or eight plasterers, one barrel factory, several shoe shops, cabinet makers, painters, tailor shops, etc., two hotels — the Demoine House and the Marvin — the former a large and commodious building mostly erected the past season, and the latter being enlarged by the addition of a spa cious building to be finished early in the coming spring." Among the town's other available assets were "seventeen or eighteen lawyers, seven or eight physicians and half that number of patients ;" also "two prospective saw-mills." The Star concludes with the assurance that "one year more will make this far the largest town in the State off the Mississippi." The Gazette of February 22, reports a number of improvements in Fort Des Moines, among the number a large business house begun by G. Holland, and soon to be completed on Second street, the first story to be occupied by Chap- line & Thompson, dry-goods merchants, the second story to be finished off for the Odd Fellows. Benjamin Saylor was building a beautiful cottage on Court avenue. Marvin & Luce, the popular proprietors of the Marvin House were putting up a large hotel building on Third and Walnut. E. Wise & Com pany's new store on Second and Elm was nearly ready, the second story to be used as a printing office. James Hall was building a dwelling on Court and Water streets ; Filson on Third and "the Avenue." A Female Seminary, in the north part of town, erected by Thompson Bird, was to be completed in April. At least two hundred houses would be completed during the next building season. Dean & Cole's new steam saw-mill, on the east bank of the "Desmoines" river, was announced as in operation, making "two steam saw-mills in sight of town." The Star of March 1 copies a letter published in the Keokuk Whig and Reg ister urging a plank road from Keokuk to Fort Des Moines, the main trunk running through the flourishing towns along the ridge, having lateral roads or branches ranging in length from three to ten miles to the various beautiful little towns on the banks of the Des Moines and the Skunk, or Checaqua rivers, at a probable cost of $2,000 a mile. The writer proposes the building of the road through the cooperation of several local companies, farmers along the road sup plying lumber, teams and labor. The Star complains that it has received Cincinnati papers, also papers and let ters from Washington "that have only been forty days on the route !" In May, the Fort Des Moines postoffice was removed from the old log cabin at the fort to a new and more commodious building opposite Sypher's store; that William Ramsey, having found excellent clay, had erected a large building for a pottery in Scott's sub-division, that "the sound of the hammer and saw are heard everywhere, that some fifteen families have located in town since spring opened, and house building is in full blast." In May. the editor of the Star, says : "We Des Moinese begin seriously to entertain the opinion that if the Fort is not the Capital it is destined to be the city of interior Iowa." The Gazette of June 28 reports six or eight hundred Indians, chiefly Iowas and Pottawatomies, camped on the Skunk river, with a determination to stay till fall. Major Woods with two hundred dragoons and infantrymen were camped near them awaiting expiration of the time given them to remove to their reser vation beyond the Missouri. Many settlers, fearing collision, abandoned their houses and crops, and removed into the settlements. "The Indians have put in CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 85 some forty or fifty acres of corn . . . and they ask to stay until they can gather it, but the edict has gone forth that they must go." Frink, Walker & Co., in July, put on a line of hacks between Fort Des Moines and Council Bluffs, leaving each point every Monday. The Star of July 18 notes the encampment of some three or four hundred Sacs and Foxes near town. "On Tuesday about seventy warriors made 'a grand entree' on horseback, armed and painted, and after marching through our prin cipal streets, shouting and singing they proceeded to the public square and in the presence of some two or three hundred citizens, displayed the 'light fantastic toe' for about an hour on the green sward." The slowness of returns is seen in an announcement of the Star, August 8, 1850, that "up to the time of writing this article (Thursday) we have no definite means of knowing how Polk county has gone, owing to the closeness of the votes polled and their mixed character." It was, however, apparent to the Star that Williamson, whig, had carried the county against Babbitt for representative, owing to "local influences." Next week's Star was apparently no wiser! The Gazette of August 9 turns from national politics to home improvements, noting many new houses. "Never before has the town been so prosperous." In its issue of August 23, the Gazette announces District Court in Fort Des Moines September 2 ; also a new hack to Keokuk — "a decided improvement." Frink & Walker now have a continuous line of stages through Fort Des Moines, Keokuk to Council Bluffs. To keep up the courage of his readers during the winter, the editor of the Star, of December 5, says he is looking to such a degree of river navigation in the spring as shall make Fort Des Moines "the center of creation." Early in '51. the Council settled a vexed local issue by declaring that wood piles on the public streets were a nuisance. On February 20, 185 1, J. Frink & Company announced after next May a tri-weekly four-horse post-coach from Fort Des Moines via Winterset, Wah- tawah, Indian Town and Kanesville to Council Bluffs. The Journal of March 7 reports the suicide of a young man named Volney M. Hagar. The shocking event, coupled with the then recent affray which ended with the death of Jacob Pea, was the occasion of a powerful sermon to young men delivered by Rev. J. A. Nash, and published in the Journal of March 21. The sermon is more than a plea for sobriety and the religious life. It assails the "rumsellers" with all the fervor and none of the drolleries of the foremost assailant of "booze" in our time. "But for your infernal traffic," he exclaims, "Volney Hagar would doubtless have been this evening sitting in our midst, a sober, respectable young man. But for your abominable work, Jacob. Pea might still be living and Lewis Jewitt would not be in the strong clutches of the law. I tell you, rumsellers, when you present the poison to the lips of others, you are awakening a demon in their bosoms which it is not in your power to control ; you are placing a dagger in the assassin's hands, and stimulating with unnatural power the arm that aims the deadly thrust. You may laugh defiance at the civil law, but there is a tribunal that you cannot escape." The Star of May 29, comments on the unprecedented floods, the scarcity of flour, and the departure of Hoyt Sherman, and others, in a skiff for St. Louis. • June 23, the Star refers to its complaint of mud-holes two weeks before, and is glad to state that the city fathers are now making rapid improvement in the city streets. It is convinced by the almost-unparalleled exertions of Commissioner Di^' that the worrt time in the street-history of Fort Des Moines is past. The 6th of July, was made noteworthy by the arrival of the steamer Caleb Cope, having run the obstructions at Bonaparte and brought up from St. Louis a load of much needed provisions, the floods having isolated the town from the outside world. Everybody was in the mood to celebrate, and the steamer was chartered for an excursion up the river. The Star reports "the Des Moines Band" was engaged for the occasion, "and the light fantastic toe brought into 86 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY requisition. Our city belles and beaux understand the performance well — in fact, are hard to beat." Mr. Andrews, in his "Pioneers of Polk County," says the Des Moines Band on that occasion consisted of "two or three fiddlers." James Campbell and party, after a six weeks hunt in the Sioux country in June and July, '51, report twenty-nine elk, eight deer, five bears, one wolf, two badgers, three foxes and a large quantity of small game. In the summer of 185 1 the Journal points with pride to two flourishing Sunday schools in Fort Des Moines, the Presbyterian and the combined Baptist and Methodist. The Star of August 7, '51, admits that in Fort Des Moines township the democrats were "badly whipped — beaten so outrageously that even the Whigs themselves are greatly disappointed at their own success !" The Star indulges in a charge not very complimentary to its own party, namely : that "tricks, decep tion and fraud were resorted to by our opponents." That paper elsewhere admits that there was much disaffection among democrats, with charges of unfairness in the nominating convention. "The Fort" had scarcely more than a horseback connection with the State Capital in '51. On September 15, the postmaster at Iowa City advertised for "horseback mail service," twice a week, on Route No. 4667, between Iowa City and Fort Des Moines, the service to cease July 1, 1852. Proposals for service by two-horse hacks would also be received. In a study of the public life of the early pioneer period one must be impressed with the frequent recurrence of the well known names. While there was, even in territorial days, a distinct cleavage between the democrats and whigs and little consideration given the independent voter ; there was a free and generous coming together in all movements' to boom the city, county and State. Strongly, even bitterly, partisan for a few weeks before election time; the election over, they were as one man in support of movements for the good of the community and the general welfare. As has been seen, the town of Fort Des Moines began its history-making career at birth — more than five years before its formal christening! On the 30th day of August, 1851, about fifty-five citizens united in a petition to the county judge of Polk praying for articles of incorporation. Among the signers of this petition are the names of the "boosters" of the period, men inseparably identified with the history of the town and county. The list includes such well- known names as J. E. Jewett, Lampson P. Sherman, B. F. Allen, Phineas M. Casady, M. L. Morris, Barlow Granger, Charles McKay, J. A. Nash, W. W. Williamson, A. M. Lyon, Thompson Bird, Wesley Redhead, etc.2 On file with this petition was the bond of E. R. Clapp for constable. Mr. Clapp who at the time of his death in 1905, was one of Des Moines' foremost citizens, was in '51, a poor young man to whom the constable's fees were very acceptable. His bond '¦' was signed by H. M. Hoxie, long afterward a millionaire in New York, and Dr. T. K. Brooks, one of the boomers extraordinary of his period. President Thompson Bird and Commissioners P. M. Casady and L..P. Sher man constituted a citizen's committee to draft articles of incorporation. The re sult of their labors was adopted by the voters of Fort Des Moines on the 18th day of October, 185 1. ''The additional names of incorporators are: William Kraus, lames Campbell, J. M. Thrift. R. W. Sypher, Hiram M. Saylor, M. McGregor, William Scholto, B. Zelle, M. Tucker, James Stanton, J. M. Perry, John L. Gray, H, Stephenson, J. M. Reichsucker. Edward L. Collett, John J. Sanders, J. S. Dicks, W. T. Marvin, L. D. Karnes, J. F. Ward, B. Stephens, John Hays, Samuel Gray, P. Myers, S. G. Keene, John Tyler, Henry Gray, M. M. Champlin, H. C. Lamereaux. Matt Kraus. Thomas McMullin, Alex. Bowers, W. W. Keene, J. T. Gar rison, William Mear, Wm. C. Busick, Flenry Hawkins, George , Elias Feller, Thomas Campbell and Samuel Van Atta. 3 1 he bond was unearthed, years afterwards by County Auditor Amos Brandt. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 87 The town charter reported was published October 16, 1851, and voted for on the following Saturday. On the first Monday in November, the following were elected councilmen: Thompson Bird, W. T. Marvin, C. D. Reinking, R. W. Sypher, Jesse S. Dix, Hoyt Sherman and P. M. Casady. The Lyceum was revived in the fall of '51. In a meeting at the courthouse the subject under discussion was "Resolved, that all men have by nature equal mental endowments." The affirmative side was taken by J. E. Jewett and P M. Casady ; the negative, by J. A. Nash and Madison Young. The Star of October 25 announces that Miss M. K. Allen who has recently arrived from Cincinnati will open a select school in the courthouse. The expression "early candle-light," commonly used in the Forties and early Fifties, awakens memories of other days. The Journal of October 30 announces a meeting of the Lyceum in the court house "at early candlelight," promising "a delightful treat of eloquence and erudition." The subject to be discussed was : "That the instruction of representatives is in contravention of the highest pos sible degree of civil liberty." At a later meeting the perennial question of "Capi tal Punishment" was settled ! In October the Journal editor informs the Burlington Hawkeye that "Bloomerism" has not yet reached the Forks. "While the people of this section are eminently practical, and while they deplore the pernicious effects of the present female costume, they fail to see any valuable improvement in the Bloomer." In November Senator Dodge and Representative Henn visited Fort Des Moines to inspect the political "fences," before going to Washington. The democratic friends of Curtis Bates gave an oyster supper in his honor at the Pennsylvania House one evening late in January, 1852, following the Judge's nomination, against Grimes, for the Governorship. About 175 ladies and gentlemen attended. Among the toasts read by Dr. A. Y. Hull was "Fort Des Moines — the Mecca of Iowa, to which we invite the citizens of our own and other States to make a pilgrimage." Responses to toasts were made by Bates, Casady, Hull, T. A. Walker and J. W. Morris. Joint discussions were numerous in the Fifties, the candidates traveling to gether and personally on the friendliest terms; but, the unwritten law among the politicians was : "Friendship ceases when we mount the stump." In July, 1852, the whig and democratic candidates for the state senate discussed jointly at Carlisle — then in Polk county, now in Warren, — on the 16th, at Lafayette on the 17th and at Mitchell's on the 19th. The Fourth of July celebration by the Sunday schools in Fort Des Moines in '52 was reported as a fine affair, "especially when the word was given to 'fall to.' " The good things were spread upon two tables each 150 feet long. A rain came up which compelled a lively scampering for the M. E. Church where the after-dinner ceremonies were held. Rev. Mr. Cree was chaplain, W. W. William son reader and Rev. S. Haines, orator of the day. James Campbell headed a party that spent four weeks hunting elk, and re turned late in June with twenty-seven. The party saw traces of the buffalo. A financial report by John Tyler, township clerk, dated April 9, but not pub lished until July 8, '52, enables us to look in upon the financial condition of the future capital of Iowa, four years before the legislature voted the re-location. Surely that was "the day of small things!" On March 29, 185 1, he had collected $86.06. Since then he had succeeded in collecting, by hard work and tight screw ing, the sum of $52.47. The detailed report which follows shows the township his debtor for $137.56, and his creditor for $138.53, — leaving him in debt to the amount of 97 cents. The whigs of Fort Des Moines, in July, 1852, organized a Scott Club with Madison Young, president; "Jeff" Casady secretary, Hoyt Sherman correspond ing secretary, J. E. Jewett treasurer, and Myers, Buzzard, Alexander, Cable and 88 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Sherman, L. P., a business committee. The whigs rented a room over Moore's drug store. July of that year was a busy month for the politicians of Polk county and vicinity. Meetings were held at Dudley, Lafayette, "Tom Mitchells," Newton and Fort Des Moines. A quadrangular meeting was held in Fort Des Moines on the 7th, with Messrs. Lewis and Hull, rival candidates for the senatorship, and Messrs. Rees, dem., and Davis and Todhunter, whig, candidates for repre sentatives, the speakers on the occasion. There was much clever scoring for position on the complicated River Improvements questions of the hour, each candidate anxious to convince his hearers that he would be more helpful to the improvement than his rival. There was entire unanimity as to the location of the Capitol in Fort Des Moines. The Journal in August, '52, commenting on the election on the Monday before, notes the prevalence of "scratching" at the polls. The vote in Des Moines township was not as large as had been expected — only 246 votes cast, while the editor is satisfied there were 275 voters in the township. Dr. Hull, the demo cratic candidate, was elected Senator, and the "loco" legislative ticket was re ported as "probably elected." Fort Des Moines had slowly and surely reversed its attitude politically. In the presidential election of 1852 it gave the Pierce electors, democratic, 105 votes, Scott, electors, whig, 131 votes, Hale electors, "free democratic," 6 votes. The town of Fort Des Moines was incorporated by the Fourth General As sembly which convened in Iowa City December 6, 1852. The act of incorpora tion was approved by Governor Hempstead January 18, 1853, and published in the Iowa Star, February 3, thereafter. Its limits as described were: "Begin ning at the Junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers at the centre of the channels thereof, in the county of Polk ; thence up the channel of the Des Moines River to the point where the half mile line of section No. four, township seventy- eight north, of range twenty-four west, according to the United States survey, crosses said river; thence west along said half mile line to the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of said section; thence south along the section line be tween sections four and five and eight and nine to the centre of Raccoon river; thence down the centre of said river to the place of beginning." The law created a town council consisting of a mayor and eight councilmen, to be elected by the "white" male citizens of the town, on the first Monday of November each year. No member of the council was to hold any office in the gift of that body; nor could any member lawfully profit, directly or indirectly, by any contract with the town, or by any service rendered the town. The council was directed to elect an assessor, recorder, treasurer, marshal, street commis sioner, and such other subordinate officers as it should deem necessary. The members of the council were to serve without compensation, unless the voters of the town should vote an appropriation therefor — thus early recognizing the initiative feature of the present Des Moines plan. The usual powers and duties of a town council were enumerated in the law. The long looked for Land Office was announced in the Star of January 20, 1853. _ An employe of the government was fitting up an office, and Land Agent Nightingale would soon arrive. The Jenny Lind, Captain Allen, was the first boat up the river in the spring of 'S3- In June, land warrants were selling at Fort Des Moines at $185 for 160 acres; $93 for 80 acres; $47 for 40 acres. In July the quotations were: $175 for 160 acres; $87 for eighty acres; $43.50 for forty acres. Fourth of July, '53, was fittingly observed in Fort Des Moines. W. H. Mc Kay, was president of the day, John C. Bennett was chief marshal and his effi cient aids were: Barlow Granger, W. Deford, Cole Noel, and H. H. Griffith. Rev. J. A. Nash was chaplain and S. Haines was reader of the Declaration. The orator of the clay was Dan. O. Finch, one of the rising young lawyers and CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 89 orators of Iowa. The procession formed on the public square, and moved up Fifth street to Walnut, up Walnut to Market, up Market to Third, up Third to Court Avenue, and thence to starting point. Oratory was a "local issue" and the orators were many. Besides the regular exercises a series of toasts and responses were featured. The "regular" toasts were responded to by Byron Rice, Curtis Bates and J. D. McCall. "Voluntary" toasts brought responses from P. M. Casady and J. W. Morris. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. Thompson Bird. A public dinner was served by Samuel Noel, to which all were invited. The stores were closed from io a. m. to 2 p. m. Even the advertisements, which at the time are regarded as a concession to the publisher, become in after years an interesting supplemental chapter to the volume in which they appear. Following the one hundred and fourteen pages of Turrill's "Historical Reminiscences" to which frequent references have been made, are thirty pages of advertising, doubtless solicited by the publishers, Messrs. Redhead & Dawson. In these pages are seen reflected the business interests in Des Moines in 1857, the names of the men behind those interests and the loca tion of business in the little city which was destined to be the metropolis and trade center of the State that had made her its Capital City. Taking these advertisements, not in their order but with the purpose of blend ing them into a composite picture of the business life of Des Moines in 1857, let the reader who may be interested begin with that potent force in business life of the city for many years, Wesley Redhead. We find Mr. Redhead post master of the city, associated with Charles C. Dawson in a fire insurance agency ; also in a wholesale and retail book, stationery, wall-paper and fancy goods house, also as publishers of the book in which the advertisements appear. These varied interests were all centered in the Sherman's Block, on Third street. The Savery Hotel was not yet completed. The hotels of Des Moines solicit ing public patronage in 1857 were: The Grout House, G. P. & E. A. Clem, proprietors, Court Avenue, East, — the house "entirely new and fitted up in a superior manner." It was "located near the State Capitol," and its accommodations were pronounced "equal to those of any Hotel west of the Mississippi." The Demoine House, corner of First and Walnut streets, Thomas J. Cannon, proprietor, — "recently enlarged, and refitted in hansome style," and possessing accommodations "superior to any house west of the Mississippi." The Everett House, Third street, between Court Avenue and Walnut street, A. Morris, proprietor. The stages arrived and departed daily from this house "to and from all parts of the State." The Western Stage Company, P. Cooper, agent, announces connections with the several railroads terminating in the state, having "lines of coaches on all the principal thoroughfares throughout Iowa, and extending into the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska," with "daily communication at Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mt. Pleasant, Keokuk, Fort Dodge, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Ne braska City, and all intervening places." Its office was on Third street, be tween Walnut and Court. The bankers of Des Moines in '57 were : A. J. Stevens & Co. ; B. F. Allen, (Second street) ; Leas & Harsh; Hoyt Sherman & Co.; Cook, Sargent & Cook, and Greene, Weare & Rice, the firm composed of Byron Rice, of Des Moines and John Weare and Judge George Greene, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; the Des Moines Bank, White & Smith. The attorneys at law in Des Moines, in '57, include many of the foremost men in the future history of Iowa: Finch & Crocker, — D. O. Finch and M. M. Crocker; John A. Grow; Jewett & M'Cormic, — Joseph E. Jewett and John M'Cormic, Front and Walnut; S. Reynolds, Sherman's block; C. W. Nash; Bates & Phillips,— Curtis Bates and William P. Phillips; J. S. Polk; G C Graves; M. D. & W. H. McHenry; Williamson & Gray. The prominence of land interests at the State Capital in '57 is evidenced by 90 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY the extent to which bankers and attorneys make reference to those interests, and by the announcements of firms and companies making them a specialty. Promi nent among the land and loan agencies were Dewey & Tubby, opposite the Everett House on Third street. The Iowa Central Real Estate Agency of Weeks & Stacy, — John G. Weeks and Samuel G. Stacy, had "the only perfect double index abstract of titles ever made." The Farmers' Land Office was officered by A. and J. B. Bausman. Other land agents were: Hedge & Heaton, — J. Hedge and William Heaton; McGaughey, Nash & Co., opposite the Everett House, D. & P. W. Day and Thomas Cavanagh, Sherman's Block, and James Summers, Walnut street, west of Exchange Block. The Iowa State Journal, a Democratic newspaper, William Porter, editor, a weekly, was published Saturday, sparing "no expense in obtaining the latest and most important news by Telegraph and Mail." The Iowa Citizen is the only other newspaper advertised. It was a weekly, and admitted it had "no successful rival in Central Iowa," being "one of the most useful and Popular Family Journals in the West." Its editor was W. H. Farner. The only physician and surgeon who deigned to insert a card was William Allen, M. D., office, Eighth and Elm. The principal merchants named are : J. M. Clouston, Griffiths' Block, East Des Moines, — dry-goods, clothing, boots and shoes, millinery, jewelry, notions, etc. ; Child, Sanford & Co., hardware, "Sign of the Anvil," Court avenue and Second street ; Foster & Taylor, stoves, hardware, fruit and ornamental trees, etc. ; Little, Garrison & Co., dry-goods, groceries, queensware, hardware, hats and caps, boots and shoes, Second street and Court avenue; Billstein, Simon' & Strauss, clothing and Gents' furnishing goods, Second street ; Oliver H. Baker, and J. H. Brown, watches, jewelry, etc., Walnut street, opposite Exchange Block; Frank M. Mills, boots, shoes, hats and caps, Court avenue, west of Sec ond street; Galbraith, Latshaw & Co., — W. A. Galbraith, P. W. H. Latshaw and W. K. Woodwell, iron nails, doors, glass, sash, etc., "Sign of the Big Saw," Exchange Block; Morris & Downer and J. & I. Kuhn, clothiers; A. Mills & Co., and E. H. Hart, hats, caps, gloves, mittens, buffalo robes, etc. ; F. W. Long- worth, Walnut street, and John McWilliams, Second street, wholesale groceries ; Woodward & Hepburn, — A. Woodward and A. Hepburn, and W W. Moore ("city emporium") Dry-goods, etc. etc. J. N. Newell, watches, jewelry, etc.; J. F. Kemp, boots and shoes ; Metropolitan Store, — W. H. Francis and D. B. Spaulding, dry-goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats and caps, etc. "Cash cus tomers" would find it to their advantage to give them a call. They also sold brandies, gin, and all kinds of wine, — Walnut and Fifth streets. Desmoine Book Store, "sign of the Big Book," Second street, J. R. Hadsell. Among the remaining advertisements are : John McQueen, builder and architect, Dyer H. Young, architect and civil engineer; Steam Carding Machine and Factory, E. Smith ; W. R. Wheeler, artist ; Burns & Rentgen, — John Bums and W. C. Rent- gen, wholesale grocers and commission merchants ; S. G. Brownell, dentist. CHAPTER VII. "UNCLE BILLY ' MOORE AND PIONEER MERCHANDISING IN FORT DES MOINES. An epoch in a community's life is sometimes best illustrated by a character sketch. The picture may be drawn in somber colors, or it may present the more cheery side of life ; but in either case it equally reflects the life of the community, made up as it is of both the humorous and the pathetic. The mere mention of the name of William W. Moore, better known by the pioneers of Des Moines as "Billy" Moore and by the younger generation as "Uncle Billy" Moore, sug gests the cheery side of business life in old Fort Des Moines. "Uncle Billy" was a pioneer among pioneers, having come to Fort Des Moines when only seventeen years of age, away back in 1848. He was the first drug gist in the old town, and was the first opera house manager in the Capital city. Though he is now a full-fledged octogenarian, he is the active head and front of the bill-posting industry in Des Moines, hale, hearty and the soul of good- fellowship. William W. Moore was born in Madison, Indiana, in 1832. His business career began at the early age of eleven. At thirteen and fourteen, he was buyer for a retail house in Indiana. At the age of fifteen, he landed at Keokuk "with $3.35 in his pocket and no baggage." ~- On reaching Oskaloosa, he hadn't a cent. For two weeks he waited on table at the Kinsman Hotel in that town, his only compensation being his board and the tips he could gather in. His next tramp w as to Fort Des Moines. He started on foot at 4 o'clock one May morning, and at 8 that evening he had reached the hospitable home of "Tom" Mitchell, in Apple Grove, then Camp township. The next day, at 2, he stood upon the east bank of the Des Moines wondering how he could get across. The ferry-boat passage was twenty-five cents, and as he had only fif teen cents left, the tariff was prohibitive. While he was studying on the prob lem, "Old Man" Fredericks, of Rising Sun, came along in his farm wagon and took him in, and soon thereafter he reached his destination. After a varied career of a year or more, he found employment with Lyon & Allen, pioneer merchants of Fort Des Moines, at $25 a month, with board and washing thrown in. He had hardly entered upon his career as a clerk when an incident happened which, but for his good luck and the kindness of his youthful employer, B. F. Allen, might have proved his undoing. In those days there were no churches in town, and Sunday was a holiday for the many. By common consent, the three general stores were closed on that day : but Billy, fired with zeal for his employers' interests, couldn't resist the temptation to sell a bill of goods to a near-by farmer, Lemuel Small by name. For safety, he pocketed the $20.15 received for the goods, and hastened to the improvised race-course,2 where a running race was to be "pulled off" between "Indian John" a pony imported from the Indian country, and a nameless but promising little pony from no one knew where. In those days "the boys" car ried their politics into their sports. The democrats backed Indian John and the whigs, the unknown. Billy and his companion, "Rube" Sypher, took their places on the rail fence with their whig associates. The democrats were numerous 1 Andrews — Pioneers of Polk County. 2 Extending from Eighth and Grand to a point near the present waterworks. 91 92 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY and confident. Soon "Jim" Campbell, an all-around sport, came over from the democratic perch and offered two- to one on Indian John. There were no- takers, and Jim raised his offer to five to one. Still no takers. Noting that Billy was better dressed than the rest, Jim said, "You little feller with the good clothes, — you ought to have money; I'll go you ten to one on Indian John." Billy had had no thought of betting on the race, but the challenge was too much for him. He promptly placed two ten-dollar gold pieces (his employers' money) in the hands of Rube Sypher and Jim took from his belt twenty ten- dollar gold-pieces, and handed them to Rube as stakeholder. In a moment the boy regretted his action, but he was too proud-spirited to withdraw. He made up his mind, as he sat there awaiting results, that he would make a clean breast of it next morning and charge himself with the twenty dollars. The race was on and the excitement was intense. As the ponies neared the goal, it was seen that the unknown was ahead. Soon the goal was reached, and the whigs were jubilant — their pony had won! Campbell was a genuine sport and a good loser ; he came over to the stakeholder and said "the money's his," and Billy went back to the hotel much elated, his pockets weighted down with the gold. In those days "the boys" all boarded at the hotel, and at the supper table opposite Billy sat "Frank" Allen, the junior partner of Lyon & Allen. "Frank" was a good churchman and didn't approve of betting. He had heard of Billy's luck, but couldn't guess where the boy got the money to bet with. Billy made a clean breast of it, saying that inasmuch as the money put up belonged to the firm, he would turn over with the $20.15 just half his profit on the transaction. Frank thought a moment and said, "No: keep it, Billy: but never do it again as long as you work for Lyon & Allen." The experience cured Billy of betting — at least, other people's money. The young clerk proved capable and trusty, and was early taken into the councils of the firm. After awhile, it was decided that Allen should go- to Cincinnati to buy goods. Lyon was at home sick and sent for Billy. His partner, Allen, was only twenty years old and inclined to plunge. He wanted Billy to accompany Allen to Cincinnati ; but the boy declined, assuring Lyon that Frank knew what was wanted and was abundantly able to buy goods wisely and well. Lyon then urged Billy to caution Frank not to buy more than $35,000 worth of goods. Allen went on to Cincinnati and thence to New York and Philadelphia, and, in the three cities bought altogether about $110,000 worth of goods ! When the goods began to come in, Lyon, still sick at home, again sent for Billy and asked him how many goods Frank had bought. Billy, in full sym pathy with the junior partner, and knowing the goods would sell, evasively answered, "O, something more than thirty-five thousand dollars' worth." The freight alone on the goods, by steamer clown the Ohio, up the Mississippi and up the Des Moines, aggregated about $6,500 ! For several weeks the merchandise continued to come, filling all available space in the store and all the barns and outhouses the firm could rent. Lyon was appalled. He swore he was a ruined man, and that bankruptcy was in evitable unless something could be done to work off the goods. The partners and their trusted clerk held a consultation, the result of which was that Lyon gave Billy a hundred dollars in gold and a saddle-horse and sent him out to search for a good point to locate a branch store. Billy started, visiting Web ster City, Boone, Winterset, Indianola, Newton and other points. As he was returning, not satisfied with any of the points investigated, he happened in on John Parmelee who was building a mill at Summerset, in Warren county. A number of settlers were gathered to assist Parmelee in the "raising." Parmelee called the men together and told them that Moore would start a general store there, and he would put up a building for him, and have it ready two weeks from that day — Saturday — if they would agree to patronize him. To this they were all agreed. WILLIAM W. MOORE CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 93 In just two weeks Billy was back again, with six wagon-loads of goods, — - dry-goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats, caps, etc. He found the entire population for miles around out to greet him. As fast as he opened the cases and lifted out the goods, the men and women eagerly gathered about him and vied with one another in purchasing his wares at his own prices. When he saw how eager the buyers were he "naturally raised the prices," charging "what the traffic would stand !" The run on his stock continued from Sat urday to Monday, his sales aggregating over $600. He then settled down to regular business. In just one week, Billy returned to the Fort for more goods. He rode up in front of the Lyon & Allen store, his saddle-bags bulging out suspiciously. He jumped off his horse and, while he was talking with Allen, Lyon tried to lift his saddle-bags. "What you got in them bags?" asked Lyon. "Iron pyrites or something of the sort," answered Billy. "What in hell did you load down with that stuff for?" asked the disgusted senior partner, thinking Billy had made a failure of his venture. Billy's ready answer was, "I thought there might be gold in it." When the contents of the bag were spread out on the counter, the delighted partners counted out over thirty-five hundred dollars in gold and silver! "Billy," said Lyon, "where did you get all that gold? Did you steal it?" Billy grinned and answered, "No, but I came damn near it!"3 On a recent occasion,4 when Uncle Billy Moore was telling the story upon which this narrative is founded, his friend — Keffer — asked him whether he went to Summerset as a clerk or as a partner. The genial old gentleman answered, "I went there a clerk; but I hadn't been there six weeks before I owned the whole damn thing!" This needs explanation, for Uncle Billy is the soul of honor in business. Refusing to exile himself from the joys of living at the Fort, unless he could see something more than a clerk's salary in it for him, he was offered all he could make on the goods over and above a ten per cent advance for transportation expenses, and ten per cent additional for profit. Thus it was that Uncle Billy got his start in business. It is reported that in retiring from Summerset, the youth of 17 had about $14,000 in gold in his safe — for there were no banks of deposit in Fort Des Moines in '48. While "waiting for something to turn up," Billy was seized with a severe attack of typhoid fever which brought him near death's door. Recovering from delirium, he overheard his physician, in low tone, informing the nurse that it was extremely doubtful about his recovery. Sitting up in bed, he startled the doctor by saying in his emphatic way, "I'll be here long after you're gone, damn you!" Soon after this incident a young man came to town with a stock of drugs intending to open a drug store. Soon after his arrival, he, too, came down with the fever. Full of sympathy for the stranger, Billy volunteered to act as his nurse. Under his ministrations the young man in due time recovered. Meantime, the young man's father arrived. Greatly relieved to find his son convalescing, he expressed his gratitude to the physician who had "pulled him through." The doctor generously turned to Billy and said "There's the man that saved your son's life." The father, grasping Billy's hand, exclaimed, "How can I suitably reward you for what you've clone for my son?" Billy answered, "By doing for somebody else's boy what I've clone for yours." But the man was not so easily put off. As Billy was leaving he said, "Hold on !! I've got a stock of drugs in Sypher's warehouse worth at least four thousand dollars. If you want it, you can have it for a thousand, and take your own time to pay me for it." Billy at first declined the generous offer, but, on talking it over with Dr. Sanders, he thought better of it. The doctor agreed ¦• "Damn" is his one "swear-word." To Billy's friends the narrative would seem incomplete without it. * The seventeenth banquet of the Des Moines Pioneer Club, at the Chamberlain Hotel, January 7. ign. 94 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY to instruct him in pharmacy in return for office room in the store. The upshot of it was that Billy took the stock, paying the man a thousand dollars in gold for it, rented a store and opened the first drug store in Fort Des Moines. He says he soon learned to mix things to his own satisfaction, "if not to any body else's," and was not long in learning to charge from one hundred to three hundred per cent on his concoctions! CHAPTER VIII. THE HEGIRA OF FORTY-NINERS AND MORMONS. Thousands of Forty-niners stopped over at Fort Des Moines on their long tramp westward. Not a few companies and battalions of soldiers also made the Fort a halting place, on their way to the far west. "The Spartan Band," a fine body of men "from various parts of the Mississippi valley," sent back from Fort Laramie, by "Colonel" Sawin and "Adjutant" Sweet, a testimonial of their appreciation of kindnesses shown them during their halt at the Fort. They added this evidently inspired suggestion : "We would say to those who come after us, by all means come to Fort Desmoines, then take Clark's road to Trader's Point; or St. Francis as it is now called, and cross the river at Agency, if you wish to pass through the Indian country without any difficulty." "Chauncey Swan and ten others" publish a card in the Star from Trader's Point in which they thank Messrs. Clark, Brophy & Co., for service rendered them by Dr. Clark, of the company for "laying out a new road, at great ex pense, from Fort Desmoines to the Missouri river, ... at least sixty miles nearer than any other that is traveled at present, and by which teams that were four days behind those who went the other route arrived at the river first." x It is evident that Dr. Clark understood his business, the advertising end of it especially. Maior Hoyt Sherman in one of his interesting reminiscent talks before the Early Settlers, remarked that in 1849 began the overland exodus to the gold fields of California. The roads were poor and the streams were not bridged. "Men would bundle their wives and children into a rickety two-horse wagon, with a small supply of the coarsest food, hitch it to a couple of worn-out horses, or two yoke of oxen, and relying on the wayside growth of grass for support of animals, swing away from civilization for a two to four months' journey towards the Pacific." The importance of this emigration to the merchants of Des Moines may be estimated by the figures Major Sherman gave showing that in the Spring of 1850, down to May 24, the ferry at Des Moines carried 1,081 emigrant teams, representing a transfer of nearly 3,000 persons, and every team added to the demand for supplies at this "jumping off place," and many of them gave work to blacksmith Fuller and other local mechanics. In the Star of September 14, '49, a new ferry across the Missouri is ad^ vertised by Clark, Townsend, Wheeling & Co. All north of the Iowa were ad vised to "pass through Iowa City, via Trading House, 25 miles; (Bob Hutchin son's residence,) Snook's grove, 24 miles; to Newton, 34 miles, ... to Fort Des Moines, (Raccoon Forks,) 30 miles; here goods and stores of every kind needed can be had on fair terms. From this place the road is the best of any in the State." The Star's Iowa City correspondent, in its issue of April 5, 1850, noting the exodus, comments sadly on the "hundreds upon hundreds of men, women 1 Star, July 26, 1849 — date of card May 31, 1849. 95 96 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY and children that completely line the way in hot pursuit of that ignis fatuus, California gold." The Gazette of April 26, 1850, notes the unabated rush for California. It reports the number of teams that had crossed the Des Moines at the Fort the previous week as 199, with 540 men, making a total during the season of 690 teams and 1,797 persons. Two teams from Polk county were among the number, one owned by A. McClintock with five persons; the other, by T. J. Henderson, with three persons. In its issue of May 1, 185 1, the Star editor notes a company of Oregon emigrants, twelve wagons in all, that had recently passed through Fort Des Moines, also "several companies previously." He complacently adds: "But most of those who come from the east this year . . . remain here, satis fied that they can find no better country by going farther west, and probably not as good." Porter in his Annals of Polk County (page 178) quotes from "a keen observer," as follows : "It seemed that Bedlam itself had been let loose. A continuous line of wagons stretched away to the west as far as the eye could reach. If a wagon was detained by being broken down or by reason of a sick horse or ox, it Was dropped out of line and the gap closed up immediately. If a poor mortal should sicken and die, the corpse was buried hurriedly by the wayside, without coffin or burial service. When night came on, the line of wagons was turned aside and their proprietors would go into camp. Very often the sound of revelry would then begin around the campfires thickly set on every hand, and whisky, cards and curses would follow in their course. These poor, deluded votaries of mammon scattered the dreadful scourge of smallpox everywhere they came in contact with the settlers. Game cards and broken and empty bottles were strewn all along their line of travel." The Journal of the period gives place to a Des Moines poet who sings this sad refrain : " 'Oh, California gold mines, what a fearful curse they've brought, With what heartrending sorrows has that search for dross been fraught, How many tearful partings and how many lives untold Have been laid upon the altar of this raging thirst for gold.' " The importance of Fort Des Moines as a postoffice in '49 is noticeable in the long list of letters remaining uncalled for on the 30th of September, the number of names being more than 170. Most of the letters were evidently addressed to emigrants on their way to California, letters which had come in advance of the arrival of the parties to whom they were addressed, or too late to reach them at this point. There have been argonauts in all ages. In every age there have been men to whom, the lure of gold has been irresistible. But only here and there in history have there been men in whom the desire for "freedom to worship God" in their own way has been the controlling factor of their lives. In the Fifties occurred another westward movement, even more remarkable than that of 1849. The forty-niners responded to the lure of gold: the "Latter-day Saints" of the Fifties, however deluded they may have been, took up their westward march with no less of courage, and endured its privations with no less fortitude, than characterized the Pilgrim Fathers in their brave escape from old-world persecution. The one discoverable reference to this movement made by the newspapers of Des Moines is found copied into the Charles City Intelligencer of September JAMES W. GRIMES MAJ. S. H. M. BYEES When a private in '61 WESLEY REDHEAD CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 97 18, 1856. The pathetic picture given is worthy of reproduction. It notes the recent passing of a band of Mormon emigrants through Fort Des Moines. "In the broiling sun, these poor creatures, the majority of whom are women, moved along slowly in Indian file, dragging behind them in little carts the necessaries of the journey, sometimes two women dragging the cart, at other times a man and a woman tQgether. The company was from Europe, and mostly consisted of English people, who had left their comfortable homes, their early associations, and all the attachments which render the English people such unwilling emigrants, and here, with a journey of more than a thousand miles before them, of which 200 would be through a perfect desert, without shade or water, these miserably deluded people were trudging forward." 2 The St. Charles paper nearly three years later notes the coming of a Mor- man elder who had made arrangements for the manufacture of from fifty to a hundred hand-carts, to be used in crossing the plains during the coming sum mer. Between three and four thousand converts were expected. They were to buy wagons in Chicago, but would stock up with provisions for the journey here in Iowa. The Mormons were reported to be mostly English, Welsh and Danes, and were thought to be better prepared to endure the hardships of the journey than those who went out in 1856. 2 Annals of Iowa, v. 8, p. 59. CHAPTER IX. FORT DES MOINES' VARIED EXPERIENCE AS THE "HEAD OF NAVIGATION." A pioneer historian of Iowa,1 in a chapter on "The River of the Mounds," says: "Nearly every state has one particular river which especially attracts? the attention of its citizens, on which their minds delight to dwell, about whichi they bestow their praise. Iowa has the beautiful river Des Moines. . . . More has been said, done and thought about this river than all the other rivers in the State. In beauty of native scenery, in productiveness of soil, in mineral wealth, and in the many things which attract the attention, and add to the com fort of man, the valley Des Moines is not surpassed by any locality in the world." To the historian's statement, that more has been said, done and thought about the Des Moines river than all the other rivers in the state, may be added the sad fact, of record, that many times more money and effort have been spent in the attempt to make the river navigable than all the other rivers of Iowa, and all the State and nation have to show for the money and labor expended are a few unpicturesque ruins of what were once embankments, and the remains of a dam at Bonaparte the mission of which was to obstruct the free course of the river on its way to the Mississippi. The long story of the ill-starred attempt of the State of Iowa backed by the Government of the United States, to make the Des Moines navigable from its mouth to Raccoon Fork is told in detail in Book I. The author's present purpose is to show the close relation existing between the Des Moines river and the town, which was destined to bear the name of the river and make that name famous. The flood of '51, even yet a vivid memory to not a few pioneers, is an interesting episode in the story of the river. Mr. Hussey in his account of the flood of 1851 in the Annals2 shows by the rain gauge that the rain-fall of 185 1 was 74^ inches, or more than six feet of rain in less than five months ! "Hundreds of stately trees were uprooted and swept down stream by the resistless current. . . "Business was completely paralyzed. . . . The rains were almost incessant from early in May until the middle of July, and three times during the season the waters broke beyond the bank's confining, in each instance adding gloom to the situation. . . . The east side of the river opposite Des Moines was covered with water, with a swift current rush-1 ing down where the Chicago & Northwestern depot now stands ; and the few buildings which stood on the river bottoms here were swept away, or hopelessly wrecked. On the west side of the river there was a stretch of low ground1 running in a southerly direction beginning at the mouth of Bird's run and continuing nearly or quite where the Rock Island depot now stands. At Third street and Court avenue the water partially covered the street, and William 1 Charles Negus, author of Early History of Iowa, in the Annals of Iowa. First Se-ies. 2 Annals of Iowa, v. 5, pp. 401-24. The Annals editorially says of Mr. Hussey's "His tory of Steamboating on the Des Moines," "It will undoubtedly remain the sole history of this important business interest which has so totally vanished from the valley of the Pes Moines." 98 VANS HIUL. I CAPT. ALLENS QUARTERS z officers quarters 3 SOLDIERS QUARTERS 4 ADJUTANTS OFFICE S SURGEONS OFFICE 6 COMMlSSAAr WAAEMQUSE 7 SUTLCRS STOffE 8 GUARD MOUSE 9 SUTLERS RESIDENCE 10 DRAGOON'S STABLES G FLAG STAFF 8 BLACKSMITHS SHUP *V PUBLIC WELL C CORRALS FORT DES MOINES- THE GOVERNMENT SURVEY WITH STREETS AND ALLEYS DRAWN IN FORT DES MOINES IN 1844 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 99 Moore, Aurelius Reynolds, B. F. Allen, A. J. Stevens, Chapman and Thomas, William Kraus, Hoyt Sherman, Madison Young and others, all gay young men in those days, who boarded at the Marvin House, near Third and Walnut, were compelled to build a raft on which to cross the 'back water' coming from Des Moines and pole themselves across six times a day." A notch in an elm in Union Park, cut by one of the Thompson boys, at the bend indicated to a surveyor that the water during the flood rose about 23 feet above low water mark. For months trade was almost at a standstill and many spent the season catch ing driftwood. While catching sawlogs the Senior Conrad Youngerman was drowned, his boat capsizing. The Fort Des Moines Star of May 29, 1851, said: "For three weeks it has rained almost incessantly, pouring down from the clouds as if the very windows of heaven were opened." In the memory of old settlers and Indians no such flood had ever been known. "The Coon and Des Moines are higher by sev eral feet than they were in the spring of 1849, which was the greatest rise of water ever known up to that time." The after effects of the flood — sickness, scarcity of food, financial discourage ment, business depression and glowing accounts of continued success in min ing in California, altogether gave impetus to the hegira from Iowa to the gold fields, and in this movement the dwellers in the Des Moines valley were most numerous because they had suffered most. The westward movement was much in evidence in Fort Des Moines, for the State road to Council Bluffs was one of the principal feeders for the trail which began at the Bluffs. The demand for horses, mules, oxen, cows, corn — everything an emigrant could use on the way or after reaching his destination, found ready sale at the Forks, and soon restored the prosperity of the town and the farmers contributory thereto. Major Hoyt Sherman contributes to Mr. Hussey's "Early Steamboating on the Des Moines,"3 a vivid picture of the great flood in the spring of 1851, which throws light upon the period. Fle tells of the "rope ferries, or flats, pushed across by poles," of the grist mills, "propelled by water or horse power," and of life lived in the upper Des Moines valley in the Fifties, everybody "de pendent upon Mississippi river shipping points for dry-goods and all the neces sary supplies of life," except corn, pork and eggs. "Such was the condition of affairs around 'the - Forks' " he says, "when, early in the month of May, . . . the rains fell and the floods came, filling the watercourses and overrunning their banks, cutting off all prospect of a crop that season, for most of the farms were in the flooded valleys." The stock of supplies at the time was running low. Keokuk, 170 miles away, was Des Moines' main point of supply. It was known that there were steamers on the Missis sippi that could be chartered and there was an abundance of supplies in Keo kuk. But, how to connect with these was the question. The roads were well nigh impassable. The only remedy for the situation which the flood had created was in turn the flood. Two men tried floating down the swollen stream, but after a trial of a few miles, abandoned the attempt. Then a party of four attempted — and they succeeded. The party consisted of J. M. Griffiths, merchant ; W. T. Marvin, proprietor of the Marvin House; Peter Myers, general operator and speculator, and Hoyt Sherman, postmaster and county clerk. The first two were directly interested in the question of supplies; the other two were evidently public spirited citizens — the "boosters" of '51. They embarked in a small, rough- board flat-bottom skiff. Once seated, they were obliged to stay seated until a stop was made. One cloudy June morning the venturesome quartet started on their long, hard, perilous journey. The water was high, overflowing the banks rendering 3 Annals of Iowa, v. 4, pp. 341-44. 100 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY it impossible to tell just where to guide their craft. On the following day they reached Eddyville in safety and thence to Ottumwa. There they obtained a map of the water-course which enabled them to keep the skiff headed in the right direction. On the afternoon of the fourth day they landed at Keokuk. Thence they took a packet to St. Louis, where they chartered the steamer "Kentucky," loading her with flour and other provisions. They added to their passenger list three ladies, a nurse girl and a baby. At Keokuk they took on other stores. The Kentucky passed the obstructions at Croton and Farm ington, but at Bonaparte, Meek's dam proved an impassable barrier. The steamer was a stern-wheeler, and when the boat itself had passed the dam, it lifted the wheel out of the water. The wheel revolved rapidly in air. The boat, without propelling power floated helplessly back below the dam. The attempt was repeated several times, but with no better success. The trip was abandoned. The cargo was stored and the steamer returned to St. Louis. Griffith, Marvin and Myers went with the steamer. Sherman attempted to find other transportation for the ladies and their luggage. The road up the valley was impassable. They therefore took the ridge road, between the Des Moines and the Skunk, known as "The Divide." They engaged a two horse wagon and a driver to take them to Oskaloosa. The women sat upon their trunks in the wagon, while Sherman and the driver trudged through the mud on foot. Major Sherman draws a vivid picture of that hard three days' journey over rough roads, through swampy sloughs and swollen streams. Os kaloosa finally reached, the way became easier. A roomy two-horse hack used for carrying mail to and from the Forks was pressed into service, and after two days more, with a stop for the night at Tool's Point (Monroe) the party reached Fort Des Moines. The three other members of the original party who returned to St. Louis, there chartered the steamer "Caleb Cope," Captain Joseph Price, and Bonaparte was soon reached and the dam safely passed. They distributed supplies at all points along the river, and arrived at Fort Des Moines on the 5th of July, and were enthusiastically received. Mr. Hussey relates that, a few days prior to the arrival of the stores, ladies of the village made a canvass of the situation, as to a Fourth of July celebration ; but found very little flour and the supply of everything else very limited ; but they were patriotic and hopeful and went ahead with their celebration, trusting Providence for the outcome. The cele bration was held in the Court House square, under bowers constructed for the occasion. It is related that two ladies attended the celebration in white dresses, but the weather was so cold they returned home and donned woolen garments. Mr. Hussey relates that Captain Price, elated with the financial success of the trip, gave the citizens of Fort Des Moines an excursion up the river. Fifty or sixty leading citizens accepted the invitation,4 and the event of a steam boat ride in '51 passed into tradition. Man)' an amusing story is told of those who participated in the excursion. The ride extended to the mouth of Beaver creek, a few miles northwest of the Forks. Other steamboats made Fort Des Moines in 1851, but their names are not recalled. Mr. Hussey incidentally speaks of the steamer Add Hine as loaded with goods for Lyon & Allen of Fort Des Moines in the year 1850. He also mentions the boat, N. L. Milburn, built and owned by the Des Moines Steam boat Company, as making Fort Des Moines June 4, 1853, and of the "Badger State," heavily loaded for Fort Des Moines, lying on the rocks below Ottumwa. The Milburn went alongside the disabled steamer, took on its freight and started, on the first of July, '53 for the Fort. The story is told by Mr. Hussey 4 Among the excursionists were: R. W. Syoher, J. M. Griffiths, Max Strauss, Dr. Barnett, Dr. Murdoch, Tom McMullin. Samuel Keene, Wesley Redhead, Andrew J. Ste vens, Peter Myers, lames Thompson, Charley Van, Tom Campbell, John Tyler, L. D. Win chester, Ed. R. Clapp, Barlow Granger, W. T. Marvin, Alex Scott, John Humstead, John Perkins, L. P. Sherman, James Stanton, Billy Moore, Hoyt Sherman, and Adam Dickey. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 101 of an exciting race between the J. B. Gordon and the Milburn. The purpose of each to reach a coal mine before the other, and so take on coal for the rest of the journey. "When the Milburn had arrived within four or five miles of the mine at which the coal had been ordered, the sharp ears of the pilot caught the sound' of the puffing of a steamboat behind them and at a bend of the river, as he, looked back, he recognized the J. B. Gordon running at a greater rate of speed than is usual for a loaded steamboat, unless the captain has some definite object in view. It flashed over the captain at once that the pursuing boat intended to try to cut him out of his promised supply of coal. Then all was excitement, and it extended to the passengers, stokers and everybody on board. The engineer was made acquainted with the situation and laid his plans. When about a mile intervened between the Milburn and the coal mine, she being pretty well in the lead, the Gordon gave her signal whistle for passing. The engineer of the Milburn was giving his engines a 'half-stroke,' and was ac cumulating a big head of steam for a sudden burst of speed, and the race was becoming exciting. Colonel Easton saw the engineer's game and seat ing himself on the capstan in front of the furnace doors, superintended the firing. " 'Roll out a barrel of tar !' he roared. 'Knock in the head there, some of you ! Stick your wood into the barrel as far as you can get it and shove it into the furnace and shut the doors ! More of it ! More of it ! Let us see her move ! There, that's business! Now we are moving!' "The Gordon was creeping alongside inch by inch, while the engineer of the Milburn watched her narrowly not wishing to let her have any advantage, nor forge ahead too far. Now the two boats were running side by side, the Gordon creeping up on her antagonist little by little. The passengers and crew of the Gordon, supposing the race had been won, sent up a mighty cheer. There were about two hundred yards yet intervening. It was at this time that the design of the wily engineer of the Milburn was made manifest. He gave his engines their full stroke and opened both throttles wide ! The boat sprang forward as if she had been hurled from a catapult, passing the crest fallen Gordon by two full lengths, making the landing with such a bump as to nearly throw the passengers off their feet. And such cheering from the Mil- burn ! The officers, passengers and crew almost yelled themselves hoarse, while the victorious boat gave the defeated one several triumphant notes from her whistle as she passed around the bend out of sight. It furnished Colonel Easton a theme for congratulatory remark during the rest of the trip. "When the Milburn reached 'Rattlesnake Bend,' a few miles below Des Moines, the passage looked a little dangerous, and Jesse Dicks and J. M. Grif- fifths begged to be allowed to land and walk across the point and take the boat. Accordingly they were put ashore and the boat made the passage with entire safety. On reaching the point named, the passengers were not to be seen. The captain waited for them a reasonable time, rang the bell and blew signal whistles, but as time was precious finally gave orders to go ahead. An hour! or so after the boat had landed at the 'Point,' or junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, the missing passengers appeared on the Raccoon river side." In an old journal of 1853, doubtless a record of arrivals and departures of steamboats at Keosauqua in that year, Mr. Hussey brings to the surface the following : "April 30th, the Jenny Lind arrived from Fort Des Moines and departed for St. Louis. "May 2d, . . . the Badger State and John B. Gordon arrived and de parted for Fort Des Moines. "May 5th, the Globe arrived from Keokuk, loaded down to the guards with freight for Fort Des Moines. 102 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY "May 8th, Badger State and John B. Gordon arrived from Fort Des Moines and left same day for Keokuk. "Wednesday May nth, Globe arrived from Fort Des Moines and left same day for Keokuk. "May 1 2th, -Jenny Lind arrived from St. Louis, and departed same day for Des Moines. "May 15th, John B. Gordon No. 2, arrived and departed on the 17th for Fort Des Moines. "May 27th, the Badger State arrived from Keokuk, and left same day for Fort Des Moines. On this trip the boat struck a rock below Ottumwa and sank in five feet of water. She was heavily loaded with flour, dry goods and groceries, and was insured at St. Louis for $5,000. Goods were taken to Fort Des Moines on the N. L. Milburn. The Boat was afterwards raised and taken to St. Louis for repairs. "June 8th, the N. L. Milburn arrived from Fort Des Moines, to which place she had taken the cargo of the sunken Badger State. Her destination was St. Louis. In 1854, the first arrival at Fort Des Moines was the Luella. On her return trip to Keokuk, Col. Barlow Granger of Des Moines was among the passengers. The Globe followed the Luella in April, bringing a big load of goods for Des Moines merchants. Among the May arrivals were True and Tide, Colonel Morgan, Luella and Julia Dean. The last named brought a- cargo for Burnham & Lusby grocers, Billy Moore, R. W. Sypher, B. F. Allen and others. E. L. Burnham, who came from Ottumwa reported many difficulties in rounding Rattlesnake Bend. Mr. Hussey chronicles these arrivals in Fort Des Moines in May and June of 1854: "Badger State, May 12; Globe and John B. Gordon, May 14, Luella, May 25, Globe, June 1, John B. Gordon, June 3." With characteristic humor Mr. Hussey thus pleasantly illustrates the great ness of the event of a steamer arrival : "On Sunday evening about the middle of June the John B. Gordon made a third arrival, at 'early candle lighting.' It is probable that this arrival gave rise to the story that the worshippers at the various churches slipped out at the sound of the whistle far down the river, and headed for the landing, sexton and all, without waiting for the benediction, leaving the ministers to put out the lights and follow in a more dignified manner if they wished. It was once said by a humorous pioneer that he supposed if at a wedding the minister had gotten so far along in the ceremony as the question, 'Will you have this woman — ' and a steamboat whistle should be heard in the distance, he would by force of circumstances be compelled to say, 'the remainder of the service will be completed at the steamboat landing.' " The Luella on the first of June brought to Fort Des Moines, besides a big load of freight, several passengers including Col. T. A. Walker, of the U. S. Land Office, and his family, Joseph B. Stewart, Mrs. J. W. Morris and chil dren, Landon Hamilton, afterwards founder of a museum recently bequeathed to the State Historical Department, James Campbell and others. "The Sangamon, Alice, Luella, Nevada and others made frequent trips to lower ports during the boating season." Mr. Hussey humorously describes the Julia Dean's new style of "heaving the lead." Her captain on approaching "a suspicious looking place in the river, would order his tallest deckhand overboard who would wade in front of the boat seeking out the deepest water and the pilot would "steer for him." A sudden rise in the river once enabled the Julia Dean to make the distance between Fort Des Moines and Ottumwa in a single day — probably beating the record. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 103 Mr. Hussey says, in 1854 Fort Des Moines caught the' steamboat fever. Peter Myer was sent down the river to buy the Colonel Morgan. A corporation had been formed in February including such public spirited citizens as B. F. Allen, James Sherman, R. W. Sypher and James Campbell. This corporation, organized in conformity to Chapter 44 of the Code of Iowa, was entitled the Fort Des Moines Steamboat Company, its object being "to buy, build, navigate and run a steamboat or boats on the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers and tribu taries; to build docks, warehouses and storerooms, and to do a general for warding and commission business." The capital stock was placed at $20,000. Its directors were: Addison S. Vorse, Samuel Gray and Reuben W. Sypher. Its incorporators were : Samuel Gray, Curtis Bates, Otis Briggs, Reuben W. Sypher, P. M. Casady and A. Newton. In 1855 record has been preserved of the arrival in Des Moines of the New Georgetown, Julia Dean, Add Hine, Badger State and Little Morgan. The season was short, the upper river not being very navigable. In 1856, The Michigan, a small steamer opened the season, arriving April 16. Later, the Alice, .Badger State, Michigan and Julia Dean made trips to and from Des Moines. In 1857, the season opened early in April with the arrival of the Alice. The Michigan arrived April 8; the Badger State, April n. Mr. Hussey finds in an old faded copy of the manifest of the Badger State, this sample cargo delivered at Des Moines : G. M. Hippee & Co., 68 boxes of glassware. Little, Garrison & Co., 104 plows, 3 casks glassware. Laird Brothers & Co., 5 sacks of coffee, 1 doz. buckets, 2 bbls. rice, 1 box of loaf sugar, 2 bbls. syrup, 1 box soap, 2 boxes raisins, 10 drums of figs, 2 boxes sundries, 20 sacks dried apples, 2 sacks of dried peaches, 12 boxes cod fish, 3 boxes herring, 1 sack of twine. Childs, Sanford & Co., 2 ice chests, 4 packages of furniture, 2 boxes iron bands, 2 stoves, 2 boxes hardware. Galbraith, Latshaw & Woodwell, 6 packages of mdse. W. F. Burgett, 200 sacks of salt. Cavenor, Ayres & Co., 7 casks of glassware. J. & I. Kuhn, n boxes merchandise. Newton & Keene, 67 pkgs. mdse. Lovejoy, Thompson & Co., 68 pkgs. mdse. S. M. Collins, 18 packages of goods. Redhead & Dawson, 4 boxes of stationery, 2 boxes curtains and fixtures. Without name, 300 barrels of whisky. The Clara Hine, the Skipper, the Alice, the Michigan, the Morgan, the Badger State and the Add Hine made regular trips to Des Moines, the Mor gan commencing late in the season, and departing in the spring of 1858, tak ing a cargo of pork to St. Louis. The year 1858 was a wet year, and the river was alive with steamers. From March 10 to the season's close, the Morgan, the Clara Hine, the Delta, the Ed Manning, the Skipper, the Des Moines Valley, the Alice, the Add Hine, the Defiance, and others came and went to and from Fort Des Moines. Some of these boats made as many as twelve round trips during the season. A sample of the activities of this wet year is given by Mr. Hussey in an extract from an old diary showing arrivals May 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The one record of steamboat navigation on the Raccoon found by Mr. Hussey, gives color of truth to the map of Fort Des Moines published in 1854. "Early in June, 1858," writes Mr. Hussey, "the Colonel Morgan made a trip a short distance up the Raccoon, turning around at about the location of the present Des Moines waterworks plant. It was a very pleasant occasion, and the novelty was much enjoyed. The excursionists, as remembered, were James Sherman, J. M. Dixon of the Register, Will Porter of the Journal, Ed. Marsh, Tac. 104 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Hussey and others. The river was high and there was little difficulty in navi gating the crooked and narrow stream." The wet year, 1858, was made • memorable by an excursion down the Des Moines on the Alice. Among its projectors were Judge John Mitchell, Ed. Downer, Alexander Talbott, Ed. Marsh, and J. A. Woodward. About fifty couples participated. The boat went down to a point below Palmyra. On the return, after safely passing Rattlesnake Bend, the boat was tied up and the party "took to the woods." Supper was served on the boat. The evening was spent in dancing. The party reached home about midnight. On March 23, '58, at the adjournment of the legislature, at the new Capital, the roads were impassable, and all the members who could reach their homes by steamboat took passage on the Skipper. The river was high and filled with driftwood. For safety the steamer was tied up at night, resuming its journey next day. The legislators were delivered at various points along the line, the last ones taking the cars for the Mississippi river at Bentonsport, then the terminus of the Des Moines Valley Railroad. The uncertainties of river travel were equaled only by travel on land. Mr. Hussey has drawn from a pioneer of Fort Des Moines a tale of woe (located in August in the early Fifties,) which is hard to associate with a civilization scarcely more than a half-century old, and now made accessible by steam and electric railroad lines and by river-to-river roads. Mrs. Cook had been visit ing in Davenport, and finding the stage road through the Skunk valley im passable, Mr. Cook boarded the Clara Hine, Captain Patton, to meet his wife at Keokuk and escort her home by boat. By some mischance, Mr. and Mrs. Cook and Captain Patton arrived at Bentonsport too late to take the boat, the mate having headed the Clara Hine up the river. The captain, Mr. Cook and several others hired a coach to Keosauqua, thinking to overtake the boat; but in this they were disappointed: the boat had gone. After supper a party of six hired two carriages to convey them to Ottumwa. At eleven that night, near Libertyille, they were overtaken by a thunderstorm, and found refuge till morning in a farm-house. Thence, next morning, to Libertyville, where they remained till n at night, when two "mud wagons" of the Western Stage Com pany came along. Having failed to overtake the steamboat, the party boarded the stage for Fort Des Moines. Mr. Cook never forgot any detail of that ride. He says : "The streams were all out of their banks, and many times we were com pelled to put the baggage on top of the coach while the passengers climbed on top of the seats to keep out of the water. . . We were five hours going from Eddyville to Oskaloosa, a distance of ten miles. . . We had dinner, supper and breakfast at every station between Ottumwa and Des Moines." Another "wet year" followed, and steamboating was unusually active be tween Keokuk and Des Moines. The season opened early and remained open until September. The Clara Fline was first to land at Des Moines, — with sixty-four tons of freight. The Charley Rodgers followed with fifty tons. The Flora Temple, the largest boat to reach Des Moines made two through trips that season. It is recorded that on one April clay five steamboats lay at the wharf in Des Moines, loading and unloading cargoes. The Charley Rodgers made thirteen round trips that year and five times ventured as far up the river as Fort Dodge. A copy of an old "manifest" of the Clara Lline dated March, 1859, shows that in addition to forty-two passengers, the boat carried much salt, coffee, sugar, nails, glass, sheet iron, molasses, drugs, soap, assorted hardware, gen eral merchandise and ale. The Des Moines importers were Laird Brothers, C. P. Luse & Co., W. S. Barnes, Harry Stephenson, McKee & Yerger, F. W. Woodruff, Keyes cc Crawford, H. Beekman and George O'Kell. A river event of this year was the Republican State Convention held in Des Moines in Sherman's Flail, June 23. The public's dependence on the river CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 105 as late as 1859 *s evidenced by the fact that, many of the delegates living on or near the Mississippi river took boats from Des Moines to Ottumwa, then within six miles of the western terminus of the Burlington & Missouri railroad. In 1861, the Des Moines river fleet had narrowed down to three boats: the Add Hine, the DeMoine Belle and the DeMoine City. These ran be tween Des Moines and the Keokuk and Fort Des Moines railroad terminus at Eddyville. The war had begun. The rest of the river fleet had departed for southern waters where work was plenty and pay good. Twenty-four trips be tween these points are recorded. In March, 1862, Adjutant General Baker arranged with all the steamers running between Ottumwa and Des Moines to carry home on the Upper Des Moines all wounded, disabled and discharged soldiers. So far as Mr. Hussey could learn, the boats operating under this contract were the DeMoine Belle, the DeMoine City, Little Morgan, Nevada, Alice and Clara Hine. The flood raged from the first to the 16th of April and for a second time bottoms overflowed and the legislators had to be carried across the bottom from the west side to the Capitol in row boats. Isaac Brandt, for many years afterward one of Des Moines' most promi nent citizens, appears in 1862, as a merchant in the old Griffiths Block, on Locust street, northeast of the present C. & N. W. depot, on the east side. A consignment of queensware, glassware and salt arrived for him from St. Louis on the Little Morgan. But as the water had flooded the lowland on the east side, the question was: How. could the goods be delivered? The Little Morgan solved the problem. Floating down the river a little way "and striking just the right place in the overflowed bottoms, nosed her way up to the store, which stood on the 'second ledge,' or bank, tied up almost at the door, threw out her gang planks and unloaded the goods as if it were an every day cccurrence. A large crowd collected to see the sight, which, so- far as known, was never wit nessed before or since. . . . When the goods were unloaded, . . the boat backed gracefully out, found the channel a mile or two below and was - soon on her way to the lower ports." The manifest for this trip shows consignments for other dealers in Des Moines, as follows: Laird Brothers, Latshaw & Woodwell, Keyes & Crawford, Rollins & Harmon, W. W. Moore, John McWilliams, H. M. McAlister. At the close of the legislature that year, April 8, all who could return by water did so in the steamboat DeMoine City, running from Des Moines to Ottumwa. In the spring of '62, Messrs. Keyes & Crawford of Des Moines built a large flatboat and loaded it with 41 tons of pork and lard and started it out for Ottumwa; whence the cargo was to be shipped by rail to its destination. Captain C. W. Keyes and five men constituted the crew. At Red Rock, the boat struck a rock and sank. Help was obtained and the cargo was finally saved. The year 1862 virtually closed navigation on the Des Moines. The near approach of the railroad, and the demand for steamers elsewhere, by reason of the war, were the direct causes. Down to 1866, "the Des Moines river was legally recognized as a navigable stream, across which no dam or bridge could be built which would tend to obstruct its free navigation by legally chartered river steamboats." A law passed the Eleventh General Assembly, in 1866, repealing all laws requiring locks to be constructed in dams, and draws to be constructed in bridges across the Des Moines, thus legally opening the river to the oncoming railroads. CHAPTER X. THE PART OF FORT DES MOINES IN THE IOWA MOVEMENT FOR RAILROADS. .As late as 1854, there was not a mile of railroad in the State of Iowa. In 1856, when the Sixth General Assembly located the future Capitol of Iowa in Des Moines, the Capital city was miles removed from any line of railroad and accessible only by steamboat, stage-coach and private conveyance. The land grants of 1856 were hailed as an unmixed blessing to Iowa ; but the immediate results for good carried along with them a train of disappointments and losses to many individuals and to whole communities as well. But the blessings so far out weighed the disadvantages, that we may now regard the action of the General Government in 1856 as the turning point in the history of Iowa and of its Capi tal city, — the miracle which transformed a comparatively inaccessible region of remote possibilities into a promising commonwealth through whose veins coursed the life-blood of the nation. But this result was not attained without prolonged and arduous effort ex tending over many years and involving much expenditure of time and money and patience on the part of the public-spirited citizens of Iowa — than whom there were none more public-spirited than the citizens of Fort Des Moines. The first formal action taken by the State of Iowa in the matter of railroads was a memorial to Congress, passed at the extra session of the First General Assembly and approved January 15, 1849, Prayin& f°r a donation of land to aid in' the construction of a railroad from Keokuk to Dubuque, thus establishing "a link in the chain of railroad, from not only Keokuk, but Fort Des Moines, Council Bluffs, and the intermediate points." The era of conventions having for their object the promotion of railroads up and down and across Iowa commenced in 1849. The first general gathering, styling itself a national convention, held in St. Louis September 16, 1849, did much to arouse the public mind to the necessity of a concerted movement upon the Congress of the United States. It did more : it aroused all Iowa to the evi dent purpose of the promoters of that convention to make St. Louis the grand central terminus of the railroads in future to be built to the Pacific coast. Until this purpose became apparent, Iowa first as a territory and then as a state, had contented herself with memorials for military roads connecting the two rivers. To checkmate the St. Louis scheme and secure Iowa's share of government aid, a mass convention of the citizens of Johnson county was held in Iowa City October 27, "for the purpose of deliberation and action in reference to the im provement of the interior of Iowa by railways." Governor Lucas presided over its deliberations. A committee, of which Curtis Bates of Fort Des Moines was chairman, presented resolutions which were unanimously adopted, requesting Iowa's senators and representatives to use their influence to procure a grant of lands in Iowa for the purpose of constructing a railroad from Rock Island to Council Bluffs, via Iowa City and Fort Des Moines, and also from Dubuque to Keokuk. The convention recommended, among other measures, the holding of conventions in Davenport and Fort Des Moines on the second Monday in De cember for the purpose of memorializing Congress, etc.1 1 The Chair appointed as delegates to the Fort Des Moines convention : Joseph T. Fales, Le Grand Byington, G. D. Palmer, H. H. Winchester, John M. Kidder, John Powel, Wm. P. Clark and P. IT. Patterson. 106 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 107 The citizens of Polk county met at the county seat November 14, to arrange for a railroad convention at Fort Des Moines in December. Judge McKay pre sided and Hoyt Sherman acted as Secretary. A committee of five was appointed to notify the citizens of adjoining counties and solicit their attendance, also a committee to draft resolutions.2 The convention hailed "with pleasure the deep and thrilling interest manifested by the spirited and enterprising citizens of Johnson and other counties lying east of us in the Great Western railroad ex tension from the Atlantic to the Pacific, via Davenport, Iowa City, Fort Des Moines and Council Bluffs," and pledged every endeavor in support of the measure. The convention of upper Des Moines counties 3 was held in Fort Des Moines December 10, 1849. with Jacob Frederick in the chair and Andrew J. Stevens secretary, both of Polk county. B. F. Allen and W. T. Mann, of Polk, E. D. Guiberson, of Madison, and Samuel Mars, of Dallas, were chosen vice presi dents. Eight counties were represented. Strangely enough, the only county that failed to respond was Johnson, in which county the movement originated. Dr. J. M. Vaughan addressed the convention explaining the call and urging immediate action. On motion of Col. T. Baker the convention resolved that a committee be appointed from Polk and adjoining counties to draft and circulate a memorial to congress asking a grant of land "for the purpose of constructing a railroad from Davenport, via Iowa City and Fort Des Moines to the eastern terminus of the great national road at Council Bluffs." Much space is given in the Gazette of February 15, 1850, to a large and en thusiastic convention held in the court house, Fort Des Moines, on February 9th, "for the purpose of considering and adopting means for constructing a rail road from Davenport to Council Bluffs and for appointing delegates to the Iowa City convention on the 20th.4 The editor styles the gathering "a general outpouring of the people," adding: "Never before have we witnessed as much enthusiasm in a public gathering." W. W. Williamson presided and Byron Rice was secretary, A. J. Stevens, Will iam McKay and Jonathan Lyon reported resolutions, which were unanimously adopted. The resolutions presented the advantages of the Fort Des Moines route and the argument that "the General Government, as a great Land Holder, is, alike with the State of Iowa, interested in the construction of the work, and 2 The first committee named was : H. H. Saylor, B. Granger, R. W. Sypher, J. M. Perry and Jonathan Lyon. The second : Barlow Granger, J. M. Perry and E. T. Collett. 3 Polk county sent as delegates to the December convention : Des Moines township — Wm. McKay, J. M. Perry, B. F. Allen, Thomas McMullin, J. A. Holland, Wm. T. Marvin, Enoch Hickman, Barlow Granger, Wm. P. Koger, A. B. Fuller, A. T. Reynolds. Richland — John D. Hartman, John Farley, John M. Parkinson. Greenfield — John McLaughlin. John Shoemaker, Charles Keene. Linn — James Hart, Daniel Barker, Elisha Perkins. Camp — Thomas Mitchell, William Wallace, Robert Warren. Four Mile — Jacob Frederick. T. H. Napier, Lewis Barlow. Skunk — I. J. Cory, Henry Burge. Saylor — Rezin Howard, Franklin Nagle, John Saylor. Madison— J. M. Martz, L. M. Small, John Crabtree, Jr. * As the list of delegates named in this convention include nearly all the pioneer rail road boomers of Fort Bes Moines, it is well to preserve it, as it appears in the Gazette ot Feb. 15, 1850: — Hon. Wm. McKay, Dr. T. K. Brooks, Samuel Gray Benjamin Bryant, Dr. William Dewey, Barlow Granger, B. F. Allen, L. D. Winchester, Judge Jones, J. Frederick, Dr. J. M. Vaughin, B-mjamin Saylor, Dr. H. H. Saylor, M. T. Reynolds. O. R. Jones, A. J. Ste vens, Henry Evcrly, W. H. McHenry, Marshall Townsley, Dr. P. B. Fagen, P. M. Casady. Lewis Barlow, Franklin Nagle, W. A. Scott, f. M. Perry, Dr. F. Childs, John Farley, W. W. Williamson, J. S. Dean, J. E. Jewett, B. Rice, R. W. Sypher, S. M. Lyon, Thos. Mc Mullin, James Campbell, I. J. Cole, Isaac Lawson. William Burbridge, J. Church, T. H. Napier, William Jones, Madison Young, John A. McFarlane, George Bebee, C. Stutsman, Dr. E. T. Collett. Wm. Kraus. Geo. Oglesby, Thos. Mitchell, Wm. Cooper, J. M. Thrift, Moses W. Chapline, W. W. Clapp, John Saylor, Wm. T. Marvin, Martin Tucker, W. H. Mecham, J. Thornton, H. Mitchell. B. Dix, A. B. Fuller, Benjamin Luce, Wm. Ware, L. P. Sherman, G. Holland, Edward Hall, Hoyt Sherman, Benjamin F. Hartley, Edwin Plall, F. Burbridge, James I. Thompson, Charles McKay, R. Holcomb, Philip Johns, J. C. Culbert- son, Rev. T. Bird. 108 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY . . . would be more than compensated for a liberal grant of land to aid in completing said road, by the increased sale of the public lands along the pro posed route." These resolutions, with variations in the wording, form the basis of most of the resolutions afterwards adopted in the conventions held at Fort Des Moines. "The convention was ably and eloquently addressed by Hon. Wm. McKay, Col. Thos. Baker, Dr. Dewey, Dr. Vaughan, Barlow Granger, C. C. Van, Dr. Brooks, and others." The Gazette quotes extensively from the speech of Chairman Williamson, at whose instance the convention had been called. The chairman enunciated the Whig doctrine of the period, that it was "the duty of the General Government to aid in carrying on a system of Internal Improvements." And, since Internal Improvements had become "a local issue," there was not a suggestion of protest from the many democrats present, among whom were such able defenders of democratic doctrine as, P. M. Casady, Barlow Granger and W. H. McHenry ! The Gazette assures its Iowa City friends that the "upper Des Moines Re public will be there en masse," that "preparations are now being made by the delegates to start on Saturday so as to reach the city as early as Tuesday noon." It was hardly to be expected that seventy-five delegates would all find it convenient to make an overland journey of two days and a half, each way, and in mid-winter, to attend a convention which at most could do no more than make emphatic the general need of an east and west railroad across the State and the general demand that Government should appropriate from its vast holdings of land for development of its own. The wonder is that Polk county should be represented— as it was — by nineteen delegates.5 The convention, in which Judge Casady, Dr. Dewey and Judge McKay took prominent part, united on resolutions, prepared and read by ex-Governor Lucas, strongly presenting "the duty of the General Government to provide at the earliest possible period" for the construction of a central national railroad from the Mississippi valley to the Pacific, etc., and that the railroad "from Daven port . . by Iowa City and Fort Des Moines to Council Bluffs" was the ¦ most feasible route, and that the Iowa delegation in Congress be requested to urge immediate action upon the Senate and House. The movement for government aid took shape in Congress in June, 1850, in bills introduced in the Senate by General Jones, granting lands for the Keokuk and Dubuque road and for a road from Davenport to the Missouri. The bill passed the Senate and was killed in the House. A long advertised State Railroad Convention met in the House ot Repre sentatives in Iowa City, December 5, 1850. Polk countv was represented by P. M. Casady, T. K. Brooks, Curtis Bates, William McKay, A. J. Stevens, Thomas McMullin, G. Burkley, Hoyt Sherman and John W. Rusk. After the usual formalities, the apportionment of delegates gave Polk seven votes in the convention. William McKay was Polk county's representative on the commit tee on resolutions. Engineer Morgan read a report of a survey of the Daven port and Iowa City Road. The usual resolutions and memorial to Congress were adopted. The report of Richard P. Morgan, engineer of the Davenport and Iowa City Railroad, printed without date but bound in with other reports dated 1850, ad dressed to Le Grand Byington and others, directors of that company, is accom panied by a roughly drawn map showing the inevitableness of an early extension of the road to Council Bluffs. On this map Fort Des Moines is the one point named between Iowa City and Council Bluffs. The engineer evidently wrote s Those listed as actually present in Iowa City on Feb. 20, 1851, were: Dr. T. K. Brooks, Hon. Wm. McKay, B. F. Allen, J. C. Jones, R. W. Sypher, T. Mitchell, C. McKav, S. Gray, B. Bryant, Charles C. Van, Dr. Wm. Dewey, L. D. Winchester, sE. T. Reynolds, W. W. Williamson, Wm. Burbridge, L. P. Sherman, P. M. Casady, Wm. F. Ayers, and Thos. Mc Mullin. These were given 46 votes in the convention. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 109 his report for publication, for it is a strong argument for the road as a con-i nectjon between the two rivers. The argument is based upon reasoning which may be condensed into David Flarum's new golden rule: "Do unto the other feller the way he'd like to do unto you — an' do it fust." He found no other route "in any respect comparable to the one selected." He doubted not it would "have the preference over any other, as forming part of the great line which, within a short time, will be extended to Council Bluffs."1 The road was certain to become "part of the great National trunk railroad from Atlantic by way of Council Bluffs, the Platte valley and the South Pass to the Pacific," — a prediction amply verified by the subsequent history of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad. On March 6 the Star announced that Dr. Dewey was making the preliminary survey of the route via Fort Des Moines to Council Bluffs, to ascertain the degree of bridging of rivers, creeks and sloughs, and to estimate the cost of the work. A letter was later published, written by "William Dewey, civil and topo graphical engineer," engaged to make "a preliminary survey, in which the dec laration is made that the proposed route was "even better than reported." This writer is confident that no proposed road in the state "can be constructed with less expense." February 23, '51, officers of the Keokuk and Fort Des Moines railroad were reported in Fort Des Moines examining routes preparatory to the actual survey. At this time Fort Des Moines and Polk county were interested in railroad projects connecting the county seat with Lyons, with Davenport, with Keokuk and with St. Louis. A meeting in the interest of the North Missouri road to St. Louis was held at the Fort, February 25, adding another ambitious project to the list in which the citizens of Fort Des Moines were then interesting themselves. In July well attended and enthusiastic railroad meetings were held at rally ing points all along the river, from Keokuk to Fort Des Moines. Much public spirit was manifested, and much disappointment evinced at the indifference of the lower House of Congress to the memorials from Iowa. The retiring editor of the Journal, W. W. Williamson, is assured Aug. 15, that sufficient stock has been taken to secure the Keokuk and Fort Des Moines railroad, adding: "If the counties along the line will but move in the matter as this county has done, no doubt can be entertained as to the speedy completion of the road." He fires this parting shot at the democrats : "The road can be built by individual enterprise, and it is the only way we can reasonably hope for* its completion during the reign of locofocoism in Congress." Late in August the campaign for railroads was enlivened by a lengthy letter signed by Henry P. Scholte, and A. E. D. Bosquet, of Pella, urging the possn bility and practicability of building the Keokuk and Fort Des Moines road with out government aid. On the 9th of September, the citizens of Polk county convened at the county seat to select delegates to a railroad convention to be held at Iowa City.6 The Star of September 25, indulges in the pleasures of the imagination, its "gaunt eyes see golden ages coming," — the commencement of which is just ahead ! Speaking of the railroad's entrance into Fort Des Moines, it says : "This done, and her destiny will be irrevocably fixed." One reason why the Star urges a quick construction of the road is "because it would be so convenient to bring over the Capitol !" October 15, 185 1, a railroad convention was held in Iowa City,7 Robert Lucas 6 The delegates chosen were A. Y. Hull, Jeremiah Church, Thomas Mitchell, P. M. Casady, Charles B. Darwin, Curtis Bates, J. M. Griffiths, Wesley Redhead, J. J. Sanders, Isaac Everett, Barlow Granger, Charles W. Freel and Thomas McMullin. 7 Polk county was represented by A. Y. Hull, W. Redhead, J. J. Sanders, Barlow Granger, P. M. Casady, T. Mitchell, J. Church, T. McMullin, J. A. Griffiths, C. W. Freel, H. Sherman, C. B. Darwin. 110 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY in the chair. Hon. A. Y. Hull of Polk was on the committee on memorial to congress. The resolutions covered the usual ground, renewing the application for land grants and urging early action of Congress, including an outline of the bill desired. An additional memorial was adopted for use in Washington. A committee of five was appointed, delegated to represent the convention before Congress.8 Early in December the citizens of Fort Des Moines and vicinity met in the court house at the county seat to organize a railroad company in aid of the Iowa City, Fort Des Moines and Council Bluffs railway. R. W. Sypher presided; Jonathan Lyon was treasurer and Hoyt Sherman secretary. A. Y. Hull, Le Grand Byington, J. E. Jewett and S. B. Shellady were made directors. Eighty- two shares of $100 each were subscribed. At a railroad convention held in Fairfield, February II, 1852, 9 the failure of Congress to make the grants of land which had been prayed for was the sub ject of much caustic criticism, and the prayer of two years before was changed to a demand on the Iowa delegation that it secure the grants asked for. The convention declared that the paramount duty of the Iowa delegation to support Iowa's claims to congressional favor, "with all their skill and energy," had been "demonstrated by the arguments, and instructions of three legislative sessions, four state conventions, a score or more of district meetings and a mul titude of petitions from the people." It declared, further, that the land grant bill then before the Senate as re ported by General Dodge accorded with the wishes of the people of Iowa, and demanded that the Iowa delegation in Congress sustain it "unaffected by any rival or collateral projects whatsoever." A delegate convention was held in Iowa City on the nth of July, 1852. Eight counties were represented. Mr. Granger .of Polk, chairman of the com mittee on resolutions, reported reaffirming the sentiment of the Fairfield conven tion, deeply deploring the failure of the Iowa Land bill in Congress, — the failure being "doubly aggravating, and deeply humiliating, from having been accom plished, in the main, by domestic enemies" — but nevertheless, renewing "efforts to obtain justice at the hands of Congress." The convention adjourned to meet October 6, in Iowa City. A committee of correspondence was named, Mr. Granger being the Polk county member. December 16, 1852, in the Iowa Senate, Mr. Harris introduced a joint me morial to Congress asking a grant of land to construct a railroad from Fort Des Moines to the southern boundary of the State of Iowa, also for a grant to con struct a railroad from Fort Des Moines to the southern bend of the St. Peter's river in the territory of Minnesota. The memorial was referred to a commit tee on internal improvements. In a letter written to General Dodge by Representative, afterwards Governor and Senator, Grimes, from Iowa City, December 24, Mr. Grimes informs the General that memorials have passed the House for three roads: one from Bur lington to the Missouri river, another from Davenport to Kanesville (Council Bluffs) and a third from Dubuque to Fort Des Moines, Rev. Dr. Salter com menting on this letter, calls attention to the fact that in 1852 there was not a mile of railroad in Iowa. He finds in Mr. Grimes' mind the inception of Iowa railroads, declaring that "the principal object for which Mr. Grimes became a member of the legislature was to start a movement in behalf of building rail roads, and in that he succeeded admirably." In July, 1853, the Lyons-Iowa railroad line was pointed toward Fort Des Moines. 8 The committee appointed was James Grant, of Scott; V. P. Van Antwerp, of Lee; H. Emerson, of Dubuque; G. S. Hampton, of Johnson, and Barlow Granger, of Polk. 9 Polk county sent to this convention : Barlow Granger, Thomas Mitchell, W. T. Mar vin, Jonathan Lyon, W. W. Williamson, B. F. Allen, A. Y. Hull, Byron Rice, R. W. Sypher, S. Y. Kee-e, C. C. Van, T. McMullin, T. K. Brooks and James Campbell. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 111 On the 2 ist, Chief Engineer Dey opened in Fort Des Moines an office of the Mississippi and Missouri river road, announcing that he was going to work to straighten up the last survey so that the contract might soon be ready for letting. Without following in detail the story of renewed pressure upon Congress and renewed and extremely vigorous effort on the part of the Iowa delegation in Congress to satisfy the home demand, suffice to say the fruition of all these years of struggle for congressional aid came in the spring of 1856. The so called Iowa Land Bill, approved by President Pierce, May 15, 1856, made an enormous grant of lands to the State of Iowa, to aid in the construction of four railroads running across the state from east to west. The grant con sisted of alternate sections, for six sections in width on each side of the said roads. These four lines are now familiarly known as the Burlington, the Rock Island, the Northwestern and the Milwaukee. The road which was to- connect the little city of Fort Des Moines with the great world east and west of her, now designated as the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, was described in the law as "from the city of Davenport, via Iowa City and Fort Des Moines to Council Bluffs." _ The importance of this measure was so vital to the State of Iowa, that Gov ernor Grimes called a special session, that immediate action might be taken. The special session convened on the second day of July, 1856, and on the 14th the Governor approved the bill accepting the grant and taking action as to carrying into execution the trust conferred upon the State. The grants conveyed alto gether nearly four million acres of Iowa land. The lands, interests, rights, pow ers and privileges which went with the grant for the Davenport, Fort Des Moines and Missouri river road were by this act conferred upon "the Mississippi and Missouri railroad, the company of which General G. M. Dodge was the Iowa representative. The General Assembly at this extra session also passed a resolution, ap proved by Governor Grimes, July 14, 1856, "instructing" our senators and repre sentatives in Congress to procure a grant of land to aid in the construction of a railroad from Keokuk by way of Fort Des Moines to the northern line of the State, in the direction of the southern bend of the Minnesota or St. Peters River, "with a branch at Fort Des Moines to a point near the North West Corner of the State of Iowa." By an act approved January 28, 1857, the "Keokuk, Fort Des Moines and Minnesota" railroad company was authorized and empowered to. issue such an amount of construction bonds as might be necessary to construct and equip its road, built depots, station houses, water tanks, etc., the company to secure such bonds by a mortgage or deed of trust upon its property. Thus, and in other ways, was local enterprise enabled to supplement govern ment aid in the great movement of the Fifties in Iowa for railroad connections with the outside world, and one part of the state with another. CHAPTER XI. SCHOOL LIFE IN FORT DES MOINES, '1846-57. In the fall of 1846, the little community gathered about old Fort Des Moines became ambitious for the education of its children. The pioneer teacher of the little community was Miss Davis, who taught a little school in "Barracks No. 26." In the winter of 1846-47 Lewis Whitten taught school in "Coon Row," in one of the cabins of the abandoned fort. During the following winter, A. J. Stevens taught a three-months term in the old guard house, where Third street crosses Vine. Prior to the organization of the district, Mrs. Thompson Bird taught a private school in her home on the corner of Second and Locust streets. R. L. Tidrick, on arriving at Des Moines in May, 1847, opened a private school in 'Coon Row, which was well attended ; but, on receiving the appointment as postmaster, he closed the school in the spring of '48. In 1849, a school district was organized and a young lawyer from the state of New York, named Byron Rice, was engaged as teacher. The school was opened in the old Methodist Church on Fifth street, on the ground now occupied by the Iowa Loan and Trust Company. Six weeks later, the school was removed to the old court house, a few feet south of the present court house. Incidentally it may be mentioned that an Indian mound at this point was leveled down to supply the dirt necessary to fill the low place just south of the school. Some future excavation may unearth at this point a valuable addition to the archasology of Iowa. The building was unfinished. There was no door leading from the entry into the school room, and after the children were corralled, rough boards were set up against the opening.1 The school room was unplastered ; the window frames fitted loosely, letting in the snow. The teacher stuffed the crannies and kept two stoves filled to their utmost capacity. One of these was a box stove; the other, an old cook-stove which had been abandoned by the soldiers. With only green wood, the heating problem was not an easy one. At times the children suffered with the cold.2 There were then about sixty pupils in attendance, several of the older ones from outlying farms, and a few from other townships in the county. The school curriculum ranged all the way from primary to high school. It so happens that the only one now living in Des Moines who attended this pioneer school is Frances Cooper, now Mrs. F. M. Hubbell. During this trying winter, the overworked teacher was given a young lady assistant. It is related that one evening while he was out walking he saw a woman scrambling up a ladder to a room in the loft of a cabin. Coming nearer, he saw it was his assistant. On reaching her room she pulled the ladder in after her. The incident illustrates the primitive life of the pioneer teacher in Des Moines in '49. Mr. Rice resigned at the end of the first school year and entered upon his career as a lawyer. In the spring of 185 1, a half-acre, on the corner of Ninth and Locust streets was bought for $100, as a site for a proposed new schoolhouse; but not until 1 West Des Moines Schools, by Olive McHenry, in Saturday Review, Des Moines, Dec. 19, 1896. ? \s stated by Judge Rice and epioted by Miss McHenry. 112 Member of Constitutional Convention of 1844. Secretary of State, 1856-1883 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 113 1855 was the building erected. The new building, small but pretentious for its day, was two stories high and built of brick. It was erected under the super vision of "Uncle" John Elliott. J. A. Stickney succeeded Byron Rice as principal and he was given three as sistants. The new building was opened December 16, of that year. Mr. Stickney, afterwards a banker in Great Falls, New Hampshire, remained at the head of the school until 1857. His assistants were Misses A. M. DeWitt, Mary Whitte- more and Margaret Reese, also Asaneth H. White, whom the principal after wards married. Miss DeWitt remained long with the school. Judge Rice, years afterwards, bore testimony to the ability and worth of the corps of teachers who took up his work. An amusing matter of record comes down to us from the pen of Madison Young, secretary of the school board in 1850. One Charles L. Anderson was an applicant for a position as teacher, and Directors Samuel Gray and W. W. Jones, after having pronounced him "qualified in point of talent and learning," seem to have turned the matter over to Lewis Whitten, Byron Rice and the secretary. To their certificate the secretary added that all three examiners had found Anderson incompetent to teach. In his supplemental report the secretary says that Byron Rice, examiner in arithmetic, asked Anderson a number of puzzling questions, finally giving "some sums to do in complex fractions. Mr. Anderson remarked that they were of no earthly use, or practical benefit, and if scholars should bring arithmetics to his school that had complex fractions in, he should order them to Tear such Fractions out of their books." 3 In 1857, when Fort Des Moines had become an incorporated city with the word "Fort" eliminated from its name, and with the Capitol at last fully assured, there was still only one public school in the city, with only a few hundred pupils and a faculty of only five teachers. But the general policy of expansion was already pervading the system, and it remained only for the after inflow of pop ulation to give the needed strength and direction to the movement for more and better schools. The school system organized in 1849 evidently included East Des Moines, for among the items in the reports of officers of the district appear claims for rent and fuel for school rooms on the east side of the river. The first school in East Des Moines was held in rented rooms near where the gas house now stands. Its teacher was named Elliott. The first school erected in East Des Moines was in 1856 — a small frame building near the corner of Ninth and Grand. Here Mrs. Remsburgh first taught. This lady's future experiences are related in an other chapter. It is thus seen that East Des Moines, with its many and capacious schools and its High and Industrial School for which the votes of Greater Des Moines recently appropriated $350,000, had even less than the West Side to offer in the way of educational facilities to the heads of families who in 1858 followed the Capitol from Iowa City to Des Moines, or were drawn to the new Capital city by its alluring attractions and bright prospects. 3 Andrews — Pioneers of Polk County, v. 1, p. 121. CHAPTER XII. LOOKING BACKWARD ON FORT DES MOINES IN THE FIFTIES. Calvin Thornton, writing from Pasadena, Calif., says that in the winter of '51, he became of age and got Judge Casady to enter for him the first forty acres of land he ever owned, and he felt a great deal richer then, than when, years afterwards, he sold his farm of 266 acres to the State Agricultural Society for the permanent home of the State Fair. He says he has "stood in the door of the log house on Fourth street, just south of the Kirkwood," which he used for a cabinet shop, "and shot rabbits in the patches of hazel brush around there." This "was then considered away up out of town." The early career of Wesley Redhead, one of the most prominent of the pioneers of the Fifties, further illustrates "the day of 'small things" in Des Moines. He came to Fort Des Moines in '51 and entered the employ of Col. J. M. Griffiths in his general store, at $25 a month, and "saved money on his salary." He began housekeeping in a little log house on Third street on a lot bought of "Tom" McMullin for $75. In 1853, he was appointed postmaster at a salary of $300, retaining the office until i860. He bought a lot 22 feet front, on Second Avenue, then in the centre of trade, paying $100 for it — "the highest price paid for a lot of its size at the time. The same money would have bought nearly, or quite, a square on Walnut street at any place west of Fourth." J On this lot he put up a frame building in which he installed the postoffice. His three mails a week "were brought over the Skunk river swamps in a jerkey." Mrs. Redhead " 'tended office" while he was away. On mail day he and his three temporary assistants, Hoyt Sherman, Byron Rice and A. J. Stevens, "made short work of the mail." From this small beginning sprang the extensive wholesale and retail book and paper house of Redhead, Norton & Company, on Locust street, which, forty years later, was one of the leading business houses in Des Moines. For $30 Mr. Redhead bought a quarter-square on the northeast corner of Third and Locust streets, and there erected a frame dwelling which for years was one of the social centers of Des Moines. Hon. Hiram Price, ex-Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in a letter of con gratulation on the laying of the corner-stone of the Historical Building,- dated March 8, 1899, at the age of 85, thus pictures life in Fort Des Moines in '53 : "The small village of [Fort] Des Moines when I first visited it nearly fifty years ago and Des Moines, the Capital city of the State of Iowa today, are very different appearing places. Then Des Moines had no railroad, and many in telligent people living there then were honestly of the opinion that a railroad through Iowa was not a possibility, much less a probability. "I have a very distinct recollection of trying to convince the people, at a meeting held in the old courthouse in 1853, that there was a feasible project on foot, led by some eastern men to build a railroad from Davenport to Coun cil Bluffs, by way of Des Moines. Some people at that meeting said I was a dreamer, and one man of some standing paid me the left-handed compliment of saying that I was intentionally talking around the truth, and keeping at a good 1 From an interview with Mr. Redhead published in the Register, December ¦ 12, 1886. 114 CYRUS A. MOSIER Pioneer of 1S48 JOHN H. (ilVEN Pioneer of 1S45. First Manu facturer in Des Moines GUY K. AYRES Pioneer of 1845 GEORGE SNEER SOLOMON BALES CONRAD D. REINKING Pioneer of Valley Township Pioneer of Saylor Township Pioneer Farmer of Four-Mile and Mayor of Des Moines Creek and Capitalist of Des Moines CALVIN THORNTON Taken at age of seventy-eight years D. JUSTICE J. K. HOBAUGH Pioneer of Madison Township CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 115 distance from it. Possibly some person or persons may now be living in Des Moines who were present at that meeting and can remember how Utopian and chimerical seemed the idea of a railroad through Iowa at that time. But now what changes, time, talent, energy and enterprise have wrought!" Hon. D. O. Finch, writing in 1896, from Washington Harbor, Wash., referred to the Fourth of July celebration in '53. Mr. Finch said he addressed the as semblage from the steps of the old Court House, situated on the site of the Wabash depot, back of which he pictures "Uncle Hewitt, on the top of a trap door, which was the means of ingress and egress to [and from] the county jail." He recalled the old log structures of the Fort, which even in '53 "constituted the principal residence part of the city extending north on the Des Moines and west on the Coon." He recalled "the old ferry boats on both rivers and the familiar forms of men who propelled them." He pictured Second street "from Uncle Charlie Good's log drug store which fronted the Coon, northward for two or three blocks, in which were scattered one story buildings, in which all the commercial and financial business of the city was transacted," and, on the east side of the river, "the partially tilled farm of Uncle Johnny Dean and the unoccupied lots plotted by W. A. Scott." C. L. Lucas, in his "Recollections of Early Times in Iowa," writes of his stage ride, October 7, 1853, from Agency City up the river to Fort Des Moines.2 The weather was fine and "the autumnal smoke once more rested in beauty upon the surrounding hills." From Tool's Point (Monroe) there was no town till Fort Des Moines was reached. About five miles north of Tool's Point the party camped for the night turning their oxen out to graze. Next day they were informed that they had camped on the "site selected, six years prior to that time," for the new State Capitol, by a commission appointed for that purpose. "Just before sundown," he writes, "we arrived near Fort Des Moines and camped on a hill overlooking that embryo city. This hill was near where the capitol building now stands. Fort Des Moines was then a small place, about all houses, both business and residence, being confined to the grounds of the old military post. The only outlook it had for making a city of importance was the prospective coming of the State Capital. All believed, and fully believed, that the capital was sure to come. But they were not alone in this belief ; the people all along the roads over which we traveled, from Ft. Madison to Fort Des Moines, believed, conceded and most of them advocated the same thing." Hon. Peter A. Dey, of Iowa City, who, with General Dodge and William W. Walker, did much to develop Iowa by uniting the Mississippi and Missouri with .railroad ties, was in the spring of 1853 engaged in surveying the Missis sippi and Missouri Railroad from Davenport and Fort Des Moines to Council Bluffs. His principal assistant was Grenville M. Dodge, afterwards a major general of the Civil War, and chief engineer of the Union Pacific Railway. Fort Des Moines then had a population of about 650, or half that of Iowa City, the State Capital. He reports3 that the business houses in both places were mainly shanties placarded with signs in large letters "Land Warrants." "The land offices for a large part of the State were located in these towns, the general government still owning a majority of the lands within the State." From the highest elevation between the rivers, east of Des Moines, he "looked over a vast extent of prairie and saw nothing to indicate that the foot of man had ever pressed the ground." The power of association is illustrated in the early career of Gen. J. A. Williamson. Writing the semi-centennial committee, from New York, July 4, 1876, he said he first visited Des Moines when a boy, in 1848, when there were but few if any buildings save the log cabins which the government had built for barracks and quartermaster's stores. He was so pleased with the town and 2 Annals of Iowa, v. 6, p. 381. 3 Annals of Iowa, v. 7, p. 81. 116 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY country round it that he resolved to make it his home. This he did in 1855. The point the author has elsewhere attempted to make, as to the influence of pioneers upon a city to its latest day, is sustained by the General's words. He says : "Looking back to that time I assemble and group in my mind a large number of young men who had come to Fort Des Moines to start in busi ness life. But few of them had any capital other than brains and determination to succeed. All were filled with hope and high aspiration for the good and for the success and prosperity of the city so lately placed on the map of the Territory." Des Moines suffered from misrepresentation and detraction then as it has ever since. "Judge" Arden B. Holcomb, of Boone, in a letter dated Boons- boro, Iowa, May 18, 1856, wrote: "Under the decision of the supreme court the state capitol is located on the east side of the Des Moines River, on the highlands east of Fort Des Moines. The excitement was tremendous. The old town is ruined. Everything was said and done that could be to induce the commissioners to locate it on the west side of the river. Two hundred thousand dollars were offered : but the com missioners were firm, and placed the stakes out on the prairie. The town, of course, goes out there. The population is 2,700. A man having five hundred acres of prairie, upon which the stake was put, was immediately offered $500 per acre for the whole tract. The effect was instantaneous upon property on this side of the river. Here, by many it was held at double its former value. It secures the great thoroughfare north and south, and also the railroad this side of the river is placed beyond question." In July, 1857, Mr. Holcomb wrote : "The reaction has commenced, and many are losing largely especially in Fort Des Moines. The capital question raised a great excitement ; anything like a fair business lot commanded from $4,000 to $8,000. Now business there is at a standstill and speculative prices are tumbling down." J. M. Dixon, author of the Centennial History of Des Moines, remembered as "the blind editor," was for many years an editorial writer for the State Register, and as a result of overwork lost his sight. He was able, in the dark ness which enveloped him, to see with his mind's eye the beautiful valley and promising young city upon which his physical eyes had feasted away back in 1855. From his first impressions of Des Moines,4 the following glowing para graphs are quoted: "From the eminence whereon we stood our eyes were cast downward along the slope of the hill, the surface of which was dotted by forest trees and occa sional residences. Further on we saw the plain, or beautiful valley, stretching away from the base of the hill to the river, covered here and there with un pretentious buildings, erected by the pioneers of the capital city. In the center of the valley, penetrating it from north to south, we saw the River Des Moines, whose limpid and placid current flashed back a myriad rays of light from the sun which was smiling in the noonday sky as though conferring its benediction on the infant city. "Following the course of the river southward we saw its fine tributary the Raccoon, moving in its quiet and rippling flow from the west, and bringing its mass of sparkling water as a tribute of respect and reverence to the beautiful stream with which it became blended. "Looking beyond the Des Moines River our eyes fell upon the old town of Fort Des Moines, nestling in the valley, and impressing us with the beauty and picturesqueness of the prospect. Here, near the river, the dwellings and busi ness houses became more numerous and more ambitious, and beyond these the plain which extended to the bluffs was not only magnificent in itself, but was large enough to form the site of a vast metropolis." * Porter — Annals of Polk County, p. 175. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 117 Had the boundaries of the State as fixed by Congress in the spring of 1845, excluding the entire Missouri slope, been accepted by the voters of the terri tory, the State Capitol would undoubtedly have remained in Iowa City. But, fortunately for Des Moines, as for the State as well, the protest of the pioneer lowans was heard in Congress, and on the 28th of December, 1846, the State of Iowa was admitted into the Union with its boundaries as they are to-day, embracing more than 56,000 square miles between the Mississippi and the Mis souri, thus making it far less difficult to re-locate the Capital city in Des Moines, at a point more nearly the geographical center of the State. The population of the county seat in 1846, as revealed by the last preceding census was only 127. In 1856, it had grown to 3,830, and the population of the county to 9,417. In 1857, when Des Moines became the State Capital, it had grown to nearly 5,000 and the county had a population estimated at over 10,000. CHAPTER XIII. THE STAGE-COACH AND FORT DES MOINES. The early location of Territorial and State roads and governmental mail routes connecting Fort Des Moines with the outside world did much to turn the tide of immigration toward "the Forks," and thus to offset the growing uncertainties of travel and traffic by the river route. The first official recognition of Fort Des Moines as an objective point of overland travel is an act passed by the Territorial Legislature of 1843-44, approved by Governor Chambers, January 29, 1844, providing for a commission of three to locate and mark a road commencing at Fairfield, Jefferson county, thence to Bennet's Point, in Keokuk county, thence to the ; county seat of Ma haska county, "to the Indian boundary, in the direction , of the Indian agency, at the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines river." This was followed by an act approved February 7, 1844, naming commissioners, to locate a territorial1 road commencing at Brighton, in Washington county, and running through Rich land to the county seat of Mahaska, thence to terminate on the territorial road leading from Fairfield "to the Indian Agency, at the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines river." "Manifest Destiny" moved the Territorial Legislature of 1845-46 to order and direct the building of a stage road connecting the territorial capital, Iowa City, with the future capital .of the State. Over this road, eleven years later, were hauled the records, furniture and other appurtenances of statehood, from the old capital to the new. The law' referred to, signed by Governor Clarke, January 17, 1846, named Robert M. Hutchinson of Iowa county, James Doug lass of Johnson, and John Scott of Polk, as commissioners "to lay out and established a territorial road commencing at Iowa City, and running thence west, by the old trading house, to Marengo in Iowa county, and thence through the counties of Poweshiek and Jasper, to Fort Des Moines, Polk county." The commissioners were directed to meet at Iowa City on or within thirty days of the first Monday, in April, 1846, and, after taking the oath, to proceed to the performance of the duties required of them, taking to their aid the necessary assistance, their "reasonable compensation" to be paid by the counties through which the road would pass. In 1853 began the State roads movement in which Fort Des Moines was perhaps the chief beneficiary. Between January, 1853, and February, 1857,1 Des Moines was directly connected by State roads, created by three successive legislatures, with Adair, Appanoose, Lucas, Dallas, Jasper, Warren, Marshall, Davis, Monroe, Marion, Lee, Wapello, Mahaska, Delaware, Poweshiek, Cass, Mills, Boone, Humboldt, Webster, Pottawattamie, Madison, Page, Fremont, Hardin, Blackhawk, Clarke, Decatur, Ringgold, Sac, Calhoun, Union, Greene, Guthrie, Dubuque, Crawford, Woodbury and Story, with indirect connections with nearly every other county in the State, also with the principal cities of northern Missouri and eastern Nebraska. With this network of communication,, the citizens and business men of Des Moines late in the Fifties found themselves in the midst of a great and .growing commercial field, with an assured future in any event. 1 As shown in detail in the History of Polk County, with which this work concludes. 118 MARTIN L. BURKE CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 119 Nevertheless, there was ever ipresent in their minds the probability, if not the certainty, of a coming time when the steamboat and the lumbering stage-coach would dwindle into comparative disuse and railroads would give Des Moines direct and quick connections with all the great trade centers of the country, such connections directly leading to the development of the little garrison town on the frontier into a populous and commercially important city. It was with knowledge of the partial fulfilment of the prophecies indulged in by Des Moines in the Fifties that J. S. Clarkson, then editor of the Iowa State Register, sat down one day in 1872 to write the story of "The Vanishing Stage-coach." He began with the statement that July 1, 1854, was the important date on which the first stage of the Western Stage Company "rolled away from before tlie City Hotel," Des Moines, on its way to the river. The company had succeeded to the franchise of Frink & Walker's stage line, the pioneer line between Fort Des Moines and Oskaloosa. These vehicles are described by the Register as "wagons without springs and with white muslin tops, drawn by two horses, arriving with great regularity semi-occa- sionally." They were routed for Oskaloosa, the first day; Fairfield, the second, and Keokuk the third. There was a tri-weekly line, and the fare was $10. The new company put on two-horse "jerkeys," and operated one line to Keokuk, another to Davenport. One of the founders of the line was E. S. Alvord, 'well known to many of our citizens." This corporation was a pioneer in the modern movement for consolidation. Its . operations, commencing in Indiana, extended through eight states ; its employes were numbered by thousands and its property ran into the millions. On the first day of July, 1870, the last of its Des Moines line of stages left the Capital city. Meantime, it had developed from the jerkeys of 1854, to the Concord coach, and "till the rushing railroad trains caused the banishment of the stage . . . the four-horse coach was an important item in Des Moines life." From a tri-weekly line the business had grown until a daily line was in operation between the Capital and its termini on the Mississippi. "It was not an infrequent occurrence for trains of from six to twelve coaches to arrive and depart between sun and sun." In State Convention times, stages were run two hours apart, "and three or four hundred men were frequently shipped in a single night." It is reported that in 1862, the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, a thousand men and their accoutrements and camp equipage, were transported by stage from Des Moines to Iowa City in three days, without inter ference with regular travel. During the wet season the company kept oxen and broad-tired wagons sta tioned along the apparently bottomless bottom of the Skunk river, to help its stages over the otherwise impassable roads. The stock of the company jumped up from $100 to $2,000 a share. The Concord stages cost a thousand dollars each ; but, after the dissolution of the company they were sold for the value of their old iron. The Register states that of the men once employed by the Western Stage Company, one was in 1872 a prominent member of the Iowa Senate; another, who was said to have driven the first stage to Des Moines, held for many years an important office under the government; was a railroad builder on a gigantic scale; and one who drove stage in Ohio afterwards became Governor of Iowa. A Typical Stage-Driver. Before we turn from "the vanishing stage-coach," let us stop long enough to fix well in mind a type of the man on the box — the picturesque stage-driver of the Fifties and early Sixties. In a paper, on early immigration in Iowa, read by James B. Weaver. Jr., before the Prairie Club of Des Moines in March; 191 1, the author incidentally told the story of Martin Burke — a stage-driver turned farmer — from which the following is a part: 120 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY "He was very short and uncommonly red. Save for a white line where the hat crossed the upper forehead, a ruddy brilliance pervaded every nook and cranny of a face seamed by the pencilings of fifty-eight years lived in the open. The driver's box on a prairie stage in Iowa in the late Fifties had power to fix that color as a permanent pigment. . . . "On a certain day in 1855 what were known as the Frink & Walker stage company lines, operating between Keokuk, Des Moines and Dubuque, brought thirty empty four-horse coaches, with a driver for each, to Knoxville, Illi nois. Thence they were driven overland, fifteen going to Burlington and fifteen to Muscatine for service on what were then the well-nigh pathless prairies of Iowa. Burke, then twenty-five years old, was one of these drivers. Colonel Hooker, whom some of you will remember, was superintendent of the company. From Burlington some of the coaches were driven up the Des Moines valley to Fort Des Moines. Burke went with the Muscatine contingent; but, home sick for some of his pals in the other company, at once worked his way over to Fort Des Moines, and entered as driver in Colonel Hooker's company. His route was from Fort Des Moines to Fort Dodge. Upon that route, save for a service of two years between Des Moines and Indianola, Burke drove from 1855 to 1867. "A list of his passengers would include practically all the names of pioneer Des Moines — Jeff Polk, Barlow Granger, Phineas Casady, Dan Finch, Billy Moore, Frank Allen, Fred Hubbell, Cyrus Carpenter, John Duncombe, John A. Kasson, 'Timber' Woods, Judge McFarland, Judge Cole, and all the rest of that interesting and adventurous company that laid the foundation of our social structure in and about this city "I cannot stop to tell you the many tales he told me of pioneer conditions along her stage routes. Many there were, and good to hear, — amusing tales some of them, such as that of one Bowman, of Boone, who, arrested on Sat urday and fined for intoxication, and being again arrested on a similar charge on Monday following, plead successfully one continuous drunk and his constitu tional exemption to being twice put in jeopardy for the same offence; or, again, how drug-store whisky in the old stage days, being only purchasable with something else, the compound to be used for medicinal purposes, resulted in numerous commissions to Burke from the boys along the route whereby his pockets would bulge with bottles of whisky and packages of soda, presumably for spavined stage-horses — whisky that found its proper destination, and soda that begot a trail of soda biscuit the whole length of the route. O, those were rough, rollicking days along the blue-stem trails, days full of hardship and comradeship, of appetites bred of the open air and of that fine hospitality born of true democratic conditions ! They left on Burke their picturesque impress — a kind of atmosphere of sufficiency in the solving of difficulties, born of the days when the little red-faced Irishman rode at the helm of his swaying prairie schooner — his four-horse coach with all its precious cargoes, bringing to bear on its problems of blizzard, torrent, mire or fractious leaders, the lessons learned in the rough school of experience." The veteran stage-driver grew in dignity and repose as the weight of years came upon him. His was "the repose of simplicity, frankness, deep feeling, and the habit of reserve." Burke lived to achieve the regard of all his neigh bors ; "had for twenty years been elected constable and trustee of the township, which was of opposite political faith ; had earned a livelihood for a family of substantial numbers, had reared his boys to lives of industry and integrity, and bound the family together — parents and children — by bonds of deepest affection." And when he was gone, after seventy-eight active years, there was profound sorrow in the little home on the farm in Bell Point Woods. COL. HOOKER'S STAGE COACH CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 121 The Man Behind the Box. The man behind the box — the superintendent of the Frink & Walker stage line — deserves a passing tribute. "Colonel" Hooker — Edward Foster Hooker, a cousin of General Hooker, and a descendant of the Hookers who founded the city of Hartford, was for years a conspicuous figure in Fort Des Moines — a fine specimen of the old-school gentleman. His beautiful gray hair and beard gave added dignity to his commanding presence. In 1850, he became general'agent of the Ohio Stage Company. In 1855, Frink & Walker sold their Iowa lines to the Western Stage Company. Colonel Hooker was a passenger in the first of the new company's coaches, and on alighting in Fort Des Moines, July 1, he at once entered upon his duties as general manager of the company's Iowa lines. A small frame building on Third street, near Walnut was his first headquarters and home. Later he built a substantial brick dwelling, facing Locust street, on the present Savery House block. The company's headquarters were in the Everett House building. Its activities added much to the pros perity of the town. During the war, and before the advent of railroads, the stage-coaches were in great demand. In 1870, overtaken by the railroads, the company sold to the Ben Holliday Overland Stage Company. Four years later the last coach was shipped by rail to Omaha. His occupation gone, the Colonel moved on, accepting the position of manager of the California-Oregon Stage Company. Five years later he was again overtaken by the iron-horse. There being no farther west for the stage-coach, the Colonel surrendered to the ad vance guard of civilization, accepting the general agency of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company in San Francisco. Four years later, he became General Live Stock Agent of that road, remaining in that position until his death. Colonel Hooker's open-handed hospitality is one of the pleasing traditions of Des Moines. His ability to meet emergencies was tested on many an occasion. His relations with the small army of men in the company's employ were marked by firmness and kindness. The Colonel spent much time riding from point to point, inspecting the line, the teams and the driver. He was a good buyer of horses and kept his coaches supplied with strong, well-matched teams. His knowledge of live stock and of western conditions and his wide acquaintance with western stockmen were of invaluable service to the Rock Island road. He died in 1896, at the age of 83. Many old friends of the Fifties and Sixties attended his funeral. The line of carriages to the cemetery was headed with an old stage-coach, and two old stage-drivers, John Burgess and Fred Kromer sat on the box. CHAPTER XIV. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION IN FORT DES MOINES. The medical profession in Polk county in the Forties and Fifties included two men of marked individuality and state-wide reputation, A. Y. Hull and T. K. Brooks. Dr. Hull might easily be regarded by the reader of the. pioneer press as a doctor in name only, but in fact a land speculator, promoter, journalist, politician and legislator. But, fortunately, a brief sketch has come down to us of a pioneer medical society in 185 1, of which he was the organizing mind and first president, and, in the newspaper publishing the sketch is an address delivered by Dr. Hull on "The Wants of the Medical Profession," which reveals the same broad view apparent in his published speech in the Senate on the re location of the Capitol. Dr. Thomas K. Brooks was a doctor and more than a doctor. When he died, February 28, 1868, the General Assembly adjourned over one day in respect to his memory. Members of both bodies attended his funeral. Dr. Howe, first editor of the Annals of Iowa, credited Dr. Brooks with rare quali ties of soul, "by whose death Iowa lost one of her most public-spirited and valuable private citizens." 1 Dr. A. Y. Hull, like Dr. Brooks, more politician and public servant than practitioner, by reason of the many calls upon men of brains and education to public service in the early life of the community and county, was nevertheless a physician of large experience and was keenly interested in all that pertained to the practice of his profession. His early success in booming the town of Lafayette, with the utter obliteration of the town by the flood of '51, has else where been related. His career as journalist anti as legislator has also been separately outlined. He was a man of rare versatility and much brain-force. Had he been content to practice his profession, his career would not have been written so large in these pages ; but possibly he might have served his age with more of real satisfaction to himself and benefit to others. Other physicians of the pioneer period in Fort Des Moines were Henry Grimmel. D. V. Cole, H. H. Saylor, Alexander Shaw. A. M. Overman, David Tisdale, H. L. Whitman, W. H. Ward, J. C. Allen, and B. L. Steele. All except Dr. Ward long since passed away — and all died in Des Moines except Drs. Shaw, Cole and Overman. Dr. Shaw early retired from practice and took an active part in the management of the Iowa State Fair. At the time of his death he was secretary of the Agricultural Society of Colorado. Dr. Ward several years ago removed to Arizona and later to Los Angeles, Calif. Dr. Davis was an able and successful physician. He dabbled some in pol itics, and for a time served Polk county in the legislature. He was an army surgeon in the Civil War. He died in 1867. Ilr Pierce B. Fagen is another pioneer physician whose name appears in many places in the chronicles of old Fort Des Moines. Fle "came to town" in June, 1846, soon following Dr. Brooks. Fle came with the prestige of suc cessful experience in medical colleges and hospitals in St. Louis and Cincinnati. He and Mr. Casady came to the Fort together, and for two years or more the two were room-mates and occupied an office together. In 1848, it so happened 1 In the Annals of Iowa, April, 1870. 122 DR. A. Y. HULL Pioneer Physician, Editor and Legislator DR. FRANCIS C. GRIMMEL Pioneer Physician DR. H. L. WHITMAN Pioneer Physician DR. T. K. BROOKS Pioneer Physician, Promoter and Legislator CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 123 that Fagen was nominated for State Senator on the Whig ticket and Casady on the democratic ticket. They good-naturedly made the canvass together. One of the traditions of the campaign was that the lawyer's friends insisted that health was the first consideration and that, while the lawyer could be spared, the doctor was needed at home ! The district so voted, though the doctor re ceived a large vote in his own county. In this connection it is noteworthy that when the crisis came as to the location of the county seat, Senator Casady was glad to see "Tom" Mitchell and Doctor Fagen ride into Iowa City to help him in his efforts to secure the prize for Fort Des Moines. The great social events in Fort Des Moines in the Forties were the two weddings which disposed of the bachelor chums, Casady and Fagen. At the Casady-Grimmel wedding, in the fall of '47, Fagen acted as "best man," — though he was a rival of the groom for the senatorship. Some one proposed a poll of the wedding party for senator, and the Doctor won out by a handsome majority, all the girls voting against Casady because he had broken their charmed circle of girls ! The moral effect of the vote was lost on the grooms man and the bridesmaid, for in November, 1849, the Hoxie home,, near the southwest corner of Twelfth and Walnut streets, was the scene of another society event, the marriage of Dr. Fagen and Melissa Hoxie. "Among the out-of-town guests" were Tom Mitchell and Charley Van, "the latter coming with an ox -team." Mr. Andrews relates 2 that "while the wedding ceremony was on, a terrific storm came, compelling the guests to remain through the night — -some for several days. The house was packed. It was an unique affair, replete with all the jollity Charley Van could concoct to 'kill time.' " In 1852, Dr. Fagen removed to Santa Cruz, California. Mention has already been made of Dr. Francis Grimmel. The Doctor was a typical frontiersman, — a physician and everything else to his community. His drug store, on the corner of Sixth and Grand, was a business and political center and his home a center of church and social activities. His residence in Des Moines extended from 1846 to 1862. He was a man of winning face and manner and of large sympathies and correspondingly extended influence. The Doctor and his wife and five children came from Ohio overland, bring ing with them in four wagons drawn by ten horses all their movable house hold goods and a small stock of drugs. "He arrived here late at night, Octo ber 15, having to ford the river between Grand Avenue and Walnut street, there being no bridges.3 There was not a place for them to unload, and they camped out. The next morning, the only vacant or available place to be had was the large, oblong, log Guard House used by the soldiers. . . . The house was divided into two compartments about fourteen feet square, with small iron-barred windows. The chinking between the logs had broken away, and, to make it endurable, the wagon covers were fastened to the walls. The winter was severe. . . . The mercury fell to 36 below zero; many cattle and hogs froze to death. . . . Provisions were scarce and there was much suffering. . . . The Doctor's family got out of meat. Dr. Brooks came over one day to make a friendly visit, . . . and discovered the paucity of their larder, and . .' at evening brought a quarter of beef. There was no place inside to put it. There were seven persons and a drug store in two small rooms. ... It was hung on the outside wall, where it was cut from daily as wanted." After a hard winter, Dr. Grimmel bought a government ware house on the east side, moved it to what is now Sixth avenue near Grand, on the site of the old Catholic school, and with the material made a temporary drug store and home for his family. Meantime, he built a home on the hill to the north, on an eighty-acre claim. In the fall the family removed into the new home. In default of plastering, cloth was fastened to the walls and ceil ings, and here their second winter was passed in the first timber dwelling-house 2 Pioneers of Polk County, Part I, p. go. 3 Andrews — Pioneers of Polk County, v. 1, p. 85. 124 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY in Fort Des Moines. The Grimmel dwelling was burned in 1889; the hill was cut down and St. Ambrose Catholic church was erected on the site of this his toric home. The Doctor having acquired a competency, in 1855, retired from active business. He next busied himself with the erection of a mansion on the hill, corner of Sixth Avenue and Park street, where the Victoria Hotel now stands.4 Here he resided until his death in 1862. The convention of doctors held in Fort Des Moines October 24, 1851, though attended by only six physicians, marks an important event in the history of Polk county.5 It brought together at the county seat the widely scattered physi cians and surgeons of the county and organized them for conference and future harmonious action. Dr. A. Y. Hull of Lafayette, Camp township, was called to the chair and Dr. A. L. Gray was made secretary. Drs. Cole, Murdock and Plumley were appointed a committee to report a constitution. Drs. Huntsman, Gray and Collet were named a. committee to report a code of ethics by which the society should be governed in practice. The constitution named the association The Polk County Medical Society, and fixed upon quarterly meetings at the county seat. Any regular graduate in good standing could become a member "on pre sentation of his diploma from any respectable medical college, or a license from any respectable medical society, or upon the recommendation of the board of censors, and the payment of the initiation fee of one dollar." Any member who should "procure a patent for a remedy or instrument of surgery," or who should prescribe "a medicine without knowing its composi tion," or who should thereafter give "a certificate in favor of a patent remedy, or be guilty of any dishonorable conduct" was subject to expulsion by a majority vote of members present. A. Y. Hull was elected president, D. V. Cole vice president, Dr. Huntsman, of Lafayette, secretary and treasurer. The code of the National Medical Society was adopted until the committee should report on code. Drs. Cole, Murdock and Collet were appointed a committee to report, at the next meeting, on "the causes that depress the profession in Polk county." Following is the brief list of charter members : Drs. Hull, of Lafayette, Cole and Huntsman of Fort Des Moines, and Collet, Gray and Plumley of Hartford. In the Star of October 16, an irreverent pen gives an exaggerated suggestion of the difficulty of agreeing upon a code of ethics at that early date. The anonymous writer has seen, during the past summer, enough of the lack of "dignity" to blast the reputation of any set of physicians! He refers to con sultations generally ending in a "row," with the use of choice epithets ! He hopes the association will persevere in its purpose to elevate the practice. At the next meeting of the doctors, January 30, 1852, Drs. H. C. Grimmel and J. J. Sanders were elected members of the society : Secretary Huntsman's report 8 denied the public all information as to the causes of depression in the practice, as to the code of ethics reported, and as to fee bill. The fee-bill reported was adopted with some revisions. The report on the causes of de pression apparently did not satisfy, for the subject was referred to a new com mittee who were instructed to revise and report. Dr. Hull, president of the society, read a paper on "The Wants of the Med ical Profession." It is interesting to follow this pioneer physician and publicist through his brief presentment. The preeminent want of the medical world Dr. Hull found to be a "corps of competent physicians, men for whom nature had done much, and who pos sessed a liberal preparatory and thorough medical education." 4 Known long afterwards as "the General Tuttle Mansion." 0 State Journal, Fort Des Moines, October 25, 1851. 6 In the Journal of February 12, 1852. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 125 Another deficiency noted was "the lack of healthy discriminating tone in public sentiment, to the end that the ability of the competent physician may be fully appreciated." Too loose reign was given to "medicasters," who were virtually authorized by law "to go forth on their errand of death." Iowa was declared to be one of the States in which the practice was not regulated by law. In his view judicious laws would tend to relieve their crippled profession and save communities from incalculable mischief. Another want was harmony among the members of the profession. "Jars, schisms, strifes, animosities and bickerings" stood as "imperishable monuments of their shame and deep degradation." "Physicians, of all men, should earnestly cultivate intimate and confidential relations with each other, and the only rivalry that they should countenance should be to see who could become best acquainted with the true science of medicine, and to strive to occupy the highest and most extended sphere of usefulness, in their respective circles." He saw lasting benefits shadowed forth in the new organization. In the Journal of March 4, '52, appears the long debated "Code of Medical Ethics" adopted by the Polk County Medical Society. 1. It declares for the observance of secrecy and delicacy in the relations of physicians with their patients. 2. It would avoid' all visits beyond those necessary to the good of the patient.. 3. It deplores gloomy prognostications, or the urging of the importance of one's services, but advises timely notice of danger to the friends and, when safe, to the patient himself. 4. It recommends consultations in difficult and protracted cases. 5. It counsels kindness, and generous allowance for the mental debility of the patient. 6. It was regarded as highly derogatory to the dignity of the profession to resort to public advertising, calling the attention of those afflicted with par ticular diseases, offering advice to the poor gratis, promising radical cures, pub lishing cases and operations, etc. 7. When called to see another physician's patient, the code prescribes that the physician should make his prescriptions to palliate or temporarily relieve the patient until the attending physician .resumes his charge of the case. 8. It maintains that, ordinarly, the physician called in should make no charge against the patient. 9. It declares that no charge should be made for attendance on another physician's family: but the other physician, if able, should remunerate him as he is able. 10. Comments to the disparagement of another physician's treatment it declares to be "a base violation of [the code of] a gentleman." The remaining sections are in substance as follows : 11. A physician should not take charge of another's patient, unless in con sultation, or on relinquishment of the case, or a due notification that the other's services have been dispensed with. In such case, he should make no reflections on his predecessor. 12. General resume. 13. Consult only with regular physicians. 14. In consultations observe respect for others' judgments. 15. After examination retire for interchange of opinions — Consultations to be secret and confidential. 16. Consultation . concluded, the consulting physician should attend no more unless solicited. The paper was signed by A. L. Gray, committee on publication. Whether this pioneer medical society died of too much code and rate-bill, or the subsequent proceedings ceased to interest the press, the fact remains that no further reports of its meetings are to be found in the Star, the Times or the Journal. CHAPTER XV. THE PIONEER COURTS OF FORT DES MOINES. The territory of Iowa was divided into three judicial districts. Polk county was in the second, with Joseph Williams, of Burlington and Muscatine, as district judge. Judge Williams was doubtless as eccentric as any man ever elevated to the bench. He was a Methodist, a Democrat, a prince among good fellows, and, withal, a wise and just judge. Judge Wright, himself a delightful reconteur, was wont to pronounce Judge Williams the best story-teller he ever knew. He could lead a class-meeting, address a Sunday-school, sing a rollicking song, play a fiddle, flute or fife, and charge a jury with equal ease. He was not a great lawyer but made an acceptable judge. Judge Samuel F. Miller, years afterwards, at the opening of the Supreme Court room at the Capitol in Des Moines, remarked that "because of his peculiarities and great love of social life," Judge Williams was never properly appreciated by the bar, adding that "his opinions would show a clear head, an honest heart, and the able judge." His propensity to joke followed him even into the court-room. He seldom let pass an opportunity to create a laugh, in court or anywhere else. Judge Wright was present at his funeral, and was deeply impressed with the affection in which his memory was held. While "he had his faults," Judge Wright did not hesitate to say that "he was, nevertheless, useful beyond most of his com peers," and "helpful to the state far more than many of his critics and fault finders." 1 Judge Williams was a Pennsylvanian and owed his appointment, by President Van Buren, to the influence of the Pennsylvania jurist and statesman, Jere miah S. Black. He was 37 years old when, in 1838, he entered upon his duties in the Territory of Iowa. He served until the territory was admitted as a State, when Governor Briggs appointed him Chief Justice. He was afterwards elected to that office by the General Assembly and served for six years, retaining his popularity to the last, but never taking high rank as a jurist.2 The Judge held his first term of the United States District Court in Fort Des Moines, in April, 1846. There was no court house, not even a court room, to receive him. The Board of County Commissioners met the situation by order ing "that No. 26, occupied by Miss Davis as a school room, be vacated for the approaching session." Number 26 was one of the log cabins erected in 1843 for the use of the garrison. Judge Williams' reputation has as many lights and shades as there were lawyers to pass judgment upon him. A kindly critic was the Hon. Samuel Mur dock, of Garnavillo, Iowa. In "Early Courts of Iowa,"3 Judge Murdock re ferred to Judge Williams as "distinguished above all others in those early days 1 State Piar Association Report, 1895, p. 35. 2 In 1857 Judge Williams was appointed bv President Buchanan, District Judge of the Territory of Kansas. During Lincoln's administration he was appointed United States District Judge for Tennessee. He died at Fort Scott, Kas., in March, 1871. He was a younger brother of Major William Williams, founder of Fort Dodge and commander of the Spirit Lake relief expedition. See Gue's History of Iowa, v. 4, p. 287. 3 A paper read by Judge Murdock before the Pioneer Lawmakers' Association, in Des Moines, February 28, 1890. 126 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 127 for his humor, his wit, and for his musical talent, which, in spite of himself and the dignity of his office, led him to mingle in all crowds as a hail fellow well met." "Yet," he adds, "we must not judge from this part of his history that he was dissipated or that he encouraged dissipation in others ; far. from it, for during our long acquaintance with him we never saw him intoxicated, and he allowed no man to become his peer in the practice and dignity of a gentleman. He was not a profound lawyer, but he had the quickness and sagacity to see the right of every question, as well as the courage and the manhood to seize upon it and declare his convictions, irrespective of parties or favorites, and it was these qualities that made him a most popular judge." Judge Williams' court remained in session only three days, and the business transacted was of a formal and perfunctory nature. The clerk of the court was Perry L. Crossman.4 The sheriff was Thomas Mitchell, elected by the voters of Polk at their first county election in the spring of '46. The general govern ment was represented by Thomas Baker, U. S. District Attorney, and John B. Lash, U. S. Marshal. The first procedure was a venire directing the sheriff to "summon twenty-three good and lawful men to appear forthwith before said court "to act as grand jurors in and for said county." 5 The following well known pioneers of Polk county were named in Sheriff Mitchell's return: William Lamb, Benjamin Saylor, John B. Scott, Peter Newcomer, Samuel Dille, Newton Lamb, John Baird, Thomas McMullen, George B. Warden, Jeremiah Church, J. M. Thrift, Shaden Wellman, Samuel Oxford, A, Bronson, Samuel Shafer, G. B. Clark, W. W. Clapp, W. F. Ayers, J. D. Parmelee, James Davis, J. J. Mildrum, and Thomas Leonard. Though the venire called for twenty-three jurors, the return shows only twenty-two; and not until the third day of the session, was Sheriff Mitchell able to produce his twenty-two men. The jury was duly empaneled, charged, sworn, and turned over to Lewis Whitten, bailiff. The jurymen retired to consider. Matters coming up for con sideration were few, and unimportant. After due deliberation the jury re turned into court and announced that they had no true bills to bring in — "ex cept for their fees." They were discharged, and the court adjourned. There being no official seal of the county, the court, on the first day of the term, ordered "that the eagle side of a twenty-five cent piece of the American coin" should be "the temporary seal of said court, in and for the said County of Polk," until a proper seal could be provided. Jeremiah Church, one of the jury says in his journal that the jurymen were "an uncouth and barbarous looking set;" that he "felt constrained to apologize to the Judge for their rough appearance" — "but," says Mr. Turrill, in his Rem iniscences.. "Mr. Church does not state whether his habiliments were alto gether up to the dignity of a grand juror or not. Judge Williams wisely re marked that men might have clean hearts under dirty 1 shirts; and that in a new country every allowance was to be made for personal attire and appearance." In September, Judge Williams held his second term at the county seat of Polk. The grand jurors were J. B. Mallet, John Thompson, George Moggs, John Q. 'Deacon, James Campbell, Alexander Sumner, Norman Ballard, S. K. Scovell, T. H. Napier, W. H. Meacham, Samuel Vanatta, William Lamb, Benja min Saylor, T. K. Brooks, Samuel Shafer, Samuel Kellogg. The petit jurors were: Samuel Dille, Aaron Coppick, G. B. Clark, James White, John Parrott, Thomas Morris, George Rives, Eli Smithson, Alfred Bowman, Benjamin Fred erick, Lincoln Ballard and John Rose. Among the jurors in the lists published will be observed the names of sev eral of the most influential pioneers of the upper Des Moines valley — men who afterwards became part of the history of Polk county and of the State of Iowa. There were several cases on the docket at the September term. As this is 4 Afterwards a resident of Newton, Jasper county. 5 The original copy of the proceedings of the term, made with a lead pencil somehow came into the possession of Barlow Granger. 128 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY the beginning of the yet 'unwritten history of litigation in Polk county, even the titles of the cases command a passing notice. William Lamb, a grand juror in April, is in September defendant in a case brought by John Ross. Addison Michael 'brings suit against George Dille. William F Ayers, another April grand juryman, and first treasurer of Polk county, is defendant in a case brought by the United States. Robert A. Kinzie, sutler to the garrison in 1843, is sued by Edwin Manning. "Tom" Mitchell, pioneer sheriff, is sued by John T. Mel- drum. Among the other cases docketed are Owen Osborne vs. W. M. Cut- tingham, Jonas Hoover vs. Peter C. Woodward and Samuel McClelland vs. Joseph Ehle. The United States is docketed as plaintiff against William Lamb, George Kooney, Thomas Henderson and Benjamin Bryant, — the last-named, the first man to secure a marriage license in Polk county, and pioneer treasurer of the county. The vindication of these well known defendants is found in the refusal of the Grand Jury to indict them. William D. Frazee was admitted to the bar, the first of record in the county. Clerk Crossman early resigned his position, and A. D. Jones was named to succeed him. At this term of court appeared Phineas M. Casady, then 28 years of age, an applicant for admission to the bar. Having produced in court a certificate of admission to practice law in the Circuit and Superior court in Indiana, and "having been found, upon examination, in all respects qualified," on motion of District Attorney Baker, he was "admitted and licensed to practice as an attor ney and counselor at law and solicitor in chancery." Whereupon Mr. Casady appeared in open court and took the oath, and then 'and there began a career which is written large in the future history of Polk county. The term closed on the first day of October. The third term was held in May, 1847, with J- R Carleton on the bench. Passing over the unimportant details of the session, we should note the admission to the bar of three attor neys who afterwards became prominent in city and county, namely: William McKay, Robert L. Frederick, and A. D. Jones. The fourth or fall term was comparatively unimportant. Judge Cyrus Ol ney presided as a substitute for Judge Carleton. The two terms of the year 1848 were also presided over by Judge Olney. The judicial record of Polk county begins with the year 1849. The con stitution of the new State of Iowa placed the county in the Fifth judicial dis trict, with nearly all northwestern Iowa included. As the outlying region was sparsely settled, Fort Des Moines was judicial headquarters for the district. At the April election in 1849, tne new-fledged attorney, William McKay, was elected district judge. Though a whig he ran as an independent. Judge McKay held the office until the spring of 1854. He was 'renominated by the whigs, but party spirit ran high and he was defeated. A local candidate for the governorship, Curtis Bates, stirred the democrats of the county with ambition to make Fort Des Moines the political headquarters of the State. Know-nothing-ism was a word to conjure with against the Whigs. For the first time in the history of the community, the East side was arrayed against the West, confusing political issues. And, more than that, the democrats of the county nominated against Judge McKay their most popular man, P. M. Casady. Mr. Casady had no ambition for the judgeship, but amiably consented to run as a party necessity. Judge McKay returned to the practice of the law. He was soon elected commissioner of the Des Moines River Improvement. This position gave him opportunities for investment which turned out fortunately.6 Judge McKay was a leader among the Baptists, and in 1851 assisted in organizing the Baptist Church in Fort Des Moines. He was a staunch teetotaler and a charter member of the North Star Lodge of Good Templars, organized in 1852. He was the "In 1857 Judge McKay removed to Kansas where, in 1859, he died. JUDGE W. W. WILLIAMSON Pioneer Jurist, Editor and Whig Leader JUDGE CURTIS BATES Pioneer Jurist and Editor — Defeated for the Governorship by Grimes in 1854 JUDGE BYRON RICE Pioneer School Teacher, Lawyer and Banker JUDGE C. J. McEARLAND Pioneer Legislator and Judge ROBERT L. TIDRICK Pioneer Lawyer and Publicist BARLOW GRANGER Pioneer Lawyer, Editor and Politician GROUP OP PIONEER LAWYERS CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 129 first Senior Warden of Fort Des Moines Lodge, No. 26, I. O. of O. F., or ganized in 1850. He was active in the organization of the State Agricultural Society in 1853, and was elected one of the three directors representing Polk county. It is difficult to describe the successor to Judge McKay without violating the spirit of the ancient maxim, "Speak not ill of the dead." That a man so capable, so attractive, and withal so well-intentioned, should so far lose sight of the proprieties of his profession and the dignity of the judicial office as to- preside over a court of justice while under the influence of liquor and in that condition undertake the trial of causes involving property rights, personal rep utation and even life itself, is hardly conceivable under the strict moral code of the legal profession to-day. Cave J. McFarland came from Ohio to Iowa and in 185 1 represented Lee county in the General Assembly. When Senator Casady's bill to create the Fifth Judicial District came before the lower house, McFarland opposed it pronouncing it "a scheme to give some poor lawyer up at Des Moines a salary of a thousand dollars a year as judge." Fortunately for him, the bill became a law despite his opposition. In '53 McFarland located in Boonsboro where he soon acquired an influence and a good practice. Not long after his election over McKay, Judge Casady was tendered by President Pierce, the office of Receiver of the U. S. Land Office, with headquarters in Fort Des Moines. As the office paid several times more than the judgeship, he resigned without hold ing a single term of court, much to the regret of the bar of the district and of the public generally, regardless of party. Governor Hempstead, ignoring the claims of Daniel O. Finch, to recognition, and the recommendations of the democratic members of the bar, appointed as Judge Casady's successor the Boonsboro lawyer who had previously, as a member of the legislature, opposed the creation of a court in Polk county! The "reason" the governor gave for the appointment was that McFarland had the next highest number of votes in the convention which nominated Casady. But the district was not disposed to ratify the Governor's appointment. In the next district convention of the democratic party Polk county was solid for Curtis Bates, Boone for McFarland, Marion for George May. By this time, the whigs began to "feel their oats." They nominated against McFarland William W. Williamson, of Fort Des Moines, an able lawyer and vigorous fighter. The canvass was lively on both sides. The voting precincts in the outlying counties had not been legally defined, and the voters came to gether whenever and wherever they pleased and sent in their returns as they pleased. The election was held April 2, 1855. The election of Williamson, by a small majority, was contested by the Boone contingent under the vigorous leadership of John Hull. The votes were re counted, and, as had been predicted, the canvassers found that the returns from the outlying region had been sent in without the oaths, or even the signatures, of judges of election, and without official designation of the precincts in which they were cast. Several votes returned for Williamson were found to have been cast outside the district, some of them even in Minnesota! The Board threw out these unlawful votes, thus giving McFarland a majority of one. But one of the votes cast for McFarland was cast "by proxy for a county that had no legal existence." The whigs appealed to the Supreme court; but that body affirmed the decision of the canvassing board, on the ground that no fraudulent action had been shown and that the intent and purpose of the voter in every case must be accepted ! Thus, after a prolonged and bitter contest, McFarland was given the benefit of the doubt, and was declared duly elected. Judge McFarland was possessed of a splendid physique, erect, muscular, fully six feet in height, and weighing nearly 200 pounds. He was well dressed, and, as his pictures show, possessed of a long black beard. He has been de- 130 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY scribed 7 as "fearless, dissipated, humorous, kind-hearted, sympathetic and reck less; had many faults, yet many virtues, which, with those knowing him best, outweighed his frailties. As a judge, he was eminently just, ever inclined to disregard the letter of the law if thereby exact justice could be obtained. . . ." Judge McFarland served the district about five years. During the latter part of his full term the vast empire to the north and northwest originally included in the district was lopped off. Among the many stories which have survived this eccentric man's career on the bench, perhaps the one which comes from Marion county best illustrates his original way of cutting the Gordian knots of jurisprudence. A lawyer brought into court a score or more of witnesses for his client, plaintiff in a di vorce case. Judge McFarland asked the lawyer why he had so many witnesses. The ready reply was, "To prove the allegations in our petition." The judge, with a sweep of the hand, said, "Take your decree: / know the defendant." But what of Fort Des Moines and the Supreme Court of Iowa? Fort Des Moines began to feel the symptoms of coming -greatness when the Third General Assembly enacted a law, approved February 5, 1851, includ ing Fort Des Moines in the circuit of the Supreme Court of Iowa. The law declared that a term of the Supreme Court should be "holden in Fort Des Moines, in the county of Polk, in this State, on the first Monday of November, 1851, and anually thereafter." In pursuance of that law, Joseph Williams, Chief Justice, and John F. Kin ney and George Greene, Judges, held court in "Fort Des Moine" in Novem ber, 1 85 1. There were ten cases tried, none of them of first importance, one appealed from Appanoose, another from Dallas, and all the rest from Polk. The only local attorneys of record in these cases were Perry & Curtis, Casady & Tidrick and Madison Young. By an act approved January 22, 1853, the Supreme Court, for a time "on wheels," was directed to hold its terms "at the capital of the State, and at no other place." The first term was to be held on the first Monday in June, and the second on the first Monday in December. Under this law, in '58, the Su preme Court moved over from Iowa City to Des Moines with the other depart ments of State. 7 Andrews — Pioneers of Polk County, v. 1, p. 451. CHAPTER XVI. THE BAR OF FORT DES MOINES. In the roll of attorneys admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Iowa in 1847,1 there was not a single attorney credited to Polk county. Two years later, there was no dearth of lawyers at the county seat of Polk. In the initial number of the Star, that paper concludes its summary of advan tages possessed by Fort Des Moines with ironical exultation over the fact that the town could already boast twenty-nine lawyers ! The Journal of September 12, 1852, mentions seventy-two cases on the docket in Judge McKay's court, and refers to the rapid dispatch of court busi ness, facetiously adding that there were "only about thirty lawyers from our own county in attendance!" The Code of 185 1, with its many complexities, was a veritable godsend to the pioneers of the Polk county bar. The varying interpretations of the new code gave rise to much litigation. The Journal of September 19, '51, reports the adjournment of the District Court on the previous Saturday, and remarks on the unusual number of cases which would be taken up to the Supreme Court, some of them "in order to settle points arising under the Code." In another issue the Journal joins with the Iowa Observer in surprise "that as learned men in the law as Judge Mason, Governor Hempstead and Mr. Woodward should commit such glaring blunders, and should impose upon the legislature and the people a code so ill-adapted to the wants and circumstances of the people." But, with the more than ample supply of lawyers in Fort Des Moines the- embarrassing complications following the issuance of that remark able body of laws were regarded as not wholly without attendant advantages ! That the Journal presented but one side of the question raised by the new Code is evident from the mature judgment of Hon. Horace E. Deemer, of the Supreme Court of Iowa, who, referring to the Iowa Civil Code of 185 1, which was made the basis of laws in Nebraska, declared it to be "one of the best ar ranged, most systematic and thoroughly considered" codes ever enacted. Judge Deemer adds : "It was largely the handiwork of the then Chief Justice of Iowa, Charles Mason, one of the most learned and scholarly men who ever graced a seat upon any bench." 2 The bar of Fort Des Moines included many well-known names, — among the best known, Casady, Williamson, Young, Granger, Dawson, the McHenrys, (M. D. and W. H.),3 Finch, Nourse, Polk, Cole, Kasson, Crocker, White, Phil lips, Withrow, Wright, Ingersoll, Sibley, Brown and Maxwell. Many of these lawyers developed careers extending far into the later history of Des Moines. Major Hoyt Sherman, in a reminiscent talk before the Early Settlers in the Nineties, pictured the District Court held in the spring and fall in the late For ties. He said the litigation of the period consisted of hog cases, rival timber claims and minor differences between neighbors. Judge Wright, then of Keo- sauqua, Judge Seevers, and Enoch W. Eastman, of Oskaloosa, were frequently 1 Printed in Morris's Iowa Reports. 2 Deemer — The Part of Iowa Men in the Organization of Nebraska. Annals of Iowa, October, 1909. 3 The two McHenrys were distantly related. 131 132 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY called in to assist local attorneys in trying causes, and the Major remarked that they usually left little for the local attorneys ! One of the, early deaths among the pioneers of the Fort Des Moines bar was that of Luther D. Johnson, on the 22d of August, 1850. A meeting of the bar of Fort Des Moines was held September 5, with P. M. Casady president, and J. E. Jewett, secretary, at which resolutions were passed expressing the general sense of loss and the keen appreciation of the living for the dead. The funeral of iEmilius T. Reynolds, member of the District Court of Polk county, August 7, 185 1, was attended by the members of the bar of Fort Des Moines, and of Pioneer Lodge of Masons. Rev. Thompson Bird delivered the funeral sermon, which by request was published in the Star of August 14 — a discourse which reveals the strength of this pioneer preacher. Of Judge Bates, Barlow Granger, Judge Casady and other members of the early bar much has been said already. These men with abundant mental re sources, saw so much that needed to be done outside their practice in the courts that they became of necessity publicists, promoters and, in the best sense of the term, politicians. James M. Ellwood, a substantial member of the bar, was too available as a candidate to be permitted to practice undisturbed in the courts. "Old Facts and Figures" as the Whigs derisively called him was an honor to the bar. Tallmadge E. Brown, an indefatigable worker, an able advocate and a good citizen, is a memory well worth preserving. Jefferson S. Polk and Frederick M. Hubbell — names inevitably associated with the history of Des Moines — were widely known as able lawyers ; but oppor tunities in business and in the promotion of the material interests of Des Moines proved too tempting and they became known as successful financiers rather than as attorneys. But their thorough knowledge of business law contributed greatly to their success as organizers and to the success of corporations of which they, together and individually, were the organizing and controlling minds. C. C. Nourse was a brilliant member of the early bar. He was attorney- general of Iowa for two terms, and on the death of Judge Gray was appointed his successor and was afterwards elected to that position. In August, 1866, he resigned, and was succeeded by H. W. Maxwell, of Indianola, then prose cutor for the district. The Judge still survives his era and is completing an autobiography which will be an invaluable addition to the political history of the State. Daniel O. Finch was one of the most eloquent jury lawyers among the members of the early bar. His glory as a lawyer was bedimmed somewhat by his successes as a political campaigner. Unfortunately for him politically, his party, once dominant in Iowa, went into a minority early in his career and never fully regained its former prestige. Mr. Finch bravely led one forlorn hope after another in politics, losing valuable time and expending hard-earned money, and was never adequately rewarded for his sacrifices. Marcellus M. Crocker's greatness as a lawyer is overshadowed by his fame as a soldier. Coming to Des Moines in 1854, he became a law partner of Mr. Finch. Defeated by John H. Gray in his ambition to be district judge in 1858, he practiced law in partnership with P. M. Casady and J. S. Polk until the early spring of 1861, when he sacrificed his ambition as a lawyer to his duty as a citizen. On the March to the Sea General Crocker's health began to fail and on the 26th of August, he died, at the early age of 35. They who best knew young Crocker discovered great possibilities in him, — possibilities earty threatened by the inroads of consumption. When his delicate health was mentioned to deter him from enlisting, he refused to let anything prevent him from performing what he regarded as the duty of the hour. One' of the most brilliant members of the Des Moines Bar, whose name, like that of General Crocker, is part of the nation's history, was John A. Kasson. Ambition for public service deprived him, as it has so many brilliant members CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 133 of the bar, of the satisfaction of rounding out a great career as a lawyer. From the time when President Lincoln appointed him First Assistant Postmaster- General until old age prevented him from accepting fresh honors, Mr. Kasson was honored again and again — six times by his district as its representative in Congress, and in several capacities in the diplomatic service. The preeminent service he rendered his State and its Capital city was in leading through two General Assemblies the movement for the New Capitol — the story of which movement has been told at length in a separate chapter. In Mr. Kasson's long and successful career, both as statesman and as diplomat, his early mastery of the underlying principles of the law was evident on every page of his printed speeches and state papers. W. W. Williamson, whose active participation in pioneer life has been fre quently mentioned, made two costly attempts to establish a home in Texas, but returned to Des Moines and resumed the practice of the law, regaining his for mer high position at the bar. His public spirit did not abate with the years. J. E. Jewett's career at 'the bar was broken by the war, in which as Major of the Fourth Cavalry, he won distinction. After the war he removed to Iowa City. Judge William Phillips and Judge W. H. McHenry, both prominent in later chapters on the Bar of Des Moines, began their careers away back in the early Fifties. Of Judge Cole's ability and useful public service much has been said in later pages. In his eighty-eighth year he is still practicing law and lecturing to law students, his mind clear and his reasoning convincing as of old. Stephen Sibley was an industrious, clear-headed, successful attorney who left a name honored and respected by all. M. D. McHenry, who came to Des Moines from Kentucky just before the war. was barred from political success by the fact that during his active career his party was in a hopeless minority. He was in his time a candidate for a seat on the Supreme bench and for Congress. He was an experienced and success ful lawyer, a strong supporter of temperance, deeply interested in education and in all respects public spirited. CHAPTER XVII. THE LONG CAMPAIGN FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE STATE CAPITAL 1847-1857. The extension of the western boundary of the State to the Missouri, with the rapid inrush of settlers in the Des Moines valley made apparent to the statesman of the Forties that the removal of the State Capital from Iowa City to some point in the Des Moines river valley was only a question of time. The trade relations of the influential city of Keokuk with the towns along the Des Moines, — notably the fast-growing town of Fort Des Moines, — crystallized the prevailing opinion and sentiment into political influence, and the result was a powerful combination of legislators agreed as to the wisdom of a removal to the Des Moines valley, but not entirely agreed as to the exact location of the capital in the valley. The strength of Fort Des Moines as a rival of Iowa City began to develop as early as 1846! In an address of William Penn Clarke, of Iowa City,1 to the electors of Muscatine, Johnson and Iowa counties, published in the Iowa Standard, July 20, 1 846,2 the writer frankly admits that the South and the Southwest had "not only the will, but the numerical strength" to take the Capital from Iowa City. He estimated that should the new Constitution be adopted, en larging the State westward, to the Missouri, the first General Assembly under the Constitution would give "Raccoon Forks" 12 senators and 26 representa tives, as against Iowa City's 7 senators and 13 representatives. He asks: "Are we not, then, in the hands of the Philistines? The proposed boundaries are so formed as to throw the Raccoon Forks into the center of population for the next fifty years, and the ascendency they enjoy now they will be likely to main tain for a considerable period of time. . . . Those, then, who vote for the ratification of the Constitution, do so with the almost moral certainty that the removal of the seat of government from this point will be one of the first consequences of its adoption." The animus of this surprising strength of "Raccoon Forks," a community as yet unincorporated and "not yet out of the woods" is traced by Mr. Clarke to the "increasing hostility" of the Southern portion of the Territory to Iowa City "and a determination to remove the Capital to some other point ?" 3 He had seen this spirit in the late constitutional convention. He analyzed the vote for Mr. Steel's amendment, leaving the boundary as it then was, and found that "every vote but tzao in favor of the proposed boundaries," involving the re location of the seat of government, "represented Southern interests and that the great question of territory was sacrificed to obtain possession of the Capital." He complained because Delegate Dodge had assured Congress that "a very large portion of the people of Iowa believe and desire that their ultimate seat of government should be on the Desmoines river." The beginning of the long contest for the re-location of the Capital was the debate following the introduction of a bill "to provide for the location of the 1 Candidate for a seat in the last Territorial Council. 2 Reprinted in Shambaugh's "Debates of the Constitutional Convention of 1844 and 1846," pp. 347-6.S. 3_Iowa City had robbed Burlington of the Capital and the. populous Southeast of its old-time accessibility to the seat of government, and had given the southern cities little or nothing of trade as an equivalent. 134 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 135 Seat of Government of the State of Iowa, and for the selection of land granted by Congress to aid in erecting Public Buildings." The bill passed both houses of the First General Assembly and was ap proved by Governor Briggs, February 22, 1847. R named John Brown of Lee, Joseph D. Hoag of Henry and John Taylor of Jones as commissioners to locate the seat of Government of the State, and to select the government lands to aid in the erection of public buildings. The commissioners were, under oath, to perform these duties honestly and faithfully and to the best of their ability. They were directed to meet prior to the following June and proceed to examine such parts of the State as they might think expedient to visit in order to deter-* mine judiciously. The fourth section which proved to be the bone of contention — the inclusion of which was the saving clause for Fort Des Moines, read as follows : "The location shall be made as near the geographical centre as, in the opinion of the commissioners, may be consistent with an eligible and healthy site, the general features of the surrounding country and the interest of the State gen erally ; and the point thus selected shall be the permanent seat of Government." Section 5, also, was in the interest of Fort Des Moines, giving to the pioneer "boosters" at the Forks an opportunity to overcome the taxpayer's objection. It read: "In making the selection of land in this act mentioned, and the location of the Seat of Government, it shall be lawful for said commissioners to take into consideration any proposition of land or claims which may be submitted for that purpose." The commissioners were directed to employ a surveyor; who after the se lection of a site should survey the land selected and make a plat of it, the plat to accompany their report. They were further directed to cause to be laid off and surveyed a town, "upon such a place as they may think most conducive to the interest and convenience of the State, and cause plat or plats of the town to be made and recorded." They were directed to cause a square to be laid off, of not less than five acres, upon which to erect the capitol, also such other squares as they might think proper. To the general surprise and disappointment of the projectors of the move ment, the committee selected a location in Jasper county. Governor Gue de scribes it as "remote from any town, river, grove or settlement, possessing no natural advantages for a city, or State Capitol." Jasper county itself had, all told, a population of only 560. The site chosen was between the Skunk and Des Moines rivers, about two miles southeast of Prairie City. A tract two miles north and south by two miles and a half east and west was laid out and named "Monroe City." Lots were advertised, the sale to begin October 28, 1847. There was a large attendance at the opening sale. On the 3rd of November 425 lots had been sold for sums aggregating $6,189.72, or a little more than $14 a lot. Of this sum, $1,797.40 was paid in cash, the balance covered by notes payable in two, four and six years. Two of the commissioners, together, bought fifty-two lots, and secured for themselves large interests in lands near the pro posed Capital. The inadequacy of the site became so apparent that the General Assembly in 1848 repealed the act empowering the commissioners to locate, vacated the plat of "Monroe City" and directed the Treasurer of State to refund, with six per cent interest, all moneys paid for lots at that point. The thrifty com missioners were excluded from the benefit of the refund. Thus ends the first chapter in the history of the re-location of the Capital. The one lasting result of the Monroe City episode was a familiarization of the public with the thought of re-location. The route from Iowa City to Des Moines was via Monroe City! A sequel to the Monroe City episode appears in the minutes of the Sixth General Assembly, in 1856, in the shape of a resolution allowing John Brown the sum of $292.70, the balance due him "as Commissioner appointed to locate 136 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY a permanent Seat of Government of the State of Iowa, under an act approved Feb. 22, 1847, and for monies by him paid on lots purchased at the sale of lots in said Seat of Government, "the commissioner to relinquish to the State all claims which he has to lots in Monroe City." Thus was the privilege of a locating commissioner to speculate on the result of his own official act officially recognized ! In the fall of 1850, the newspapers of southeastern Iowa contained many editorial articles urging the re-location of the Capitol of the State. The removal of the Capitol, to Fort Des Moines became an issue in Polk county politics as early as 1850. The Star had expressed disapproval of Hon. Lysander W. Babbitt, of Jasper, the local democratic member in the Iowa House because he was reported as having voted against the location of the seat of government in Fort Des Moines. On July 20, Mr. Babbitt, through the Star, informed the voters of Polk county of his position. 1. He believed that public opinion had "already fixed upon Fort Des Moines at the proper point for the permanent location of the seat of government of the State." If elected he would feel it his duty to favor Fort Des Moines. 2. He pledged, if elected, to give Davenport, Iowa City, Fort Des Moines and Council Bluffs his undivided support as points through which the central line of road should run. He further stated that in the last legislature he voted to locate the Capitol at Fort Des Moines and to fix these points on the line of the proposed road. The Gazette insisted that Mr. Babbitt's pledge came too late, since he was on record as having attempted to load down the Fort Des Moines bill with a rider providing "that the citizens of Polk county shall refund to purchasers of lots in Monroe City all money paid thereon." The campaign by petition for a removal of the Capitol to the Des Moines valley commenced in the Third General Assembly on the 6th of January, 185 1, when Senator Casady presented the petition of Richard R. Watts and 103 others, citizens of Marion County praying for the location of the Capitol at Fort Des Moines. This was speedily followed by the petition of George B. Warden and 73 others, citizens of Polk and Dallas counties, to the same effect. On the 13th Senator Spees presented the petition of Joseph Foster and some 300 others, citizens of Van Buren county, praying for the location of the Capital at Oskaloosa. Senator Wright followed, on the 17th, with a petition from June Sutton and 87 others, for ( Fort Des Moines as the future Capital city. This was followed by like petitions presented by Senator Selman, signed by William S. Burge and fifty others,- citizens of Page county, and J. A. Drake and 52 others, of Davis county. Nothing happened, and the campaign reopened in the Fourth General As sembly. Senator Hull, of Polk, opened the battle, December 15, 1852, present ing a proposition from Adam M. Tool and others of his Jasper county con stituents, offering to donate to the state certain tracts of land in Jasper county, provided the seat of government be located at Tool's Point. The senator, five days later, presented the petition of John Coe and 35 others, of Jasper, also of A. L. Gray and 31 others of Jasper, urging Fort Des Moines. Pottawattamie county, through Senator Johnson, came out for Fort Des Moines in petitions signed by J. E. Johnson, H. Burdick and 49 others. On the 23rd, the Senate was deluged with Fort Des Moines petitions from Polk county, signed by James Sherman, John Tyler, Samuel Gray, Max Kraus, J. M. Griffiths, and, in the aggregate about 200 others. John S. Wilson and 38 others, of Marion county, joined with the Polk petitioners. On the 28th came a significant paper presented by Mr. Hull, — nothing less than a bond signed by H[oyt] Sherman and others, citizens of Polk county, "agreeing to save the state of Iowa any expenses which may be incurred in removing the Capital to Fort Des Moines. MAJOR HOYT SHERMAN (Younger brother of General Sherman.) Pioneer of Fort Des Moines, 1848 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 137 Tool's Point came to the front again on the 29th, with 54 petitioners for the Jasper county location; also with a proposition from Stephen B. Shelledy and eleven others offering to donate to the State certain tracts of land in Jasper county, or, in lieu thereof, an equivalent in money, provided the Capital be removed to Tool's Point. Oskaloosa had her day on the 31st, when Senator Lowe presented petitions of 131 citizens of Keokuk and Mahaska counties in her favor; and Senator Needham presented a proposition of citizens of Mahaska county, together with a bond of $50,000, contingent upon the removal of the Capitol to Oskaloosa. The new year, 1853, opened with a flood of petitions for relocation. Editor Sherman, of the Gazette, severely takes to task the overzealous W. H. Seevers, of Oskaloosa, who at a railroad meeting on the 26th of October, 1851, made a report showing the extreme desirability of Oskaloosa as a can didate for the proposed railroad and for the location of the Capital. One para graph of the Seevers report concludes with this unwarranted statement : " . . Nor can we refrain from suggesting that the country [around Oska loosa] is susceptible of a heavy population, from which the road would receive support, which perhaps cannot be said, with equal truth, of a road constructed, say, forty miles north of Oskaloosa, as the fact is fast getting to be notorious that the country North and West of Raccoon Forks is susceptible of no more than a sparse population." The Gazette editor, in an editorial more than a column long, indignantly shows the total lack of foundation for this attempt to win by misrepresentation. The legislative history of the definite movement for a removal of the seat of government to Fort Des Moines begins with the introduction of Senate file No. 4, on December 10, 1852 — "a bill for an act to remove the seat of gov ernment from Iowa City, Johnson county, Iowa, to Fort Des Moines, Polk county, Iowa." On the 13th, Senator Cowles called up his bill, and on motion of Mr. Preston it was referred to the committee on public buildings. On the 24th, Mr. Hull from that committee reported the bill back without amendment, and recommended its passage. It was laid on the table. The Star of January 13, 1853, published in full the speech of Senator Hull, delivered on the 31st of December, 1852. The reader of this speech must rise from the reading impressed with the fact that in Senator Hull the citizens of Fort Des Moines and Polk county were well represented. Speaking in committee of the whole on "Senate file No. 4 — a Bill to remove the seat of Government to Fort Des Moines," Senator Hull referred, in pass ing, to the favorable consideration his measure had received four years before, and again in the last General Assembly. He referred to the rival claims of other localities, and deplored the jealousies engendered between citizens of the same commonwealth. He pleaded for a patriotic coming together for the com mon good and the welfare of "our giant State." He assumed that a large ma jority of the citizens of Iowa demanded a removal of the Capital. But, some regarded it as a question of time; others as a question of place. The whole matter resolved itself into two questions : 1. When should the Capital be removed? 2. To what point should it be removed? In his judgment the present was the time. As to the place, he was quite willing to admit that Burlington was the proper place for the sessions of the territorial legislature, for the settlements were then confined to a narrow strip along the Mississippi river. But, because it was convenient to meet there then, no one would argue that the General Assembly should meet there now. As immigration bent its way westward, and as settlements were formed away 138 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY from the Mississippi, it was a simple act of justice to remove the seat of gov ernment to Iowa City. But, like the first, the second location was only tem porary, as the provision in the State Constitution abundantly proved. It was foreseen that Iowa's population would extend to the Missouri river, and that then it would be expedient to remove the Capital, establishing it permanently at or near the geographical center of the State. That time had fully come. Justice to the West, North and South and to the Interior required that it should now be fixed irrevocably at some point in the interior. It was inexplicable to him that there was a difference of opinion as to the location. He regarded Fort Des Moines as the only eligible site, — situated in the center of the state, at the head of the proposed navigation, on a beautiful elevation between the two rivers, far above the contingency of high water, in a region of unsurpassed fertility, surrounded by timber, the region roundabout underlaid with coal, with extensive mines of gypsum, tributary thereto, and with an abundance of pure water. The objections to Fort Des Moines were next considered. Some thought it too far west of the center of population. But none were so blind as to fail to note "the great tide of immigration tending toward our western border with unparalleled rapidity." Fix the Capital in Fort Des Moines and "in a few brief years the seat of government would be, not only in the geographical center of our State, but in the very heart of our thriving population." As an illustration, the Senator pointed to Indiana's experience. The Capital was first located at Corydon, near the Ohio river; but it was finally located near the center of the State but far from the center of population at the time. It was, rather, in the midst of a trackless wilderness. "Indiana did what we pro pose to do for Iowa, that is, settled its Capital on the principal river of the State. Indiana has grown a great state — as we shall grow, if in this we follow her example." Answering the argument that removal of the Capital would rob Iowa City, Senator Hull maintained that the removal would render Iowa City a decided service, for the State would doubtless put its University in successful operation immediately after the removal of the seat of government. Another strong reason for present action grew out of the fact that the State was maturing a great system of internal improvements, and it was of the_ utmost importance that the re-location of the Capital be effected before the laying out of railway lines. Senator Lowe of Keokuk, had evinced a strong predilection for Oskaloosa, and had labored hard to convince the committee that his view was best. He had based his argument upon the hypothesis that for fifty years the center of population would be east of Fort Des Moines, hence nearer Oskaloosa. Ex amining the map he had found that Oskaloosa was 48 miles from the south line of the State, 90 miles from the east line, 191 miles from the west line and 150 miles from the north line. The Senator from Keokuk would delay action two years, entirely willing to trust the future. The Senator from Polk predicted that in two years the Capital would be gone beyond his reach. "Polk county, or rather a portion of her citizens, pro pose to save the State harmless from expense in the erection of public build ings ; hence, Sir, as a political measure we should act now." In conclusion, Mr. Hull urged his fellow Senators to forget their local pref erences and act with a view to the great interests of the State, prospective as well as present. "Give us the Capital at Fort Des Moines, railroads checquer- mg our entire State bringing us in connection with the cities of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers— the Des Moines river on the South— we will grow up a great and prosperous inland city which, in point of commercial importance, will be second to no city in the west." On motion of Mr. Crosthwait, -the Senate went into committee of the whole CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 139 for consideration of the bill, Mr. Hepner in the chair. After some discussion, the committee rose, reported progress and asked leave to sit again. On January 3, 1853, on motion of Mr. Hull, the Senate again went into committee of the whole on the bill, but no action was taken. The next day, Mr. Lewis moved to postpone the bill indefinitely; but, on motion of Mr. Hull, the Senate adjourned. On the 5th, the bill was taken up pursuant to special order. Mr. Preston moved to lay the bill on the table until the 4th of July. The motion was lost by a single vote. A vote on an amendment offered by Mr. Lowe was voted down 10 to 21. Mr. Needham moved to strike out "Fort Des Moines." The motion was lost by a vote of 10 to 21. Mr. Hillis moved to strike out all after the enacting clause and insert a bill which placed the permanent seat of government at Pella, Marion county, in acceptance of the offer, made by Henry P. Scholte, of two-third parts of the vacant lots in Pella, and half the vacant lots in Amsterdam; the state to locate the Capitol in Garden Square, a warranty deed to the square to be given the State. This substitute was lost by the same vote — 10 to 21. Mr. Lowe moved to refer the bill to the committee on public buildings with instruction to report a bill to appoint commissioners to examine Fort Des Moines and Oskaloosa and report at the next session. Mr. Shields offered an amendment providing that the seat of government shall not be removed until proper buildings are erected, without expense to the State, the same to be accepted by the Governor. Mr. Harris moved the previous question, which was carried. The Shields Amendment was agreed to. The vote on engrossing and a third reading carried — 16 to 15. The bill was duly engrossed and read a third time. The blank in Section 4 was filled with the names of David L. McGregor, D. A. Mahons and John H. McKinney as commissioners. A motion, by Mr. Hull, to table the bill was carried — 16 to 15. Later, Mr. Lowe moved to take it from the table, which carried by 16 to 15. The measure had now reached the decisive moment. The yeas and nays were ordered on its passage, resulting in 13 votes aye and 18 votes nay, and it was declared lost.4 The Fifth General Assembly had scarcely been in session a week before the irrepressible Capitol Removal question was before the Senate. December 11, 1854, Mr. Lucas gave notice that he would soon introduce a bill to remove the Capital to Fort Des Moines. On the 14th, his bill was introduced. It was referred to the committee on public buildings. On the 16th, Chairman Thurston from that committee reported a substitute for Senate file No. 16. January 10, '55, Mr. Preston moved that Senate File No. 16, (or, rather the substitute therefor) a bill to re-locate the seat of Government, be made a special order for Saturday forenoon. The motion was lost. Mr. Preston moved to amend by striking out the words "appointed by the Governor" and inserting "elected by the General Assembly, by joint resolution." Lost by a vote of 11 to 19. Mr. Browning moved to amend by inserting "Oskaloosa." Lost by a vote of 12 to 18. Mr. Browning moved to amend by inserting "Fort Desmoine." Lost, by a vote of 11 to 19. Mr. Preston moved to amend by making the selec tion of commissioners by "joint convention." Lost, by 10 to 18. 4 The final vote in the senate on the removal bill was as follows : Yeas — Cowles, Harris, Hedrick, Hendershott, Hepner, Hull, Johnson, Love, Lucas. McAchran. Price, Schramm and Spees. Nays — Browning, Clark, Coup, Crosthwait, Everson, Fisher, Fletcher, Hillis, Lewis, Lowe, McKinney, Needham, Park, Preston, Sales, Shields, Wing and Lef- fingwell, president. 140 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY At evening session, Preston moved to amend the first section of the sub stitute, by striking out the words "within two miles of the Forks of the Rac-> coon and Desmoine river, in Polk county." Lost, by 12 to 17. Mr. Browning moved that the selection of the Capital city be left to the people at the next April election, etc. Lost, 10 to 19. Mr. Sanders inoved to strike out "within two miles" etc., and insert "within twenty miles." Also lost. Mr. Browning would make it "sixty miles;" but the senate objected. Mr. Needham moved that the commissioners report to the next General Assembly. Lost 10 to 19. The question then recurring on the amendment to Section I, as recommended by the committee of the whole, the amendment was carried — 19 to 12. January 11, Mr. Schramm, of the engrossing committee, reported the bill cor rectly engrossed. At the afternoon session on that day, the bill was read a third time and passed.5 The long contest was over, for it was understood that the House would concur. At 6:30 P. M. on Monday, January 15, the bill had its final inning. The committee of the whole House, at 9:15 rose and reported through the Chair man, Dewey of Fremont, that they had considered the matter referred to them and recommended the passage of the bill. Tuesday morning following, the bill was taken up and read by sections. Several amendments were offered and lost, most of them forced to a roll-call. Mr. Bryan finally moved the previous question and the motion was sus tained. The bill was ordered to a third reading. On the 18th, on motion of Mr. Samuels, the rules were suspended and the, House took up Senate File No. 16. The bill was read a third time and on its passage 38 votes were recorded in the affirmative and 25 against.6 As an indication of the source of Fort Des Moines' strength, as against Iowa City, it should be noted, in passing, that of the sixty-four members of the House of Representatives in the Fifth General Assembly, fifty were from the southeastern and southern portions of the state, and more or less interested in the development of the Des Moines river region. The act re-locating the seat of government in Iowa, which became a law on the 24th day of January, 1855 — is, in substance, as follows :7 1. It directs the Governor to appoint five commissioners, a majority of whom shall have power to act. The site to be selected by them shall be within two miles of the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers in Polk county. The Governor's approval of the site selected was a proviso of the act. 2. The_ commissioners were directed to meet on the first Monday in April next, or within thirty days thereafter, in Iowa City, or such other place as a majority might agree upon. 3. The commissioners were directed to take oath that they would faith- 5 The final vote was as follows : Yeas— Anderson, Coolbaugh, Coop, Hamilton, Hillis, Jordan, Love, Lucas, McCulloch, McCrary, McAchran, Park, Ramsay, Saunders, Schramm, Test, Thurston, Udell and Mr. President (Fisher) — 19. Nays — Berge, Browning, Clark, Cleaver, Fulton, Matthew, Needham, Preston, Shields, Wilkinson, Workman— 11. "Yeas— Albright, Baldwin, Barker, Boyles, Clark, Cornell, Corse, Creel, Creamer, Damon, Dewey of Lee, Dewey of Fremont, Dorland, Goodfellow, Graham, Greenleaf, Hinkle, Jackson, Lyon, McCall, McFarland, Meachem, Meek, Monroe, Neal, Neeley, Newsome, Poston, Rosser, Sargent, Stephenson, Tisdale, Tracy, Vanfossen, Wamsley, Weatherington, White, Yeomans. Nays— Bigelow, Brown, Coffin, Conkey, Eddie, Hall, Holmes of Jones, Hyde, Johnson, Kinert, Lockwood, McCrary, McKay, Moore, Pignan, Pritchard, Rogers, Russell, Samuels, Smith of Cedar, Turner Williams, Witter, Young, Mr. Speaker (Noble). 7 Acts of Fifth General Assembly, Ch. 72, pp. 105-6. HON. B. F. ALLEN Pioneer Merchant and Capitalist of Fort Des Moines CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 141 fully discharge their duties, and would have strict regard to the interests of the entire state. 4. They were directed to obtain at least as much land as would be neces sary and as much as would be practicable to obtain "without charge," to the State, also any grants and donations of land and town lots. 5. Should they select some location at a point where there was no town, village or city already located, the commissioners were directed to lay off the land so selected into suitable blocks, lots and squares, and to employ for that purpose a competent engineer and assistants. 6. The survey completed, they were directed to make a plat of the site and return it certified, with a report of their acts to the Secretary of State, — the place so selected to be and remain the seat of government of the State. 7. The commissioners were to receive $3 a day for the time actually em ployed; the surveyor to receive the same salary; his assistants to receive $2 a day, — the sum to be paid from the State Treasury, unless paid by parties in terested. 8. Vacancies, if any, on the commission were to be filled by the Governor. 9. The General Assembly and the State officers were to continue to meet in Iowa City until otherwise ordered. 10. When in his opinion suitable buildings were prepared, the Governor was directed to make proclamation to that effect, and from that date the Gen-i eral Assembly would be expected to meet, and officers of State to maintain their offices, at such seat of government; provided — that said buildings should be erected without expense to the State. Governor Grimes appointed as a locating commission : Joseph H. D. Street, Stewart Goodrell, Benjamin R. Pegram, Guy Wells and John A. L. Crookham.8 The commission met in Fort Des Moines April 18, 1856, qualified before R. S. Crystal, clerk of the District Court of Polk county, and proceeded to ex amine the various locations situated within two miles of the junction of the two rivers and selected and designated and fixed as the site for the new Capitol "a certain lot on the map of the Town of Demoine City in the County of Polk aforesaid, containing ten and 2/100 acres, and situated on the East Side of the Des Moines River within two miles of the junction aforesaid and thus defined: Commencing at a point North 68° East two chains and sixty-eight and a half links from the Center corner [of] Section No. (3) three Tp. 78 N. R. 24 West of the 5th P. M. thence 740 30 m. East 640 feet, thence South 150 30 m. East 682 feet, thence South 740 30 m. West 640 feet, thence North 150 30 m. W. 682 feet. The commissioners state that the lot abbve described was obtained by dona tions, and in their opinion contained as much ground as was necessary for the Capitol buildings. They reported also that they had obtained by donations one tract containing 5 61/100 acres and one block. Flaving taken to their aid William H. McHenry and Bernard Callan, compe tent surveyors, and the necessary assistants, they proceeded to survey and lay off the lot selected by them for the Capitol building and the other tracts, with the streets connecting them, and caused a plot of the same to be made, a copy of which was turned in with the report, and taken proper conveyances of the tracts which also accompanied the report. Governor Grimes in his message of December 2, 1856, thus briefly refers to the work of the commission : "In compliance with the act of 25th of January, 1855, entitled 'an act to re- 8 From Report of Re-locating Commission to the Secretary of State — on file in the Archives Department, State Historical Building. 142 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY ¦ locate the seat of government,' I appointed commissioners for that purpose and they have discharged their duty. The site selected for the future Capital is on a gentle swell of land about three quarters of a mile east of Fort Des Moines, and on the east side of the river. It commands a good prospect and seems to be well adapted to the purpose for which it has been selected." Meantime, a company of East Des Moines capitalists was formed consisting of Messrs. Scott, Turner, Williamson, Griffiths and others to build a state house and donate it to the State, or lease it at a nominal rental. Two busy years were put in, building the structure, at a cost of about $35,000. It was a plain brick building "of Ionic architecture." Its dimensions were 50 by 150 feet. Early in the fall of '57 Governor Grimes visited Des Moines and on examining the edifice pronounced it adequate for the uses of the forthcoming General Assembly. Prior thereto, lobbies from Iowa City, Oskaloosa, Marshalltown and Newton attempted to break the binding force of the commissioners' report in favor of Des Moines, but made no headway. But one thing remained to make the record complete. On the 19th of Octo ber, 1857, Governor Grimes, through Secretary of State Sells, issued a procla mation declaring that in his opinion suitable buildings for the accommodation of the General Assembly had been prepared upon the site selected for the Capital by the Commissioners, and he therefore declared "the Capital of the State of Iowa to be established under the constitution and laws of the State at Des Moines in Polk County. . . . " 9 9 Messages and Documents, v. 2, p. no. CHAPTER XVIII. THE QUESTION OF REMOVAL REOPENED IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF '57. The question of a removal of the Capital, apparently settled by the Sixth General Assembly, was early reopened in the Constitutional Convention of 1857, and was there settled for all time. On Friday, January 30, on the ioth day of the convention, Mr. Gower, of Cedar, offered a resolution "that the committee on miscellaneous subjects be instructed to enquire into the expediency of providing for the permanent loca tion of the Seat of Government, the State University and the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind Asylums." The resolution was so referred.1 On the 2nd of March, the 36th day of the convention, Mr. Skiff, of Guthrie, submitted a resolution that the committee on the schedule be instructed to in quire and report upon the expediency of permanently locating the State Capitol and the State university.2 Mr. Palmer of Davis moved as a substitute the following as a separate article of the constitution : "Section 1. The seat of government is hereby permanently located, as now fixed by law, at the city of Des Moines, in the county of Polk; and the state university at Iowa City, in the county of Johnson." Mr. Skiff withdrew his resolution in order that the Palmer substitute might go directly to the convention. Mr. Gillaspy, of Wapello, urged a suspension of the rules and a vote on the substitute. There was objection and the article went over until the next day. On the following day, the article was given a second reading. Mr. Gower offered an amendment that the question of locating the Capital be submitted to the people of the State. He had "waked up twice" during his short stay in Iowa, "and found the Capitol moved one hundred miles off, and without any expression of the people." He had learned that the Capital was removed to Iowa City in 1839; thence to Monroe City in 1847; but the act removing to Monroe City be came obnoxious and was repealed. Next came the act removing the Capital from Iowa City to Fort Des Moines, approved January 25, 1855, "done without a peti tion from the people, and without the knowledge or consent of seven-eighths of them." He then discussed the consequences of the proposed removal "and the means used." He had found that seven-eighths of Iowa's population were east of Des Moines and that Iowa City was near the actual center of population. The majority were, therefore, not accommodated by the change and did not de sire it. _ ''What induced the General Assembly to pass that act?" He believed he had it in his power to satisfy his peers "and posterity, that it was money, town lots and oyster suppers !" Mr. Gower told the story of a Cedar county member,3 who voted for the re moval bill and, instead of returning to receive his constituents' blessing, ordered his family out of the county, and, when next heard from, was en route for the new Capital, where, Mr. Gower understood, he was then living, "on a portion of 1 Constitutional Debates, 1857, v. 1, p. 88. 2 Constitutional Debates, 1857. v- 2, p. 877. 3 A. C. Graham. 143 144 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY the new Capitol ground; and," he added, "my constituents think the purchase was his faithlessness to our interests." Mr. Gower would not say that Fort Des Moines was not the best place for the seat of government. It might be best to locate it there : but he insisted that the convention should "look to the best interests of the whole people, and not to the action of the last legislature." The question of location should be settled on its merits ; not because a few men had smuggled an act through for their own benefit. Fle had no "prejudice against Des Moines, any further than had arisen from improper influence upon the legislature." Mr. Clarke, of Henry, favored the Palmer resolution — locating both the Capi tol and the State university. All had experienced the evils of a Capitol on wheels. He believed the people of Iowa City would prefer to have the question settled. They would be satisfied to have the State's buildings turned over to the univer sity, thus obviating the expense and long delay incident to the securing of appro priations and the erection of buildings. The removal of the Capitol had already been decided twice, and the people had already expressed themselves in regard to the location of the State university. They had also settled that the Capitol should be located in Des Moines. Were he a non-resident and called on to select a fitting place for the Capitol, he would put his finger on Des Moines. Ninety- nine of every hundred within the state who knew Iowa's "geographical position, its natural resources and where its great commercial center will be," would de clare the legislature voted wisely in locating the Capital at Des Moines. He feared that unless the question of location were settled by a constitutional provision, it would thereafter be a trouble and a vexation to the people of the State. Mr. Gower intimated that the member from Henry had been won over by an agreement to locate an insane hospital in Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Clarke replied that if persons do no wrong, what was the good of ar raigning their motives ? He did not believe there was any corruption in the loca tion of the Capitol by the last General Assembly. Long before the act was passed a majority were in favor of Des Moines. He believed Des Moines was "strong enough to carry her measure, independent of any other measure before the leg islature." Mr. Clarke, of Johnson, said that if the convention would locate the other in stitutions where the State University was to be located, he would vote for the measure proposed. As to the removal of the Capitol, all he asked was that the Capitol remain in Iowa City until the internal improvements then being con structed to Fort Des Moines should have been completed — say for five years. Until the railroad from Iowa City to Fort Des Moines and other improvements were completed, the people of Iowa City "would yield up the Capitol to Fort Des Moines." The people of Iowa City did not expect "or desire" that the Capitol remain permanently. "But," said Mr. Clarke, "We do object to being dragged away from this place to Fort Des Moines, when there is no convenient mode of getting there." He, therefore, offered, as a substitute to Mr. Gower's resolution, that the question of removal of the Capitol be submitted to the people as a separate proposition. Mr. Clark, of Allamakee, was opposed to the whole matter. He thought it had no place in the constitution. "Gentlemen claim that the legislature has al ready settled this question, and located the Capitol at Fort Des Moines. Is not that sufficient?" It had been pretty strongly intimated that log-rolling had pro cured the location at Fort Des Moines. "And now," exclaimed Clark, "the gen tlemen who are endeavoring to get this put in the Constitution are in favor of cutting off the right arm that carried the Capitol to Fort Des Moines for fear it may carry it away again!" Both the localities named were south of the geo graphical center of the State, and yet the combination would make Fort Des Mol"es -i,eft at.the wheel" for Iowa CitY and Iowa City for Fort Des Moines. Mr. Clark pictured the inconvenience to the northern part of the State— the CONKAD YOUNG ERMAN Pioneer Builder and Con tractor CHARLES WEITZ Pioneer Builder EVAN MOEGAN BOLTON Pioneer Lumber Dealer of East Des Moines COL. J. N. DEWEY Pioneer Civil Engineer PETER A. DEY Pioneer Civil Engineer and Member of the New Cap itol Committee DAVID NORRIS At the time of his death the oldest man in Polk County DANIEL 0. FINCH Pioneer Lawyer and Demo cratic Orator JOHN TEESDALE Pioneer Editor CAPT. F. R. WEST Pioneer Banker CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 145 picture to be verified by the experiences of members of the next General Assem bly. "In order to get to Fort Des Moines, we must go first to Dubuque, . . . and from that place we must come here. Or, with the weather as it has been this winter, we will be compelled to go over into Illinois, and around that way." With the mileage of legislators computed "by the nearest traveled route, the sit uation would be open to objections." Mr. Edwards, of Lucas, deemed it desirable to locate the Capitol perma nently. This constitutional convention had the power to put a quietus upon the question and should exercise that power. This question should be decided at an early day, in order that improvement's and buildings may be planned with refer ence to the Capital of the State. Hence the desirability of the original measure. With a covert threat, he informed Mr. Clarke, of Johnson, that if he was not satisfied with the proposition to locate the university permanently at Iowa City and to turn over the State's buildings to the university, the members from the southern part of the State were prepared to remove the university to some point in northern Iowa. Mr. Hall, of Des Moines, (county) thought the speeches made on this ques tion would "read badly hereafter." Motives were impugned; history was per verted. He, himself, "might show that the seat of government was originally located in this city [Iowa City] bv a species of management that might not be very creditable to some gentlemen." Continuing in the same vein he said: "We know who gave the casting vote, and how he was induced to give it, that brought the seat of government to this place." The people wanted a change. Public sentiment had already pointed out the place and the legislature had responded to that sentiment. He was not afraid of these imputations of bribery and corrup tion. He had generally found that "those persons who are so ready to assail and denounce others for being governed by improper influences are themselves the most accessible to that kind of management. . . Is there a better time and place to close this controversy than the present? ... I believe that Des Moines has three institutions of learning, either of which is as high in respect to character and standing as the University of Iowa. . . The State univer sity is but an idea yet. Now, locate that institution. . . . You gain one year by the establishment of this university by a constitutional provision." Mr. Hall thought it unwise to reopen the question by submission. There would be at least a half-dozen contestants for each institution. Politics would enter, and the pop ular will be thwarted. On the previous question, moved by Mr. Skiff, the yeas and nays were called by Mr. Clarke of Johnson, and the resolution permanently locating the State Capitol at Des Moines and the State University at Iowa City carried by a vote of 19 to 15. It is interesting to note the personal and locality division on the question. The yeas were : Ayres of Van Buren, Clarke of Henry, Day of Van Buren, Ed wards of Lucas, Gibson of Marion, Gillaspy of Wapello, Hall of Des Moines, Harris of Appanoose, Hollingsworth of Keokuk, Johnston of Lee, Palmer of Davis, Parvin of Muscatine, Patterson of Lee, Price of Pottawattamie, Robin son of Des Moines, Seely of Guthrie, Skiff of Jasper, Soloman of Mills, Tod- hunter of Warren. The nays were: The President (Springer) of Louisa, Bunker of Washington, Clark of Allamakee, Clarke of Johnson, Ells of Scott, Emerson of Dubuque, Gower of Cedar, Gray of Linn, Marvin of Jones, Peters of Delaware, Scott of Clayton, Traer of Benton, Warren of Jackson, Wilson of Jefferson, Young of Mahaska. Analyzing the thirty-five votes cast in the convention, by counties and sec tions^ it becomes evident that the sectional issue was dominant at the last. Of the nineteen votes cast in favor of the resolution, sixteen were cast by represen tatives of counties in or near the valley of the Des Moines river and its tribu taries, in southeastern Iowa, namely, Van Buren (two votes), Henry, Lucas 146 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Marion, Wapello, Des Moines (two votes), Appanoose, Keokuk, Lee (two votes), Davis, Muscatine, Jasper and Warren. The remaining three votes came from Pottawattamie, Guthrie and Mills, all west of Poik county. Of the sixteen votes in the negative, nine were from northeastern Iowa, namely: Allamakee, Dubuque, Cedar, Linn, Jones, Delaware, Clayton, Benton and Jackson, — four of these bordering on the Mississippi river, and the remaining five with trade relations with Mississippi cities. Of the remaining five, three bordered on the Mississippi, namely: Louisa, Scott and Dubuque; one — Johnson — naturally voted to retain the Capital within its borders, and the other — Mahaska— rhadn't gotten over its defeat in the last General Assembly. It thus becomes apparent that the permanent location of the Capital was not wholly determined by the geographical superiority of Fort Des Moines. The social, commercial and political relations early established between Fort Des Moines and the river towns as far to the southeast as Keokuk, these strengthened by stage lines and the common interest in the prospective line of railroad from Keokuk to Fort Des Moines, had much to do with the success of the movement. CHAPTER XIX. THE ACTUAL REMOVAL OF THE CAPITOL. To comply with the condition that a suitable Capitol building must be erected without cost to the State on the grounds selected by the commissioners, Thomas K. Brooks, W. A. Scott, James A. Williamson, Joseph M. Griffiths, Harry H Griffiths, Alexander Shaw, J. D. Cavenor, Thomas A. Walker, and other public- spirited citizens of Des Moines organized themselves into a building committee, purchased lots eleven and twelve in block six, Scott's addition to the town of Demoine, and during the years 1856 and 1857 erected thereupon a three-story brick building 60x100 feet and donated it to the state of Iowa. On July 4, 1857, the building was so nearly completed that a Fourth of July celebration was held in the hall of the House of Representatives, where speeches were made by Dr. Brooks, Colonel Walker, and others. The ten-acre site selected for the Capitol grounds and donated by Harrison Lyon and W. A. Scott was covered with timber and underbrush. The trees on the tract were oak, ash, elm, walnut, hickory, cherry and linn. A few of these trees of native growth may still be seen on the present Capitol grounds. Mr. Lyon turned over to the State his residence, erected two years before, then sit uated about where the Supreme Court room is now located. In May, 1856, the land was platted and the streets and alleys on the east side were made to correspond with the Capitol grounds. Walnut and Locust streets were extensions of the west side streets of the same name. Grand avenue on the north side of the State house, leading up from the old floating bridge across the river, was first named Keokuk street, after the old Indian chief. Fifteen years later, it was named Sycamore street. In '86, Sycamore street, both east and west was named Grand avenue. In 1857, Stewart Goodrell, the local member of the locating commission, su pervised the grubbing of the trees and brush on Capitol Square. In '58, the square was surrounded by a substantial board fence, with stiles at the corners and half-way between. There was a deep well on the north side, near the cen ter. Elijah Sells, then Secretary of State, provided a number of walnut benches for the grounds, and public-spirited citizens erected a large pavilion near the center. This served on occasion as a speaker's stand. Here political meetings and church and Sunday-school gatherings were frequently held. The removal of the physical property of the State from the old to the new Capitol is well described by Isaac Brandt. He says :~- "There were no railroads in the state, and the public highways were but dimly outlined in our wide extended prairies. Skunk river had to be crossed to reach Des Moines. . . Several of the small streams had no bridges. Therefore, teamsters and contractors were not anxious to undertake the job of removal. The citizens and teamsters of Des Moines, however, solved the problem by send ing men and teams from Des Moines to assist in the removal. Among the men sent was the Rev. Ezra Rathburn, one of Des Moines' pioneer ministers. "The removal of the four safes, consisting of one each for the secretary of state, the treasurer of state, the auditor of state, and the superintendent of pub lic instruction, was let to Dr. Jesse Bowen of Iowa City, who delivered them 1 Pioneer Law-makers' Association, 1902, pp. 79-81. 147 148 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY safely in the new Capitol after many clays of hard and tedious work. The state treasurer's safe was much the largest and very heavy. During the journey it was left in the open prairie near Little Four Mile creek in Polk county for several days and nights, until the storm abated and the ground was frozen sufficient so that it could be hauled on a large bob-sled. When it arrived in Des Moines it was drawn by ten yoke of oxen. Its arrival was hailed with great delight, not only by the citizens of Des Moines, but by the state officers and their deputies, for in it was the gold and silver coin that was to pay them their last months' salary. Jesse Bowen, Jr., nephew of Dr. Jesse Bowen, was one of the young men who had charge of the teams and drove one himself. He is now a door keeper in the Senate of the Twenty-ninth General Assembly. The packing of the archives in the secretary of state's office was done under the direction of John M. Davis,- then deputy secretary of state and now an honored member of our Pioneer Lawmakers' Association. . . . "The vote of the several counties had to be sent to the secretary of state to be held and safely kept until the convening of the Legislature in January, 1858, then to be turned over to the speaker of the House of Representatives. They were all received from the several counties while the office was still at Iowa City. Mr. John M. Davis, the deputy, was much concerned about the safety of these important documents. Therefore, he had them securely and carefully packed and placed them in his own trunk with his clothing and personal effects, brought them safely through to Des Moines, and placed them in the vault of the new state building. . "The transportation of the state officers was provided for by Col. E. F. Hooker, superintendent of the Great Western Stage company, free of charge. The officers left Iowa City on the morning of November 6, 1857. in one of the best of the Great Western stage coaches, drawn by four first-class roadsters and driven by Joseph Baggs, one of the noted stage-drivers of Iowa City. Every ten or fifteen miles, at each stage station, fresh horses were supplied, and on Friday, November 7th, at noon, the state officers were safely landed in Des Moines, at the Des Moines House, then one of our best hotels, situated on West Walnut and First streets. . "The deputy state officers were not so fortunate as to have free transportation tendered them by the stage company ; but Martin L. Morris, treasurer of state, was a free and generous-hearted man. He chartered a hack of Mr. Aylesworth, one of the leading livery men of Iowa City, to take the deputies to Des Moines at his expense. John M. Davis, Geo. Mathews, Dan'l S. Warren, David M. Sells, Thomas Kinsey, and Wm. A. Kinsey, with a driver, left Iowa City in a first-class hack Friday morning, November 6th. It was a beautiful November morning, clear, cool, and with but little frost. The young men were in a happy, jolly mood, and left the old state house and friends with a pleasant good-bye. The first day's journey was one of pleasure. The first night out they stopped at Brooklyn. The morning of the second day gave signs of a storm, and by noon it was sleeting and raining; by sundown it was snowing and blowing. They stopped the second night at Mr. Piper's, in Jasper county, twenty-five miles east of Des Moines. Sunday morning, the 8th, the snow was from twelve to sixteen inches deep, and the driver of the hack refused to go any further; said he did not _ know the road to Fort Des Moines, and all the signs of the road were covered with snow. The deputies were in a bad dilemma; however, they em ployed a farmer with a lumber wagon, who said he knew the road to Fort Des Moines. They placed their trunks in his wagon for seats, started on their jour ney, and were safely landed at the Shaw House, just across the street from the new State Capitol, about four o'clock in the afternoon. "On Monday, November 10th, the state officers and their deputies took charge of their respective offices in the new Capitol. On January 11, 1858, the Seventh - Still a resident of Des Moines. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 149 General Assembly convened at the new state house, and the state government was fully established in the city of Des Moines, within two miles of the junc tion of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, in accordance with an act passed January 25, 1855. by the Fifth General Assembly." The sequel to the story of the removal of the Capitol may as well be added here. The Seventh General Assembly was petitioned — by J. A. Williamson and others — to purchase the Capitol building, which had been erected with money borrowed from the School Fund of the State by six citizens of East Des Moines. The money was borrowed on the indefinite assumption that the city, or county, or both, would come to the borrowers' relief, inasmuch as the entire city, and county, would be benefited by the location of the Capitol. The borrowers were all more or less interested in East side real estate, and hoped to "make good" in any event, by the increase in land values in the vicinity of the Capitol. The Seventh General Assembly turned the petitioners over to the Eighth— and the Eighth to the Ninth. On the assembling of the Eighth General Assembly, in i860, Governor Lowe well presented in a brief paragraph, the claims of the school fund, the duty of the State and the necessities of the borrowers. On the 7th of March there after, Mr. Baker, from a select committee to whom the question raised by the Governor had been referred, reported to the House, in committee of the whole, recommending the passage of a bill embodying the Governor's views which were, in substance that the Capitol building "was erected at the expense of the school fund, borrowed by six gentlemen of Des Moines City for that purpose, for the repayment of which, with ten per cent interest, they have mortgages on their individual property." The amount, with unpaid interest to date, was $52,130. The building cost, including lots and interest, $53,733.61. Divided public sentiment in regard to site precluded the fulfillment of the local pledge — to provide a suitable building and grounds — at the common expense of the town or county. The six men were unable to donate the building. The State ought not to become a pensioner on their bounty. It should own the building. It was worth the money. The State had occupied it two years, had made changes and improvements on the building, "inconsistent, perhaps, with the legal rights of the proprietors.'' In view of these facts the Governor gravely asked whether the interest and honor of the State would not be quite as well sub served by directing that the mortgages against these men be cancelled, by as suming the liabilities to the school fund, and by paying to them the difference between this fund and the cost of the building. The bill did not come to a vote in the House, and was not even introduced in the Senate. The Ninth General Assembly, with war measures on its hands, had troubles of its own which overshadowed everything else. Not until April 16, 1864, was the question settled. By an act of the Tenth General Assembly, approved on that date, the Census Board and the Attorney General were constituted a Board for the purpose of releasing the obligors to the notes in question which had been given for money loaned from the school fund, also to obtain from them in turn a release of all claims to the Capitol Building. With the many details of the transaction the public is not interested. The fact remains that the State finally paid for the Capitol Building with in terest at ten per cent., thus making good the diverted school fund, saving the State the humiliation of driving a hard bargain, and saving Messrs. W. A. Scott. J. D. Cavenor, J. M. and H. H. Griffiths, Alexander Shaw and T. K. Brooks from the heavy loss into which their excessive public spirit had led them. BOOK III. FROM AN OBSCURE WESTERN CAPITAL TO THE FOREMOST CITY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY MOVEMENT FOR MUNICIPAL REFORM. PART I. THE CAPITAL CITY BEFORE THE WAR. 1857-1860. CHAPTER I. THE REORGANIZED CAPITAL CITY — A FORERUNNER OF THE COMMISSION-GOVERNED CITY OF TODAY. The student of social and political evolution can well afford to stop at this point and re-examine the construction and trend of the municipal government which in 1856 commended itself to those who had Des Moines' welfare most at heart, and to the General Assembly that, presumably having the interests of good government in mind, was influenced also by ambition to make the State's Capital city what it should be. On the 28th day of January, 1857, the signature of Governor Grimes was attached to a law putting an end to the town of Fort Des Moines and creating the city of Des Moines.1 The boundary lines will be found to have been ma terially enlarged since 1853, when the town of Fort Des Moines was incorpor ated. The description reads : "Beginning at the northeast corner of section two, township seventy-eight, range twenty-four west fifth P. M., Iowa ; thence west to the northwest corner of section five, township and range aforesaid ; thence south to the southwest corner of section eight in said township ; thence east to the southeast corner ot section eleven in said township; thence north to the place of beginning." The city was created with seven wards ; three of which were on the east, and four on the west side of the Des Moines. The council was empowered to change the limits of the wards, provided only that for two years the ratio of three to four should be retained as between the east and the west side of the Des Moines river. The first city election was to be held on the first Monday in the following March. At this election, the west side was to elect eight and the east side six aldermen, on a general ticket, — and not by wards as afterwards provided. A mayor was also to be chosen on a general ticket. The mayor and aldermen so elected were to hold office one year. The election on the west side was to be held at the courthouse ; on the east side at the Capitol building. The returns of the first election were to be made by the mayor of Fort Des Moines, and the succession was to continue as provided by the charter and ordinances of the town. The new council was directed to meet on the second Monday in May, and when convened was directed to elect a recorder, marshal, treasurer,, assessor, two street commissioners, a city engineer, and such other subordinate officers as the council should deem necessary, regulating their duties and compensation, and requiring of each of them a bond for the faithful discharge of the duties of their several offices. For any proposition involving an appropriation for any general purpose, or for the granting of the right of way to any railroad north of Elm street, a two- thirds vote of the council was required. On the petition of twenty-five property holders asking any grade of streets, or other improvement or work of special interest, the construction of which would require the raising of funds by special tax, the council was directed to 1 In the act referred to the name is invariably spelled "Desmoines.'' 153 154 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY call an election in the ward, or wards, interested at which election the tax should be voted on, an affirmative two-thirds vote being necessary to carry the propo sition. No member of the council was eligible to any office within the gift of that body, nor could any member be lawfully interested, directly or indirectly, in the profit of any contract or job of work or services to be rendered for the city. The council was given authority to pass such by-laws and ordinances as were necessary to the health and safety of the city and its citizens, and to tax all property within corporate limits, the only proviso being that measures to this end be not more stringent and summary than those used for the collection of State and county taxes. The list of powers voted the council is in a measure historical, presenting a series of pictures of the occupations, amusements and other activities of the men, women and children of the embryo city of Des Moines in 1856. It will be noted that the framers of these prohibitions closely followed the trend of the old town incorporation law, thus indicating that the customs and habits, the vocations and amusements of the town had not materially changed in five years. The council was empowered to establish grades, to regulate and improve sidewalks, streets and alleys, to prevent or regulate the rolling of hoops, the playing of ball, the flying of kites, or any other amusement or practice tending to annoy persons or frighten horses. It could compel people to keep their side walks clear of snow, ice or dirt. It empowered the council to build market houses, public halls and schools; to provide drains, sewers, public wells, wharves and landing places ; to regulate the sale of gunpowder; to regulate market-places for farm products, wood and coal ; to license, regulate and prohibit all theatrical exhibitions, shows, showmen, auctioneers, keepers of billiard tables, ball and ten-pin alleys; to license and regulate livery stables, carts, wagons, porters, draymen, and all two and four- wheel carriages, and to limit their compensation ; to organize fire companies, regulate chimneys and flues; to prohibit hogs, cattle, horses and other animals from running at large ; to provide against gambling, disorderly and indecent . houses and conduct, and to make all other suitable police regulations ; to estab lish and keep up free ferries across the "Desmoines" and Raccoon rivers; to require paving whenever the owners of two-thirds of the lots on a street or part of a street should petition therefor; to borrow money for any object in its dis cretion, provided the citizens at a regularly called election, by a two-thirds vote, should approve the loan ; to prohibit — as a preventive measure against fire — the erection of any buildings in any square, "except the outer walls shall be com posed entirely of brick, stone or mortar," when three-fourths of the owners of property in the square unite in requesting such prohibition, and to remove any such building erected contrary lo the intent of the section; to direct the abate ment and removal of nuisances ; to tax for the establishment and maintenance of public schools. The council was compelled to publish annually, for the information of the public, a -detailed statement of receipts and expenditures, and of all debts clue and owing to and from the city ; to require every male resident of the city, be tween 21 and 50 years of age, to work two days on the streets, or to pay $2 as an equivalent therefor. The law created two road districts in the city, one on each side of the river, each with its own street commissioner. It also provided that free ferries should be continued. The mayor was given no vote in council except in case of a tie. The mayor's duties as defined, were to see that the laws and ordinances were enforced and their violators punished; to keep the common seal, and to perform all other duties which the city council might prescribe. He was invested with the powers CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 155 of a justice of the peace, and was entitled to the fees of such officials; also to administer oaths and take acknowledgments. Following this mere outline of the Des Moines incorporation law of 1857,2 the reader cannot have failed to note that while the law under consideration con tains numerous clauses recognizing the conditions of the small city of its period, it also contains several sections which clearly anticipate even present-day con ditions — conditions covered by the "Government by Commission" law under which the city of Des Moines is now working. The question of a charter for the city of Des Moines, apparently settled by the Governor's signature, on January 28, 1857, was reopened, March 9, 1858, by a bill introduced in the House by Mr. Mitchell, of Polk, "for an act to repeal an act incorporating the city of Des Moines," etc. On the 18th, the bill passed ty a vote of 42 to 19. In the Senate, March 10, Mr. Davis of Polk, presented the remonstrance of B. F. Allen and 400 other citizens of Des Moines, against the passage of a re pealing act. On the 19th the bill passed by the House was referred to the Senate committee on corporations, Mr. Davis of Polk, sitting as an additional member. On the 20th, Mr. Mann, from the committee on corporations, reported the bill to the Senate recommending its passage. On motion of Mr. Rankin, the bill was laid on the table, — and there ended the opposition to incorporation of the city of Des Moines. The movement for repeal grew out of charges of bad faith at Iowa City in '56, in railroading the bill through the legislature without regard to East side interests and an undue preponderance of power with the West side, as developed and perpetuated in the terms of the charter itself- A constitutional question having arisen as to the right of the General Assem bly, under the new constitution, to repeal laws of this character, coupled with the presence of an influential lobby in support of the B. F. Allen protest, seems to have killed the Mitchell bill in the Senate. 2 Laws of 1857, Chapter 185 — The Law includes 28 sections and covers 14 pages. CHAPTER II. THE CITY STARTED ON BORROWED CAPITAL. In 1857, the new city of Des Moines was organized with W. H. McHenry,1 mayor; B. D. Thomas, recorder; Benjamin Bryant, treasurer; William De- ford, marshal; B. Callan, city engineer; Will Tomlinson, street commissioner, East side; John McNamara, West side. The city council was composed of: Will iam A. Hunt, James F. Kemp, F. R. West, Lovell White, Isaac Cooper, W. C. Burton, R. L. Tidrick, G. W. Connor, J. \V. Stanton, J. A. Williamson, H. H. Griffiths, W. A. Scott, John Hyde and R. Lawrence. It proceeded to fortify itself at all points with ordinances, and these were published in a pamphlet of 121 pages — prefaced by the law of January 28, 1857, under which the city was created, and followed by the Constitution of Iowa.- The ordinances, twenty-nine in number, cover the usual range of city ordi nances, including the following general heads : (1) Charter and seal, (2) election and appointment of officers, (3) council organization, (4) duties and compensation of officers, (5) assessment and col lection of taxes, (6) division of the city into wards, (7) a mayor's court, (8) mis demeanors, (9) nuisances, (10) licenses, (11) board of health, (12) fire depart ment, (13) street labor, (14) grading, (15) sidewalks, (id) weights and meas ures, (17) weight of coal, hay and grain, (18) concerning the floating bridge across the Des Moines river — declaring it a toll-bridge, the toll to be fixed by the council from time to time, (19) flues and stove-pipes, (20) gunpowder, (21) concerning the impounding of hogs found running at large, ( 22 ) taxing dogs, etc., (23) granting to "the Avenue and Market street bridge companies" ex clusive right to approaches to the river, (24) requiring the building of sidewalks, (25) the grading of Court avenue from the Des Moines river to the public square, (26) fixing the grade of Walnut street, (27) the grading of Walnut street, ( 28) concerning ordinances. The 29th and last ordinance throws light upon the financial condition of Des Moines when it took on the weighty responsibilities of a Capital city. The ordi nance is introduced by this significant "Whereas: Owing to the present scarcity of money, it is found impossible to collect sufficient of the taxes due the city to defray current expenses, and to pay outstanding indebtedness ; and Whereas, it is impolitic and unwise for the city to pay the rate of interest demanded on loans ; and Whereas, it seems probable that if warrants on the city treasury were issued in a form to render them readily negotiable, parties holding them would be enabled to dispose of them readily to taxpayers and others ; and Whereas, by the general circulation of convenient warrants, taxpayers would become pos sessed of means by which to pay their taxes : Therefore," etc. Section 1 ordains the issuance of city warrants, in denominations of 1, 2, 3 and 5 dollars, to an amount not exceeding in the aggregate the amount of taxes assessed for the current year. Section 2 provides that the warrants "be executed on bank note paper and in the form and with designs usual to bank notes, the style of the same when in blank being: 1 Father of Ridge W. H. McHenry, of the present Polk Countv District Court. -Printed by William Porter, City printer, 1857." 156 CHARLES MASON CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 157 "State of Iowa. "The city of Des Moines will pay to the bearer (one, two, three, or. five as the case may be) dollars at the office of the city Treasurer, out of any moneys in his hands, not otherwise appropriated." Section 3 gives details as to the issuance of the warrants. Section 4 instructs the mayor to appoint a permanent committee of three, to be known as "the Finance Committee" whose chief duty was to "have control of the warrants when executed, subject to the direction of the council, and to use all legitimate means without expense to the city, to give the warrants credit and circulation." Thus, at the outset, anticipating the philosophy of modern high-finance, "sufficient unto to-morrow is the evil of to-day" — thus perilously did the little city of Des Moines start out on its long, rough, steep road to fame and fortune ! But, it would be difficult for the wisest student of municipal finance to say just how the mayor and council of Des Moines in '57 could have more easily tided over the complicated situation which confronted them. CHAPTER III. THE FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN DES MOINES — CAPITOL AND CAPITAL CITY COME TOGETHER. The assembling of the Seventh General Assembly of Iowa in the new Capitol was an event marking a new era in the history of Des Moines, introducing into the little frontier city a new element, — that of State politics, and bringing into the social life of the people the picked men of the State. Temporarily resident in Des Moines in the winter of '58 were many legislators who afterwards took a more prominent part in the affairs of the State and nation. It is difficult to realize the extreme youth of many of the embryo statesmen of that period. Gov ernor Grimes was only 42. Almost the Nestor of the Senate was Kirkwood, afterwards Governor, United States Senator and Secretary of the Interior, — then "only 45 years old. There, too, was Saunders, afterwards Governor of Nebraska and United States Senator from Nebraska, — then 40 years of age. Grinnell, afterwards member of Congress, — then 35 ; Cattell, afterwards Auditor of State, — then 38 ; Rankin, afterwards Colonel of the Seventeenth Iowa, — then 35 ; Pusey, afterwards Congressman, — then 28, and Trimble, afterwards a dis trict Judge and democratic nominee for the Supreme court and for the United States Senatorship, — then 31. The oldest member of the Senate was not yet sixty. In the House were: Belknap, later Secretary of War, — then 29; Mc Crary, originator of the plan of an Electoral Commission to settle the Hayes- Tilden imbroglio, Secretary of War in the Hayes administration and United States Circuit Judge, — then 23 ; Wilson, afterwards in turn a member of each House of Congress, — then 30; Gue, afterwards Lieutenant-Governor, — also 30; Carpenter, afterwards Governor, — then 29 ; Wright, later a Brigadier-General, — then 31. Tom Mitchell, 42; Tom Drummund, 25 ; Mahoney, ^y ; Seevers, 35; and others of more or less prominence in later years. These comparatively young and inexperienced statesmen abounded in the social qualities which gave wings to ambition, and keenly appreciated every at tention paid them. Des Moines was alive to the presence of these men and their associates, and made unusual efforts to impress the visitors with her hospitality. Not to be outdone by Iowa City, the time-honored custom of giv ing a ball in honor of the visiting statesmen and their families was duly ob served. A banquet and ball was accordingly held in Sherman's Hall on the 22d of February, 1858, which brought the citizens and the visiting statesmen together in a decidedly enjoyable manner. The courtesy was returned by the legislators, on the 18th of March following. The House was occupied by the dancers and the Senate Chamber by the promenaders, and in the Supreme Court room and the Library was spread a bountiful supper. Lathrop in his Life of Kirkwood, bears indirect testimony to R. S. Finkbine's shrewd estimate of men. Speaking of Kirkwood, the newly elected United States Senator, he refers to a visit paid Des Moines by Senator Blaine in 1876, on which occasion Blaine asked Finkbine what kind of a Senator Kirkwood would make. Mr. Finkbine said: "Some clay when you least expect it, and when a matter is before the Senate involving a constitutional question, he will get up, apparently without any previous preparation, and in a speech of no great length will discuss that question and present every point so clearly, illustrating 158 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 159 it so aptly, and read his conclusions so directly that you will all wonder why you have not taken the same view of the subject that he does." After Kirkwood's Senate speech on the Army Appropriation Bill, June 21, 1879, Mr. Blaine said to Mr. Finkbine, "Your predictions in regard to Governor Kirkwood have been verified-" The record made by this pioneer General Assembly is one of rare achieve ment. It enacted a law for the creation of a system of branch banks which gave the State good riddance of "wildcat money." It followed the wise sugges tions of Horace Mann and Amos Dean in the reorganization of our educational system; wrestled with the problem of the Des Moines River Improvement Com pany; built several needed State institutions, and accomplished many other re sults which have proved both wise and expedient. The session was in every way full of promise for the future of Des Moines as the Capital city. At the third reunion of the Pioneer Lawmakers, in February, 1892, Hon. C. C. Nourse delivered an address, heartily welcoming the city's guests to the "Iowa home," of which they had been "the architects and builders." He continued : "As you look at your surroundings to-day, this city with its sixty thousand in habitants, its manufactories, its warerooms, stores and beautiful homes, its spa cious hotels, the Capitol building crowning yonder hill, the home of the Young Men's Christian Association, where we are assembled — it is hard to realize that until October, 1845, less than fifty years ago, this portion of Iowa was in the exclusive possession of the Sac and Fox Indians, and that it was unlawful for a white man to make a settlement here." Recalling the early days of Des Moines, the Capital of the State, Judge Nourse said, "No doubt many of you have floundered in the sloughs of the Skunk river bottom in order to reach your homes after the adjournment of the Gen eral Assembly. "Even in this goodly city in the spring of 1858 you reached the old Capitol building from your hotels by traveling a good part of the way over the floods of the Des Moines in boats." Hawkins Taylor in a letter to Judge Wright, which was read at the first meeting of the Pioneer Lawmakers' association, humorously described "the first lobby that ever invaded the Iowa legislature." He facetiously termed it "the Owl family," with headquarters at the Demoine House. The owls were "asking that a grant of land given to the Iowa Central should be given to the Clinton, Cedar Rapids and Missouri. Crocker, the president of the road, natur ally headed the invading army. . . Crocker was a dignified gentleman in manners, and the color and cut of his hair, his large eyes and solemn aspect made him a perfect duplicate of the . . owl." Colonel Bodfish's care was to subdue the "rowdy west" legislator, Governor Nat. Baker. The big-hearted, noble Nat was the recruiting officer, and he had a small army of scouts to run down members, and sound the gong of the "owl family." It was a sight never before seen when this outfit, including the scouts, went over the river to the Capitol. In the hotel they occupied several rooms on the lower floor, and the mustering officer and scouts kept the rooms well filled with members and others. I do not think that they drew largely on their bank account, but they were liberal in promising the land they were trying to get from the legislature." At the evening session a notable address was delivered by Governor Carpen ter, entitled "Reminiscences of the winter of 1858 in Des Moines." Omitting,— as not pertaining to the subject in hand— the glowing tribute paid Governors Grimes, Lowe and Kirkwood, and prominent members of the Seventh General Assembly, space may well be given the Governor's vivid picture of the embryo city which greeted the first legislative body to assemble in its midst and of the open-handed hospitality extended by her citizens. Said Governor Carpenter: "On the nth day of January, 1858, this General Assembly came together at Des Moines. It was the first General Assembly that had met in this city. The peo- 160 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY pie of the city were much elated at what they regarded as their good fortune in securing the re-location of the Capitol, and were correspondingly rejoiced, at the first assembling of a legislative body in their midst. We were therefore wel comed with a hospitality and friendly warmth that could not well be repeated. I came here two Or three days before the time of assembling, traveling by stage down the old State road leading from Fort Dodge to Des Moines, staying over night at Boonsboro, and arriving in the city the evening of the second day. "Des Moines was then a town of about 3,000 inhabitants, as two years there after at the Federal census, it only had a population of about 3,900. It was literally a city of 'magnificent distances.' The site of the Capitol wat, chen a wooded hill, occupied by the old (then new) Capitol building, and perhaps some twenty-five or thirty family residences scattered here and there in the openings of the timber. The bottom intervening between the foot of the hill and the river was a low muddy flat, comparatively unoccupied and unim proved. In this connection I remember an incident which shows the character of the bottom during much of that winter. On the day fixed for the election of State Printer, Binder, etc., Will Porter, who was the Democratic caucus candi date for printer, started with a friend in a buggy to come over from the West side to witness the proceedings of the Joint Convention. Their horse and buggy stuck in the mud and they were detained until the State Printer, John Teesdale, had been elected. Will laughingly said, on his arrival, that if his horse had not failed him he would have broken the Republican slate. The east bank of the river was fringed for half a mile along the main front with residences, a few shops, a mill and a woolen factory. The west side of the river comprised the larger portion of the population and business. There were then but few resi dences which to-day would be regarded as equal to second class, and all business was confined to the street fronting the river and Second street. "The day of adjournment found the Des Moines river bank full of water. A small steamboat "had come up the river and was lying at the so-called Point. In the afternoon it moved down the river carrying all the members from the southeast portion of the State and those living near the Mississippi even to the northwest corner of the State, as they could reach their homes easier and quicker by going to Keokuk and up the Mississippi, than by traveling all the way across the State in a mud wagon. I stood on the bank and waved them adieu as they swarmed like bees upon the deck of that little steamboat." In the House of Representatives, in the afternoon, Senator Pusey, of Coun cil Bluffs, indulged in this reminiscence : "One cold winter morning in 1858, after traveling one hundred and fifty miles in a stage coach, with the thermometer twenty-one or twenty-two degrees below zero, I arrived at the old Des Moines House and asked where the Capitol wa';, and was directed up here to a little brick building. I came to the building, and when I went in and stepped forward, I found Charley Nourse there as Sec retary pro tent of the Senate. I handed him my credentials and was sworn in — but never qualified. I dropped into the nearest seat I could find. There was not a face in the room that I had seen before. I didn't know . personally the Governor, nor a member, nor a single State officer. . . Being one of the youngest members, of course I was inexperienced and unknown. In fact, I didn't know my own constituency. I had only been in this State one year, and was a representative of twenty-eight counties out on the Missouri river. There- are fifteen or twenty of you here now representing those wealthy counties." The Senator follows with an amusing story of an old farmer in the Senate who presumably didn't know anything about finance, and yet had the audacity to speak on some question relating to banking. He and Senator Trimble con cluded to "go for him." The result was a lively debate covering the whole question of banking, the result of which was that the "old farmer," Samuel J. '^Ss^ Old Indian Agency at Des Moines (From a daguerreotype) Old Brick Capitol, Des Moines <^"FW f™. First Brick Building in Des Moines, built First Public School building in Des Moinea, at by Jim Campbell at 'Coon Point Ninth and Locust Streets, built in 1855 at a cost of $11,000. Torn down in 1869 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 161 Kirkwood, was complimented with a resolution unanimously placing him, along with Pusey, on the committee on banking! Early in March the Western Stage Company, "among the severest sufferers by the monetary pressure," resorted to the issuance of scrip, redeemable in one year and bearing six per cent. The Citizen oi March n facetiously proposes a dismemberment of the Union on the line of the Des Moines river, the West side to return to its former name, Fort Des Moines; the East side to be designated "Capitol Clause Corner." Be coming serious, it is "satisfied that a little more blood and thunder on the part of our pious folk will not leave a fragment of the Capitol City large enough to be preserved as a memento of the great fight of 1858." On March 13, the editor devotes a column to the unwisdom and danger of "devisive strife" between the East and West side, declaring that legislators look ing with surprise at the local jealousies may "conclude that it is better to re move the bone of contention" — the Capitol. The condition of the streets of the Capital city may be inferred from an item, March 16, to the effect that a wagon laden with lager beer was inextricably stuck fast in the mud on Walnut street! The postmaster at the beginning of the new era was the pioneer merchant, Wesley Redhead. His assistants were G. S. Rosser and E. P. Stewart. The postoffice was then located at the corner of Third street and Court avenue. There was one mail a day from the east and the west, and there were three mails a week from the north. The outgoing mails left daily by stage for Iowa City, Burlington, Council Bluffs and the south, and tri-weekly for Fort Dodge. There were eight churches in Des Moines in '58, as follows: The Episcopal, E. W. Peet, rector, Seventh street, between Locust and Walnut; Congregational, West's Block; Presbyterian (New School), Thompson Bird, pastor, Fourth, between Court and Walnut; Methodist, G. B. Jocelyn, pastor, Fifth, between Court and Walnut; Presbyterian (Old School), Rev. Mr. Drake, pastor; Metho dist (East side), A. E. McDonald, pastor, Keokuk street; Catholic, Father Plathe. N. Summerbell, pastor, announced "Christian worship in the public school- house every Lord's Day." The first number of the tri-weekly Citizen, January 12, 1858, describes Des Moines during the past few days as "a scene of bustling animation. Governors, Senators, Representatives, candidates for office . . . and miscellaneous visi tors," were congregated in the new Capital city. The city itself "has thrown aside its air of depression. Omnibuses thunder along the streets ; and assisted by bridges and accommodating conveyances, the east and west sides have easy communication with each other. A new era in the history of Des Moines has been inaugurated. New responsibilities crowd upon our citizens, and" adds the editor, "we trust that every man of us, whether his home be near the State House or remote from it, will consider that he has something to do in direct ing the destiny of the Capital City." One phase of the public spirit of the period is presented in a card, signed by A. Shaw, H. H. Griffiths, W. A. Scott and J. A. Williamson, offering to assist any one, having business at the Capitol, in procuring rooms and board in pri vate houses "where ample provisions have been made for the comfort and ac commodation of guests at reasonable rates." The inauguration of Governor Lowe in the new Capitol at n A. M. on the 14th of January, 1858, was, in a social as in a general sense, the inauguration of a new era for Des Moines. The occasion was one of historic interest. The weather was ideally clear and almost abnormally warm, "like an Indian summer dropped into the lap of winter." The House was crowded with citizens and visitors. The interest was lively. Chief Justice Wright administered the oath to the incoming State officers. The address of Governor Lowe was brief, sum marizing the needs and possibilities of the new State, and eloquently pointing the way to the irrepressible conflict just ahead growing out of the two con- VoL I— 11. 162 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY flicting interpretations of the Constitution as to the question of slave-holding in the territories. The ceremonies concluded, a committee of Des Moines citizens took posses sion of the House to make ready for the Inauguration Festival in the evening, in honor of ex-Governor Grimes, Governor Lowe, Lieutenant Governor Faville, the other executive officers of State, the Supreme Court, and the members of the Senate of the Second General Assembly. The Citizen describes the Inauguration Festival as "rather impromptu in character and western in style," the ladies of the city preparing the refresh ments for the occasion on tables occupying nearly the whole area of the hall. "The festival had nothing of a party character; men of all parties vieing with each other in this cordial greeting to officials and strangers from all portions of the State." It was estimated that more than seven hundred persons were present, of whom nearly a third were ladies. All the State offices were thrown open and the Senate Chamber was devoted to music and dancing. Judge Casady was president of the evening. Mr. Finch announced the program. After the responses to the health of the Governor and the Lieutenant- Governor, there were a number of impromptu toasts and responses, among them the following by local speakers: "The Patriots of the Revolution," by John A. Kasson ; "The Army and Navy," by M. M. Crocker ; "The Clergy," by Rev. J. T. Cook; "The Press," by J. Teesdale. Other speeches followed. The Citizen thus rhetorically rings down the curtain on the event : "At a late hour the omni buses bore the last of the guests to their homes, the lights were put out, and silence reigned throughout the festive halls. The demonstration was worthy of the generous citizens of Des Moines ; a happy introduction of a multitude of strangers; and a fitting prelude of other entertainments and pleasures in store for those who would gladly thus be relieved, occasionally, from the monotonous round of official labor." At the "Senatorial dinner" given January 29, by the newly elected U. S. Sena tor, James W. Grimes, to which several prominent citizens were invited, the Citizen pronounced the speech of the Senator-elect as one which left upon all who heard it the impression that its author was peculiarly entitled to the office conferred upon him, by reason of his large ability and efficient public service. The first state editorial convention held in the Capital city was convened at the Collins House on Monday, January 18, with E. N. Chapin of the Central Journal, Marshalltown, in the chair, and A. P. Wagstaff of the Chariton Re publican secretary. About a dozen editors and publishers were present. A com mittee was appointed to arrange for another convention. The printers employed in the Capital city held a festival the same evening at the same hotel, Gen. William Duane Wilson presiding. A bounteous supper was served. "Every one present had a 'fat take,' " Two-minute responses to toasts were given. Among the numerous toasts was the following: "Des Moines — The Infant Capital. May the hand of progress mark her onward course, and may she wear with honor the name and position she has assumed." The record for brevity in prayer was made in the House, by Rev. A. T. Shinn, of Marshall, on Washington's birthday. It reads : "Great God ! Bless the young and growing State of Iowa; bless her senators and representatives, her Governor and other State officers ; give us a sound currency, pure water, and undefiled religion, for Christ's sake. Amen." Washington's birthday was celebrated with a festival at the Demoine House, in honor of the statesmen on the hill. Toasts followed dinner, and several elo quent legislators responded. Hon. John A. Kasson presided "in the most happy and dignified manner." Parker's band furnished the music, and dancing fol lowed the speaking, continuing until 7. A. M. The Citizen, on the 23d, complained of the slight toll exacted from legisla- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 163 tors and strangers every time they crossed the river, maintaining that it did much to keep up the division of feeling between the East and West side, laid an embargo on intercourse, and was a needless vexation. It also facetiously noted the organization of the "Third House," and Gover nor Price's message, commending "many subjects to the favorable consideration of gentlemen of the lobby, and of the subordinate branches." Its next issue notes that Court avenue bridge passes have been issued to members and officers of the legislature. It hopes the day is not far distant when the toll will be lifted. A 'bus line operated for a time between the Capitol and the West side, — -fare ten cents : but so many legislators, visitors and townspeople preferred to walk for their health that after a few weeks the enterprising proprietors returned overland to Waterloo. The record-starting Seventh General Assembly adjourned on the 23d of March, 1858, after a laborious session of seventy-two days, — laborious and yet so blended with social activities that the members who, to borrow a phrase from Mrs. Malaprop, "expected to be disappointed," returned to their homes with only words of praise for the new Capital city. CHAPTER IV. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE IN THE CAPITAL CITY IN '58. We turn again to the advertising pages of the press to find a reflex of the business and professional life of the period under consideration. Business in Des Moines in 1858 was not as highly specialized as it was later; and yet the "general store" of that period was a prototype of the department store of the present time. Most of the dry-goods stores of '58 carried several side-lines, some groceries ; others clothing, hats and caps, boots and shoes, and still others hardware, glassware, etc. The principal dry-goods dealers in evi dence were: A. Newton, Little, Garrison & Company, J. H. Hatch and (on the East side) J. M. Clouston. Clothing, boots and shoes, hats and caps were represented by J. & J. Kuhns, Billstein, Simon & Strauss and James Crane. W. G. Andrews & Company, Oliver H. Baker, Joseph Rogg and I. N. Newell sold watches and jewelry. In the book trade of the city, Redhead & Dawson's only rival was J. R. Hadsell. The wholesale and retail druggists were Dr. W. Baker & Company, Alex ander Shaw' of the Eagle Drug store, and Charles Good. Groceries were handled, at wholesale and retail, by John Mc Williams, J. D. Cavenor & Company and J. H. Thode, and the Laird Brothers. The Iron City Hardware store was conducted by Galbraith, Latshaw & Woodwell, and Childs, Sanford & Howell. Tarbell & Company and Houston & Company sold furniture ; C. Sexauer & Brother, mattresses and upholstery; and Susan Sharman, pianos and other musical instruments. T. J. Morris & Company sold boots and shoes, leather and findings at whole sale and retail, and J. F. Kemp retailed footwear. Morris & Downer were merchant tailors, and sold ready-made clothing. Terry & Butler made and sold harness, saddles, trunks, whips, flynets, etc. D. F Arnold was a money and real-estate broker. Among the many real- estate brokers of the period were: Jester Hedge, Dewey & Tubby. McGaughey, Nash & Company, D. P. W Day, Thomas Cavanagh, J. A. Williamson and the Van Meters. Lovejoy & Brother were extensive dealers in lumber. R. B. Harris, plain and ornamental painter, advertised to paint flags, banners, transparencies, etc. The Iowa Foundry, on Front street, east side, had just begun operations with Stephen J. Loughran superintendent. Stanton & Ziegler were proprietors of the Vine street flouring mill, and William F. Ayers & Company advertise "the best mill in Central Iowa." S. A. Robertson and James Monroe advertised "bricks by the million." S. M. Good had a forwarding and commission warehouse "near the steam boat landing." The hotels advertised are the Demoine House, Thomas J. Cannon, formerly of the Clinton House, Iowa City, proprietor; the Everett House, A. Morris, proprietor. 164 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 165 G. L. Reynolds advertised ainbrotypes and photographs taken and colored in the highest style of the art. From his artistic height he "drops into poetry" in these fetching lines : "Do they miss you at home, do they miss you? Yes — but a picture they have that's so dear And so lifelike, they say that it is you, Minus voice — and they hold it most dear." The professional cards in the Citizen and the Journal include many well- known names. The attorneys are: C. C. Cole, Thomas F. Withrow, W. W. Williamson, Stephen Sibley, S. V. White, Casady & Crocker, Cassiday & Rey nolds, Finch & Mitchell, J. S. Polk, W. J. Gatling, S. Reynolds, R. H. Ballenger, John G. Weeks, J. W. Dennison, and M. D. and W. H. McHenry The last named firm, the junior member of which is vividly recalled by the younger generation, announce that "the senior partner having been engaged extensively in the business of the law in the courts of Kentucky for nearly thirty years, and the junior partner having been engaged in the land business in Iowa for eight years past, during which time he has made actual survey of a large por tion of Polk and adjoining counties, they feel confident they will be able to render a satisfactory account of all business entrusted to them." Following are the physicians whose cards appear : Alexander Shaw, T. R. Rogers, H. C. Grimmel, J. B. O. Lancton (from Montreal), William P. Davis, R. A. Bird (consumption specialist), Fox, (eye specialist), L. C. Hillman (from New York), J. O. Skinner, William Allen, and N. G. McGonegal, (homeo- pathist). Architects and builders — S. A. Robertson and George S. Greene, U. B. White, bridge builder, etc. Civil engineers — B. Callan, John C. Booth. Dentists— W. T. Bailey, S. C. Brownell. Will Tomlinson, ex-journalist, doled out justice at the foot of the hill on the East side. Rev. W. M. Stryker announced a select primary and classical school under the auspices of the Old School Presbyterian church. CHAPTER V. A NEARER VIEW OF LIFE IN DES MOINES IN THE LATE FIFTIES. The first number of the Tri- Weekly Citizen, in January, 1858, presents a sharp contrast between the city then and the city now. The editor complain- ingly remarks that while groping his way along the sidewalk, one evening, he found his way blocked by a horse and wagon — "not an unusual occurrence." He breaks out with — "There is no propriety, or civility, no courtesy, and, in fact, no sense, in having horses, wheelbarrows, store boxes, and miscellaneous goods blocking up the sidewalks of the city." The Journal, about the same time, learned that a theatrical troupe was on its way to Des Moines for the purpose of opening a theatre, and opined that a good theatre would be quite an addition to the city. The pastor of the M. E. church inveighed against the stage as altogether demoralizing, and said the coming of a theatre company was deplorable. The Court avenue bridge across the Des Moines, the first of the several bridges which span the river, stood out in "beautiful proportions to attract the eyes and accommodate the necessities of the people, ... an honor to the builder, the company and our city." The Journal says it was completed in the short space of five months. It included four spans of 135 feet each, with double trusses and double arches. It was the wonder and admiration of all. The spirit of "benevolent assimilation" felt by the citizens of Des Moines toward the General Assembly is seen in many ways, one of which is recorded in the Senate Journal on January 13, 1858. Mr. Davis, of Polk, presented a communication from the secretary of the Des Moines reading room tendering to the members of the Senate the use of its reading matter. Another was a communication signed by the pioneer clergyman, Thompson Bird, stating that at a meeting of Des Moines clergymen held on the 13th of January, it was unanimously resolved that its members would comply with the request of the Senate that they act as chaplain of the Senate by such an arrangement among themselves as might suit their convenience On the 14th, a resolution, in the same hospitable spirit was adopted by the Senate, tendering to the citizens of Des Moines the use of the Senate chamber from and after 2 p. m. on that day for the purpose of holding an Inauguration Festival. And, later, at the close of the session, a resolution by Senator Trimble was agreed to tendering to the citizens of Des Moines their "grateful acknowledgments and' heartfelt thanks, for the generous hospitality and innumerable offices of kindness during their sojourn among them." Even in "the good old days of '58" there were the social evils which the reformers of our time incline to regard as the product of complicated present day conditions. "A Citizen" had posted on the east end of Court avenue bridge what he termed "A Few Sober Thoughts [ !] for East Des Moines and friends of humanity generally." He called attention to a den of prostitution and crime situated at the base of Capitol Hill, "the keeper of which," he said was "a man whose heart is black as hell," who "stalks abroad at noon-day . . . dressed in the finest clothes. . . He may be seen lurking about houses in this city for the purpose of enticing young and innocent girls from the path of virtue to the shades of death." Then follows an indignant demand 166 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 167 that this "fiend of hell" "be suspended by a rope to the limb of a neighboring tree," and that his house be "razed to the ground." The Journal editor with much force urges "Citizen" to turn informer and have the guilty man arrested, assuring him that the mayor and justices have never yet refused to do their duty. It should be added that the alleged procurer was arrested, tried and convicted. High water late in January and early in February interfered with the mails. The stage from Iowa City on January 29 was brought to "a perplexing pause on the bank of the Skunk river; and many hours elapsed before the mail could be rafted to the west side." The Fort Dodge stage arrived at the Capital on the same day, after a five- days' journey, through "bottomless pits, impassable torrents, interminable mud, drenching rain" ! The election of Governor Grimes to the United States Senatorship on the 26th of January, 1858, was followed on the 29th by a supper given by the successful candidate at the Demoine House. About two hundred legislators, visiting statesmen and townsmen attended. Toasts were given and responses made, "and," says the democratic Journal, "the guests ' left pleased at least with the hospitality and liberality of the host if not with his political predi lections." The pioneer Society of Turners gave a concert and ball at Sherman Hall on the ist of Eebruary. A temperance mass convention was held at the M. E. church February 2, and visiting delegates were entertained by the faithful. Judge M. D. McHenry of Des Moines, presided. The convention remonstrated against a repeal of the prohibitory law. A Court avenue saloon fire raised the warning cry, "Where is the fire engine ?' Several thousand acres of public lands were daily disposed of at the Govern ment land office in February. There were still some 50,000 acres of unsold land in the Des Moines district. Messrs. Cooper and Brown, representing the Government, were doing their best to accommodate the rush. Messrs. McWilliams, Kasson and Sherman had liberally fitted up a reading room in the Exchange block, over Newton's store, and generously supplied it with periodicals, and the room was open day and evening; but complaint was made that the enterprise was not appreciated, as the room was not well patron ized. The most disastrous fire in years occurred on the East side, February 3, the burning of Stanton & Zeigler's mills. On the 5th, the steamer Colonel Morgan, which had been anchored at the wharf in Des Moines since the previous spring, took a trip down the river, under the impetus of the midwinter flood. Several persons took the winter excursion. Long before the war, Des Moines became interested in the slavery ques tion. The first resident governor of Iowa, Governor Grimes, brought with him to the new Capital an atmosphere of sympathy with the slave and of desire for his freedom. Des .Moines was one of the far-western stations of the "Underground Railroad." Among the men in Des Moines who were active in their endeavors to help the runaway slaves on to freedom were John Tees dale, Isaac Brandt, and Polk county's first whig senator, James C. Jordan. When, in February, 1859, John Brown and his followers fled with twelve ex-slaves from Missouri to Canada, they stopped over, on the 17th, with Jordan, and on the 18th with Teesdale. On the 19th, Teesdale paid their ferriage across the Des Moines, and on the 20th they were received by Grinnell and his fellow abolitionists.1 Jeremiah G. Anderson, one of Brown's trusted men who died by his side at Harper's Ferry, was a Des Moines boy who went all the way to Kansas to join the would-be emancipator. 1 Gue — History of Iowa, v. I, pp. 381-2. 168 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY General Reed, president of the Keokuk, Des Moines and Minnesota Rail road Company was a guest of the Demoine House for a fortnight in February. He confidently predicted a completion of the road to Des Moines at an early day. The Citizen editor .says : "The people of the Des Moines valley — who have been so grievously disappointed by the failure of the scheme for securing the benefits of slack-water navigation — earnestly call upon the legislature to hasten such legislation as will secure for the Valley Railroad the aid so certain to follow from a diversion of the grant of Congress." Des Moines' large contribution to wagon transportation, with the city's con sequent need of railroads, was strongly presented by "B" in the Citizen of Feb ruary 2j, '58. The writer had obtained from the books of Des Moines mer chants and manufacturers the aggregate amount of wagon freights paid by them from the termini of the two eastern railroads during the past year. He found that the aggregate was $93,634. To this total were added the following items : On machinery for four large mills .¦ . . .$ 6,200 On other machinery 4.500 On pine lumber 8,000 On iron, plate, window-caps, sills, etc., shipped to builders 4,000 On household furniture, stoves, wagons, etc., shipped direct to purchasers 4.500 Total annual wagon freight of Des Moines $120,834 These freight charges were reported as varying from $30 to $50 per ton, the rate "governed by the condition of the roads, &c." Assuming that the wagon rate averages $40 a ton; and that the railroad rate from Iowa City, or Bentonsport, to Des Moines would be $6 per ton, or an aggregate of $18,124, the difference in favor of railroads would be $102,710. Assuming that the population of Des Moines in '58 was 5,000, the present tax was estimated at "$20.54 for every man, woman and child, or about $100 per annum for each family residing in Des Moines." One of Des Moines' distinguished citizens, Hon. George C. Tichenor, wrote, at Mr. Hussey 's suggestion, a delightfully frank story of his advent in Des Moines. He started out to seek his fortune from his birthplace in Kentucky early in March, 1858, having several points in view. Finding Keokuk dull, after two weeks of vain endeavor to get work at the painter's trade or as a bookkeeper, he took passage on the Clara Hine headed for Des Moines. Captain Patton, "a tall, raw-boned man of few words and determined manner," had no work for him, but offered to take him to "the Fort" for $10, on condition that he would lend a hand if needed. The boat's cargo consisted of dry goods and groceries for the Fort and other points along the river. There were five passengers besides himself. At night the captain proceeded, very slowly, to avoid not only snags but overhanging limbs of trees along the banks. The boat anchored frequently to cut away limbs of trees which threatened the smoke-stack and the pilot house. The boat landed at Campbell's Point, Fort Des Moines, at sunset, on the 19th of April, eight clays after leaving the dock in Keokuk. Mr. Tichenor recalls the loud solicitation of runners for the Demoine House, the Collins House, and the Morris House. After some haggling, the runner for the Collins agreed to take his trunk to the hotel for "two bits," and board and lodge him at $2.25 a week, or 75 cents a day. He describes the old Collins House of 1858 as "a long, nar row, low, two story, white frame house with adjoining 'office,' and 'parlor,' dining room and kitchen on the lower floor, and about a dozen sleeping rooms, about 6 by 8 feet square, on either side of a narrow hallway on the second floor, and was situated between Third and Fourth streets near the 'Coon river." After eating supper, young Tichenor took account of stock and found he had only a three-cent piece left. This he invested in a "Principe" cigar, at the CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 169 hotel office. Thus he found himself, at nineteen, without a cent in his pockets; but with two suits of clothes, a suit of overalls, six shirts — one of them with a starched bosom, six pairs of home-knit socks, a copy of Josephus, of Plutarch's Lives, and of Seneca's Morals and an open-faced gold watch, — and he a thou sand miles from home ! He found Des Moines suffering depression resultant from the panic of '57, and a very dead town, but, evidently he found work for he remained and soon obtained a substantial foothold there. It had been made. the State Capital the year before, and the jealousies of the East and West side were everywhere apparent. The river was spanned, near the foot of Locust street, with "a primitive and quite unstable sort of pontoon bridge, which was the only means of passage except by small ferry, skiff or canoe." During part of that spring and the succeeding spring of '59, "the river extended from Front street west to the bluffs, or Capitol Hill, east. Mr. Tichenor remembers making the passage time and again in a skiff from the landing at the Demoine House, west, to the Walker House in East Des Moines. In after years, as chairman of the bridge committee in the City Council, Mr. Tichenor had the satisfaction of contributing his influence and services toward building two substantial free bridges across the Des Moines. In September, 1859, a novel gathering was seen on the new Capitol grounds. The report is that there were some 1500 Sacs and Foxes in camp on Four-Mile Creek, in Polk county, chiefly descendants of the "first families" who vacated, — or were supposed to have vacated — the reservation in 1846. State Secretary Sells and State Treasurer Jones had arranged to have these braves appear in full costume and give the citizens of Des Moines an old-time war-dance. The Indians arrived in full feather and paint, with knives, firearms and trophies, their musicians beating torn toms to their crude dances. Their audience was immense and the applause generous. Several times Messrs. Sells and Jones would pass the hat through the throng for the benefit of the visitors. The weird program lasted till nearly midnight. A democratic mass meeting called to order by P. M. Casady and addressed by Judge Trimble of Keokuk, occurred on the 8th of September. The Capital Guards, J. C. Booth, captain ; J. Hyde, first lieutenant ; and Will Tomlinson, second lieutenant — officers appointed by Governor Lowe — was or ganized in September. The Statesman reports that Tomlinson had become a strict disciplinarian, insisting on "getting the boys out at 5 o'clock and marching them to the river and back before breakfast !" Three years later, the reorganized Capital Guards had passed "from jest to earnest," and were drilling in prepara- - tion for the awful certainty of service at the front of battle ! "Peaceable Secession" — East Side vs. West Side. The local jealousies sure to crop out from time to time in cities so fortunate, aesthetically, so unfortunate politically, as to be divided by a river, were so much in evidence in the fall of 1858 that the Statesman of September 9, at the risk of being charged with "showing the white feather," advised either peaceable seces sion or a mass meeting with a view to getting together on some basis of mutual concession. "Shall we agree to separate at once," says the Statesman, "so that one side shall not clog or impede the progress of the other, or shall we conclude to build up one great town here, irrespective of sides, and commence at once ?" Specifically, it calls attention to the need of "improving at least one thorough fare through our city limits, east and west," and if possible, also one running north and south. It says there is not a decent stage-road leading to the city in any direction. It sees the Capital city, destined to be the great railroad center of Iowa, frittering away its prospects "in petty quarrels which would disgrace a lot of school-boys." It calls on the Citizen and the Journal to speak out on the question. That the spirit of resentment was in the air on the East side of the Des 170 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Moines is evident from the published proceedings of a mass meeting held Sep tember io, 1858, when, pursuant to call, the citizens of the fifth, sixth and seventh wards, — the East side — convened "for the purpose of instructing the aldermen of those wards, in compliance with their own request, as to their duty as representatives of East side interests. T. A. Walker presided and E. S. Griffith served as secretary. The aldermen of these wards addressed the meeting presenting nine grievances to which they had been personally subjected, — grievances wherein, as they maintained, were involved the interests of their constituents, as well as their own sense of outrage. These, in brief were: ( 1 ) Extravagant expenditures by the city government, imposing heavy taxes and injuring the city credit. (2) The Mayor had recently refused their appeal from the decision of the chair, and had been sustained by a majority of the council, thus compelling them to "withdraw in self-defense." (3) The Mayor, sustained by some of the council, had frequently misin terpreted the charter and ordinances, depriving the minority of their rights. (4) The published proceedings did not always agree with the journal of the council. (5) The Mayor had voted when there was no tie in defiance of the charter depriving him of a vote, except to break a tie. (6) The Council had legally voted $5 a day salary to the mayor; but, at a called meeting, at which only seven aldermen were present, the mayor's salary had been raised to $500, in defiance of the law requiring a two-thirds vote. (7) At a called meeting for a special purpose, the mayor had lugged in other matters foreign to the call ; and on the withdrawal of the East side mem bers, the seven remaining aldermen, with the vote of the mayor, filled a vacancy on the board. Besides raising the mayor's salary unlawfully, they had reconsidered action on a bill which had twice been vetoed and ordered a warrant drawn for the claimant, again violating the two-thirds rule. (8) A tax list had been ordered published at a cost of about $800, in viola tion of the same rule. (9) West side councilmen, by expunging records and by personal admis sions, had acknowledged they had perpetrated injuries upon the rights and interests of the East side. Resolutions were adopted in effect, that, whereas these illegal and unauthorized acts, sanctioned, as was believed, "by a majority of the citizens residing in the west division of our city," had demonstrated "the hopelessness of a permanent union between East and West Des Moines," the citizens of the East side joined in requesting their aldermen never to meet in council during their term of office ; resolving, further, "that the vital interests of both sides of the river imperatively demand a separation," and they of the East side felt "anxious to terminate a union which" was "one only in name ;" that they would "continue on the de fensive," and act only whenever their "rights, honor and interests are assailed." It was developed as part of the published proceedings that "the citizens of Fort Des Moines, on the West side of the river, went to Iowa City, last winter a year ago, professedly to enlarge the boundaries of Fort Des Moines two miles square on the West side of the river only, declaring emphatically that they did not wish to take in the East side of the river contrary to their wishes; instead of which, they incorporated the two towns together, in opposition to the re monstrances of every ninety-eight out of a hundred citizens of East Des Moines." "The whole people of the East side," continues the report, "feel it is a fraud of the blackest dye, that an intense feeling of abhorrence at this unparalleled act of tyranny is increasing daily, and an entire and complete separation of the two towns must be made soon, if they will be compelled ultimately to become one in name and interest." The floating bridge across the Des Moines was, the last of September, once more suspended from shore to shore. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 171 East Des Moines was, at this time, gratified over the reopening of the East side postoffice, which some time before had been closed by the department. A democratic supper, in glorification of the victory of Douglas over Lincoln in Illinois, was held at the Demoine House Saturday evening, November 14. About sixty democrats were there. D. O. Finch presided "with the grace of a veteran." The democratic editors of Des Moines were unanimously requested to run up the flag of Douglas for the presidency in i860, subject to the action of the Charleston convention. The Statesman reluctantly declined, deeming such expression premature. The Des Moines Literary Institute was organized in November, 1858. The' first lecture, on Poland, was delivered by Melville B. Hoxie. A railroad meeting was held in Sherman's Flail, November 27, and another December 4, '58, to determine and act upon a plan best calculated to afford "present relief, ultimate security and an early completion of our railroads." The call for these meetings was signed by forty-three leading citizens. D. O. Finch presided and B. D. Thomas acted as secretary. The principal speakers were C. C. Cole, J. A. Williamson, P. M. Casady, W. H. McHenry, J. Teesdale, Stewart Goodrell and John A. Kasson. On motion of Judge Cole a committee of seven "to take into consideration all that had been urged at the meeting, and report upon the best plan to bring Des Moines into early connection with the east, the chair appointed as such committee, Messrs. Cole, Sypher, Laird, Baus- man, McHenry, (M. D.), Goodrell and Williamson. Dr. William P. Davis lectured before the Des Moines Literary Institute December 9, on "The Influence of Intelligence Upon the Morals." On the 16th, Charles C. Dawson read "Longfellow's new poem, The Courtship of Miles Standish." . On the 23d, Chief Justice Wright lectured on "The Law of Kindness." In December, Francis C. Misner opened a school in which French, German and the classics were taught, in a building on Ninth and Des Moines streets, east, erected by W. H. McHenry, H. Lyon, M. L. Devin, Stewart Goodrell and others. Christmas Eve was observed in the Supreme Court room at the Capitol. Toasts and responses were offered and letters read. The occasion was in honor of the retiring state officers, Pattee, Fisher and Parvin. The toasters-in-chief were M. L. Morris, Elijah Sells, J. W. Jones, Lewis Kinsey, William Duane Wilson and Thomas F. Withrow. John A. Kasson lectured in Sherman Hall, January 20, 1859, on "The Pur chase of Mt. Vernon by the Ladies' Association of the Union." Mrs. D. O. Finch and Mrs. J. A. Williamson were credited with having induced Mr. Kasson to aid the cause. The proceeds were donated toward the purchase of the "Home and Grave of Washington." In the winter and spring of '59 the whole Des Moines valley was alive with railroad meetings and preparations for meetings, the general purpose of which was to emphasize the need of roads, to insist that the companies should keep their promises, and to press the claims of localities to special consideration. A convention at Oskaloosa, January 26, was a contest of localities and of rival interests, chiefly valuable in "stirring things up." After freely expressing doubts as to the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines and Minnesota Railroad Company, the con vention in its resolutions expressed full confidence in the good faith of that corporation. It resolved that it would do all that could be done "to aid in building the railroad from Des Moines, via Pella, Oskaloosa and Ottumwa, so as to form a southern and such eastern connections as will be thereby afforded with the Capital of the State." It also favored the Central Route to the Pacific. Mr. Williamson, of the Statesman, a week later, dissented from the views ex pressed by his partner Tomlinson. The only new project Williamson favored was "a unison of the Keokuk and Burlington roads for the purpose of pushing on to the Capital." Another meeting of the belligerent East siders was held March 19, "to take into consideration the best means of taking care of their interests." 172 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The Des Moines had continued navigable all winter. There had not been a period of five days at a time without steamboat arrivals from St. Louis. John McWilliams, the grocer, was busy in March supplying wagon trains with provisions for the exodus to Pike's Peak. A manifest of the Clara Hine, arrived March 9 from St. Louis, shows that the importations by water at the time were chiefly salt, sugar, molasses,, coffee, dried fruit, nails, ale, sheet iron, glass, soap and general merchandise . The "Des Moines Belle" is the name chosen by Mr. Tisdale for a new boat built in Des Moines and launched April 5. "She only draws five inches as she lays." The Charles Rodgers returned on the morning of April 10, from a round trip to Fort Dodge, having left Fort Dodge on the forenoon of the 9th. Captain Beers reported the navigation better above than below the forks. An event of the spring of '59 was the arrival of the "Demoine City," a new steamboat described as a two-boiler, double-engine boat, 130 feet keel, 36 feet beam, 3*4 hold, full cabin, with sixteen staterooms. It was built in Pittsburg for the Des Moines trade. It came loaded with passengers and freight. Among its passengers was Governor Lowe, also J. B. Stewart, of Des Moines. The Statesman pronounced it the best boat on the river, though not quite equal in cabin capacity to the "Flora Temple." Though the oncoming of the railroad was only a question of a few years at the longest, it is evident that Des Moines still hugged the hope that river naviga tion was to play an important part in her development. The Statesman says: "Our citizens greeted with pleasure the boat that bears the name of their city, and large numbers visited her during her stay in port." The last number of the Statesman, April 28, 1859, published the. arrivals of steamboats at Des Moines since the opening of navigation. March 9, The Clara Hine registered six arrivals ; the Charles Rodgers, 9 ; the Colonel Morgan, 5 ; the Defiance, 1 ; the Flora Temple, 2 ; the Desmoine City, 1, — 24 in all. This number contains the Mayor's Proclamation announcing a city election, May 2, for the selection of a mayor and fourteen aldermen, two for each ward, At the same time the voters of the city were to pass upon the question: "Shall the Mayor and Aldermen receive pay?" R. L. Tidrick was mayor at the time. The voters decided that the mayor should be paid. The valedictory of Messrs. Williamson and Tomlinson, as they turn their sub scribers over to the Journal, has the pathetic tone so familiar to the old-time reader of country newspapers. The two had conducted the Statesman at a loss from the start. Their subscribers who had so freely promised "cash or produce" had failed to keep their word. As a consequence they had been "com pelled to pay for the blank paper alone more than five dollars for every one received on subscription." They had "already made too many and too great sacrifices to justify any further continuance." June 22 and 23, 1859, were exciting days in Des Moines. The town was full of republicans and democrats, each good-naturedly bantering the other, and all, together, severely testing the hospitality of the Capital citv. Hon. Francis W Palmer, better known as "Frank" Palmer, then editor of the Dubuque Times, writes Mr. Hussey of his long journey from Dubuque to Des Moines via Burlington, Ottumwa and the Des Moines river, to attend the repub lican State Convention of '50. Most of the passengers up the river were fellow- delegates, among them Willis Drummond of Clayton, FitzHenry Warren and "a young man named Lane, of Burlington." He remembers that "the passen gers and crew watched with intense eagerness all the possible obstacles, . . . in the form of sand-bars, abrupt bends in the channel, floating trees and hidden rocks." But there was no serious detention and the delegates reached Des Moines in ample time to serve their country. The Democratic State Convention was held in Des Moines on the day fol lowing, and many of the delegates came up the river, on the steamer DeMoine CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 173 City, reporting a pleasant trip. The democrats enjoyed with their republican brethren Jim Revault's little pleasantry at their expense. Mr. Hussey records it thus : "Yesterday the Republican party came in on us and ate up everything we had, and today the Democratic party have come in and are drinking up everything we have ! And taking it all around, it's going to be a darned hard winter on the poor!" CHAPTER VI. . THE CAPITOL LOCATION SCANDAL CHARGES OF GRAFT IN THE LOCATION OF THE CAPITOL. The unhappy sequel to the story of the re-location of the seat of government was a charge of fraud in the location, with an investigation of the acts and utterances of the commissioners. The charge was brought before a committee of the Iowa House "appointed to investigate charges of fraud on the part of the commissioners in locating the Capitol." The memorial presented the committee was signed by W. C. Bur ton, Thomas McMullin, A. N. Marsh, J. S. Cook, James Crane, James Sherman, H. K. Lovejoy and F. C. Grimmel. William Baker's name was also signed, but a line is drawn through the signature.1 The memorialists offer to prove that the several commissioners did not per form their duty with a "strict regard to the interests of the entire State;" but located the Capitol "at the point where the inhabitants and proprietors of the land did offer to and did pay said commissioners the largest personal Bribe or Bonus for locating the same." They further state that "notwithstanding that people and citizens residing on the West Side . . . offered to donate to the State sufficient lands for public use. and to make the State a donation of lands to the amount of $200,000, or thereabouts," to secure the location on the West side, the commissioners per sisted in selecting the East side site "without any donation of lands to the State other than for public buildings, (or without any donation amounting to any con siderable sum,) and did receive in consideration of said location sums in land and money amounting to from seven to ten thousand dollars to each ..." They aver further that the commissioners, "or a majority of them, suffered themselves to be and were improperly influenced in their decision, and were induced to make and did make their said location for the promotion of private and personal ends." 2 The memorialists, in a supplemental paper, demanded an investigation on the grounds that, if the charges were true, the dignity of the State had been griev ously outraged ; the legislature was entitled to an investigation, the better "to guard against such frauds in future legislation;" the State's duty was clearly to ferret out all wrongs against her dignity and her interests ; "the interests of the entire State" had been disregarded; it was the duty of the State to ascertain whether the commissioners had obtained for the State all the grants and dona tions they might have obtained and, if they had obtained donations for them selves, then they would be chargeable "with every foot of land given them indi- 1 In the printed report of the investigation the following- additional names are given as signers of a memorial : lohn L. Smith, 'William Baker, lohn Tvler. D. P. Kenyon, H. M. Bush, A. Newman, J. A. Woods. Wm. McClelland, Jr., Charles Weitz, Joseph Rogg, John Johns, F. W. Chaffee, Greenup Scott, William Allen. J. A. McConahey, F. C. Grim mel, Jr., Jacob Lehman, C. C. Plowell, J. C. Lovejoy, J. F. Kemp, D. P. W. Day, W. C. Burton, j. D. Davis. Samuel Gruell, William Phillips, James Crane, J. S. Dicks, C. P. Luce, L. T. Filson. G. W. Dunke, D. Harris, John H. Given, D. D. Skinner, C. W. Van Horn. Tohn S. Smith, H. C. Grimmel. C. Lehman, E. R. Sanford, David Norris P M. Scott, W. W. Moore, George Green, R. W. Concklin, R. W. Sypher, S. McCain, John H. Thode, E. R. Clapp, R. Holcombe, J. J. Harrod, H. Stephenson, Jonathan Lyon. 2 Filed with House Committee, February 13, 1858. 174 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 175 vidually in consideration of their official action. Should the State be dissatisfied with the tract selected, and find another more desirable, it would be free to reopen the question of location, in case the alleged fraud had been committed; and, finally, the new Constitution did not provide for a site, but for a municipal district which should contain the seat of government, and neither the legislature nor the governor nor the constitutional convention, nor the people, could be considered as having ratified a fraud if any had been committed." Two of the late commissioners, Guy Wells and .Stewart Goodrell, presented a brief statement. They stated that all the commissioners were present when the location was chosen, and had made all the examination they deemed it neces sary to make. They waited upon citizens and examined different donations pro posed, and were unanimous in the opinion that the location selected was for the best interest of the State. They deemed it "unnecessary to state all the reasons and causes that were taken into consideration in forming their judgment." After they had decided and acted, citizens on the West side, had "made some propositions that had not been previously made, and which were considered by the commissioners." The two commissioners denied that they, or either of them, or any other commissioner to their knowledge, had acted under the influence of any gift or bribe. On the contrary, they had voted "their honest convictions and best judg ment." They denied emphatically, "the charges unjustly made in the memorial." Then follows the original paper (dated April 22,. 1856) showing the sub scriptions — in real estate at appraised valuations — made by the West-siders pro vided the location be made "in the forks of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers.3 This was supplemented by a statement from J. E. Jewett signed April 22, 1856, in substance that "tomorrow morning" the citizens of Fort Des Moines would offer ten acres of land "on an eligible situation and in a suitable place, and $200,000, if said location shall be made on the west side of the Des Moines river and within the Raccoon forks." This is followed by a supplemental list of donors, showing $30,450 — in real estate — added to the subscriptions already made.4 3 Following is a copy of the list : P. M. Casady $S,ooo Jonathan Lyon iS.ooo S. Y. Keene S,ooo James Campbell 5,ooo L. P. Sherman 300 Lovell White 3,000 W. H. Hervey 1,000 F. R. West 10,000 Ira Cook 4,000 Wm. F. Ayers S.ooo F. C. Grimmel 10,000 Thomas McMullin 5>ooo R. Holcombe 10,000 J. C. Jones 6,000 E. R. Clapp '500 J. S. Dicks 500 J. D. Davis 1,000 W. W. Moore . ., 5«o J. Lewis 1,000 H. M. Hoxie . . .' 1,000 H. Stephenson 300 Hoyt Sherman 3,000 H. R. Lovejoy 300 J. E. Jewett 2,000 L. T. Filson 1,000 B. Rice 500 William Busick 500 D. P. W. Day 2,000 B. F. Allen 2,000 R. L. Tidrick 1,000 J. W. Bradshaw 1,000 H. C. Grimmel 400 Edwin Hall 2,000 D. O. Finch 500 And. J. Stevens 2,000 W. W. Williamson 500 G. Holland 5,000 James Crane 500 W. C. Burton . .- 3,000 James Sherman 500 Francis Grimmel, Jr 1,000 George Snear 1,000 Total $128,800 R. W. Sypher _ 10,000 4 Following is the list : John Mumma $500 C. W. Vanhorn 400 Barlow Granger for Bird 2,000 Martin Winters 600 Wesley Redhead 1,000 Thomas Boyd 300 Milton Scott 1,000 A. Newton 1,000 C. H. & W. A. Poindexter 5,000 Laird Brothers 500 Wm. M. Baker 1,000 John Yost 1,000 176 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The investigation committee heard testimony during a large part of the month of March, 1858. Many witnesses were subpoenaed. Much of the testimony went to show that the commissioners were not regardful of the best interests of the State, in that they had been indifferent to the larger offer of the West Side. The voluminous report of the Special Committee of the House, filed with the testimony, reviews the evidence and weighs its value, and concludes therefrom that the charges are sustained as to Commissioner Pegram, but not as to the other commissioners. In detail it found at the outset, that the charges contained in the original memorial were not "sufficiently explicit, or specific." Therefore a number of the memorialists made them more definite. Objection having been made to the proposed ex parte examination, the committee granted the request of some of the accused to appear by counsel. As to the first charge, the committee held that the comnrssioners did not act with "strict regard for the interests of the State" in preferring the East side location, with less land, and that not worth more than $150 an acre at the time, The commitee could not "perceive by what considerations of advantage or benefit to the State the commissioners were so actuated." In reference to the counter charge of the commissioners that the West side subscriptions were not made in good faith, the committee held that ."as the commissioners could have required the payment of these subscriptions as a condition precedent," no value should be placed upon that part of the testimony. The first charge was therefore substantiated. To maintain the second charge, the memorialists relied chiefly on Messrs. Baldwin, Scott, Williamson and Mitchell, to show that property, estimated at about $50,000, was given the commissioners "as a bribe, bonus or gratuity to influence them in making- the location." These witnesses refused to testify on important points, and the House of Representatives to which body the committee had reported their course, had not yet determined as to the duty of the com mittee in the premises. "This contumacy of the principal witnesses," left the committee without conclusive evidence as to the question at issue. But even without this evidence sufficient had been elicited to convince the committee that Commissioner Pegram "was influenced, as charged, in making the location, by personal and private considerations, and that he . did receive a bribe, a bonus, in consideration of his vote for the location of the Capitol." The testimony of Mr. Van "that 250 lots were set apart by the proprietors of land and town lots to influence the location," with that of Mr. Lyon who had given some property and Mr. Baldwin "who received it for his influ ence with the commissioners," was regarded.as conclusively showing undue influ ence. The close intimacy of Baldwin and Pegram, and other circumstances cor roborated the judgment of the committee that Baldwin was the agent, or go- between of Pegram, if not of other of the commissioners. "Mr. Baldwin appeared to have Pegram, if not a majority of the commissioners on sale to the highest bidder." Whether by the knowledge or consent of the commissioners, except Pegram, is left to presumption. As to Commissioner Wells, J. B. Stewart testified that Wells was interested Casoer Hibbard 1,000 R. W. Concklin 200 J. S. Cook 500 T. A. Nash 500 G. W. Cleveland & Co 500 William P. Davis 1,000 John W. Penny 500 H. L. Whitman 2,000 Warner & Spofford 500 John Kuntz 200 John W. Jones Soo A. S. Kingman 200 Leas F. Harsh 500 David Morris 500 Thompson Bird 5,000 John H. Story 500 H. R. Lovej oy 200 John Tyler . " 300 B. Bryant 500 A. Hepburn 150 James Stanton 200 F. Palmer 500 Total $30,450 J. M. Reichsucker 200 FEEDEEICK M. HUBBELL AT SIXTEEN From a daguerreotype taken in Birmingham four days before he started, with his father, for Fort Des Moines, in the spring of 1855 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 177 to the extent of ten acres at the time and before the Capitol was located, — the land being near the location chosen. It appeared that the land was purchased at or about the time the act was passed for the re-location of the Capitol. The committee contented itself with stating the fact, but "might be warranted in draw ing an inference unfavorable to the commissioner." As to Commissioners Street and Crookham, there was no testimony connect ing them with any of the 250 lots referred to, yet circumstantial testimony went far, "if not to a necessary extent, to connect them in interest with some of that property." The refusal of material witnesses to testify on this point had made it impossible to develop the facts in that connection. As to Commissioner Goodrell, there appeared to be "nothing in the testimony elicited implicating him in the frauds alleged in the second charge." It did appear that he "purchased property near the Capitol site after the location was made, as, of course, he had a right to do." In closing, the committee referred to the extremely disagreeable duty put upon them. "Placed between two excited parties whose passions were aroused, it was extremely difficult to avoid- incurring the displeasure of one or the other in every step of the investigation." But the committee felt sure that they had discharged their duty impartially. The report was signed by L. G. Collins, H. Anthony, B. Millard, and D. A. Mahony. A dissenting opinion was given by G. W. McCrary, a member of the com mittee. Mr. McCrary believed the committee was not called upon to express an opinion as to the relative value and desirability of the location chosen by the commissioners; that the question left to the committee was "whether the com missioners knowingly and intentionally disregarded the best interests of the whole State." He did not desire "that the commissioners should suffer on account of having acted contrary to what they might conceive to be for the best interests of the State. He felt bound to say that, with the exception of Pegram, he could see "no sufficient evidence of a wilful disregard of the interests of the State." He believed that a considerable part of the subscription raised on the West side was not bona fide, and that a number signed the subscription lists without ex pecting ever to be called on to pay. He did not believe that the land represented by those subscriptions, "at their inflated prices" ought to have been regarded as sufficient inducement to locate the Capitol where, in the commissioners' opinion, it ought not to have been located with a view to the future of the State. There was some testimony tending strongly to show that the West side sub scription was not presented until after the commissioners had agreed upon a location. Mr. McCrary was not willing to presume that the refusal of some of the witnesses to testify should implicate persons not implicated by the other testi mony. He regarded such a presumption "most dangerous and unwarranted." He saw no force in the fact that Wells owned a small tract of land near where the location was made, inasmuch as he had purchased it long before the location was made and before the law was passed under which he was appointed a commissioner. In conclusion, he believed the charges sustained by the evidence as to Com missioner Pegram, but not as to the other commissioners. L. G. Collins, chairman, recommended "that the Attorney General be in structed to institute proceedings against the commissioners for relocating the seat of government for the recovery from them of any bonus they may have received for their vote or influence in making said location, as any such bonus should have been. for the benefit of the State, and not for the benefit of said commissioners. The recommendations of the committee appended to the report were : "That Section 2647 of the Code be so amended that every employe of the State, County and City be included in the provisions of that portion of the Vol. 1—12. 178 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY criminal law of the State for the causes set forth in that section of the code, and which are made criminal thereby. "Also that the Attorney-General be instructed to institute proceedings against the commissioners for re-locating the seat of government, for the recovery from them of any bonus they may have received for their vote or influence in making said location, as any such bonus should have been for the benefit of the State and not for the benefit of said commissioners. [Signed] L. D. Collins, Chairman." On Thursday March n, '58, on motion of Mr. Mahony, from the special committee, the report of the committee on relocation was referred to the com mittee on the judiciary, with instruction to examine the questions as to their relevancy, and to report to the House. Mr. Seevers from that committee reported that in the opinion of a majority of the committee the witnesses could not be legally compelled to answer the in terrogations. From this report W. H. Seevers and Lincoln Clark dissented. Upon the question of concurring in the report of the committee, the vote was 10 yeas and 38 nays. March 20, '58, Mr. Seevers from the judiciary committee presented a majority report to the effect that the committee was of the opinion "that it would be clearly unconstitutional for the General Assembly to pass a law removing the Capitol from the point fixed by law as aforesaid, and ratified, adopted and fixed by the Constitution." The report was concurred in and so the incident closed. CHAPTER VII. CAPITOL AND CAPITAL CITY IN i860 PREMONITIONS OF THE COMING CONFLICT. The notable Iowa campaign of 1859, so important as to enlist the services of Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois,1 closed with the election of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Governor of Iowa. On the nth day of January, i860, Governor Kirkwood, in the presence of a large audience — chiefly from Des Moines and Polk county, deliv ered an inaugural address which was a surprise to many because of its rare force and natural eloquence. It breathed a cheerful optimism which at that time of un certainty as to the near future did much to head the people of Iowa in the right direction. "Passion will subside," said the Governor, "reason will resume its sway, and then our southern brethren will discover that they have been deceived and misled, as to our feelings and purposes ; that the people of the north, while hoping and praying for the day when no slave shall press our soil, yet do neither claim nor desire any power to interfere with slavery in any of the states where it exists." Events soon convinced the optimistic Kirkwood that his hope was without foundation in fact — that the Union could not be preserved except by a contest, — one which would draw heavily upon the courage and financial resources of its defenders. While the coming of the Seventh General Assembly, in 1858, strongly marked the new era which had dawned upon Des Moines, and was therefore invested with peculiar interest, the advent of subsequent legislatures has never been de void of interest to the Capital City. The inauguration of the governor, with the organization of the Senate and House has never failed to interest the towns people, as witness the thousands who biennially throng the opening exercises and the Governor's reception in the State House. The approaches to Des Moines in midwinter in i860 were described by Hon. J. H. Powers, of Chickasaw, before the Pioneer Lawmakers in 1894.2 Mr. Powers was a member of the Eighth General Assembly. Following are the most interesting paragraphs in his "Trip to Des Moines in i860:" "Without public conveyance from my home in Chickasaw, to Des Moines, only by stage to McGregor, thence via Chicago to a point at the terminus of the railroad west of Davenport, thence by stage to the law-making city, it appeared to be too much of a swing around the circle to be inviting and it was decided that we take private conveyance across the State. "Having married a young wife, after my nomination to the Senate, and, as it did not seem fitting to leave her on the bleak prairies in the north part of the State, provision had to be made for the transportation of more than one, and as there was but one covered carriage in the county, and I had hired that to bring my new wife to her new home, and as it would carry only two persons without t>aggage, other means than riding in style of a wedding trip had to be provided. "In the emergency Wm. Tucker, since a member of the House of Representa tives, consented to take his democrat wagon and Convey us to the scene of my new duties. 1 Lincoln supported Kirkwood for Governor in a speech at Council Bluffs, August 13, 1859. 2 Pioneer Lawmakers' Association, 1894, p. 13. 179 180 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY "As we had exhausted the hotel's supplies for supper we were obliged to go to Eldora for breakfast. The next morning my wife learned a lesson that may well be heeded by weary travelers, for going through the hotel kitchen the ap pearance was such that it destroyed her appetite for breakfast. Another day of weary travel and cold brought us to Nevada, Story county, where we passed a comfortable night. Starting the next morning with the prospect of reaching our destination that evening, and having our company increased by the addition of several teams carrying members and Senators, we were in good spirits. About sundown we began to feel uneasy, as we saw no symptoms of the town, and seeing a smoke in the distance we turned our teams to the little house on the prairie and on reaching it found that we had taken the wrong road and were then eleven miles from Des Moines. "It was now growing dark and we were assured by the owner that we could not stay all night. At this 'Old Blackhawk' jumped out and told us to unload, as there was plenty of room for both man and beast. The cattle were turned out of the straw barns and the horses put in and we took down the beds so as to make room for all to get into the house. In a short time another lost load came up and 'Old Blackhawk' told them to put out their horses and come in as there was plenty of room. The robes and blankets were laid in a shed and myself and wife were thus provided with sleeping apartments while the balance of the guests improved their time in baking biscuits. We reached Des Moines the next day about n o'clock and stopped at the Grout House on the East side and at the foot of Capitol hill." The initial number of the Iowa State Register publishes the hotel arrivals on January 5 and 6, from which it is apparent that the political headquarters in i860 were at the Demoine House. In number of arrivals the Grout was a good second, the Collins third, the Everett fourth, the American fifth. A Burns banquet was held at the Demoine House on the 25th, with D. 0. Finch, toastmaster. Two original poems were read and toasts galore were of fered. M. M. Crocker — with all his military glory then before him — responded to "The Army and Navy." Without drawing on history he "called to mind, in his humorous way, the deeds of valor done by the generals present, who had figured in "the Boonsboro war," "the Marshall county war" and "the Poweshiek rescue." "Amid roars of laughter Finch and Hepburn were called out to justify their generalship which was conclusively done as was proven by repeated explosions of laughter and applause of the side-splitting, table-shaking, hall-trembling order." The Barclay Coppoc incident in January, i860, thoroughly aroused large num bers of people in the Capital city.3 On the 23d an agent of Governor Letcher, of Virginia, called on Governor Kirkwood at the State House with a requisition for Barclay Coppoc, of Springdale, who had escaped the fate of his brother Edwin, and other followers of John Brown, at Harper's Ferry. The Governor saw tech nical flaws in the requisition. As he regarded it, no indictment had been found, and consequently no crime was charged. Turning to the Code of Iowa the Gov ernor remarked that there was a law under which Coppoc could be arrested and held until the defect in the requisition could be cured. Two prominent members of the legislature, Ed Wright and B. F. Gue, happening to be present, and, noting the significant look given them by the Governor, started at once for a con ference with their brother abolitionists. A hasty conference was held, a liberal purse was made up for expenses, and Isaac Brandt, of Des Moines, was delegated to find a man of nerve and endurance who would ride horseback across-country, — in midwinter, a distance of 165 miles to warn Coppoc of the possibility of his arrest and detention. Brandt found his man — a small, wiry young man named 3 Gue — History of Iowa, v. II, pp. 17-22. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 181 Williams, as tough as a mustang. Then he found a fast long-distance running horse, and the messenger started. He made the journey without rest or sleep, and thus was averted a conflict between Coppoc's armed sympathizers at Spring- dale and a posse from Iowa City. When certain pro-slavery members of the lower House heard that the Governor had turned down the requisition on "a mere technicality," they pushed through that body a resolution of inquiry as to the Governor's knowledge of the message sent to Coppoc, etc. The Governor gave four reasons for refusing to order Coppoc's arrest, and denied any knowl edge of the message sent. The resolution of inquiry, offered by M. V. Bennett, of Marion, added greatly to the indignation of local sympathizers with Coppoc. When Governor Letcher's revised warrant returned to Des Moines, Coppoc was beyond reach of the law. There are those still living in Des Moines who are sure, if not certain, that Governor Kirkwood never, before or since, got quite as much satisfaction out of his slender knowledge of legal technicalities, as on that day in January, i860, when he turned down the representative of Virginia jus tice, and so saved Barclay Coppoc's life ! An early mention of Coker F. Clarkson, the father of the Clarkson brothers of Iowa State Register fame, occurs in the Register of February 2. The Grundy county republicans, with Clarkson at their head, resolved "in favor of the Union," and agreed to "stay in it," and "make all others stay in it, or do as General Jackson would have done, hang all who attempt to get out of it !" Dr. Durant, a large stockholder in and contractor for the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad, was in Des Moines early in February, and reported about six hundred hands employed pushing westward. An eariy completion of the road to Marengo was assured, and then on to Grinnell. On February 18, the discontinuance of the postoffice on the East side was announced, the department having decided that it was inexpedient to continue two offices in one city. The same day the toll on Court avenue bridge was dis continued as to "foot-passengers residing in this county." A rise in the 'Coon late in February carried off the floating bridge across the river, raising a demand for a permanent bridge to be built by the city and county. Lack of funds for a time prevented the city council from acting in the matter. A Democratic State Convention held in Des Moines on Washington's birthday gave Polk county eleven delegates, whereas Des Moines, Dubuque, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Lee, Linn, Marion, Muscatine and Van Buren, each outvoted Polk. The county delegation was made up chiefly of pioneer demo crats of the county, namely : Curtis Bates, D. O. Finch, J. H. Dykeman, W. H. McHenry, J. A. Williamson, Alexander Shaw, F. R. Prentice, J. H. Mather, J. M. Walker, C. C. Mann and Barlow Granger. Here is a far-off suggestion of conditions which culminated nearly fifty years afterward in a local revolution, a reorganization of the government of the city upon a commission basis. The Register, February 9, i860, declares the city is "in the hands of the Philistines." The new city council had doubled taxation that it might wipe out the city's debt ; but the debt had not been wiped out, and the money had been expended. Where had it gone? "We have a city govern ment in name only. The burthens are ours, but the benefits are reaped by a lazzaroni who draw their pay from the city treasury for work that it were nearly as well to leave undone until the city enters upon systematic, permanent works of improvement." The school district of Des Moines February 12, elected W. H. Leas, presi dent; J. N. Dewey, vice president; C. C. Dawson, secretary; L. P. Sherman, treasurer. David Norris and W. H. Dickinson were hold-over directors. Power to levy tax was delegated to the board of directors. Several groups of men passed through Des Moines in March on their way to Pike's Peak. 182 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY A large "organ melodeon" imported for the Episcopal church in Des Moines was an item of much interest on the 17th of March. A Young Men's Republican Club was holding meetings in the spring of i860, with oratory by Gray, Stevens, Hoxie, Cleveland, Nourse and others. John Mitchell, was president and J. Bausman, secretary. Scott's bridge across the Des Moines, which was carried away by the freshet in '59, was reconstructed in March, i860. The ladies of Des Moines gave a farewell supper to the General Assembly in the Supreme Court room, April 2. The Eighth General Assembly closed with extreme good feeling. Party lines were for the time obliterated, and visiting ladies from town were highly amused at the absence of legislative gravity in the closing session. Far different were the circumstances under which these same legislators convened in extra session in the spring of '61 ! Jollity was soon to give way to a tragic calm in which men would be forced to face new conditions of momentous gravity — and under those conditions would be compelled to act, without precedent to guide them and without the mixed motives usually entering into legislative action. BOOK III. DES MOINES. PART II. THE HEROIC PERIOD OF DES MOINES HISTORY. 1861-1865. CHAPTER I. THE GREAT UPRISING IN '6l. At Des Moines on January 8, 1861, a mass meeting was held at the suggestion of Hon. H. M. Hoxie to express the opinion of Iowa on the national situation. "Leading men attended from all over the State and their names deserve recalling as among the first to publicly declare in Iowa that the government of the United States was worth fighting for." ~- Elijah Sells was chairman. The committee on resolutions was: Governor Kirkwood, John Teesdale, John A. Kasson and M. L. Morris. Among those who took prominent part were Thomas Mitchell, Stewart Goodrell, W. P. Davis, N. W. Mills, John A. Kasson, F. M. Mills, Thomas F. Withrow, George G. Wright, Lewis Kinsey, Amos B. Miller, J. W. Jones, J. W. Cattell and F. W. Palmer. The remoteness of Des Moines from "the front," with the consequent em barrassment to the administration of affairs at the Capital is illustrated by a Burlington Hawkeye advertisement announcing that its "pony express" would carry papers from Eddyville to Des Moines, a distance of seventy-five miles, in eight hours. It required from three to five days to send a letter from Keokuk, the center of the state's activities, to the State Capital. On the 12th of April, the day Sumter was fired upon, Stilson Hutchins, the editor of the State Journal, Des Moines, aroused no little indignation at the Capital by uttering this sentiment : "If he [the president] has determined to send troops to the South to pro voke a conflict, and then, calling an extra session of Congress, throwing himself upon it for support and aid, the Democracy of the North must act promptly in the premises. They have the balance of power in that body, and have only to absent themselves to leave the Republican members without a quorum and totally incapable of transacting business. Let them resign, go before the people on the question of peace or war, and they will be returned by majorities un precedented in history." When, several days afterwards, the news from Charleston Harbor reached Des Moines by mail, there was grave talk of violence; but cool heads counseled endurance. What the Journal lacked in sympathy with the President's policy of organized resistance to secession was more than made up by the Register, under Frank Palmer's vigorous and patriotic editorship. Hon. Isaac Brandt, in his memories of the old Methodist church — the upper part of which was long known as Ingham's hall — published long afterwards in the State Register, re-tells with a vivid local setting the thrilling story of the quick response of northern patriotism to the assault upon the flag at Fort Sumter on the 12th and 13th of April, 1861. When the news of the bombardment and surrender reached Des Moines there was general consternation. That evening, the men who had voted for Lincoln assembled in the office of H. M. Hoxie in the Sherman building, and the Douglas men, in the office of Finch, Rice & Cavanagh, over B. F. Allen's bank. Mr. Brandt in his report of the meeting of the Democrats admitted his inability to do justice to the "burning words of patriotism" which fell from the lips of M. M. Crocker, afterwards the celebrated major general in the Union 1 Byers — Iowa in War Times, p. 36. 185 186 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY army, whom Grant so highly commended in his Memoirs. He was followed by N. W. Mills, I. W. Griffith, D. O. Finch, J. S. Polk, H. M. Hoxie, Isaac Whicher, T. E. Settle, Elijah Sells, G. L. Godfrey, and others. They adjourned to meet at Ingham's hall the next morning at 9 o'clock. Long before the hour, the hall was filled. Crocker, standing upon a chair said : "We have not called this meeting for speech-making. We are now here for business. The American flag has been insulted, has been fired, upon by our own people, but, by the Eternal, it must be maintained !" He said he wanted "now — just now," to raise a com pany to join the first regiment from Iowa. "I want a hundred men to come right up here and give their names to 'Hub' Hoxie, to go with me to Dixie," said he. Mr. Brandt adds : "His words were hardly finished until there were more men offered than were needed. Read the first roll-call,2 and see how many could respond to their names to-day. Many of them gave their lives for their country and sleep in Woodland Cemetery. Among them are Gen. M. M. Crocker and Col. N. W. Mills, whose remains lie so near each other in death as they were so near each other in life." Crocker was by common consent made captain of the company, N. L. Dyke- man was chosen first lieutenant and N. W. Mills second lieutenant. Captain Crocker, "a natural disciplinarian," soon placed his company in excellent condi tion for service. Friends of Crocker early in May ordered from New York an entire military suit and equipments for presentation to the captain. He had already been presented with a noble horse. These acts reveal the estimation in which he was held by those who best knew him. On the morning of May 4, 1861, the home company was to depart for Keokuk to be mustered into the service. The community assembled in and around the old church to see the boys off. With tears and hearty handshakes and many a "God bless you," the company took its departure. "I doubt not," said Mr. Brandt, "if there was ever a time within the walls of that old church that every heart beat perfectly in unison as it did that morn ing for the safety and return of those men. . . . The hall above was vacated, but in the church below there were mothers and sisters that remained for a few hours for special prayers for our boys in blue." A union pole-raising occurred in Courthouse square May 9. Its height was 125 feet. The Capital Guards were entrusted with the raising. In due time the flag was hauled up and was roundly cheered. On May 15, 1861, was convened the historic Extra Session called by Gov ernor Kirkwood for the purpose of providing means for the emergency — the raising and equipment of troops to aid in putting down the rebellion. Des Moines was alive with enthusiasm over the occasion of the assemblng. The ' The list, as given by Mr. Brandt and revised at the author's request by D. B. Fleming (who during the war was in Adjutant-General Baker's office), is as follows- M M Crocker, N. W. Mills, N. L. Dykeman, G. L. Godfrey, S. H. Lunt, E. T Ensign, E L. Marsh, John Lynde, Edwin Mitchell, N. W. Dotv. W. E. -Houston, P. D Gillette W L. Davis, Wm. Ragan, J. H. Looby, J. A. Warner, J. A. Dickerson. D. M. Sells Philetus Phales, Robert Allen, H. O. Ayres, Hiram C. Cook, Edward C. Tunis, Samuel Whitmer, James G. Duncan, J. M. Moles, Andrew Slatten, S. A. Avres, John Gordnier, L. B. Houston, John Barnett, R. D. Bennett, George F. Batchelder, Phillip J Becker W H. Bitting, Wm. K. Bird, W. H. Brenton, J. H. Browne, Harvev Brown W H Bain'e j W Burbridge, W. L. Cady, William Callender, George H. Chiids, Wm D. Christy, 'Joseph Cooper, E. P. Davis, George R. Davis, James Davis, Peter Dreher, William Estle Dwight E. Fenn, John N. Ferguson, John A. Fleming, Arthur Goodrich, John B. Gross', George W. Green, J. S. Havden, Joseph Haskell, D. S. Houghton, W. H. Hoxie, Asbury C Jones, Tarpley T. Jones, William A. Kinsey, C. H. Lamoreaux, Carlton Lowe, George W. Lyon, Andrew Lynch, Jacob H. Matteern, John McElroughe, Isaac McCullom, W B Mason Jacob M. Moles, Jacob Moorehead, John Nagle, Albert H. Nims, J. C. Painter, John Price, J. L. Richardson, A. B. Rush, James Robbins, Wm. Riddle, Erastus Scott, Philander Smith, C. C. Stewart, R. C. Stephens, W. A. Snow, Newton Warnock, J. H Watson C E Walker John Wheeler, G. M. Wohlgemuth, W. D. Wylie, Theodore G. Weeks, David Yaiit Enoch J. Yount, Armin Young, T. H. Yarnall, Godfrey Zelle. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 187 hotels were crowded, and many private houses were thrown open to legislators. The flag of the Union floated from Capitol Hill, from the Courthouse, from the Demoine House, from Shepherd's Mill, and from many private buildings throughout the city. The sound of martial music heard on the streets from time to time stirred the war spirit to the utmost. The stirring scenes to which the Eighth General Assembly was introduced, in the spring of 1861, were portrayed long afterward by ex-Senator William H. M. Pusey, of Council Bluffs. Referring to the firing upon Fort Sumter which, like a fire-bell at night, aroused the people of the North, quickly fol lowed by the hurried call from Governor Kirkwood, for an extra session, he adds : "A militia law was immediately enacted placing the volunteer com panies of the State under the control of the governor. The credit of Iowa . . . was placed in the hands of the governor and a commission. When the gavel fell that beautiful May morning, in the old Capitol building, announc ing that the labors of the Eighth General Assembly had passed into history, it was with the benedictions of our people upon our citizen soldiers hurrying to the front, where soon they placed Iowa as one of the Trinity of western states." 3 Among- the notable members of that body, Mr. Pusey mentions Carpenter, Wright, Gue, Cattell, Belknap, McCreary, Baker, Merrill and Grinnell. Replying to the Journal's statement that the war feeling was "dying out gradually" and that some of the Capital Guards were not willing to enlist for three years, the Register of May 16, demanded that the Journal interrogate the bovs — "from their gallant, noble-hearted captain down to' the humblest private" — and then publish their responses. Nearly a score of men from different parts of the state were reported, May 22, as in the city, their mission being to urge Governor Kirkwood to take the several military companies they represented into the service of the state. An election of officers for the Second Iowa, which occurred in Keokuk, May 31, made a change in the organization of the Capital Guards. Samuel R. Curtis, of Keokuk, prominent in the early Des Moines river surveys, was elected colonel, James M. Tuttle, lieutenant colonel, and M. M. Crocker, major. On the promotion of Captain Crocker, Lieut. N. W. Mills was elected Captain of Company D. Edgar Ensign was elected second lieutenant. A Keokuk correspondent, June 4, reported the Second Iowa "comfortable." Major Crocker was "becoming deservedly popular." He bore his honors meekly, promising never to disgrace his regimentals. June 13, the First and Second Iowa regiments invaded Missouri. On that day, Capt. N. W. Mills wrote home that he was "still sick in bed," unable to sit up, without pillows at his back. His strength was "all gone." His regi ment had left him behind, with John Watson to take care of him. Captain Mills, soon as he was able to leave, hastened to rejoin his command. The Ellsworth Zouaves, organized in Des Moines, had, June 19, about thirty- five members, their ages ranging from 17 to 25 years. Its officers were M. Zorger, captain ; John W. Gill, first lieutenant ; Gus Newton, second lieutenant ; and C. Bausman, orderly sergeant. The ladies of Des Moines were, June 28, reported as busily engaged in the Savery hall making clothing for the volunteers at the front. M. B. Hoxie was in June appointed deputy U. S. Marshal for the district of Iowa. There was an excited rush on the streets at 10 p.m. on the 23d when an extra stage brought from Grinnell its Fourth Regiment band on its way to Council Bluffs. The Fourth of July was celebrated at Capitol square, with basket picnic, toasts and oratory. William Duane Wilson presided. Dr. Bennett, of Polk 3 Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. 188 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY City, was chief marshal, Revs. E. W. Peet and Thompson Bird were chaplains; Judge J. H. Gray was orator of the day. A big parade preceded the gathering. Des Moines Guards, a cavalry organization, reorganized and officered by Captain H. H. Griffiths ; First Lieutenant, W. S. Simmons ; Second Lieutenant, Isaac Whicher, were duly accepted by Col. G. M. Dodge of the Second Iowa Cavalry, and ordered to be in rendezvous at Council Bluffs by the 20th of July. The company was sworn in July 4. A recruiting station was opened the same clay on Capitol square. The company started for Council Bluffs July 17. A correspondent of the Gate City, July 10, wrote that Major Crocker was in command of the Second regiment, in the absence of Colonel Tuttle. "There is no better officer then Crocker in the service. His voice, like the roaring of many waters, can be heard above the din of small arms — a proof that he is not near dead." To the Register of July 24, '61, this was good news "from our fellow citizen, who but a few months since, was supposed to be treading on the margin of the grave. Camp life and fighting secessionists have accomplished wonders for the physical restoration of Major Crocker." A detachment of the Des Moines Guards started for its rendezvous in Council Bluffs on the 16th of July, and next day the remainder followed. The Register noting their departure, said, "Another void is left in our community through the stern necessity of war." James A. Williamson, lawyer, editor, politician and capitol-location pro moter, caught the war-spirit in the summer of '61 and organized a company for the Fourth Iowa. As the sun neared the horizon line in the early evening of July 17, an event occurred which lingers fondly in the memory of many a citizen of Des Moines. The Des Moines cavalrymen on their way to Council Bluffs, lined up in front of the old Savery block on Walnut street, and the patriotic ladies of the Capital city, through their spokesman, F. C. D. McKay, Esq., presented the company with a beautiful flag of their own making. In the absence of Captain Griffiths, Lieutenant Whicher feelingly responded. In the course of his brief response he emphasized the point, generally made prominent at the outset, that the war was waged not against any institution in the South but solely to put down armed rebellion. A second cavalry company organized in Des Moines about this time, for detail on the western frontier, was officered by John Mitchell, captain; A. B. Miller, first lieutenant and H. M. Bush, second lieutenant. The names of the men published July 17, include many of the then well known citizens of Des Moines.4 The Cass County Gazette of July 20 chronicles the transit of Captain Grif fiths' company through the town of Lewis. It reports the company as num bering 108 men, "all muscular, dashing young fellows, who will not be afraid to march up to the mouth of the enemy's cannon," adding: "Des Moines may well be proud of her representatives in the Union army." Captain Graves's Cavalry company were in August accepted bv the Second Cavalry. The captain was a fine officer, having received a military education in Germany and in the Mexican war. Surgeon Rawson of the Second Iowa,, writing home from the front early in August, acknowledged the receipt of quilts, sheets, shirts, eye-shades, etc., donated for hospital use. About the middle of August, Mrs. J. A. Moore of Des Moines received one 4 The published list is as follows: John Mitchell, captain; A. B. Aliller, H. M. Bush, John Tyler, Samuel Adams, Joel M. Walker, A. M. Newton, William Mitchell, James Bran- non, William Murray, Frank Cockerel, A. D. Walker, -Charles Warner, J. C. Gregg, S. Stutsman, R. W. Cross, G. W. Cleveland, L. S. Martin, J. Wright, John Wright, Ed. Din- widdie, John Byrone, Rhodes Swinn, L. P. Baker, Frank' Rudge, J. Church,' J Swift, A. Stebbins. George Limn, G. W. Snyder, H. Y. Smith, T. J. Saylor, S S Griffith J. H. Dourn, W. H. M. Smith, J. G. Balen, J. W. Gill, L. Haskins, S. P. Lodenburger, Samuel Noel, C. P. Reinig, Dr. Skinner. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 189 of those trying letters which many a tender-hearted comrade was compelled to write from the field. Captain Griffiths wrote that "while on the steamboat Sucker State, on the 13th, about ten miles below Hannibal, the cry was raised, 'A man overboard !' The accident occurred in the night. The boat was stopped but the unfortunate man was not seen afterward. The boat was so crowded with soldiers, that the name of the missing man was not known till next morn ing. In response to the roll call, every man appeared but Mr. Moore." He adds : "This is and has been to me a great loss and to the whole com pany. Mr. Moore was commissary sergeant, and through his efficient and willing hands, all our subsistence passed. His duties were numerous and ardu ous — in fact he was the hardest working man in the company." Robert Allen, sergeant in Captain Mills's company, and a nephew of B. F. Allen, was in August promoted to second lieutenant in the first dragoons, U. S. army. A meeting was held on the 22d of August in Griffiths' block to organize a company under the militia law of the state, and 53 names were enrolled. At a subsequent meeting Isaac Brandt was chosen captain; C. A. Mosier, first lieutenant; and James Hall, second lieutenant. It was designed to have the company uniformed, armed and equipped and thoroughly drilled "ready to enter the field whenever called upon by the government." The Des Moines Greys, a new military company "formed for home pur poses" met on the 19th of August at the M. E. church, the company numbering 65. It organized as follows : Captain, M. V. McKinney ; First Lieutenant, D. Kooser; Second Lieutenant, L. T. Filson; Orderly Sergeant, D. D. Skinner; Second Sergeant, J. Osfield; Third Sergeant, William Deford; Fourth Sergeant, James Simington; First Corporal, H. Smith; Second Corporal, J. H. Given; Third Corporal, George Entwistle; Fourth Corporal, Z. Hunt. The Des Moines Rifles is the name of a company organized in Des Moines in August, for service at the front with R. Lusby, captain ; Jule Bausman, first lieutenant; N. Curl, second lieutenant; and John W. Gill, orderly sergeant. The company hoped to be in active service within thirty days. David M. Sells, son of the Secretary of State, was in August promoted to a second lieutenancy in the Second Iowa. Dwight Fenn, of Captain Mills's company was in August detailed to bring home to Des Moines a younger brother of Madison Young, the pioneer lawyer, also William, son of Rev. Thompson Bird, both discharged because of protracted illness. The streets of Des Moines witnessed many stirring events during that his toric summer. Take a single day as an illustration. On Monday, August 26, the Boone county company, Captain Berry in command, arrived in the city, all "anxious to see service." That same day Captain Henderson's company arrived from Warren county, numbering 101 men. They left in detachments on the two days following. In 1861 Des Moines was the scene of a fierce contention between the loyal and the so-called "copperhead" wings of the Democratic party in Iowa. On the 24th of July, the Democrats met in State Convention, and nominated Charles Mason for governor. The convention in its platform resolved that the authori zation of "War and Defense bonds" to the amount of $800,000 made at the special session of the General Assembly was "unauthorized by the Constitution." Another resolution put the convention on record as "irreconcilably opposed to all paper money banking" characterizing it as "legalized swindling." This, at a time when the state was looking to the several branches of the State Bank for funds with which to put soldiers into the field, resulted in such demorali zation that Judge Mason, who had accepted the nomination for governor, saw fit to retire. Colonel Merritt, of Des Moines, a WTar Democrat, was put on the ticket in his place. The situation became so distasteful to many loyal Demo crats that a second convention was held in Des Moines on the 25th of August : 190 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY but the forces that dominated the first convention controlled the second, re nominated the ticket and made the majority report on resolutions, essentially the same as the platform of the July convention. A minority report did not reach the convention. On the adoption of the majority report, Lincoln Clark, of Dubuque, president of the convention, vacated his chair and, followed by the entire delegations from Dubuque and Des Moines counties, bolted the convention. Judge- Nourse, of Des Moines, in a letter to Governor Kirkwood, thus pictured the interesting situation : "The convention was in session till after midnight. There was a fierce quarrel between the Mahoney men and the Union portion of the convention. . . . The fight over the platform was rare and racy. A great many truths were told by the loyal men to the secession wing that controlled the convention." 5 On the preceding day, a convention of Republicans and Democrats, under a call for a "People's" or "Union Convention," met in Des Moines and nomi nated Gen. N. B. Baker for governor, on a war- platform. General Baker promptly declined the nomination. Frank W. Palmer, of the State Register, led a movement for a joint dis cussion between Governor Kirkwood and Judge Mason, but the Judge declined to meet the Governor. It was next arranged that a mass-meeting should be held at the State Capitol, at which a keynote address should be delivered by Governor Kirkwood. Major Lathrop brings out incidentally 6 the difficulty, even at that late day, of procuring full reports of public utterances which were not committed to writing. The Capital City afforded no available stenographer, and so "the arrangement was made that four ready writer reporters should be engaged, that number one should take down the first sentence, number two the second sentence, and so on in turn to the end, as each sentence fell from the speaker's lips, and that their reports should be put together and the speech published as uttered." The meeting was held in Sherman Hall, Des Moines, on the evening of Sep tember 4, and was presided over by Thomas F. Withrow. It left in the minds of the citizens of Des Moines no question as to the intention of the Iowa ad ministration to support President Lincoln in his purpose to put down armed rebellion by force of arms. Governor Kirkwood was at his best. His keynote speech resounded through the State, a clear, loud call to arms which did much to solidify Iowa in support of President Lincoln's administration and a vigorous prosecution of the war. It was replete with quaint and stinging sarcasm. It was more than that: it was a severe criticism on the course of the two conventions held by the op posite party and of the "Union" convention which had put a third ticket into the field. A local allusion near the close of his speech illustrates the Governor's cleverness in repartee. Alluding to the refusal of the first democratic conven tion to approve the conduct of Iowa's brave men at the battle of Wilson's Creek, "a voice" in the audience said : "They did pass the resolutions afterwards, Governor." Kirkwood quickly retorted : "I am sorry they had to think twice and then wait more than a month before they could adopt them !" N. W. Doty, of Company D, Second Iowa, writing from Dent's Station, near Iron Mountain, Mo., September 8, reported the return of Captain Mills to his company looking much better in health. "And here let me remark," he adds, "that our Capt. is an officer for the men, very much respected and liked by his command, and enjoying a very large share of the confidence of his superiors." He humorously reports a barbecue tendered the troops by the native Mis- sourians, topping off with a dance at the Station House. He relates that Ser geant Ed. _ Marsh remarked to his fair partner that this was his first dance in a long while, whereupon she looked up at him and said : 5 Lathrop's Kirkwood, p. 144. 6 Lathrop's Kirkwood, p. 146. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 191 "You haven't had a show at dan^'m'ary time afore, hev yet" To which the gallant Ed. responded, "Nary time afore." W. H. Hoxie, writing home to his. mother at about the same time, says the community are feeding Company D on the fat of the land. The boys are sup plied with good spring water and an abundance of fruit and vegetables. M. B. Hoxie of Des Moines was, in September, appointed chaplain of the Central Iowa regiment at Camp Fremont, Iowa City. Hoyt Sherman's appointment as paymaster in the army was announced at the same time. William, son of Stewart Goodrell, a member of Company B, First Iowa, in the battle at Springfield, Mo., received a severe flesh wound in his right arm; but, by catching a riderless horse, he was able to keep up with the army as it fell back on Rolla. He arrived home early in September, thin in flesh, "but full of martial ardor." The Soldiers' Aid Society, through its president, Mrs. Elijah Sells, in Sep tember extended its appeal to the entire county, urging an organization of aux iliary societies in every neighborhood. The appeal was suggested by Mrs. Wit- tenmyer, in a letter from camp in Keokuk. Dr. T. K. Brooks, who has figured in this history in several other capacities, now appears in the role of regimental sutler, having secured the appointment as sutler to the Central Iowa regiment. The Register thought "Doc" would suc ceed. He could "laugh good humor into the most gnarled and crabbed souls." W. S. Barnes and Wiley Burton of Des Moines were appointed sutlers to Kansas regiments. The Des Moines Cavalry encampment at Cherokee was tumbled over by a tornado early in September. The company was ordered to move southward toward the Missouri valley. Will Porter, the pioneer editor and publisher, was in September appointed by Adjutant General Baker general recruiting officer for infantry at Des Moines. The arrival of a military company organized in Fremont county, officered chiefly by Methodist ministers who "feared God and despised Jeff Davis," was the sensation of the hour one day in September. The company was on its way to Davenport. Captain Mitchell, accompanied by a number of his frontiersmen, returned early in September from camp at Cherokee, and proceeded to Davenport to see the Governor. The company's opportunities for slaying the aborigines were reported as not good. The company wanted a change. A second installment of ten per cent of the Des Moines Volunteers' Aid and Relief Association Fund was called for by J. B. Stewart, secretary, the money to be paid in by September io. The advertising columns of the Register of September 25 contain an order of Adjutant General Baker to boards of supervisors to prepare lists of those subject to military duty, in order that troops may be drafted. In case there should be enough volunteers to meet the requisition of the Governor there would be no draft. "Dan" O. Finch and "Josh" H. Hatch, both of Des Moines, were pitted against each other for State Senator that fall. Mr. Finch contended that the democratic party could alone be relied on to preserve the Union, and Mr. Hatch was faintly praised by the democratic Rock Island Argus as a republican who hadn't "a bit of abolitionism or secessionism about him." The Frontier Cavalry Company, Captain Mitchell, returned to Des Moines late in September. With their bronzed visages and pioneer costumes they were scarcely recognizable. Cleveland, a member of the company, said his own dog didn't know him! Early in October Captain Griffiths was reported dangerously .ill in camp at Rolla, Mo. His wife started at once for Rolla. On the 8th of October, Major John C. Bennett, of the Tenth Regiment, wrote 192 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY the Register that General Grant — then comparatively unknown — "visited our fortifications" at Cape Girardeau, "and expressed himself highly gratified at their state of forwardness." The recovery of Harry Griffiths was good news to the Captain's Des Moines friends. Captain Graves and Lieutenant Jewett were in Des Moines on election day, and in their new uniforms their fine military presence was much admired. The Frontier Cavalry Company was in October made part of the Fourth Regiment of cavalry, organizing at Mt. Pleasant. Governor Kirkwood spent several days at the Capital soon after his re-elec tion, and was the recipient of many congratulations. On the 14th, Major Bennett noted the arrival of Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Percival and Mrs. Small, and referred to the expected arrival of several other ladies from home. Should the regiment remain all winter at Cape Girardeau, several officers and soldiers would send for their wives "as a matter of economy, as well as satis faction." About the middle of October, Captain — now Lieutenant-Colonel — Crocker returned to Des Moines. Camp life had apparently improved, rather than injured, his health. His long-standing- throat affection was not removed, but otherwise he was "in fine trim." He reported the boys of Company D as doing well and Captain Mills's health as improving. Frank P. Yokener, of Captain Griffiths' company, died of typhoid fever at Rolla early in October. Another war romance ending in tragedy ! About a week before starting for the war he was married to a young woman of Des Moines. Fondly dreaming of a quick return of peace, he bade his bride farewell. He had not been in camp very long before the insidious disease made its appearance. He fought it bravely but to no avail. His body was buried in the cemetery at Rolla. More than half the regiment followed his remains to the grave. After the burial service of the Episcopal church, the Odd Fellows took charge of the ceremonies. Major English and Adjutant Williamson conducted these services. The military salute was fired over his grave. Captain Lusby of Des Moines was, in October, promoted to the position of provost marshal at Cape Girardeau. In October, Jack Sells, orderly sergeant, brought Captain Griffiths with him as far as Keokuk. The captain was slowly recovering from an attack of typhoid. Later in the month he returned to Des Moines and engaged in the recruiting service. Three stages of Captain Smith's Sharp-Shooters started for Keokuk early in November. Before quitting Des Moines they got up an impromptu military ball at the Union House, where they had been guests, and many ladies helped them have a good time. Lieutenant Colonel Crocker's appointment as full colonel of the Thirteenth Iowa was well received everywhere. The Sharp-Shooters, sixty-six of them, were uniformed and sworn in at Keokuk, November 9. Captain Mills utilized his furlough by opening headquarters in Des Moines and recruiting the depleted ranks of his company. Three companies of the 14th Iowa, destined for Fort Randall, Dakota, marched on foot from Iowa City, and on the nth of November stopped over in Des Moines to bury a comrade. That afternoon a long military procession passed through the streets, on its way to the cemetery, the musicians followed by the coffin borne by four comrades, and by soldiers and many citizens. By such incidents can we get a more vivid picture of Des Moines during the great upris ing, than can be obtained by volumes of generalization. Meantime, while the bugle notes of war were resounding through the Des Moines valley and re-echoing along the bluffs and among the hills, the life of the city went on with little interruption — although the dominant note everywhere Flag of Company D, Second Iowa Infantry, presented by the ladies of Des Moines, June, 1861, carried by Company D during its four years of service, and used as a battle flag at Shiloh. It was rent by the enemy's bullets, but the absence of many of its stars is due to the custom early adopted — but since discontinued — of burying a star with the remains of each deceased comrade. The flag was turned over by the survivors to William D. Christy, one of the original members of Company D, to be presented to the Historical Department of Iowa. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 193 was "the war." Churches were builded and repaired; schools increased in num bers of pupils and buildings; weddings and funerals followed one another as of old. Let us look in upon a single July day in '61. Rev. J. A. Nash was then at the head of the flourishing Forest Home Seminary. One Wednesday evening the seminary grounds were illuminated and Judge McKay delivered to students and citizens an eloquent address, and S. V. White, then a lawyer in Des Moines, afterwards a successful financier in the east, read a poem, which was said to be "a sprightly composition, demonstrating the fact that a man can be a poet, and yet a lawyer !" On the following evening the seminary students regaled a large audience with declamations, compositions and dialogues-. On the evening first named, a Catholic picnic was held on the fair grounds. After introductory remarks by Rev. Father Brazill, Judges Gray and Cole deliv ered brief addresses. Reports of bridge-building and repairing, of business successes and failures, of petty crimes and the punishments meted out therefor, of lengthened streets and new suburban homes, of fierce jangles over politics and political offices, and of weddings and funerals, — all these divided space with war news by telegraph, letters from the front and reports from returning braves. November 23, Hardin Smith, of Saylor township, was arrested at Saylor- ville by Deputy Marshal Borners for deserting from Captain Graves's cavalry company, but was discharged by order of the Supreme court on the plea of his minority. Captain Mills returned to his company in November, with seventeen recruits. Sergeant Weeks and Leonard Houston also returned to camp, accompanied by several recruits. A sensation, new to Iowa, was produced late in November by the arrest of Captain W'illiam M. Hill, of Harrison county, on a charge of treason, and the incarceration of Hill in Des Moines. The charge was based on an anti-Union letter written to a confederate newspaper in Virginia. An indictment was found by the United States grand jury and Hill's trial was assigned for the 7th of January, '62, at a special term of the United States District Court to- be held in Des Moines. The accused secured Judge Cole and S. V. White as counsel, and the prosecution was conducted by United States District Attorney Gurley. In the letter on which the charge was based, Hill bade "Godspeed to the noble work of the confederates" in driving back "the black hordes of unprincipled Aboli tionists,'^ — and much more in the same vein. CHAPTER II. DES MOINES AND THE SECOND YEAR OF THE WAR DONELSON, PEA RIDGE AXD SHILOH. The new year, 1862, brought with it promotions for several Des Moines men. Lieutenant Ensign was made first lieutenant in place of S. H. Lunt, resigned, and George L. Godfrey, second corporal, had been promoted to Ensign's vacant position. It was reported that Colonel Crocker had been commissioned a brigadier general ; but, for some unknown reason, this acting brigadier was per mitted to wait several months for his well-earned promotion. On January 8, Adjutant General Baker made the sad announcement that inventories of the effects of seven Iowa soldiers had been filed in his office in Des Moines for the identification of relatives. Lieutenant W. S. Simmons began the new year in Des Moines recruiting for the Fourth Iowa, now under the command of Colonel G. M. Dodge. George H. Schmidt opened quarters at the American House for German recruits. Death again entered the ranks of the Des Moines recruits. News came on New Year's day that Charles W., youngest son of Harmon Beekman, of the Fifteenth Iowa, had died of typhoid fever in the military hospital at Keokuk. His remains were brought to Des Moines and his funeral was held in the Con gregational church. The mother was with her son during his last illness; but not even a mother's love could save the young soldier's life. Colonel Crocker, in a letter to Elijah Sells, secretary of state, dated headquar ters, Jefferson City, Mo., January 6, evinces his eager desire for service. He says that "if troops are to be sent into these states simply to keep the peace and protect their [the slave-owners' 1 property, this war will last forever." Brave soldier that he was, he frankly declared that he was "not infatuated with war." The husband and father and home-lover is seen in these added words: "I don't want to be a soldier any longer than the dictates of an ordinary patriotism will compel me. What I want is peace, so that I can come home to my wife and children." One of the relatively unimportant items at a time when battles raged, — and vet one which presents a picture vividly recalled as typical of "the times that tried men's souls," is this, from the State Register of Januarv 21 : "The Western Stage Company brought through this place on Sundav the dead body of a soldier belonging to Captain Orr's company, Tenth Regiment. After pushing repeated inquiries we were unable to ascertain his name. We learn that he was from Calhoun county, and that he left a wife and two children." The disappearance of gold is emphasized by a brief item in the Register of January 22, announcing that an obscure paper, "published somewhere," had actually received a gold dollar for publishing a marriage notice ! Under the impetus of the new demand of the army, 9,611 hogs had been packed in Des Moines from the commencement of the season, down to the 27th of January.1 1 Rollins & Harmon had packed 540; Keyes & Crawford, 1.850; A. Y. Rawson, 2,500; and H. Stephenson & Co., 300. These figures added to the number packed by Tuttle & Co., and A. W. Rollins & Co., make the total. 194 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 195 On the same day was reported the establishment of a telegraph office in Des Moines. "A week or two since, when the eastern mails arrived . . . the post- office was jammed to its utmost capacity with a crowd anxious to catch a glimpse of the war news from the river dailies." Tlie Register editor feels an honest pride in the enterprise which renders his readers "independent of slow coaches and postal irregularities." Announcement is made late in January that the latest substitutes for coffee are carrots and sweet potatoes. A few days later a paper recommends sorghum molasses as a substitute — the molasses boiled to the consistency of taffy and then allowed to burn. This is one of the indirect results of the war. "In view of the embarrassing times, the donation party given at the residence of Rev. Thompson Bird on the 23d of January" was "a remarkable success." Late in January the roads were in such condition that for several days in succession no mail from the east and south was received. The suspense of those long clays of waiting for news from loved ones at the front can well be imagined. Lieutenant Timoney, of the Fifteenth United States Infantry, reported suc cess in obtaining recruits in Des Moines during the month of January. Major Bennett, of the Tenth Iowa, returned to Des Moines on the 26th of January. One object of his visit was to aid in accomplishing a brigade organiza tion for Iowa troops, all of whom were anxious to be led by Iowa generals. The case of William M. Hill, of Maquoketa, Iowa, arrested and indicted for treason, became the subject of so much comment, based chiefly on misrepresenta tion, that Provost Marshal H. M. Hoxie, in the Register of January 29, printed a lengthy communication relating the actual facts, which, briefly told, were as follows : Hill's trial was set for January 7, and a special jury was summoned for the purpose. On the 3d, Hoxie received a notice from the district attorney, then in Washington, of his purpose to enter a nolle in the case, pursuant to instructions from the attorney general. On the 5th Hoxie received an order from Secretary Seward commanding him to arrest and convey Hill to Fort Lafayette, as soon as he should be discharged from civil custody. His duty was clear. On the evening of the 8th he made the arrest at the Demoine House. There was no resistance — no scene. Hill quietly made arrangements for the journey, and the two started for Fort Lafayette. On the ioth they were met on the cars by the deputy sheriff of Scott county, Iowa, who served upon Hoxie a writ of habeas corpus, issued by Judge Linderman, on application of James Grant, attorney. Hoxie delivered his prisoner to< the county jail for safe keeping. After due con sultation, he resolved to disregard the writ, following the established precedent in the case of military prisoners. He took the prisoner and on the 16th deliv ered him to the commandant at Fort Lafayette. The report published in the papers that Hill had been kidnapped, and delivered in chains, and otherwise inhumanly treated was indignantly denied. "At no time was any unnecessary hardship practiced upon the prisoner." The Register of January 29, contains an editorial stating that at one of the hotels in Des Moines daily and nightly secret meetings were held, the leading spirit of which was Henry Clay Dean. The object of these meetings was to throw obstacles in the way of the government, state and national. In one of these meetings, in Dean's room, it was decided to hold an indignation meeting at the State Capital to denounce the arrest and imprisonment of General Jones and Mr. Hill, this meeting to be the initial demonstration in. a movement to revolutionize public sentiment in Iowa. The proposed meeting was never held. The hotel referred to was the Demoine House ; but the editor absolved the pro prietor from responsibility for the conduct of his guests in their own rooms. The pluck and patriotism of the period found illustration in the case of young William H. Goodrell, of Des Moines. In the spring of '61 he enlisted in the First Iowa. At the battle of Wilson's Creek he was severely wounded. He was subsequently discharged. Early in February, '62, fully recovered from 196 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY his wound, he reenlisted in Captain Smith's company, 15th Iowa, and returned to duty. A younger brother of Madison Young, the well known Des Moines attorney, who went to the war in Captain Crocker's company, was afterwards discharged for disabilities, and came home to die. On the 8th of February, news of the "glorious victory" at Fort Henry crowded out much local news. During the month of February, Lieutenant Hopkins, of the Tenth Iowa Infantry, obtained numerous recruits at the Capital city. The editor of the Dallas County Union visited Des Moines early in February, and in his next issue recorded his conclusion that the Capital city was destined to become "the emporium of Iowa. . . . Give it an outlet for the market of central Iowa productions, — build a railroad or two to diverge east and west, and Des Moines will take a stride . . that will astonish the most sanguine. . . ." The officers and men of the Fourth Iowa Infantry, early in February, for mally expressed their thanks to the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Societies of Des Moines and other cities of Iowa for stores greatly needed at a time when so many were prostrated by disease. Henry Clay Dean was announced to preach in the M. E. church on the East side one Sunday in February; but the stove-pipe refused to draw, the smoke became suffocating and the audience stampeded. Frank Palmer, in the Register said: "Carnal-minded people might not regard this as a judgment, but we do." Col. John W. Rankin, authorized to raise a regiment to be known as the Seventeenth Iowa Infantry, arrived in Des Moines about the middle of February, and engaged a room at the Demoine House, and through the press expressed a desire to confer with members of the legislature and others as to recruiting districts, and as to reliable and upright men who might be willing to join the regiment. On the 17th of February, that well-remembered day, when Des Moines joined with the General Assembly in celebrating the union victory at Fort Donelson, Governor Kirkwood gave a public dinner to everybody at the Demoine House. The enthusiastic Palmer, of the Register, in his report of the event says : "Never was there a happier time since the stars sang together in the morning of the universe, and all the sons of God shouted for joy! The table was surrounded with faces glowing with the exhilaration of victory! It was a gay and festive time, full of life, spirit and enthusiasm." The one occurrence to mar the enjoyment of the day was the serious injury sustained by Butler Sells, son of the Secretary of State. Sells was carrying a basket full of cartridges with which to feed "Little Giant," a famous cannon which had been dragged up Capitol Hill and planted in front of the State House, when someone dropped fire into the basket. In the explosion which followed, the young man was severely injured. A vivid picture of the effect of the Fort Donelson victory on the General Assembly has been left us, from the hand of Charles Aldrich, then clerk of the Iowa House.2 The news of the victory reached Des Moines the next day. Aldrich was calling the House roll when he saw Palmer, of the State Register, enter the hall, evidently much excited. He soon reached the desk of Speaker Clark. Clark "sprang to his feet, in the very midst of a roll-call, shouting at the top of his sonorous voice, 'General Grant has captured Fort Donelson !' " "Then followed a scene which, in the language of highly-wrought novels, 'beggars all description.' The members sprang to their feet with the wildest cheers and loudest hurrahs that ever woke the echoes of the old Capitol building. . . The members went fairly wild, hugging each other, shaking hands, cheering, and in every possible manner giving way to expressions of extravagant delight. 2 Lathrop's Life of Kirkwood, p. 206. GjuJ CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 197 In a few seconds the Senators, startled by the noise and confusion, came rushing in and joined in the scene, expressing their exultant delight." When order was restored, the Secretary of State was authorized to bring out the big gun and fire a salute of thirty-four rounds from Capitol Hill in honor of the glorious event. The House adjourned to meet at 7 p. m., "but," says Captain Lathrop, "when met were too jubilant over the victory to settle down to business." The legislators adjourned and betook themselves to the Demoine, then the leading hotel in the city, where a banquet was held which was followed by speeches. Mr. Aldrich contributes another picture illustrating the rampant loyalty of the Capital City on that first occasion for real jubilation since the beginning of the war. He says : 3 "Among the speakers at that noisy table, of whom my recollection is most distinct, was our illustrious War Governor, Samuel J. Kirkwood. His blood had been at a very high temperature over the Trent affair, in which Mason and Slidell had been captured and afterwards given up, and the inspiration of the occasion did not, in the least, tend to cool him off. In the midst of his remarks, every word weighing a pound, while the perspiration freely ran down his rugged face, he said : 'Parents should rear their children to hate Old England. If I had a son — .' Just opposite the Governor sat poor Redfield, then a Senator from Dallas county, a graduate of Yale, a glorious fellow, who afterwards 'foremost fighting fell' before Atlanta. When the Governor reached this point, Redfield could not restrain his enthusiasm, but bringing his fist down upon the table with the force of a sledge hammer, exclaimed : 'By — , Governor, you shall have one!' This demonstration brought down the house. The Governor did not finish the sentence. I must confess that my memory is misty concerning the remainder of this speech. I believe he soon yielded the floor to some one else, but his look of sternness while uttering the words I have quoted I have never forgotten. It was more than a joyful time. Every Democrat in the Legislature was a 'War Democrat,' whatever he may have been twenty-four hours before." The reverse side of the picture is given in the after report of more than six hundred brave lowans killed and wounded at Donelson. The democrats in the legislature, with few exceptions, caught the enthusiasm of the time. Hon. John F. Duncombe, a democratic leader, in his address as president of the first session of the Iowa Lawmakers, in 1886, remarked that he could never forget, when the lightning flashed over the wire from Donelson the word "victory," he "was almost overwhelmed with enthusiasm." Colonel Tuttle, who led the gallant Second Iowa Regiment over the walls of Fort Donelson, on the 18th of February wrote his father, then residing in Des Moines, a long letter which was published on the 27th, in which he modestly referred to his regiment as "covered with glory," and to himself as "very busy since the battle attending to the burying of the dead and taking care of the wounded." He writes: "I thought of nothing while climbing the hill on 'double quick' to storm the fort, but to keep my men in order and prevent confusion. When I saw my gal lant boys scaling the earthworks, . . I felt like clasping each one of our brave boys in my arms. . . . "After the battle was over, it was, and is still, terrible to think of! Joel and I were side by side most of the time. He fought bravely, even a little rashly sometimes. He was not touched. I was grazed by a ball which passed through my coat sleeve and glove, hitting the hilt of my sword and knocking it over my head ! The sudden wrenching of it out of my hand paralyzed my arm during the rest of the engagement. I was afterward standing on a log, beckoning to another regiment behind us to come on, when a cannon ball struck the log forcing it from under me. I fell backward on a limb injuring my back very much. I cannot straighten it yet. "Tell the Des Moines folks that their company did nobly. Capt. Mills and 3 Lathrop — Life of Kirkwood, pp. 206-7. 198 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY I were close together most of the time. He fought bravely. Lieutenants Ensign and Godfrey also did bravely. Sergeant Doty was among the bravest of the brave, and died like a hero. . . . We lost some noble young men, one out of every three, either killed or wounded." W. S. Moore, of Company E, relates that Sergeant Doty, "who was killed before reaching the works, stood in front of the line masticating a hard cracker, and was heard to remark, with an air of thoughtlessness, that he wished to die with a full stomach. Many remarks of astonishing frivolity were indulged in as we stood in line ready to move, and there was no evidence that any one real ized the gravity of the situation." 4 On the 20th of February, Adjutant-General Baker gave to the press a dis patch from General Halleck which read : "The Second Iowa Infantry proved themselves the bravest of the brave. They had the honor of leading the column which entered Fort Donelson." The telegram was received in the Capital City with many expressions of satisfaction. A lengthy letter from Capt. N. W. Mills, of Co. D, Second Iowa, written to his brother Frank, on the 17th, was not published till the 28th of February. Speaking of Company D, he said : "There were many instances of bravery in all the companies. I was so proud of mine that I felt like hugging them." The Captain wrote that as the regiment entered the fort, next day, and saw the Confederates drawn up in line for the surrender, "the feeling of pride, exulta tion and exaltation that possessed us was worth the dangers we had passed. . . . Every one felt that individually he was a hero. To express it in Sergeant Marsh's language — 'Every man among us weighed a ton.' " Captain Mills wrote that it was impossible to arrange for sending the bodies of their dead comrades home, "or it would have been done. Their names were carved on their head-boards, and deep into a tree close by." William Christy of Company D, Second Iowa, wrote his father full details of the storming of Fort Donelson, with news of sad local interest at the time. He wrote that while the Second Iowa was marching toward the second intrench- ment, and within two hundred yards of the enemy, the Iowa boys began to fall. He added : "Theodore Weeks fell by Bill Callender's side. . . . Sergeant Doty fell right by my side, shot through the heart. The following persons were wounded : Corporal Ragan, Hayden, Cree, Slatten, Nagle, John Coombs, Patrick, Brenton, Larrence. Ragan shot through the thigh, not dangerous ; Hayden, through the head ; Cree, in the arm ; Slatten, in three places, one in the head, one in the arm, and one in the leg; I think he will recover. Nagle, in the foot; Coombs, in the arm ; Patrick in the neck ; Brenton, in the arm ; Larrence, by a spent grape, in the neck ; Dreher, in the head ; and Lieutenant Ensign in the groin. He will get well." As evidence that the war was over in Missouri, Colonel Crocker sent Judge Casady a program of a celebration of Washington's birthday in Jefferson City, Mo., in which the Colonel directed the military operations. About the middle of February, Captain W. H. Hoxie, a brother of the U. S. Marshal, and Lieutenant Rees, opened a recruiting office for the new Seven teenth regiment, on Second street, near Hippee's drug store, and "a brisk recruit ing" was reported in the press. At about the same time, Lieutenant Timoney, at G. H. Turner's office on Court avenue was recruiting the ranks of the 15th U. S. Infantry, Major Ander son's old regiment. He reported he had been "successful beyond his expecta tions." Late in February, Adjutant General Baker concluded arrangements with the Western Stage Company, for the transportation of sick and wounded soldiers, 4 Midland War Sketches. The famous charge at Fort Donelson, W. S. Moore, Mid land Monthly, Des Moines, v. 5, p. 179. COL. N. W. MILLS CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 199 "and, with a liberality worthy of all commendation, Colonel Hooker in behalf of the company" agreed "to convey the sick and disabled at one half fare and the wounded in battle free." William Ragan, a law student in the office of Thomas F. Withrow, Des Moines, was severely wounded at Donelson, and Mr. Withrow was reported as making arrangements for his removal to Des Moines. Soon after the fall of Donelson, Lewis Jones, of Des Moines, received the sad news that his son Tarpley, of Company D, Second Iowa, was killed in battle. Later, the father was relieved by a belated letter from Tarpley explaining that the report originated in the fact that he was missing. Inside the first intrench- ments, the rebels were pursued within two or three hundred yards of the second entreachments, and then waited for reinforcements. After an hour and a half, Colonel Tuttle ordered his men to fall back slowly to the first entrenchments. Tarpley writes : "I did not hear the order, and remained behind a small enbankment which had been thrown up for a single gun. Three of the boys were with me. On looking around we found that were all alone, the Regiment having retired. . I started in the direction of the regiment, but finding I was right between two fires, and the balls whistling past me from each way, I dropped down into a hollow, expecting to reach my regiment by another road. In a short time, I found myself in front of another battery, and exposed to the fire of a regiment of infantry. Knowing I could not possibly pass them alive, I laid down among some fallen trees where I remained until dark. I had a pretty cold berth, for the ground was covered with snow. As soon as dark came, I slipped out past the rebel guard, but in a short time found myself a prisoner, as I thought, in the hands of the rebel picket guard. They placed me between two of them and started off to camp with me. We had not gone far when they asked me what regiment I belonged to ; and when I told them, they knew I was one of their own men. Their colonel, suspecting I was a spy, kept me in custody until about ten o'clock before I could convince him that I was what I professed to be. "After I was dismissed, I started again for the regiment, but being in a strange country, I lost my way, and wandered around the whole night hunting the boys. . . The next morning when the fort was surrendered, I heard the cheering, and soon found my way to the regiment. Several of the boys had thought they had seen me fall. . . The captain had ordered that Sergeant Doty should be buried on the right, Theodore Weeks next to him, and me on the left." Lieut. J. Hopkins spent some time in Des Moines, late in February and early in March recruiting for the ioth Iowa. His headquarters were at the Cottage House. The death of Adjutant-General Baker's daughter, about fourteen years of age, occurred at Clinton, March 1. The general was with the child to the last, and was much broken in spirit by the loss. Sergeant Ed. L. Marsh, of Company D, Second Iowa, was made sergeant- major in reward for gallant conduct at Donelson. Dr. Weeks was, on March 4, still in the south, his sad mission being to bring back to Des Moines the remains of his son Theodore, killed at Donelson. The haversacks, blankets, etc., belonging to Weeks and Doty were sent home by express. Dr. S. C. Brownell, of Des Moines, who went south with Governor Kirk wood after the battle of Fort Donelson, returned early in March bringing a cor rected list of the killed and wounded of the Second Iowa Infantry.5 The list included the following members of Company D : Sergeant Nathan W. Doty, killed instantly; Private T. G. Weeks, killed instantly; ist Lieut. E. T. Ensign, severely wounded, groin and thigh; 5 Published in the State Register, March 8, 1862. 200 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 2nd Sergeant G. L. Godfrey, slightly wounded, leg; Corporal William Ragan, severely wounded, thigh; Private Wm. H. Brenton, slightly wounded, hand; Private Casper H. Brody, severely wounded, leg; Private John H. Coombs, severely wounded, leg; Private Peter Dreher, slightly wounded, head ; Private J. H. Hayden, severely wounded, head; Private Andrew Slatten, severely wounded, leg; Private Thomas Ward, slightly wounded, head; Private J. Q. Williams, slightly wounded, arm; Private David Yant, slightly wounded, arm ; Private W. L. Cady, slightly wounded, head; Private P. G. Noel, slightly wounded, head; Private J. Cooper, slightly wounded, head; Private Joseph Gardinier, slightly wounded, arm; Private John Nagle, slightly wounded, arm. Adjutant General Baker returned to the capital on the nth. On reaching his home in Clinton, Iowa, he found all the members of the family ill, so ill that when the funeral of his daughter occurred, he was the only remaining member of the family able to attend the funeral. The General brought back with him "evi dences of sleepless vigils." Lieut. J. H. Browne, late of Company D., Second Iowa, now of Colonel Rankin's 17th Iowa, opened a recruiting office in Des Moines in March, with headquarters at the Blodgett House. Major Byers' Vivid Picture of the Second Iowa at Donelson. Major Byers' version of the story of the Second Iowa's quick transition from technical disgrace to real honor and glory such as rarely come to a body of soldiers, reads as follows : 6 "It was due to Gen. Grant's personal endeavors that the Second Iowa was in the fight at all. From its station in St. Louis, it had been ordered by Halleck to join Gen. Curtis in the west. Had it gone, it would have been at Pea Ridge instead of Donelson. At the time of the order to go to Curtis, Gen. Grant hap pened to be in St. Louis, when Tuttle, the Colonel of the Second, visited the General and asked him to protest against the order. He found Grant alone, quietly smoking a cigar on the balcony of the Planter's House. There was a long, quiet talk about the prospects in the North — they were not very bright just then, and Grant himself was having difficulty in convincing Halleck that the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers were the right road into the Confederacy. He still had hopes of permission to try the plan. It was, however, not wholly his own plan. Gen. C. F. Smith approved the course ; so did Flag Officer Foote, and Sherman and others. 'If I can go,' said Grant, T want your regiment with me.' It was a big, new full regiment of Iowa boys. The General accompanied the Colonel to Halleck's headquarters. The order to go west was rescinded, and while Grant was marching over from Henry to Donelson, Col. Tuttle was ordered to put his regiment on a steamer and hurry with other steamers full, up the Cumberland, to help him. "The roll beat, and the men assembled at quarters. The Colonel went to the train to start the ladies of his family north and say farewell to them. On his return to his regiment, he saw it, to his utter amazement, marching to the trans ports with folded colors and with silent drum. The Second Iowa was in dis grace. Some of the men had violated discipline, and the whole regiment, by the order of the post commander, Gen. Hamilton, was being punished. Tuttle flew into a rage, hurried to Hamilton, hurried to Halleck, and the storm of words had the ardor of a battle. Almost open mutiny was talked of. The 6 Byers — Iowa in War Times, pp. 95-101. GEN. ED. WRIGHT IN 1863 GEN. N. B. BAKER CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 201 harsh order was not revoked. 'But go to the front,' said Gen. Halleck to the angered Colonel — 'Go to the front ; Gen. Grant shall give you a fighting chance, and no man shall, if you prove heroes, be so quick to let the country know it as myself.' " 7 "In an hour's time the ropes were loosed, and the steamer, crowded with irate men, pulled down the river, using every means to overtake the fleet, to hurry to Grant, and by deeds of valor wipe the stigma from the regimental flag. At the mouth of the Cumberland, the pilot, a secession sympathizer, as were most of the lower river pilots of that day, concluded he would take the boat no further. T can't, you know. I am not a Cumberland river man. You must get a special pilot.' A special pilot was sought for, but none was to be found in Paducah, and none in Smithland. 'Now, can't you?' said the Colonel again to the obstinate pilot. 'We- must go up the river at once.' T can't and I won't,' added the man of .the tiller. 'Won't you,' shouted the Colonel, suddenly reach ing for something in his breast pocket. 'Now take that wheel, and run this boat straight up the river.' The whistle blew, the bell rang, the ropes were loosed, and the boat went on her way: while for hours, sitting or standing beside the pilot, was an officer with his hand on his breast pocket, helping the pilot to steer his boat up the Cumberland. It was an incident preparatory to graver events. In sight of Donelson, the fleet is overtaken, the troops get ashore, the pilot breathes easier, and Gen. Grant has put the Second Iowa in Smith's- division, and at a point where it will have a 'good fighting chance.' The very next day, the 15th, the chance is to be given. Already there had been heavy fighting at Donelson, and almost the first battle cries that met the ears of the Second Iowa were, 'the assaults have failed.' "An assault on the extreme left by Smith's division, including all the Iowa troops, was determined on at once. The fighting chance had come. The chief of staff rode all along the line toward the left, crying to the soldiers : 'Fill your cartridge boxes, quick, and fall in. The enemy is trying to escape.' "Gen. Smith, in person, ordered Lauman's brigade to assault. The Second Iowa was at the left of the brigade, the Seventh Iowa next, the Twenty-fifth Indiana next, and the Fourteenth, led by Col. Shaw, at the right. . . . 'The attack was made,' says Shaw, 'by regiments in double column, left in front.' Col. Tuttle, with the left wing of his regiment, led the assault, his right wing following with the other regiments in order. " 'Can you go into the intrenchments ?' said the gray-haired veteran, the trained soldier, Gen. Smith, to Col. Tuttle. 'Yes,' was the prompt response. . . . "Smith scarcely believed it possible for his men to absolutely take the forti fications in his front, nor could he be sure that Gen. Grant intended more than a violent demonstration, to mislead the enemy, while his troops elsewhere on the line should make some other movement, before being driven to resort to a siege. "It was no child's playground, that five hundred yards of rough ascent covered with fallen trees, with sharpened limbs, with the long line of rifle pits, and, back of these, a determined, angry foe. Already the rebel troops could be seen rushing back from their left, to defend their intrenchments. The sun had come out brightly, as if to witness a spectacle. The wind and the snow were almost gone, and the birds, frightened from the thundering cannon on the far right all the forenoon, were again chirping in the woods around the assembling columns. " 'Fix bayonets ! forward, and without firing !' came the order. Col. Tuttle 7 The Second Regiment was guarding McDowell College, in St. Louis, at this time. The building was used as a prison for Rebels, but the rooms containing the museum and specimens belonging to the college, remained as in time of peace. Some vandal, possibly of the Second Regiment, and possibly not, robbed this museum of part of its contents. As the Second Iowa was guarding it, it was held responsible for the outrage, and the whole regiment was disgraced by orders. — S. H. M. Byers. 202 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY drew his sword and marched slowly ahead, his half regiment following. Not far behind, led by Lieut.-Col. Baker, followed the other half of the regiment. No man spoke — no shot was fired. Soon, as the Second regiment reaches the abatis, the line deploys a little right and left to get round the obstacles in its way — extends itself — and then opens from the entrenchments a storm of shot and shell and minie ball. No man falters. Quietly and stubbornly the lines advance, picking their way among the fallen trees. Capt. Cloutman is shot dead. A ball tears through the body of Capt. Slaymaker. 'Go on,' he cries, 'your work is there.' Men and officers fall all around. But no one hesitates. The column has started to take the entrenchments. . . . Closer and closer approach the Union lines. Hotter and hotter grows the rebel storm of shot and shell. No orders are given. Only, 'Steady, boys' — 'brave boys.' Every man is his own commander, and works his way up, firing still no shot ; but with tightly grasped rifle, sharp bayonet and gleaming eye, faces- the death in- the trenches. Suddenly there is a cry — the lines are reached. 'Give them hell, boys,' shouts the big Colonel, and the boys of Iowa are over the entrenchments, pouring a flood of bullets after the Rebels, who are flying across a ravine and over to an inner line of breastworks. There they halt, and a pitched battle ensues for the captured ground. It is in vain that fresh rebel regiments hurry to the contest. The men who charged so daringly will not give up the ground. And other regiments are climbing the abatis to help them. "The Fourteenth Iowa being on the right of the brigade, was the last to attack. Shaw led it and advanced upon the enemy's works to the right of the other regiments, Gen. Smith riding part of the way with him. Being separated by fallen timber, the latter rejoined Shaw inside the enemy's works. Here it was that Gen. Smith took his canteen, swung it over his head, cheered, and offered the Colonel a drink. At Shaw's right, the Twelfth Iowa, of Cook's brigade, advanced a little later, but was in the works in time to be severely engaged, and to help prevent the re-enforced enemy from driving our own troops out. Col. Woods led the regiment. It had at first made a feint of attack further to the right, but now moved to the left to Tuttle's support, and charging through the fallen timber, received a galling fire of grape and canister. On reaching the breastworks, the regiment poured a hot fire of musketry into the enemy, who not only met it in front, but opened on it with artillery at the right. LTnder this cross-fire, the Twelfth fought the enemy for two hours, helping to drive him from and beyond the deep ravine back of the breastworks. The Seventh Iowa, led by Col. Parrott, had promptly advanced, and fought with extreme bravery, adding to the splendid reputation it had won at Belmont. All the Iowa regi ments, especially the Second, had won the admiration of the army and the country. "The assault of the Second Iowa, supported by the three other Iowa regi ments and the Twenty-fifth Indiana, won the battle of Donelson. It was an Iowa victory. 'There was nothing,' says Shaw, 'in the historv of the whole war, that excels that charge of the Second Iowa.' " During the winter, notwithstanding war's alarms, the churches of Des Moines did not neglect their pastors. Liberal donations were made, not only to the pioneer preachers, Messrs. Nash and Bird, but also to Revs. Chamberlain, Flem ing. Turner, and Peet. The Register of March ii, prints a letter from Hoyt Sherman to his wife in Des Moines, vividly describing the appearance of Columbus, Ky., after the evacuation ; also a letter from Captain Mills, from Fort Donelson, in which the valiant captain wants the world to know that it was the Second Iowa Infantry that assaulted and carried the works of the enemy at Fort Donelson, which re sulted in its possession by the United States troops — a contention which the brave men of other regiments are, after all these years, too generous to question. CITY OF DES MOINES AXD POLK COUNTY 203 He encloses Brig.-Gen. C. F. Smith's General Order No. 8, in which are com mended all the participants in the battle, with especial mention of Birge's sharp shooters, Major Cavender's three batteries "and the Second Iowa Regiment, more particularly, for its successful assault on the enemy's breastworks on the afternoon of the i§th inst." Captain Mills also notes the circumstance that his regiment led the triumphal column on its entrance into the enemy's works, and that "other regiments cheered us as we passed." He also notes, with satisfaction, the fact that for the first time since the war began, there is a brigade composed almost exclusively of Iowa troops, to wit: the 2nd, 7th, 12th and 14th, with two companies of Illinois Cavalry, making the First Brigade. Scarcely had the rumblings of the battle at Fort Donelson died away when the sounds of conflict at Sugar Creek and Pea Ridge, Arkansas, began to break upon the ears of the deeply interested ones at home. In a letter written March 11, Lucien E. Doughty, a private in Company E, Fourth Iowa Infantry, formerly a printer in the Register office, wrote his sister in Des Moines a letter from Sugar Creek battle ground. Doughty said his regiment was in the hottest part of the fight. Its loss was about 30 killed and 150 wounded. His company had three killed and eight wounded. . . Sergeant Barnum was struck with a six-pound ball in his left breast and was killed instantly. "Poor Ed !" exclaims the writer, "He was one of my best friends. We had been messmates from the time we left Des Moines. His death is a hard blow to his wife and chil dren. . . . He will be mourned by many old and valued friends in Des Moines." Bell enlisted as a private with Doughty, but at the time of his death was acting Adjutant, and would soon have received his appointment. He was wounded on the field and died next day. ."We buried him today with military honors. He was followed to his grave by our highest officers, including Adjutant Wil liamson, Lieut.-Col. and acting Major H. H. Griffiths. They all seemed deeply affected." Colonel Dodge in his report on his regiment's part in the battle of Pea Ridge, speaks in the highest praise of the gallant conduct of Adjutant James A. Wil liamson, of Des Moines — who at the close of the war retired a full brigadier- general. A notable event in the history of Des Moines was the public funeral, March 11, in honor of Nathan W. Doty and Theodore G. Weeks, who fell at Fort Donelson. It was attended by thousands. Both houses of the General Assembly adjourned in honor of the occasion. Its members convened in the House at 11 a. m., and, accompanied by Governor Kirkwood and staff, the other state officers and government officials, proceeded under escort of the marshal and his aids to Ingham Hall. The procession was joined by members of Des Moines Lodge of Good Templars, Des Moines Lodge of Odd Fellows, Pioneer Lodge of Masons and many citizens, in carriages and on foot. A military escort com manded by Lieutenant Timoney received the procession at the door, and escorted the representative citizens to seats reserved for them. The public filled every remaining space in the hall. The exercises arranged by the Mayor and City Council were as follows : Prayer by Rev. Thompson Bird. Reading of the 15th Chapter of 1st Corinthians, by Rev. Dr. Peet. Funeral oration by Hon. D. O. Finch. Prayer by Rev. J. M. Chamberlain. The singing, the prayers, the scripture reading and the oration combined to make a most impressive ceremony. The scene itself was one never to be for gotten. The hall was draped with flags and emblems of mourning. The draped coffins containing the dead heroes rested side by side on the platform in front of the speaker's desk. Seated about the coffins sat members of the Second Iowa, 204 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY acting as a body-guard. From the hall the procession moved to the cemetery. After the benediction had been pronounced over the graves, a volley of musketry was fired, and the throng dispersed. On the day of these solemn obsequies came the first reports of the Union victory at Pea Ridge, in Arkansas, in which several Iowa regiments participated. It was feared that Captain Griffiths' company, from Des Moines, might have supplied a considerable part of the "thousand killed and wounded on our side." The Register endeavors to prepare its readers for the worst by remarking that "desperate battles. are the order of the day, and Des Moines, in common with other communities, must bear her part in the burdens and the fatalities of war. The Rebellion must be crushed out if it takes the last man in the loyal North to do it!" The phenomenal recovery of Joseph S. Hayden of Des Moines, Company D, was chronicled on the 15th. Hayden was shot in the head, the ball passing through the skull near the ear and running obliquely forward into the mouth almost dividing the tongue. Voltaire P. Twombley of Keosauqua, then young in his "teens," afterwards Treasurer of State, and since his retirement a prominent business man of Des Moines, was highly praised in the press as the man who planted the colors of the Second Iowa on the entrenchments at Donelson. The promotion of Dr. C. H. Rawson, of Des Moines, to the position of Brigade Surgeon was on the 15th communicated by Representative Kasson to the Doctor's brother, A. Y. Rawson. The Register of March 20, expresses pride in the fact that R. P. Clarkson, better known as "Dick" Clarkson, formerly a compositor in its office, was in at the storming of Donelson. Doughty, of Company E, Fourth Regiment, in a letter confirms a report that Springfield was taken by Captain Griffiths' Des Moines company. "The boys were detached, as a sort of vanguard. They pushed into the town with drums beating and colors flying, and were highly amused at the scared appearance of divers secesh chaps who were making a sharp exodus in the direction of Price's retreating army." A festival at the Good Templars and Masonic halls for the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers at the front was given by the Soldiers' Aid Society on the 25th. A letter from a soldier in Company E, Fourth Iowa, written from Keits- ville, Mo., March 22, says that Adjutant Williamson, of General Dodge's Brigade "has about recovered from the wound which he received at Pea Ridge." He also states that "Charlie Greene is pretty much recovered from his slight wound. Lieutenant Simmons is at present quite unwell with a fever." Late in March came a belated letter from Captain Griffiths, now acting Major Griffiths. After a general description of the battle of Pea Ridge, the captain turns to his regiment's part. He writes : s "On the first day the Fourth Regiment was in a perfect 'hell on earth,' as twenty-four pieces of cannon were playing on us, and at that, 10,000 rebels on our front and left flank, pouring it into us. But here the brave boys stood and drove them back again and again, until, no help coming, and they exhausted with the fierce labors of the battle, we fell back, firing in retreat, and holding the swarming mass of the enemy at bay, until two batteries and two regiments came to our relief, holding the ground on both sides of us a moment and we formed again and drove them back until we had gained our former position where we began the battle next morning." The bravery of Colonel Bussey's Third Iowa Cavalry at Pea Ridge was the subject of favorable comment at the time. A Pea Ridge correspondent of the Missouri Democrat related that the Des Moines boys, Sergeant Barnum and 8 State Register, March 28, 1862. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 205 Private Cornish, "stood side by side as skirmishers near a tree. A ball killed Barnum . . . and at the same instant his comrade was also killed by a grape- shot. Both fell dead at the same instant, with their feet together." The fall of New Orleans and the opening of the Mississippi river was the good news received on the 23d of April. Word came in May to the patriotic ladies of Des Moines that the flag made by them and presented to Company E, afterwards made the regimental flag of the Fourth Iowa, had been riddled with rebel bullets at the battle of Pea Ridge. This historic flag was to be sent back as a precious keepsake to the ladies who made it. Colonel Hare in his official report of the recent battle, gratified many at home in that he called especial attention to Colonel M. M. Crocker of the 13th Iowa. "The coolness and bravery displayed by him on the field of battle during the entire action of the 6th, the skill with which he maneuvred his men and the exam ple of daring and disregard of danger by which he inspired others to do their duty and stand by their colors, show him to be possessed of the highest qualities of a commander and entitle him to speedy promotion." The confirmation of Brigadier General Tuttle was announced by Senator Grimes on the 7th, and a visit the general purposed to pay to his father in Des Moines was keenly anticipated. Emigration to Pike's Peak and California, coupled with enlistments, made many vacancies in the community life of Iowa. And yet the population of Des Moines and of Polk county was steadily increasing! Adjutant Joel Tuttle, who had bravely fought side by side with his elder brother, Colonel Tuttle, in the battle of Fort Donelson, soon afterward suc cumbed to disease and died. His body was brought to the grief-stricken home in Des Moines, and on the 19th of May, occurred the funeral. All the ministers of the city were present. Judge George G. Wright delivered a deeply impressive address. The remains were conveyed to the cemetery under the direction of the military officers quartered in the city at the time. The occasion brought home to the people of Des Moines with solemn force the awful tragedy of war. Theodore Cree, nephew of Dr. Shaw, of Des Moines, and a member of Cap tain Mills' company, returned home to recuperate. He had been wounded three times at Donelson ; but, kneeling behind a stump in the enemy's entrenchments, he continued to blaze away. Taken to a hospital in Cincinnati, a lady of that city. Mrs. Thomas Morgan, conveyed him to her residence and for six weeks took care of him. He believed she saved his life, for erysipelas and fever hav ing supervened, his hold on life was slender. This is the young man from Saylor who, early in the war, had been mistakingly proclaimed a deserter ! Captain Graves writing home to his wife from camp near Farmington, in May, modestly referred to the gallant charge of the Second Iowa Cavalry near Corinth which commanded the admiration of the New York Tribune corre spondent. He says : "We had a desperate battle yesterday. The rebels drove us into a corner, and were firing at us with twenty-four cannon. Our whole division was in danger of being cut off. In this emergency, General Paine ordered us to charge on the rebel battery. We did so successfully. The rebels were driven back. Our regiment lost many men. My company escaped unharmed. Ten horses were shot under us . . . I was in front of the company in the charge, and the cannon balls were dashing all around me. A piece of shell struck my horse, but did not injure him severely. Lieutenant Washburne was taken prisoner . . . I made a charge with the rest of my company, cutting him. loose. "In a previous affair where sixteen of our company were engaged with two rebel companies, Harry Douthett was shot between the eyes. I think he will get well. Jimmy Slaughter was shot in the arm and leg, but he will recover. . "In charge ... we were obliged to pass over ground covered with dead men and horses. 206 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY "... Somehow the news reached camp before I got back that I was killed; and when I returned it would have been a cheering sight to you to see the boys congratulating me on my almost miraculous escape. ... I have no fear to go into a fire, but afterwards when you go into the hospital and see the limbs of the poor fellows amputated you would take it for a slaughter house." Early in June the sick and wounded soldiers from Corinth were duly arriv ing at the Capital, and many were the measures of relief adopted in aid of those who were not blessed with homes. Leonard B. Houston of Company D, Second Iowa, writing friends in Des Moines, said he "thought the battle of Donelson was awful, but it was a slight skirmish compared with the conflict at Pittsburg Landing." Picturing the awful horrors of the scene, after the battle, he adds: "I don't know how our regiment escaped. We were at one time surrounded, and had to cut our way through, with the loss of eighty-five killed, wounded and missing." He drew this striking picture of the scene : "At this moment of horror when our regiment was lying close to the ground to avoid the storm of balls, the little birds were singing in the green trees over our heads ! . . What a contrast between the happiness and innocence of those birds and the war of turbulent passions raging on that battlefield !" Colonel Crocker arrived in Des Moines on Sunday, June 8. The arduous cares and labors of the campaign had evidently impaired his health. He had com manded a brigade at the retreat of the confederates. Captain Griffiths, after the battle of Pea Ridge, was appointed captain of First Battery Iowa Light Artillery, in place of Captain Jones, resigned. Ser geant J. E. Sells was promoted to the captaincy in Company E, Fourth Iowa. The friends of Lieutenant Simmons were disappointed in that Sells was pro moted over him, but none questioned Jack's fitness. The Eighteenth Iowa was rapidly organizing, with two recruiting offices in Des Moines. General and Mrs. W. D. Wilson gave a supper, Saturday, June 14, to the returned volunteers then in Des Moines. State officials joined in greeting the war-worn veterans. Colonel Crocker's arrival at the Wilson home was greeted by the unfurling of a new and beautiful flag from a staff fiftv feet high. The flag was made by General Wilson's son. A Flower Episode in a Year of Tumult. On the 17th of June the Des Moines City Horticultural Society turned from the tumult of war to hold an exhibition at Ingham's Hall.9 A committee of five public-spirited members of the society10 had previously visited the homes of citizens especially interested in trees and flowers, and reported conditions as they found them. It often happens that an apparently ephemeral report, perhaps scarcely read at the time, takes on in after years a historical value not suspected at the time. Where, for example, could one find in print or in the memory of the traditional oldest inhabitant, another such picture of "the City of Homes" as it appeared in 1862? The committee devoted most of three clays to their mission. They were im pressed with the pleasing fact that Des Moines as it was in '62, was not the Des Moines of a few years before when Postmaster Casady carried its post-office in his hat ! Its members, all early settlers, naturally, contrasted in mind the row of log cabins, occupied by the soldiers in '45, with the comfortable, well-shaped and flower-surrounded homes of '62. Even nine years before there was not a shade tree in Des Moines ! 9 Among the lady exhibitors were : Mesdames Dickinson, Hooker, Tuttle, Griffith, Brooks, Carpenter, Teesdale, Cooper, Nash, Allen, Savery, Luse and West. 10 Alex. Shaw, Wesley Redhead, J. M. Griffith, P. M. Casady and Peter Myers. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 207 The beautiful soft maples in front of the homes of Mr. Scribner and Dr. Woodruff were reported as the pioneer shade trees of the city. These pioneers could also recall the time — only a few years before — -when Des Moines could not boast a single rare fruit tree, or ornamental shrub, exotic, perennial plant or pot-flower — and that as late as 1853 ! The committee first called at the Wesley Redhead home, one of the several historic homes of Des Moines. They found in cultivation two lots with a pro fusion of trees, ornamental shrubs, perennial and annual plants, and among these a variety of roses, grapes, fruit trees, berry bushes, etc., and a good kitchen garden. On T. W. Carpenter's homestead, grapes were a specialty, — with a frame work of ornamental shrubbery and climbing vines. David Norris cultivated an acre well garnished with ornamental trees, with a variety of grapes, berries and roses. Uncle David had a good kitchen garden and was credited with "a fine article of native grape wine." Peter Myers soon convinced his visitors that "the polishing hand of industry had been at work." Bearing apple trees of standard varieties, berries, grapes and native plums met the eye everywhere on his premises. Climbing roses had been trained beside his door "whose cheerful blushes gave a welcome to his visitors." L. P. Sherman was successfully cultivating standard apples. Forest Home School was "appropriately named." A beautiful grove of young trees met the visitors' eyes, its beauty intensified by a grass plot. A long list of small fruits in the adjoining nursery attested the persistent efforts of its owners. John Browne's beautiful lawn was made more beautiful by ornamental trees and shrubs. On entering the premises of the late Dr. Grimmel,11 the committee missed the genial handshake and smiling face of its former owner; but were gratified on noting the monuments which the doctor had erected around him, "an evidence that he lived for the happiness of others." The flowers planted by his own hands had photographed on the minds of his visitors "the smiles of his cheerful counte nance." There was also the well garnished kitchen garden "characteristic of all wefl-ordered German families." The home of the doctor's son, Frank, Jr., adjoined the homestead, was a spot naturally beautiful, the beauty enhanced by artistic taste. The home of P- M. Casady was surrounded by forest trees and a grass plot, and was rich in berries and small fruit. At the home of John Teesdale was seen the best ornamental arrangement found anywhere in the city. The flower-garden was located upon a succession of benches neatly terraced, the grass ornamented by several designs, among them a large heart enclosing a fine variety of verbena, revealing the fact that a lover of flowers lived there. A long list of flowers and fruits reveals a side of Postmaster Teesd'ale's nature scarcely suspected by those who have thus far followed these pages. The potted plants at the Newton home was reported as a pioneer collection. R. L. Tidrick had two acres enclosed, and a wealth of forest and fruit trees was reported. The B. F. Allen home, then the most distinguished home in the city, had in cultivation about three town lots, studded with dwarf fruit trees, small fruits, ornamental shrubbery, and plants in profusion. "The commendable zeal of Mr. Allen has made this place an enviable spot. . . . B. F. Allen's money, without B. F. Allen's personal care, labor and watchfulness, would have been a fruit less investment." Captain West's two town lots were found cultivated with standard and dwarf fruit trees, small fruits, grapes, ornamental shrubbery, etc. 11 Where the Victoria Hotel now stands. 208 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The grounds of James Smith & Sons, pioneer nurserymen, covering about sixty acres, included everything that would thrive in the climate. "How changed," says the writer of the report,12 "is James Smith & Sons, of June, 1862, and June, 1852 ! The reminiscences of that day find the Smiths living in a hole in the ground, but their persistent industry and love of their profession . . . finds them the chief fruit growers of Central Iowa." This firm were reported as owning 3,000 of the 12,000 well-set standard apple trees in the township. The homes of L. Kinsey, Isaac Brandt, A. Garrison, Dr. Brooks, C. Stutsman, Colonel Hooker, C. P. Luse, and Messrs. Leyner, Bennett and Perrior, all tended to enlarge the committee's view as to the start made in Des Moines in the culti vation of shade trees, fruits and flowers. Long after the battles around Corinth, now grouped about the tragic name "Shiloh," it was "no uncommon thing, during the second summer of the war, to see soldiers passing along the streets "supporting their limbs with crutches," or carrying '-'their mutilated arms in slings," while others bore "on their sunken features the impression left by protracted sickness," — some of them maimed for life, doomed to "carry to their graves the evidences of war's brutality." Early in July, Colonel Crocker was reported as on his way to Dixie to resume command of his brigade. His nomination as brigadier general had not yet been confirmed. Late in June, Marshal H. M. Hoxie, accompanying his sick brother, Captain W. H. Hoxie of the Seventeenth Iowa, arrived in Des Moines by the stage from the south. Early in July the captain was rapidly improving in health and eager to return. Lieutenant Colonel Sweitzer, formerly a clerk in Judge Rice's bank, Des Moines, was reported killed in one of the battles before Richmond. Lieutenant A. G. Studer, of Des Moines, was in July appointed captain of Company B, Fifteenth Iowa, in place of Captain Smith resigned. Early in July, Sells, of Company E, Fourth Iowa, resigned his commission as captain, giving place to First Lieutenant Simmons, who was in direct line of, promotion. Sells accepted Simmons' vacant place, an arrangement creditable too him and satisfactory to all. Governor Kirkwood offered a reward of $200 for the arrest of A. N. Marsh, late marshal of Des Moines, a fugitive from justice, charged with the murder of Michael King, June 28. Major Cavanagh offered an additional reward of $100. The Register said Marsh was "entitled to the friendly hospitality of the Knights of the Golden Circle," and would doubtless avail himself of it. In July, Governor Kirkwood appointed Captain Mills major in the Second Iowa, — a reward well earned at Donelson and Pittsburg Landing. "Another Des Moines soldier, away from home and friends, has fallen in defense of his country. The list of our dead is already becoming formidable, and the end is not yet." This was the pathetic, and at the same time prophetic, comment of the Register of July 16 on the death of William Stansberry, of Company B, Fifteenth Iowa, who had died of congestive fever at Corinth. Five additional regiments was the demand of Governor Kirkwood on the reserves of Iowa loyalty, in a proclamation which appeared July 16. It devolved upon the fifth and sixth congressional districts to raise at least one of these regiments. At a county convention held in the old court house on the 12th, after the selection of delegates, Attorney General Nourse made an eloquent speech on the duty of republicans in the then present crisis. The convention adjourned "with three cheers for the old flag." On the 2 ist, John A. Kasson, then first assistant postmaster general, was 12 Presumably Dr. Alexander Shaw. COL. W. TI. KINSMAN CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 209 nominated by the republicans of the Des Moines district for Congress. Of this new force in Iowa politics the Register remarked : "He is an able speaker and an uncompromising republican, and when the people of the several counties shall see and hear him they will be proud to accept him as their representative." William S. Pritchard of Des Moines was commissioned by Adjutant General Baker to raise a company for the new regiment to be raised in the Fifth and Sixth congressional districts. Des Moines was alive with delegates on the 23d of July, the republican state convention then held being "probably the largest representative assemblage ever held in the State." There was little room for oratory in the convention proper; but in the evening there was "intense enthusiasm." Speeches were made by several orators, three of whom had just come over from the democratic party. These were greeted with "tremendous cheering." The relative strength of the two parties at this time may be estimated by the representation at the two State conventions held in July. The 640 delegates at the republican convention represented seventy-three counties ; while the 391 delegates to the democratic convention represented forty counties. Captain Kinsman of Company B, Fourth Iowa, made a flying visit to Des Moines on the 27th, giving good reports from the front. In July, Major J. E. Jewett of Des Moines was appointed first major of the Fourth Cavalry in place of Swan, resigned; Lieutenant Timoney was promoted to adjutant of the Fif teenth United States Infantry, and Lieutenant Ensign succeeded Major Mills as captain of Company D, Second Iowa. Early in August, Candidates Kasson and Finch agreed on a series of eleven joint debates in the Fifth congressional district. A subscription paper was started in August at the State Bank, Des Moines, pledging money as a bounty for the enlistment of volunteers. The list was headed by J. C. Jordan for $50. The veteran lawyer, W. W. Williamson, signed $50, H. M. Hoxie and F. W. Palmer each signed $25, and so on down to numer ous five-dollar subscriptions. On the 12th of August the quartermaster located "Camp Crocker," a short distance south of the Iowa Central College — now Des Moines College — in what was then the northwestern part of the city. Lieutenant Robert Allen, a relative of B. F. Allen, died in hospital in New York, July 26. He enlisted from Des Moines, in Company D, Second Iowa, and was promoted to a lieutenancy under General McClellan. In the first day's battle before Richmond he was badly wounded in the thigh. The limb was ampu tated on the field, and he was left two days in a hut in a swamp, with little or no attention. He was taken by confederates to Richmond and placed in a crowded hospital. He was finally shipped to New York, but only to die. His father, Major Allen, and other relatives, were with him when he died. The war spirit so took possession of the Capital city during the summer of '62 that, as we look back upon that heroic period in our history, it seems almost as if the entire community had succumbed to a midsummer madness. There was the Governor's call for more regiments, and in the shadow of the call was the dread alternative — the draft. All recognized, and literally felt, the imperative need of more men to fill the broken ranks of the Iowa regiments that had fought at Donelson, at Pea Ridge, at Iuka and at Corinth ; the need of whole regiments to go to the support of those who had borne the brunt of battle and been worn by the ravages of disease. Never was the determination to put down the rebel lion by force of arms so firmly fixed in men's minds. Never was so imperative the duty of the community to care for the wives and children, the widows and orphans, of those who had gone from their community life to the front of dan ger. Then there was the innate abhorrence of the draft, and with it the feeling that, whatever other states and communities might accept as inevitable, the Capital city of Iowa must be spared the humiliating admission that her patriot ism had fallen short of their War Governor's reasonable expectation. This strained condition of society at the Capital is evidenced by the extent Vol. 1—14 210 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY to which "the war" pushed into the background, or crowded out altogether, the ordinary run of local news. Take a single illustration. In the weekly Register of August 20, '62, besides the war news by telegraph, and several first-page let ters from the front, and editorial matter on war themes, it will be found that "the war" has well-nigh taken possession of the local columns. Note the trend of the local news : The promotion of Robert Cross of Des Moines to the post of quartermaster of the Twenty-third Iowa, the promotion of Captain J. A. T. Hull to acting adjutant of the "Western Regiment," the arrival of several hundred Enfield rifles for that regiment, the arrival of Captain Dyson's company from Guthrie county, of Senator Dungan's company from Lucas — the company having marched from Chariton, fifty miles in twenty-four hours ; the splendid appearance of Captain Gregg's company, with Lieutenant Hull in line, as they marched past the Register office ; the valuable services rendered by Dr. J. O. Skinner, of Des Moines, in recruiting the several companies officered by Captains Houston, Lieminger, Gregg, Dykeman and Clark ; the arrival of Captain Goolman and Lieutenant G. W. Clark, to secure the acceptance of two companies in Warren county; the presentation of a beautiful flag to Captain Gregg's company, in front of Grif fiths' block, East side, — the presentation speech made by Captain Samuel Adams, the response by Captain Gregg; the organization of two companies in Dallas and one company in Boone for the Western Regiment; the vacation of the site first selected for the barracks in favor of a site on the East side ; the arrival of lumber, the detaching of thirty soldiers to assist in the carpentry, and the pros pect of an early completion and occupancy of the barracks ; the selection of Camp Burnside as the name of the Des Moines camp, and the local insistence that it should be called Camp Crocker ; the enlistment of four printers of the Register force, — Russell, Gaylor, Farrington and Holbrook ; the illness of Major J. E. Jewett at his home in Des Moines ; the continued ill-health of General Tuttle, compelling him to take the less laborious command of the post at Cairo, and the transfer of the Division commanded by him to Colonel Crocker ; the election of officers, at the American House, of the Pottawattamie company, with W. E. Houston, "a Des Moines soldier, true and tried," as second lieutenant; the arrival of the company formed in Camp township, officered by J. P. Roach, R. L. McCray and W. H. Brenton, "a fine body of men," and the consolidation of twenty men from Dallas and Guthrie with this company, through the agency of C. C. Van, recruiting officer ; the designation of Captain Dykeman's company as "the Wilson Company," as a tribute to W. Duane Wilson who was largely instrumental in its organization ; the formal appointment of William Dewev as colonel of the Western Regiment, and the colonel's presence in the city. Nor is the war news of this issue yet exhausted ! From it we learn that com panies, from the Des Moines district alone, about thirty-one, had already reported for service under the new call for troops, and fifteen of these were then in Des Moines, or within a short march of the city. It is also noted that the bounty list recently started in the city has taken on several hundred names, "backed up in every instance by the cash." Adjutant (now colonel) G. L. Godfrey has a long letter in this issue, written from Corinth to Judge Cole, of Des Moines, in which he refers to the fact that at the outset he was "one of the most conservative men in the company," but has changed his mind. "We have done too much guarding," he says ; if he had his way the army would make a clean sweep, taking every vestige of property which would serve us and weaken them — the enemy. "Owing to the engrossment of the public mind in the subject of enlistment," the well-advertised Kasson-Finch joint debate in Des Moines was postponed two weeks. On the 22d day of August, Governor Kirkwood issued a proclamation calling an extra session of the General Assembly to be held in Des Moines on the 3d day of September, the Governor believing that "questions vitally affecting the CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 211 general welfare demanded immediate attention." The Governor urged the aban donment of further attempts to fill incomplete companies and the enlistment of the new recruits with old regiments. Among other war items of local interest in August, '62, are these: Dr. J. O. Skinner of Des Moines was appointed assistant surgeon of the Tenth Iowa. Companies from Warren, Page and Lucas counties arrived in Des Moines late in the month. "Brack" Thomas called an impromptu meeting in Des Moines and organized an Irish company, starting with thirty-four names. An Irish regiment was urged, with a colonelcy for Judge Byron Rice. The United States Pension Agency was removed from Ottumwa to Des Moines, with Peter Myers the pension agent. Tragedy and comedy are not as distinctly classified in history as in drama. The reassembling of the legislature for serious business was not without its comedy — or farce. A dog-tax law, innocently passed at the regular session, had raised a howl from one end of the Sta.te to the other, and nowhere louder than in the Capital city. Scarcely had the House organized in special session before a dozen members sprang to their feet, each with a bill for the repeal of the dog- tax law. A measure of repeal quickly passed both houses and was speedily signed by the Governor. Mr. Aldrich13 who recalls this circumstance, intimates that the unpopularity of the dog-tax had much to do with the popularity of the extra session. He says : "It really looked ridiculous and absurd to see the legis lature, called together in one of the gravest public emergencies, . . . un willing to enter upon the great business of that extraordinary session until steps had been taken for the repeal of a law for the registration and taxation of dogs." One of the acts of the special session was the appointment of commissioners to take the vote of soldiers in the field. Among the commissioners appointed for this purpose seven were residents of Des Moines : Second Regiment Infantry, Lewis Jones, Des Moines, Eighth Regiment Infantry, Giles H. Turner, Des Moines, Tenth Regiment Infantry, F. M. Mills, Des Moines, Sixteenth Regiment Infantry, Stewart Goodrell, Des Moines, Twenty-third Regiment Infantry, S. C. Brownell, Des Moines, Thirty-ninth Regiment Infantry, J. P. Foster, Des Moines, Sixth Regiment Cavalry, Isaac W. Griffith, Des Moines. The special session lasted only eight days. During those busy days, the Gen eral Assembly sent to the War Governor a number of measures furthering a vigorous prosecution of the war, — besides repealing the dox-tax law. The long-talked-of joint debate between Des Moines' distinguished orators, John A. Kasson and Dan O. Finch, rival candidates for congress, occurred in the city September 13. There was a large audience and frequent and thunderous applause. There was a lively scoring for position, in which both debaters were experts. Kasson attempted to fasten upon his opponent the stigma of his party's non-support of war measures ; while Finch, denying the charge that his party was arrayed against the war, vigorously condemned the party in power for bringing on the war. Kasson closed with an eloquent tribute to the republican party — its record and its mission — sending his supporters home in high spirits. Colonel Crocker, in command of the Iowa Brigade at Bolivar, wrote that his health was better than usual, and that his troops were "in good health and spirits and spoiling for a fight." Early in September, the streets of Des Moines were enlivened every evening (except Sunday), at six-o'clock, by a parade of Colonel Dewey's Twenty-third Regiment, then composed of about 500 men. "They presented a magnificent ap pearance in their new uniforms." 13 Annals of Iowa, v. I, p. 228. 212 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY S. R. Ingham left the Capital September 2, with authority to proceed to the defense of the n9rthern counties of Iowa from incursions of the Indians. Three hundred muskets were shipped to him at Fort Dodge. The weeding out of the exempts was in process early in September, with Dr. Davis in charge of the process. Among the appointments and promotions in the fall of '62 were the follow ing, of local interest : Dr. Alexander Shaw was lured from home duties and avoca tions by the call for help at the front. Appointed assistant surgeon of the Fourth Iowa, he started at once for Helena. John Mitchell — recalled as Judge Mitchell — was commissioned to raise a battery of light artillery. Charles Aid- rich, of Webster City, a clerk of the House, and almost a resident of Des Moines, was appointed adjutant of the 32d Iowa, and Maj. N. W. Mills was made lieu tenant colonel. Dr. E. P. Davis, son of Brigade Surgeon Davis was made as sistant surgeon of the Thirty-ninth Iowa. As fast as the camp in Des Moines was vacated by detachments of the Twenty-third Iowa, new companies of the Thirty-ninth were ready to take the vacant places. On the 20th of September the companies of the Twenty-third began to move overland toward Keokuk. On the 25th the last company was gone, followed by Colonel Dewey and other regimental officers. By the first of October, the number of 23d regiment patients in the Des Moines hospital was reduced from 25 to 9. On the first day of October there were four recruiting stations in Des Moines, Capt. John Mitchell, for his battery ; Lieutenant Reed, for old regiments ; Messrs. Pease and Sypher for Colonel Wilson's cavalry and Captain McTighe for the Irish company. Jule Bausman, writing from camp after the battle of Iuka, reported that all the Des Moines boys were safe, except Mat. Laird, who was wounded in the side. Later, it was learned that Charles P. Smith, of Captain Hoxie's company, was wounded in the leg. Surgeon McGorrisk, also of the 17th, was reported in the thickest of the fight at Iuka, but uninjured. A dispatch from General Tuttle to the Register dated Cairo, October 6, re ported the repulse of General Price with forty thousand men, but at a heavy loss to the Union army. Thirteen Iowa regiments were in the Corinth fight. Lieu tenant-Colonel Mills was wounded in the leg and his father.-in-law, Gen. Hackle- man, was killed. Several casualties occurred in the ranks of the Second Iowa. The cool October days were hard on the boys in camp in Des Moines, many of whom came without blankets and other necessaries. There were over forty in camp hospital at the time. Another of war's many tragedies was brought home to Des Moines after the battle of Corinth. Two Second Iowa boys were killed, one of them, J. M. Moles, from the Capital city, left a young and beautiful wife a widow. Her only brother had but recently returned from camp to die, his system shattered by disease. In October, Major J. E. Jewett, of the Fourth Cavalry, returned from Helena to recuperate. He reported that the heroes of Pea Ridge were restive in en forced idleness and waiting another opportunity to show their bravery. Colonel Hooker announced free stage fare to doctors and nurses on their way to assist the sick and wounded at Corinth. Des Moines was deeply grieved, October 12. on receipt of a telegram from General Tuttle announcing the death of Lieutenant Colonel Mills from the effects of wounds received in the recent battle of Corinth, — the sad and untimely culmination of a brilliant career. Colonel Mills, though a veteran of several hard- fought battles, was at the time of his death, only thirty years of age. General Tuttle followed his telegram with a letter in which he said: "Colonel Mills' death is a great calamity. He was truly a hero in every sense of the word. I think he CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 213 was a little nearer just right than any other man I ever knew — high-minded, honorable, brave as a lion." The remains of Colonel Mills reached Des Moines October 21, attended by the colonel's brother, Frank M. Mills. The funeral solemnities at Ingham Flail were extremely impressive. The hall was heavily draped and festooned. The coffin, wreathed with flowers and evergreens, was not opened. Upon the coffin were placed the sword, pistols, holsters and other equipments of the dead soldier. The services moved the large assemblage to tears. Rev. Mr. Nash set forth the rare qualities of the Christian soldier. Mr. Kasson delivered an eloquent eulogy. Six companies of the Thirty-ninth Iowa acted as escort, with Colonel Cummings and other officers as bearers. To the solemn beat of the muffled drum, the long procession of soldiers and friends marched to the cemetery. Business was sus pended in the city during the funeral hour and the members of the city council and board of supervisors and of other organizations attended the funeral in a body. Major, (afterwards General) J. B. Weaver, in his official report of the battle of Corinth, speaks of Colonel Mills as "fighting with the most conspicuous cour age and coolness," and as "loth to leave the field." He refers to Adjutant G. L. Godfrey, (Colonel Godfrey) as one of the most valuable young officers he has found, and pictures him as "charging along the line upon his horse shouting- to the men to be cool and steady." Captain Ensign and others from Des Moines receive their share of commendation. Sergeant Jule Bausman of Company K, Tenth Iowa, was in October made first lieutenant. Typhoid fever robbed Mr. and Mrs. Martin Winters, of Des Moines, of their son, David P. Winters, of Company B, 15th Iowa. He had recovered from a wound received at Corinth, only to succumb to the dread disease. He died in an Illinois hospital, among strangers. Captain Studer gave his parents the sad consolation that their David was one of the best soldiers in the company — ¦ always at his post of duty. The marriage of R. T. Wellslager and Anna Beekman on the 26th of Oc tober, for the time turned the thoughts of social Des Moines from the great na tional tragedy in which so many husbands, brothers and sons were performing their respective parts. Adjutant Godfrey, in a letter to his friend Judge Cole, speaking of Major J. B. Weaver, said that after the death of Colonel Mills the command fell upon the Major, "and nobly did he do his duty," adding: "We have elected him Colonel of the Regiment, and hope the Governor will not fail to commission him." The first death in the camp hospital in Des Moines occurred early in Novem ber, the result of a relapse from measles. H. H. Helton, a former constable of Des Moines township, and a member of Company D, Second Iowa, died in September in Jackson, Tenn. But the report did not reach his home until November. Early in November, the hospital on the East side was permanently closed. The few remaining sick soldiers were sent home on furloughs. Private W. H. Goodrell of the First Iowa, wounded at Wilson's Creek, was in November promoted to a First Lieutenancy in Company F., Fifteenth Iowa, to the gratification of his Des Moines friends. The sad news of the death of Colonel Dewey, of the Twenty-third Iowa, was communicated to Mrs. Dewey, November 30. Mrs. Dewey was at the time residing with the family of A. M. Lyon, East Des Moines. An "Old Folks" Concert, in November, for the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society of Des Moines, netted $94. Lieutenant Whicher of the Fourth Infantry, compelled to resign because of continued ill-health, was in November highly commended by Colonel Williamson and other officers. 214 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Scott, son of Lieutenant Samuel Noel of Des Moines, in November was accidentally killed by a comrade in a Kansas regiment. The advancing railroad had in November reached Brooklyn, Poweshiek county. The month of December was not without its quota of minor incidents. Colonel Cummings, of the 39th, was presented with a sword and hat by his brother officers, Governor Kirkwood making the presentation speech. It was learned that M. D. Needham, of Des Moines, a member of the Second Iowa Cavalry, was severely wounded in the fight near Coffeeville, Miss. William Pritchard, Company E, Fourth Iowa Infantry, brother of Mrs. Burgett of Des Moines, died in hospital at Helena, Ark. The funeral of Colonel Dewey at Ingham Hall was impressive. Rev. Mr. Frazee delivered an eloquent discourse. The entire arrangement of the services was in the hands of the Masons. Another brave defender of the Union found his last resting place in Woodland cemetery. "Hebe" Remington, a former compositor in the Register office was reported as "the boss printer at General Grant's headquarters." Capt. W. H. Hoxie of the Seventeenth Iowa, was compelled to resign his commission because of continued ill-health. Company D, the Des Moines company of the Second Iowa Infantry, at the close of the year had only 41 efficient men. The business depression in Des Moines following the outbreak of the rebel lion gave way in the fall of '62 to an unusual degree of prosperity. The farmers of Polk county when they drove to town to trade, were reported as having "great rolls of bills," which they distributed freely. Business blocks and resi dences were going up everywhere. "Without a single railroad advantage, and away off in the interior of the state where hazel-ruffs and Indians grew spon taneously, a few years since, Des Moines had enlarged from the nucleus of a few block-houses to a city containing 5,000 inhabitants !" The fateful year, 1862, neared its close. The somber holiday season, at home and in camp, came bringing in its train a throng of precious memories. The year went out, as it came in, leaving our community life enveloped in gloom. Many who, after Donelson, Pea Ridge and Shiloh, were sure they must soon see the dawn of peace now saw little, if any, promise of the dawn. There are those living in Des Moines who still feel the fearful strain of that tragic year. Large as are the present boundaries of our Capital city, they extended farther a half-century ago, for then they included every camp and battlefield in far-away Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi, wherever loved ones slept, or marched, or fought. CHAPTER III. THE THIRD YEAR OF THE WAR 1863. The year 1863 opened in gloom because of the uncertainty which still en shrouded the destiny of the Union army in the field. The victories of 1862 had not been followed up as many at home and in the field had fondly anticipated, and there was grave question as to the return of peace with victory. The reverses of our army in Virginia had added to the general depression. And yet there was no thought of yielding the right of the Union to fight for its life. The guerrillas of Tennessee and Mississippi had cut off communication between Grant's army and the North, and for nearly a month no letters had come to Des Moines from Corinth, Holly Springs and- other points in which her citizens were specially interested. Col. J. A. Williamson, commanding a brigade of five Iowa regiments, was reported as having left Helena and joined the expedition against Vicksburg. The announcement was hailed with joy in camp and at home. A ratification meeting was held in Sherman Hall, January 5, at which the immortal Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln was enthusiastically sustained. The President had issued the proclamation at "the psychological moment," for it put new courage into desponding hearts. Hon. C. C. Nourse, too weak from illness to leave his room, wrote a stirring letter to Judge Gray, its presiding officer, which was read at the meeting. At last came news from the Thirty-ninth Iowa. That regiment celebrated New Year's Day in battle at Parker's Cross-roads, near Lexington. It was reported as one of the glorious victories of the war. Colonel Cummings reported three killed and a long list of wounded. January 17, a dispatch from Marshalltown reported the Iron Horse only 55 miles away, with a prospect of a daily stage line from Marshalltown. The list of wounded lowans before Vicksburg published in St. Louis about the middle of January, shows that the prayers of the new recruits for active service had been grimly answered. Colonel Williamson received two slight wounds while storming the enemy's works and his clothing was riddled with balls. "The Saw-buck Rangers" of Des Moines, were the latest ! The purpose was to provide soldiers' families with fuel. General McClernand made official mention of Captain Harry Griffiths' bat tery in the battle of Arkansas Post. The General presented the men with two rifled field pieces captured by them in the battle. Lieutenant J. A. T. Hull (of future congressional fame) was in February promoted to the position made vacant by the resignation of Captain Gregg. It was announced many months before, that Colonel Crocker had received his commission as Brigadier-General, but for some reason, not clear at the time, the commission did not arrive until late in January, '63. Late in January, Surgeon S. V. Campbell of the Twenty-third Iowa, returned to Des Moines for recuperation. After five months of service, twenty-four of his regiment had died, eleven had been discharged and fifty-six were in the general hospital. Captain Studer of Company B, Fifteenth Iowa, also returned home, having resigned because of ill health. 215 216 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Dr. Alexander Shaw, now surgeon of the Fourth Infantry, wrote home in February, describing Vicksburg, the Gibraltar of America, declaring that "to besiege the town and attempt to starve out the inhabitants is sheer folly" — thus illustrating the historical fact that "the impossible" sometimes happens. The funeral of John S. Davis occurred in Des Moines, February 17. At the time of his enlistment, Davis was in feeble health, and his mother tried to dis suade him ; but his answer was that Ephraim had gone and he was better able to stand hardship than his brother, concluding with "Mother, I must go." He served as hospital steward as long as he was able to stand. In an unfinished let ter he wrote of his work, with the responsibility attending it, adding: "I do it cheerfully to help sustain the best government on earth." Captain Dykeman of Company H, Sixteenth U. S. Infantry, came to Des Moines in February for a brief period of recuperation. The Captain, with his little company of forty men, was under fire four days at Murfreesboro, and twenty of his men were killed and wounded. The Captain was twice wounded, Captain Houston of Company A, Twenty-third Iowa, came home early in March to bring the body of 'Charlie" Hepburn, who died January 1. Mrs. Wittemneyer, Iowa Sanitary Agent, writing from St. Louis February 25, tells Mrs. J. P. Foster, of the Des Moines society, of the use she intends to make of the fifty dollars sent her for the relief of Iowa soldiers at Helena and in front of Vicksburg. War politics extended even into a school district election in East Des Moines March 16, and the war party won out, electing Dr. James Wright, president; W. S. Bennett, vice president; J. B. Hall, secretary; Isaac Brandt, treasurer; John R. Thomas, director. Captain J. A. T. Hull, of the Twenty-third, made a flying visit from New Madrid to Des Moines, called home by the severe illness of his mother. In the early spring, General Tuttle, at his own request, was relieved of his command at Cairo, and was assigned to active duty before Vicksburg. Recruiting was renewed in Des Moines in March, with Lieutenant Ragan in charge at the Blodgett House. Messrs. Turner and Norris were in April engaged in recruiting a home company for the Seventh Iowa Cavalry. April 22, the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad was reported as having reached Malcom, Poweshiek county, fifty-five miles east of Des Moines. Dr. Alexander Shaw of Des Moines, surgeon of the Fourth Iowa, a lifelong democrat, was at this time the writer of letters for publication scathingly severe in denunciation of "copperheads." War politics entered into the municipal campaign in Des Moines in April. William H. Leas was nominated for mayor by the "Unconditional Unionists" of the city, and on the 4th of May, he was elected — but only by a majority of 17. The Register's famous rooster crowed vociferously, announcing the result a "Great Union Victory." Small as was the pay of the Union soldiers, there were not a few of their number who by self-denial were able to send home money. In the spring Captain Ensign and Captain Y'erger sent to B. F. Allen's bank, money turned in by mem bers of their respective companies. Dr. W. H. Ward received $1,000 from soldiers of Captain Randleman's company. These are but three instances of a prevailing fidelity to family and home which must ever remain the glory of the volunteer army of the Union. Judge Cole was devoting the spring months to war speeches throughout Iowa. His former well-known democracy gave the Judge a large hearing. On the evening of May 5, the boys celebrated the taking of Fredericksburg "and of Des Moines," 1 with huge bonfires at the corner of Fourth and Walnut. General Baker and Judge Nourse made eloquent open-air speeches. After the 1 A reference to the success of the "union" ticket in the then recent municipal election in Des Moines. BRIG.-GEN. JAMES M. TUTTLE GEN. GRANYTLLE M. DODGE GKX. JAMHK A. WILLIAMSON CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 217 speech-making several hundred citizens marched to the home of the Mayor-elect, where speeches were made by Mayor Leas, and Messrs. Withrow, Cole and others. The first quarter of the third year of the war slipped past, with its joys and woes, its hopes deferred and heart-rending anxieties. From many a heart and home in Des Moines went up continually the cry, "How long, O Lord, how long?" The announcement one Monday morning in May (the 25th) that Vicksburg had fallen inspired the Register editor with a feeling of affluence, which for the time being made "Solomon in all his glory" seem to him "a gentleman of small means and limited wardrobe !" Not since the Donelson victory was such en thusiasm manifest. Executive officers at the Capitol enthusiastically joined with townspeople in mutual congratulations. To the hopeful, the war was virtually over. To the less sanguine, the end was now in sight. Dr. A. Y. Hull and his son, Capt. J. A. T. Hull of the 23d Iowa, returned from the front in June, the Captain with a severe flesh wound in his right leg, but expecting soon to join his regiment. The death of Alfred M. Lyon, from a wound received before Vicksburg, was a shock to friends in Des Moines. Lyon was sutler for the Twenty-third Iowa ; but, true to his word, in time of battle he "fought with the boys." His age had exempted him from military duty, but that did not bar him from emergency service. Lyon was one of the early settlers in Polk county, and highly esteemed. A tribute of love and respect was, in June, paid General Crocker by the members of the nth and 13th Iowa regiments, — a present of an elegant sword, with sash, saddle and trimmings. One of the many notable republican conventions held at the State Capital was that of June 17, 1863. Governor Kirkwood had declined a third nomination, and the candidates for the succession were Gen. FitzHenry Warren and Elijah Sells, Secretary of State. The night preceding the convention, a "rally" was held with General Warren and Colonel William M. Stone the chief speakers. Warren was a fine speaker and his friends were confident his speech would en sure his nomination on the following day. In the course of his remarks, he in judiciously aired a personal grievance, berating General Halleck and the War Department, thus placing himself somewhat out of harmony with the Lincoln administration. Colonel Stone profited by the General's tactical mistake. When called out, he appeared on the platform in his officer's uniform, and with his arm in a sling,2 an embodiment of the Union soldier and of the northern spirit of loyalty to the administration. Paying feeling tribute to the Iowa soldiers at the front, and to their glorious deeds on many a battle-field, he continued with an eloquent eulogy of President Lincoln and a fervid tribute to the loyalty of lowans to the Lincoln administration. The sharp contrast between the censure of Warren and the glowing loyalty of Stone strengthened the first impression in favor of the receptive candidate. Next morning, the friends of Secretary Sells, realizing that Stone was the only man who could beat Warren threw most of their strength to Stone. Even as it was, the nomination of Stone was not made until after several ineffectual ballots. Des Moines celebrated the Fourth of July, in '63, with much of the old time spirit. Families from all parts of the county assembled at the county fair grounds. Fully 5,000 were present. Colonel Williamson presided. Rev. Thomp son Bird offered prayer. Captain Hull read the Declaration of Independence. Frank W. Palmer's oration abounded in the war-spirit of the hour. After dinner, the Allen township martial band called the audience together again. All sang "the Battle-cry of Freedom," led by a glee club. Responses to toasts was the order of the afternoon. Colonel Williamson was at his best, and was greeted time 2 He had been slightly wounded before Vicksburg and was home on a furlough at the 218 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY with rounds of applause. Other speakers were Thomas F. Withrow, J. F. Seely, W. H. F. Gurley, S. V. White and R. G. Orwig. The democrats of the State assembled on the 8th of July, preceding their State convention with a procession and a mass meeting. Judge Napier was chief marshal of the procession, and about sixteen hundred democrats marched through the streets of the city. A mass convention was held at the county fair ground. Dennis A. Mahony, recently released from the Old Capitol Prison, made an impassioned speech, followed by Stilson Hutchins, M. D. McHenry and others. About six thousand people were reported in attendance. The conven tion was called to order at 12, and, between times, speeches were made by Messrs. Finch, Byington, Duncombe, Hall and others. At the afternoon session, General Tuttle, whose friends had assured the convention that he would accept the nomination for Governor, was defeated, after a fierce contest, by Maturin L. Fisher. There was no little chagrin over the defeat of the General after his consent had been obtained. The declination of Fisher, afterwards, led to the selection of the defeated candidate, and General Tuttle found himself a central figure in another campaign scarcely less fierce than that through which he had just passed at Vicksburg. Capt. D. M. Condit, late of Des Moines, died before Vicksburg on the 26th of July. The hard task of notifying the Captain's bereaved mother fell to Capt. J. M. Walker. Colonel Grier, the Lieutenant Grier of old Fort Des Moines, made a brief visit at the Capital in August. He "found Des Moines very much improved in ap pearance since he was stationed there some twenty years ago. A portion of the house he occupied then, he found standing, and also identified the graves of two children that he buried when there." He was still of the opinion that Des Moines was "one of the most promising points in the West." On the 21st of July, following the fall of \ "icksburg, the war democrats held a public meeting on the corner of Fourth street and Court avenue. Sheriff Grif fith and John M. Finch, were the principal speakers. The news of the surrender of Port Hudson reached Des Moines on the after noon of the 22d of July. Though the patriotic had scarcely recovered from the excitement following the fall of Vicksburg, they joined in an impromptu cele bration of the later event. A crowd assembled in front of the Savery House. A huge bonfire was blazing when, at 8 o'clock, Mayor Leas called the meeting to order. Eloquent speeches were made by Messrs. Nourse, White, Withrow, Rus sell and Gurley. Messrs. Brand and Holmes sang patriotic songs, the audience joining heartily in the chorus. The East side martial band contributed its part to the jollification. General Crocker, in a letter, denying all reports as to his declining health. wrote a Des Moines friend that at the time he was commanding one of the largest divisions, if not the largest, in the army, and adding: "I am on horseback from six to ten hours per day; am not considered dead, by a long shot, by my com mand." In August, Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer, State Sanitary Agent, writing Mrs. Foster from the front, acknowledged the receipt of $225 from the aid societies of Des Moines, — more than double the aggregate received at the same time from all other points in the State. Six thoroughly equipped and well-mounted companies of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, under Major IT. H. Heath, were encamped in the middle of August on the prairie two miles east of Des Moines. A republican mass convention was held at the State Capital on Saturday, Sep tember 12. Even a heavy rain and bad roads could not deter some six thousand people from assembling at the fair ground. The meeting was called to order at n A. M. by General Samuel R. Curtis. Among the vice-presidents was "Tom" Mitchell of Polk. C. Ben Darwin, of Burlington, spoke for nearly two hours. After dinner, Senator Grimes delivered one of his ablest and most elo- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 219 quent speeches. Colonel William M. Stone followed, arousing much enthusiasm. In the evening, in front of the Savery Home, Senator Harlan made one of his powerful campaign speeches to an immense audience assembled in the street. Other September items were these : Colonel Hooker, of the Western Stage Company, received from the govern ment an order to supply the Eighth Cavalry with 1,200 horses. Captain Bram- hali was recruiting in Des Moines for the Ninth Iowa Cavalry. General Dodge spent several days at the capital, his health "very feeble," but improving. A soldiers' festival at the Savery House netted $230.60. Captain Robert H. Dewey, of the Twenty-third Iowa, arrived in Des Moines, October 13. He was badly wounded at Milliken's Bend, and was reported as dead. His brother Charles, adjutant, was also wounded in the same battle. A Soldiers' Aid Convention was held in Des Moines in November, commenc ing on the 18th. Societies cooperating with the Iowa Sanitary Commission, Loyal League and Soldiers' Christian Commission were represented by dele gates. Its object was to render more efficient the efforts put forth for the relief of soldiers. In November came the appointment of Lieut. Ed. Marsh to the Captaincy of Company D, Second Iowa, in place of Captain Ensign, promoted. Marsh was one of the original members of old Company D, in '61. It was announced in December that Captain Hull had resigned his com mission and returned to Des Moines. He was badly wounded at Black River Bridge. Notwithstanding the war, Judge McClelland issued 109 marriage certificates in the eleven months of 1863 to December 1. The Cincinnati Gazette in December gave the sad particulars of the slaying of Will Tomlinson, long a prominent character in Des Moines. He was killed in an affray at Ripley, Ohio. A man named Mitchell shot him through the body. He lingered a day or two in great agony. He was buried with military honors, having been a militia captain of the Capital Guards, Des Moines, in 1859. Capt. Harry Griffiths, of the First Iowa Battery, saw the old year out at home. He was in Des Moines, detailed on recruiting service. The year closed as it began, with the same dread uncertainty as to the out come of all this sacrifice of blood and treasure, and yet with the same persistency of purpose to carry the war to conclusions. CHAPTER IV. THE LAST FULL YEAR OF THE WAR 1 864. The assembling of a war legislature, the inauguration of a Governor in full sympathy with the retiring Governor's war policy, the reelection of a pronounced anti-slavery United States Senator in full sympathy with President Lincoln's war policy, and Governor Stone's reappointment of the resourceful Adjutant- General Baker, all together gave the citizens at the State capital the strongest possible assurance that, so far as Iowa could affect national policies, there would be no backward step. Saturday evening, January 16, at the Savery House, personal friends pre sented Governor Stone with a gold watch, Lieutenant-Governor Needham, Rep resentative Finkbine, General Baker and others made congratulatory speeches, the under-current of which was a confidence in the will and ability of the new executive to carry to conclusions the war policy to which the state was committed. Reinlistments were the order of the day during the month. "Uncle Tommy" Elliott, an old resident of Des Moines, had five sons in the army and another son eager to go ; and yet he himself decided to go ! Company D, Second Iowa, its ranks again depleted, by promotions, discharges and death, was again represented by a recruting officer in the Capital City. The Ladies' Aid Society and the Loyal Women's League held frequent meet ings for the furtherance of "the cause." Public receptions for the returning soldiers whose terms had expired were held in Des Moines and many cities roundabout. Capt. Harry Griffiths, after four weeks spent in recruiting service, returned to the front January 26, having enlisted seventy men for his First Iowa Battery. The Board of Control of the Iowa Sanitary Commission held a three-days' session in January, at its conclusion memorializing the legislature for fixed sums in aid of soldiers' families. "Rally round the wood-pile" was the battle-cry of the reorganized "Saw- buck Rangers." The month closed with the departure of several jolly coach-loads of recruits for Davenport and the South. General Crocker, writing from Vicksburg, January 12, said he was doing picket duty for the army at Vicksburg, adding with a touch of grim irony, "selected for that purpose, I suppose, on account of my robust health." He adds that all the regiments of his old brigade have reenlisted. Asked what the soldiers think of the President's Emancipation Proclamation, he said — speaking of its provision for the final extinction of slavery ; "We will consent to no arrange ment that stops short of that." Speaking of the new negro regiments, he says "it is astonishing how completely all prejudice on that subject has been done away with." He says they make good soldiers and "fight as well as any troops." February 2, Governor Stone, through Adjutant-General Baker, wired Presi dent Lincoln : "I have just received your draft for 500,000 troops, after March 10. There will be no draft in Iowa. You shall have our quota without it." Other February items are : The return of W. A. Hunt, of Company E, Fourth Iowa, with his right arm gone, — the result of a wound received at Missionary Ridge. 220 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 221 All that was left of Colonel Dodge's gallant Fourth Iowa, about 300 strong, after reenlisting in the veteran corps returned to Des Moines to report to the Governor, and enjoy a brief respite from military life. Business in Des Moines continued to increase, notwithstanding the absorbing interest in the war. Court avenue and Walnut street were fast surpassing old Second avenue and neighboring streets as business streets. Adjutant-General Baker's meager salary of $1,200 ,was tardily increased to $2,000. Company D of the first African regiment from Iowa, after a brief service in camp near Helena, reported the death of twelve men from Des Moines. In March, recruiting actively continued. On the 5th, Captain Brownell sent off no recruits. On the 8th, the Register rooster was out over the "Union" victory in the municipal election. Mayor Leas was reelected, but by only five majority. On the 9th, the ladies of Des Moines gave the returned veterans of the Fourth Iowa a complimentary supper at the Savery House.1 Between two and three hundred had returned. Immediately after dinner they fell into line in Court House square and gave an exhibition drill. Thence they marched to Capitol square where, in the presence of a vast audience, Lieutenant Governor Eastman feelingly welcomed them home. Speaker Butler and General Baker also spoke. Colonel Williamson and Major Nichols responded for the regiment. In front of the Savery House they were eloquently addressed by Governor Stone. At the court house they were cordially received by Mayor Leas and the Council. The event of the day, the supper at the Savery, was one to gladden the hearts of the home-comers. F. W. Palmer, of the Register, on behalf of the ladies, extended the visitors a cordial welcome. Colonel Williamson — with a beautiful bouquet in hand — a present from the ladies — and Major Nichols gracefully responded. Toasts and responses and patriotic songs completed the program. In the month of March, the Masons on the East and West side of the city and of the General Assembly, vied one with another in hospitality and it was difficult to tell who won in the friendly contest. The Masonic festival at the Savery on the ioth was graced by the presence of the ladies. Governor Stone, Lieut. Governor Eastman, General Baker and other prominent Masons made after-dinner speeches. "The war" even found its way into the school election, as into the city elec tion, and several of Des Moines' best citizens went down to defeat, charged with copperheadism ! On the 17th occurred the wedding of Miss Fannie Getchell, of Des Moines, and Lieut. George C. Tichenor, — one of the more prominent of the "war-wed dings" of the period. In a letter published March 23, General Crocker wrote Marshal Hoxie again insisting that he was not dead, persistent reports to the contrary notwithstanding. He added : "I have no intention to give up the ghost without a struggle." He declared his health was much improved. Coach-loads of recruits continued to leave Des Moines for Davenport and the front. On the 31st of March, Capt. Fred S. Whiting, of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, and Miss Annie S. Rommel of Des Moines, were married. Mrs. Crocker returned from Vicksburg late in April reporting her husband "still good for any number of vigorous years." The resignation of Lieut. Col. H. R. Cowles, in April, called forth resolutions by the officers of the regiment expressing their deep regret and keen appreciation, after three years' intimate association in camp, and commending the Colonel's bravery in battle and courage in enduring the hardships of campaign life. A rivalry between Des Moines and Council Bluffs for emigrant trade brings 1 Committee : Mesdames F. R. West, W. D. Wilson, E. F. Hooker, F. W. Carpenter, A. T. Johnson and S. R. Ingham. 45 oo 50 25 222 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY out a comparison in prices, greatly in favor of the Capital City. It is interesting to note, in passing, the ruling prices in Des Moines in April, '64 : Wheat flour, per cwt., $2.50 to $3.50 Corn meal, per cwt., 1.20 Corn, per bushel, 35 to .45 Oats, per bushel, 35 to Potatoes, per bushel 80 to 1 Lard, per pound, 10 to Coffee, per pound, 43 to Sugar, per pound, 18 to The Last Great Uprising. April 23, 1864, Governor Stone issued a call for ten regiments of hundred- day men, to fulfill his promise to President Lincoln, the entire body of troops to be raised within twenty clays if possible. The call was answered with en thusiasm from all parts of the State. But so many were already in the service that enlistments lagged somewhat, and Des Moines, with other localities, now thoroughly aroused, put forth herculean efforts to meet the new demand upon its reserves. The Loyal Women's League and the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society held fre quent meetings. Gen. William Duane Wilson made immediate application for authority to recruit volunteers, meantime unofficially receiving names for future enlistment. A war meeting was held at the courthouse on the 29th. The hall was crowded. Mayor Leas presided and Simon Barrows acted as secretary. Stirring speeches were made by Hon. C. C. Nourse and Captain George J. North, military secretary of the governor. A committee of citizens, five on the West side and two on the East, was named to further enlistments. The chair appointed Captain North, General Wilson, R. G. Orwig, C. C. Nourse, B. T. Jones, Isaac Brandt and Dr. James Wright. Mr. Orwig was compelled to de cline and J. B. Bausman was substituted. Hon. Oran Faville was added to the East side representation. Captain North opened a recruiting office, with R. G. Orwig on the West side. J. B. Bausman opened another in the Savery block, the room having been furnished for the purpose by Mr. Savery. On May 12, appeared a card signed by eighteen of the leading employers of Des Moines agreeing to give full consent to all employes who would enlist for the hundred days, — and that "without destroying any contract" with them, and agreeing to regard their places as vacant, to be resumed by them on their return.2 Several enlistments immediately followed the publication of this card. A second war meeting was held on the evening of May 13, in front of the Savery House. Eloquent addresses were delivered by Judge Cole, Governor Stone, Captain North, and Messrs. Withrow, Yale and Etheridge. A paper was presented for signatures to create a fund to be paid the fami lies of those who enlisted in the Des Moines company, — the sum to be paid each family being $50, provided the subscriptions would warrant that amount. Over $10,000 was subscribed then and there.3 2 The signers to this call were : F. W. Palmer, Mills & Co., Newman & Hatch, Childs & Howell, Luse & Sandford, Wesley Redhead, J. & I. Kuhn & Co., John H. Given, Butler & Terry, Skinner & Bro., Otis & Rollins, Rollins & Winters, S. A. Robertson, Manning & Miller, Keyes & Knight, Rawson & Osgood, Laird Bros. & Co., E. F. Hooker, for the Western Stage Company. 3 The published list of subscribers is: B. F. Allen, $100; the following $50 each: T. F. Withrow, H. M. Hoxie. F. W. Palmer, E. M. Davis, M. P. Turner, A. Y. Rawson, J. J. Williams, Harrv Stephenson, W. Redhead, Thos. Camenter. G. W. Saverv, C C. Cole, F. M Mills. The following- $30 each: W. S. Bennett, Wm. Shepard, No. "5, Ex. Block. The following $2=; each : Mrs. J. C. Warner, Dver H. Young, Jas. A Bailey, G. R. Osgood, A. G. Field. W. H. Leas, J. C. Benedict, Lew" Coulter. W. W. Patchen and H. G. Pease subscribed $10 each. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 223 An Episode of the War — Des Moines Women at the Front. The loyalty of Des Moines women had from the first been demonstrated in various ways ; but in May, 1864, it took on a new and decidedly novel phase. Governor Stone had issued a call for hundred-day recruits. Several business houses had sighed a card agreeing to hold till their return the places then held by employes who would enlist for the hundred days. Still there was hesitancy. Then the ladies sprang into the breach. The Register of Saturday, May 14, published a card signed by forty-one married ladies of the city — most of them already represented in the Union army, and all of them prominent socially — offering "to take the places in business," as far as they were capable, "of all patriotic men who will enlist and hasten to the support of our glorious hus bands, sons and brothers in arms." 4 Next day, the young men of the city found in their Sunday morning paper a card signed by forty-six unmarried ladies of Des Moines, in which they agreed and bound themselves severally to fill, as far as possible, the places temporarily made vacant by the enlistment of clerks for the hundred-day term. They further agreed to render such service for the compensation which should be received by the hundred-day men, and to continue the pay of such enlisted men, "the same as if they remained during their term of service, less the amount received for their military service," and they further agreed to retain the places of such until the expiration of their term of service.5 4 Following is the list of signers as published : Mrs. S. P. Davis, Mrs. G. McGuier, Mrs. Nannie Hoxie, • Mrs. John Mitchell, Mrs. D. O. Finch, Mrs. A. S. Dunkle, Mrs. A. Rawson, Mrs. H. M. Hoxie, Mrs. G. Holland, Mrs. R. P. Hoxie, Mrs. Washburn, Mrs. John Thompson, Mrs. B. F. Allen. Mrs. J. Smith, Mrs. F. R. West, Mrs. N. W. Mills, Miss A. Bonner, . Mrs. E. J. Ingersoll, Mrs. J. H. Gray, Mrs. Geo. Crawford, Mrs. E. Jones, Mrs. C. Corning, Miss Alice Campfield, Mrs. W. L. Getchell, Mrs. C. McGlothlin, Mrs. G. C. Tichenor, Mrs. Armelia Lewis, Miss Helen Getchell, Mrs. G. S. Greene, Mrs. W. D. Wilson, Airs. Laird, Mrs. M. A. McCain, Mrs. E. E. Allen, Mrs. Teesdale, Mrs. J. Lyon, Miss Pearson, Mrs. E. Chester, Mrs. Ira Cook, Mrs'. S. E. Bates, Mrs. R. Christy. 5 Following is the list of young ladies published : Miss Lida Bausman, Miss Mary Lewis, Miss Sue Davis, Miss Helen Getchell, Miss Sadie Shriner, Miss Ruth Webster, Miss Vic Dicks. Miss Sarah J. Wright, Miss Carrie Corning, Miss Jennie Johnson, Miss Ella Mitchell, Miss A. E. Hemingway, Miss Lottie Webster, Miss Lizzie Woods, Miss Cornie Brown. Miss Lottie Woods, Miss Dora Bausman. ' Miss Iola E. Scott, Miss Helen F. Reed, Miss E. Strathern, Miss Etta H. Blodgett, Miss S. C. Scott, Miss S. A. Washburn, Miss A. E. Jordan. Miss Maria Holland, Miss Libbie Jordan, Miss Ella Holland, Miss Loretta Inscho, Miss Loretta Barnes, Miss Belle Gregg, Miss Maria Hepburn, Miss Jo. Robinson, Miss Emma Hatch, Miss Arvilla Trask, Miss Nettie Rhodes, Miss Mary Backus, Miss Belle Milligan, Miss Ferrier, Miss Marie Phillips, Miss Chandler, Miss Carrie Hatton, Miss Alvira Price, Miss Frank Ensign, Miss Wylie, Miss Kate Webster, Miss Anna Raling. 224 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY But the end was not yet ! In the same paper appeared a card signed "Clerks Attention!" In this card, the "misses" whose names were signed to this announcement, in no spirit of banter, but with a serious purpose to serve the cause that lacked assistance, announced that they were "in earnest," and would wait until the following Tuesday morning for invitations to take their places, adding: "We prefer to be invited to come, but, for the sake of country and precious lives at stake," they would meet Tuesday morning and in a body proceed to their places of business to say to them, "GO !" The young ladies were not compelled to make that call ! A few days later appeared another card from them stating they were spared that task by the prompt response of patriotic young men who had filled the vacant places in Captain North's company. The death of Captain A. B. Miller, of Company B, Thirty-second Iowa, at the battle of Pleasant Hill, La., was on May 12, announced to Auditor Cattell by Orderly Sergeant Brockway of Company B, Third Iowa. The captain fell mortally wounded and was left on the field. Brockway and others carried him a short distance but his agony was so great that he begged them "to lay him down and return to duty." He gave Private Rhoades his watch, sword and revolver, but his money could not be reached without causing additional pain. The enemy were not ten rods distant and their balls were whizzing past. The Union army retreated at night leaving the Captain and all the killed and wounded in the enemy's hands. All this while terrific fighting was in progress in Virginia, with varying re sults, and with fearful losses on both sides. The excitement at the State capital was intense. It became apparent that every able-bodied man would be needed to close the great gaps caused by death and disabilities. On the 15th, Captain North called the newly enlisted men together for daily drill. On the 17th and 18th, the company departed for Davenport.6 Governor Stone appointed his sister-in-law, Miss Augusta Matthews, to fill the place of military secretary made vacant by the resignation of Captain North. The tide of emigration to the gold fields of Idaho was at its flood in May. Many emigrants stopped over in Des Moines to replenish their supplies. About this time a number of Des Moines ladies were actively circulating petitions praying for the abolition of slavery. Captain Ed. Marsh, of Company D, Second Iowa, writing from Georgia, reported the enemy in full retreat and our army in pursuit. The Iowa Sanitary Commission met in Des Moines, June 1, with a large at tendance from all parts of the State. The commission officially recognized ' the Iowa Soldiers' Orphans' Home as a project worthy of support, and organized a campaign for funds. General Crocker arrived in Des Moines June 7, having left the front of Sher man's Georgia campaign because of continued ill-health. Captain Marsh, Lieutenant Lynde and others of Company D, Second Iowa, returned on the same day, having served their three-year term. "Josiah M. Vale, Ed. A. Lewis, Samuel S. Etheridge, Welden- England. Horace B. Banker, Ripley N. Bavlies, J. M. Barlow, Geo. W. Benedict, Lewis E. Bolton, Henry S. Coleman, Thomas L. Collins, Edward Crow, David Edmondson, Robert F. Fleak, Edwin S. Fleming, Johnson S. Goodrell, Solomon B. Holliday, Alvin McCrary. Rev. John Kim- mons, John L. McClelland, Andrew McCurdv. Oscar McConnell, M. McDonnell, Robert Meyerhoff, John W. Nicholas, Geo. J. North. David J. Pattee, M. F. Rutherford. L. J. F. Shoup, John Sleckman, Scott Smith, Win. M. Crow, Wm. H. Smith, David Thrailkill, W. H. Turner, Theo. F. Vestal, Wm. H. Ward, Chas. F. Whitney, John Wilshire, C. W. Blodgett, Geo. T. Stone, John E. O'Neal, Josephus Landaker, Irwin Averill. B. I. McCon nell, Joseph Hague, Cyrus Curny, James W. Davidson, NY. C. Sampson, Chas. W. Jeffries, David Hunter, Jr., Samuel H. Brvan. Chester S. Bennett, Geo. M. Little, W. C. Geer, Henry S. Mitchell, Lorenzo L. Robinson, Frank P. Morgan. Justus M. Rhoads, Simon M. Chenoweth, Michael Wright, William Sampson, Edmund Hvland, John P Wallace, M. F. Rollins CAPT. C. L. WATROUS Taken in March, 1862 CAPT. J. S. CLARK At time of his enlistment MAT. RTCHARD L. HOXIE GEN. JOHN H. LOOBY CAPT. V. P. TWOMBLY Company K. Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 225 Stewart Goodrell returned on the 9th, after a losing six months' experiment on an abandoned plantation in Louisiana. Just as an abundant crop of cotton seemed assured, a band of confederates "gobbled up about fifty negroes and about sixty mules and disappeared." Mr. Goodrell, himself, had a narrow escape. Another tragedy of the war had its setting in the far-off Red River valley, with a humble home in Des Moines in the background. In June, the wife of a private soldier received a letter from an officer, in the ill-fated Red River cam paign, which reads : "It gives me pain to inform you that your husband fell mor tally wounded in the battle of Pleasant Hill, La., on the 9th of May. I was at his side when he was struck down, and supported him in his last moments. It will be a melancholy pleasure to you to know that the few words which he ut tered after his fall were devoted to his family. His wife and children were in all his thoughts." In June, Adjutant G. L. Godfrey, late of the Second Iowa, was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the First Alabama Cavalry, a regiment raised by George E, Spencer, chief of General Dodge's staff. Of the new colonel the Register says : "He hails from this city and was for a time a law student in the office of Judge Cole. He was also a Democrat. . . . He is now a Lincoln Abolitionist." A large number of the reenlisted veterans of the Tenth Iowa were in Des Moines on the 21st, enjoying their thirty days' furlough. A long list of battles were items in their honorable record. The Chicago Tribune in June explains the resignation of General Crocker — the increasing seriousness of a throat trouble from which he had long been a suf ferer. Instead, however, of accepting his resignation, the Administration ten dered him the appointment of Military Governor of Arizona, in the hope that the bracing climate of Arizona might restore his health. At the Congressional Convention in Winterset on July 5 General Crocker pre sided, M. B. Hoxie was chairman of the Committee on Resolutions, and John A. Kasson was unanimously nominated for Congress. A long list of packages for the relatives and friends of deceased Iowa sol diers published in the Register tells its own sad story. The hundred-day men began to be heard from in July. Lieut. J. M. Vale of the 47th, writing the Register from Helena, Ark., July 1, says: "There may be poetry in the Sunny South, but as yet I have failed to see it. Were we not camped near the river, we would suffer much from the excessive heat and bad water. . Many are sick, it is true, but none seriously." He thinks that many, at the expiration of the hundred days, would like to enlist in cavalry. The death of James Sherman, a resident of Des Moines since 1846, occurred July 21. The deceased was a brother of the famous Shermans of Ohio, and of Des Moines. On the 22d of June, occurred the death of George C, son of Stewart Good- reh, of Des Moines. George was killed at Marietta, Ga., having been shot twice during the battle, — the second time, the ball piercing his breast, killing him instantly. He was at the time a member of the Ninety-seventh Ohio. "Killed by a rebel shell" is the brief explanation accompanying the an nouncement of the death of Quartermaster Sergeant John W. Dewey who en listed from Des Moines in the Sixteenth Iowa. His death occurred in July at the crossing of the Chattahoochie river. The extent to which the war took possession of the press in '64 is explained in a single sentence in the Register of July 29: "War is the present business of this country, and it will remain such business until all armed resistance to fed eral authority shall be ground to powder." In response to the proclamation of President Lincoln, Mayor Leas issued a proclamation, calling on all business men of Des Moines to close their places of business August 4, that they, and all others in the city might attend places of public worship, and there to supplicate the Almighty for a return of peace. Rumors of an invasion of the southern border of Iowa continued to circu- TsL I— II 226 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY late and two meetings were held in Des Moines for the purpose of resisting invasion from that source. At the second meeting, August i, W. H. McHenry, B. F. Randall, H. Monroe and F. Butler were appointed a committee to arrange for military companies to that end. General Crocker, accompanied by Captain Robert Lusby, started, August 8, for Arizona, to enter upon his duties as Governor of the territory. The Des Moines Valley railroad, headed for Des Moines was in August opened from Keokuk to Oskaloosa. The Des Moines Union Guards organized on the 15th, with John Lynde, captain ; E. C. Blackmar, second lieutenant. Both these officers were veterans of the Union army. On the 16th of August, Governor Stone returned to Des Moines from a visit to the camps, hospitals and battlefields of the south. He expressed him self gratified to find the Iowa soldiers in good spirits and sanguine of success. The provost marshal published a statement, on the 17th, showing the status of the counties of his district, by townships as to recruits in response to the Governor's call of July 18. From this statement it is learned that under former calls, Des Moines had furnished a surplus of 95 men; Des Moines and Lee township together, a surplus of 121 men. Des Moines' quota under the last call was 124, Des Moines and Lee township together, 188. The city's deficiency at the time was reported as 32; that of Des Moines and Lee township together, 70. The slight discrepancy between the quota and the previous supply was doubtless due to failure of some to pass examinations. The deficiency in the first ward was 19; in the third ward, 13. The quota of the second ward was filled, and the fourth ward showed a surplus. Lee township's deficiency was 38. Will Porter, recruiting officer, followed up the provost marshal's statement with an advertisement for substitutes, also for "a few representative recruits." The Register proudly chronicled the thrashing given the post chaplain at Helena, Ark., by Capt. J. P. Roach, chaplain of the Forty-seventh Iowa, because said post chaplain had stigmatized the boys of the 47th as "a gang of thieves." Capt. H. H. Griffiths, after three years of service, returned to Des Moines, August 20, having earned a reputation as "a brave, patriotic and accomplished officer." Lieutenant Colonel Nichols who commanded Colonel Williamson's old reg iment, the Fourth Iowa, at Atlanta,7 returned to Des Moines August 31, severely wounded and still suffering from his wound, his condition, however, somewhat improved. The nomination of General McClellan for the presidency by the democratic party "caused a variety of sensations" at Iowa's Capital. The "War Democrats" were jubilant; the "Peace Democrats" were cheerfully acquiescent. A Mc Clellan rally was held in Des Moines on Saturday evening, September 3, Judge McHenry making the principal speech. M. D. McHenry, of Des Moines, was, on the 6th, nominated for Congress by the democrats of the Fifth district. Notwithstanding the fierce wind blowing, large numbers gathered in front of the Savery House on the evening of September 5, to hold a jollification over the fall of Atlanta. The veteran army surgeon, Dr. W. P. Davis, presided, and brief and enthusiastic speeches were made by T. F. Withrow, C. C. Cole and I. N. Thomas. The organization of militia companies was in progress in the city during the month of September. General Dodge, still suffering from a wound received at Atlanta, was wel comed by many at the Savery House, on the 12th. Colonel ITooker fitted up an extra coach to take General Dodge and his fam ily from Des Moines to Council Bluffs. 7 Colonel Williamson having been placed in command of a brigade. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 227 A militia company was organized at the courthouse on the 16th, with fifty-two names on the roll, and was officered as follows : Captain, Edwin C. Blackmar; ist lieut., William Merrill; 2nd lieut, M. M. Choate; sergeants, J. H. Cox, R. H. Allen, George A. McVicker, William Deford; corporals, C. C. Howell, Jesse B. Curl, J. H. McClelland, D. P. Kenyon. Sheridan's victory in the Shenandoah valley raised drooping spirits and stim ulated enlistments. Late in September and early in October, many of the hundred-day men re turned, singly and in groups, from their brief but severe experience in camp. Col. J. A. Williamson returned to Des Moines October 7. Fle had previously tendered his resignation, but it had not been accepted. He brought cheering news from the front. A battery was organized on the ioth of October, with Harry Griffiths cap tain, William England, first lieutenant, and Lewis J. Coulter, second lieutenant, — all veterans. On the 15th, at a county demonstration in courthouse square, in response to reports of Missouri raiders on their way to Iowa's Capital, Des Moines was rep resented by the battery, the Light Guards, the Governor's Fusileers and the Capitol Guards. A "Union Meeting" of large proportions was held in courthouse square, Des Moines, Saturday afternoon, October 22. The orator of the occasion was the Hon. John Sherman, of Ohio. Col. J. A. Williamson presided. Mr. Sherman, then in the plentitude of his power as a reasoner, made an effective speech. Never eloquent, he was convincing, and he found about 2,500 interested followers of his argument. Another political event of this memorable campaign was the joint discus sion between the two candidates for Congress from the Fifth district, John A. Kasson and M. D. McHenry. The courthouse was crowded. J. C. Jordan of Walnut township was chosen "moderator," for the "Union" candidate and W. W. Williamson for the democratic. Mr. McHenry opened the debate in an hour's speech, urging an armistice as the best road to peace, and censuring the administration for its sins of omission and commission. He denied a previous charge that he had been a slave-owner. Mr. Kasson denied a similar charge, de claring the only slave he ever owned he bought that he might make her free. He then proceeded to discuss the issues of the campaign, with all his well-known tact and eloquence. The meeting closed a series of debates in the district, which resulted in the return of Mr. Kasson to Congress. A severe snow-storm on election night, November 8, continuing over into the following day, left the result in the county temporarily in doubt; but the gen eral result, the success of the "Union" ticket in nation and State, was a source of much relief and the cause of general rejoicing among those who felt that the only way to much-desired peace was through a vigorous prosecution of the war. War prices generally prevailed at this time. On October 29, '64, flour was quoted in the Des Moines press, at $5.50 per hundred, potatoes, $1.25 per bushel, butter, 35 and 40 cents a pound, eggs "not to be had at any price," apples $2.50 to $3 a bushel. Beefsteaks were only 10 cents a pound, and pork and mutton 12J/2 cents. Stage-loads of drafted men passed through Des Moines in November on their way from the western counties to Davenport. Instead of conducting them selves like galley slaves, the men were acquiescent and even jolly, believing that the war would soon be over. _ Capt. J. P. Roach, the belligerent chaplain of the Forty-seventh Iowa, had re ceived an appointment as Sanitary and Military Agent for Iowa at Chattanooga. On the 2 ist, just before starting south, at a public meeting in the old courthouse, the Captain was presented, by the members of Company F, with a valuable pho- 228 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY tograph album as a mark of appreciation of his fatherly kindness and consider ation. Des Moines was evidently settling down to the old ways of peace. A lec ture association was organized in November with G. W. Cleveland president; John Mitchell, vice president; J. R. Cary, secretary; F. W. Palmer, treasurer; and R. G. Orwig, G. J. North, and C. H. Rawson, executive committee. A supplementary draft filling the places of men who had been rejected, was made November 26, resulting in the drafting of Michael Flynn, of the first ward, with Michael Cavanagh, reserve ; also John P. Saylor of Saylor township, with Marion Ramage, reserve. This closed the draft episode, so far as Polk county was concerned. In response to the Governor's proclamation, a public meeting in aid of soldiers' families was held at the Central Presbyterian church on the 13th of December. Capt. F. R. West presided and W. D. Wilson acted as secretary. Hon. James Wright, Major North and Dr. Shaw presented the subject. A com mittee of three from each ward was appointed to collect and distribute funds, provisions, etc. A "Girls' Soldiers' Relief Society" gave a festival at Sherman Hall, De cember 19, which netted $177.50. Des Moines gave a general hurrah for Sherman on the 27th, over the grand achievement of the General in Georgia, "including his capture of the city of Savannah, with all its munitions of war, treasure and provisions." In accord ance with the request of Mayor Leas and the City Council, Captain Griffiths, of the Des Moines Light Artillery, fired a salute of thirty-six guns. The salute was fired at the historic point on which Captain Allen and his dragoons had landed a little more than a score of years before. The last full year of the war went out, locally, with a "grand festival," at Sherman's Hall, for the benefit of soldiers' families. The festival continued from 2 until 8 p. m. A free dinner was given all out-of-town contributors. The festival surpassed the most sanguine expectations. The gross receipts were over $2,000. As a "side line," the Artemus Ward "wacks figgers" was "remunerative and interesting." The year now closed found the patriotic people of Des Moines and Polk county patiently waiting developments at Petersburg and with intense eager ness watching for the denouement of the military drama known in history as Sherman's March to the Sea. "Surely," they reasoned along the line of their hopes, "the end of the war is in sight !" The spirit of dogged persistency with which the year had opened had given place to a great hope — that Peace would soon be proclaimed ; and, after that, the glad home-coming. CHAPTER V. THE CLOSING SCENES THE GLAD AND SAD HOME-COMING THE RETURN OF PEACE, l865. Still no end in sight! Still the great hope, — but following in its wake the fear that, after all, our dead might possibly have died in vain! On the 17th of January, two coach-loads of recruits left Des Moines for the front. Others soon followed. In January, Lieut. B. F. Blair, adjutant of the 123d Ohio, formerly a resi dent of Des Moines, wrote home an account of his escape from captivity at Columbia, S. C. For eighteen months he had been a prisoner, in Macon, Sa vannah, Charleston and Columbia. After a variety of adventures and hair breadth escapes, he and a comrade, with four federal officers, met on the route, and twenty-one southerners escaping from conscription, reached Knoxville, and gained their freedom. Col. J. A. Williamson finally, in January, received his well-earned promotion as brigadier-general. In January, Governor Stone gave the gratifying announcement that Iowa would be relieved of the final draft, General Fry having decided that the State's excess of three-year men would be given due weight in the quota. Plucky "Uncle Tommy" Elliott, over sixty years old, wrote to Peter Myers in January, from a hospital in Nashville, that he would "accept a furlough but not a discharge." He was sick of talk about peace. "There can be no peace," he said, "until the rebels lay down their arms." On February 1, there were eight or nine deserters in jail in Des Moines, all from other parts of the State. Through the instrumentality of Representative Kasson a pension was se cured for the widow of Alfred M. Lyon, killed at Black River Bridge. "Flag on the Capitol ! Flags on business houses ! Flags here and flags there !" — Thus did the Register show the spirit which prevailed at the State Capital early in February, when it was learned that Congress had passed the Constitutional Amendment abolishing slavery. Salutes were fired in courthouse square, rattling out several panes of glass. The guns were then taken down to "the Point" where the firing was continued. At the city election in Des Moines, March 6, Mayor Cleveland was elected on the "Union ticket," and a "Union" council was elected, by small majorities. As the end of the war approached, Des Moines turned her attention to long languishing railroad interests. A big meeting was held in the court house, March 8, in which men widely separated on questions growing out of the war came together in a common desire to expedite the extension of the Des Moines Valley Railroad to Des Moines. M. D. McHenry was chairman and F. W. Palmer, secretary. The meeting was addressed by Messrs Leighton and Roberts of the company, who proposed that if Des Moines and vicinity would subscribe immediately for stock to the amount of $100,000, that amount of money would be expended in grading the road from Des Moines down the river valley as soon as the weather would permit, a.nd promised that trains would be running into Des Moines by the first of next January. General Tuttle urged immediate action and the sum of $33,000 was promptly raised.1 !The subscriptions were as follows: B. F. Allen, $10,000; J. M. Tuttle, $S,ooo; P. M. 229 230 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Lieut. Mat Laird, of the 16th Iowa, and Capt. J. H. Browne, of the 17th, re turned to Des Moines, March 21, relating stories of bitter experiences in south ern prisons. From an examination of the books of the Soldiers' Families' Relief Asso ciation of Des Moines, in March, it was found that relief had been extended to seventy-nine families, to amounts ranging from $10 to $25 a month. The total of relief extended in January, February and March was nearly $2,800. It was reported that the $2,000 remaining with Treasurer F. R. West would last for several months to come. To expedite the extension of the Des Moines Valley Railroad to Des Moines, meetings were held at the county seat at which about half of the required $100,- 000 was subscribed. At a meeting, March 11, the local canvassing committee was increased by the addition of the following names: G. W. Cleveland, T. K. Brooks, Isaac Cooper, Des Moines ; Thomas Mitchell, Beaver ; J. C. Jordan and Joseph Mott, Walnut; H. C. Hargis, Bloomfield; J. D. McLaughlin, Allen; Nathan Andrews, Jefferson; H. C. Potter, Vandalia; Joseph Hopkins, N. R. Kuntz, Madison ; J. Saylor, Frank Nagle, Saylor ; A. O. Mason, Delaware ; and others in Warren county. A canvassing committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. Tuttle, Williamson, Clapp and Sherman. During the excitement and turmoil of war, the schools of Des Moines con tinued to grow and were not neglected though school buildings had not kept pace with the city's growth. In the Des Moines district (west side) there were in '65, about 1,500 school children, with accommodations for scarcely more than half that number. A proposition was submitted to the electors of the district, March 13, for the levying of a five-mill tax for a schoolhouse fund. The tax received a majority of 237. The election brought to the school board these .veil known men, themselves a voucher for the future of the schools: J. A. Nash, president; W. W. Williamson, vice president; S. F. Spofford, treasurer; A. Newton, secretary; Hoyt Sherman and Wesley Redhead, directors. The Capitol district (east side) had about 500 school children. A proposi tion submitted, to raise $15,000 for a new school building was carried by a vote of 118 to 26. The new board consisted of James Wright, president; Lewis Kinsey, vice president; William Mathews, secretary; George W. Jones, treas urer; Isaac Brandt, director. From Heights of Joy to Depths of Gloom. On Monday, April 3, the glad news of Richmond's fall electrified the Capi tal city. In the evening the courthouse was illuminated and the Des Moines artillery company fired thirty-six guns in celebration of the victory. By direc tion of Governor Stone, Captain Flarry Griffiths fired a hundred guns in honor of the event. The illumination was not confined to the courthouse. The Savery House was a blaze of light.2 The streets were "as light as day." Public build ings and private dwellings were all ablaze. Altogether it was pronounced "the greatest day ever seen in Des Moines." Ex- Attorney General Nourse, always an effective speaker, was at his best that night, as he spoke from the steps of the Savery House. The business streets of the citv were thronged with happy men, women and children who realized — and vet could scarcely realize — that the end had come at last — that peace was finally assured ! Des Moines was again "electrified" on the ioth of April by the announce ment of the surrender of Lee. Again a hundred guns were fired by order of Casady, $5,000; W. W. Williamson, $2,000; E. F. Hooker, $2,000; Hoyt Sherman, $2,000; A. Y. Rawson, $1,000; M. D. and W. H. McHenry, $1,000; M. D McHenry, $500; W. S. Gilman, Jr., $500; John McWilliams, $500; F. W. Palmer, $500; Childs & Howell, $500; Dr. Whitman, $500; E. R. Clapp, $500; J. S. Cook, $500; John Ferrier, $400; W. S. Terry, $100. 2 This was the era of the candle as an illuminator. The Savery House illumination consumed 375 candles, making 750 lights. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 231 the Governor, and thirty-six by order of the Mayor. Again all Des Moines was out. East Des Moines was at the front early in the evening, with the Capitol, business houses and many dwellings illuminated. Many citizens assembled in the house of representatives, where Major North, the Governor's secretary read the dispatches. The eloquence of Mr. Nourse was again in requisition and — it was an easy audience to address, for all were in a responsive mood and every sentence was punctured with applause. The people on the West side were equally demonstrative. Joy ruled the hour. The cannonading smashed many windows, but that was a slight affair! The fall of Richmond was the beginning of the end: the surrender of Lee was the end ! Then, on that sad Saturday morning, the 15th day of April, came the re port that President Lincoln had been shot the night before ! Joy over the sur render was now turned to mourning. No event in the history of our country ever gave to the individual citizen such an appalling blow. The firing upon Sumter's flag aroused indignation; the killing of the President produced a sense of personal loss. Never were individual members of the community so drawn together by a common sorrow. Many who had loved "the kindly-earnest, brave, foreseeing man" with a love akin to adoration were in this hour of grief at one with those who, now, all too plainly saw that they had misjudged his motives and purposes, and belittled his greatness. Among the survivors of that fateful day, there is scarcely one, who then was old enough to realize the force of the assassin's blow, but can recall the moment when the awful announcement came turning the brightness of that April day into profoundest gloom. On that Saturday business was generally suspended. Men gathered in groups about the newspaper offices and hotels and in subdued voices talked of the great calamity. Many wore crape, desiring to express without words the sense of loss they felt. The Capitol was draped in mourning. At an early hour on Saturday a com mittee was hastily appointed 3 to arrange for a Sunday afternoon ¦ meeting in courthouse square. The meeting was announced in the city churches Sunday morning. In most of the churches the services were more or less affected by the tragic event of Friday. At an early hour that Sunday afternoon, thousands assembled in courthouse square. Every township, every community in the county was represented in that memorable gathering. Mayor Cleveland presided. Prayers were offered by Revs. Chamberlain, Vernon and Peet. A choir organized for the occasion sang hymns reflecting the general sorrow. General Williamson, happening to be present, made a few remarks explaining the purpose of the meeting. Hon. Frank W. Palmer de livered the address of the day, a carefully prepared and able paper. In addi tion to the program announced, an informal address was delivered which meas urably deepened the impression left upon the vast assemblage. Hon. John A. Kasson who only a few hours prior to the meeting had returned from the east, consented to speak on the subject nearest his heart. His address abounded in personal reminiscences of the dead President. It included an explanation of Vice President Johnson's untimely words at his then recent inauguration — at tributing his language and manner to illness and not to intoxication as had been charged — and predicting that the government would be safe in President John son's hands. He solemnly closed with these patriotic words : "While we consecrate the grave of Lincoln with our heartfelt lamentations and tears, — even burying our hearts with him there, — let us also surround his successor with our prayers, our hopes and our patriotic endeavors." General Williamson, in his opening remarks, said that on the 4th of March he had stood beside President Lincoln while he delivered his immortal 3 Composed of Mayor Cleveland, F. C. D. McKay, James Wright, J. M. Chamberlain, E. F. Hooker and Thomas Hatton. 232 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY second inaugural. The General's bitter feelings against the enemies of his coun try were rebuked by the spirit of humility and trust evinced by the President on that great occasion. The General said, further, that while it was impossible to express the great sorrow which made ail hearts heavy that day, yet it was fitting that men should meet together and recount the virtues and public acts of the great man for whom the world mourned. In accordance with a proclamation of Governor Stone, dated April 15, the peo ple of Iowa assembled for prayer on the 27th of April, at 10 a. m., giving evi dence of the loving remembrance in which the name of the martyred President was held in Iowa. "Life is ever lord of death." On Monday morning men went to their work — but with sad hearts and many anxious forebodings. Women resumed their never-ending toil in the home. Children played as before on their way to and from school. The drum and fife heralded the return of war-worn veterans and joy took the place of mourning in many a family. A few days later a Teachers' Institute assembled at the State Capital. A County Sabbath School Union held an anniversary, presided over by that patriarch in Israel, Thompson Bird. The United States District Court convened in the city, Judge Miller presiding. A mail robbery temporarily disturbed the calm after the storm. A special election au thorized a county poor farm, the Walnut street bridge and a bridge across the Raccoon. General Crocker returned home from New Mexico, on his way to Washington. Bishop Lee came to preside over the diocese of Iowa in Episcopal convention. Regiment after regiment of Iowa troops were mustered out and many of their members returned home by way of the Capital city. The Grand Review at the Nation's Capital soon followed. For two memor able days (May 23-24), the surviving heroes of the Union army marched along Pennsylvania avenue amid the waving of banners and the shouts of the assem bled nation. Others had prayed and sacrificed for the end symbolized by that event; but there, in the presence of their commander-in-chief, and of the imper- turbably silent man who had stubbornly fought his way to peace, and in the pres ence of thousands from all parts of the country who had journeyed to the Capital to see the last and greatest pageant of the war, — there marching and riding, in open order, were the battle-scarred and travel-worn veterans who had fought for peace and, with the aid of the thousands who had offered up their lives for it, had grandly won it ! Thus gloriously closed the costliest, deadliest, most far-reachingly significant war in history. The Soldiers' Families' Relief Association of Des Moines on June 8, reported $1,200 yet on hand. The Soldiers' Orphans' Home Association held a meeting in the city, June 8-9, with Judge C°le in the chair. The judges of the Supreme Court, with Judge Woodward, were named as a committee to memorialize the Eleventh General As sembly, asking an appropriation for buildings for the use of the home. About $30,000 subscribed for the home had been invested in government securities. It was estimated that there were ten thousand soldiers' orphans in the state. Chief Justice Wright, of the Supreme Court of Iowa, delivered an opinion, June 22, holding that the supervisors of Polk county had no power to submit to the voters at any other than a general election the bridge question voted on at the special election in May, thus postponing the building of the 'Coon and Des Moines river bridges voted for. The Republican State Convention of June 14, 1865, was not especially notable. Governor Stone was renominated by a large majority, though two Des Moines men, J. W. Cattell and General Crocker were placed in nomination. General Crocker moved to make the nomination unanimous. After an informal ballot for lieutenant governor, Hon. B. F. Gue was unanimously nominated, on motion of Col. James B. Weaver, who had received 255 votes for the office. Fourth of July, 1865, was celebrated at the State Capital with a degree of en- / h , FU , Li if cACc CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 233 thusiasm rarely if ever surpassed in the history of the city. It was estimated that ten thousand people participated. From daylight till noon every road leading into the city was alive with teams bringing people from the surrounding towns. The forenoon procession was headed by crippled veterans in coaches, under the charge of Captain Thomas. Bands of music followed, also city and county of ficials, Sunday Schools, Masons, Odd Fellows and Good Templars, and, in the body of the procession, the returned soldiers in uniform, 150 in number, under the lead of General Tuttle. Aside from the colors the veterans bore was a beau tiful banner made by Lieut. Mat. Laird, with tlie names of the principal battles in which Iowa soldiers had engaged. The oration by Hon. William Loughridge, of Oskaloosa, was one which rose to the occasion, abounding in patriotic spirit and words of admonition, counsel and good, cheer. Col. G. A. Stewart read the Declaration of Independence. Dinner was served the veterans and their families from well-filled tables on the grounds. After dinner, as was the Fourth of July custom in those days, came toasts and responses, in which much pent-up enthusi asm found vent. The after-dinner orators were Thomas F. Withrow, Colonel Godfrey, Judge Cole and George J. North. The toast : "Abraham Lincoln" was impressively received. The audience rose and stood for a minute in silence and with bared heads, and then resumed their seats. The Liquor Dealers' Association of the State convened in Des Moines, August 16, and resolved to urge the repeal of the prohibitory legislation in force. The Des Moines Coal Company was organized August 19, with officers as follows: President, James M. Starr; vice president, John Teesdale; treasurer, B. F. Allen; secretary, Wesley Redhead; directors, J. M. Starr, M. D. McHenry, Hoyt Sherman, J. W. Davis, F. Butler, William Vincent, L. W. Dennis, R. Sanford, and William Phillips. In response to a "Soldiers' Call," a convention of electors of Polk county in favor of the Johnson administration "and opposed to striking the word 'white' out of the constitution of the State," was held in Des Moines, August 19. Dele gates were chosen to a State convention. Later, several chosen delegates pub licly declined to serve, and a long list of veterans signed a protest against "the so-called Soldiers' Convention." J. M. Dixon, the blind editor, published his valedictory in the Register, August 22. He had engaged with the Burlington Hawkeye. Railroad meetings continued through the late summer and fall, and pain fully slow progress was made in placing stock. August 28, ex-Governor Kirkwood spoke in Des Moines on the political issues of the day. He was characteristically humorous and yet earnest — and at times even eloquent. Death of General Crocker. Just before the fall of Richmond, came the news that General Crocker had in large measure regained his health and, in response to his own request, had been ordered to report at Washington. The General had grown weary of his post as District Commander in New Mexico, and longed to be in at the end of the war. It later transpired that the General was far from well, and that the end of his career could not be long delayed. Not since the sudden taking off of President Lincoln had Des Moines been as deeply moved as on the 27th day of August, when Mrs. Charlotte Crocker wired Judge Casady from Washington that her husband had passed away. Gen eral Crocker died on the afternoon of the 26th. Mrs. Crocker on learning of his serious illness hastened from Des Moines to Washington, but arrived the morn ing after his death. The body was embalmed and on the 28th Mrs. Crocker, with an officer and eight soldiers, detailed from the War Department, started with the remains for Des Moines, via Nevada. The remains of General Crocker left Clinton early September 2, and were 234 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY conveyed overland from Nevada, then the western terminus of the Northwestern road, arriving at the Capital in the evening. The escort detailed by the War De partment conveyed the coffin to the Crocker home, whence next day, it was borne to the courthouse by the survivors of Company D, Second Regiment. The body lay in state from io till 3. The funeral services were held in the court room on the afternoon of Sunday, September, 3, conducted by Revs. Thompson Bird and J. A. Nash. Returned Iowa soldiers conveyed the remains to Woodland cemetery, where the burial was conducted with military honors.4 The proces sion to the cemetery was in the following order: The military in charge of the coffin ; the General's horse with empty saddle ; the family and other relatives ; the clergy of the city ; State and City officials ; Masons, Odd Fellows, members of the bar, citizens on foot and in carriages. The military procession and burial was under the direction of Captain Crocker's old colonel, General Tuttle. The clos ing ceremonies at the grave were under the direction of the Masons and Odd Fel lows of Des Moines. In this connection it seems fitting to include a sonnet written from the heart by a fellow-townsman, Leonard Brown, long a teacher in, and at the time the head of, Forest Home School, Des Moines. Though Mr. Brown has written much verse, we question whether he has ever written anything quite equal to this tribute to his friend : 5 "How bright a record this brave man had made! He stood midst flying shot and bursting shell Unharmed. When 'Death reigned ^King,' and thousands fell, On high he wielded his victorious blade. But now aside he has the sabre laid, And gone in everlasting peace to dwell. Had he not lived and fought; ah, who can tell If e'en to-day would war's red tide be stayed ! His prowess won the field at Champion Hill, And op'ed the way for Vicksburg to be ta'en; And it was his indomitable will That saved the day, when Lauman's braves were slain ; But now our country's saved, and peace is won ; Brave Crocker has gone home ; his work is done." The several organizations of which the General was an honored member passed resolutions commending the patriotism and moral worth of the deceased. Several county bar associations met in his honor and passed resolutions of sympathy and appreciation. The widow of General Crocker is living in Los Angeles, Calif., with her daughters, Mary M. and Charlotte C. Mrs. Crocker was born in Indiana in 1833. When two years old she came with her parents to Iowa. Her maiden name was Charlotte O'Neal. She married M. M. Crocker in Lancaster, Keokuk count)-, Iowa, and soon after, in 1854, the two emigrated to Fort Des Moines, which remained their home until the General's death in 1865. Her daughter Ad die passed away in 1868. Not long after this second affliction, Mrs. Crocker re moved to Chicago to be with her daughters who found employment there. She resided in that city until ill-health compelled a change of climate. She then re moved with her daughters to Albuquerque, N. M., and thence, several years later, to Los Angeles. Her son, Frank M., was long connected with the Santa Fe railroad. He was appointed U. S. Consul at Guaymas, Mexico, where he still resides, having business interests there. Frank remains unmarried and, since * The bearers designated by General Tuttle were : Col. T. H. Benton, Jr., Col. J. M. Griffiths, Lieut. Col. P. J. Hudson, Lieut. Col. G. A. Stewart. Capt. H. H. Griffiths, and Maj. George J. North. 5 Published in the State Register of August 31, 1865. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 235 his father's death, has been devoted to his widowed mother and sisters. Mary M. married Major Duncan, who died early in the year, 191 1. Mrs. Duncan and her daughter, Dorothy, live with Mrs. Crocker. Charlotte, the second daughter, early married General West, of Washington, D. C, who died about a year after the marriage. While a resident in Paris, Mrs. West was again married to an American artist named Snyder. Three children were born to Mrs. Snyder, Jacques, John and Marcellus. The three grandchildren, with their mother are members of the Crocker family in the Los Angeles home. Jacques is in the telegraph service of the Santa Fe. John is in the Los Angeles Times office, and narrowly escaped with his life in the explosion which recently wrecked that of fice. But, with the courage of his grandfather, he reported for duty on the fol lowing evening — when many other employes faltered.6 A portion of the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry arrived in the city on the 6th of September and were joyfully met by comrades, relatives and friends. On September 7, Bishop Simpson visited Des Moines, the guest of W. W. Williamson. On Eriday evening, in the courthouse, the eloquent Bishop de livered his famous lecture on "The Future of our Country." The Bishop was then in his prime, "a tall, broad-shouldered, spare man of about fifty-five." He used no notes, but spoke easily and familiarly "as though he meant merely to exchange suggestions with his hearers rather than to lecture them." He spoke for more than two hours, "yet there was no evidence of weariness or restless ness in the audience, and the judgment of nearly all listeners was that it was the ablest public address on national affairs to which they had ever listened." A city levy of ten mills on the dollar for 1865 — five for road and five for gen eral purposes — was rendered necessary by the extent of improvements which had been made in the city during the past two years. A contract for the long delayed Walnut street bridge was let in September to C. Youngerman & Co., of Des Moines, at $12 per perch, with from ten to eleven hundred perch included in the specifications. Complaints were made by outside parties that the hotels at the Capital city were drawing the life-blood of all who were compelled to come to Des Moines. The proprietor of the Savery informed the public that when he opened the house in '63, he charged at the rate of $2 a day (board and lodging) ; but the high prices had compelled him to raise the charge to $3 ; but that he would board legislators during the coming winter at $1.50 a day. Railroad meetings were resumed in the fall of '65, the extension of the Valley road being the chief end in view. At a meeting September 28, announcement was made that more than two hundred taxpayers had agreed to bear their propor tionate share of the burden of raising the money necessary to extend the road to Des Moines, and a committee was appointed to visit Keokuk and notify the of ficers of the road that the money had been subscribed, also to complete the con tract for the extension. M. D. McHenry, Hoyt Sherman, B. F. Allen, W W. Williamson and J. M. Tuttle were named as that committee. These gentlemen returned October 3, reporting that the contract had been signed for the imme diate extension of the road to Des Moines, the work to be completed December 31, 1866. But, with good weather the company expected to run trains into the city by August 1. "Too good to be true!" thought many who had grown old and gray in the struggle for railroad connections with the outside world. General Sherman the City's Guest. A distinguished guest arrived in Des Moines on the 4th of October — no less a personage than that idol of the western army, General Sherman. He arrived 6 Much of the data here given relative to the surviving members of the family of General Crocker was obtained from Maj. John C. Hotchkiss, of Des Moines, whose wife is a sister of Mrs. Crocker. 236 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY in the early evening. Preparations were made for a public demonstration, but the General's brother, Major Hoyt Sherman, had informed the committee that the less formality there was in connection with the visit the more acceptable it would be to the General. Mayor Cleveland and a few leading citizens proceeded in carriages a few miles east of the city on the road to Newton, and there met the General. On the arrival of the party a gun-squad of the Des Moines artillery, under Sergeant Neefie, fired a major-general's salute. The General was at once driven to Major Sherman's home. In the evening an immense concourse gathered in front of the Sherman residence. In response to prolonged calls, the General appeared on the balcony. He said he was happy to see his friends collectively and would be glad to meet them individually, but they must not ask him to make a speech. He would remain in Des Moines during the week and give all who so desired an opportunity to meet him. He would be especially glad to meet all the officers and soldiers who had been with him in his campaigns, and would also be pleased to meet the citizens informally. But the General was not to be let off so easily. A meeting was held at Colonel Hooker's office on the following evening, to consider the propriety of a dem onstration in honor of the city's distinguished guest. It was agreed that General Sherman should be invited to meet the soldiers and citizens of Des Moines and vicinity at the courthouse on the following Saturday afternoon. Committees were appointed, including one on invitation, consisting of Messrs. Cleveland. Casady and Hooker. The General graciously accepted, and at 2 o'clock on Sat urday, his carriage arrived at the courthouse, preceded by Colonel Hooker, mar shal, and the Des Moines brass band. Messrs. Hatton and Moody, Mrs. Mosher and Miss Corning sang "Union, God and Liberty." Mayor Cleveland delivered a brief address of welcome, to which General Sherman responded as follows :" "I am thankful for the kind manner in which I have been received by the peo ple here to-day. There are many old soldier-faces turned toward me. I can tell them almost wherever I meet them. First there is a tawny color of the skin, caused by the exposure to the sun. Then there is an honest expression which always beams from the soldier's eye. I did not come here to talk to you, or to be honored by the people here, but I came to see my brothers and their families. Twenty years ago, when I was on the eve of sailing for California, around Cape Horn, I advised my brothers to come here. I knew there was a military post here to protect settlers from invasion and depredations by the Indians. They came. Now I have the pleasure of coming to see them. I hope and believe that they have been fair samples of the Sherman family. [Applause.] I hope they may have the privilege of living here a long time yet, and that they may prosper, and leave many of the same name to perpetuate it. [Laughter and applause.] I thank you for your kind expression in regard to my services to mv country. I can say that I have lived twenty years of soldier's life. When I heard this war was coming, I sat down and figured up what would be the result. I knew that as a whole the Mississippi Valley was bound together by a common interest, and I did not believe the general government could be broken up for a few negroes down in Louisiana. I made up my mind this Union could not be broken up. "When I prepared to cross from the Mississippi to the Atlantic seaboard, many thought that my army was too small to cover that vast area ; they feared it was not able to perform the march of 2,100 miles; and yet when this war first began, men, true men, too, thought that 75,000 soldiers would be sufficient to quell the Rebellion! Seventy-five thousand men on paper would make about thirty thou sand for the field. It takes about three hundred thousand on paper to make one hundred thousand fighting men. I had about seventy-five thousand men to start with ; then I was down. I have been up, and down, several times since. Now I am up again ! I heartily thank those who give me such a cordial greeting here to-day, but if they only cheer me while I am riding on top of the waves, or when 7 From report in the State Register, October 8, 1865. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 237 I am down join in howling against me, I care but little for it. Nevertheless, I believe that the hearts of your people beat for me, that you are and have been my friends. When the war was over, I thought I would go back to Ohio and see those whom I knew in boyhood, for I thought they would welcome me. I came here because I believed the people who lived where my brothers did, would also welcome me. But to go back and look upon the war. — Whenever I look back on the last two years of the war, the impression comes vividly before my eyes, of soldiers walking along on those sandy roads, dolefully singing — When this cruel war is over.' "I have not heard this song, however, for the last three or four months. [Laughter and applause.] When war comes you have to meet it and the men who shrink from danger then are not the men to people Iowa, nor the great west. But I have never doubted, not once, the fidelity of your men. lowans, when they were in Georgia and Alabama, following me on the march, would have gone on if they had thought that it would take their children and their chil dren's children in the future, to accomplish it. [Applause.] I thank you for calling a meeting for the purpose of getting to see me, for I am not handsome. [Laughter and applause.] I thank you for the cordial greeting you have given me to-day, and I hope that during the rest of my stay in Des Moines, I may be permitted to quietly enjoy my visit to my brothers." A new paper mill, owned by J. H. Boyd & Co., one of the promising later ad ditions to the business of Des Moines, located in the south part of the city, was destroyed by fire October 17. The public schools in West Des Moines in 1865 were five in number including the High School, with 1,517 children of school age and about 1,000 in attendance. Professor Corless was at the head of the High School, with about sixty pupils. Mrs. Dunlap was principal of the fourth ward. The third ward was unsuppfied. Miss Young was principal of the second, on Elm street. Miss Chittenden pre sided over "the school across the 'Coon." The 26th of October marked the arrival of Judge Wright and family from Keosauqua. The judge was reported as "busily engaged fixing up their residence on Walnut street." The dedicatory services of the M. E. church, West side, occurred on Sun day, October 29. Rev. Dr. Hosfield, of Chicago, officiated. The society had had financial trouble for many years The business collapse of '57 had com pelled it to suspend building operations. The property was incumbered with a mortgage which they could not lift. But, eight years afterward the new church was built and its debt lifted and the society confidently was looking forward to a bright future, which has since been more than realized. Major Ensign was given a cordial greeting in Des Moines on the 30th. Few men who went out from Des Moines in '61 saw as much hard service as Sergeant (now Major) Ensign of old Company D, Second Iowa. Maj. S. H. M. Byers, referring to the closing scenes of the war, says:8 "It ' would require a volume to even mention the names of the men and women of the Capital and of the State at large who labored for the cause of the Union all through the weary days of the war." Referring to the men and women of the Capital, he mentions Mr. and Mrs. James Callanan who "gave of their abundance in all directions, assumed the total support of various soldiers' families, and by word and deed set a noble example of patriotism that found rivals in every direc tion in the Capital City." Continuing, he said: "There were the patriotic Mr. 8 Iowa in War Times, p. 465. 238 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY and Mrs. Savery, the Mills families, the Palmers and a hundred others leading Tn society at the Capital, engaged in organizing methods to help the Iowa soldiers or the cause for which they were fighting. Men of high political position like the Hon. George G. Wright, chief justice, and senator of the United States, and Hon, C. C. Cole, also a supreme judge later, brought all their influence and power to bear in ways that made their names familiar to patriots of Iowa. Hon. Jonathan Cattell, too, Mrs. Cattell, John N. Dewey, Stewart Goodrell, and Thomas Mitch ell were prominent in everything pertaining to the country's interests." The building season of '65 closed with a record of unparalleled activity; but the high prices of building material had resulted in the erection of many cheap structures. A sad reminder of the war, December 28, was the arrival of the bodies of Captain A. T. Blodgett, of Des Moines, and Col. James Redfield, of Dallas county. The public funeral of Captain Blodgett was held in Des Moines Sunday morning, the last day of the old year. Col. J. N. Dewey was chief marshal. The services were conducted by Revs. Sanford Haines and J. A. Nash. A mili tary escort was provided, with Captain Hunter in command. Among the many who attended the funeral were city, county and state officials, ex-army officers and soldiers. Thus, in sorrow over the losses of the war, mingled with satisfac tion because of the great gain therefrom, the eventful year 1865 went out. BOOK III. DES MOINES. PART III. THE CITY'S RECONSTRUCTION ON A PEACE BASIS. 1866-1869. CHAPTER I. ADVENT OF THE FIRST RAILROAD IN DES MOINES EVENTS OF l866. The inauguration of Governor Stone and Lieutenant-Governor Gue, Janu ary 11, 1866, drew many citizens to the State House. The Governor's address was one of rare interest, reassuring the loyal that so far as Iowa was concerned, there would be no backward step. On the same evening the question of the senatorship for the long and the short term was settled in republican caucus by the selection, on the third ballot, of James Harlan for the long term, and of Samuel J. Kirkwood on the first ballot for the short term. While the proceedings were harmonious, underneath the surface there were conditions which led to the defeat of Harlan six years later. Whatever were the facts, the friends of Governor Kirkwood and Senator Grimes maintained that when Mr. Harlan became Secretary of the Interior, the way was made clear for the War Governor as his successor in the senate. "Mustered out" was a heading frequently used during the winter of '66. Not a few from Iowa who supposed the close of the war would end their term of service found they were obliged to serve their full three years. Railroad meetings were held quite as frequently as in the pioneer days "be fore the war," and the same pluck, determination and business tact were shown in their deliberations. At a meeting held in the courthouse, February 8, the Iowa and Minnesota railroad perfected its organization by electing as directors : B. F. Allen, P. M. Casady, J. M. Tuttle, Hoyt Sherman, T. K. Brooks, J. B. Stewart, Wesley Red head, George G. Wright, B. F. Roberts, S. F. Spofford, C. G. Bridges, John Scott, J. Q. Hoggart, John Porter, John Cheshire, J. B. Knapp and M. D. McHenry. The directors organized with P. M. Casady, president; B. F. Rob erts, vice president ; B. F. Allen, treasurer ; Hoyt Sherman, secretary, and Judge Wright as an additional member of the Executive Board. Articles of incor poration prepared by Judge Casady were adopted at the meeting, subscriptions to the capital stock were made to the amount of $18,000, and steps were taken for an aggressive campaign to secure another important connection with the outside world. At a meeting of the Des Moines Presbytery on the 8th, the resignation of Rev. Thompson Bird was accepted and a resolution was adopted, taking the op portunity offered to express the high appreciation in which this pioneer preacher and pastor was held by his associates, ministers and laymen. "Having come into the State at an early day, he had not only laid the basis of the religious insti tutions of this city, but organized or secured the organization of a large por tion of our other churches, particularly in Southern Iowa." On the 15th the officers and soldiers who had participated in the Fort Donel son victory held an anniversary festival at the Savery House, with General Tut tle in the chair. Major Ensign acted as toastmaster. General Tuttle, Governor Stone, Mayor Cleveland, Editor Palmer, Captain McCullough, Captain Crane and S. W. McElderry made stirring speeches. A second Iowa organization was effected with General Tuttle, president, General Weaver and Colonel Howard vice presidents, Major Ensign and Captain Marsh secretaries. On Washington's birthday the local democrats ratified President Johnson's veto of the Freedman's Bureau bill, M. D. McHenry, presiding. On the ist of March, the Tidrick & Hippee Iron Works passed into the hands of a stock company of which F. M. Mills was president. Vol. I— u 241 242 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The result of the city election on March 5 brought out Frank Palmer's well- seasoned rooster over what the radical Register editor still persisted in terming a "Union Victory." Mayor Cleveland was reelected by 56 majority over S. F. Spofford, and the council stood eight republicans to 5 democrats. The total vote, "the largest ever cast in the city," was 1,433, against 1,097 in '65. The departure of Gen. James A. Williamson and family for Fort Smith, Ark., early in March, was a matter of deep regret to many. The vetoes of President Johnson stirred the feelings of many at the Capital city, who regarded the President's course as nothing less than an attempt to neu tralize the results of the war. On the other side were not a few who sustained the President. One Saturday night the Register brought out its flag, and "the boys" burned powder in celebration of the senate's victory over the President. A State Editorial Convention was held in Des Moines March 7. Hon. C. F. Clarkson, the oldest editor in attendance, was chairman, and Ed. Russell, of the Davenport Gazette, secretary. The local members were Frank W. Palmer and J. M. Dixon, of the Register, Col. W. H. Merritt, of the Statesman and Frank M. Mills, of the School Journal. The newspaper men then remonstrated against print-paper monopoly with quite as much zeal as their successors are now remon strating. The resolution to fix uniform advertising rates has a familiar sound to the veteran editors of to-day! The move for a Walnut street bridge was on in the spring of '66; and, once on, there was no rest from frequent meetings until the bridge was ordered. This was a bad year for schools on both sides of the river. On the west side, a school-house tax was voted down. On the east side, a proposition to appro priate $3,000 for school grounds was defeated. Late in March, Mrs. Gray, widow of Judge J. H. Gray, announced the open ing of a select school in Des Moines. "On to Kansas City" — was the new slogan in the spring of '66. The Des Moines and Kansas City Railroad company had been organized several years before ; but legislative enactments and court decisions had prevented county sub scriptions for stock. It was now proposed to revive the project and push it to conclusions. A survey made by Chief Engineer Bausman from Des Moines to Indianola was completed in April. A large increase in population, the volume of business and the number of business houses in the spring of '66 afforded much encouragement to believers in the future of the Capital city. The General Assembly, in April, appropriated money for an arsenal with Gen eral Baker, Colonel Godfrey, J. W. Cattell and B. F. Allen as commissioners therefor. "The largest audience ever assembled in the courthouse greeted Frederick Douglass" April 16. The eminent negro orator, taking for his theme "The As sassination and its Lessons," delivered a lecture "which could not be excelled in its eloquence and comprehensiveness." In the spring of '66, the Rip van Winkle management of the Mississippi and Missouri railroad gave signs of waking and assurances were given in April that the road would be "immediately pushed forward to Des Moines." The pioneer, Dr. A. Y. Hull, who has so often figured in these pages, sold his east side residence, in April, to Dr. Potter of Vandalia, preparatory to re moval to Texas. The Soldiers' Families' Relief Association of Des Moines, which performed a noble part in relieving the destitute families of soldiers during the war, met June 21, to make final report of its stewardship. It reported $512.05 still on hand, and resolved that, of this balance, $312.05 be retained subject to order, for the purchase of clothing for children in the Orphans' Home, and the balance was turned into the county treasury. The federal assessment on manufactures, reported in July, 1866, brings out a long list of local manufactories, among which were the following: CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 243 the new gas company ; the Des Moines Iron Works ; the Gilcrests, wood manu facturers ; J. H. Given & Co., plow works ; B. M. Good, vinegar works ; Howell & Seeburger, tin, iron and copper; Carter, Hussey & Curl, blank book manu facturers ; the Harbachs, furniture ; Jack Brothers, wood manufacturers ; Jordan, Carpenter & Co., woolen factory ; J. Kingsberger, harness ; Mills & Company, blank books; S. A. Robertson, brick; Shepherd, Perrior & Bennett, woolen fac tory; Yeoman & Coggeshall, stone ware. Several manufacturers of boots and shoes, beer, cigars, tombstones, etc., were also named in the list. The colored people of Des Moines and vicinity assembled near the court house, August i, in celebration of the abolition of slavery in the West Indies. The entire negro population of the city, from four to six hundred, were out. They were addressed by James Yancey of Fairfield, Rev. Mr. Wells, an ex-slave, W. S. Peterson and others. The corner-stone of Capitol schoolhouse, East Des Moines, was laid August 2, with imposing ceremonies, in which the Masons performed a prominent part. Hon. J. W. Cattell, president of the board, presided. Hon. O. Faville and Hon. James Wright delivered addresses. Early in August, Senator Harlan advised B. F. Allen that the Kasson House bill for an appropriation of $15,000 to purchase a site for a custom house and postoffice in Des Moines had received the sanction of the senate and the Presi dent. Messrs. Kasson, Cole and Allen were authorized to select the site. August 8, came the announcement that Judge Love, of the U. S. Circuit Court, had authorized the sale of the Mississippi and Missouri railroad to the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific company. The sale insured the speedy completion of the road to Des Moines. The local Lecture Association in August elected John Teesdale president, Stephen Sibley vice president, J. L. Kimball treasurer. There was also a Young Men's Literary Association, with Edward W. Gillett president, William Sharman vice president and Albert Weeks secretary. The association planned for a bril liant lecture course. At Last — the Whistle of the Locomotive ! August 29, 1866, must ever stand out as a great day in the history of Des Moines. Readers of these pages have followed the history of those ten long years of planning and waiting and working for railroads in the days of old Fort Des Moines. They have read, in outline, the later story of hope deferred, be ginning with the removal of the Capitol to the well-nigh inaccessible valley city on the Des Moines and continued on through hard times, through disturbing rumors of war, through the awful experiences of war, and through those last months of individual sacrifice for the completion of the Valley road, — and, now, the whistle of the engine announced to eagerly waiting ears the actual fact ! — the physical entrance of the Valley railroad into Des Moines ! The local press had faithfully announced the building of the road from Keokuk to the northwest, its arrival in Oskaloosa, in Pella, in Monroe, in Prairie City, at Woodville Sta tion, and at last at Des Moines! The first train left Keokuk at 7:30 a. m. and arrived in Des Moines a few minutes before three p. m. The train brought about three hundred excursionists from Keokuk, Burlington, Fairfield, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa and other points. Among the more prominent of the excursionists were Justice Samuel F. Miller, Mayor William Patterson, Gen. H. T. Reed, Gen. J. H. Wilson, Col. P. C. Haines, Col. A. W. Sheldon, Col. D. B. Hillis, Col. J. C. Parrott, Hon. G. W. Mc Crary, Gen. W. W. Belknap, Judge W. H. Seevers, Gen. J. M. Hedrick, Hon. E. M. Stiles and Judge Rankin. The crowd, gathered at the depot, to witness the incoming train, included "all Des Moines." Mr. Kasson, in his happiest vein, welcomed the train-loads of ex cursionists. Mayor Patterson responded. Colonel Leighton, representing the road, recited the history of the enterprise, referring to it as a road built by Iowa men, by Iowa enterprise and, in great part, by Iowa money. Without govenment 244 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY aid, it was the first road to invade the Capital City ! President Smith, of the road, was called out and happily responded. Dr. Beardsley of the Burlington Hawkeye, Messrs. Stiles and Gillaspy of Ottumwa also spoke. "The speech of the occasion" — as might have been expected — was by Judge Wright. Himself a newcomer from Keosauqua, he rejoiced in that the railroad had followed him to Des Moines ! He pictured a brilliant future for the Capital City — part of which the judge lived to see realized. The long-waited-for Walnut street bridge was dedicated September 3. "All creation was down to see it done !" Mr. Spofford, from the- bridge committee, addressed the gentlemen of the Clinton Bridge company commending their promptness and fidelity. J. M. Dorr, on behalf of the company, modestly ad mitted all that had been said, and made similar allegations relative to the com mittee and the interests they represented. General Tuttle's acceptance of the democratic nomination for Congress cre ated divisions even in families, in Des Moines. Many republicans voted for him on personal grounds, and others with great reluctance voted against him for political reasons. The General's defeat (by General Dodge) was a serious dis appointment to many of his personal friends. Announcement was made October 13 that B. F. Allen, Des Moines' foremost capitalist, had for months been preparing grounds on the summit of the bluffs, in the western part of the city, between the Adel road and the 'Coon river, twenty-nine acres in all, for the erection of a home for himself and family — the socially historic "B. F. Allen mansion," now for many years owned and oc cupied by F. M. Hubbell, his successor as financial premiere in Des Moines. The well cultivated' slopes of "Terrace Hill" were then covered with a dense growth of hazel brush, scrub oak and heavy timber. A skillful landscapist, J. T. Elletson, retained as much of the original forest as was desirable, and laid out the broad acres into grass plats, flower-banks, vineyards and orchards, with winding drives and walks, with a reservoir tapping the river for supplies, the water supplying fountains and pools. The grading, terracing, tree-planting, — all bespeak the artist. The work was a revelation and a delight to the citizens of Des Moines A State Temperance Convention was held in Des Moines, October 24, the object of which was the organization of a State Temperance Society, in ac cordance with the recommendation previously made by Messrs. Peterson, Nourse, Cattell, Brandt and James Wright. An organization was effected, the chief purpose of which was to inaugurate an era of prohibition in Iowa. P T. Barnum, the famous author of the proverb, "The world loves to be humbugged," lectured in Des Moines, November 12. There was standing room only, in the old courthouse. His theme was "Money Getting" and in two hours he convinced all present that he was a student of what we now call "modern methods." A return excursion from Des Moines to Keokuk over the new road drew three hundred Des Moiners to the Gate City on the 20th of November, who re turned with large stories of the hospitalities extended them. The manufactures of Des Moines in 1866, as shown by the assessor, were valued at $637,722, of which flour was the chief item, placed at $300,000; woolen goods, gas, boots and shoes, blank books, furniture, clothing, plows, harness, paper, brick, beer, stoneware, tin and copper ware, castings and machinery, wood-work, etc., were the other items, and in the order named. Those were the days of government licenses, of which nothing now remains but the license on liquor dealers. Following were the licensed in Des Moines in 1866: Wholesale dealers 42, wholesale liquor dealers 6, retail dealers 149, re tail liquor dealers 42, manufacturers 72, peddlers 36, lawyers 49, real-estate bro kers 24, cattle brokers 16, physicians 26, insurance agents 21, hotel keepers 15, -eating houses 14, butchers 12, claim agents 9, patent-right venders 8, photog raphers 5, commercial brokers 5, stallion and jack-keepers 8, liverymen 6, brew ers 4. bankers 3, dentists 5, billiards 3, gas-fitter 1, auctioneer 1. CHAPTER II. BUSINESS IN DES MOINES IN 1866-67. The close of the war and the resumption and reconstruction of business and society on a peace basis found the city of Des Moines full of ambition to fulfill her manifest destiny. The year 1866 found the city well on its way toward, and yet a long way from, the goal of its ambition. Pausing once more as in 1857-58 to take account of stock at the beginning of another era of progress, we turn with interest to the first City Directory is sued in Des Moines, that of 1867, * finding in its pages a reflex of the city itself at the close of the previous year. The directory was published by Mills & Com pany, and was creditably printed and handsomely bound. Its 160 pages, includ ing much' advertising, make a striking contrast with the 1,544 pages of the City Directory of 1910. The back cover is appropriated by Brown & Spofford, with an advertisement of their agricultural warehouse and seed store. Mr. George A. Jewett, the lumberman and capitalist of today, was at the time bookeeper for the firm. The front cover carries the advertisements of Percival & Co., real estate; Iowa Business College, Worthington, Warner & Co., A. Rawson, Dentist, W. H. Maj/or, groceries and queensware, and Graham & Cleghorn, liverymen. The pioneer firm of Gilcrest Brothers occupy the entire front-cover page with an "ad" embellished with a wood-cut of their planing mill and sash and door factory, located on the bank of the river on the East side, corner Front and Vine. The back cover, inside, is taken by the American Emigrant Company, New York and Des Moines, — its local representatives, Edward H. Gillette, land agent, and J. C. Savery, general superintendent. The company supplies tickets to emigrants from Europe, "exercises ample protection over all consigned to its care," and "buys land and sells to actual settlers only." The hotels in Des Moines at the time were the old Savery, Walnut and Fourth ; the Demoine House, Walnut and First ; the City Hotel, Third street - the Harvey House, Market street, east side ; the Shannon House, Fifth, east side ; the Union House, Market square ; the Avenue House, Court avenue ; the American House, Second street. The newspapers of the period were the Daily Register, Walnut and Third; the Iowa Statesman, Court avenue and Fourth street; Iowa Homestead, Ex change block; Temperance Platform, Exchange block; Iowa School Journal, office with Mills & Company, Court avenue. The business directory shows 3 agricultural implement houses, three archi tects, 68 attorneys, 2 auctioneers, 10 bakeries, 3 banks, three book houses, 7 bar bers, 37 blacksmiths, 3 boiler-makers, 6 brewers, 2 bookbinders, 1 1 boot and shoe houses, 13 boarding houses, 10 brick-makers, 19 butchers, 1 bridge-builder, 152 carpenters and builders, 6 carpet houses, 6 china and glassware, 3 cigar and to bacco, 9 confectioners, 3 coopers, 4 coal companies, 9 civil engineers, 3 convey ancers, 10 clothiers, 6 dentists, 1 dyer, 11 druggists, 22 dry-goods houses, 5 feed stores, 3 flour mills, 6 furniture houses, 5 commission houses, 35 grocers, 4 gun smiths, 8 hardware stores, 19 insurance agencies, 3 foundries and machine shops, 7 jewelers, 1 laundry, 3 leather and saddlery houses, 5 liveries, 10 live stock dealers, 6 lumber dealers, 2 liquor dealers, 3 marble works, 1 music dealer, 6< 1 Kindly loaned by Mr. George A. Jewett. 245 246 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY nurseries, i oculist, 20 painters, 2 paper hangers, 5 photographers, 27 phy sicians, 30 plasterers, 1 pork packer, 4 printeries, 19 real estate dealers, 3 res taurants, 18 saddle and harness shops, 20 saloons, 2 saw mills, 7 stone cutters, 1 surveyor, 8 tailors, 2 undertakers, 25 wagon makers and dealers, 2 woolen fac tories and 4 wood yards. Among the many well-known names connecting the business of a half-cen tury ago with that of today are Garton, Lorenz, Mills, Galbraith, McDonald, Talbott, Robertson, Youngerman, Kurtz, Loomis, Weitz, Wells, Rawson, Har- bach, Huttenlocher, Hubbell, Lederer, Strauss, Hippee, Sherman, Goldstone, Mandelbaum, Tuttle, Lyon, Merrill, Bush, Clapp, Ankeney, Seeberger, Skinner, Stark, Bolton, Howell, Plumb, Rogg, Turner, Crawford, Getchell, Gilcrest, Red head, Wellslager, Hillis, Huegle, McGorrisk, Saylor, Skinner, Given, Cavanagh, Cook, Foster, Hepburn, Wheeier, Wright, Edenburn, Johnson, Martin, Gar wood, Moore, Walker, Given, Coggeshall, Percival, Weisbrod, Geneser, Gold man, Good, Versey, Jordan, Carpenter, Shepard, Getchell, Finch, Clark, Rice, Stewart, etc. There were only six music teachers in Des Moines in 1866. The Western Stage Company still lingered making connections with the Des Moines valley, the C. R. I. & P., the Burlington & Missouri, the C. & N. W., the Hannibal & St. Joseph, and the Union Pacific, "to all points in Central, Southern and Western Iowa and Nebraska." R. Lounsberry was superinten dent and E. W. Sparhawk, secretary. Its office was on Third street between Court avenue and Walnut street. The church directory included eighteen churches : the First Presbyterian and' Central Presbyterian, each without a pastor; the Third Presbyterian, J. M. Phil lips, pastor; First Baptist, L. W. Hayhurst; St. Ambrose, J. F. Brazill; Ply mouth Congregational, H. B. DeForrest; Methodist, P. P. Ingalls; German Methodist, P. Wilhelmi; Wesley Chapel, east, H. B. Heacock; German Luth eran, J. Letz ; First Christian, J. J. Summerbell ; Second Christian, J. E. Gas ton; First Evangelical Lutheran, A. M. Geiger; United Presbyterian, east, Thomas McCague, Evangelical Association, east, H. Benze, (German,) A. H. H. Holdridge, (English,) pastor; Burns Chapel, (colored,) east, S. T. Wells, Friends, east, Enos Grundy ; St. Paul's Episcopal, T. Brooks, rector ; The Cen tral Presbyterian church was on Fourth street, near the old Savery hotel. The M. E. church was on Fifth between Court avenue and Walnut street. The Ger man Methodist was on the northeast corner of Locust and Second streets. The First Christian was near the corner of Mulberry and Ninth, the Second was on Cherry, south of the courthouse. The "U. P." was on Second, between Court and Walnut. The postoffice was still in the Sherman block. Editor Teesdale was postmaster and John Beckwith, his chief clerk. The eastern, the northern and northeastern (via Ames), the southeastern (via the Des Moines Valley railroad), the southern (via Indianola), and the southeastern and western (via Winterset) arrived and closed daily. The northwestern, Fort Dodge (via Xenia), twice a week; the northwestern (via Boonsboro to Fort Dodge), three times a week; Hartford (via Avon) three times a week. In the Hartford of the West, in 1866, there were only four insurance com panies, as follows : The State, with $300,000 capital, Court avenue and Third street; Gov. Wil liam M. Stone, president; J. M. Shuck, secretary; C. C. Cole, vice president; W. PI. Holmes, treasurer. The Central Iowa, with $1 10,000 capital ; Turner's block, Court avenue ; John McWilliams, president ; D. O. Finch, vice president ; S. F. Spofford, treas urer ; R. C. Doty, secretary ; W. R. Dixon, general agent. The Hawkeye, with $100,000 capital, Union block, Court avenue; E. J. Inger soll, president ; James Callanan, vice president ; B. F. Allen, treasurer ; E. G. Coe, secretary; J. B. Huntington, general agent. The Western Accident, with $100,000 capital ; G. W. Jones, president ; John McWilliams, vice president; T. C. Snow, secretary; S. F. Spofford, treasurer. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 247 There were three oil companies in Des Moines in 1866, — each capitalized at $500,000, namely: Spring Creek Petroleum & Mining Co., George Crawford, president; John Browne, secretary; P. R. Chandler, treasurer; the Des Moines Petroleum and Mining Company, George M. Hippee, president; Hoyt Sherman, secretary; B. F. Allen, treasurer; the Iowa Central Petroleum, Mining and Manufacturing Company, with John W. Jones, president; W. J. Gatling, sec retary; W. H. Turner, treasurer. The Des Moines Gas Company was organized then with E. P. Hooker, presi dent, E. F. Starr, vice president ; B. F. Allen, treasurer ; John Morris, secretary. Of the four railroad companies having offices in Des Moines, the only one officered by Des Moines men was the Iowa and Minnesota, with P. M. Casady, president; Hoyt Sherman, vice president; George G. Wright, execuuve com mitteeman, and B. F. Allen, treasurer. Its office was in the Sherman block. Besides the sash and door factory, the East side pointed with pride to the Des Moines Iron Works and the Des Moines Manufacturing Company : the first- named with F. M. Mills, president, E. L. Burnham, secretary and superintend ent; the second, with George A. Child, president, W. T. Smith, secretary and superintendent, B. F. Allen, treasurer. There were four Masonic bodies in Des Moines in 1866. Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, met in a hall in Kinsey's block on Court avenue; Capitol Lodge, No. no, and Des Moines Commandery, No. 4, met at the same place. The Odd Fellows had three lodges. Fort Des Moines Lodge, No. 26, and Jonathan Lodge, No. 137 (German) met in a hall in Cooper's block. Capitol Lodge, No. 106, met on the east side. Ebenezer Encampment, No. 10, met in Cooper's block. The Good Templars had three lodges, Union, No. 225, in Kinsey's block with the Masons, Des Moines Lodge, No. 133, and Eureka Degree Lodge, in Jones's block, east side. Des Moines then had two base-ball clubs : the Capital City, with C. B. Worthington, president, G. L. Eaton, vice president, T. W. Vincent, secretary, C. R. Christy, treasurer; Young America, with J. P. Rood, president, H. West, vice president; T. W. Vincent, secretary and C. R. Christy, treasurer. Des Moines then boasted a "university," a "female seminary" and a business college. The Des Moines University was "designed to give a full collegiate course of instruction." It was under the Baptist denomination. Its principal was Rev. I. W. Hayhurst ; preceptress, Josephine A. Cutter ; lecturers on constitutional and commercial law, Judges Wright and Cole; lecturer on physiology and hy giene, W. H. Dickinson, M. D. ; lecturer on theology, Principal Hayhurst ; teacher of music, Franc Ensign ; teacher of drawing and ornamental work, Mrs. C B. Willis. The Des Moines Female Seminary, located on Mulberry street opposite the courthouse, was officered with Judge Wright, president; Mary McLean, princi pal; J. P. Peters, teacher of French; J. Lutz, teacher of German; George A. Childs, secretary. The Iowa Business College was located in Turner's block, on Court avenue, Capt. J. W. Muffley was principal ; C. B. Worthington, associate principal, Judge Nourse, lecturer on commercial law ; C. A. Mosier, teacher of phonography. Let us again look in upon the schools of tbe city. The public schools on the west side, had 1,146 pupils enrolled for the year ending June 28, 1866. F. W. Corliss, A. M., was principal of the high school, D. G. Perkins was principal of the grammar school of the second and third wards, with the following as sistants: Abbie Mitchell, Matilda Elder, Lucinda Stout, Nora Alfrey, Lucy Love, Addie Goodhue. Mrs. Z. Dunlap was principal of the fourth ward school, with Josephine Holdridge and Mrs. Mary Corliss assistants. G. N. Dow was prin cipal of the first ward grammar school ; with Mrs. Elsie Flemming, teacher. On the East Side, A. E. Roberts was principal; Mary Lovelace, assistant 248 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY principal ; Mrs. N. H. Hemmingway, first preparatory ; Mrs. C. Wiltsie, second preparatory ; Mary E. Bleakmore, first primary ; enrollment, 395 ; average at tendance, 305 ; length of school, winter, 120 days ; summer, 60 days ; average cost of tuition per week, summer, seven cents, winter, ten cents; amount paid teachers during the year, $2,095 '> value of school house, $20,000. The east side schools were organized with J. W. Cattell, president ; M. D. McHenry, vice presi dent; George W. Jones, treasurer; William Matthews, secretary; Isaac Brandt, H. N. Wood, and James Hall, directors. G. W. Cleveland was mayor; M. R. Laird, engineer; J. C. Benedict, clerk; S. H. Carson, marshal; B T. Jones (west side) and George C. Jeffries (east side) street commissioners. The trustees for the seven wards were: John Mor ris, Michael McTighe, C. Beck, E. S. Stout, Ira Cook, W. A. Galbraith, Mar tin Winters, G. A. Stewart, J. R. Crawshaw, Samuel Stansbury, James Depew, W. S. Bennett, Barnett Sparks, R. Wilson. The council held its regular ses sions once a month. Des Moines township was officered by John Morris, supervisor, M. W. Fol- som, and L. A. Crane, justices of the peace; Samuel Moore, township clerk; Ira Cook, township assessor; J. S. Cook, George Sneer and B. T. Jones, trustees; Ben. Bryant and D. Norris, constables. Lee township (east side) was officered by A. G. Groves, supervisor; John Rail ing and Hugh Murray, trustees; Lewis P. Baker, assessor; N. B. Cooley and J. Thompson, justices of the peace ; David Hunter, Sr., and W. B. Woodward, constables ; W. B. Davidson, clerk. In 1866, the Rock Island, originally the Mississippi and Missouri, railroad was completed to Kellogg, twenty-two miles east of Des Moines. Construction was in progress and it was expected that the road would be ready for business in Des Moines in April of the following year. The Des Moines Valley Railroad was completed from Keokuk to Des Moines by the ist of September, '66. The Northwestern was well on its way to Council Bluffs. Des- Moines con nected with it at Ames by stage. The Iowa and Minnesota, originating in Des Moines, was under contract to be built to Ames. Thence it was to be extended northward to St. Paul. The Fort Des Moines and Kansas City railroad was surveyed and located to Indianola. Large subscriptions had been made for it and work was soon to begin. With these connections present and prospective, the "boosters" of 1866 were sanguine that the growth and prosperity of the city would in the near future be greatly enhanced, and that property, then "fluctuating between real and pros pective value," would "assume a more stable condition, increasing . . . only in proportion to the growth of the city." 2 2 Des Moines City Directory, 1866, p. 22 Court Avenue Walnut Street B. F. Allen's Banking House, Fourth and Court Avenue Fifth Street looking south from Walnut Walnut Street Third Street VIEWS OF DES MOINES IN EARLY DAYS CHAPTER III. A SECOND GREAT HOPE REALIZED — THE ROCK ISLAND ENTERS DES MOINES* — EVENTS OF 1867. Des Moines entered upon the year 1867 with many evidences of growth in population and trade and with every indication that the future would mean much to her. The slogan "On to Minneapolis and St. Paul !" was early renewed. At the annual meeting of the Iowa and Minnesota Railroad Company in Des Moines, January 10, satisfaction was expressed with the preliminary surveys and with the reports as to routes, right of way, etc. About twenty miles of the way had been obtained at a nominal cost. Grounds for depots had been donated at Polk City, Carlisle and Spring Mills. It was reported that work north and south of the city would begin in the spring. That noblest of the many women of the war, Clara Barton, told to her Des Moines friends and admirers, on the evening of the 16th, the story of her four years' experience in the wake of the army. Her womanly recital of scenes and events thrilled the audience with its unconscious eloquence. A return visit later in the year was equally satisfying. Franklin's birthday had a royal recognition, at Shaeffer's on the evening of the 17th, where Mills & Company were hosts to the many printers and other attaches of their printing and binding establishment. "Frank" Palmer, -"Lafe" Young, "Ret" Clarkson, Frank Mills, "Will" Porter, "Will" Fleming, J. R. Carey, and other of "the boys" responded. L. F. Andrews on behalf of the boys presented Mr. Mills with an elegant watch chain. Will Porter offered this brief toast to Colonel Noah Webster Mills — "He loved his country and died for it." The surviving brother feelingly responded. A Des Moines female seminary, opened the fall before, was organized in January, with Judge Wright, General Tuttle, Judges Cole and Casady on its directory. The old Baptist Church on Mulberry street was bought and fitted up and the principal, Miss McLean, began the new year with forty-four stu dents and with improving prospects. On the 24th Mrs. Anna N. Savery delivered, at the courthouse, her lecture, "From the Tuilleries to the Forum," as a benefit for Editor J. M. Dixon, then in Cincinnati taking treatment for blindness, with which he had long been afflicted. The lecture netted $155. February 7, 1867, appeared in the Register a modest advertisement of the newly organized Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa. It was officered by P. M. Casady, president; Wesley Redhead, vice president; F. M. Hubbell, secretary; B. F. Allen, treasurer; J. S. Polk, counsel; H. L. Whitman, medical adviser. Besides these officers named, the following were members of the first directory; J. B. Stewart, Peter Myers, W. W. Williamson, Isaac Cooper, Hoyt Sherman, F. R. West, J. M. Tuttle, R. L. Tidrick, P. Melendy and J. C. Jordan. The great Ralph Waldo Emerson came and went on March 2, and the Register gave his lecture a "stick-full" report But what appeared in that stick ful! was keenly appreciative. The lecture on "The Man of the World," by that most unworldly of men, was pronounced "one of the rare treats of a life-time." In the spring election Mayor Cleveland was again re-elected, this time over John Morris, by 83 majority. 249 250 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY March 15, Wendell Phillips delivered his famous lecture on "The Lost Arts," crowding into an hour, all too brief, his mystery tale of the forgotten past. At its conclusion, at the instance of Judge Wright, the lecturer briefly considered "live issues," giving his hearers a suggestion of the power of the great anti-slavery orator who had held thousands enchained by his eloquence. In the spring of '67 the pioneer hotel man, G. W. Savery, retired from the old Savery House, and McCartney and Ohr succeeded him. Those were the palmy days of the lecture bureau, so far as relates to the talents and fame of the lecturers ; but the profits from the lectures were not large. The Lecture Association made $155 on its course during the winter. In the republican nominating convention of June 20, 1867, Des Moines had a personal interest, having two receptive candidates for Governor, James A. Wil liamson, who had returned from Arkansas, and Tonathan W. Cattell. On the informal ballot, Williamson had 177M votes and Cattell 58. Before the vote was announced, J. B. Grinnell moved the unanimous nomination of the leading candidate, Colonel Samuel L. Merrill. Mr. Withrow, on behalf of General Williamson, seconded the motion, and the convention carried it with tremendous enthusiasm. Colonel John Scott was speedily named lieutenant governor over seven other candidates. "The Fourth" was celebrated on the Capitol grounds. The Good Templars planned the celebration in the interests of temperance. Hon. M. D. McHenry presided and General Williamson was chief marshal. The orator of the day was the brilliant Henry O'Connor, of Muscatine, whose eloquent plea for tem perate living is sadly recalled by those who know how bravely but unavail- ingly "Harry" battled, during his last years, against the curse of strong drink. A case of more than oassinsr interest was tried in the Polk countv district court early in 1867. Briefly stated, John Ferrier, then a resident of Missouri, bought some negroes of one Cockrell, and others from one Flannery, giving his notes therefor, and taking a warranty that the slaves were sound. Part of the purchase proved to be unsound, and Ferrier who had sold them on time could not collect his notes. However, he had paid on his own notes more than he received from the sale. The emancipation proclamation freed the slaves. Cockrell and Flannery, confederates, persecuted Ferrier, a unionist, until he felt obliged to flee to get rid of them. In his absence, and without due service, judgment was returned against Ferrier for default. Upon the judgment of the Missouri court an action was brought in Polk county where Ferrier resided and the district court returned a verdict for defendant. Flannery sued Ferrior on his note. Ferrier set up a cross demand upon the warranty. In this action the jury rendered a verdict of $175 for Ferrier. In the course of the trial the Des Moines attorneys are said to have "fought the war over again !" In the Democratic State Convention held at the Capital July 26, Hon. M. D. McHenry, acting chairman of the State committee, called the convention to order. The most exciting debate in the convention was between McHenry, of Polk and Irish of Johnson, on the resolution presented, with other by Irish, favoring the repeal of the prohibitory liquor law and the enactment of "a well regulated license law in lieu thereof." McHenry, a temperance man, made a strong speech on his motion to strike out the license resolution ; but he was voted down. The new public library received many gifts of money and books during the year, and, with the lecture course and other benefits, made rapid gains in popu larity and usefulness. "There's nothing new under the sun!" In the Register of July 20, 1867, appears a communication from "Vindex" urging, with all the zeal of a "knocker" of 1911, the desirability of a city market house. Nor was the question new in '67, for Vindex indignantly points to the "usual promise from the newly elected Board of Councilmen." Several hundred names appear attached to a call for a meeting of business CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 251 men and citizens on July 23 "for the purpose of taking steps to aid the Iowa & Minnesota Railway Company." It was the sense of the* meeting that the city should subscribe $50,000 to the capital stock of the company, and that bonds should be issued to pay the subscription. A bridge meeting July 2j resolved to find out how much money could be raised for the purchase of the bridge company's interest in the Court avenue bridge, and to rebuild the old bridge, or construct a new iron bridge. On the 20th of August the corner-stone of what was then called "the West Side Public School House" was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The Masons, Odd Fellows and Turners participated in the ceremonies. Strassars' Band headed the procession "up Third street to Walnut, and from there directly to the building." On Friday night, August 30, the second great hope of Des Moines was real ized — the actual coming of the long waited for Mississippi & Missouri, — now the Rock Island road. On that date the road entered the corporation at a point about two miles from the depot grounds. For eight years Des Moines had been look ing forward to this event ! The first through passenger train arrived on the evening of September 9. It was made up of two express and mail cars, two passenger coaches and "a splendid family stateroom coach." Everybody was delighted, but there was no formal demonstration. The stateroom sleeper remained in Des Moines for two days, and the conductor in charge was "happy to show the ladies and gentlemen of Des Moines through the palace on wheels." The church event of the year was the laying of the corner-stone of the Cen tral Presbyterian church, September 5. The building committee was: B. F. Allen, T. O. Rice, C. P. Luse, H. Huntington, J. A. Davis, T. K Brooks, and George J. North. The architect was W. W Boyington; brick mason, S A Robertson; stone-cutter, Conrad Youngerman; carpenter, George Whitaker September 12, at the courthouse, Senator Harlan delivered the opening speech of the campaign in Polk county, and the Register pronounced it "hot shot." The Des Moines conference of the M. E. Church convened at the Capital September 19, Bishop Jaynes presiding. It was an unusually large gathering of representative men and women. The marriage of R. P. Clarkson — "our brother Dick" — and Miss Aggie Green was announced in the Register, September 20. In conjunction with the Des Moines conference of the Methodist church, a notable reunion was held September 24. Judge Nourse delivered the welcoming address, to which Bishop Jaynes responded. Rev. James Hardy responded on behalf of the Des Moines conference, the oldest in the State. Numerous addresses were delivered by visiting ministers. A district fair was held in Des Moines, September 25-27, and the Western Stage Company carried passengers "to and from" at a two-third rate. Ralph Waldo Emerson was greeted with a large and delighted audience, December 19. The marriage of J. S. Clarkson, editor of the Register, and Miss Anna C. Howell, of Pella, occurred on the 26th of December, and was the occasion of much felicitation by "the brethren of the press." CHAPTER IV. -THE CITY'S FIRST STREET RAILWAY EVENTS OF 1 868. The first street railroad in Iowa (horse power) ran its first car in Des Moines, January n, 1868, with Dr. M. P. Turner at the helm, with the following invited excursionists : Mayor Cleveland, Seward Smith, C. C. Van, Colonel Stewart, T. E. Settle, E. S. Stout, J. A. Elliott, J. Bausman, W. S. Dart, "Charlie" Spofford, H. D. Hull, Marcus Kavanagh and two city editors. Rev. W. H. Milburn, "the blind preacher," lectured to a small audience in the courthouse January 15, and the Register declares his was "the ablest lecture ever delivered in Des Moines." Another Franklin supper, at the Savery January 17, brought out speeches from Withrow, O'Connor, Ingersoll, Hammond, Baker, Andrews, Williamson, Grinnell and others. The Young Men's Christian Association one of the most influential and effective organizations in the city, dates its origin from a little meeting held on the 27th of January, 1868. This was followed by other meetings, at one of which, in April following, a constitution was reported and a Board was created. This Board consisted of E. Lounsbury, president; G. L. Godfrey, vice president; S. S. Etheridge, corresponding secretary; C. E. Fuller, recording secretary; C. H. Getchell, treasurer ; W. S. Harbert, registrar. The committee chairmen were F. J. Cressey, C. A. Dudley, G. B. Goodin, Samuel Tannahill, A. Y. Raw- son, T. Hoagland, S. C. Schramm, S. W. C. Weeks, J. H. Aldrich, George A. Jewett, George P. Jones and L. J. Coulter. -In April the association had grown to eighty-four members. Anna Dickinson, then in her prime, paid her first visit to Des Moines, Febru ary 7, 1868. She stirred the minds of men with her accustomed vigor, in her famous lecture entitled "Breakers Ahead." "The largest lecture audience ever assembled in Des Moines," alternately smiled and frowned, were carried away by her eloquence and sat silently enduring her castigations. Her eloquent tribute to the negroes who had earned the ballot by fighting for the flag carried the audience to a high degree of enthusiasm. A Union Christian Convention began its sessions in the Congregational church February 18. The event of the occasion was an address by D. L. Moody, of Chicago, "a stirring appeal to the church for self-sacrificing service." Several hundred delegates were in attendance from all parts of Iowa. Dr. S. N. Fellows of Iowa City, presided, and George J. North of Des Moines, was secretary. In February, 1868, the State Flistorical Society, at the request of Adjutant- General Baker, returned to the surviving members of the Second Iowa the old flag followed by them in many an engagement. The members met with the Adjutant-General on the 25th, and received the precious relic, and passed reso lutions of thanks for its return.1 The death of Dr. Thomas K. Brooks, late in February, was deeply felt by the surviving pioneers. At a large meeting of the early settlers of the county, with Isaac Cooper in the chair, and Peter Myers secretary, a resolution was 1 Through the kindness of Capt. W. D. Christy, this historic flag was loaned the author who obtained a photograph of same from which an engraving was made which appears in this book. 252 1- -rHT ONE OF THE FIRST STREET CARS IN DES MOINES IN FRONT OF THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING A GALA DAY TN DES MOINES IN THE '80s Government Building on the right, old courthouse on the left, the new Youngerman building in front CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 253 adopted recounting the pioneer services rendered by the deceased, and expressing sympathy with the widow. Tributes of respect were paid by Messrs. Casady, Wright, Leas, Spofford, Hatch, Cleveland, and others. The association attended the funeral in a body, also the Masonic body and city, county and State officers. An organization of a county society of early settlers soon followed. That was a close city election held March 2, on which date W. H. Leas was chosen mayor over S. F. Spofford by one majority. Mayor Cleveland, on retiring from the chair in which he had long and faithfully served, was presented with a gold-headed cane by a number of his friends, Frank Palmer making the presentation. The Des Moines Musical Association after successfully repeating the "oratorio" of Esther at home, ventured in April to take the aggregation to Keokuk and Ottumwa. They were enthusiastically received and royally enter tained. The Iowa and Minnesota railroad project began again to move upon the minds of men and frequent meetings were held, eloquent appeals made, and the experiences of the early fifties and sixties were repeated. A Soldiers' and Sailors' Convention at the courthouse on May 6, was "fairly electrified" by one of Harry O'Connor's characteristic fifteen minute speeches. He was greeted with a whirlwind of applause. The convention was an embodied protest against Andrew Johnson's "usurpations of power." A congressional convention on the forenoon of the same day nominated Frank Palmer of Des Moines, to succeed General Dodge in Congress. The nominee gratefully responded. A State convention on the following day named delegates to the Republican national convention which brought out Grant as its nominee. Judge Nourse supplied the platform and Harry O'Connor, the eloquence. General Williamson of Des Moines, received the highest number of votes for delegate at large, and Messrs. Melendy, Dodge and Hedrick were chosen as his associates. The circuit court .convention of the first district for Warren, Polk and Dallas, on the day following the State convention, on motion of Hoyt Sherman, named John Mitchell of Polk, as its candidate for judge, a nomination which the subsequent election ratified. Memorial Day was given much prominence in '68. General Williamson acted as Chief Marshal and Generals Tuttle and Clark and Colonel F. M. Smith assisted. Addresses were made by Judge Wright, Hon. D. O. Finch, General Ed. Wright and Colonel C. C. Carpenter. At that time there were twenty-seven soldiers of the Civil war buried in Woodland cemetery. The laying of the corner-stone of the new government building was cele brated June 3, 1868, the Grand Lodge of Iowa Masons officiating. Hon. John A. Kasson delivered an oration, followed by remarks from E. A. Guilbert of the Masonic body. On the same day the Eclectic physicians of Iowa, convened in the city, also the Congregational Association. The three occasions drawing several thousand strangers to the city. July 15, C. C. Cole and J. W. Mills were elected directors of the Iowa and Minnesota Railroad, and, Judge Casady having resigned the presidency, Mr. Mills was elected to succeed him. Judge Cole was made general agent and General Baker, who had resigned from the directory, continued to act as attorney for the company. B. F. Allen remained as treasurer and Mr. Tidrick as secre tary. Judge Cole went on from the meeting to New York and Boston to finance the road. He returned confident of results. September 26, a contract was let to Smith, Ward & Co., to build the road to Polk City. Franklin Fanning of Atchison, was made chief engineer and W. W. Walker, chief engineer and vice president of the Northwestern, was made consulting engineer. It remained for Des Moines to determine by its course how soon the management would be able to enter the city with the road. Injunction proceedings came in afterwards to balk the well-laid plans of the management. 254 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY A unique religious discussion took place in June, beginning on the 22d, between A. I. Hobbs of the Cherry Street Church of Christ and W. W. King of the Universalist church. The topics agreed upon for discussion are interest ing as showing how doctrinal discussion has shifted in forty years. The proposi tions covered: (i) The question of endless happiness for the wilfully dis obedient, the argument to be based upon the Scriptures; (2) the question of end less punishment for the wilfully disobedient. The campaign of 1868 opened early and continued briskly with mass meet ings and rallies innumerable, both in city and county. The great mass meeting of Saturday, September 8, was declared by the Register to be "the proudest day Polk county republicans ever had." The torch-light procession, a mile long, included "Tanners" Clubs, Grant Cadets and citizens. The flag presenta tion by the young ladies to the Grant Cadets, was an interesting incident. The great party leaders, Governor Kirkwood, Senator Harlan and Representative James F. Wilson, delivered addresses. The eloquent Henry Clay Dean held a big meeting of the democrats in the city September 8. Dean was a "red flag" to the republicans of his period. The campaign was enlivened, September 25, by a joint debate between F. W. Palmer and P. Gad Bryan, rival candidates for Congress. Each party claimed the victory for its candidate. The old Fifth Street Methodist church became very unsatisfactory and something had to be done. As a consequence one of the marked improvements of the year 1868 was the erection of the Centenary church, on Seventh street. Early in the fall the lot was purchased, and William Foster, then a rising young architect, planned the structure. Its walls went up fast, and on the 27th of December the building was dedicated. Dr. Bowman, president of Indiana Uni versity preached the dedicatory sermon. The total cost of the church was about $7,000. The Register reported the improvements in Des Moines in 1868 aggregated $1,600,000, and maintained it was prepared to prove that during the year the city had grown faster than any other city of its class in the Union. It placed the aggregate brick manufacture of the year at 11,150,000. The lumber business of the city had long since reached the million point. At the close of the year, Getchell & Tichenor had handled 7,700,000 feet of pine lumber ; R. W. Sypher, 2,000,000 feet ; A. J. Jack & Co., 3,000,000 ; the Gilcrests, 3,000,000; the Fosters, 1,000,000 and Carver & Co., 800,000. CHAPTER V. A BRILLIANT SOCIAL EVENT A MILLION AND A HALF ADDED TO THE MATERIAL WEALTH OF THE CITY IN '69. The death of Rev. Thompson Bird occurred on the 4th of January, 1869. The history of old Fort Des Moines could not be written without frequent reference to this public-spirited and noble man. He had been confined to his house for more than a year and his decease was not unexpected. A large con course of citizens attended his funeral. Twelve pioneers served as bearers. Several ministers took part in the services ; but it remained for the surviving pioneer preacher, and the long-time friend of the deceased, Rev. J. A. Nash, to deliver the fitting eulogy in which were recounted the eighteen years of public service the two had rendered side by side. Another year had rolled round and still no Iowa and Minnesota railroad connection for Des Moines. There was another election of officers and George W. Jones was made president ; C. C. Cole, vice president ; B. F. Allen, treasurer ; and R. L. Tidrick, secretary. The same well-worn hope was aired, that the road would be speedily built, and the same appeal made to Des Moines for aid. "Ames to Indianola via Des Moines by rail inside six months," was the word. Tired of controversy over creeds, Rev. W. W. King, pastor of the Univer- salist Society, of Des Moines, on the 17th of January, urged the other pastors of the city to unite with him on the common ground of opposition to intemperance, which he pronounced "the one great evil of our time and of our city." The invitation involved Mr. King in a prolonged newspaper controversy with Mr. Hobbs, pastor of the Christian church. The social event of the winter was the fifteenth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Allen, celebrated at their new and beautiful mansion on the hill in the then western suburb of the city. Many of those who, with "Frank" Allen, had helped transform a small garrison town into a city, were there to rejoice with him, and a younger generation, and many new friends drawn to the Capital by the results of pioneer enterprise, united with the pioneers in doing honor to the man whose push and public spirit had brought rich returns not only for himself but also to the community. This quarter-million-dollar home was a marvel to those who realized that only eighteen years before, Mr. . , , Allen was a newcomer in Fort Des Moines, with only a few thousand dollars, but unlimited pluck and sagacity to invest in the new town.1 That was a dis tinguished assemblage in the mansion on the hill that January night, forty-two years ago. There were assembled several prominent citizens of Chicago and of the river cities of Iowa. There, too, were representatives of the State, Gov ernor Merrill, Auditor Elliott, Treasurer Rankin, Congressman Kasson and Congressman-elect Palmer, Adjutant-General Baker and General Clark, also representatives of the great journals of Chicago, Indianapolis and Cincinnati; and, too, the many personal friends of the genial host and hostess who had shared in Mr. Allen's prosperity and were not envious of his larger opportuni ties and greater financial successes. The reporter, overwhelmed with the 1 Mr. Allen was a nephew of Captain Allen of Fort Des Moines. When a youth he followed his uncle to Mexico, and later he was attracted to the Fort by the Captain's great faith in the future of the Des Moines valley. 255 256 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY magnificence of the entertainment, has recourse to figures to represent the general largess. He tells us the flowers for the evening cost $2,000 — one bouquet gracing the center of the supper table alone costing $700. He tells us the spread on the banquet board cost about $6,000. And as to the toilets of the ladies, he is sure "the drawing rooms of gorgeous New York, elegant Boston or stately Philadelphia are never graced with more brilliant appearing ladies than the charming ones that thronged these parlors on Friday evening." Des Moines was grievously disappointed when the State Fair was located at Keokuk ; but concluded to wait and quietly work for a change. Proverbially free from disastrous fires, Des Moines was visited with one of the biggest fires in its history down to that time. On the early morning of May 1, it was discovered in the wareroom of the Laird Brothers' building, corner of Fourth and Walnut, and, spreading rapidly, it swept over the wholesale and retail buildings of the firm and on to Butler's saddlery, the commission house of Patterson & Chaffee, the hardware store of Comparet & Stark, and the wholesale saddlery house of W. A. Reed, and was with the utmost difficulty prevented from destroying the Exchange Block. The Laird Brothers lost $18,000; insurance $6,000; Patterson & Chaffee lost $14,000; insured for $7,000. The other losses were not so great. The burnt district was soon restored, with better buildings than before. The Register of May 8 has a column "ad" of Dr. Aborn, who was making his first professional visit to the city. The Doctor's "specialties" included not only eye, ear, head and throat, but also the lungs ! Three weeks after the appearance of the ad, the Doctor invested in the B. F. Allen residence lot, Court avenue and Fourth street, taking in the garden and orchard. The price paid was $14,000, or $229 a front foot, — "pretty fair figures for real estate in a town that has just attained its majority." The Doctor's original intention was to build a business block and opera house, instead of the hostelry with which his name was long afterward connected. May 11, 1869, witnessed the completion of the second line of railroad across the state of Iowa, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, and Des Moines' first east and west connection with the outside world. Having direct connection with New York and San Francisco, and with the lower Mississippi to the southeast, the city's ambition to become a railroad center seemed in a fair way to be realized. At a city election May 22, every ward in Des Moines voted for local prohibi tion. The majority was 535, or nearly double the total vote for saloons. Following up the events of the previous year, in 1869, Des Moines established the habit of turning out en masse on Memorial Day to pay tribute to her soldier dead. Colonels Gatch and Godfrey and Rev. A. C. Williams were the orators of the day. The new capacious planing mill of the Gilcrests, east of the Rock Island bridge, was an event of the year. This, with improved machinery, meant much to the city at that early day. It cost about $25,000. PI. M. Bush's new warehouse, Sixth and Vine, was another trade item of significance. Mr. Bush had engaged in business on the East Side about three years before. The new building covered four lots. June 1, Stewart Goodrell of Des Moines, succeeded Colonel Thompson as U. S. pension agent for Iowa and Nebraska. The Des Moines, Indianola and Missouri Railroad came in for a large share of promotion in the summer of '69. A big meeting in Moore's Hall, with Mayor Hatch in the chair and J. W. Snow and J. S. Clarkson, secretaries, was attended by man)' citizens and by several prominent residents of Indianola. The object of the meeting was stated in a sentence by B. F. Allen: "We need the road and must raise the money to build it." Mr. Griffith of Warren, said all his county's part in the grading was done except a space that a few hundred dollars would build. His county would have raised $20,000 more, if Des Moines and REV. THOMPSON BIRD Pioneer Preacher and First Mayor of Fort Des Moines CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 257 Polk county had not treated Warren so offishly. Judge Cole counseled waiting upon the parties that, on sectional grounds, had enjoined the city from issuing bonds, and offering them an amicable division of moneys between the Ames road and the Indianola road. While a committee raised to report on a plan of procedure was in consultation, Mr. Polk made a stirring speech urging the meeting to quit talking about raising the money anywhere but from their own pockets. General Tuttle, from the committee, reported recommending that the meeting proceed at once to raise money. "We can't expect to have all our railroads deadheaded to us !" General and Martin Tuttle each subscribed $1,000; B. F. Allen, $2,000 ; and twenty-five men present subscribed considerable amounts from $50 to $500 each. The subscriptions amounted to over $25,000. Other meetings followed in which Warren county representatives aired their grievances and Des Moines promised to do better ! The appearance of General Turtle's new and elegant phaeton, the product of home industry, was an event duly heralded. This novelty on the streets of Des Moines gave the Munsell Carriage Factory, on Third street, much free advertising. The Capital City Zouaves, Capt. F. Olmstead commanding, "cut quite a figure" in those days. The boys hadn't much money to subscribe, but they agreed to put in two weeks' work on grading the Indianola road. A distinguished party of astronomers camped down in Des Moines early in August, to observe from this point the total eclipse of the sun on the 7th. Three observatories were fitted up for their use. The Naval Observatory, on the hill at the head of Third street, was presided over by Prof. William Harkness. In Courthouse square was the famous Prof. Simon Newcomb. A bluff on the East side was occupied by Dr. C. H. L. Peters of the Litchfield Observatory, Hamilton College, New York, with a number of other wise men of the East. S. V. White, of New York, made observations from the B. F. Allen home. The weather was clear and the observations were satisfactory. At 4:46 the sun was totally obscured. The total obscuration lasted nearly three minutes. The astronomers were as jubilant over their success as a party of Des Moines promoters would have been had a new railroad swam into their ken ! One morning in September the Walnut street bridge broke down precipitating a hundred head of Texas horses into the river and killing two. Both the city and the owner of the horses brought suit for damages. The building improvements in Des Moines in 1869 were estimated at $1,580,- 850. Of this amount, $1,221,700 was charged to new houses and house im provements, and $359,150 to hotels, stores, offices, churches, etc. Miscellaneous public improvements, not included in the foregoing, were : Baptist University, $3,500; Des Moines Valley Railroad, $80,000; C. R. I. & P., $10,000 ; West side public schools, $2,000 ; State Arsenal, $2,600 ; streets, $25,000 ; Walnut street bridge, repairs, $7,356.74; fire cisterns, $2,600; sidewalks, $19,000; Driving Park Association, $3,000; Gas Company, $20,000. The improvements classified were : Houses, 225 ; hotels, 5 ; churches, 3 ; schoolhouse, courthouse, depot, postoffice, planing mills, 3; business blocks, 12; warehouses, 2; flouring mill. Vol. 1—17 BOOK III. PART IV. FOUR DECADES OF PROGRESS. ANNALS OF A GROWING CITY— ITS EVENTS AND OCCURRENCES — ITS FAILURES AND SUCCESSES. 1 870-1 909. WW"""** PLAT OF DES MOINES IX THE '70s CHAPTER I. THE FIRST DECADE OF PROGRESS. 1870 THE YEAR OF THE GRAND REUNION. Agitation as to the desirability of a new Capitol building was lively in the winter of 1870, and activities relating thereto occupy much space in the news papers of the period.1 A sixty-thousand-dollar fire was a temporary setback which the ambitious young city confronted one Monday forenoon, May 2, 1870. The fire destroyed the Gilcrest's new planing mill on the east side, of which the city had been exceedingly proud. The disaster was charged to spontaneous combustion. The fire was a total loss. The up-and-coming boomer of the Seventies saw in his mind's eye another railroad connection for Des Moines. In Aoril, Mayor Hatch named B. F. Allen, J. W. Mills, John A. Elliott, Wr. W. Williamson, L. W. Dennis, J. M. Tuttle, J. H. Day, John W. Jones, L. A. Grout, G. M. Hippee and B. F. Van .Leuven delegates to represent Des Moines in the Cedar Rapids convention, May 5, to take "the proper steps to connect Des Moines with Dubuque, by building a road from Marengo to Cedar Rapids. The Knight divorce case, before Judge Maxwell, in the District Court in May, was the first local case of the kind to be given full newspaper publicity. Rosa F. Knight sued her husband, R. A. Knight, for divorce on the ground of inhuman treatment endangering the plaintiff's life. The testimony of the par ties and of other witnesses and the arguments of the opposing attorneys, Messrs. Polk and Gatch, occupied column after column in the Register, showing the interest the case excited. On May 17, the court denied the plaintiff's petition, leaving the public divided as to the justice of the decree. The case was appealed and in '71 the Supreme Court confirmed the decree of the lower court. The Des Moines township election in May resulted in 478 votes for, and 106 against, township aid to the Des Moines, Indianola & Missouri railroad. Lee township voted for the proposed aid by seven majority. Bloomfield voted down the proposition. The Kasson and anti-Kasson feud in the republican party in the Des Moines district, which began four years before, broke out with fresh fury in the early summer of 1870, resulting in the defeat of Mr. Kasson by Mr. Palmer for the republican nomination — which was equivalent to an election. The high school on the West side, costing over $75,000, and the new and incomplete high school on the East side, caused Colonel Cummings in the Win- terset Madison — to give the Capital city high praise for its interest in education. The Des Moines & McGregor Railroad Company, another line of much promise to the Capital City, held its annual election in Des Moines, June 7, the meeting bringing together in common bonds of locality interest men of prominence in Polk, Marshall, Tama, Black Hawk and Winneshiek counties, also the well-known eastern capitalists, James Buell, Russell Sage and Martin I. Townsend. Messrs. Woodbury, Couch, Larrabee and Merrill were named a committee to confer with the Milwaukee people in the interests of the company. ^^This subject has been presented in separate chapters. 261 262 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY G. M. Woodbury was elected president; William Larrabee, vice-president; G. W. Couch, treasurer, and F. M. Mills, secretary. Messrs. Woodbury, Dewey and Mills were authorized to confer with the Bedford, Winterset & Des Moines and the Missouri Valley Railroad Company, with a view to a consolidation of the roads, etc. In June, Doctor Aborn renewed his faith in Des Moines by buying of Mr. Allen the Cleghorn property, paying $15,000 for it. Representative Palmer secured an additional appropriation of $16,000 for the new government building in Des Moines. The government had already expended nearly $25,000 on the property. A woman suffrage meeting held in Moore's Hall, July 1, brought to the front those stand-bys of the equal suffrage cause in Iowa : Mrs. Coggeshall, Mrs. Savery, Mrs. Callanan, Mrs. Cattell and Mrs. Ed Wright, themselves a refuta tion of the charge made then — and since — that womanly women do not want the suffrage. The shipments from Des Moines over the Rock Island for the first four months in 1870 included 1,937 cars, of which 862 went east and 1,075 went west, carrying 20,630 tons of freight. During the same time there were received in Des Moines 1,711 cars, carrying 15,745 tons of freight. Fourth of July this year brought out at the fair ground the following orators : Judge Mitchell, T. F. Withrow, Judge Cole, and J. S. Clarkson. The completion of the railroad from Des Moines to Fort Dodge led to a con nection with Sioux City by the completion of the line from Dubuque to Sioux City. A presentation to the oldest living resident of Des Moines occurred August 16. The occasion developed from an announcement that Thomas McMullen, who came to Fort Des Moines in December, 1845, was soon to remove to Colo rado. The presentation was made in the office of Tuttle Brothers. Ed. Clapp, next in line for the honor, (having come to Fort Des Moines in March, 1846) advanced to the table on which lay a new breach-loading rifle, and presented the gun as a token of the respect and esteem in which he was held. Mr. McMullen was grateful for the unexpected gift, keenly appreciated because it came from old friends. Judge Casady and others followed with informal speeches. With the close of summer, the Daily Evening Bulletin changed hands, its founder and proprietor, R. G. Orwig, having turned the paper over to Mills & Company, then owners of the Register. In his "parting words," Mr. Orwig said that consolidation with the Register would secure unity of republican effort, and would give him much needed relaxation. In view of the remarkable sue cess of the present-day dailies of Des Moines at the one-cent rate, it is notable, as showing the changes wrought with the years, that one of the two reasons given by the Register for the non-success of the Bulletin was that "it was pub lished at a price too low to pay expenses." The other reason given was that there was no demand for another daily in Des Moines. Grand Reunion of Iowa Veterans. The public spirit and liberality of the Capital city, and a State appropria tion of $15,000 to aid in defraying expenses, made the grand reunion of 1870 a glorious success — a historic event — the greatest of its kind in the history of the State. The high grounds on Capitol Hill were chosen for the camp and ample pro visions were made for tents and other equipments. The railroads generously transported the private soldiers free, and officers at half-fare, from and to their homes. Though the reunion was put off till the last day in August, arrange ments began in April, with that energetic and resourceful organizer, Gen. N. B. Baker, as secretary of a State and local executive committee. A local finance committee was named, with George C. Tichenor at its head, CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 263 and that committee named prominent men in each ward and township in the county as a sub-committee to raise funds for the reunion.2 Passes were issued by the railroads to veterans in every county in the State. The supplies necessary to feed and "sleep" the visitors were enormous and great was the activity of the local committee and local dealers. The day of the grand reunion finally came. It had been anticipated by thou sands of veterans who, on their arrival, were met and provided with quarters, either in camp or in hotels and private houses. Along with these came many wives and children and friends and neighbors from all parts of the State. On the morning of August 31 the trains leading into the city were packed, and the overland routes were thronged. All Polk county came on foot and a-horseback, in wagons, carriages and stages. The registered were duly housed in tents and homes, about three-fourths of them in tents, where they could the better live over the camp-life of the early Sixties. Many were the glad reunions of friends and relatives who had not met since the close of the war. The regu lar rations were dispensed with a system born of war experiences, and none went without breakfast and dinner, and none went supperless to bed. At about nine a. m. the hero pre-eminent of the Western Army, General W. T. Sherman, appeared in front of the headquarters opposite the Capitol. "The boys" would not be denied the pleasure of grasping their old commander's hand, and so the General took his stand on the Capitol steps, and for twenty minutes a sea of eager hands swept toward him. He met all comers with good- natured helplessness, until the cry went up for a speech. The General simply thanked "the boys" and said he had had practical evidence that they were all well! And with that the handshaking was resumed. The General, though not given to retreating, soon felt compelled to beat a retreat to the State treasurer's office. At 10 o'clock the exercises began in Capitol square. Governor Merrill pre sided. At his right sat General Belknap, and at his left General Sherman. Rev. P. B. Morgan, of St. Paul's Church, offered prayer. A large choir of chil dren, led by Professor Pond, sang "The Glorious Cry of Freedom" to the air "The Battle Cry of Freedom." Governor Merrill briefly addressed the assem blage, concluding by presenting General W. W. Belknap, secretary of war. The General was at his best, his heart, warmed by the welcome given him, gave added eloquence to his carefully prepared address. General Sherman could not escape this time. He responded to the loud and prolonged cheers and calls, saying that after the eloquent address to which the audience had just listened, it was his business simply to pronounce the benedic tion ! He was. no speaker — only a soldier, and it would give him more pleasure to meet the boys in their tents and talk familiarly of army times. He said his experience antedated those of his audience. While the Iowa boys were toiling here at home, he was fighting in Louisiana. He had told the Louisianians that if they attacked the life of the nation the spring freshets of the North would "rush down and sweep Louisiana into the Gulf." His words had been fulfilled. The great issue of the war was the principle of nationality. He trusted that a few more years of peace would restore the places laid waste by "the little bum ming we did in the South," adding, "and the southern people will yet thank you, soldiers, for what you have done." 2 The sub-committee was : First ward — Taylor Pierce, G. A. McVicker ; Second — J. B. Stewart, F. R. West, J. H. Hatch; Third— G. W. Cleveland, J. C. Parish, Capt. F. S. Whiting; Fourth— Capt. J. H. Dykeman, Col. G. H. Godfrey, Capt. R. W. Cross; Fifth- Charles G. Lewis, J. O. Skinner, Isaac Brandt; Sixth — John A. Elliott, J. G. Painter, James F. Brooks ; Seventh — Hugh Murray, Ed. Loughran, Dr. J. E. Hendricks ; Douglas township — W. G. Madden, J. Brazelton ; Elkhart — W. J. Venneman, J. B. Gray ; Franklin — Col. F. Olmstead, A. C. Bondurant; Four Mile — A. J. Barton, Charles Leftwick; Jefferson — Jacob Rittgers, A. Elliott, Jr.; Lee — (outside Des Moines) Resin Wilkins, Alfred Harris; Madi son— Capt. J. M. Walker, Col. C. J. Clark, P. D. Ankeny; Saylor— Frank Nagle, Col. R. K. Miller. W. B. Howe; Valley— Joseph F. Fagan, Sanford Haines; Walnut— J. C. Jordan, John Evans ; Washington — J. K. Hobaugh, Edward Penn. 264 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY He concluded in these words, as reported: "Soldiers of Iowa, it rejoices me, as I know it does all upon this stand, to look upon these upturned faces. It seems to me that there are a great many of you left, notwithstanding you passed through the war ! I do not agree with the General that this is your last reunion. It is only the first, and after you are all gone, your children and the patriotic citizens of this noble State will come together to talk about the great Disunion War. "Let the people of the nation cherish this spirit of nationality and devotion to country, and the republic will never be destroyed." After a bounteous noon dinner, and a rest, the firing of the big gun called the veterans in line for the grand march. The line formed on East Walnut street, and proceeded, across the foot bridge, to the west side. At the old Savery the column was reviewed by General Sherman, Secretary Belknap, General Augur, Governor Merrill, General Baker and other prominent citizen-soldiers. The Reunion Army was commanded by Major General G. M. Dodge. His staff was composed of Colonels Tichenor and Godfrey, Major A. R. Anderson, Captains Safely, Hull, Stone and Leonard, and B. F. Murray, A. D. C. First came the cavalry division, General Cyrus Bussey commmanding. Fol lowing was the organizations: First Brigade — Colonel Caldwell ; First Regiment, Colonel McQueen, 600 men ; Second, Colonel Horton, 500 ; Third, Colonel Noble, 400. Second Brigade — General E. E. Winslow; Fourth Regiment, Lieutenant Guylee, 600; Fifth, Major Limbocker, 100; Sixth, Captain Burdick, 300. Third Brigade — Colonel Thompson; Seventh Regiment, Captain Clark, 400; Eighth, Major Root, 450; Ninth, Lieutenant Colonel Ensign, 500. Then followed the artillery division, Major H. H. Griffiths commanding, com posed of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Batteries, in all 200 men. The more numerous infantry followed. First Diknsion — Gen. J. M. Tuttle, commanding. The division was organ ized as follows : First Brigade — Gen. James B. Weaver, First Regiment, 100; Second, Captain Suter, 200; Third, Major Crossley, 150. Second Brigade — Colonel Banbury ; Fourth, Colonel Nichols, 400 ; Fifth, Major Marshall, 150; Sixth, Colonel Miller, 100. Third Brigade — General Geddes; Seventh, Colonel Parrott, 160; Eighth, Colonel Bell, 400; Ninth, Colonel Carskaddon, 200. The Second Division was organized with Gen. J. M. Hedrick, commanding; aids — Captain Orr, Tenth, and Captain Swallow, Fifteenth. First Brigade — Colonel Coulter; Tenth, Colonel Henderson, 400; Eleventh, Colonel Beach, 300; Twelfth, Captain Playtor, 240. Second Brigade — Colonel Kennedy; Thirteenth, Captain Elrod, 400; Four teenth Colonel Warner, 400; Fifteenth, Major Porter, 200. Third Brigade — Lieutenant Colonel Silsby; Sixteenth, Captain Newcomb, 400; Seventeenth, Major Horner, 300; Captain Duncan, 290. The Third Diznsion, Gen. H. T. Reid commmanding. First Brigade — Colonel Crabb ; Nineteenth, Captain Robb, 246; Twentieth, Colonel Leake, 300; Twenty-second, Colonel Graham, 400; Twenty-third, Colonel Little, 400. Second Brigade — Colonel Palmer; Twenty- fourth, Major Clark, 350; Twenty- fifth, Captain Harper, 140; Twenty-sixth, Captain Eckles, 100; Twenty-sev enth, Captain Granger, 120. The Fourth Division, Gen. E. W. Rice commanding. First Brigade — General Benton; Twenty-eighth, Colonel Wilson, 290; Twenty-ninth, Colonel Patterson, 200; Thirtieth, Captain Kerr, 300. Second Brigade — Gen. George W. Clark; Thirty-first, Colonel Stimming, 200; Thirty-second, Colonel Mackey, 300; Thirty-fourth, Colonel Dungan, 200. Third Brigade— Colonel Killridge ; Thirty-fifth, Colonel Keeler, 100; Thirty- <^y#--c*^z^£. .AC-t^ GEORGE A. JEWETT Taken in 1865 WILLIAM ALEXANDER SCOTT Pioneer and Capitol Promoter JEFFERSON S. POLK Taken in the '50s CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 265 sixth, Major Hamilton, 200; Thirty-seventh (Graybeard), Lieutenant Duncan, 100. Fifth Diiiskin. General James A. Williamson commmanding. First Brigade — Colonel Cummings; Thirty-eighth, Captain Rogers, 40; Thirty-ninth, Major Griffiths, 400; Fortieth, Colonel Garrett, 200. Second Brigade — Colonel Stone; Forty-first to Forty-seventh (excepting the Forty- fourth), Lieutenant Wollen, 100; Forty-fourth, Captain Henderson, 160; First Iowa (colored), Captain Burch, 120. The Engineers, Captain Brackett in command, consisted of 40 men. Following the column were carriages filled with maimed heroes of the war, some without a leg, others without an arm, and others otherwise disabled. These were the recipients of much applause along the route. Cannons boomed at frequent intervals as the procession moved through the streets, and hand-clapping and hurrahs greeted the veterans all along the line. In front of the adjutant general's office, Colonel Thompson halted the cav alry division, and Adjutant General Baker and Colonel Thompson exchanged greetings and congratulations. Music by cornet bands and drum corps added stirring music to the combina tion of pleasures. There were said to be 14,000 soldiers in the column. This was about half the number in attendance on the reunion, if we may judge from the published report that Colonel Yoorhies issued 27,000 rations three times that day. A rainstorm at night did not seriously disturb the campers, so complete were the arrangements. Thursday was visiting day, and while thousands visited the Capitol and other points of interest in the city, other thousands held informal meetings in camp. Many a glad reunion occurred which found record only in the memory of the veterans and of their children. All that day, outgoing trains, stages and vehicles of every sort were crowded with returning veterans and their families and friends. A painful incident in the campaign of 1870 was the charge, made by the Manchester Union and repeated by others, in effect that Judge Cole, of Des Moines, a candidate for reelection to the Supreme Bench, had collected a cer tain claim against the Masonic Grand Lodge of Iowa, and had not accounted for the funds. Messrs. Clarkson, Humphrey, Aldrich and Wullweber, members of the republican State central committee, went to Dubuque and there investi gated the charge, only to find unanimously that there was no evidence which "should in any way impair the confidence of the people in the Hon. C. C. Cole as a man and as a jurist," and recommending the judge to the continued confi dence and support of republican electors. The postoffice business of Des Moines in 1870 aggregated $30,904.05. Dur ing the year Des Moines had mailed 666,244 letters and received 639,435. On the whole, the year 1870 had been one to encourage the progressive citi zens of Des Moines. With two railroads running trains in four directions out of the city, with the iron ready to be laid for a third, and with a fourth and a fifth "in sight," with many new store and residence buildings and the new Capi tol foundation begun, with iron bridges reaching across the two rivers, with three of "the finest school buildings in the west" and more projected, and withal. with a large increase in population during the year, there were substantial rea sons for anticipating the growth and prosperity which was soon to follow. 1871 THE YEAR WINTERSET WAS "ANNEXED." "The Lady of Lyons," by "home talent," and for the benefit of the city library was put upon the stage in Moore's Hall, January 12, 1871, with H. Y. 266 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Smith (afterward congressman) as "Claude Melnotte" and Miss Flora McKay as "Pauline." The other parts were taken by James Ellis, Charles J. McKay, Lou Abdill. John Parish, "Laphe" Young, Charles Rogg, G. L. Eason, A. F. and C. W. Rogg, Airs. James Savery, Mrs. Lunt and Miss Carrie Brown. The founding of the Iowa State Leader by Barnhart Bros. & Dawson, an nounced early in '71 was eagerly anticipated by the democrats who had long been without a party organ. The first appearance of Susan B. Anthony, pioneer woman suffragist, was an event in Des Moines. Fler audience, February 13, was small but "very respectable." The Register editor pronounced her lecture "a noble plea for a noble cause," but thought the lecturer somewhat too dogmatic and dictatorial. An election held in Des Moines township April 28 resulted in a majority of 53 for a tax of one per cent in aid of the Des Moines & Winterset Railroad. The contest was spirited. Carriages brought unwilling and infirm voters to the polls. The vote insured the road. On June 14 General Sherman paid his Des Moines brothers a brief visit. He came Wednesday and went Thursday. The train which brought him also carried General Phil Sheridan, but he could not be persuaded to stop over. He simply bowed his acknowledgments from the car platform. The Olmstead Zouaves, headed by the new German band and backed by three thousand citi zens, were at the depot to receive General Sherman. His brother, the Major, drove to Sherman Place, where Martin Tuttle, mayor, extended a welcome on behalf of the city. The General, from the balcony, expressed his gratitude for this renewed evidence of the city's friendliness to him. The steadily diminishing number of the old pioneers was reduced on the 23d of July by the death of Mrs. Caroline, wife of Isaac Cooper, and mother of five children, one of whom is Mrs. Frederick M. Hubbell, of Des Moines. Mrs. Cooper came to Fort Des Moines in the spring of 1846 to join her husband, who had preceded her. After a seven years' residence about six miles north of the Fort, the Coopers removed to town. Mrs. Cooper was one of the twelve who joined Rev. Thompson Bird in organizing a Presbyterian church in 1853. Her exemplary life and fidelity to family, friends, church and every worthy cause was the subject of general comment. In July occurred a series of fires consuming property aggregating about $70,000. On the 16th, the woolen mill of W. W. Carpenter & Company in East Des Moines burned down, incurring a loss of about $37,000, with only $12,500 insurance. Late in July, "old John Robinson" with his circus and menagerie gave two shows in the afternoon and two in the evening to accommodate the immense crowd from town and country. Show-day was followed b}' the mysterious murder of one James Guyn, a rough character in the employ of the show. No clue was found to the murder. At last the Des Moines & AVinterset grading contract was awarded and Marcus Kavanagh, a local contractor, received the award. The contractor was put under bonds of $5,000 to have the grading, 28 miles, done by the first of December. The Rock Island agreed to iron fifteen miles of the roadway as soon as it was ready and the rest as fast as it was graded. The Winterset line once assured, the Des Moines boosters next turned their attention toward the proposed Milwaukee connection. A meeting was held at the courthouse August 23, with Colonel Godfrey in the chair. President Greeley, of the road, concisely stated the case. He told how the old Iowa & Minnesota road broke down for want of backing, and said the Alilwaukee, Nashua & Des Moines Railroad had the indorsement of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Company. If Des Moines would only do her part in voting the proposed tax, thereby guaranteeing the road-bed, the railroad from Milwaukee to Des Moines would be a fixed fact. Mr. Polk recited the failure of the Iowa & Minnesota road, CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 267 and from its story pointed the moral, a vote for the levy or no connection with Milwaukee. August 24, Des Moines township voted aye and Lee township voted no on the tax in aid of the Milwaukee road. The result stirred the embers of the old "devisive strife" between East and West Des Moines. A Board of Trade was organized in Des Moines August 26, with Wesley Redhead, president and Harry West, secretary. The Des Moines Western Railroad was another possibility seriously con sidered by Des Moines capitalists in '71. A letter addressed to the officers of the proposed road, signed by Messrs. Ingersoll, McWilliams, Cavanagh, Cook, Tuttle (Martin), Allen, Laird (F. R.), Stewart, Casady and Polk, assured these gentlemen that once they had secured the road from Waukee to Panora, Des Moines capital would complete the road to Des Moines. The city had "voted a tax in aid of every road that had asked it, and would vote a tax for this." Mrs. James Sherman, who came to the Fort with her husband in '47, followed her husband, recently deceased, September 8. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman had resided in their home on Mulberry street for twenty-three years. The District Fair in September was attended by fifteen thousand people on the big day — a record-breaking attendance at the time. Large as these figures looked in '71, they look small when set alongside the more than sixty-two thou sand in attendance one day of the fair of 191 1. Horace Greeley, of the New York Tribune, came to Des Moines on the morning of September 22. The conqueror came in a caboose attached to a freight train. He "took the usual number of naps on the way." With him came one of the Vanderbilts of New York, and J. B. Grinnell. He spent most of the forenoon preparing his address for the Fair in the afternoon. After dinner Judge Cole drove him about the city. He was the object of much curiosity and many were pleased to meet him. The one disappointment was the non-appearance of "the old white hat !" But he did have with him the equally famous "old white overcoat." Mr. Grinnell offered to substitute an overcoat made of Iowa wool ; but Mr. Greeley responded : "I guess not. The old coat has lasted me twenty years, and I'm pretty sure it will last as long as I shall!" Air. Greeley put in a full day in Des Moines. With his ride, the handshaking, a lengthy address at the Fair, and his famous lecture in the evening on "Self-made Men," and a night ride to Waterloo, he demonstrated his surprising mental and physical vigor. His friends attributed his reserve power to his frequent naps ! Des Moines township was again disappointed, September 23, over the second refusal of its East side neighbor, Lee township, to vote the Milwaukee tax. After making the mistake, years before, of declining to aid the Northwestern, and so losing the main line of that great road, the Register wept bitter tears over this second blunder. Des Moines responded generously to the call for aid to the sufferers from the great fire in Chicago. At a meeting in the courthouse, October 10, Governor Merrill and others described the fire as they had witnessed it. A resolution was carried unanimously, asking the council to levy a special tax of five mills to take up a warrant for $10,000 to be issued at once. To add to the relief fund, ward committees were named to solicit further aid for that purpose. A theatrical benefit was also planned to the same end. Harry Stephenson, a Fort Des Moines forty-niner, passed away October 14. He had been successfully engaged in mercantile business in Fort Des Moines from '49 to '65. The first State Convention of the Iowa Woman's Suffrage Association held in Des Moines was called to order October 19. President Harry O'Connor being absent, Mrs. Amelia Bloomer, of Council Bluffs, presided. Among the prom inent Des Moines women who were active in the convention were Mesdames Palmer, Harbert, Savery, Callanan, Kissell, Cattell, Pitman, Fuller and Ruttkey. 258 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The installation of Rev. A. L. Frisbie, the able and popular young pastor of the Congregational church, took place November 7. Rev. Dr. Magoun of Grinnell, preached the sermon. Many brother ministers added their congratu lations and good wishes. The corner-stone ceremonies of the new Capitol occurred November 23.' John A. Kasson delivered before a large audience, in Moore's Hall, Decem ber 4, an interesting descriptive lecture on Egypt, the lecture drawn from Mr. Kasson's own experiences and observations. After the seeming death of the enterprise, the Iowa and Minnesota Railroad gave encouraging symptoms of life. A party of engineers surveyed a new route, clearing the river bluffs, and reaching the prairie level at the farm of Mrs. Thompson in Valley township. With the road already graded from Polk City to the northern terminus, President Greeley wrote Mr. Polk, assuring him that all the money needed to complete the road itself would be supplied in January, 1872. The Yankees in Iowa banqueted in Des Moines on the 22d of December, "that well-remembered day," with General Baker, marshal-in-chief, John A. Kasson, master of ceremonies, and Governor Merrill, Dr. (then plain "Mr.") Frisbie, Colonel Godfrey, J. S. Runnells, and others as responders to toasts. The dedication of the new Masonic Hall, with a banquet and ball, made St. John's day, December 26, a memorable gala day. On the same day "all Indianola" excursioned to Des Moines and were ban queted at the Savery. With the close of the year Colonel Tichenor retired from the lumber firm of Getchell & Tichenor. The firm then became H. F. Getchell & Sons. The completion of the city waterworks was the crowning material achieve ment of the year. The hog crop reported for the season by Des Moines packers was : J. M. Tuttle, 18,000; Murphy & Co., 8,000; Stowers' Packing Company, 400; Dennis & Keyes, 1,500; Dickey & Schramm, 700; total 32,200. The packing industry in Des Moines was steadily increasing. The amount paid for hogs in Des Moines thus far in the season was $350,000. The year now closed developed a number of notable improvements in the city. The Clapp Block, Seeberger's, Spencer's, Turtle's, Bird's, Harbach's, Aborn's seven stores and the Odd Fellows' building with six stores, the Williams and the Barnett Block, new dwellings by E. P. Chase, Captain Harbert, and others, were some of the more notable improvements. On the East side were the McFadden Block and the Eastman & Company building on Walnut street, Goldstone's three-story brick, Webb's wholesale store, the linen factory and a number of fine residences. Business in Des Moines at the Beginning of 1871. Bushnell's Business Directory of Des Moines in 1871, as compared with the first directory published by Mills & Company in 1866, shows a rapid develop ment of trade in the five years immediately following the war. The insurance agencies, for example, had increased from 19 to 22; the ¦ agricultural implement houses, from 3 to 8 ; the banks from 3 to 5 ; — the Capital City and the Citizens' having been established meantime, the first named by B. F. Allen, with A. L. West, cashier ; the second, by Samuel Coskery and John W. Ulm. The dry- goods and the drug trade had been consolidated into fewer hands, the first-named having been reduced from 22 to 19; the second, from 11 to 10. The number of grocers had increased from 35 to 54. Meantime six wholesale grocery houses had sprung into existence, namely: Dennis & Keyes, J. M. Laird & Co., John McWilliams, Moody & Son, William Shaw & Company, and R. C. Webb & Son. 3 The event, a sequel to the history of the new Capitol, is later described in detail. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 269 The city's hotel service had increased from io to 13 — the hotels now listed, but not in '66, being the Avenue, the Buckeye, the European, the Groves, the Indiana, the Jones, Lee John's (South Des Moines), the Monitor, the Pacific, the Pennsylvania, the Shamrock and the Valley. The only hostelries which had survived the five years since 1866 were the Avenue, the Savery and the old Demoine, and in all three of these the proprietorship had changed. In the first-named, James H. Long had been succeeded by Barnett & Johnson. In the second, G. W. Savery had given way to G. B. Brown & Company. In the third, J. Carroll had been succeeded by Knickerbocker & Folger. In fire insurance the State and the Hawkeye survived ; but the Central Iowa had been absorbed. The Western Accident had also ceased to be. Mean time, the pioneer life insurance company in the Capital city, namely, the Equitable Life of Iowa, had come into being and evidently had come to stay. Its principal office was in the Sherman Block. It was strongly officered as follows : Presi dent, P. M. Casady; Vice President, B. F. Allen; Secretary, Hoyt Sherman; Treasurer, F. R. West ; General Agent, A. Morris. The pioneer jewelers of '65, the Plumb brothers, Joseph Z. Rogg, McCoy, Goodwin and Parmelee, were reinforced by W. W. Booth, and F. L. Rosentreter. Of the five livery and sales stables in '65, Ensign and Kennedy alone remained, and eight new firm names appear, among these the well known name of L. J. Wells. Conrad T. Youngerman, the stone-cutter of '65, appears in '71 as a contractor. Of the five newspapers of '65, four remained, — the Register, the Statesman, the Homestead and the Iowa School Journal ; but in place of the defunct Temper ance Platform of '65, we now find the Stoats Anzeiger, Joseph Eiboeck, — still its editor and publisher — the Western Pomologist, Mark Miller, editor; the Iowa Review, Stewart, Waterman & Speed, publishers ; The Western Jurist, William G. Hammond, editor ; Plain Talk, M. H. Bishard, editor and publisher — still in existence, owned and edited by Bishard Brothers, — and The Nezu Broom, Carter, Hussey & Curl, publishers. It is noteworthy that whereas there were twenty saloons listed in '65, six years later there were only eleven ; but there were ten "saloons and restaurants," a combination since prohibited by law. The pioneer dealers in hardware and stoves, Comparet & Stark, J. S. & A. F. Dicks, Howell & Seeberger, Kurtz & Brother, were still in the field ; while Albertson & Palmer, Hart & Fowler, Newman & Newton, J. Purington and Sanford & Sherman, had given way to McKisson & Bolton, A. L. F. Mower, Wellslager & Matthews and W. R. Ray. The learned professions had undergone many changes. The well-known physician and publicist, T. K. Brooks, meantime had died. Among the twenty- eight other physicians practicing in Des Moines at the close of the war, only thirteen were still in the service of the public in '71, namely, Doctors Beach, Dickinson, Field, Grimes, McGorrisk, Rawson, Ward, Skinner, Steele, Thomp son, Tisdale, Whitman and Willis. Among the new names, since become en deared to many homes are Carter, Hanawalt, and Hunter. In the legal profession, six years had made equally marked changes. Of the sixty-eight attorneys in practice in '65, only twenty-one remained in practice in '71. These were: Attorneys Barcroft, Gatch, Bartle, Cavanagh, Crane, Dorr, Ellwood, Etheridge, Finch, Godfrey, McHenry, W. H. & M. D. McHenry, Nourse, Phillips & Phillips, Polk, Hubbell, Smith (H. Y.), Smith (Seward), Turner, Withrow, Wright (T. S.), Ingersoll, Kauffman, Kenyon, Brown (T. E.). Among the well-known names that in this short space of time disappeared, by reason of retirement from practice, removal or decease, are Andrews, Bates, Callanan, Casady, Bartholemew, Dickson, Dixon, Hoxie, Hull, Kasson, Lynde, Lyon, Mitchell, Orwig, Sibley, Whitcomb and Williamson. Among the more prominent new names are Bissell (afterward attorney general), Dudley, Christy, Connor, Leland and Goode. 270 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 1872 THE YEAR ALLISON DEFEATED HARLAN. One of the most exciting personal and political contests ever held at the State Capital terminated in a party caucus of the republican members of the Fourteenth General Assembly on the ioth of- January, 1872, resulting in the defeat of James Harlan, United States Senator since 1856 (with the exception of a few months' service as Secretary of the Interior in 1865), and the election of Representative William B. Allison, of the Dubuque district, in his stead. The contest had been waged long and with a degree of intensity rarely developed in Iowa politics. For several days prior to the caucus friends of the rival candidates filled the hotels and thronged the Capitol. Old charges, often refuted, were revived and reiterated with all the force of seeming conviction. On both sides hints at undue corporate influence were passed on from one to another until they gained currency with many. Sectional jealousies, long held in abey ance, broke forth with tremendous force. The Capital city was divided into two hostile camps. In the deciding caucus, there were three ballots, the last showing 63 votes for Allison, 40 for Harlan and 17 for James F. Wilson. After the caucus, the old Savery House vestibule and halls were thronged with the victors. Full of exuberance, they made that hostelry ring with their shouts and cheers. Responding to loud calls, Mr. Allison appeared on the stairs and in a few words thanked his friends for the deep interest they had taken in his welfare, and the legislators who had honored him with their votes. He promised them that he would do all in his power to merit the honor paid him. Later, Senator Harlan came to Mr. Allison's room and "in manly, generous terms" congratulated his competitor on his success. The Register says ; "It was a scene of rare interest, and Senator Harlan, in all the eighteen years of his public life, never appeared more truly great than when he thus forgot the disappointment of the hour and tendered to the man of victory his good wishes and congratulations." The General Assembly in session, with its visitors, the State Press Associa tion, the State Temperance Association and the State Horticultural Society packed the hotel with strangers much of the time during the first month of the new year. The Des Moines and Northwestern Railroad Company incorporated Febru ary 27, with a capital stock of $5,000,000. The local incorporators were T. F. Withrow and B. F. Allen, and Des Moines was made its headquarters. At the spring election, the so-called "Gards" sprung a surprise on the regulars, electing Foster mayor, McHenry solicitor and Lowry treasurer, over the regular republican ticket by large majorities. The spring longing of the local railroad promoters was expressed in the new cry, "On to St. Louis!" The road proposed was the Albia, Knoxville & Des Moines. The exciting presidential campaign of 1872, which included the rise and fall of the liberal republican party, the triumphant reelection of President Grant and the overwhelming defeat of Horace Greeley, soon followed bv the death of the defeated candidate, made some new alignments in Des Moines, but, on the round-up at the polls, it was found that the local situation had not materially changed. On the 14th of November the eventful career of Stewart Goodrell was brought to a close at the early age of 56. Mr. Goodrell's adult life was thoroughly identified with Des Moines. A member of the first and second General Assemblies of Iowa, and of the Constitutional Convention of 1846, he came to Des Moines experienced in legislation. After serving on the Capitol Location Commission, escaping the censure heaped upon other of his associates, he was, in i860, elected from Polk county a member of the Ninth General Assembly. In '61 he was appointed Register of the United States Land Office. In '63 he was made CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 271 special agent for the Treasury Department at Natchez. In '69 he was appointed United States Pension Agent, with headquarters in Des Moines. He had fre quently held local office and always acceptably to his constituents. His death came as a blessed relief from prolonged suffering. His eldest daughter is the principal of the East Des Moines high school. His son and namesake was prom inent in insurance circles in Chicago until his untimely death in August, 191 1. The selection of Albert W. Swaim, then of Jefferson, to the pension agency made vacant by the death of Mr. Goodrell, brought back to Des Moines one of the old-time printers and journalists on the State Register force. Mr. Swaim has since occupied several posts in the consular service, and is now United States Consul at Southampton, England. "Father" John S. Dean's death, in December, removed a resident of the town since 1847, when he, with his family and relatives, together about thirty in number, came to Fort Des Moines. He entered 318 acres in what is now East Des Moines, north, of Court avenue. He built a cabin on East Second, between Walnut and Locust, and in '49 he built a steam-mill. In '52 he sold the mill to Shepard & Perrior. 1873 THE YEAR THE MEXICAN WAR VETERANS HELD A REUNION. The year 1873 opened with a big hope that the Milwaukee narrow-gauge project would during the coming summer be pushed to its ultimate destination, — a connection, via Des Moines, with the great system of narrow-gauge roads then building in Kansas and the territories. After spending over $4,000 in prospecting for coal Wesley Redhead finally, in June, reached a vein 4 to 4)^ feet thick, at a depth of 125 feet from the sur face. The shaft was sunk in "South Park," near the Seventh street bridge. He called it the Black Diamond coal, and organized the Des Moines Coal Company to operate it. The event gave a strong impetus to the development of the coal mining industry of Des Moines Dr. Aborn, finally after much deliberation, decided to erect a hotel instead of an opera house, on the old B. F. Allen property. The Aborn House, still a lively memory of political gatherings, legislative lobbies and innumerable ban quets, was the result of this sage conclusion. The silver wedding anniversary of the marriage of Judge and Mrs. C. C. Cole was a prominent social event of the summer of 1873. The wedding was held in Oxford, N. Y., June 25, 1848. Friends gathered from New York, Ken tucky, Illinois, and all quarters in Iowa, to attend the anniversary. Members of the Supreme court and of the bar of Des Moines were out in force. The Cole mansion was beautifully decorated with evergreens and flowers and the spacious grounds were brilliantly illuminated. Among the many rich presents given was a set of eight- silver pieces from the Polk County Bar. About five hundred guests were present. Another notable social event of the summer was the golden wedding of General and Mrs. Ankeny of Des Moines. In Berlin, Pa., July 29, 1823, occurred the auspicious wedding of Joseph Ankeny and Harriet S. Geisey. On this anni versary occasion there were gathered round the venerable couple seven children and twenty-five grandchildren. Many old family friends and old-time neighbors gathered to pay their respects, and the fair bride and groom received them with delightful graciousness. The Ankeny family is closely identified with Polk county history and this gathering of all the members of the family — without a single loss by death — was memorable. The stockholders of the Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad Company met in Des Moines September 11. The deeds to the roadbed and the transfer of the franchise by Polk & Hubbell were accepted. The directors elected were: Messrs. Polk, Hubbell, Callanan, Stewart, J. F. and R. V. Ankeny, Ward, Patterson, Harter, Elliott, Jack, Getchell, Rawson, Hippee, Hatch, Day, Merrill and Welch. 272 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY An issue of bonds to the amount of $60,000 was authorized and the amount sub scribed. The directors organized with Samuel Merrill, president; J. B. Stewart, vice president; F. M. Hubbell, secretary, and James Callanan, Jr., treasurer. The reunion of the veterans of the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, a notable body of men now passed on into eternity, occurred in September. The list of surviving veterans of the War of 1812 included only eleven. Among these were the following residents of Des Moines: C. S. Moers, aged 66; William Moore, aged 95 ; Richard Comin, aged 77 ; Ralph N. Barcroft, aged 79. Of the veterans of the Mexican War, the following were residents of Des Moines: Josiah Given, F. Olmsted, Isaac W. Griffith, James C. Gregg, G. D. Ulrich, L. T. Filson, A. C. Edmunds, Hugh McKelvouge, L. D. Sims, James Stanton, P. D. Ankeny, James Gray, Henry Hutsonpillar and James Slee. Hon. D. O. Finch happily welcomed the veterans and Captain Griffith, Sergeant Griffith and Gen eral Given did most of the speaking. General Given was the soul of the meet ings, his humor and eloquence combining to make the occasion memorable. Des Moines had become the great convention city of the State. The con ventions held in the city had grown so numerous that an effort to report them here — even in outline — would be to ignore all regard for relativity. To give the reader an impression of the new and growing importance of the Capital city as a meeting place, a bare mention is here given of the organizations convening in Des Moines during the year 1873: Iowa State Grange, County Board of Supervisors, Rankin Investigating Committee, with its numerous witnesses, Polk County Agricultural Society, Woman Suffrage Association of Iowa, Polk County Bible School Convention, Anti-Monopoly County Convention, State Eclectic Medical Society, Polk County Republican Convention, Republican State Convention, Polk County Fair, The Survivors of the War of 1812 and of the Mexican War, Anti-Monopoly State Convention, State Fair, Evangelical Lutheran Synod, State Universalist Society, Des Moines and Minnesota stockholders' meeting, District Fair, Christian Church Convention, Masonic Grand Commandery, Grand Consistory, Grand Council and Grand Chapter in annual convention, Polk County Sunday School Convention. Every succeeding year has added to the list of conventions held in Des Moines, until now, in 191 1, scarcely a week passes which does not bring to the Capital city several organized bodies. 1874 THE YEAR OF B. F. ALLEN'S ILL-FATED CHANGE OF BASE. The Fifteenth General Assembly passed through the process of "benevolent assimilation" at the Capital without friction and townspeople welcomed them with open arms to hospitable homes. Hotel people and trades-people felt the new impulse to their business and were happy. • Victoria Woodhull, the radical Woman's Rights champion, — the "Lady Cook" of 191 1, — spoke in the Capital city in January, 1874, and was described as a woman of wonderful eloquence. The first part of her lecture was styled' "rank communism." Her social theories were "not of a kind to commend themselves to a people that think one wife is enough for one man and one man enough for one woman." She was described as "witty, and sometimes logical, but as an orator second to few in the land." It was admitted that she told some "dis graceful truths," disgraceful "to the parties whose habits make them truths." Early in the new year, the old Valley Road was reorganized as two roads, one the Keokuk and Des Moines, the other the Des Moines and Fort Dodge, thus making Des Moines the termini of the system. The reorganization was effected in New York. After years of dependence upon the courthouse and Sherman hall for lec tures and amusements, Des Moines awoke in February, 1874, to find herself pos sessed of a real live opera house! — with "Uncle Billy" Moore, the pioneer, its CAPITAL CITY WOOLEN MILLS HARBACII FURNITURE COMPANY CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 273 projector and owner. Its dimensions were 66 feet on Walnut street by 132 on Fourth street. The "grand entrance" was on Fourth street. The stage, 35 x 63, was "one of the largest in the west." There were six dressing-rooms and two proscenium boxes, "none handsomer to be found in any theatre in the union." Wiiliam Foster, afterwards and for several years, the proprietor and manager of all the theatres in the city, was its architect. The ITarbachs furnished it. The cost of the entire building was estimated at $60,000, that of the new part $40,000. The completion of this structure was pronounced "an era in Des Moines worth special mention and remembrance." In the pioneer days, when a past generation were young and imaginative, Thespian societies had full swing and were well patronized by admiring rela tives and friends. It was natural that their descendants and newcomers should catch the torch from the hands of their elders and bravely carry it on. Let a single instance suffice to illustrate the dramatic trend of society in the early Seven ties. "Uncle Billy" Moore, the pioneer amusement man of Des Moines, was look ing over his old papers one day when he fell upon an account of the opening of his opera house, February 5, 1874. It was in the upper story of the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets, better known to newcomers in the nineties as the Wonderland Music and Bijou theatre. The opening performance was given over to home talent. There was a musical program by Miss Minnie Hill, soprano ; E. Shultz, tenor, and William Lewis, violinist. The play was the thing! It was entitled "Flying Clouds." The cast of characters was: Mr. Hartzman Martin McHenry Ernest Gatler Hoyt Sherman, Jr. Stornthal John Weldon, Jr. Jan Tom Shissler Schalden Welker Given Kruger Elwood Gatch Flinn Bart Smith Lindy Hatty McManus Colonel Rheinberg Jacob Kennedy Raub Homer D. Cope Isaak Henry Sessions Katrina Emma Given The performance was a financial success, for the receipts were $3,280.75. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. David Bush, February 10, 1874, brought together most of the surviving pioneers and their descendants and many new found friends. Mr. and Mrs. Bush had been married twenty-three years when they crossed the Mississippi. In the spring of '47 they came to Fort Des Moines. Their fiftieth anniversary was held at the home of Mr. L. H. Bush, now the old est resident of Des Moines, having come with his parents a child of two years of age, and having resided in the city ever since. Among the golden wedding guests were Bishop Andrews of the M. E. Church, Rev. Mr. Nash of the Bap tist Church, many strangers and all the well-known survivors of old Fort Des Moines. On behalf of thirty-six of the old friends the venerable Judge William son presented Mr. Bush with an elegant gold-headed ebony cane. In the course of his remarks he said : "Many of us remember well the hospitable log cabin where you and your children happily dwelt; your hospitality was proverbial. . . . The old dwell ing is gone with the years that have fled, but their recollections are enshrined in our hearts as they are in yours, and while thrift has thrown around you greater comforts than they afforded, yet the happier hours will be enjoyed by chasing back these old memories." Alexander Bowers, a teamster in Fort Des Moines in '48, and at the time of his death Deputy United States Marshal, died in Des Moines, February 27, full of years and with a well-earned reputation for integrity. The elegant residence of James C. Savery was burned March 19. The direct damage was placed at $12,000 — with no insurance, but the house was crowded with rare books and works of art, a collection resulting from years of travel at home and abroad. The Savery home was a "Mecca of Des Moines society," and in its destruction the city's loss was ¦great. 274 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Terrace Hill. The removal of B. F. Allen to Chicago in 1874 was the greatest loss the business interests of Des Moines had suffered in many years, for Mr. Allen had been the Mecasnas of every struggling institution in the city, and the liberal subscriber to every issue of stock for railroads, headed toward or eman ating from Des Moines, and an ungrudging taxpayer in support of public im provements in the city. What to do with his capacious and palatial residence was the question. It was too large, and the care and expense of maintaining it too great, to be seriously considered by any one of the small capitalists of Des Moines at that time. "Terrace Hill," as it had been named, was the delight and pride of social Des Moines, and to have that sightly place closed, and, worse still, to see it run down by lack of that loving personal attention which the Aliens had given it, was deplorable in the extreme.4 The Catholic society looked it over, but dared not seriously consider the pur chase of the property. Judge Cole conceived the idea of a university — "the Allen University." He visited Mr. Allen in Chicago and speedily arranged for the purchase of the prop erty, on behalf of Iowa Presbyterians, at a cost of $250,000. Mr. Allen offered to donate $150,000 of this sum, on condition that the promissory notes for the balance, with an option to run till 1885, should be turned over to him. He also offered to endow the president's chair at an outlay of about $30,000, — "a princely offer, worthy of the large heart and liberal purse of the great banker of the west." Judge Cole returned much elated and received much encouragement. The judge hoped to secure the Parsons fund for the endowment of professor ships for the proposed Allen University. The Presbyterian Synod which convened in Des Moines in October consid ered the proposed "Allen University," and too, that of a Presbyterian Univer sity of any kind, and appointed a committee to consider the project in all its bear ings, taking into account location, funds, course of instruction, professorship and everything connected therewith. There the matter ended ! The Attack on Kasson. The republican county convention in the Des Moines district in July, renomi nated John A. Kasson for Congress against the vigorous opposition of the State Register and a number of influential republicans. The nominating convention did not stop with a strong indorsement of Kasson. It passed resolutions, offered by Mr. Loughran, accusing the Des Moines postmaster, Mr. Clarkson, of "obtain ing government funds in double offices, for which he" had "rendered no service," and of "organizing conspiracy with the enemies of the republican party to defeat the wishes of the party and its candidates for office." also of "wilfully and maliciously libeling Representative Kasson." It appointed J. C. Jordan, A. Elliott and G. W. Edwards a committee to confer with Senator George G. Wright and with the authorities at Washington "for the purpose of securing the removal of J. S. Clarkson as postmaster of Des Moines." After these several whereases, came the resolution — "That the Iowa State Register under the present management by Postmaster Clarkson, is a stigma upon honest journalism, and unworthy the confidence or support of honest men of any party." Mr. Hatton here ventured a prophecy. He said: "You may resolve and re-resolve against the Register, but it is upheld by the people, and they will sus tain it." After a bitter contest in the convention, Mr. Kasson was nominated on the first ballot by a vote of 47, as against 10 for Colonel Cummings and 12 for Mr. *The story of B. F. Allen's failure is told in a later chapter entitled "Pioneer Banks and Bankers and their Successors." CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 275 Dashiel. The election of Mr. Kasson over the combined democratic, anti-monop oly and disaffected republican opposition, by a majority of nearly 2,000, was remarkable in view of the adverse influences arrayed against the candidate at the outset. The Des Moines Southern Railroad Company was organized and incorporated in September with the leading capitalists of Des Moines on its board. The object of the corporation was a narrow-gauge railroad from Des Moines to St. Louis, the capital stock to be three million dollars. The project was locally regarded with that same delightful optimism which in the past had won victories and sustained defeat with like equanimity. The Lynching of Hotvard. The local historian is compelled from time to time to paint into his pictures of community life a dark background of sin and crime. It is inevitable that in the most law-abiding and progressive communities are the depraved, the motions of whose souls are "dark as Erebus," and, too, the weak whose appetites and pas sions are wont to sway them from the path of rectitude. In fact, the very pros perity and promise of a community had for the weak and wicked an irresistible drawing power. Des Moines had been the scene of several brutal murders since the new decade began. And then came the murder of John Johnson by Charles Howard (Nelson) with the awful tragedy which followed Howard's trial and conviction. The case occupied fifteen days. The defense was accorded able counsel. The courtroom was crowded every day during the trial. Johnson had been foully murdered in the darkness of the night. Soon followed the atrocious murder of Mrs. Ellen Barrett. There was no connection or association of the one crime with the other, but the public was nervously excited and alarmed. "The very air seemed tainted with rapine and murder," said Judge Maxwell. The judge in his remarkable sentence presented what was regarded by many as a strong plea for the vigilance committee where courts are lax and dilatory, and where technicalities defeat justice. The sentence was imprisonment for life. The prisoner, defiant throughout, received the sentence with a smile. This was Monday. Tuesday morning at four o'clock a mob of "vigilantes" overcame Jailor Wise and the extra guards kept about the jail, took the jailer's keys, proceeded to Howard's cell, where the prisoner and his wife ° were sleeping, and laid their hands upon Howard. The wife, screaming with terror, threw herself upon her husband, thinking to protect him. It was not till Howard himself pushed her from him that they were able to throw the rope over his head. The prisoner was dragged out of bed, across the floor, into the corridor and out into the street. Soon the body of Howard was dangling from the nearest lamp-post. The deed was done in darkness and in silence, except that many shots were fired for the purpose of intimidation. It was estimated that at least a hundred men were engaged in the outrage against law and order. The intense feeling into which the community had lashed itself was the only pretext of excuse for the crime. A citizens' meeting was hastily called Tuesday afternoon, at which resolu tions were adopted condemning the lynching, and calling upon the authorities "to take all necessary steps for the apprehension and punishment of those guilty of this base and most infamous offense." But nothing was done to bring the offenders to justice. 1875 THE YEAR GRANT CAME TO DES MOINES. The new year, 1875, started in well for the infant industries of Des Moines. 5 Under indictment with him for the murder of Johnson. 276 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY In 1873, t^e Tone Brothers began the manufacture of baking powder in the city and their business had already grown to large proportions, giving promise of rapid increase. Several years before, John H. Given had begun to manufacture in a small way, and now his iron works were doing a large and growing business. The Skinner Brothers, who had begun manufacturing plows on a small scale, could now point to shipments abroad — even to India. The Waldron Brpthers had steadily increased their pay-roll until now it contained eighty names. McDon ald and Meara, the pioneer boilermakers, were making boilers for all Iowa and shipping to neighboring states. The Board of Directors of the State Fair, in January, agreed on a "perma nent" location for the State Fair. The tract selected consisted of 73 acres and cost $10,000. The site selected, known as Brown's Park, was then a mile west of the city limits. It is now in the residence portion of the city. The pork packing season of 1874-75 showed from November 1 to March 1, Des Moines packed 74,017 hogs. Of these, J. H. Windsor & Co., 23,000; Tuttle. & Igo, 32,035; Joseph Shissler, 13,802; other parties, 5,180. This was reported as an increase of 31,000 over the previous year. These figures placed Des Moines ahead of Keokuk and Cedar Rapids, with only six other cities in the country ahead. Like a flash of lightning from a clear sky came the news of the suspension of B. F. Allen's Chicago bank, the Cook County National Bank.6 Vice President Henry Wilson was the city's guest, May 29. He was met at Dexter by a citizens' committee consisting of Mayor Newton, Governor Car penter, Senator Wright, and Superintendent Royce. The party drove to the Savery House, where an informal reception was held. Host McCartney spread a bounteous noon dinner in Mr. Wilson's honor. A formal reception in the afternoon was attended by several hundred ladies and gentlemen. At four Mr. Wilson was given a drive about the city. On Memorial Day the vice president was the principal orator. As chairman of the Military Committee when in the Senate, he had found that "when the call came for men to fill up our army, no State in the Union responded better than the young State of Iowa. None sent truer or braver men." The speaker eloquently pleaded for a new era of good feeling between the sections. At the State Temperance Convention held in Des Moines late in June, resolu tions yvere passed absolving all temperance men from allegiance to the republican party and committing the convention to a new party. Gen. J. B. Weaver advised against such policy and on its adoption the Marion county delegation withdrew. The Polk county delegation went to the State convention with fifteen votes for General Weaver for Governor and one — Judge Nourse — for Kirkwood. The unexpected return of Kirkwood to party leadership was a severe strain upon the republicanism of many who supported General Weaver. An August sensation was the statement made by Thomas G. Orwig to Gov ernor Carpenter that he, one of the jurymen in the Charles Howard [Nelson] case, had been coerced into agreeing to a verdict of conviction ; that the mob that hung Howard to a lamp-post was headed by Mike McTighe, foreman of the grand jury, and that Captain Vaughn of Bloomfield, and M. T. Russell, of Mitchellville, were implicated in the proceedings. The charge was promptly denied by the parties accused, and the parties were not indicted. General Grant's Welcome in Des Moines — His Famous Speech. The notable local event of the year was the Ninth Annual Reunion of the Army of the Tennessee, with the presence of President Grant, Secretary Belknap, ex- Secretary Borie, Generals Sherman and Hickenloper, and other distinguished army officers. The date of the event was September 29. The city was fully alive to the honor. Its public buildings, business houses and residences were elaborately 0 The story of this calamity and of the disaster it wrought in Des Moines is told at length in a separate chapter. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 277 decorated, and its main streets were illuminated. Across the street from the Allen block to the Aborn House was a triumphal arch under which rode the dis tinguished guests on. their way to Moore's opera house. General Belknap's car arrived, at 3:30 and at 6:30 began a salute by Baker Battery, consisting of twenty-one guns, in honor of the President, followed by thirteen guns each for Generals Sherman and Belknap. President and Mrs. Grant, Mr. and Mrs. Borie, and General Babcock were guests of Judge and Mrs. Cole. The first day of the reunion was devoted to business. The meeting was called to order at Moore's opera house at 11 a. m. by General Sherman, president of the society. A resolution throwing the organization open to all enlisted men, after a spirited discussion, was tabled. In the evening the exercises were continued at the opera house, where was congregated the largest audience ever assembled in the house. Thousands were unable to gain admission. Judge Cole, in his happiest manner, delivered the address of welcome. The annual address was delivered by Col. (Gov.) Thomas C. Fletcher, of Missouri. In the course of his address the Governor paid high tribute to Iowa soldiers, and especially to the First Iowa, who, side by side with loyal Missourians, "trod the dark valley of terror and blood at Wilson's Creek ;" and to the Seventh Iowa at Belmont, the Second at Donelson, and the Fourth at Pea Ridge. No sooner had the speaker taken his seat than loud calls were made for Grant and Sherman. When the tumult had in a measure subsided, to the surprise and delight of all, "the Silent Man" arose and delivered one of the longest and most significant speeches he is known to have made. That speech is now regarded as an epoch in the General's life and in the Nation's history as well. It was afterward misrepresented and, as misrepresented, severely criticised; but as it goes down in history, it bears strong evidence of the General's lofty patriotism and thoughtful solicitude for the country's future.7 Its especial burden was the Free School — "the promoter of that intelligence which is to preserve us as a free nation." The prediction was made that should we- have another contest in the near future of our national existence, the dividing line would not be Mason and Dixon's, "but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other." The President urged all to labor "to add all need ful guarantees for the more perfect security of Free Thought, Free Speech, a Free Press, Pure Morals, Unfettered Religious Sentiment and of Equal Rights and Privileges to all men irrespective of Nationality, Color or Religion. En courage free schools and resolve that not one dollar of money appropriated to their support, no matter how raised, shall be appropriated to the support of any sectarian school. Resolve that either the state or nation, or both combined, shall support institutions of learning sufficient to afford to every child growing up in the land the opportunity of a good common school education, unmixed with sectarian, pagan or atheistical tenets. Leave the matter of religion to the family circle, the church and the private school supported entirely by private contribution. Keep the church and state forever separate. With these safe guards I believe the battles which created us the 'Army of the Tennessee' will not have been fought in vain." The speech was received with prolonged applause. Gen. Jeff C. Davis, Colonel Bain and General Force, were called out and briefly spoke. Captain Church sang "Old Shady," with a chorus. Col. Fred D. Grant made his acknowledgments. Colonel McArthur and General Cook re sponded to calls. Finally General Sherman yielded to repeated calls and made an impromptu ten-minute speech abounding in good humor, sentiment, and sense. 7 To Prof. L. H. Parker, of Iowa College, Grinnell, the world is indebted for the publication of a facsimile of General Grant's Des Moines speech as prepared by the General while in Des Moines ; and to the Historical Department of Iowa the author is indebted for the reproduction of this facsimile, from the Annals of Iowa, v. Ill, pp. 184-192. 278 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Thursday's business session was followed in the evening with a grand banquet at the Savery House, one which amply sustained the promise of Mc Cartney & Company that it should be a record-breaker in elegance and com pleteness. It was a notable gathering. President Grant was the guest of honor, with General Sherman at his left and U. S. Senator Wright on his right. Secretary Belknap, Governor Kirkwood, Judge Cole, General Babcock, General Pope and other distinguished soldiers and civilians, flanked their right and left. The toasts brought out a number of interesting responses. Colonel Bain eloquently responded to "Our Country." The toast "The President of the United States" was proposed by General Sherman, and was greeted with prolonged cheers. President Grant thanked his friends for the reception given him and modestly resumed his seat. Secretary Belknap's toast was "The State of Iowa and her A'olunteers," and the Iowa General's speech was a splendid tribute to the home State and to the soldiers who had made its name glorious. General Pope responded in a stirring speech to the toast "The Regular Army." No one present is likely to forget the characteristic speech of General Sher man in response to the toast "The March to the Sea! Happy in its Conception; Fortunate in its Leader ; Glorious in its Results." The General paid generous tribute to Rosecrans, Thomas, Grant and others who had made possible his famous march. He dwelt with many a touch of humor on the march itself, paid his respects to those who had criticised his course, and, with an apology for saying anything at all on a subject so personal, resumed his seat. Among the other speeches came one from Des Moines' representative among the generals, James A. Williamson. Called on unexpectedly, not having been placed upon the regular program, the trained campaigner in many a political campaign proved equal to the occasion. With "The March to the Sea," by the band, followed by uproarious applause, this notable event in Des Moines' history was brought to a close. General Belknap was reported as having said that he had attended every reunion of the army, and he pronounced the Des Moines meeting the most suc cessful of them all ; adding that the hospitality of Des Moines eclipsed anything known in the history of the organization. Seldom, if ever, have so many dis tinguished soldiers been gathered in any American city. Besides Grant, Sherman and Belknap, already mentioned, were Generals Pope, Miles, Rockwell, Sturgis, Sutton, Myers, McFeley, Force, McCook, Perry, Crook, Hickenloper, Alvord, Williamson, Jeff C. Davis, and any number of colonels and officers of minor rank. The only element lacking was the rank and file who were so much in evidence in the Iowa reunion of 1870. Kasson Turns on His Accusers. The suit of John A. Kasson against J. C. Savery, R. P. Clarkson and J- S. Clarkson for alleged libel and damages in the sum of $50,000, was the November event in the District court, Judge Leonard presiding. The case was called November 17. The plaintiff was represented by Judge Barcroft and General Given ; the defendants by Colonel Gatch and Judge Nourse. Mr. Kasson was not present but was represented by his attorneys ; the defendants were present in person. The action was brought by Mr. Kasson in the campaign of the previous year and the alleged libels were contained in an open letter addressed by "a Constituent to a Congressman" and published in the Register of September 27 and October 4, 1874, in which Mr. Kasson was charged with having received, while a member of the Iowa legislature, a large sum of money from the Rock Island Railroad Company, or from its agent, and that the money was coerced from said agent by him under the pretense of its being a fee for legal services; CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 279 but, in fact, with the understanding that his vote as a member of the General Assembly should be given in a particular manner in consideration of the money paid ; in other words, that Mr. Kasson demanded and received a bribe for his vote. The defense admitted that they composed and published, and caused to be composed and published, the alleged libel; that they composed and published it "in good faith, and for the purpose of enabling plaintiff to answer the questions therein propounded, and explain the matters and things aforesaid to defendants, and to the legal voters within said district." The defense explained at length the circumstances under which the alleged libelous words were composed and published, including the plaintiff's change of course in connection with the legislation in question, those circumstances warrant ing them, in their judgment, in composing and publishing the alleged libelous words "and for the purpose of enabling the plaintiff to explain — if in his power to do so." They further declared that they extended to the plaintiff the use of the columns of their newspaper for the purpose of making answer to or explanation of all the questions put to him; and that the defendant Savery repeatedly ex tended to plaintiff an invitation to meet him before the voters of the district, and make such answer or explanation, all of which plaintiff neglected and refused to accept. Without attempting to follow the fifty-one long columns of evidence and argument, and the Judge's charge to the jury, it is sufficient for our purpose to say that the case dragged on from one Wednesday forenoon to the following Wednesday night, and that the jury struggled with the law and the facts from Wednesday night until the following Friday night, when, hopelessly at variance as to the facts, they were discharged. The case created intense excitement in the city and throughout the State, and opinion was as hopelessly divided outside as inside the jury room. It should be added here that the case never came to a second trial. In the course of the campaign of the following year, Mr. Savery, author of the offend ing letter published in the Register, publicly stated that Mr. Kasson's attorneys had withdrawn the suit and paid the court costs. To all appearances, the plaintiff in the case came out more or less damaged in reputation ; but Mr. Kasson's subsequent career as a candidate for his former seat in Congress evinces a remarkably quick recovery ! The city and state were taken by surprise, late in November, by the resigna tion of Judge Cole from the Supreme Bench, the resignation to take effect on the 17th of the following January, thus enabling him to complete several cases in hand. It was said by his enemies that he retired because of the storm of opposition raised by his censures of the press, in his periodical, The Western Jurist. The Register warmly championed the Judge, admitting, however, that his criticisms of the press were indiscreet, though certain papers of the State had given him ample warrant therefor. The Register pays its respects to the Judge's enemies, charging them with cowardice in pursuing him with threats but taking no definite action. In the near future action was taken so definite that the Judge was put upon his defense for other publications more specific than the criticisms upon the press, namely an attack upon the judicial honor of no less a person than John F. Dillon, Judge of the United States District court. In 1875 the corporation of "Sebastopol," now part of "Greater Des Moines" and spelled "Sevastopol," was organized, the corporate lines extending one mile east and west and a half-mile south, from the present Des Moines line on the east and south. Few who live within this precinct have any knowledge of the origin of its name. It appears that in 1857 a brewery, later owned by Munzenmeier & Webber,8 was erected on a commanding site, and some one interested in the Crimean war named the brewery Sebastopol. The name was ''Iowa State Leader (weekly ed.), December 22, 1881. 280 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY accepted by the neighborhood and was then applied to the neighborhood. When in '75, the town was incorporated, the town council gave it the name, substituting v for b in the spelling of it. To avoid being swallowed up by Des Moines, and to become exempt from the heavy taxation of the growing city, the citizens, headed by Barlow Granger, petitioned Judge Mitchell for a charter and the prayer was granted. Granger was the first mayor, and William Christ, recorder. When the organization was effected there were but twenty houses in the town. Six years later there were two hundred. It had developed four coal mines, several shops and stores and, on the hill, the brewery which gave it its name, then one of the largest in the State. 1 876 THE CENTENNIAL YEAR IN DES MOINES. Governor Carpenter's "last and best paper," his message to the sixteenth Gen eral Assembly, was heard with regret by many, because it was the last. Governor and Mrs. Carpenter, after their eight years' residence in Des Moines, left many warm friends in the city. The home of the chief executive during the past four years had been the center of a gracious hospitality, as genuine as it was unconventional. The chief political interest in January was the contest over the succession to the United States Senatorship, George G. Wright having resigned. The prin cipal candidates were Samuel J. Kirkwood and James Harlan. In pleasing con trast with the contest of '72, the campaign was free from acrimony. Harlan's friends were confident down to the day of the caucus, January 12. To their sur prise and chagrin a letter from Harlan was read at the caucus declining to permit the use of his name. It turned out that his only son, William, was dying in Cali fornia, and his heart was with his son. He and Mrs- Harlan started at once for the coast, but arrived too late to see their son alive. The withdrawal resulted in an easy victory for Governor Kirkwood over Hiram Price, Belknap and McCrary. The railroad items of interest in February were the acceptance of the receiver ship of the Central Railroad of Iowa by J. B. Grinnell, and the organization of a construction company, with J. S. Polk of Des Moines, as president, for the extension of the Des Moines & Minnesota narrow gauge line from Ames to Cedar Falls or Waterloo. The completion of the Aborn House block at a cost (including hotel furnish ings) of about $150,000, was one of the principal February events. Gen. James A. Williamson of Des Moines was presented in May as Polk county's candidate for Congress. On the first ballot, Williamson received 18 votes, and Colonel Cummings, of Warren, 24. On the eighty-sixth ballot, the Warren county candidate was nominated. The planing mill of Carver & Young went up in smoke one Sunday evening in June, incurring a loss of about $25,000, with no insurance. The Centennial Fourth of July was celebrated in Des Moines with much spirit. A procession not far from three miles long was led by a car representing Iowa in 1776 — an unbroken prairie, followed by a car representing an Indian camp; this by a representation of Iowa in 1830; and that by an immense banner upon which had been painted the statistics of Iowa's products in 1876. Five hundred troops were in line : The Olmstead State Guards, the Sarsfield Guards, the Belknap Guards, the Scandinavian Guards and the Valley Guards. Then came the Baker Battery, and then the president of the day, Governor Kirkwood and other celebrities, secret societies, floats of many beautiful and unique de signs, trade organizations, and fantastics. The exercises of the day closed with eloquent orations by Col. B. F. Montgomery and Dr. E. R. Hutchins. East-siders took the law into their own hands one day in August, 1876. As two officers of the law were returning from Four Mile with one Ridley, suspected of burglarizing Slatten's East side Store, they were confronted, near CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 281 the city limits, by a dozen masked men, who took Ridley to a tree by the road side and with a rope round his neck and under one arm, lifted him from the ground. After dangling in air a minute, Ridley confessed, also peaching on his pal, one Johnson. The silver wedding of Mr. and Mrs. D. O. Finch was celebrated on the 25th of September. In '51 "Dan" Finch, a promising young attorney, and Nellie Calder of Cedar Rapids, were married. A few relatives were gathered in their Ninth street home to celebrate the day with them, when they heard the tread of many feet. Going to the door they found the yard filled with friends who had arranged a celebration of their own. The tables in the house yvere soon loaded with presents and eatables. A silver set and a china set were presented to the bride and groom, Rev. J. A. Nash making the presentation speech- A gold- headed cane was also presented to Mr. Finch. Equal to every emergency but this, the orator gave way to tears, recovering sufficiently, however, to thank his friends for their remembrances. The Iowa Exposition opened in Des Moines in October, in a building de signed by Architect Foster, and erected especially for it by a company organized for that purpose in 1875. The building was 132 feet square, with turrets sur mounting the corners and a tower rising from the north front, 114 feet in height. This building still stands, a monument to the enterprise of '76, — on the corner of Walnut and Eighth streets.5 The interior was well planned for the exhibition of wares and the art gallery was provided with ample skylight. At noon on the 5th of October, the doors were thrown open and Major Sherman introduced Governor Kirkwood as the President of the Day. The Governor then raised a historic flag which had floated over the headquarters of the soldiers of New Hampshire in the War of the Revolution. The band played the national air as the faded and tattered emblem of liberty was raised. After prayer by Rev. A. L. Frisbie, Senator George G. Wright delivered a characteristically eloquent and happy dedicatory address, including a striking contrast between the Des Moines of that day and of several yesterdays ago. The display included ex hibitions of goods from all the live merchants and manufacturers of the city and many articles of peculiar and historic interest. General Sherman and Don Cameron, secretary of war, arrived in Des Moines at midnight October 7, and were received at the depot by the State Guards, the Hayes Cadets and many citizens. The General's brothers endeavored to persuade the two to remain over night, but they could not be persuaded. The General shook hands with several old friends, and taking his brothers to his car had a brief visit with them while the train waited. The Register in October printed a long list of stockholders in the Des Moines Plow company, showing the popular nature of the investment, and the boosting spirit of the time. The long-drawn-out campaign of 1876 closed in doubt, and doubt was fol lowed by alternating hope and despondency. The nights were filled with rumors and the streets, especially in front of the newspaper offices, were thronged with men and women eager for news from the political front. Republicans refused, against evidence, to believe that the result was still in doubt. Democrats quietly held to the conclusion that time would tell in their favor. Republican roosters crowed fainter and more faintly, until finally, republicans were relieved by Congressman McCrary's device, the Electoral Commission, which would at least "let them down easily" as it might possibly give them the presidency, — as in the end it did, through David Davis's deciding vote. Three silver weddings were events in Des Moines society — anniversaries covering almost the entire range of Des Moines and Fort Des Moines history. It was a happy thought to merge the three celebrations into one. The event occurred late in November, 1876. Two of the contracting parties were Dr. W. H. Ward and Alice Yount. The doctor had first come to Des Moines, but the 9 Now occupied by the Grand Department Store. 282 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY sparseness of the settlement compelled him to move over to Carlisle, then- in Polk county, now in Warren. Another pair were William W. Moore and Mary Ann Winchester, wedded in the Winchester home, on the site of the Valley Bank. Mr. Moore was, even in '76, the veteran merchant of Des Moines. The third were Lampson P. Sherman and Susan R. Lowson, who were married from the home of James Hall, corner of First street and Court avenue. This unique gathering was held at the home of Mr. ("Uncle Billy") Moore. The old settlers' gifts consisted of a silver set to each couple. After the reuniting ceremony, a banquet was held, prepared by the early settlers' wives, Mesdames Clapp, West, McCain, Sypher and others. The death of Nathaniel B. Baker was a sad blow to many in Des Moines. For weeks it had been a struggle for life, and the one consolation was that the sufferer had at last found relief. The General died September 13. The funeral occurred on the 15th. The funeral was an outpouring of all classes and condi tions of men in honor of the one man, next to Governor Kirkwood, who did most to make Iowa glorious in the number of men sent to the support of the gov ernment, and the celerity with which the Iowa troops were enlisted, equipped and sent into the field. 1877 THE YEAR THE OLD DEMOINE HOTEL WAS PULLED DOWN. Mrs. B. F. Allen died in Chicago, January 30, 1877, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. L. Swords. Her husband, her mother, Mrs. F. R. West, and other members of the family were with her at the last. Mrs. Allen came to Des Moines at the age of 17, and here, in '54, married Mr. Allen. The funeral from the Central Presbyterian church in Des Moines, was a touching tribute to the worth of the deceased. Rev. Mr. Nash, who, in '54, had spoken the words which made her a bride, was the clerygman who officiated at Mrs. Allen's funeral. The bearers were old family friends: Judge Casady, George Whitaker, Judge Cole, Thomas Hatton, E. J. Ingersoll, L. H. Bush, WTesley Redhead, W. W. Moore, J. C. Savery and W. W. Williamson. High taxes and little to show for them prompted a citizens' meeting at the opera house February 10, 1877, a meeting of citizens "favorable to reform in our municipal management and to an economical expenditure of the public money." Another ineffectual attempt to reform city government without re-form ing the system. Flenry Ward Beecher delivered his famous lecture on "The Ministry of Wealth" to a large audience at the Opera House on the evening of March 7. Many came from a distance to hear America's greatest pulpit orator, and apparently none were disappointed. Though the lecture lacked the fire of enthusiasm over a great cause, it was a delightful combination of humor and appeal. And behind the lecture was a charming personality. The return of Senator George G. Wright to Des Moines at the expiration of his term of service in Washington, was the occasion of a glad welcome-home on the 15th of March. The Senator appeared on the porch of his residence and was welcomed by Maj. N. B. Collins and Col. J. W. Griffiths. In a few genial and earnest words the Senator responded. He passed generous judgment on men and events at tlie Nation's capital, and expressed keen appreciation of the wel come he had received. Rev. P. P. Ingalls, pastor of the Congregational Church in Des Moines, took early occasion to deliver a lecture in criticism of the inferential theology of the Beecher lecture. He also censured Beecher himself for personally parading the Brooklyn scandal before the country by thus appearing on the lecture platform. Mr. Ingalls and the defenders of Beecher afterward carried on a long-drawn-out newspaper controversy over the Brooklyn preacher. The first appearance of Col. Robert G. Ingersoll in Des Moines in the spring of 'yy, drew nearly fifteen hundred people out to hear the orator on "Liberty." THE OLD DEMOINE HOUSE w Mulberry Street Probably looking north on Fourth Street from Probably looking east from Sixth to Fifth Court Avenue Street CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 283 His humor, amounting to audacity, coupled with the strength of his appeal, made him a prime favorite with most of those who heard him. On the 2 ist of April, the stars and stripes were flung to the breeze for the last time from the old Demoine House, so often mentioned in these pages. The walls were doomed to destruction and the Spofford Flouse was destined to take the place of that historic hostelry. Odd Fellowship had a great day in Des Moines on the 26th of April, when the Odd Fellows of the State joined in celebrating the fifty-eighth anniversary of the Order. A grand parade, a public meeting at the Opera House with Hon. John Van Valkenburg the orator of the occasion, was followed by the inevitable and enjoyable banquet, — at the Aborn House, — enlivened by music and oratory. Memorial Day, 1877, was doubly sad to many veterans of Des Moines be cause General Baker was not of the number to march with them to the ceme tery. Judge Nourse and Fred W. Lehman, the orators of the occasion, paid high tribute to the honored dead. An echo of the presidential post-campaign of 1876 was a serenade given Governor Packard, of Louisiana, in Des Moines, June 26, 1877. The Governor was the guest of Judge Cole. In the early evening the grounds of Colechester Place were thronged yvith citizens headed by a city band. Judge Cole introduced Governor Packard, who made a speech in which he went briefly over the ground of his recent trying experiences, in Louisiana, and commending Iowa republicans for the advanced ground they had taken on national questions. Judge Cole was called out and paid high tribute to the Governor's courage and loyalty to prin ciple, maintaining that the man who received more votes than President Hayes in Louisiana should have been maintained in his position as Governor — a conclu sion from which there was — and still is — little dissent. The republican state convention of June 27, was an enthusiastic assemblage, bringing out as its candidate, on the first formal ballot, "Old Business," Hon. John H. Gear. There was intense excitement over resolutions endorsing Presi dent Hayes, and injecting prohibition into the platform, but the conservative reso lutions of the committee, read by its chairman, Frank Hatton, were adopted. A State municipal convention, held in Des Moines, June 29, was one of the many forecasters of the coming revolution in municipal affairs at the State Capi tal, and in the other cities of Iowa. Giles H. Turner of Des Moines was chair man. Resolutions were adopted praying the incoming legislature to pass meas ures enabling municipalities to effect reform in administrative methods. The fearful storm of August 29, 1877, brought reports of dire disaster on the Rock Island Railroad about a mile and a half west of Altoona. Part of a bridge over little Four Mile creek had been carried away by the wind. The tram wrecked consisted of Barnum's show car, one express, three coaches and a sleeper. Barnum's car was totally demolished, and seven of the thirteen em ployes in the car were killed. The other six were injured. The engineer and seven passengers were killed and many were injured. The sufferers were brought to Des Moines, and were given every attention by local surgeons. Much damage was done by the storm in the city. One boy was struck by lightning and in stantly killed. After a successful run of five weeks the Exposition closed with a grand con cert, November 10. The closing concert was keenly enjoyed by thousands in at tendance, and much satisfaction was expressed. The impressions made by the exhibits upon the public mind, at home and abroad, was thought to be highly advantageous to local trade and manufacturers. The Blue Ribbon temperance movement swept the city in December, and in less than a week more than twelve hundred persons had donned the emblem of the movement. The permanent improvements in Des Moines during the year 1877 were esti mated by the Leader to amount in cash to $1,214,500. In an itemized statement in verification of these figures, the biggest items are : The R. H. Parry block, 284 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY $20,000; the C. G. Lewis opera house block, $30,000; the Fifth Ward School building, East side, $30,000; the Hoyt Sherman brick residence on Greenwood avenue, $20,000; the James Callanan residence, $30,000; houses in Brown's addition, $40,000; the Atkins block, $20,000; Des Moines Water Company im provements, $45,000; money expended on the Capitol, $225,000. 1878 — THE YEAR THE OLD SAVERY WAS CLOSED. The two decisions in the B. F. Allen homestead case, involving the fate of "Terrace Hill" were read, May 29, to a throng of citizens interested directly and indirectly in the fate of that historic home. Judge Love prepared the papers and Judge Dillon, who, by agreement, sat with the District Judge in the case, concurred in both. The house, grounds and improvements which were found to have cost about $200,000 were estimated as having a cash value of $50,000. It was granted that Mr. Allen had an established homestead in this property until 1873 when he removed to Chicago. The purpose of the Aliens to return to the homestead was too indefinite to affect the creditor's rights. Mr. Allen's later declarations that Terrace Hill was still his home was regarded by the court as evidence of his desire to keep up and maintain deposits in his Des Moines bank. In '74 he had bought and occupied a home in Chicago, and had contracted to sell the Des Moines homestead. He "could not hold two home steads at the same time." The claimant's exceptions were denied and overruled. And so Terrace Hill was swept into the maelstrom of bankruptcy with the other large property holdings. On the 12th of June, the State Democrat, after a four-week's losing exist ence, ceased to be. The paper had its origin in the dissatisfaction of certain ones with the course of the Leader, which, under its new management, had .refused to be the organ of the liquor interests. Des Moines' railroad interests were considered at a public meeting July 6. The definite object of the meeting, as stated by J. S. Clarkson, was to secure for Des Moines connection with other trunk lines. A resolution was adopted ap pointing a committee to ascertain from the management of the C. B. & Q. whether that company had any intention of coming to Des Moines by way of Knoxville, and if so what aid it would expect from Des Moines and Knoxville. Messrs. Clarkson, Merrill, Runnells and Sneer were appointed as that committee. On motion of F. M. Mills the City Council was requested to submit a proposition for a tax in aid of the Des Moines and Missouri River Railroad. At a later meeting Messrs. Clarkson and Runnells reported that in compliance with request they had made a statement of the business of Des Moines and Vice President Perkins had forwarded it to the C. B. & O. directors in New York. Report was also made on the Des Moines, Afton & Alissouri railroad enterprise and the meeting pledged itself to support the project. The movement for a monument in memory of General X. B. Baker took form in July in the selection of a granite monument designed by R. S. Miller of Des Moines. To J. S. Clarkson was assigned the preparation of the inscrip tion. The monument, standing in Woodland cemetery, has been the shrine of many a patriotic pilgrimage since 1878. Des Moines in July and August had under consideration a northwestern rail road, a southwestern road, the Knoxville road to connect with the C. B. & Q., and an eastern road running between the Rock Island and the C. B. & Q. The northwestern route had two rival companies. The Southwestern had two rival interests. To steer between these conflicting interests and at the right time make the winning connection was the hard task of the promoters of the period. On the morning following the October election, the winning democrats held a big jollification, addressed by Congressman-elect Gillette, and General Weaver, Ed. Campbell and others. The closing of the locally historic Savery House was the theme of general conversation in November. On the night of the 13th, the doors of that hostelry CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 285 were summarily closed. A mortgage for $30,000 was paid in '66, and in '70 another for $40,000 was filed. When B. F. Allen borrowed $200,000 from the Newark Savings Institution, he gave, with other collateral, a mortgage on the Savery House. The Newark company sent an agent to Des Moines to sell the property, but could find no customer. Mr. McCartney would again lease the property provided the company would improve it. This the company refused to do, fearing a lease might interfere with a sale — and so the house was closed. The Savery was built by James C. Savery and a number of other citizens in the year 1856. The hotel was in advance of the town. In '57 Mr. Savery was compelled to take over not a little of the stock and carry the load alone. In '62, the house was opened to the public. It cost $100,000, and was mortgaged for $30,000. George C. Savery took the house, rent free the first year, and subject to a slight rental for four years thereafter. In '74 F. C. McCartney took the property with J. C. Savery as partner. In this house many valiant — and unvaliant — deeds had been enacted. Here occurred the vigorous contest between FitzHenry Warren and William M. Stone for Governor in '64. Here occurred the actual contest between Harlan and Kirk wood in '69, between Wright and Allison in '71, between Allison and Harlan in '72, — and so on down to the closing. The political headquarters then shifted to the Aborn, then to the Kirkwood and finally to the New Savery, — where it seems likely to remain — for some time at least. The temperance reform in Des Moines, in December, was made somewhat sensational by a brief personal controversy between the Rev. Mr. Ingalls, its leader, and Editor Clarkson of the Register, in which each made public his private opinion of the other personally, and his contempt for the views of the other on methods of temperance reform. The hard times did not greatly curtail the prosperity of Des Moines during the year 1878, though the year did not compare favorably with the preceding. The Leader's long list of investments in permanent improvements during the year aggregates $810,506. In this, the principal items are : Louis Harbach's resi dence, $18,000; Conrad Youngerman's business block, $20,000; Martin Turtle's, $11,500; Levi Patterson's block of dwellings, East side, $12,000; State Insurance Company's business block, $22,000; the Gray block, $12,000; C. H. Atkins' resi dence block, $12,000 ; amount expended on State Capitol, $200,000. The first case considered by the newly created Board of Railroad Commis sioners, in 1878, was distinctively a Des Moines case, — that of the Keokuk & Des Moines Railway vs. the Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad, on a question of jurisdiction raised by the defendant. Having decided that they had jurisdiction, the grievance complained of being a public grievance, the commissioners found that, May 1, 1878, the Keokuk company filed its complaint, in substance, that the Des Moines and Fort Dodge company had entered into a running agreement, with the Rock Island road by which the cars of that company were received and delivered at Des Moines ; while the Fort Dodge road had persistently refused to receive the cars of the Keokuk road, or of roads connected therewith, unless a prepayment of ten cents per mile be made for hauling empty cars, no such charge having been exacted of the Rock Island. The Fort Dodge company made gen eral denial. Without following the evidence adduced, it is sufficient to say that the commissioners found that there had been more or less discrimination, in some respects with good reason, in other respects without. They unite, in conclusion, in expressing regret that there had been too apparent a bitter feeling between the two managements, "arising no doubt from old transactions and troubles." They recommended to the respondent "that the law prohibiting discrimination be observed not only in letter, but in spirit." 286 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 187CJ THE YEAR OF KASS0NS RETURN FROM VIENNA. Des Moines railroad status at the opening of the year 1879 was as follows : In actual operation, the main trunk line of the Rock Island: the Keokuk branch of that line; the -Des Moines & Fort Dodge; the Des Moines & Min neapolis; the Chariton, Des Moines & Southern, "practically built;" the Des Moines, Adel & W'estern, "practically built;" the Des Moines & Knoxville, "nearly ready for construction;" the Des Moines & Western Midland, "nearly ready for construction;" the Des Moines, Afton & Missouri, "nearly ready for construction ;" the Des Moines & Missouri River, "/;/. statu quo, — prepared either to assist the D. M. A. & W., or the D. M. & W. M." 10 R. W. Sypher, a name familiar to the readers of this work, died on the morn ing of April 9, 1879. The rugged frame of the pioneer long resisted disease, and might have come off victorious, had not erysipelas set in and destroyed ali hope. Though prominent so long, he was only sixty years old at the time of his death. A series of business disasters such as would have appalled a common man seemed to nerve this man to new endeavor. He was a typical pioneer. A "Methodist University" in Des Moines was dreamed of in the spring of 1879. The plan was to buy the Exposition building at $30,000, the stockholders to make a donation of $12,000 on the purchase price. It was then thought that Simpson College, Indianola, was about to close, and that the time was opportune for a university in the Capital city. It was even proposed to engage President Berry of Simpson, to take charge of the university. Nothing came of the movement. The first of May ushered in a new industry in Des Moines — an oatmeal mill. H. R. Heath, a pioneer-planing mill man, worked over and enlarged his mill into one suitable for the preparation of oatmeal, the new mill with a capacity of a hundred barrels a day. A reception was given Prof. William T. Hornaday, of Knoxville, by the Iowa Academy of Natural Sciences at Unitarian Hall on the evening of May 1. Professor Hornaday, now world-famous as a naturalist, after graduating at Ames, spent five years in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, collecting specimens for Professor Ward, of Rochester, N. Y. He gave his Des Moines friends an informal account of adventures and "finds" in the wilds of the Dark Continent, and farther east. On the 4th of April, the Exposition building was sold under the mortgage held by the Equitable Life Insurance Company, and was bid off, for the amount of the mortgage, about $16,300. A new company, composed of those who were willing to "stay in," was organized for the purpose of redeeming the building from the Equitable and holding it for future sale. The stayers were C. H. Gatch, R. L. Tidrick, Hoyt Sherman, C. H. Getchell, Samuel Merrill, Dr. Rawson, J. R. Barcroft, Weaver & Maish, and Comparet & Stark. The difference between 1879 and 191 1 in the horse-trotting world is evidenced by the then remarkable heats of the great trotter Rarus on the Des Moines course, June 4; the first in 2:21; the second, in 2:20^. There were several comparatively unknown trotters on the fair-ground tract in August, 191 1, who could make better time than Rarus made thirty-two years ago. The return of Minister Kasson from Vienna, on a brief vacation, was the occasion of a demonstration on the evening of June 25. A torch-light proces sion passed through the principal streets into the courthouse where Chairman Runnells delivered an eloquent address of welcome, to which Mr. Kasson feel ingly responded. The acquisition of the Des Moines & Minnesota road by the Northwestern late in July was welcome news to Des Moines, removing all further uncertainty as to the future of the road. The death of R. W. Sypher was soon followed by that of Curtis Bates, 10 IVeckly Iowa State Leader, Ian. 9, 1879. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 287 whose prominent part in early democratic politics has been developed in these pages. Judge Bates was a man of ability and doubtless would have made an eminent lawyer had not politics withdrawn him from his profession at the criti cal period of his early career. Failing health and ample means led to his with drawal from the practice of the law in 1861. He was an excellent citizen and retained the love of his friends through all the years, despite personal or political differences. The State Fair in '79 was held September 1-5, on the new sixty-acre grounds known as Brown's Park. The landscape artist had beautified the grounds and several attractive buildings had been erected and the management deserved the unusual success which followed their selection and their efforts to make it in every way desirable. In entries, attendance and general attractiveness the fair of '79 was a record-breaker. The decade closed without serious losses and with material gains for Iowa's Capital city. In the year 1879 the total of improvements, as estimated by the Leader, was $932,800. Of this amount, the largest items were : State Capitol, $125,000; C. B. & Q., $140,000; Rock Island, bridge and Fair branch, $60,000; Water works, $10,000; Gas works, $5,000; Court House, $5,000; Hawthorne School House, $12,000; sewers, $28,000; Brown's Park, $40,000; streets and alleys, $22,000; B. F. Kauffman's residence, $11,000; Corn syrup factory, $35,- 000; two oat-meal mills, $20,000; tenement houses, H. F. Getchell, $10,000; United Presbyterian church, $12,000. The Mail and Times, a Saturday paper devoted to civic betterment, politics and society — was established in 1879, and for many years played an important part in local affairs in Des Moines. CHAPTER II. SECOND DECADE OF PROGRESS. l88o THE BEGINNING OF THE BUILDING BOOM IN DES MOINES. Governor and Mrs. Gear, with gracious hospitality received their friends on New Year's Day, 1880, with a grand reception and ball to which "the whole of organized 'society' was invited," and to the invitation society locally responded. Many families in the city kept open house in old-time fashion — "no wine but plenty of women," says the reporter. A large meeting was held in the Council Chamber January 8 to consider the question of more manufactures, C. F. Clarkson was elected president and H. E. Teachout secretary. J. S. Clarkson, W. W. Witmer, T. E. Brown, Judge Casady, and others gave their views at length. On motion of ex-Governor Merrill a committee on organization was appointed. At an adjourned meeting it yvas decided to incorporate under the name "The Des Moines Improvement Association." Articles were adopted and the follow ing were the incorporators : Samuel Merrill, James Callanan, T. E. Brown, Conrad Youngerman, George C. Baker, J. S. Clarkson, George H. Maish, P. M. Casady, George Garver, J. S. Polk, George M. Hippee, W. M. Witmer, S. A. Robertson, Isaac Brandt, T. S. Wright, John A. Elliott,, J. W. Cattell, J. H. Windsor, Thom as Hatton, Jr., A. Lederer, J. J. Town and H. E. Teachout. The Des Moines Syrup Refinery, then referred to as "the largest manufac turing institution ever started at the Capital of Iowa," formally opened January 21. The factory was the product of the ambition of a young man from St. Louis, named Martin H. Miller, promoted by D. O. Eshbaugh. The enterprise was short-lived. Des Moines and the Glasgow Plan. The interest taken by Des Moines in the winter of 1880 in "the Glasgow plan" foreshadows the coming event of 1906. Several hundred leading citizens of Des Moines united in a petition to the General Assembly of Iowa praying that the Glasgow bill 1 be made a law reducing the number of members of the City Council to three in cities of the first class and abolishing certain city offices entirely. The petitioners earnestly believed that such a law would remedy many of the serious evils resulting from the then existing method of city government. Two years before, the number of councilmen had been reduced nearly one half; and, still not satisfied, the petitioners wanted to cut the present member ship from nine to three. The crying need of reform yvas conceded by the Register; but the almost revolutionary nature of the new departure created a question as to its wisdom. It was a "radical experiment" and "might prove a radical failure." All would depend upon the three commissioners. The only immediate result of the Glasgow movement locally was a spread of the conviction that Des Moines was in need of a change from an irresponsible council to a smaller body in which responsibility could be located. 1 Introduced by General Glasgow, of Burlington. 288 I t ? • j; j 5 g | 3 as a Wellington Hotel Elliott Hotel Old Iliad Hotel Former Exposition Building Victoria Hotel Coldst.me Hotel, East Des -Moines or-torr of des moines hostelries CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 289 A banquet at the Exposition building, February 18, in honor of the Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias was a brilliant affair, presided over by James C. Savery, and addressed by F. W. Lehman, and others. Past Grand Chancellor Van Valkenburg was the recipient of a gift from the order, the presentation made by Governor Gear. A committee of five went to Chicago early in March to accompany the Irish patriots, Parnell and Dillon, to Des Moines. At Mitchellville a car-load of leading citizens met the party and escorted them to the city. Captain Carey's cannon welcomed them to the Capital and St. Ambrose Band escorted the carriages to the Aborn House, where Judge Cole' formally welcomed the visi tors. In the evening the Opera House was packed. The contrast between the two noted men was marked — Parnell, of rather slight build, with light hair and beard, with an air of imperturbable calm — Dillon, tall, slender, with black beard and hair, looking "more like a Yankee than an Irishman." Governor Gear gave Mr. Parnell a flattering introduction. The address was a plea for financial aid for the Home Rule cause, with a pointed answer to an article in the Freeman's Journal charging misappropriation of funds. Mr. Dillon made an eloquent plea for the cause. Mr. Murdock, a Scotchman, General Given, Vicar General Brazill, Mr. Frisbie, Judge Cole and others followed. In addition to about $4,000 from admissions, about $3,000 was raised by subscription. The Water Company was reorganized in May with the following incorpora tors : Messrs. Clapp, Dennan, Perkins, Gilmore, Ankeny, Maish, Wyman, Beckwith, White, Love, Windsor, Dickinson, Redhead, Bowman, Dewey, Fuller, Hippee, Parsons, Kauffman, Andrews, Runnells, Randall, Ewing, Dickey, Ogil- vie and Smart. The following directors were chosen : Messrs. Clapp, Windsor, Runnells, Wyman, Redhead, Kauffman, Dickinson and Dewey. The directors organized with J. N. Dewey president, A. N. Denman secretary and George H. Maish treasurer. Messrs. Polk and Hubbell at that time estimated that the works had cost them $334,882.32. Hon. John A. Kasson, now fully reinstated in the confidence of the district, was nominated for Congress by acclamation at Chariton, July 7. All was peace and harmony ! Mr. Clarkson, his former antagonist, was chairman of the com mittee on resolutions, and his report was unanimously adopted. Mr. Kasson was at the time our Minister to Austria. So confident was he that the conven tion would nominate him that he wrote a letter to Hon. James C. Jordan, June 9, expressing his grateful appreciation of the honor and saying on notification of his nomination he would arrange to start home speedily that he might share in the burdens of the campaign. Here is the sequel to the Kasson-Register libel suit. In a letter of August 20, 1880, published in the Leader of October 28, 1880, J. C. Savery, author of the letter alleged to have been libelous, informed E. H. Gillette that the defendants in the case "were about to take additional testimony when notified that the suit would be withdrawn and the costs paid by the plaintiff." The mountain-load of misfortunes which weighed down B. F. Allen in the Seventies was made still heavier in December, 1880, when Mr. Allen was brought into court in Chicago under indictment for having falsely reported the condition of the Cook County National Bank to the Comptroller of the Currency. After more than a week of grilling, the jury acquitted Mr. Allen, much to the relief of his Des Moines friends. The growing importance of Des Moines as a jobbing center was the sig nificant fact developed at a banquet of the Commercial Travelers of the North west at the Aborn House December 18. The secretary of the association, C. H. Piatt, of Des Moines, was backed by C. C. Prouty, W. H. Merritt, Jr., L. A. Stewart and others in making the visitors feel the genial pressure of Des Moines hospitality. Among the principal corporations mining coal in 1880 were the Eureka Coal and Mining Company, south of the 'Coon near Sevastopol, Norman Haskins Vol. 1—19 290 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY president and James Cormac secretary; the Polk County Coal Company, oper ating the Sypher mine, in South Des Moines on the Winterset branch, Wesley Redhead, president, and Norman Haskins, secretary; the Pleasant Hill Coal Company at Sevastopol, owned by W. R. White and Kenneth McRae; and the Wallers & Garver mine, at the head of Seventeenth street, East Des Moines. The eleven firms manufacturing brick in Des Moines were, in 1880, making nearly twelve million brick, valued at $80,000. Of this output S. A. Robertson reported three million. The "building boom" of 1880 represented a grand total of $1,195,091, as es timated by the Leader. The biggest items in the list were : H. R. Heath's ele vator, $17,000; Capitol engine house and sewer, $122,391; Garver's residence, East Tenth, $12,000; Garver's block extension, $10,000; Walters & Garver's new coa' bank, $10,000; Ankeny Brothers, $15,000; Clarkson Brothers, $9,000; C. & N. W., depots and round house, $12,500; sewers, $47,000; C. B. & Q. bridge, $85,000; Aborn House improvements, $10,000; C. & N. W. grading, broaden ing tracks and water tank, $70,000 ; twelve four-story brick houses on Chestnut street, $48,000; eight brick houses, Ninth and Scott, $20,800; R. G. Orwig, $10,- 000; Callanan College, $16,500; Glucose works, $16,500; Windsor block, $16,- 000; Good block, $40,000; Gault House, $12,000; M. E. Church, $35,000; Mc Cain block, $16,000; South Des Moines improvements, $50,000; improvements not otherwise reported, $100,000; Polk County Coal Company improvements, $10,000. l88l THE YEAR GARFIELD WAS ASSASSINATED. A new rail outlet to connect Des Moines with the Wabash system at St. Louis was the Register's new year announcement in 1881. On December 15, of the previous year, the Des Moines & St. Louis Company was organized with J. S. Clarkson, president; J. S. Runnells, vice president; F. M. Hubbell, secre tary, and J. S. Polk treasurer. The connection was to be made on the presen tation of $100,000 in subsidies. This sum would have to be raised in Des Moines and along the route to be chosen. This the local company undertook to do. The local campaign of 1881 brought out for State Senator the pioneer, Bar low Granger, whose democracy dated from his birth and remained steadfast to the end. But Polk county, by easy transition had nearly thirty years before passed from democracy to whiggery and a little later from whiggery to repub licanism, and the habit of electing republicans had become so well-fixed, that even that pioneer of pioneers went down a victim of the republican habit, Hiram Y. Smith, republican, defeating him by more than thirteen hundred plurality. The assassination of President Garfield on July 2, chilled and appalled every heart. Though the times were not as critical as in '65, when Lincoln's life went out, yet a feeling of uncertainty as to the future of the republic impressed every one to whom the news came that, a second time in the history of the country, the President had gone down before the onslaught of a notoriety-loving crank. After weeks of suffering and hoping against hope, the end came, on the 19th of September, and a wave of sorrow passed over the community ob literating all partisan and party differences. From that sad Sunday morning when the announcement of the shooting was made in Des Moines, until the de plorable certainty was known, there were many evidences of intense anxiety per vading all classes of the community. The dignified and reassuring acceptance of the burden of the presidency by Vice President Arthur did much to calm per turbed minds everywhere. It was not long before the Des Moines friends of the dead President, who had thoroughly distrusted Arthur, the New York poli tician, vied with one another in commending the wise and patriotic administration of President Arthur. September 13, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Youngerman celebrated their silver wedding anniversary, at their new and elegant home on Third and Chestnut CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 291 streets. Judge Casady on behalf of the Knights Templar of Des Moines pre sented them with a bronze clock and a silver ice-pitcher. Late in September the Leader newspaper was bodily transferred from its old quarters to new and elegant quarters where it would have room to expand and grow. The working force of the Leader was then as follows : Editor, L. W. Goode, associate editor, H. J. Philpott, city editor, G. G. Wright, Jr., tele graph editor, John M. Pope, advertising man, John F. Olsen, subscription man, Ed. D. Finch. The fall of 1881 witnessed the advent of a business enterprise which was destined to become one of the foremost institutions of the city, with agencies in every part of the globe. Lowell Chamberlain, of the firm of Chamberlain & Company, of Marion, Iowa, late in September completed arrangements for a removal of the company's business to Des Moines. He purchased a residence on Eighth street, and leased for business purposes two stories and the basement of the Kuhn building on Court avenue. On the 1st of October the company moved in. This company began business in a small way some time in 1874, and their business had grown so rapidly that a change was inevitable. The com pany soon found their new quarters too small, and moved to the three-story building on Locust and Fifth. Thence, later, to the large and well-appointed brick building at the top of the hill on Sixth avenue, where by persistent push ing and the merit of their proprietary medicines, the business of the Chamber lain Medical Company has grown to enormous proportions, being one of the large employing manufactories in the city. Near the close of the year 1881, a Des Moines Charitable Aid Society was organized with sub-organizations in every ward, the worthy purpose of which was to systematize charity work, to study causes and effects, and begin at the foundation of all effective relief work, a removal or mitigation of the causes of pauperism. Many of the leading women of the city were interested in the organization. The Last of Captain Allen's Men. In 1881 there died in California one of the last of the little band of enlisted men who came to Des Moines with Captain Allen in 1843, Josiah M. Thrift, by name. His widow, Mrs. Eunice Jewett Thrift is undoubtedly the oldest sur vivor of the military period of Fort Des Moines' history. The widow came to the Fort the bride of that useful personage, the tailor of the garrison. Eunice Jewett was nineteen years old when she left her home in Jefferson county to take up her new life with the little garrison. Her prospective husband came up the river with Captain Allen in the spring of '43, and in November of that year went back to Libertyville for his bride. The two were wedded in Decem ber and soon after made the journey to the Fort. Thrift. soon took a squatter's claim on a piece of land on the high ground in what is now Union Park. Here he erected a log cabin which is still to be seen in the park. Here their daughter Hannah was born, in March, 1845, — the first white child born in Polk county, and here in 1847, was born their son, William H. Thrift, the first male white child born in the county, and thought to be the oldest native-born Iowan now living.2 Mrs. Thrift's father and mother, David and Mary Jewett,3 followed the daughter to Fort Des Moines in 1845 and settled on the land just east of the Thrift claim, in what is now Capital Park addition. The father died in 1850, and was buried in a cemetery near west 16th and High streets, no trace of which now remains. Widow Jewett lived on the farm for many years. J. M. Thrift went to California in 1850, leaving his wife on the home place. Three years later he returned and opened a tailor shop on Second street, then the 2 Gen. William H: Thrift was Adjutant-General of Iowa during the administration of Governor Cummins, and is now custodian of the National Cemetery at Pineville, La. 'Grandfather and grandmother of George A. lewett, long one of Des Moines' most prominent citizens. 292 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY business street of Des Moines. In '56 the Thrifts removed to Boonsboro; and in '77, to California where, eight years later, Mr. Thrift died. Mrs. Thrift is still living with a younger son, Sabin. She has two daughters, Sarah and Ella, who live near Des Moines.4 Hon. Thomas Power O'Connor, the famous Irish Member of Parliament and orator, was introduced to a Des Moines audience December 23, Wear-Gen eral Brazill making the presentation. His brilliant address, a plea for home rule in Ireland was vigorously applauded. Des Moines had by the close of the year 1880 become the metropolis of the State, and a year later it had far out-distanced all its river-town rivals. Its jobbers were reaching out into all fields, and its manufacturers were enlarging and drawing other manufactories to the commercial center which they had helped create. Out of the confusion of rival interests and repeated failures leading on to success, the invincible faith of the city and of its captains of in dustry and advance agents of prosperity had splendidly achieved and was still achieving. It is impossible to follow all the ins and outs of promotion during those railroad-building years. To note even the meetings held would have been. to extend this work even beyond the generous limits of a local history. The most that can be done is to present the product of that railroad-construction period as witnessed in actual connections made with the outside world. The roads centering in Des Moines in 1881 were the Rock Island, the Burlington, the Northwestern, the Wabash, the St. Louis & Pacific, the Keokuk & Des Moines, the Des Moines & Fort Dodge, the Des Moines. Indianola & Missouri, and the Des Moines, Winterset & Southwestern. Many of these lines have since been consolidated with the main trunk lines, as will be shown in a separate chapter. The roads planned, and in process of construction were the Des Moines, Osceola & Southern, the Des Moines, Boone & Northern, the Minneapolis, Des Moines & St. Louis, the Des Moines, Marshalltown & Milwaukee, the Des Moines & Kansas City and a branch of the Milwaukee. At this time Des Moines had a board of trade which was doing much to develop the city's trade and manufactures and to compile statistics for promotive purposes. The Board was fortunate in having as its secretary J. P. Bush nell, a statistician with a genius for promotion. Mr. Bushnell was a prototype of the modern professional city promoter. Much of his work, valuable as it was then, has proved invaluable since. The year 1881 was pronounced by the Register the greatest epoch experi enced in the city's building history. The building reported during the year ag gregated $2,029,344. Thirty-seven business blocks and 725 residences were built during the .year. The principal items reported were: On the new Cap itol, $135,834.43; Kidd's Alcohol Works, $175,000; Turner Street Car company, $13,500; Watt, Cochrane & Sperry, $20,000; Aborn House addition, $22,000; Morgan House, $30,000; First M. E. Church, $40,000; Iowa Tile Company, $21,000; H. M. Rollins, five houses, $10,000; H. E. Bernard, residence, $12,- 000; Weeks pottery, $10,000; Clapp, on block, $10,000; C. A. Johnson, block, $15,000; J. Trostel, block, $14,000; J. M. Coggeshall, dwelling, $12,000; F. Meek, dwelling, etc., $10,000; J. S. Runnells, dwelling, $10,000; State Journal Association brick block, $30,000; C. S. Yorse, block, $30,000; Hawkeye Insur ance company, addition, $13,000; School building, Third, $12,000; C. & X. \Y road freight depot, etc., $40,000; J. S. Clark, block, 15,000; Wabash railroad bridge, $34,000; F. Dillon & Son, $15,000; T. E. Brown, $10,000. Tile works, East side, $30,000; improvements on University Place by the Drake University Land Company, $22,000. 4 For most of the data in this sketch, the author is indebted to Mr. George A. lewett, whose sketch of his aunt appeared in The Christian Worker, Des Moines, May, 1911. .a*"*- f ;, r I :; «aaH| DES MOIXES SECOND COURT HOUSE Torn down to make place for the new court house CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY "293 It was a great year for S. A. Robertson's brick works, and for building material sales. Conrad Youngerman, F. S. Whiting, C. H. Atkins and other builders had all they could do. The coal output was about 26,000 tons more than the year before. The real estate changing hands aggregated 2,232 separate sales, representing $2,721,993. The manufactures were reported as exceeding $3,770,- 000. The aggregate business done in the city during the year was estimated at $25,014,118. 1882 THE YEAR OF THE AMENDMENT CAMPAIGN. The Des Moines Board of Trade, having more than made good in '81, or ganized for 1882 with new hope and assurance and with many new members. Its officers were: J. H. Windsor, president; Thomas Hatton, and George FI. Maish, vice presidents ; treasurer, Simon Casady ; secretary, J. P. Bushnell. Its directors were: W. W. Witmer, E. J. Ingersoll, T. S. Wright, H. C. Colver and L. Mott. Its "Address to Manufacturers and Others in Search of a new Home or Business Location," can scarcely be improved as a piece of modern city advertising. The Ninteenth General Assembly found the Des Moines Congressional Dis trict unanimously urging the selection of John A. Kasson for United States Sen ator. But it became apparent that James F. Wilson would be elected and con sequently, in the republican caucus early in January, Senator H. Y. Smith, of Polk, with authority from his candidate, withdrew Mr. Kasson's name and seconded that of Mr. Wilson. The inauguration of Governor Buren R. Sherman, at Moore's Opera House January 10, was attended by many local and state dignitaries. "The Sons of Vermont," sat down together at the Exposition building Jan uary 18. The banquet of the year before was so enjoyable that it was repeated and with even a greater degree of success. S. S. Brinsmaid, C. A. Dudley, Cromwell Bowen and others supplied the flow of soul. On the 19th of January, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of the Constitutional Convention of 1857, the surviving members of that body — the body that finally settled the question of a removal of the Capitol to Des Moines — assembled in the Capital city which they had helped create. It was a his toric gathering. Opened with prayer by Rev. J. A. Nash, and a song of welcome by local singers, the address of welcome was delivered by Judge Wright, the response by Francis Springer, who was president of the convention. Senator- elect Wilson delivered the formal address. The session lasted two days. On the evening of the first day a reception was given the visiting statesmen at the hospitable home of Louis Harbach. In February Judge and Mrs. Cole threw open Colechester Place to states men of the General Assembly and citizens of Des Moines and their wives and daughters. Fully five hundred persons were in attendance. On February 23, John B. Gough, the world-famous temperance orator made a Des Moines audience laugh and weep alternately. Vice President Hopkins of the Wabash System visited Des Moines March 2, accompanied by the officers of the new Iowa division of his road. He came to arrange the final connection of the Wabash with its Des Moines line. In the Register of April 5, J. S. Clarkson printed a lengthy dispatch, contain ing the good news he had long been waiting for, namely, that the building of the Wisconsin, Iowa & Nebraska road (the "Diagonal") was an assured fact, if the people along the line would but do their part. Contracts had been signed for all the money necessary to build the road and equip it. In anticipation of this announcement, a local company had already been organized, with Dr. George Glick, of Marshalltown, president, Samuel Merrill, vice president, Hoyt Sherman, treasurer. The desirability of this line was strongly presented and generally accepted as fact. 291 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The old schoolhouse on the corner of Second and Locust streets, built in 1848, — the building once occupied by Mrs. Thompson Bird as a private school, — was burned down April 11, thus removing another old landmark. Among those who saw. or read of, the fire with many a regret were L. H. Bush, H. Y. Smith, Henry Good, W. K. Bird, Mrs. W. W. Moore, Mrs. F. M. Hubbell, Mrs. Ma tilda Henry and Mrs. Gus Smith, former pupils of Mrs. Bird. John McCullough, who made his first appearance in 1880, returned to Des Moines in April, '82, and made a powerful impression upon large audiences in his more robust tragic roles. The gathering storm of sentiment in favor of Constitutional Prohibition received new strength locally, when Judge W. H. McHenry, of the District court, a rock-ribbed democrat, announced by letter at a Business Men's Tem perance Meeting April 10, that he would support the proposed amendment, giv ing his reasons therefor. A historic Fort Des Moines home, that of Rev. Thompson Bird, erected in 1847, in tne open space surrounded with hazel brush on the square east of Fourth street on Grand avenue, was destroyed by fire April 19. "The Big Distillery," the International Alcohol Works, was in full operation early in May, changing the simple elements of corn, etc., into alcohol, to sup ply the Glasgow and Marseilles market. The first commencement at Drake LTniversity occurred in June, 1882, and was an event from which date many improvements in the northwestern end of the city, and, far more than that, an event of great significance to the intellec tual and moral life of the community, and of the middle west. The deadly tornado, early in June, which destroyed so many lives and dam aged so much property in Grinnell — deeply stirred the sympathies of the people of Des Moines. Mayor Carey called on the city for aid and the response was speedy, eliciting hearty thanks from Mayor Perry of Grinnell. At a meeting of citizens $1,217.26 was promptly raised as a relief fund, and plans were laid for early shipment of clothing. Subscriptions came in later increasing the total by several hundred dollars. A home benefit concert still further increased the fund. Miss Frances Willard, the temperance evangel, president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union made two addresses in Des Moines June 11, one in Moore's Opera House, the other at Lewis's Opera House on the east side. This womanly woman made a profound impression, stirring many to action for the cause of Prohibition. The Sheuerman Brothers came from Marengo to Des Moines, and, overhaul ing the glucose factory, Eighth and Vine, at an expense of $75,000, inaugurated the Capital City Woolen Mill, which in the summer of '82 was in full running order with a small army of employes. They also opened a salesroom on Locust street and began reaching out for the large business which afterward was drawn their way. The Woolen Mill was a conspicuous example of what the aggressive railroad policy of local promoters was doing and was destined to do for Des Moines, for the removal from Marengo yvas because of the shipping advantages offered by Des Moines. The Close of the Amendment Campaign. Then came the 27th of June, the day on which the voters of Iowa were called upon to decide the open question of an amendment to the Constitution prohib iting the sale of intoxicants as a beverage within the limits of the State. The approaches to the date were marked by frequent prohibition rallies and by thor ough organization on the part of the opponents of the measure. To the last the issue was in doubt. The women took an active part in the canvass and at the polls. Prayer meetings were held in the churches, and relays of women worked at the polls. The river cities polled a large vote against the amendment; but most of the interior cities and nearly all the interior counties gave majori- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 295 ties for it. In the size of its majority Des Moines led all the rest, giving 1,259 majority for the measure. The amendment carried the state by more than 29,000. There was jubilation in Des Moines. The bell of the Presbyterian church, at 10.30 that evening, rang out the signal of victory. On the evening following, the courthouse was crowded with jubilant women and men eager to find expression for their overflowing enthusiasm. That vet eran in the prohibition cause, Judge Nourse, called the meeting to order. Air. Sobeiski, who had taken active part in the canvass, first spoke. He was follow eu by Mrs. Laura G. Fixen, who had worked among the Scandinavians, Mrs. L. D. Carhart, State President 'of W. C. T. U., Mrs. Skelton, Miss Willard, Mrs. J. Ellen Foster and other prominent members of the W. C. T. U. It had been preeminently a woman's campaign, and the women felt they had a right to lead in celebrating the victory, — and the men cheerfully conceded their right. On July 7, Mr. Kasson, the Des Moines candidate, was nominated for Con gress by acclamation. The National Tariff Commission convened at the Aborn House September 15. This new body, created by President Arthur, as authorized by Congress, came to Des Moines to investigate the general conditions in the West with a view to reporting such revision of the tariff as in its judgment was found to be necessary. The Board of Trade entertained the Commission and a number of leading citizens presented conditions in Iowa. The wide scope of the com mission's inquiry may be inferred from the following committees appointed to present Iowa conditions to the attention of that body : Farm Products — C. F. Clarkson, B. F. Gue. Agricultural Implements — J. H. Given, Adam Dickey. Iron and Steel — S. J. Loughran, H. A. Noble. Lumber — C. H. Getchell, Robert Fullerton. Wool and Woolens — H. Sheuerman, W. W. Carpenter. Mining — Wesley Redhead, Rufus Ford. Labor — F. S. Whiting, Conrad Youngerman, J. P-. Clark, J. C. Regan. Miscellaneous Industries — George Lendrum, J. H. Windsor, L. H. Goode, W. E. Andrews, O. H. Perkins, J. A. Wilson, F. M. Gilbert, B. M. Ford, J. A. Ankeny, J. P. Bushnell, J. R. Serrin, F. V. Stone, F. M. Mills, N. W. Hunter. The Commission spent two days in listening to papers, also to speeches by Henry J. Philpott and W. W. Witmer, representing the Iowa Free Trade League ; Messrs. Loughran, Goode, Andrews, Gue, Noble, and others, on subjects of State and local interest. The value of this visit may have been inestimable : but few there be now who even know there existed a tariff commission prior to the one of recent creation ! All this while "The Diagonal" was reported progressing, but with Des Moines apparently left out, the city having thus far failed to respond to the road's de mands. Another movement to vote a tax was started; but in September 26 the proposed tax was voted down by over 1,300 majority. The Des Moines Northern was at this time open to Boone and running one train a day between Des Moines and Boone. On November 6 Des Moines was favored with through sleeping car service to and from St. Louis. The promoters of Des Moines' railroad interests, undeterred by the recent adverse vote, renewed negotiations with the Diagonal management, though with little apparent show of success. Meetings yvere held, committees were appointed, and from time to time thereafter the prospects were thought to be good ; but the desired end was still far in the future. The new City Hall, which was thought to be quite elegant in its time, was turned over to the city officials late in December. Even then the jail was thought 296 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY to be too small. But at the time there was a "Carnival of Crime," which crowded the jail. The Board of Trade in its report for 1882 showed that Des Moines' grain and wholesale trade shipments exceeded those of the previous year by about 20%, and that the manufacturing interests of the city had increased in about the same ratio. The city's coal interests had also been greatly developed. The Register's annual statement of Des Moines' building improvements makes 1882 the best year yet, showing improvements aggregating nearly $3,000,000. Among the larger items in its list are : R. P. Clarkson, residence, $12,000; W. L. White, residence, $10,000; O. H. Perkins, block, $30,000; State Insurance Company, building, $18,500; Goldman & Hyman, store buildings, $12,000; H. J. Rice, $12,000; City Hall, $25,000; F. Meek, business, $12,000; Warfield & Howell, $30,000; Wabash Round House and Machine Shops, $15,- 000; Clarkson Bros., Register block, $15,000; Des Moines Water Works, $75,- 000; Harry Elliott, dwelling, $12,000; Des Moines Bank, $14,500; street pav ing, $157,750; sewerage, $58,051; curbing, $24,161; sidewalks, $35,000; new Capitol building, $200,000; Pipe & Tile Company, machinery, $15,000; East Side City building, $18,000; F. W. Yorse building, $16,000; George Garver, dwelling, $18,000; the Gilcrests building, $15,200; International Distillery, $500,000; Gilbert Starch Works, $25,000; Gas Company, $50,000; Drake Univ ersity, $21,150; J. D. Seeberger, residence, $35,000. The city's business was reported as aggregating $32,804,300. The million items in this aggregate are: Agricultural Implements, $1,467,000; Coal and Wood, $1,200,000; dry-goods and notions, wholesale and retail, $1,785,000; fur niture and carpets, wholesale and retail, $1,080,000; groceries, wholesale and re tail, $5,110,000; manufacturing, $1,150,000; newspapers, book-binding and'print- ing, $1,130,000. 1883 THE YEAR OF PARTY PROTEST AGAINST THE DEFEAT OF PROHIBITION. J. M. Dixon, often mentioned in Des Moines history, and himself a historian of Polk county, died January 7, 1883, at the age of 58. Mr. Dixon's long asso ciation with journalism in Des Moines and with historical work in the local field gave him not a little prominence. His failing sight, in 1856, followed by total blindness, drew strongly upon popular sympathies. In '68 Mr. Dixon wrote a little book of personal experience in which he pathetically alluded to the devo tion of his wife who took up the pen he could no longer use, and thenceforth with it ministered to his thoughts and purposes. In his "Centennial History of Polk County," he also pays tribute to Airs. Dixon's loving service as his aman uensis. For fifteen years he worked on in darkness, his vivid imagination light ing up the gloom. In accordance with his desire, the burial was conducted by his brother editors and printers. Gathered at his home at the funeral were many who were closely identified with journalism in Des Moines, among whom were: B. F. Gue, W. H. Fleming, Tacitus Hussey, Frank M. Mills, J. S. Clarkson, L. F. Andrews and Will Porter. Prohibition in Politics. The prohibition forces were dealt a heavy blow on the 18th of January, when Judge Seevers of the Supreme court read the opinion of the Court in the case of Koehler & Lange vs. John Hall, appellant, appealed from the District court of Scott county, the purport of which was that the prohibitory amendment to the Constitution was invalid because of fatal errors in the transmission of the amendment through the General Assembly. Judge Beck's dissenting opinion was small consolation. Indignation meetings afforded only temporary relief. The alternative of beginning all over again, or appealing to the next General As sembly for a prohibitory law, was the question under discussion by the pro hibitionists of the Capital city. SCHMITT-HEXRY MANUFACTURING COMPANY .*_ RK5PI w" KRATZER CARRIAGE COMPANY ¦CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 297 Thousands of conventions have been held at the State Capital, the mere mention of which would be a vain repetition. But, the history of Des Moines includes no more intensely 'exciting assemblage than the State Temperance Con vention held in the "Academy of Music," on February 7, 1883. Men came from communities still smarting under the blow delivered them by the decision nulli fying the amendment they had so long worked for and so vigorously fought for, and to their lay minds the objections of the court were flimsy pretexts for un doing the work of years. They were in no mood for another siege; they de manded an assault. The majority report of the committee on resolutions read by Senator Clark, of Page,5 demanded "the earliest practical submission to the people of the question of amending the Constitution of the State," etc., and favored efforts to bring the question of prohibition before the next General As sembly. Hon. John McKean, of Jones, presented a minority report recommending immediate action, putting into effect "the will of the people as expressed by the vote of the 27th day of June last, by providing for an extra session," etc. A spirited debate followed in which General Weaver made an effective speech for immediate action. Judge Nourse took the same position. Isaac Brandt led those who doubted the wisdom and safety of an extra session. The discussion was continued in the evening. Judge McHenry, "the first democrat who had spoken," didn't want to be hindered in the way to prohibition ; he therefore favored earliest possible action. C. E. Fuller sustained his towns man, Brandt. He feared the present Senate could not be relied on to vote for prohibition. Many others from all parts of the State were heard, and finally the amendment calling for an early extra session, was submitted to a vote by counties resulting in a large majority for the amendment. Polk county voted 9 for and 15 against the proposed extra session. A startling event on the night of February 11, was the burning of the old Clapp block, then the best business block in the city. The fire began in the top and burned downward. The Masons, including the Commandery lost everything. Those officing in the second story lost nearly everything. The Citizens' National and other occupants of the first floor saved nearly everything of value. Mr. Clapp's direct loss was estimated at $26,186.82, which was covered by insurance. The Diagonal railroad project was revived in February. A representative of the road agreed to give a contract within thirty days, if the city would give the road the right of way. At a meeting on the East side on the 12th, it was decided that the right of way could be secured for $20,000, and a committee of five from each ward was appointed to raise the money. From that time until the third of March the coming of the Diagonal was in question ; but on March 4, the Register announced that the money had been pledged and the manage ment would let the contract. But other complications ensued which deferred for years the incoming of the Diagonal, — now known as the Great Western. It is difficult to realize that as late as 1883, Walnut street was irreverently referred to by the leading daily of the city as "Rum Row," and "Rat Row," because of the "long strings of tumble-down frame shanties owned by town-lot misers." The boom in Des Moines finally reached Walnut street. But one four-story building had been erected on that street for twenty-five years, until Charles Hewitt, the wholesale grocer, on Second and Walnut, decided to add two stories to his wholesale grocery house and build four stories on the lot adjoin ing. Messrs. Foster & Liebbe made the plans and work was soon begun, thus starting the building boom which in brief time made Walnut the principal busi ness street of the city. 5 Author of the Clark Enforcement law of 1886. 298 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The purchase by Mr. Harding, February 28, of the old residence prop erty of Colonel Hooker, on the Savery House site, marks the close of one of Des Moines' historic homes. The disbanding of the old Volunteer Fire Department February 28, and the organization of a paid fire department March 1, yvas one of the surface indica tions of the evolution going on in Des Moines. Henry Clay Dean, a resurrection from war-time history, addressed a large audience in Des Moines, March 6, in defense of the Christian faith from the onslaughts of Ingersoll. It yvas reported that as he rose to speak, his untidiness in dress caused some merriment, which led to a deprecatory remark by him coupled with a thrust at "well-dressed scoffers." Emma Abbott in opera, grand and otherwise, captured Des Moines in March, leaving the city, "in a glow of gratitude," to Mr. Foster for having given Des Moines "the most brilliant and delightful entertainments in its history." The great tragedian, Lawrence Barrett, made his first visit to Des Moines in April '83, giving the city a splendid presentation of his "Francesca da Rimini," with Otis Skinner, Louis James and Marie Wainright in the cast. Additional local interest was excited by reason of the appearance in the cast of Homer Cope, of Des Moines, who had made a reputation as a dramatic reader. The City Council, April 11, gave the Street Railway Company a second charter — a charter which afterwards figured prominently in the long-drawn- out litigation over the company's rights. The company as then composed was B. L. Harding, Wesley Redhead, R. K. Miller, John Beckwith, George Sneer and G. B. Hammer. The saloons closed in Des Moines on the 2d of May. The close was gen erally regarded as a protest against the high license recently placed upon the business. In a few days, however, the saloon-keepers came to terms, accepting the $1,000 license as fixed by the council. Resuming the thread of the story of prohibition. Governor Sherman had refused to call the General Assembly together in extra session. The Supreme court had refused to reverse its amendment decision. The democrats in con vention, in Des Moines on the 6th of June, had gone on record as opposed to constitutional prohibition and in favor of "a well regulated license law." Then came the republican state convention, significantly called on the first anniver sary of the vote on the amendment. The attendance was unprecedented and the interest was intense. What course should the dominant party take in the emergency? John A. Kasson, temporary chairman, gave the convention its key-note in his declaration that the republican party in this contest would not take the side of the saloon. The convention yvas in no mood to "trammel up the consequences." By an overwhelming majority it committed the party and the campaign to a demand upon the next General Assemblv to enact laws which would "provide for the establishment and enforcement of the principle and pol icy affirmed by the people at the non-partisan election," and pledged the party's faith to that end. The greenback state convention, in Des Moines on the nth of July, sus tained the republican position. _ Thus yvas the issue joined, and thus was prohibition, till then non-partisan, injected into party politics to the ultimate weakening of prohibition and of the republican party. And yet, so straight was the march of events to that end, and so clear seemed the duty of the hour, that anything less than an ac ceptance of the issue seemed the extreme of cowardice. The long threatened telegraphers' strike culminated in a walk-out on July 19. There was much local sympathy yvith the telegraphers because of the small salaries paid expert operators: but there was also much temporary inconven ience to the business interests of the city. In the end the strike resulted in the failure ofthe operators to secure the immediate increase of pay demanded. Meantime Drake University was fast progressing. Its new buildings were CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 299 nearing completion. General Drake had bought the Gillette tract, "the .key to University Place," and that portion of the city was fast becoming a beautiful and prosperous suburb. Already Des Moines had become the meeting place of Iowa miners and mine operators. The second gathering of those bodies occurred August 15, bring ing together many representatives of labor and capital. A memorial was agreed upon, for presentation to the next General .Assembly, asking the creation of a State Board of Labor to settle differences arising between employes and em ployers. Foster's "Academy," long closed for redecorating, opened August 23, as Foster's Opera House, with a christening address by F. W. Lehman, followed by Fay Templeton, in "The Mascotte." The "Grand Opera House" was opened a few days later with a return of Emma Abbott. The great Modjeska followed in "As You Like It." "Ben" Harrison afterward President, spoke on political issues at Moore's Opera House, September 21. On the stage with the speaker sat James Harlan, J. B. Grinnell, Ex-Governor Merrill and other notables. Judge Nourse, who presided, called out "Father" Clarkson, who had presided over a meeting in Indiana when William Henry Harrison was running for the presidency. The choir sang "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," arousing much enthusiasm. General Harrison surprised the audience by his masterly eloquence. The Apprentice Club was organized in November, '83, the purpose of which was "to bring together a number of congenial persons who may be willing to serve an apprenticeship at literary labor," etc. Its initial meeting at the Kirk wood parlors brought Rev. A. L. Frisbie to the front as chairman, Prof. R. D. Jones, secretary, and Mr. Frisbie, J. J. Hamilton, Sarah Collier and Mrs. A. B. Billington as a committee on plan, etc. Among the members besides those already named, are many who afterward gave evidence that theirs was no " 'prentice han.' " Among those are Mr. and Mrs. Berryhill, Leigh Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Rich, now of Dubuque, Miss Belle M. Gilcrest, James B. Weaver, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Whiting, E. H. Gillette, Mr. and Mrs. Clarey, Mr. and Mrs. S. Clark, Mrs. J. D. Drake, Miss Florence McDonald, etc. Clara Louise Kellogg flooded Foster's Opera House with song on the even ing of November 10. Madame Carreno, the brilliant pianiste, almost divided with the singer the honors of the evening. The campaign of '83 was fought on the new party lines, and as a conse quence there was a general reallignment, with large gains for the minority party. In Des Moines there was less defection than in the other cities of the State; and yet not a few leaders of thought in the Capitol city refused to follow their party in its new departure. "A new departure" not featured as a head-liner in the newspapers, but of deep significance to the children of several generations since 1883, was the introduction of the kindergarten into Irving School. Mrs. L. B. Collins, who for several years had been demonstrating the system in a private school to the satisfaction of many, was engaged by the School Board to introduce her meth ods into a public school. The result is known — the general introduction of the kindergarten in the schools of the city and the employment of kindergarten methods to a considerable extent in the lower grades. 1884 THE YEAR THE NORTHWESTERN ENTERED DES MOINES. The local movement for municipal reform received some impetus from the municipal convention of mayors and aldermen at the city hall January 8. The Capital city was represented by Mayor Carey and Aldermen Dracly, Garver, King, Holmes, Kavanagh, Youngerman, Robertson, Hyland, and Christy. _ It is significant of the movement of a quarter century later that the convention put itself on record as fully conscious that the cities of the State having "ar- 300 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY rived at mature years," required different regulations covering new conditions. The News regarded it as a matter of congratulation that the city offices, "were filled with men freer from monopolies and rings," than it had been for years. The Iowa movement for good roads, much in evidence at present, also had its origin in the Eighties. A State Road convention was held in Des Moines, January io, with Col. John Scott chairman. Polk county's representatives in the convention were C. F. Clarkson, J. B. Tiffin, R. S. Miller, J. M. Tuttle, William Patrick and D. F. Butin. The seed of the reform was well planted, but many years were required for germination. The inauguration of Buren R. Sherman, January 18, 1884, was notable for the elaborateness of the exercises. It was an "imposing dedication of the im posing new state house." Bands and military companies marched through the streets of Des Moines and everybody was out. The procession was decidedly spectacular. Seated on the platform with Governor Sherman were ex-Gov ernors Carpenter, Kirkwood and Newbold. Bishop Hurst offered prayer, Chief Justice Rothrock administered the oath of office. A reunion of several hundred native Pennsylvanians — the first of a series — was held in the city on the 12th of February. Judge Given, Colonel Lowrie, W. W. Witmer, M. H. King and Revs. Henry, Barnitz and Stewart were the principal orators of the occasion. The large and influential Blaine contingent in Des Moines had an enthus iastic ratification meeting in courthouse square on the evening of June 6. Judge Wright presided, and General Given, Judge Nourse, Dr. Hutchins, Gen eral Tuttle, Carroll Wright, Marcus Kavanagh and a host of others gave voice to the general jollification. The "new and magnificent" Masonic Temple, corner of Fifth and Walnut, was dedicated June 24, with an elaborate program. The leaven of municipal reform was working in '84. A mass meeting was held at the courthouse, June 30, on call of a number of taxpayers, in re sponse to the discovered duty of inaugurating a movement to establish the truth or falsity of charges against certain city officials. At an adjourned meeting a committee of one from each ward was appointed to investigate. Conrad Youngerman defended himself and Alderman Drady, and invited investigation. Later the committee reported a number of grave irregularities. The death of Dr. C. H. Rawson late in June removed a man of marked in fluence and usefulness in the community. The funeral from the Congregational church, was attended by many. The News of the 30th said : "There probably was never a larger funeral and greater grief manifested." Crocker Post, the Medical Societies and the Masons attended the funeral and passed resolutions of sorrow and sympathy. Not to be outdone by the republicans, the democrats held a big ratification meeting July 12, after learning of the nomination of Grover Cleveland. Bar low Granger presided, F. W. Lehman, Judge McHenry, W. H. McHenry, Jr., W. W. Witmer, H. J. Philpott and others eloquently ratified. The return of the Aliens to Terrace Hill long after the place became the subject of litigation, finally resulting in the re-possession of the property by the Aliens, was a gratification to many. Meantime, a younger generation had come on, and on the 31st of July, the halls of the grand old home were thrown open to a merry party of young people, the guests of Miss Bessie Allen. Rev. Dr. Emory Miller, now passing his last years in Des Moines, preached his first sermon as pastor of the First M. E. Church, October 12, 1884. The News describes the new pastor as "in many respects resembling his brother Judge William E. Miller, formerly of this city." The preacher used neither manuscript nor notes. He was even then referred to as "one of the foremost of Western pulpit orators." The Chicago & Northwestern which gained access to the State Capital first by lease in '79, acquired full possession of the line in the summer of 1884. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY sol The Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad Company was organized August i, 1870, under the general law of Iowa. It purchased the right of way of the Ioyva & Minnesota Railway Company, and by amended articles of date July 5, 1877, changed its name to the Des Moines & Minneapolis Railroad Company. On July 25, 1879, the company was leased to the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company. On the 24th of October, 1884, the C. & N. W. acquired the line by purchase. At the time of the lease the road was running from Des Moines to Callanan, in Hamilton county, Iowa. The gauge of the road between Des Moines and Ames, thirty- seven miles, was widened, and ever since the trains of the C. & N. W. have daily run over this line between Ames and the Capital. Des Moines was at fever heat on the night after the presidential election of 1884, and the fever continued until the result was finally determined. Rival bulletins and bonfires kept the crowds diverted until gradually, well on in the second yveek after election, there was a reluctant acceptance of the result by the republicans and great joy in the bosoms of the democrats. On the 20th of November the Iowa democrats had the day of their lives. The pent-up enthusiasm of years burst forth. Large delegations arrived at the State Capital by every train. In the evening an imposing procession in seven divisions pa raded the streets. Nearly all the 'leading democrats of the State reviewed the procession. The year 1884 showed material improvement on previous years. The total improvements were estimated by the Secretary of the Board of Trade, Mr. Bushnell, at $3,348,043. To this total were added the estimate of the manufac turing business of the city, namely $15,387,920; and the wholesaling during the year, $34,455,900. In these last two items, however, is some duplication. The chief physical improvements of the year were: Capitol, $194,397;' City — paving, parks, sewers, sidewalks and bridges, $153,865; business houses, Christy block, $20,000; Street railway, $30,000; Diagonal, $30,000; Edison Light Company, $65,000; Episcopal church, $40,000; Des Moines & Fort Dodge rail road, $23,000; C. H. Getchell, $15,000; Hogin & Smith, $31,200; L. Harbach, $32,000; Kirkwood House, $75,000; D. Lehane, $18,000; Masonic Temple, $30,000; G. W. Marquardt, $20,000; C. W. Pitcairn, $25,000; Standard Fuel Company, $20,000; Summerset Coal Company, $18,000; Shaver & Dows, $25,- 000 ; U. S. building, $25,000 ; Walnut Creek Coal Company, $20,000 ; Water Works Company, $66,000; C. Youngerman, $20,000; Baptist University, $20,- 000; Franklin School, $18,535; Thomas Hatton, $10,000; J. S. Polk, $20,000; Garver Coal Company, $45,000; International Distillery, $55,000; Joseph Wag ner, £13,000; J. K. Gilcrest, $13,000. The business statistics running into the millions were : Agricultural imple ments, $1,035,000; coal, $1,775,000; grain, $2,662,000; groceries, $3,450,000; pork, $1,892,000; stock, $2,632,000. The manufacturing statistics passing the million mark were: alcohol, $3,- 400,000; contractors' and builders' supplies, $1,750,000; pork packing, $1,225,000. 1885 THE YEAR THE NEW CAPITOL WAS DEDICATED. In the Eighties much was made of New Year's Day. In 1885, for example, among the ladies keeping open house were Mesdames C. C. Cole, A. P Foster, Egbert S. Page, M. P. Turner, John Beckwith, H. K. Love, L. Trepanier, Lew C. Smith, T. E. Brown, Carroll Wright, J. H. Windsor, B. L. Harding, and Miss Harriet Ankeny; on the East side, Mesdames S. B. Maxwell and George Garver and Miss Minnie York. In most of these open houses were large groups of assisting hostesses including hundreds of the leading ladies in Des Moines society at the time. The list of gentlemen callers includes several hundred of the leading professional and business men of Des Moines. Francis Murphy, the great temperance revivalist, began a series of meet- 302 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY ings in the Pavilion rink January 17, and took the city by storm. He was described as of medium height, with a fine physique, and "forunate in having that personal appearance which gains the confidence and respect of his audi ence before he utters one word." The Murphy meetings continued until Feb ruary 1, closing Sunday evening with an eloquent sermon delivered before nearly 4,000 people. Leigh Hunt, superintendent of the public schools of East Des Moines, was in January elected president of the State Agricultural College. Brilliant as he was, there was grave question in the minds of many of his friends as to his ability to cope with the problems of the institution at the time. Mr. Hunt's ability ultimately found its sphere in the then fast broadening field of high finance. The principal local event of the year 1885, was the opening of the new Capitol to the public. On the evening of January 27, Governor Sherman held a reception in the Governor's suite in the new building. All the department offices were thrown open to the public. By 7 :30 the front and rear entrances to the state house were thronged with thousands of interested and curious citizens eager to see the interior of the new building lighted up at night. The Gover nor was assisted in receiving by his predecessors, Ex-Governors Merrill and Stone. The elegantly furnished interior, beautiful at any time, was especially so when the rooms and halls were illuminated. Great satisfaction was evinced by the thousands who tramped through the building from sub-basement to attic. The Governor, perhaps the best "mixer," in the list of governors of Iowa, dis pensed both-handed hospitality right and left. Early in 1885 a jobbers and manufacturers' association began to make itself felt in the business life of the city. The association had been organized two years or more and had approached the question of freight rates with a force and comprehension which commanded respect. D wight L. Moody, the evangelist, made himself heard by thousands in Des Moines, March 13 and 15. The Pavilion was packed at every meeting. Even the "men's meeting" drew about three thousand. The directness of the pre sentation, not the preacher's grace of diction, was the impression left on the mind. Short, stout and rugged, the evangelist was a man physically fitted to carry heavy burdens ; and his face revealed a man who would fight and die for the faith. The great Ristori gave Des Moines a powerful interpretation of "Elizabeth" on the evening of April 4. Miss Mary B. Cope of Des Moines, the Mrs. Cope-Jacobs of the present, gave "Ingomar" as her initial play in her home city, April 16. Her talent as a reader prepared her friends for the success which attended her. Her Parthenia was a beautiful picture of civilization's inevitable mastery over the barbarian world. The visit of John Sherman, statesman, April 28, on his way to California, was due to interest in his Des Aloines relatives. The Senator was driven to the Hoyt Sherman place and gave himself up entirely to the pleasure of the visit. He did, however, grant a Register reporter an interview in which he gave his views on the double monetary standard which then was seriously alarming the business world. The remains of Col. Sumner F. Spofford found interment in Des Moines, April 29. The funeral was attended by the city officers, several ex-mayors and ex-councilmen and about sixty early settlers. Colonel Spofford had twice been elected president of the State Agricultural Society. While a resident of Des Moines he yvas active in the promotion of the city's interests. The visit of the Senate Committee on Inter-State Commerce, June 19, was the opportunity of the Des Moines Board of Trade to press upon Congress its necessities and ambitions, and the opportunity was not neglected. A general committee was created consisting of Messrs. Ingersoll, Watt, Witmer, Baker, Ainsyvorth and Bushnell, who in turn created a dozen special committees to PAIR GROUNDS %k m a a- CITY BATHING BEACH CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 303 meet the visiting statesmen and present their views. A reception was held at the Kirkwood on the evening of their arrival. The Senators present were : Piatt, Cullom and Harris. Commissioner McDill was followed by Messrs. See- berger, Watt, Harbach, Meek, Gue and others. J. Loughran, representing the retailers of Des Moines, read a paper covering the question of freight discrim inations, which was the main burden of the discussions which followed. The Fair Ground Permanently Located at Last. At last, after all its yvanderings and temporary sojournings, a permanent home for the State Fair was selected and purchased ! There is doubtless, no more beautiful site for a fair in the United States. Situated about two miles east from the State Capitol, it rises from the plain to a beautiful and sightly eminence from which the country for miles to the west, northwest and south west stretches out before the view. Sycamore street had not yet become Grand avenue and had not yet been extended east to the grounds. The visitor then took the Altoona stage route turning south at the foot of the hill; or, turning east from Wesley Redhead's suburban home, took the historic Four Mile road, turning north at the foot of the hill. The home of Calvin Thornton, from whom most of the land was purchased, still stands among the trees on the hill, just beyond the southeast corner of the grounds. The several pieces of land were first deeded to Wesley Redhead of the State Agricultural Society and by him deeded to the State. The price paid was $46,239.25. The date of the final transfer to the State was June 26, 1885. The directors had been entrusted with $100,000, half of which was appropriated by the State, the other half donated by citizens of Des Moines and railroad companies. With over $50,000 to ex pend for buildings and improvements, a landscape architect was engaged to draw plans and the work commenced. The grounds have long since outgrown the original plans and yet the enlargement and improvements have all been con sistent with the original plan. The taxpayers of West Des Moines held an indignation meeting in Grand Army Hall, June 29, the object of which was to get relief from what was re garded as an excessive burden of taxation upon city property. Mr. Polk pre sented a tabular statement showing that, whereas nearly every township in the county was assessed lower than in '84, Des Moines had been assessed $10,000,- 000, as against $5,882,800 in '84, and Lee toyvnship (East Des Moines) had been assessed $2,500,000, as against $1,956,470 in '84. A committee of fifty was appointed to memorialize the Equalizing Board. The assemblage of the woman suffragists of America in a "Woman's Con gress," 'in Des Moines October 7, was a notable gathering of the best known suffragists of America. The president of the Congress, Julia Ward Howe, de livered an eloquent address closing with: "The memories of noble women are all about us. . . . The achievements of many of our sisters call us on to new labors and new achievements. I de voutly hope and pray, therefore, that this Congress may both be worthy of those which have preceded and helpful to those which are to come after it." The address was received with a storm of applause which seemed some what to surprise the venerable woman behind the address. Several notable papers and discussions filled the hours of the three following days. An episode in the local campaign of '85 was the Gatch- Witmer debates on campaign issues, in which each held his own with ability and both decidedly won! But in the round-up Mr. Gatch, the republican candidate for represen tative, had the most votes. The campaign of '85 had hardly closed, (with the election of William Lar rabee to the governorship, before the persistent booster of the Eighties, Sec retary J. P. Bushnell, of the Board of Trade, was flooding the country with a 304 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY lengthy circular on "the Resources and Advantages of Des Moines," which the Register re-published under the somewhat euphemistic heading, "The Fortune Hunter's Paradise." Another on Des Moines "the greatest railroad center west of Chicago," with a picture of the new Capitol, followed in December. The Board of Trade reviewing the year 1885, reported Des Moines improv ing faster than any other city in the State. The total improvements in the city during the year aggregated $3,101,209. The value of business done during the year was estimated as follows: Manufacturing, $15,596,891; wholesale trade, $33,975,604. The real estate transactions of the year amounted to $3,- 750,000. The home insurance companies represented $1,235,000. The banks and loan and trust companies represented $1,600,000, capital; $435,500, surplus; average deposits, $1,826,000; real estate loans, $3,900,000. The chief public improvements of the year were: On Capitol building, $150,- 000; U. S. postoffice, $42,000; churches $18,000; bridges, $55,000; railroad depots, round houses, tracks, etc., $226,700; street railway, $27,000. The city improvements were: Streets, $34,464; paving, $95,651; sewerage, $26,204; sideyvalks, $11,445; opening streets, $25,000; curbing, $13,214; fire department, $9,563; culverts, etc., $2,419. That Des Moines was fast reaching out is shown by the figures of improve ments in the suburbs of that day as follows: North Des Moines, $83,600; Pros pect Park, $25,000; University Place, $84,225; Greenyvood Park, $75,000; Se vastopol, $18,500; Capitol Park, $83,300; Chesterfield, $25,000. 1886 THE YEAR OF THE STREET RAILWAY WAR. The inauguration of Governor Larrabee early in January was accompanied by a severe storm, but apparently the storm had no effect upon the citizens of Des Moines, for the rotunda on two floors was packed with eager humanity. Governor Larrabee's long and influential service in the State Senate had re sulted in an extended acquaintance at the Capital ; and, too, there was much interest in the views the Governor might present in his first inaugural. The coming of Salvini was the dramatic event of January 25. The trage dian's interpretation of "The Gladiator," made a profound impression — though rendered in an unknown tongue. February 24 was notable as the date on which the organization of the Pioneer Lawmakers of Iowa was effected. Des Moines welcomed the veteran legislators. An active reception committee met them at the trains and escorted them to carriages. In the evening a reception was tendered them at the Capitol by Governor Larrabee and other State officers. The historical value of the meet ings of this association is attested anew by the frequent references to its pro ceedings which are to be found in these pages. The happy reunion was sad dened by the sudden death of Judge Mitchell, of Nebraska. While in the midst of an address the Judge fell to the floor, his heart having ceased to perform its functions. In the spring of '86 one of the outgoing mayor's last acts was the rescinding of Frank Pierce's authority to act as special police. Pierce had made enforce ment odious by extreme measures against saloonists and against those sus pected of selling liquor without license. Pierce arrested a rowdy who had assailed him with abuse and took him before Justice Eggleston on the East side. The justice refused to commit the man and Pierce started with him for the police headquarters. Near the Northwestern depot the man broke loose, and a crowd of roughs surrounded Pierce and would doubtless have lynched him had not Deputy Marshal Zoernish interfered. On the Locust Street bridge the mob made another assault. Arriving at the City Hall, a crowd surrounded the build ing bent on "doing" Pierce. To pacify the crowd, Pierce was arrested for carrying concealed weapons. A reign of lawlessness followed, highly disgrace ful to the city that had led the vote of the State against the saloon. S T m E _I? T WEST DES MOTXES IN 1880 ¦*. (V \ t ".' X 4 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 305 That indefatigable promoter James C. Savery, who built the old Savery House and, later, the Kirkwood, was in 1886 ready and eager for another and larger hotel venture. Associating with him several capitalists who had faith in Des Moines possessed by him from the first, he proceeded to study locations with a purpose of erecting a hotel building which should cost a half-million or more. After studying the river front and other localities, he finally selected the northyvest corner of Fourth and Locust Street, thus doing much to make Locust street, next to Walnut, the chief business street of the city. The original stockholders of the New Savery took stock ranging all the way from J. C. Savery 's first subscription of $5,000 down to $300. It is stated tha<- the subscriptions were asked and obtained through an appeal to public spirit — the desire of all to see the population of Des Moines reach the 100,000 mark. The hotel boosters were : J . C. Savery, Wesley Redhead, Wesley Redhead & Co., William Phillips, Foster & Liebbe, Louis Harbach, G. W. Marquardt, Mar tin Tuttle, Mrs. Anna P. Bird, J. M. Coggeshall, Clarkson Brothers, Hawkeye Insurance Company, Capital City Gas Light Company, B. F. Dicks, W. W. Moore, C. Youngerman, Thomas Boyd, R. I. Scott, C. C. Cole and J. P. Clarke. The first banquet of the New England Society was given at the Kirkwood on the evening of March 25. Governor Larrabee presided. The several New England states were separately toasted : Maine, by Governor Packard, for merly of Louisiana ; Yermont by J. B. Grinnell, Rhode Island by J. C. Macy, New Hampshire, by John S. Runnells ; Connecticut, by George H. Lewis and George E. Hubbell ; Massachusetts, by W. A. Lamson and General Litchfield, and all New England by Rev. M. L. Williston. The city was "all torn up," late in March by the aggressive act of the street car magnate, Dr. Turner, in laying his "scrap-iron" track on West Fourth street, without authority or permission of the council. A resolution by Alder man Drady passed the council March 26, without dissent, instructing the com mittee on damages and the city solicitor to report as to the liability of the street car company for damages sustained by the driving of spikes into the cedar blocks between Walnut and Sycamore streets. A citizens' meeting followed, in which Messrs. Cummins, Lehman and others discussed the troublesome "old charter" given without suitable regard for the growth of the city. That charter, said Mr. Cummins, gave Dr. Turner "abso lute right to lay his line anywhere and at any time he sees fit." This the city had no power to do. The question of a charter to the new Des Moines Broad Gauge Street Railway Company, before the city had rid itself of the old com pany, was seriously considered — a question very pertinent in view of subsequent legal complications. A citizens' committee with a memorial to the council, and other activities, belong to this period of the city's evolution, evincing much public spirit, if not many results. The Clark enforcement law in operation in the spring of '86 resulted in the closing of all the saloons in Des Moines. Until that law went into effect many saloonists in the city were defiant. The Brown impeachment trial occupied much time and space during the month of May. Judge Nourse addressed the Senate for Auditor Brown, and Colonel Keatley for the House board of managers. The well-earned promotion of H. F. Royce, superintendent of the Iowa Division, to the General Superintendency of the Rock Island road transferred to Chicago a man held in high esteem in Des Moines. After long consideration the City Council, June 29, granted a charter to the Broad Gauge Street Railway. There was vigorous opposition. The State Capitol Commission terminated its existence June 30, 1886. The first commission was organized in the spring of 1870. The long-drawn out impeachment trial of State Auditor Brown ended July 306 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 14, with an acquittal of the accused. Judge Nourse and F. W. Lehman were the counsel in the case, Nourse for Brown and Lehman for the House managers. A Des Moines Real Estate Dealers' Association was organized in July, '86 with L. W. Goode president. Among those active in the association were Messrs. Adams, Hastie, Wells, Hill, Gray, Polk, Hatton, Garver, Sanford, Keeler, Jackson and Clapp. Mass meetings were held in August in protest against the brutal murder of Rev. G. C. Haddock in Sioux City. Indignant speeches were made by a number of citizens, and a committee was named to arrange for two additional meetings, one on each side of the river. The State Fair on the new grounds, with new buildings and large exhibits, was for the period, a success notwithstanding bad weather part of the time. The total receipts were $38,000. A Des Moines Improvement Company, working in cooperation with the Board of Trade, was intended to be a "fountain head," from which the city would in future draw financial strength ; or, to speak literally, a business body "capable of giving solid backing to every public enterprise." Its mission in its day seems to have been somewhat like that of the Greater Des Moines Commit tee of the present. A committee to solicit funds and to map out plans for work was appointed September 17, consisting of three from each ward as follows: H. M. Pickell, L. M. Sandford, W. E. Hazen, Thomas Hatton, S. B. Tuttle, Simon Casady, C. Youngerman, H. L. Chaffee, C. P. Holmes, S. A. Robertson, George H. Maish, Isaac Brandt, H. E. Teachout and George Garver. A national gathering of unusual significance, inasmuch as it was the first to be held beyond the Mississippi, yvas the convention of the American Board of Foreign Missions, which held its first session on the evening of October 5, and continued until the evening of the 7th. Among the distinguished members of the Congregational body who occupied seats on the stage in the Grand Opera House at the opening session were: Mark Hopkins, president; Prof. E. C. Smyth of Andover, President Bartlett of Dartmouth College; Dr. J. L. With row, Boston; President Strong of Carleton College; Dr. W. H. Ward, editor of the Independent ; Dr. Fairchild of Oberlin ; President Magoun of Grinnell, ex-Governor Merrill and a number of other prominent preachers, college pres idents and publicists. Dr. Frisbie was at home to this large body of Congre gationalists, and, the local brethren of the Congregational church, and of other churches, contributed much to the comfort and enjoyment of the city's guests. One of the many notable papers of the convention was by Lyman Abbott on the agreements and differences of the association's members. The last word of the venerable President Hopkins was an address of great power. One of Jonathan P. Dolliver's most effective campaign speeches in Des Moines was at a political meeting presided over by John A. McCall, with a long list of prominent vice presidents — the meeting opening a brief local campaign for the republicans. The first reunion of the Fourteenth Iowa since the war was held October 12. Col. W. T. Shaw presided. Mayor Phillips welcomed the veterans and Colonel Shaw responded. General Tuttle, Captain Wilkinson and others spoke. On the forenoon of the second day, headed by Colonel Shaw, the veterans marched to the Capitol. The Iowa Commandery of the Loyal Legion was organized in the parlors of the Aborn House, November -23. Among the notable lowans who assembled on that occasion yvere Colonel Henderson, Ex-Governor Gear, Colonel Hepburn, Maj. Hoyt Sherman, also several other eligibles residing at the Capital city. A strong move to secure for Des Moines the proposed Rock Island machine shops was made by prominent citizens in the fall of '86. The election of Frank D. Jackson Secretary of State was highly gratify ing to many at the State Capital, ensuring the continued residence in the city of. the vice president of the Royal Union Insurance Company. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 307 The death of H. M. Hoxie, General Manager of the Missouri Pacific Rail road, November 23, removed one of the best known and most successful of the many well known and successful men gone out from Des Moines. He had suf fered greatly for six months or more, and had been twice under the surgeon's knife. Mr. Hoxie's frequent visits in Des Moines, the guest of Judge Mitchell, to whom Mrs. Hoxie was related, had renewed from time to time the ac quaintanceship made by him as a boy, youth and young man. "Hub" Hoxie was a boy in Ft. Des Moines when Judge Casady came in 1846. He was ap pointed by President Lincoln United States Marshal for Iowa, and after the war performed an important part in the construction of the Union Pacific railroad. His later career as railroad builder and promoter was successful, though the trying experiences he underwent sapped his strength. He was fifty-six years old. His remains are included among the honored dead in Woodland Cemetery. Two special trains of six or seven cars brought to Des Moines on the 26th the friends of Mr. Hoxie from a distance, including many leading railroad managers and business men of the country. Among the many sincere mourn ers was Gen. G. M. Dodge, whose tribute to his friend of thirty-one years9 was such as one man rarely pays to another. The injunction case of J. E. Pearson against John S. Kidd — "the big dis tillery case" — came before Judge Given early in December. Messrs. Runnells, Cole, and Todhunter appeared for plaintiff and F. W. Lehman for defendant. Judge Given refused to grant the injunction. Gatherings of native Pennsylvanians, Yermonters, etc., had been held in Des Moines ; it now remained for the native lowans to banquet. An execu tive committee, consisting of Thomas S. Wright, J. G. Berryhill, Marcus Kavanagh, John A. McCall, J. W. Cheek and P. H. Bristow, decided on Decem ber 28 as the date of the banquet. Nearly two hundred members were pres ent with ladies. T. S. Wright addressed the meeting, followed by Governor Larrabee, and others. A quartette of native lowans, Mrs. Cheek, Miss Laird and Messrs. Bristow and Keeler sang an original Iowa ode. The Board of Trade report on the year 1886 presented the same satisfactory conclusions and hopeful report. The improvements of the year aggregated $3,426,600; residences and business houses, '$1,994,000; suburban, $553,700; city, $2,872,900; churches, $45,000; schoolhouses, $22,200; opera houses, $12,- 000; hotels, $65,000; postoffice, $25,000; courthouse, $10,000; Capitol, $50,000; fair grounds, $102,500; water company, $75,000; gaslight company, $10,000; electric light company, $60,000; railways, $75,000; street railway companies, $120,000 ; bridges and culverts, $25,000 ; sewerage, paving, curbing and grading, $209,700. The value of manufacturing was placed at $15,471,556; the value of business, $32,893,621. The projected improvements reported were numerous a~>d various. 1887 THE YEAR OF REACTION AGAINST ENFORCEMENT. "Another bridge," was the demand of the East side at a mass meeting held early in January, 1887. It was resolved that a committee be appointed to form a company for the purpose of building a bridge across the Des Moines. The committee named consisted of Messrs. Brandt, McDonnell, Goldstone, Harter, Schmucker, Van Ginkle and Kidd. At an adjourned meeting the committee favored a bridge at some point between Fifth and Ninth streets. Finally the native New Yorkers had their banquet at the Aborn House, January 12. Barlow Granger presided. Toasts drew responses from Dr. Fris bie, D. O. Finch, A. L. Childs. Galusha Parsons, W. A. Nash, T. E. Brown, and W. H. Fleming. On the 23d of February, Judge Conrad rendered a decision permanently 8 In the State Register of November 27, 1886. 308 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY enjoining the International Distillery Company (the "Big Distillery") from continuing operations. Differing yvith Judge Given, he held that the distillery could manufacture within the State only for purposes held lawful in the State, namely for "mechanical, medicinal, sacramental and culinary purposes." The case was appealed to the Supreme court which finally confirmed the decision, thus putting out of commission one of Des Moines largest industries. An advance guard of the Salvation Army put in its appearance in Des Moines February 2~, and excited much curiosity. The small force was commmanded by Major Dale. Mrs. Dale was chief musician, her instrument being an accordeon. An Enforcement, Murder and Its Consequence. The strained condition, resulting from a rigid enforcement of the Clark law on the one side, and a determined attitude of resistance on the other, led down to a startling homicide on the 7th of March, 1887. Constable E. S. Logan had arrested a driver while in the act of delivering beer for Hurlburt, Hess & Co., wholesale druggists. The constable went with the man to the store that he might confer with his employers. The two there met another teamster employed by the firm, named Low, who became abusive and advised the arrested man to resist. Logan then arrested Low, and in the melee which followed Low drew a revolver and shot Logan, killing him almost instantly. The coroner's jury found Low had acted in self-defense. Nevertheless, Low was arrested and charged with murder in the first degree. The prohibitionists and respecters of law generally were shocked and indig nant over the killing. Two days after the occurrence a mass meeting was held in University Place at which resolutions were passed deploring the loss of a brave officer of the law and denouncing the lawlessness of those engaged in the liquor traffic, and pronouncing the finding of the coroner's jury outrageous. Wesley M. E. church and other bodies took the same ground and the law- sustaining element of the community became thoroughly aroused to the enormity of the deed. A sequel to the murder was the seizing of Hurlburt, Hess & Company's stock of liquors, after a trial before Justice Garrett, March 15. Constable Pierce, who had placed the liquors in storage, was, on March 24, accosted by United States Marshal Etheridge, who, armed with a writ of replevin, made demand on him for the goods. The constable took counsel of Baker, Bishop & Haskins, and on their advice refused to deliver the goods. Both sides then played a waiting- game. On the 25th of April, Low was indicted for murder in the first degree. His employer, J. R. Hurlburt, was indicted on a like charge. County Attorney Phil lips maintaining that there was "a conspiracy to kill." The popular feeling became more tense when it became known that the grand jury had dismissed three cases, one against Pierce for "wilfully and maliciously oppressing the Jonathan Lodge of Odd Fellows ; another against Pierce and George Potts for maliciously oppressing a registered pharmacist, and the third, against William Reeves, a detective, for assuming to act as an officer — all growing out of attempts at enforcement. Those were troublous days for Frank Pierce. In an altercation with Mar shal Botkin whom he had arrested and pulled out of a wagon, a policeman in turn arrested Pierce, and dragged him to the jail, inflicting upon him several blows. In return for offensive language used, Deputy Marshal Burns knocked Pierce down. Justice Emerson released Pierce on one hundred dollars bail. The Capital remarked at the time that Pierce was an especial object of hatred. The temper of the time may be surmised by the Capital's comment: "Constable Pierce, single-handed, escorting a prisoner half a mile on that street, would have been murdered before he could reach the courthouse, or [would] have been overpowered and robbed of his prisoner." On the third of May. Pierce published a card justifying his every act, but apologized for allowing his temper CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 309 to get control of him, leading him to use "language unbecoming in a Christian gentleman." On May 27, Judge Love, of the Federal court, directed Constable Pierce to return to Hurlburt, Hess & Co., the liquors held in custody. The court order was that Pierce be incarcerated until the liquor is returned. Pierce's attorneys advised that the goods were in the custody of the District court and could not be turned over without authority from that court. Mean while Pierce was incarcerated in jail. On the 28th, District Attorney Phillips refusing to dismiss the suit, Judge Kavanagh decided he had no authority to dis miss the case. Pierce's next move was a demand for a writ of habeas corpus, on which he obtained his freedom. Mayor Phillips, convinced that municipal problems could not be solved with out new legal power, expressed his views in a message and sent copies to officials in other cities, proposing a meeting of mayors. A State convention of city marshals and chiefs of police in Des Moines, May 10, was chiefly for the consideration of the difficult enforcement problems of the period. Professor Bartlett, to whom Des Moines owes much for his persistent and well directed efforts to supply lovers of music with music of a high order, held a pioneer May Festival in Des Moines in 1887, with the Chicago Chamber Music Society, the Lotus Male Quartette of Chicago, the Philomelia Quartette of Des Moines, — with Mrs. Bartlett first soprano, Sallie Compton second soprano, Metta Hills first alto, and Carrie Clark second alto, and Gerberich's Grand Orchestra of thirty-eight pieces. Governor Larrabee opened the festival with an encourag ing address. The Supreme Court in June rendered a decision the effect of which was to sustain Dr. Turner's position that the franchise granted him in 1886 provided that the right to operate street cars in Des Moines was "exclusive for the term of thirty years." The decision was the subject of much comment. By some it was styled "a calamity," "an outrage," and "contrary to all precedent." The "Broad Gauge" promoters and investors talked of compromise ; but Dr. Turner, interviewed by the Capital was quoted as saying: "Do you suppose I would have spent one- fourth of my life and $100,000, if I had not supposed Des Moines was honest when she gave me a charter?" Another sequel of the Pierce-Hurlburt imbroglio was the burning of the wholesale drug house of Hurlburt, Hess & Co., on the early morning of July 9- Well-directed work by the fire department saved the building. Constable Potts added fuel to the fire of popular indignation on the early evening of August 12 by shooting and seriously wounding John Hardy, whom he tried to arrest for keeping liquors with attempt to sell. Potts' plea was self- defense, Hardy having seized a ball-bat and raised it to strike him. An August event was the opening of Hotel Goldstone on the site of the old Union House on the east side. The National Encampment of the Sons of Veterans met with Burnside Camp in Des Moines in August. The general meetings were in the Joe Hooker Post hali. The Kirkwood House was headquarters. Many States were represented and the order was locally strengthened by the encampment. On Sunday, August 28, the remains of John A. Elliott were buried in Wood land Cemetery. The deceased had several years before retired from the presi dency of the State Insurance Company of Des Moines, and had spent much of his time in travel and in rest in California and Florida. Mr. Elliott became a citizen of Des Moines after having served as Auditor of State. He helped organ ize the Citizens' National Bank and the State Insurance Company. The bearers 310 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY at his funeral were his old friends and business associates, R. P. Clarkson, S. B, Tuttle, J. S. Polk, Fayette Meek and John Wyman. The candidacy of Albert B. Cummins and Adam Baker for State representa tives on a platform of opposition to state-wide prohibition, and the candidacy of James G. Berryhill and Oldfield on the regular republican ticket brought to the front of affairs two young men who were destined to take prominent part in the future of the city and the State, one as Governor of Iowa for three terms and at present United States Senator, the other as a student of municipal problems to whom is accorded the honor of the initiative in the development of the Commis sion Plan of City Government which has found its best exemplification in Des Moines. Though the two men took opposite grounds on the prohibition question, both were elected, their stronger personality having drawn votes away from their respective associates. Both were active in the discussion of the question of rail road rates which later was projected upon the General Assembly by the vigorous railroad regulation policy of Governor Larrabee. The first reunion of the Hornets' Nest Brigade in Des Moines in October drew from far and near about eight hundred veterans. On the 12th the regi ments separately met and organized, — the Second Iowa with J. M. Tuttle, presi dent ; J. B. Weaver, vice president ; W. L. Davis, secretary ; and John H. Looby, treasurer; the Seventh Iowa with J. C. Parrett, president; Samuel Mahon, vice president; J. M. McMullen, second vice president; J. W. Akers, treasurer; and Mr. Baer, secretary; the Twelfth Iowa with Colonel Edington, president; R. Terrill, secretary; the Fourteenth Iowa with W. T. Shaw, president, and R. Wheatley, secretary. At three P. M. General Tuttle called the Brigade meeting to order, and Mayor Phillips delivered the welcoming address. Colonel Eding ton responded, paying high tribute to the hospitality of the Capital city. The evening session was devoted to short addresses by General Tuttle, Colonel D. J. Palmer, Captain Akers, Major Mahon, Colonel Ryan and, on behalf of the Sons of Veterans, John A. McCall. The next day the veterans marched to the Capitol, where they were received by Governor Larrabee and Captains Lyons and Wil kinson. A remarkable prohibition mass meeting was held in Foster's Opera House Sunday evening before election. The conspicuous feature of the assemblage was the predominance of temperance democrats in its organization. It was pre sided over by G. V. Haines, a life-long democrat. Among the vice presidents were P. M. Casady, J. S. Mahana, G. M. Hippee, E. J. Likes, Captain Kennedy, Lowry W. Goode, William Phillips, M. D. McHenry, and many other well-known democrats. Barlow Granger, the pioneer democrat of the county, made a strong plea for temperance and drew from recent history to show the temperance record of his party. He closed the principal address of the evening by declaring that "in this nineteenth century any party that espouses the cause of the saloon will go down into disgrace — and ought to." The dismissal of the Torts case on the recommendation of the United States District Attorney is all that need be said of the charges against the belligerent constable. The animus which prompted the opposition to the aggressive con stable was shown in an attempt to burn Potts' house one night, the house having been saturated with coal oil and set on fire. The improvements in Des Moines during the year 1887, as estimated by the Board of Trade under Mr. Bushnell's supervision, aggregated $3,520,733. Of this sum, $2,967,933 represented residences and business houses, and $532,800 represented city, suburban and other improvements. Interesting items under this last heading are: Churches, $109,500; schools and colleges, $67,000; opera houses, $32,000; hotels, $252,500; postoffice, $55,000; water company, $50,000; gas-light company, $48,000; street railroads, $60,000; railroads, bridges, round houses, grading, track-laying, $695,000; sewerage, paving, curbing, grading $154,300. The manufacturing product reported was $14,505,100; the wholesale trade, $26,851,860. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 311 l888 THE YEAR STREET CARS WERE ELECTRIFIED. On February 6, a large new chapel of the University of Des Moines was ded icated to Christian education. This structure forms the basis of the present en larged and beautiful main building of Des Moines college. Rev. H. L. Stilson, afterward president of Des Moines college, delivered an able dedicatory address on "Denominational Colleges necessary to Denominational Growth." The East side was greatly encouraged, in March, '88, by the location of the Tibbies Sewing Machine Manufactory near the fair ground, also by the location of a cotton mill on five acres on the Rock Island road, a short distance west of the fair ground. The Republican State Convention of March 21, to select delegates to the Republican National Convention, yvas memorable because it brought out Jona than P. Dolliver for temporary chairman, giving this promising young orator an opportunity to catch the ear of the nation with his happy combination of humor and eloquent appeal. This was not Dolliver's first essay in convention oratory, as has been frequently stated, for years before in a speech nominating Gilbert B. Pray for Supreme court reporter, he had lifted a convention to its feet with enthusiasm in response to his plea for a recognition of young republi canism. The convention of '88 was notable in that it recorded the personal triumph of James S. Clarkson over a powerful combination of his enemies, the combina tion led by F. W. Faulkes of the Cedar Rapids Gazette. When the Linn county delegation, refusing to follow Faulkes' lead, swung its twenty-one votes for Clarkson, the convention went wild with enthusiasm and the result was assured, and on the deciding ballot Clarkson led all the rest. A citizens' meeting April 5 raised about $8,000 for pushing the claims of Des Moines as a trade and manufacturing center. D. B. Lyon and Judge Kavanagh were the chief inspirers. The manufacturers and capitalists of Central Iowa met in mass convention in the Grand Opera House, Des Moines, May 15-18, for the discussion of rate questions and other subjects of vital interest to shippers. The committee of arrangements were the following representatives of Des Moines manufacturers : N. S. McDonnell, L. Harbach, H. B. Hedge, J. M. Christy, O. L. F. Brown, J. A. Jackson, Thomas Hatton and E. W. Truesdell. The Commercial Exchange under the influence of the active and resourceful temporary secretary, J. E. Clary, did much effective work during the year. The Supreme court in June sustained the Narrow Gauge as against the contention of the Broad Gauge street railroad, declaring that the city could not lawfully interfere with the track-laying of the Narrow Gauge. On the 25th of June the New Hotel Savery was thrown open and thousands inspected it, from attic to basement. The entire structure was brilliantly lighted by electricity. It was so far in advance of the Old Savery in "all the modern improvements," that to the early settlers it seemed more like an Arabian Night's Dream than a reality. On the evening of the Fourth of July the hotel was for mally dedicated with music and with congratulatory speeches by B. F. Kauffman, A. B. Cummins, Milo W. Ward, James C. Savery and others. Landlord Riseley and the hotel company were profusely complimented by the speakers and guests. The nomination of Harrison for the presidency was duly ratified at the Capital city; but not with the uncontrollable enthusiasm which marked the ratification of Blaine's nomination four years before. Having had a costly experience with cedar block paving, the city council sent a paving committee east, in the summer of '88, to investigate brick paving. The ultimate result of the investigation may now be seen in the miles of home manufactured brick paving on the city's streets. A meeting of Kinsman and Joe Hooker posts in memory of General Sheri dan, lately deceased, was held August 7, with Commanders Guthrie and Schooler 312 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY in charge. J. R. Sage and others presented feeling resolutions and addresses were delivered by Captain Hull, Colonel Gatch, Railroad Commissioner Campbell Captain Wilkinson, Colonel Godfrey and Commander Consigny; Homer D. Cope read "Sheridan's Ride." On the 1 8th of September, President W. W. Witmer and his associates of the Commercial Exchange, and a delegation of newspaper men made a tour of thirty-four factories in Des Moines. There yet remained twenty-four other factories to be visited on the following day. The extent of the several factories visited, the number of employes engaged, the quality of the equipment and the reports made as to the value of business — all together greatly impressed the visitors with the start made by the city in manufactures. "The viaduct" over the railroad tracks at last, in 191 1, a reality, passed be yond the "dream period," and became a formidable movement late in the Eighties, but was turned aside. An all-day Harrison meeting was held in the city, November 2, with campaign speeches afternoon and evening and with any number of speakers ; James C. Jordan, the hero of many a whig and republican campaign, presided over the West side meeting, which was addressed by Senator Allison. On the East side, Stewart Goodrell 7 presided and Messrs. Cheshire, Wilkinson and Akers were the speakers. There was an immense parade in the early evening headed by General Tuttle. Later, Colonel Hepburn was the orator at the Capital City Opera House, and John A. Kasson at the Grand. The day closed with fireworks. The opening of "Iowa's first cotton mill" occurred November 26th. The capacity of the mill was 200 looms, 6,000 spindles and 30 cards. The producing capacity was 10,000 yards per day besides cotton bats. Nearly a thousand per sons were present "to see the wheels go round," Rev. A. L. Frisbie, Isaac Brandt, Wesley Redhead, Rev. Ida Hultin, and others made congratulatory speeches. The Messrs. Mason, managers, happily responded. The event of December 19, 1888, was the inauguration of electricity as a motive power in the city street railway system. The first car started at Sixteenth and East Grand. It was packed with men and women. Only one car was ready on that day, but regular trips with three cars were promised soon. The published report on business conditions and building improvements for 1888 came from John E. Clarey, acting secretary of the Commercial Exchange. It aggregates the building improvements in West Des Moines at $1,775,010. The principal items in the list are the Savery Hotel, finishing and furnishing, $100,000; the High School, $65,000; Iowa Loan and Trust Company building, $37,000; Postoffice and Court building, $113,000; Hawkeye Oat Meal Company, fitting and equipping, $17,500. The principal East side improvement was the Des Moines Packing Company, packing house, $100,000; the Tibbies Sewing Machine factory, $26,000. The general and public improvements aggregated $636,300; the chief items of which are: Water Company, $75,000; Telephone Company, $25,000; Street Railway Company, $18,000; Gaslight Company, $25,000; North Des Moines Water Works Company, $50,000; Belt Line (and river line) Railroad, $87,000, Electric Railway Company, $75,000; city grading and paving, $30,000; cement walks, $40,000; C. St. P & K. C. bridge, stone house, trestle, etc., $83,100; West Motor Line (two mile road for steam motor), $45,000. Des Moines' factory products were estimated at $9,485,950, an increase of $i,002,650.8 Des Moines' jobbing trade during the year yvas placed at $20,348,650; an increase of $2,478, 500.8 The coal mined during the year was placed at 575,361 tons, an increase of 7 Son of the pioneer, Stewart Goodrell, 8 Mr. Clarey and Mr. Bushnell were wide apart in their estimates : both were evidently liberal estimates. [> j h.I 'a? *A< - 1 * - ;f '•' i V « T ** ¦ . .-.. .'* < m, t .. ¦ 1 XEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON EAST SIDE OF RIVER, SHOWING THE NEW LOCUST STREET BRIDGE AND GRAND AVENUE BRIDGE. TAKEN FROM YARD OF PUBLIC LIBRARY CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 313 154,082 over 1887. The value of the output of coal was placed at $10,000,300, an increase of $250,000. The real-estate business of the year as compiled by T. E. Cox, of the Real Estate Association, was placed at $12,849,073. The number of people employed by manufacturing industries, wholesale houses and other employing bodies was placed at 5,315. Of these, 325 were traveling salesmen ; 4,408 were male accountants, laborers, etc. ; 582 were females in various occupations. l88cj THE YEAR THE "GREATER DES MOINES" MOVEMENT WAS BORN. The new year found the citizens' committee and the City Council at odds as to the amount of the city's indebtedness and the questioned regularity of some of the council's acts. The controversy lodged in the public mind the con viction that publicity and direct responsibility were essential to local self-gov ernment, thus making large contribution to public sentiment in favor of municipal reform. Eight State conventions were held at the Capital during the first week of the new year. The Tibbies' Manufacturing Company eagerly sought and enthusiastically welcomed, soon came to grief. Suit was brought by S. A. Robertson for money on contract for erecting the company's factory. The management had agreed to turn over to Robertson the money raised from Des Moines subscriptions, and the plaintiff asked that the company be enjoined from diverting moneys to other purposes. A temporary injunction was granted. The defendents moved to dissolve the injunction on the ground that they had no authority to dispose of the subscriptions in that manner, and that the meeting in which such action was taken was illegal, inasmuch as it was held outside the State of Illinois, in which the company was incorporated. The court ruled that the board had the right to appropriate its funds in payment of the Robertson debt. Judge Given assured the public by the statement that the enterprise was on a sound footing, and harmony was all that was needed to make it a success. But the needed harmony was not forthcoming and suffice to say, the enterprise so bravely began soon "ceased," leaving a large brick building as a monument to misdirected effort. The city's evolution from darkness to electric light went through the second stage early in 1889, by the substitution of gasoline for coal oil as an illuminator for its streets. North Des Moines, then a separate municipality, in January, became involved in a quarrel between John MacVicar, recorder, and the council. The council took action for the recorder's removal. Mr. MacVicar procured from Judge Con rad a temporary restraining order commanding the council to "refrain from enter ing upon the investigation of the charges and specifications preferred," and from the removal of the incumbent "by reason of his refusal to sign certain certificates of assessment," etc. At a meeting of the council, January 29, Recorder MacVicar read a state ment giving his reasons for not signing the paving certificates in question, the principal one being that they had not been duly signed by the town engineer, the council having ignored that official by appointing a committee to act in his stead. At a later meeting new certificates were issued obviating the recorder's objection, peace was restored, and nothing more was said of removing the recorder. It is interesting to note that at this meeting Councilman Conrad reported the population of North Des Moines as between eighteen and nineteen hundred. There was rejoicing among the members of the Y. M. C. A. late in January, over the completion of subscriptions for their building, afterwards erected on the corner of Fourth and Grand. The sum of $51,000 had been subscribed, besides real estate donations amounting to $6,000. 314 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The Des Moines Women's Club was, as far back as 1889, a power to be reckoned with in municipal affairs. At a council meeting early in February, a club petition was read calling attention to the propriety of placing female pris oners under the care of a competent woman, and suggesting that the jailor's wife be appointed matron with a salary. The W. C. T. U. equally aggressive for the good of the city, presented a similar petition. The presentation by Mrs. A. Russell, of a portrait of General Crocker to the post named in the General's honor was the event of February 7. General Given received the gift with an eloquent tribute to his distinguished fellow soldier. Colonel Godfrey, Captain Maish, Judge Casady and others paid their individual tributes to Des Moines' foremost citizen-soldier. To the present generation it almost seems as though there had always been a Tippecanoe Club of Des Moines. But there was a "first banquet," of that venerable club, — and that less than a quarter-century ago ! The event was celebrated at the Aborn House on the night of February 9, 1889, with Major Holmdale in charge of the banquet itself and the indefatigable Col. D. M. Fox in charge of the soul-flow, with Judge Wright his representative as toast- master. To the toast "General William Henry Harrison," C. F. Clarkson re sponded, giving from memory a vivid picture of the memorable Tippecanoe log-cabin and hard-cider campaign and paying high tribute to the General. Gov ernor Larrabee responded to "Iowa the land we love best." To the toast, "The women of 1840," there was no response, Judge Wright facetiously remarking that "no lady could be found who was willing to confine her remarks to five minutes." P. H. Bristow read a poem, and happy speeches were made by Col onel Fox, Superintendent Sabin, Colonel Gatch, Alderman Macy, and Judges Kinne, Nourse and Given. Mrs. Cheek, the singing heroine of so many public occasions, was at her best. The Knights of Pythias of Des Moines celebrated their silver anniversary at the Aborn, February 19. "The State against William Larrabee," was the sensation of the hour in Judge Conrad's court, February 21. The alleged offense of Governor Larrabee was in libelling Mrs. Turney, mother of Chester Turney, by issuing circulars in which it was charged that "Mrs. Van Glone, otherwise Mrs. Turney, had two living husbands, meaning that she was living in adultery," the statement preju dicing the public against her in her appeals for aid for her son, then an inmate of the penitentiary. J. K. Macomber was public prosecutor, and C. A. Bishop, assisted by Judge Cole, was counsel for the defense. Mr. Bishop recounted the Governor's many kindnesses to Mrs. Turney, and maintained that the circular letter sent out was to offset the misstatements made by Mrs. Turney, and to inform the public of the facts. It was maintained that the letter was of a priv ileged character. The jury wrestled with the case all one night and next morning came into court for further instruction. Later in the day they agreed on a verdict of "not guilty." "The Union of Des Moines and the Suburbs," was the comprehensive theme of discussion at the March meeting of the Commercial Exchange. The principal speech of the evening was by J. S. Polk, showing the mutually bene ficial effects of the union of East and West Des Moines, and predicting that like benefits would follow the inclusion of North Des Moines, Capital Park and all the other suburbs. He urged that annexation should be accomplished at once, before the question was complicated by local debts. The movement thus well begun, was not accomplished without much effort and long delay, as will be seen in the annals of the early nineties. J. S. Clarkson's acceptance of the position of First Assistant Postmaster General in March '89, was a surprise to many in Des Moines, as it was gen erally known that his acceptance meant financial loss to the incumbent. At about the same time, John A. Kasson was named as one of the commis- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 315 sioners to represent the United States at the Berlin Conference concerning af fairs in the Samoan Islands. President William Beardshear of Western College, Toledo, was in March unanimously chosen Superintendent of West Des Moines Schools. The North Des Moines Water Company was, on April i, enjoined from connecting with the Des Moines City Water Company, thus adding to the com plications of the inevitable water question. The dedication of the new High and Industrial School on the West side, April 19, brought together a large number of the distinguished educators, preachers, public men, and as many others as could find place in the building. State Superintendent Sabin, Revs. Nash, Frisbie and Hultin, Dr. Beardshear and others made brief addresses and Olive C. McPIenry read a history of the high school since 1864. In the evening Crocker Post had a program which in cluded the presentation of a beautiful flag to the school. Des Moines caught the spirit of the great Centennial and on April 30, emu lating the example of the fathers, a hundred years before, the churches and schools of the city celebrated the constitutional birth of the republic. A pro cession of surprising length marched through the streets, ending at Foster's Opera House where A. B. Cummins and Fred Lehman delivered patriotic ad dresses. Callanan College was burned on the morning of June 20 — its commence ment day. The commencement exercises were held in the Central Christian church. Judge Callanan promptly announced that he would rebuild, and the announcement yvas soon thereafter verified. "The first annual meeting of the Alumni of the old University of Des Moines now known as the Baptist College" was held on the evening of June 19. On July 19, Judge Bishop refused to enjoin North Des Moines from voting on the yvaterworks question; Recorder MacVicar was now mayor of North Des Moines. At a meeting later in the month, the council appointed the mayor and two councilmen of his selection to secure the services of an engineer to make preliminary plans and specifications for the erection of water works. It also appointed the mayor and two councilmen to confer with the then existing North Des Moines company, also with the Des Moines company to ascertain what terms could be made yvith them for future water supply — the resolution including the possibility of purchase of the plant of the first named company. Late in July Des Moines' Johnstown Relief Fund in the hands of Simon Casady amounted to $3,777.61. The movement for a Greater Des Moines took form August 23, in a con solidation meeting presided over by J. G. Rounds, with Messrs. Reeves, Haskins and Smith representing University Place; McClelland, Field and Chaffee, from North Des Moines; Koenigsberger from Capital Park, VanGinkel, Granger, and Young from Sevastapol and Chase, Young and Rounds from the city proper. All favored the proposed annexation, except McClelland of North Des Moines. He charged Des Moines with official corruption and didn't want to be absorbed. A resolution was adopted to the effect that commissioners from the city make propositions to the commissioners from the towns as to terms of annexation. University Place was the center of activities early in September. First, on the ioth, came the ceremonies of laying the corner-stone of tne University Place Christian Church, with the dedicatory address by Rev. B. O. Aylesworth, then, on the 12th, the inauguration of Mr. Aylesworth as President of Drake University, marking the advent of a new era in the history of the university. The town hall of North Des Moines on the evening of October 2, was crowded for a "big wrangle" over waterworks. Everybody who could obtain recognition made a speech. The confusion of tongues and of views was finally silenced by a compromise resolution offered by J. A. Jackson, in substance, that the council of North Des Moines be requested to arrange with the owner 316 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of the water pipes of North Des Moines for their temporary use, and with the Des Moines Water Company for a supply of water for private use "at reason able rates, no public rental to be charged and no rights prejudiced." Thus was the contest of opposing views and of rival interests, put forward into the next decade. Final action was long delayed in the case of G. W. Potts, the constable con victed of receiving a bribe in a whisky case. The appeal was from Judge Kavanagh's decision following the indictment of Constable Potts in February, 1888. The Supreme court reversed the decision of the lower court and Potts was set free. The closing year found the new Y. M. C. A. building nearing completion. The local press gave much space to description of its spacious and elegant in terior, and its imposing appearance. Little did the donors and patrons of the Y. M. C. A. then think that in scarcely more than a brief score of years this spacious building would give way to another, larger and far more costly edifice. # i *m Ifc " •& i ij! OLD Y. M. C. A. BUILDING Y. W. C. A. BUILDING YEOMAN BUILDING CHAPTER III. THE THIRD DECADE OF PROGRESS. At long intervals during the previous decades covered by tnis history, one after another of the makers of old Fort Des Moines and of the new Des Moines had passed away: but as a class the pioneers were sturdy men and long-lived. With the coming of the nineties it became apparent that the harvest-time was nearing. During that last decade of the old century and the first of the new, many well known names appeared among the "Deaths" in the local newspapers which in other years had proudly chronicled their achievements and generously paid tribute to their worth. If Carlyle was even half-right in concluding that "Biography is the only true history," then no mistake has been made in the present work in attempting to present to the Twentieth Century reader a series of impressions of the men whose organizing minds and public-spirited service made possible the present city of Des Moines. Nor would the present work seem to be even approaching completeness without mention of the passing of these community builders from the activities which they created and in which they participated. 189O THE YEAR NORTH DES MOINES WAS ANNEXED. Governor Larrabee rose superior to any resentment he might have felt be cause of the charge of libel preferred against him by Mrs. Turney and on the 13th of January pardoned Chester Turney, her son, on condition that he refrain from intoxicants and in all respects demean himself as a good ana law-abiding citizen. Townspeople were divided as to the wisdom of the Governor's course. The sequel to the story may be condensed into a single sentence. Mrs. Gillette of Des Moines, true to her womanly sympathies, tried to make a man of her protege, by placing him in a position of responsibility, but the attempt resulted in a sorry failure. The removal in January of the dry-goods house of H. C. Harris & Company to the present site of the widely known Harris-Emery Company on Walnut street was the beginning of a larger life for the dry-goods trade of the city, With 122 feet front and 132 feet depth, and with three floors well filled with goods, the best trade, which had theretofore gravitated Chicago-ward, found ample inducements at home. The formal opening of the Walnut street electric line to University Place occurred on the 1st of February, a practical union of city and suburb in advance of formal action. The event was celebrated by an excursion over the line. Since the last October, the company Had spent over •* 100,000 in permanent im provements, and President Polk informed the excursionists from North Des Moines, Capital Park, and other waiting suburbs that the extension work was but just begun. On their return the excursionists dined together at the Savery and there united in a resolution commending the company for its enterprise and expressing thankfulness for "favors to come." It is a herculean task to create and maintain a street railway system ade quate to meet the demands of a fast-grown city of magnificent distances. The street car situation at the beginning of the new decade may thus be briefly out- 317 318 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY lined : The company then had about twelve miles of track with five district lines. Five cars were to be put upon the University Place line; two on the Clark street line; three on the Jefferson street line, with five cars all together on the Sixth avenue lines. The Twelfth street and Center street lines each had two cars, and the East side had five or six cars. North Des Moines was assured that next season the Sixth avenue line would be brought down into the city from School street and the North street line, connecting with it would be elec trified. Capital Park yvas promised, in the following spring, a connection with East Ninth street, and soon as possible the west motor line would be electrified. All the cars on these^ lines were to swing round the circle to a central starting point on Sixth avenue. It will thus be seen that in anticipation of the Greater Des Moines long pictured in Mr. Polk's clear vision, much had been done to link together the city and its suburbs, and yet far more remained to be done. After tyvo meetings for the one purpose of considering the annexation ques tion, the citizens of North Des Moines decided to submit the question to a popular vote. So on the sixth of February, the voters took a ballot on the ques tion, the vote resulting as follows : For annexation with Des Moines, 243 ; against, 107. For annexation of school districts, 258; against, 48. Thus, so far as popular expression could settle it, the vexed question was settled and, as the result has shown, to the advantage of both city and suburb. North Des Moines on the 7th of February, granted the Belt Line of street railroad a twenty-five year franchise, the company to provide its own bridge across the river. This line was later taken over by the company operated by Mr. Polk. A Patriarch Removed by Death. After a long and useful career, chiefly spent in Fort Des Moines and Des Moines, Rev. J. A. Nash, D. D., departed this life on the 14th of Febru ary, 1890, at the age of seventy-four. Frequent have been the mentions of this good man's activities in his chosen field. A New Yorker by birth and education, after an eastern pastorate of six years, in 1851 he came to Ft. Des Moines. Much local history is included in the brief statement that he was the founder of the Baptist church in the upper Des Moines valley, and was the founder and chief inspirer of the institution which under several names has come down to us as Des Moines College. The Forest Home Seminary, founded by Mr. and Mrs. Nash in 1855, was ten years later succeeded by the University of Des Moines, which, failing in its larger plans for university training, took on the less pretentious name of Des Moines College. For four years the financial agent of the institution, failing health compelled him to abandon the hard task — but not until a substantial building had been erected with the funds raised by him. From time to time he was called back to fill emergencies, twice to take the presidency. His one outing from the life work he had chosen was a single term as Superintendent of Schools in Polk county — a change but not otherwise a rest. His resultful work as a church organizer has been outlined in another chapter. It was a fitting tribute to the man of all others to whom this church and its college are indebted for their high standing in this community, that when the trustees of Des Moines College sought a name for the new chapel which had been built with funds raised by him, they happily chose to call it "Nash Hall." _ Dr. Nash's first wife died a few months after her arrival in Fort Des Moines. His second wife, a lady of culture and rare attainments, entered into his life in 1853. The wife and four children survived him. The children are: John A._ Nash of Audubon; Mrs. Rose of Oberlin, Ohio; Mrs. John MacVicar and Miss Hattie Nash, of Des Moines, who afterwards married a younger brother of Mr. MacVicar. The immediate cause of Dr. Nash's death was a broken thigh occasioned at CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 319 Polk City by a fall from a car. Eight weeks of suffering wore his strength away. His funeral was held in the First Baptist church Sunday, February 16. It is recorded that only a small portion of those who came to pay the last tribute of love and respect were able to find even standing room in the church. The casket was borne by brother ministers. Many early settlers attended the serv ices. Rev. J. H. Murphy assisted by Drs. Frisbie, Stetson and Henry, officiated. Woodland Cemetery contains the remains of no man more loved and respected. Memorial services yvere held in the chapel of Nash Hall, Des Moines Col lege on the evening of February 24. Students, alumni, professors and fellow citizens assembled in large numbers. President Stetson presided. Letters from Judge Casady and Dr. W. H. Dickinson were read paying rare tributes to the departed. Jefferson S. Polk delivered a strong eulogy, pronouncing this high-minded, simple-hearted preacher and educator "a preeminently great and good man." H. Y. Smith, N. E. Coffin and others spoke freely of their friend. j. L. McCracken on behalf of the alumni read resolutions of respect and regard. A "First Annual" Meeting of the State Business Men's Association was held at the Commercial Exchange rooms February 25, and closed with a banquet at the Aborn House with President B. F. Kauffman at the head of the table. The association was organized in 1889. The need of revision of exemption laws was one of the subjects up for consideration, as it has often been since. Relief from bad debts, through cooperative measures developed by A. S. Burn- ell, was the general purpose of the association. The novelty of a democratic governor in "republican Iowa" created unusual interest in the inauguration of Horace Boies. The ceremonies were delayed by the dead-lock over the speakership in the House. The procession moved from the Savery Hotel at 2 P. M. on February 26. On arriving at the Capitol, the honored guests, accompanied the Governor-elect to the House where the oath was administered. The Governor then delivered his inaugural address. The Register report describes Mr. Boies' bearing as quiet and dignified, although the manuscript from which he read trembled in his hands at times. Governor Larrabee received at the State House in the evening, assisted by Mrs. Larrabee, the Governor-elect, Miss Boies, Lieutenant Governor and Miss Poyneer and Speaker Hamilton. Col. Jesse Cheek officiated in socially bringing the Governor and the townspeople together. The Gatch annexation bill, slightly amended in the House, passed the Senate as amended, March 11, and was promptly signed by the Governor, and by its action North Des Moines became a part of the city of Des Moines. The law directed the Governor to appoint commissioners to redistrict the city. The commissioners named, Messrs. Mitchell, Hunter, Chase, Kauffman, Read and Youngerman, convened in the council room March 18, to hear plans, and suggestion as to ward lines, etc. After hearing Messrs. Brandt, Drady, Haskins, Chaffee, Phillips, Macomber and others, Judge Phillips' general plan of including a portion of the business part of the city in every ward found most favor. Commissioners Kauffman, Read, Mitchell and Chase agreed upon a division of the wards by north and south lines, dividing the city into long, narrow strips, thus including a part of "down town" in every ward. Messrs. Hunter and Youngerman opposed the majority report. Gilbert's five-story starch factory building in the Chesterfield suburb of the city went up in flames at noon on the 14th of April. The loss on the building, machinery and contents was reported as over $300,000; the insurance $200,000. The plant had been turned over to the starch trust only a few days before. The fire threw 112 men and about the same number of women and children out of employment. The origin of the fire was unknown. In 1890, the school board did itself credit, and a noble man a well-deserved 320 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY honor, by naming a new school building on 21st street and Woodland avenue in honor of the pioneer preacher and friend of public schools, Rev. Thompson Bird. The Des Moines Brick Manufacturing Company filed corporate articles with the recorder, April 30, with Martin Flynn, S. A. Robertson, H. K. Love, H. D. Smith and James Callanan incorporators. The death of Coker F. Clarkson, familiarly known as Father Clarkson, oc curred on the 7th of May. The funeral was held from the First M. E. church on the 9th. In accordance with the expressed wish of the deceased and in keeping with Father Clarkson's simplicity of character, the funeral was devoid of ostentation. The widely scattered members of the family were all present. The Early Settlers' Association, the Tippecanoe Club, the Typo graphical Union, members of the press and of the City Council and many prominent men of the city and State attended the funeral. The bearers, com posed of the family and old friends were Coker F., Harold, John and Frank Clarkson, (grandsons and grand-nephews), Al W. Swaim, Ed. C. Smith, Jesse Cheek, Charles Stewart, Judge Given, F. M. Mills, L. H. Bush, Charles Smith, Felix Clark, Lester Perkins, George W. Baldwin and James C. Jordan. The death of this veteran farmer, journalist and political philosopher removed from Iowa a unique personality, generally respected and loved — and keenly missed by his friends. The evolution of Phinney's Third Regiment Band into the Iowa State Band occurred in May of this year. After four years' service at the Capital city, Professor Phinney had acquired a State reputation. The band was des tined to win laurels in flelds outside the State, notably at the Chicago Exposition in 1893. A decided sensation in May was the indictment of eleven aldermen and ex-aldermen of Des Moines on a charge of "wilful misconduct in office," and the issuance of warrants for .the arrest of the parties. The general charge yvas that in 1889 those officials had each appropriated $900, extra pay. They were indicted on the testimony of S. W. Baker, Conrad Youngerman, E. J. Tone, J. M. Laird, Cyrus Kirk, William Matthews, N. P. Jones, Albert Jones, J. J. Wagner, R. B. Dennis, Taylor Brewer, I. A. Hammer, F. M. Hubbell, W. D. Christy and G. W. Shope. One of the accused was indicted on three charges, and several others on two. Late in May, the popular hotel manager, Frank Riseley, sold his interest in the Savery Hotel to J. C. Savery and W. W Witmer. By this sale Mr. Savery and J. W. and W W. Witmer became equal owners of that valuable hotel property. St. Joseph's Academy on Woodland avenue, was founded in 1885, and five years later, in June 28, 1890, was in a flourishing condition with one full- course graduate, and many in line for future honors. The new and elegant residence of Lowry W. Goode, on Arlington avenue, was completed in the summer of 1890, and the home with its picturesque grounds, made a new record for spaciousness and elegance for the newly an nexed suburb of North Des Moines.1 The best news in July was the location of the Rock Island shops at Valley Junction, a few miles west of the city, which meant the immediate expenditure of about $60,000 for buildings and the development of an extensive and pros perous suburb of the city. The appointment of Hon. Edwin H. Conger, to be minister to Brazil was received with much gratification by Des Moines friends and neighbors. The building of Heath's oatmeal mill on Fifth street, had been regarded with much complacency by all Des Moines. With corresponding dismay was the news received one Sunday morning in October that on the night before the mill had been totally destroyed by fire. 1 Now the residence of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Rawson. THE XEW SAVERY HOTEL vi imui i it* I* HP8, i;> iirnirt'iuJ CHAMBERLAIX HOTEL CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 321 The Des Moines Club established several years before, in the fall of 1890, regarding itself as strong enough to do something for itself and in cidentally for Des Moines, decided to build a down-town club house. The project was duly financed and the result was the club house on Grand avenue between Fourth and Fifth street, long afterwards occupied by the Grant Club. The General Missionary Society of the Christian Church, one of the strong est religious bodies in the United States, assembled in the Central Church of Christ, October 21, and continued its sessions several days. It was preceded by the Christain Woman's Board of Missions of that church. The gathering brought together earnest men and women from all lands, and their presence and utterances inspired the local body of Christians with new zeal for the missionary cause. Alderman Drady whose trial on one of the three indictments against him occurred November 26, was acquitted by Judge Bishop on a motion to> instruct the jury to acquit on the ground that it had not been shown that the defendent was directly connected yvith the bill presented for lumber assumed to have been purchased. The eight aldermen Drady, Sheldon, Macy, Eagan, King, Weitz, Baker and Morris were next tried on the indictments relating to the appropriation of money for salary to yvhich they were not entitled. Judge Bishop ruled in accordance with the motion to acquit. The motion admitted the material facts, but held that the acts complained of were legitimate. On the trial of six of the eight aldermen for drawing compensation to which they were not legally entitled, Counsel McHenry insisted that the question in volved had already been adjudicated. The Judge continued the case on the in sistence of Mr. Kauffman, representing the State, in order that the Supreme court might first pass upon the other cases already appealed. These decisions, doubtless conclusive as to the law in the case, revealed a condition of things, for which a few members of the Council were chiefly re sponsible, which called loudly for a reform in methods of administration. The purchase of the site of the Heath elevator, recently destroyed by fire, by the Des Moines Union Railway meant the construction of a Union Depot in '91 — so said the purchasers. But there was a storm of objection, and it was only yvith the greatest difficulty that a charter was finally obtained. The Iowa Woman's Suffrage Association organized in Des Moines in 1881, held an annual meeting in the Capital city early in December, made specially notable by the presence of that sturdy pioneer of the suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony, whose powerful presentation of the cause compelled the respect even of those who refused to accept her conclusions. On the 26th of December, the famous explorer, Henry M. Stanley, lectured to a large audience in Des Moines. The lecturer was accompanied by his beau tiful and gifted wife, formerly Miss Tennant. General Weaver introduced the lecturer and the audience noted a resemblance one to the other — each with straight white hair and gray mustache, the explorer not quite as tall and stout. The lecturer used conversational tones and his modest story of achievement in the wilds of Africa was heard with intense interest. The year 1800 in Des Moines was fully and carefully reviewed by G. F. Selleck, secretary of the Commercial Exchange. The report at the close of the year includes a large number of new industrial interests among which are the Kratzer Carriage Company, the Central Brick and Tile Company, the Des Moines Brick Manufacturing Company, the Des Moines Knitting Factory, the Des Moines Box Works, etc. The Highland Park College presented a long list of buildings and improve ments aggregating about a quarter-million dollars. Bird and Crocker School buildings together represented about $32,000. The East side high school rep resented $40,000. The total of college and school improvements was put at $328,118. 8 Vol, i— 21 322 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The principal "church, etc.," items are Central Church of Christ, $90,000- University Place Chapel, $40,000; St. John's Lutheran church and parsonage,' $50,000; St. Ambrose church, $70,000; Church of the Visitation, $30,000- Y. M. C. A., $25,000. The general and public improvements aggregated $1,168,613, including pav ing, etc., $97,687; sewerage $43,158; bridges, repairs, etc., $25,224; water com pany extensions, $90,000; water power company, — dam, building, etc., $110,000; electric raihvay extensions, etc., $248,535; cement walks, $135,000; railroads, — new trackage, etc., $123,000; grading and sidewalks, $169,000. Des Moines' factory products showed an aggregate of $13,152,156; an increase of over two million. Des Moines' jobbing trade was placed at $28,848,741, an increase of nearly a million. The real estate transfers aggregated $10,881,118. The coal output was $1,064,085, an increase of nearly $64,000. 1891 THE YEAR THE NEW KIRKWOOD OPENED. The purpose of the Equitable Life Insurance Company of New York, to erect a half -million dollar stone building on the corner of Sixth and Locust, was the most signal improvement promised Des Moines for the year 1891. The serious illness of Wesley Redhead, coupled with desire to see his daughter married, advanced the date of the wedding of Mildred Redhead and Dr. Edward E. Dorr, from January 21 to January 7. The ceremony was pro nounced at the bedside of the invalid father. Two days later the father died, leaving a yvide gap in the ranks of the old settlers. "Seven Gables," the East side home of the Redhead family, was a famous social center, not alone for the pioneers, but also for the younger generation and for newcomers as well. Mr. Redhead's name is yvritten into several chapters of Des Moines' history, for the man was generous and public-spirited. While eminently successful in his business undertakings, he died with the reputation of having lived not unto himself alone, but for the good that he could do. He was 66 years of age. As the pioneer coal-miner of Polk county, Mr. Redhead well earned the success he won, for along with financial gains he continually gained in the loving respect of his felloyv men. Mr. Redhead's first wife was a sister of Governor Kirkwood, and during the Governor's prolonged stay in Des Moines, his home was with his sister. Mr. Redhead's second wife was Anne Seymour. The funeral brought together as bearers these long-time friends : Judges Wright, Phillips and Cas ady, Isaac Brandt, R. T. Wellslager, Colonel Ford and M. M. Norton. F. C. McCartney, who was connected with the old Savery House from 1863 to 1878, took possession of the new Kirkwood House March 10, '91. The return of Landlord McCartney recalled to early settlers the familiar story of the evolution of this historic inn. The old Savery was part of the new Capital boom in '57. Fourth and Walnut was then "up-town." In '62 a part of the building was used as "a first-class boarding house." Before the close of the year it was thrown open entirely for "transients." The house was closed for repairs in October, '63, and on January, '64, it yvas thrown open as a "first-class hotel," with Mr. Savery as landlord. In '67 it was again overhauled and the south wing added. In '70 Mr. Savery sold a half-interest; but in '74, bought the half-interest back, reinstalling Mr. McCartney as manager. In '78 the house changed owners and was again closed for improvement. In '79 the new oyvners, Bogue & Wyman, opened it under the historic name which it has borne ever since. Mr. Wyman retired in '83. Next year the building was closed for the addition of another story and an extension to the alley. The repairs were completed in August in time for the State Fair. The house remained under the Bogue management until March 9, '91, when Mr. McCartney bought the hotel and again returned to the management, bringing to his task experience and that large asset, "troops of friends." BIRD'SEYE VIEW OF DES MOINES, CAPITOL IN DISTANCE SCENE ON FOURTH STREET, SHOWING KIRKWOOD HOTEL AND OBSERVATORY TOWER CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 323 "Herndon Hall," long the home of Jefferson S. Polk, was in the nineties the scene of many festivities, a notable occasion being the large reception given by Mr. and Mrs. Polk, March n, '91, in honor of old Kentucky friends. As men come and go, so homes have their day and cease to be. The Colechester Place, so long the center of gracious hospitality, was in the Spring of '91 sold to the Colechester Place Home Association. The purchase was made with a view to erecting dwellings for rent on the ground about the central man sion. Colechester Place still stands, a place of many associations. Long occu pied as a boarding house, it is now occupied by a company engaged in the laudable work of curing the disease of drunkenness. Thomas Kavanagh, ex-mayor of Des Moines, and a famous contractor in his day, died April 24, aged about 74 years. He came to Des Moines in 1855 and was elected Mayor in '62. The funeral of Col. W. H. Merritt at St. Paul's church, July 26, was attended by many old settlers, city and State officials and men and women of prominence from a distance. The bearers were S. A. Robertson, F. M. Hubbell, A. A. Clark, Cary Cooper, and Judge Phillips. The honorary bearers were Judges Casady and Wright, J. B. Stewart and G. M. Hippee. Colonel Merritt was a man of rare ability and distinguished presence. As soldier, journalist, public servant and citizen, he had served the city and State with marked distinction. The announced departure of General Tuttle and his family for their home in Arizona was sad news to several circles in the social life of the city. A family dinner on "Chestnut street Knob," Sunday, August 23, marked the clos ing of the Tuttle home which had been the center of many social activities for a quarter-century. Before his departure, the General enriched the Historical Department of Iowa by presenting the sword he carried in the famous charge at Donelson. Col. M. T. V. Bowman was another prominent citizen of Des Moines to pass away during the year 1891. Both as citizen and soldier, he was a man of distinguished ability. He died August 28, at the early age of 53. His funeral was attended by many old soldiers of the Loyal Legion and of the Grand Army, also by the Masons. The honorary pall-bearers, selected from intimate friends of the deceased, were John Wyman, William Phillips, J. C. McKell, Henry Plumb, J. S. Clark, F. M. Starns and Hoyt Sherman. The death of James Harvey Phillips, September 15, was a sad surprise to many. Mayor of the city in 1886-7, there was in his brief official career no blot or blemish, but, on the contrary, a record of substantial progress toward ideal city government which — to say the least — was not continuous thereafter! The death of Judge Alexander A. Fulton occurred September 29, closing a well-spent life at the age of 66. While Judge Fulton did not remove to Des Moines until 1870, he had many associations with the Capital city, having served Jefferson county in the Twelfth General Assembly. He was iong associated with Mills & Company and the Iowa Printing Company, and, later, had charge of the "ready prints" issued by the Western News Company. Judge Fulton was author of "The Red Men of Iowa." The fourth annual report of the Commercial Exchange, covering the prog ress of the year 1891, presents a long list of new enterprises not all of which were "stayers." The total of building improvements during the year was placed at $2,231,855; general and public improvements, $2,070,029. Among the private improvements are mentioned the Equitable Life building, on which had been expended $280,000; the Youngerman block, $125,000; the Des Moines Club, the old Grant Club building, $45,000; St. Ambrose church, addition, $40,000; Sanitarium, $22,000; Science Hall Drake University, $35,000; Rawson block, $22,000; Church block, $15,000; Newman block, $18,000; Church of Visitation, additional, $20,000; Marquardt block, $15,000; Turner block, $14,- 000; Capital Insurance Company, $12,000. Among the general improvements were these by the city — for bridges, sewers, 324 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY curbing, street work, paving, etc., nearly $219,000; Water Power Company, $175,- 000 ; Water Company, $70,000 ; Electric Railway Company, $250,000 ; Des Moines Union Railway Company, $210,000; Steam Heat and Power Company, $100,000- Des Moines Brick Manufacturing Company, extension, $155,000; Capital City Gas Light Company, $135,000; Central Union Telephone Company, $17,862; Highland Park College, $100,000; railroads, $89,500; cement walks, $179,000; grading, $126,750. The year's output of Des Moines manufactories was placed at $14,196,576; an increase of $2,529,593. The year's jobbing trade yvas summed up at $34,345,611, an increase of $5,412,610. The year's coal mining was 763,356 tons, an increase of 69,272. The real estate transfers aggregated $9,674,536. The report gives 702 as the number of traveling salesmen then on the road from Des Moines ; the male mechanics, accountants, etc., 6,627 ; the female, i,4i3- Secretary Selleck closes with the same well-grounded hope that "the best is yet to be." 1892 THE YEAR OF DES MOINES' COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC PARKS. The Scotch-Irish Association of Des Moines, which a few years later blossomed out as the host of the National Association, organized in January, '92, with Barlow Granger, P. M. Casady and Mayor Campbell, the active spirits of the organization. The first Press Club organized in Des Moines took form at a meeting in the Savery in January, with Al. Moore, J. R. Sage, Cyrenus Cole, Allen Dawson, H. R. Jones, Leon Brown, J. G. Murphy, H. C. Shaver, O. E. Shannon, Frank Lyman and D. A. Kooker, as charter members. Manager Brown (now of the Chamberlain) tendered "the boys" the free use of the Savery club rooms. J. R. Sage was made president of the club, and Leon Brown, secretary. The absorption of "the Diagonal," the Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City Railroad, by the Stickney system, with a change to the present name, the Chicago & Great Western, was one of the events of the year at the State Capital. The Great Western came into its own July 1. In the contest for the republican nomination for mayor C. C. Lane was successful over Isaac L. Hillis ; but the campaign brought Mr. Hillis to the front with the result that later he was elected to succeed Mr. Lane. A temporary uprising against "the social evil" succeeded in landing the' notorious Jeannette Allen in the penitentiary. Late in March, by an act of Congress, Des Moines became a port of delivery, and in due time thereafter an office was opened and a collector of customs installed. In April, the old Exposition building on Eighth and Walnut was trans formed, by Messrs. D. B. Lyon and T. A. Harding, into a four-story structure — "The Iliad" — the first story to be used for business purposes, the other floors divided into suites. The flood of May, 1892 will long be remembered, recalling the stories of 1 85 1, but immeasurably more damaging, for the simple reason that there was immeasurably more for the flood to work upon. The entire southern portion of the city was several feet under yvater, and many houses and sidewalks were lifted from their foundations. While most of the correspondents pictured all Des Moines as under water, the fact was that the business of the city went on with scarcely any interruption, and only that portion of the city located in the bottoms was flooded. The notorious Frank Pierce came to trial at Indianola in April, for shooting and killing Officer Wishard, June 30, '91. The event had nothing whatever to CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 325 do with the enforcement of the liquor law. It was the result of a conflict of authority over a dump-heap at the foot of Ninth street. Pierce's plea was self- defense. After nearly failing to agree, the jury came together on a verdict of manslaughter. Judge Henderson sentenced Pierce to four years and six months in the penitentiary and exacted a fine of $500. A motion for a new trial was denied. The case was appealed, but not until 1894 was a decision reached. The Supreme court sustained the decision of the lower court. The renomination of President Harrison over Mr. Blaine was a disappoint ment to many of Des Moines who had gone to Minneapolis to "root" for Blaine. The refusal of Blaine to be a candidate drove the forces headed by Chairman Clarkson, of the national republican committee, to the support of McKinley; but McKinley, deciding that his time had not come yet, publicly declined the nomination, and, the result was the renomination of Harrison. In pursuance of a call signed by several hundred republicans, a grand rati fication meeting was held at the State Capital, June 17, with Garroll Wright chairman, and with speeches by John A. McCall, A. B. Cummins, J. S. Clarkson, James G. Berryhill, T. A. Cheshire and Lafayette Young. The interest naturally centered upon Mr. Clarkson, because of his well-known allegiance to the fortunes of Blaine and his supposed resentment toward the President. After paying grateful tribute to his Des Moines friends and neighbors, Mr. Clarkson left no question as to his support of the ticket. Placing Blaine upon a pedestal of unapproachable greatness, both in ability and in generosity, having "given out of his power and generosity — the presidency of the United States to two of his friends — to General Garfield in 1880 and to General Harrison in 1888," — the speaker paid strong tribute to President Harrison's statesmanly qualities and undoubted republicanism. He concluded with a prediction of a reunited party and a promise that he would do all in his power to make the coming campaign a success. Parks for the Public. The Park Commissioners, Messrs. Fairall, Rollins and Russell, took action July 30 which, mildly criticised at the time as a piece of extravagance, has turned out to have been of untold importance to the present generation and to "future generations yet unborn." The commisson decided on the purchase of four pieces of ground on behalf of the city, the land to be devoted m perpetuo to the use of the public as public parks. The first purchase agreed upon was the land east and north of Thompson's Bend, across the river, about sixty acres, at a price not to exceed $40,000. The second in order was land on the south side of the Raccoon on the prop erty of F. W. Palmer, the estate of F. M. Hoxie deceased, on condition that the property could be obtained at not exceeding $20,000. The third was the thirty-acre tract lying west of the cemetery, formerly owned by Dr. Whitman, provided the property could be acquired for $45,000, the board reserving the right to take, by condemnation, the lots between this tract and the cemetery. The fourth was located on East Twelfth, south of Vine, provided the prop erty could be bought at not more than $8,000 for five or six acres. On August 1 the board located a fifth park on the Lyon & Harter tract on Four Mile Creek, subject to future specifications. This property, lying north of the fair ground, is now known as Grand View Park, — from the eminence on the west end of which may be obtained a literally grand view of the Des Moines valley and the city. On the same day the popular Greenwood Park was located in the west end of the city. The resolution refers to it as "Prospect Park, consisting of the east 25^ acres of the Bird and Hyde tract, 20 acres owned by the P. C. H. & T. Co., 3 acres owned by W. H. Clarke, 17 and 27 hundredth acres owned by Kingman, 4 acres owned by the city, 5 acres off of the south end of lot 11, and 326 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY all of lot 9, owned by Lewis & Polk." The location was subject to the condition that the entire property could be acquired for not more than $57,000. Another park was located on the Ingersoll farm, provided the 190 acres offered, lying south of the road, could be obtained for the sum of $28,500; "also that thirty acres off the west side of the McConnell tract be added thereto if thought desirable. . . " Thus, subject to conditions, was the city committed to a system of public parks which is the pride of every citizen and one of the chief claims of Des Moines to distinction among cities. Capt. W. D. Lucas, formerly cashier of the Valley National Bank, died August 15, aged 54. The Grand Army, the Knights Templar and other organizations acted as escort at his funeral. Canoeing on the Des Moines in the nineties, under the inspiration of Commo dore Hussey, became extremely popular, and regattas and canoe parties were of frequent occurrence. The Des Moines Driving Park Company had announced three days' runs in August, and many horsemen from a distance had entered; but, on the 19th, the filing of a mortgage for $15,000 with the Des Moines Savings Bank preciptated mechanics' liens aggregating $24,565.09. The result of these complications was the calling off of the races. The costly evolution of the city from the cedar-block paving to brick, and later, brick and cement, took a second great leap on the 19th of August, when the city entered into a contract to have the wood paving torn up and replaced with cement curbing and brick, covering fifty-five blocks. Orders had already been given for 20,000,000 brick, and this action called for 10,000,000 more. The political campaign of '92 was locally enlivened by a debate between Messrs. A. B. Cummins, republican, and W. W. Witmer, democrat. Foster's Opera House was packed on the evening of October 18. The attitude of parties toward the prohibition question and the money question was the trend of the dis cussion — and with the usual result ! The presence of Thomas B. Reed in the city was the event of the campaign. "Czar" Reed had never before spoken in Des Moines and there was much curi osity, even among democrats, to see and hear that "best abused man" in the republican party. Speaker Reed arrived in the forenoon and after breakfast held an informal reception at the Savery, assisted by Messrs. Kasson and Hull. The Speaker addressed an afternoon meeting presided over by Hoyt Sherman and an evening meeting with N. E. Coffin in charge. At both he yvas received with much enthusiasm. His drawl was all that had been claimed ( !) for it, and his utterances were characteristically clear-cut and direct, but not of a nature to win many votes from unthinking men. He was reinforced by Messrs. Kasson, Hull and Kavanagh. The result of the election showed that Iowa and her Capital city kept the promise made by their sponsors early in the campaign; but to no avail, as the reader will recall, for "the country went democratic." Ex-Mayor William H. Leas, mayor of the city during the trying last years of the war in 1863-64, died suddenly on Christmas night, — a man who retained to the last the respect of all. Pie came to Des Moines in 1855. The early settlers generally attended his funeral. The year 1892 as measured in the fifth annual report of the Commercial Ex change was "unequalled in the history of Des Moines." The reported city im provements footed up at $437,102.07; and private improvements at $2,360,190. The real estate transfers aggregated over eight millions. The clearing house gains over twelve millions. Many established manufactories reported enlarged business and plans for enlarged quarters. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 327 The chief outlay in public improvements was for paving, $258,538, and sewers, $154,759. These figures represent ten miles of sewers, nearly seven miles of paving and seventeen million brick. In this connection it is interesting to note that from, and including, 1879 to 92 the city expended $595,204.44 for sewers. From, and including, 1882 to '92, the city had expended $1,147,293.08 for paving. During the same period, the cost of curbing was $175,789.91. This represented a grand total expended by the city on the streets amounting to $1,918,487.43. 1893 A YEAR OF WATERWORKS AGITATION. The remains of Dr. Alexander Shaw arrived in Des Moines from Denver, January 7, and the funeral was held on the 9th. Dr. Shaw was a strong per sonality in the shaping of city affairs in its early history and served his country during the war as an army surgeon. He was a rare horticulturist and was a leader in the organization of the State Agricultural Society of which he was at one time president. Rev. B. Fay Mills, the famous evangelist held a series of meetings in the old Calvary Mission Tabernacle in Des Moines yvhich gave the city a thorough "shaking up." The Mills meetings continued for two weeks and the press united in commending the religious spirit which they aroused. The progress of the decade was not wholly without setbacks. The failure of the well-known Hirsch Brothers, of the Globe Clothing House, in January, 1893, after twenty years' business activities, with liabilities aggregating $54,000, and uncertain assets, was the bad beginning of a good year. The City Council, on the night of January 18, considered a reform ordinance prepared by a water committee, and urged by a large committee of citizens. The ordinance as amended was lost by a tie vote. A resolution to investigate charges of corruption in connection with the vote was carried by 7 to 1. Public owner ship, the goal of municipal reformers in '93 seemed, and was, a long way off. The death of William R. Ankeny who, with his brother Joseph, built the first linseed oil mill in Des Moines, in 1866, and who was the principal organizer of the Des Moines Loan and Trust Company, occurred on the 23d of February. The next move in the waterworks contest was taken early in February by Hugh Brennan and William H. Baily, attorneys for the city — a petition to the District court, to enjoin the water company from demanding or receiving from the city or its citizens higher prices than those established by the city council, January 23, 1879, an(l from discontinuing its service to the city or its consumers. The company resisted the petition on the ground that the ordinance was confisca tory. On the 14th of April, Judge Balliet decided the case against the city in so far as the city itself was concerned, and for the city in so far as concerned the suburbs. The widow of Dr. J. A. Nash did not long survive her husband. Her death (February 12), like that of her husband, was the result of a fall.- The consolidation of the Electric Light Company, the Des Moines Edison Light Company and the Des Moines Water Power Company, with a capital stock of $600,000, was made a matter of record February 13. Lieutenant Peary, long years afterward world-famous, visited Des Moines in March, '93, accompanied by his wife, and made a much better impression appar ently than when in 1910 he came to tell the story of his North Pole explora tions. In the spring of '93 the evolution of the city streets approached, but did not reach the asphalt stage. Proposals for paving included one for asphalt, offering to put down the paving for $2.80 a square yard and keep it in repair for ten years ; or, for $2.40 with a five-year guaranty. The Board of Public Works took the case under consideration, finally deciding in favor of brick paving, because asphalt had not proved satisfactory in other cities, and the cheaper brick paving — $1.70 on a concrete foundation — was a known quantity and a product of home industry. 328 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY E. R. Clapp came out strongly for asphalt, deeming it best to have a variety of paving and so study the relative degree of excellence. Dropping into a remi niscent mood,2 he said : "We first began to improve our streets in 185 1, when J. S. Dix took his ox team and, commencing' with a back furrow in the middle of Second street, plowed it up and scraped the dirt to the center to provide drainage. It was quite an improvement for that time and the same method was pursued until nine or ten years ago, yvhen we decided to try cedar blocks and found them a vast improvement pver any dirt road. Walnut street has lasted very well, but later trials of the cedar block pavement indicate that it would be a very expensive pavement in the long run. Macadam has been tried on Court avenue yvith the result that no one drives on it if they can help it. We have also tried brick and in some cases have had good work done, and in others very poor. If we can get uniformly good brick, properly laid, we will have good streets of that material." After a thorough canvass of the question of cheap gas, the voters of Des Moines at a special election, April 4, by a vote of 1,452 to 1,252, decided to authorize John Sherman to construct and operate gas works in the city, and for five years to have exclusive right to supply the city and its citizens, Mr. Sher man agreeing among other things to pay to the city five cents on each 1,000 cubic feet of gas sold; when the consumption should have reached fifty million cubic feet per annum the sum turned into the city should be 7% cents per 1,000 feet, etc., etc. The consumer yvas to have gas at $1.00 per 1,000, with 10 per cent off for prompt payment. The passage of the ordinance was hailed as the ushering in of a new era of cheap illumination. But nothing came of it. The death of Recorder J. Addison Hepburn, May 3, removed a man of great popularity. On the previous November "Ad" had been unanimously elected Recorder of Polk county. He had been a resident of the city since 1855, and knew and was known by everybody in the county. He died at the age of 64. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. George Schramm, in the spring of '93, was a gala day for the pioneers and their descendants. Mr. Schramm was sena tor from Van Buren county in 1851, and came to Des Moines a representative from that county in '62. Later, after the war, the family removed to Des Moines. Mr. Schramm took an active part in public affairs. He was prominent in the Lutheran church and in Masonic circles. The next move in the waterworks imbroglio was in the spring of '93, — a recommendation, signed by a large number of the leading taxpayers of Des Moines — that the city acquire the waterworks by purchase, and so end the liti gation in progress, the purchase price to be one million dollars. The citizens' committee met the petition with a declaration that the works could be duplicated for a half-million, and, that being the case, favoring the continued assertion and maintenance by the city of all its legal rights arising under the ordinance of January 23, 1893. The death of B. F. Kauffman, May 19, removed a man who could not well be spared from the community life of which he had long been an active partici pant. Though only about 46 years of age, he had acquired a prominence and an influence accorded to few. He was a lawyer of large practice and an organizer whose services were always in demand in the growing community which com mended his best service. Dr. J. E. Hendricks, a citizen of Des Moines since 1866, died June 8. His vocation as a physician was somewhat overshadowed by his fame as a mathema tician. He was regarded by contemporaries as one of the world's greatest mathe maticians. The Good Templars' International Institute of Juvenile Workers spent ten days in Des Moines in June, perfecting the work of the order. The meeting brought together many prominent workers with the young. After the final ses sion they were given a reception by the ministers of Des Moines. 2 In the Daily News, March 20, 1893. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 329 A big open-air free silver mass meeting was held July 12, between Fourth and Fifth streets, facing Grand, with Judge Barcroft and General Weaver the ora tors of the evening. The free silver movement gained fresh impetus on the 30th of July when "Congressman Bryan of Nebraska," gave abundant promise of the orator who three years later stampeded the democratic national convention. The Citizens' Committee, July 15, heard the report of S. K. Felton, expert engineer, the pith of which was that the waterworks probably cost less than $600,000 and could probably be rebuilt for less than $500,000. The death of ex-Governor William M. Stone, in Oklahoma, July 14, stirred many memories of war times when the Governor was officially a resident of the Capital city. In '93 Des Moines had a large "Single Tax" Club with monthly meetings and with no vacation during the hot weather. In its list of influential members were the names of Bellangee and Gaston, afterwards prominent in the colony of Single- Taxers in Fairhope, Alabama. In the Danish Lutheran Convention of September, 1893, held at Racine, Wis consin, Des Moines was chosen as the most desirable location for the proposed Danish college. The Grand Park site was afterwards selected, and a substantial college building was erected on an eminence which commands a fine view of the valley. The college is now one of Des Moines' flourishing educational institu tions. The Supreme court, October 3, 1893, reversed a decision of Judge Conrad in what was known as the Des Moines Park case, the higher court holding that the creation of a park district would not warrant the issuance of bonds ; that such issue would be an evasion of the constitutional provision limiting indebtedness. The case went to court on the appeal of J. M. Orvis against the Park Commis sioners and C. H. Dilworth, county treasurer. The assignment of James C. Savery, for himself and for the American Emi grant Company of New York, of which he was the sole stockholder, occurred October 31, with W. W. Witmer named as assignee. The assignment included large holdings : lots in Des Moines, in Butte and in Brooklyn, also bonds and notes, stock in various corporations, and leases and appurtenances of a building in New York city. Henry George, founder of the Single Tax movement, lectured in Des Moines, December 12. His theme was "The Crime of Poverty." The News described him as "a fine appearing man of stylish dress," and as having "a metropolitan air and look." Mr. George remained for an hour after the lecture answering questions. He left a favorable impression upon the minds of his hearers, by his frankness, fairness and complete command of his subject. 1894 — THE YEAR ,KELLY's ARMY TOOK DES MOINES BATTLE-FLAG DAY. The senatorial contest in January, 1894, ending in the election of ex-Governor John H. Gear was followed with a personal interest by many in the Capital city because the field of candidates included Albert B. Cummins, of Des Moines, who twelve years later was again a candidate and again defeated — his defeat soon followed by his election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his successful opponent, Senator Allison, and later by his election for the full term. Des Moines' Park Commissioners, January 21, published a carefully drawn bill of thirty-nine sections which, a few days later, was introduced in the General Assembly, developing the plan and purpose of the commission as to neighbor hood and general parks, their creation, maintenance and control. . The evolution of "the Des Moines Plan" in the minds of men who were most interested in municipal reform is well illustrated by the change wrought by the years in the mind of the man to whom more than to anyone else belongs the honor of having first fixed the attention of the citizens of Des Moines upon the Galves ton reform with the possibilities of improvement upon that plan. President Fox 330 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY had, in January, 1894, appointed a committee of four to report to the Tippe canoe Club recommending reforms in the city's government. The committee was addressed by James G. Berryhill, who expressed himself as opposed to an amendment "putting all the functions of city control in the hands of a council of five members" because it would make the council "the executor of its own decrees," combining and confounding the legislative and the executive depart ments of the city government. It took Mr. Berryhill and thousands of others a dozen years of observation and experience as citizens and taxpayers to discover that there is no good reason in fact why a council should not — like a board of directors — execute its own decrees. An exciting triangular campaign for the republican nomination for mayor resulted, March 21, in the nomination on the sixteenth ballot, of Isaac L. Hillis,, over Messrs. MacVicar and Rollins. A citizens' convention held the next day, nominated Judge Phillips for mayor. Mr. Hillis was elected ; but Mr. MacVicar's defeat led on to future victories ; and these, to future prominence in the municipal reform movement of later years. The name "Frankel" now so familiar in Des Moines and throughout the State, was new in the spring of '94. The "grand opening" of Frankel & Com pany's new clothing store occurred on the evening of March 22. The throng that visited the brilliantly illuminated store was numbered well up in the thousands. On the morning of March 26 a number of sorrowing friends met at the depot to receive the remains of George C. Baker. The bearers were A. B. Cummins, Captain Prouty, Judge Given, J. G. Rounds, J. E. Tone and William Langan. A large delegation from Crocker Post, the Relief Corps and Company A of the National Guards, followed the remains from Plymouth church to the grave. Mr. Baker came in his youth to Polk City and at the age of 17 enlisted. On his return from the war he located in Des Moines. He had held several positions of honor and trust, and was prominent in the business life of the city. He was generally regarded as a model business man and citizen. April 4 was set apart by the Twenty-fifth General Assembly for a reception to be given in honor of Gen. George W. Jones-, Iowa's territorial representative in Congress and first United States Senator. The event drew many distinguished democrats to Des Moines and the ceremonies were impressive. The General was then nearing his ninety-first birthday, and was remarkably well-preserved both in mind and body. The military training of his young manhood was still in evidence as he stood erect before the audience in the House of Representa tives. Judge Wright was the local representative on the speaking program of the afternoon. A -minor incident of the day was the presence of "Uncle Davy" Norris of Des Moines, then 94 years old — the only man in that assem blage whose birth antedated that of the honored guest. The return of Julia Ward Howe to Des Moines, was the event on April 5- The venerable poetess and humanitarian had perceptibly aged much since her first visit, but her mind was apparently clear as ever. Her evening lecture entitled "Is Polite Society Polite?" was a keenly severe arraignment of so- called good society. Then Came "Kelly's Army." About the middle of April, rumors of the approach of "Kelley's Army" began to reach Des Moines, exciting much interest and some alarm. A meeting was held at the Y. M. C. A. hall on the evening of April 26, to arrange for the reception of the so-called "Industrial Army," and to make suitable preparations for. feeding and "sleeping" the men. Unable to secure free transportation from Omaha, "the General" undertook to march his "army" across the State. Of the original 1,200, about 150 dropped out at "Camp Kelly," Council Bluffs. The sheriff ordered the men to "move on" not later than April 19. They discreetly obeyed the order, selecting the Rock Island route to Des Moines. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 331 Meantime, General Weaver, President Aylesworth and others at the Capital, organized for the reception of "the city's guests" and for their sustenance while within the city's gates. Governor Jackson, Sheriff McGarraugh and Mayor Hillis also prepared for their reception and for the protection of the city from possible raids. The city council appointed a special committee, consisting of the Mayor, City Solicitor Macomber and Aldermen Wilkins, McCartney and Garver, to see that the men were humanely cared for while in the corporation. Sunday afternoon, April 29, found the Industrial Army comfortably housed in the old stove works building in northeast Des Moines. The night before, soon after the men left Van Meter, for Des Moines, the rain fell in torrents. The night was dark and many lost their way. Even Gen eral Kelly and the two women who accompanied him — Mrs. Ada Harper and Miss Anna Houton — went astray. Not until 11:30 next day did Kelly's closed carriage reach the improvised camp. Sheriff McGarraugh and Chief Johnson spent most of the night at Valley Junction waiting to receive the guests of the county. About 9 o'clock Sunday forenoon, the advance guard of the wet and bedraggled "commonwealers" came straggling into the little city. They were met at the Walnut street bridge and turned into D. B. Murrow's pasture. Belated squads continued to join the army during the forenoon. A citizens' committee supplied the hungry tourists with a basket-picnic breakfast. At 4 P. M. the column started, headed by the sheriff and the chief of police, and followed by a platoon of police. Kelly followed on a dark bay horse — a veritable "King of the Commons." There were 932 men in line. Another heavy rain spoiled the spectacular effect of the entry into the Capital. The march through the city was without incident. A full meal had been provided for the men at the stove-works. At 4:30 Professor Ott, an ardent sympathizer, introduced Kelly to the hun dreds of people assembled on the grounds. The General thanked the citizens of Des Moines for their kindness to his men, and trusted they would be per mitted to rest a few days. Their determination and loyalty had made him proud of them. He wanted the sympathy and aid of his hearers, for bad legislation had thrown them out of employment. They were going to Washington in the hope of persuading Congress to provide employment for them. He pleaded for food, clothing and money. He had spent $378.50 for 222 pairs of shoes, and wanted more money for other much needed supplies. He closed with three cheers for the people of Des Moines. The Register the next day published the names and antecedents of many of the men; but among them the name of Jack London does not appear, though the now popular novelist and socialistic writer was undoubtedly a member of the army.3 Without funds with which to travel by rail, with no commissary department to sustain them on a march overland, there was little disposition on the part of Kelly and his men to quit their comfortable quarters and regular rations. Various measures were provided for the relief of the army and of the city; but none were adequate. Governor Jackson vainly endeavored to procure free, or even cheap, transportation for the men from Des Moines to Davenport. In this quandary, a brilliant thought came to the resourceful General Weaver. Why not transform Kelly's army into a navy? Albert Sovereign, head of the Knights of Labor, was enthusiastic. It was economy; it was more than that — it was an inspiration and would command the attention and sympathy and sup port of the onlooking world. To conceive was to act. A fleet of 150 rafts was hurriedly constructed. The Des Moines river was made navigable by the recent rains. The men were eager to make the voyage down the Des Moines to Keokuk, entirely willing to trust Providence and public sympathy for the outcome. At 8 Years afterwards in a lecture delivered in Des Moines lack London related his experience as a member of "the Industrial Army." 332 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Keokuk they would tie eight rafts together and with steam-tugs, would go down the Mississippi to the Ohio and thence up the Ohio to Wheeling, W. Va., and thence to Washington. Lumber was bought of the Gilcrests at cost and was promptly sawed and delivered. The flat-boats were to be 16 feet long, 6 feet wide and 12 inches deep, and their cost was to be less than $700. Money was easily raised in the city to speed the parting guests. Monday morning, May 7, about five hundred men marched to the "navy yard" at the junction of the 'Coon and the Des Moines, and were put to work under the direction of the local Carpenters' Union. There on historic ground, where Captain Allen had landed his dragoons a little more than a half-century before, a strange and picturesque scene was enacted on Wednesday morning, the 9th of May, 1894. One by one the rafts slipped from their moorings and disappeared around the river bend, and with shouts of joy from the prospective sailors, and with answering shouts from sympathizers and spectators on shore, Kelly's navy slipped down the river— and into history. The sequel may be briefly told. The fleet floated down the river — one boat at a time, past the packing house, past Newcomer's Point, past Hastie Point, round Rattlesnake Bend, past Tippie Point, and Yellow Banks, past the old town of Dudley, past Adelphi, past all that was left of the Lafayette of 1851, — and so on beyond the limits of Polk county. The day was beautiful, the men were jubilant, the good-byes were hearty. But there yvas no moaning at the Racoon Fork when Kelly's navy passed out of sight! The fleet never arrived. Innumerable accidents happened. Hunger intervened. The nights were cold. Some sickened and begged to be left. One by one the rafts were tied up and deserted, or sold for lumber; and so Kelly's Navy, like Kelly's Army, suddenly disappeared from the public view. Thus ignominiously closed one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of Des Moines. The sociological students of Drake University gathered interesting statistics of Kelly's Army while it was encamped in Des Moines, and these, compiled by President Aylesworth, were published May 3. From these, it appears that of the 763 members of that body 549 were American-born and 314 foreign-born. Of the foreign-born, 58 were German, 28 Irish, 12 Scotch, 11 Canadians, and so on down to one Turk, and one Greek. Politically there were 218 republicans, 195 democrats, 240 populists, 92 undecided and indifferent. In religion, 358 styled themselves Protestants, 280 Catholics, 114 unidentified. Of the number there were 662 unmarried men, 91 married and 5 widowers. The average age was 31. In a total of 425, there were 83 trades represented. There were 43 laborers, 53 miners, 31 farm-hands, 18 railroad men, 17 painters, 15 carpenters, 13 iron-workers, etc. Among the many national bodies that have chosen Des Moines for their meeting place, doubtless not one has come with as little demonstration of welcome as the American Protective Association, whose Supreme Council convened in the city May 2, 1894. Delegates from twelve or more states were in attendance. Its open meeting in the evening was not largely attended. The small auditorium of the Y. M. C. A. yvas not crowded. The speakers defended their order from the charge of bigotry, maintaining that their hostility to Catholicism was not to the church, but to the policy of the church toward the public school question. The speakers were heard with courteous attention, but not yvith enthusiasm, outside that shown by the delegates themselves. The Scotch-Irish in Des Moines. One of the notable events of the year 1894, was the Sixth Congress of the Scotch-Irish in America, a national organization including many men of promi- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 333 nence in the United States. This was the first congress held west of the Missis sippi. Messrs. P. M. Casady and Henry Wallace were the prime-movers of the gathering, well supplemented by Governor Jackson, Mayor Hillis, Col. John Scott, D. B. Patterson, Jefferson S. Polk, W. H. Fleming, Barlow Granger, E. H. Conger, Robert Fullerton, Dr. Woods Hutchinson, and a host of others who were proud to claim Scotch-Irish ancestry. Prominent among the women yvho contributed to the cordial welcome given the guests were Mesdames Ogilvie, Wallace, Young, Hamilton, Brown, Scott, Casady, Robertson Day and Wyman. A drive about the city on, the first day, with brief receptions at Drake Uni versity and Highland Park College, marked the first day of the Congress, June 6. The Congress was formally called to order on the morning of the 7th, by Judge Casady, who introduced Col. John Scott, president of the Iowa branch of the association. Addresses of welcome were delivered by Mayor Hillis, Mr. Wallace and Governor Jackson. Robert Bonner, of New York Ledger fame, cleverly responded, in the course of his speech declaring that he would never doubt his friend Wallace's word, nor indeed anything he might hereafter hear concerning the growth of Des Moines, the enterprise of her citizens, the ad vantages they enjoyed and the public improvements they had made. Dr. John Mcintosh, in the same genial vein, expressed fear that it would be a case of the Camel and the Arab over again, for the Scotch-Irish, "who always know a good thing when they see it," were having such a good time in Des Moines that they were likely to turn their hosts out of house and home and settle permanently in their places ! Rev. Dr. Howard Johnston, then of Chicago, but formerly of Des Moines, expressed delight in coming back to Iowa and satisfaction with his part in bringing the association to Des Moines. In the evening, at the Kirkwood, a public reception was given the city's visitors. The sessions on the 8th were marked by a number of addresses abounding in Scotch-Irish yvit, sentiment and sense. Among the speakers were Hon. James Wilson and Rev. Dr. John Hall. The last day's sessions were made especially notable by addresses by Rev. Dr. Magoun, long president of Iowa College, Grinnell, and Hon. John A. Kasson, of Washington, formerly of Des Moines. A beautiful letter from Robert G. Cousins, then a member of Congress from Ioyva, was read at one of the sessions. Reports were read ; resolutions abounding in appreciation of the hospitality of Des Moines were passed, and with a solemn benediction from the lips of the venerable John Hall, the congress adjourned. Greenwood Park, Des Moines' first public park, yvas dedicated June 12. The school children were out by the thousands — and their parents and friends with them! The May-pole, cycling races, games, drills, singing, — everything was planned that could be thought of to please the children. It was a gigantic picnic. The parade to and through the grounds included hundreds of decorated carriages headed by the Des Moines Union Band, the German Turners, the United Ameri can Mechanics, one hundred bicycle-riders with decorated wheels, etc. Colonel Godfrey was president of the day. Dr. Frisbie offered prayer; Mayor Hillis delivered the address, folloyved by a brief speech from Labor Commissioner O'Bleness, also from Col. Joseph Eiboeck. Tacitus Hussey was the poet of the occasion. Mrs. Macomber delivered a stirring address on the duty and opportunity of cities. I. M. Earle followed with a brief address. But to the ten thousand people present the wooded hills and lake were the chief attrac tion. Des Moines' first park was a splendid investment, as is attested daily by the throngs who visit it. At a banquet of the alumni of Drake University, at the Kirkwood, June 14, 334 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 1894, General Drake, responding to the toast "Why I founded Drake University," said that in 1861, he passed through Des Moines to Oskaloosa and there for the first time sayv the Oskaloosa college, and found that two young men by the name of Carpenter had founded the college and were struggling to build it up. Later, when he came to the Capital to receive a lieutenant-colonelcy from Gover nor Kirkwood, he first met one of the Carpenters — George T. — who, two years later met, wooed and won his sister. In '81, he received a letter from D. R. Lucas, pastor of the Christian church in Des Moines, saying that he and George T. Carpenter desired to found an educational institution at the State Capital and suggested that financial aid would be acceptable. Mr. Lucas also suggested that by founding the proposed university he could erect a monument far more lasting than stone. The General gave them $20,000 to start with, and his father and brothers added to that sum. He felt that this was the best investment he had ever made. He declared he was not the founder of the university, though it did bear his name. The honor of founding Drake University belonged to George T. Carpenter and D. R. Lucas. "I helped in the work," he modestly added, "because I knew of the great desire the former had to promote the cause of education. . . I thank God that I took hold. My life has been happier for its success." The Fourth of July, 1894, was celebrated with a bit of mimic war. On the morning of the 4th, Governor Jackson ordered the Fourth Regiment of guards, with the exception of Company K, to report at once at Sioux City, where 3,000 strikers had organized and taken possession of the Illinois Central & North western yards, trains and tracks, spiking switches and holding passenger trains. Adjutant-General Prime remained in Des Moines, commanding the situation by wire. A strike on the Diagonal at Des Moines, added to the excitement of the day. The possible need of troops at home was increased by the fact that an evening meeting of railway men in Courthouse square was just ahead. The meeting was addressed by President Pattde, of the American Railway Union, whose speech so abounded in hopeful news that all went away satisfied that organized labor would come out of the strike much stronger than before. Every Presbyterian in Des Moines — and in Iowa as well — and every other person who had ever come within his genial influence — felt a sense of personal loss when, on Sunday, July 29, the news was announced from the pulpit by Dr. Marshall that Rev. Dr. J. B. Stewart was dead. While preaching a dedicatory sermon in Pasadena, he was taken ill. He was removed to his hotel and there passed away. Dr. Stewart's Des Moines pastorate included the years 1881 to '87. The fifty happy years of Judge and Mrs. W. E. Miller were celebrated, August 1, with a large gathering of old and new friends at their Sixth avenue home, fudge Miller was colonel of the Twenty-eighth Iowa, and the successor of Judge Dillon on the Supreme Bench. His contribution to the literature of the law had been extensive. Rev. Dr. Emory Miller, his brother, and other rela tives contributed to the pleasure of the occasion. Battle-Flag Day. As Curator Aldrich, of the State Historical Department, well says in his re port on Battle Flag Day, "it was a noble resolution that led to the proper pres ervation of Iowa's war flags. There was no clanger of people forgetting the soldiers, or their sacrifices, but these flags, that were emblems of great deeds, might fade away." Every visitor at the State Capitol, attracted by the light re flected upon these flags, encased in glass in the rotunda, beholds with emotions ranging all the way from childish interest to "thoughts too deep for tears," these emblems of Iowa's heroic part in the struggle for the nation's life. That was a red-letter clay in the history of Des Moines and Polk county on which the surviving members of the Iowa regiments that carried these flags to ultimate victory bore these priceless treasures through the streets of the Cap ital city and placed them reverently in the sealed cabinets for their better pres- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 335 ervation and for future inspection. Others had hoped and longed and prayed for the supremacy of the flag — in the South as in the North ; but here were the men who had risked their lives to that end and had lived to carry the flag through swamps and morasses, up hillsides bristling with bayonets, into ravines where death lay in waiting, and into the hell of battle where the grim adversary was the one acknowledged victor. The Twenty-fourth General Assembly of Iowa commissioned Adjutant Gen eral Prime and Curator Aldrich to "cause the colors, standards and battle flags borne by Iowa regiments and batteries during the War of the Rebellion to be placed in hermetically sealed glass cases" in the corridors of the Capitol, and placed the sum of $3,000 at their disposal to that end. To make the event more memorable it was thought best to invite the sur viving veterans, who had followed those flags, to participate in the ceremony. The response was general. In view of the sad fact that more than twenty-five thousand Iowa soldiers were dead, the large number present was' a matter of surprise and congratulation. On that day of days Des Moines was, in every fiber of its collective being, the Capital city of Iowa. The streets were thronged. As the veterans filed past — some erect and agile as of -old, but most of them bent with years and infirmities, and not a feyv giving evidence of wounds received in battle, there was one prolonged but tenderly subdued shout of welcome, and appreciation. The procession formed on Fifth street, west, and marched along Locust street to the bridge, thence up the hill on the east to the State House. It was wisely arranged that the march should not be long, for it was feared that there would be many old soldiers present whose ambition to march might transcend their physical powers. At the head of the procession rode Col. William T. Shaw, the hero of Shiloh. a hero of two wars, the Mexican War and the War of the Rebellion, — a unique man, whom the enemy could not daunt and whom' military discipline could not humble, a man who went to his grave misunderstood by many, yet with a soldierly record which not even an unfriendly court-martial could tarnish. A hundred and thirty-five veterans marched in line bearing the flags under which, thirty odd years before, they had marched and fought. Behind these were five thousand veterans to whom those gauze-covered flags and banners were a sad and yet inspiring memory. No captured battle-flags of the Confederacy were borne in triumph on that day. All was done that could be done to keep the occasion free from suggestion of the bitterness of the struggle. It should not be forgotten that this memorable ioth day of August was the thirty-third anniversary of the battle of Wilson's Creek, the first engagement of the war in which Iowa troops were slain. It was fitting that the Sons of Veterans were honored with the privilege of taking the battle-flags from the arsenal and handing them over 10 tne color- sergeants who in the war had carried them to victory. Many of the veterans had not seen their flag since they had left the service, and it is needless to say they were deeply moved by the sight. Col. Warren S. Dungan, lieutenant- governor of the state, addressed the color-bearers at the arsenal. The day was sultry, but in spite of the heat, the veterans bore the march bravely and well, escorted by the Governor and his staff, the Sons of Veterans, the National Guard, civic societies and bands of music. They marched under arches bearing the names of battles in which Iowa regiments had borne honor able part. Business houses and residences along the route were decorated in honor of the day. Arrived at the Capitol, as many veterans as could be arranged on the east steps were photographed, with the color-bearers and the colors prominently dis played. The opening address was delivered by Gen. John W. Noble, of St. Louis, himself an Iowa soldier of distinction. Rev. A. V. Kendrick, National Chap- 336 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY lain of the Grand Army of the Republic, offered prayer. Major S. H. M, Byers, of Des Moines, read a beautiful poem, "The Battle Flags of Iowa." The principal address of the day, by Maj. John F. Lacy, of Oskaloosa, was on "The Returning of the Flags." Governor Frank D. Jackson eloquently re sponded. Mrs. Jesse Cheek, of Des Moines, sang "The Star-spangled Ban ner." The Des Moines Union Band and Carper's Drum Corps woke the echoes in the State-house corridors with their martial strains. The flags were arranged in groups, one on each side of the State Library door. Group one represented the following in their order : First Cavalry, Sec ond Infantry, Second Cavalry, First Battery, First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Infantry. The second group represented the Third and Fourth Cavalry, the Second Battery, the Thirteenth, Tenth, Eleventh, Eighth, Twelfth, Ninth and Four teenth Infantry. The third, represented the Fifth and Seventh Cavalry, the Third Battery, the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-first regiments. The fourth, the Twenty-second, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth Twenty-sixth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth In fantry, and the Eighth Cavalry. Group fifth, the Thirty-first, Thirty-second, Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fifth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-eighth, Thirty-ninth and Fortieth Infantry, and the Sixtieth U. S. Infantry. The death of ex-Governor Kirkwood, at Iowa City, September i, was a sorrow to many in Des Moines who recalled the Governor's residence at the Capital city. The Jeffersonian simplicity which marked the old war Governor's character and life was coupled with so- much of genial good-humor and broth- erliness that he had troops of friends with all classes and conditions of men. Governor and Mrs. Jackson and others at the Capital sent messages of con dolence to the widow. Judge Wright pronounced Governor Kirkwood "one of the strongest, bravest, truest men that ever lived." The Des Moines club, Grand avenue and Fifth, having undergone its full share of vicissitudes, opened its spacious parlors in November, taking a new lease of life — with new furnishings and equipment. There had sprung up in Des Moines as everywhere else in the country, a religious cult known as the Christian Science church. Its gospel of peace and good-will had encountered no opposition of a public nature until Rev. Dr. Buck ley, that valiant knight of orthodoxy, sprang into the arena and challenged its supporters to defend its position. Dr. Buckley came to Des Moines as a lecturer for the Itinerants' Club of the M. E. Church, and lectured on the evening of December 17, on "Faith Cures and Christian Science," and the lecture was re ported as "full of argument, logical deductions and plentifully sprinkled with humor." But the attack made no perceptible diminution in the growth of the new congregation in the city. 1895 THE YEAR MERCY HOSPITAL OPENED. The death of Mrs. Frances R., widow of Captain F. A. West, January 31, removed a pioneer of 1853 wno> in her time had clone much to develop the social life of the young city. The New Yorkers held a banquet in Cycling Club hall, February 14, with Barlow Granger at the head of the table. The society had not banqueted since its organization at the Aborn House years before, and the number of eligibles had greatly increased. Thirty-four counties and sixty-nine cities and towns were represented. The society elected E. R. Clapp president ; R. A. Patchin and CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 337 S. Green vice presidents; William H. Fleming secretary; J. W. Geneser, treas urer; executive committee, J. M. Orvis, C. L. Watrous, A. S. Wilcoxen, R. L. Chase, S. A. Foster, Barlow Granger, E. Crittenden, E. F. Hunter, F. D. Jackson, George Randall, R. B. Soules, W. R. Shepard, W. H. Tinsley, I. E. Tone, E. B. Whitcomb, H. H. Windsor and H. E. Teachout. "The Savery" was the center of a brilliant aggregation of representative women on the night of May 6, the social event being a reception and banquet in honor of Mrs. Ellen M. Henrotin, president of the National Federation of Women's Clubs. The seven clubs of the city were the hostesses. The guest of honor was presented by Mrs. J. H. Windsor. Mrs. Lindon Bates, of Chicago, who shared yvith Mrs. Henrotin the courtesies of the evening, .was presented by Mrs. H. C. Potter. Mrs. Macomber served as toastmistress, imparting to the after-dinner program the element of spontaneity oftentimes lacking at men's banquets. Mrs. W. H. Baily greeted the honored guests. Mrs. Henrotin re sponded with "Women as Humorists," a theme to which she was temperament ally yvell fitted. Mrs. Bates talked interestingly of the "Art Outlook," Mesdames Frisbie, Wallace, Macomber and Givens, Miss McLoney and others followed on a variety of themes. It should be noted that this was the first Des Moines banquet conducted wholly by women — the first of a long series 01 eminently successful banquets planned and carried out without executive or oratorical aid from the so-called stronger sex. Mrs. Lowry Goode and Mrs. J. H. Windsor made the presence of the Chicago ladies still more memorable by home recep tions in their honor. The first appearance of Lillian Nordica in Des Moines, in March, '95, was an event in the musical life of the city. The large auditorium responded with tremendous enthusiasm to that great singer's efforts. That Des Moines had not yet come into its own musically, is evidenced by the small audience which greeted Theodore Thomas and his great orchestra, a few weeks later. The same orchestra which in later years drew immense audiences, even after the death of its old-time leader. Mercy Hospital was formally opened for patients on the 23d of April, and has ever since been a source of strength to the physicians and surgeons of the city, ministered as it has been with skill, broad catholicity and undeviating kindliness to all, the poor as well as the rich, who come under its ministrations. The Christian Endeavor Association of Towa, organized in 1885, held its tenth annual convention in Des Moines late in October, and in numbers, in at tendance and quality of program it surpassed all previous gatherings. The Christian Index, devoted to the interests of the Christian Church, was founded in Des Moines in November, by Rev. G. L. Brokaw. The Index is still fulfilling its mission, with a much larger field than that which opened before it in '95. Homer D. Cope a young man in whom were rare possibilities, who had acted on the stage with Lawrence Barrett, and whose reading of "Damon and Pyth ias" is still a memory, died in the fall of 1895, leaving many in Des Moines to sorrow at his untimely death. His younger sister, Mrs. Mary Cope-Jacobs, has gracefully won in her lighter field the high honors which, had he lived, would surely have come to him as an interpreter of tragedy. Col. Frank Riseley, long associated with Des Moines hotel management, and active in the public affairs of the city, died in November at Independence, Iowa, aged 57. Early on the morning of December 6, the flag floating from the State House was hung at half-mast, because of the death of Gen. Ed. Wright, first cus todian of the new Capitol, and an old-time legislator from Cedar county. The body of the deceased lay in state in the Capitol on the Sunday following, and thousands availed themselves of the sad privilege of looking upon the face of their friend for the last time. The funeral took place on the 9th, attended by the members of the Grand Army, officers of State and many citizens. Robert 338 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY S. Finkbine with whom General Wright was associated in the building of the State House, Charles Aldrich, of the Historical Department, George W. Bemis, John Sherman, Samuel Green and William H. Fleming, intimate friends of the deceased, served as bearers at the funeral. Memorial resolutions came from various sources showing the high regard in which the deceased was held. The movement for a semi-centennial celebration of the birth of the State, County and City, was inaugurated in December, 1895, by Hoyt Sherman, Isaac Brandt, Simon Casady and other pioneer citizens of Des Moines. Governor and Mrs. Jackson gave a reception at the* Savery on the evening of December 19. Governor-elect Drake and his daughter assisted Mr. and Mrs. Jackson in receiving. Many distinguished people from all parts of the State were present. Governor Jackson's retirement to private life was known to have been wholly voluntary and to mean a continued residence in the Capital city, his duties as president of the growing Royal Union Insurance Company having compelled his declination of a second nomination. The incoming Gov ernor was well known to many in the city and was received with every evidence of cordiality.Among the new business organizations of the year were : The Keith Furnace Company, the Anchor Insurance Company, the Valley Savings Bank, the Dodd . & Elwood Electric Apparatus Company, the Carbondale Fuel Company, etc. The city engineer reported that the public improvements made under his direction during the year amounted to $260,483.93. Of this sum the details (in round numbers) are: sewers, $30,000, paving streets, $164,000; curbing, $16,000; grading, $10,000; Bird's run, $23,000. At the end of three years of hard times, Des Moines was found to have borne the strain far better than most cities of the State and nation. Her banks and business houses were in the main financially strong. Her schools, forty- eight in number, with 290 teachers, were run at an expense of $281,870, and while there was much dissatisfaction with public expenditure in other directions, no one grumbled at the outlay for schools. The enrollment of children of school age was 11,857; the average attendance, 8,633. There were seventy- eight churches, with a good general attendance and fair support. 1896 THE YEAR OF DES MOINES' SEMI-CEXTENXIAL. The death of Judge George G. Wright, Januarv it. 1896, created a vacancy in many local circles which will never be filled. The appointment, in January, of W. C. Brown to the position of General Manager of the "Q" system was gratifying to Mr. Brown's many Des Moines friends — the one regret being that it necessitated the removal of the appointee to Chicago. The quo warranto proceedings brought by A. G. West, in March, 1894, to test the right of the City of Des Moines to exercise corporate authority over certain territory added to the city by legislative enactment, finally, January 22, came from the Supreme court with a decision in support of the city's right to annex. The failure of the Lowry Goode "boom" left behind it a long trail of lit igation. One of the cases "F. M. Hubbell vs. the Avenue Investment Company," was first to come from the Supreme court, — in January, 1896. The questioned receivership was sustained. On the 5th of February, the business house, known as "Trepanier's" opened its "new and magnificent store" at Sixth and Walnut, occupying the three floors. Though an event of yesterday, how few are able to recall it ! — so completely has the march of improvement swept away all vestige of what was deemed "magnificent" only fifteen years ago! The Tippecanoe Club tendered to John A. Kasson a complimentary banquet, CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 339 February io. Mr. Kasson's informal response was received with enthusiasm. Several other speeches filled out the evening till a late hour. On the following evening, Mr. Cummins introduced Mr. Kasson to the Women's Club, before whom the statesman turned aside from statesmanship to lecture on "Social Womanhood." A meeting of about forty ladies in the Y. M. C. A. auditorium on the nth of February, 1896, was the starting point of a movement long under considera tion which led on to that beneficent local institution, the Home for the Aged. Mrs. Preston B. Durley presided and Mrs. W. H. Baily acted as secretary. Mesdames Conger, Orwig, Robertson, Seeberger, Hillis and others reported the encouragement they had received as a result of a preliminary canvass. A com mittee on constitution and by-laws was created, and the ladies went forth to work. Nearly every church in the city was represented. A second meeting was held a week later when a constitution was voted upon, and general plans of pro motion were considered. In the spring the city council passed an ordinance, vacating portions of Sixth and Seventh streets for a union depot. A similar ordinance had been vetoed by Mayor Campbell several years before. Another movement for cheaper gas, long following the failure of the Sher man ordinance to bring about that result, was agitated in February, but with out any immediate result. This time the mover in the matter was the Missouri Gas Company of Kansas City. Mr. Sherman had examined the company's home plant and reported it satisfactory in every respect. On the 4th of March, the incredulous opened their eyes on reading that Rep resentative Hull had secured a favorable report from the House Committee on military affairs on his bill for the establishment of an army post in Des Moines. The bill carried an appropriation of $50,000 for preliminary work to be done under the direction of the Secretary of War. The post was to be located upon a site to be donated. The skeptical were still of opinion that the favorable re port was only a courtesy extended by the members of the military committee to their chairman. The. advent of Paderewski was the musical event in March, and is still a treasured memory with the musicians of Des Moines. The old Calvary Taber nacle was the uncouth auditorium in which, on the evening of the ioth of March, the world's greatest pianist revealed himself. The large audience of music-lovers was recruited from all parts of the State, and to the appreciative the evening was one of rare satisfaction and delight. To them the hard seats, the rude stage, the unsightly rafters, and the unsympathetic ones in the audience — everything was forgotten in the ecstacy of that all too brief hour. Next day, the management wanted the public to know that the absence of lights on the stage was not due to parsimony on their part, but to the expressed wish of the artist whose vision was painfully sensitive to electric light. The Kirkwood was the scene of a brilliant social event near the close of the session in the spring of '96. More than three hundred guests were present, on invitation of the wives of members of the Twenty-sixth General Assembly then in session. The ladies of the legislative family and of the city had fre quently met at the Friday afternoon receptions ; but this was the first opportunity the hostesses had had to bring their husbands and the leading men of the city and their wives together socially. Dr. Hutchins, who knew everybody by name, was master of ceremonies. In the receiving line were Mesdames Funk, Davis, Craig, Allen, Cheshire, Waterman, Phelps, Martin, St. John, Rowen, and Rig- gen. Mrs. Parrott, who had been ill, gave to many a glad surprise by her pres ence. Mr. Hussey read a poem which caused much merriment. An Iowa Allison Club was organized in Des Moines in the early Spring, the purpose of which was to push the candidacy of Senator Allison for the presi dential nomination in the coming national convention at St. Louis. Des Moines was represented in the organization by Judge Spurrier as vice president and 340 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Sidney A. Foster as district committeeman. Committees were named to arrange for a large representation at St. Louis ; but, as is well known, the popular demand for McKinley had set in so strongly that nothing could withstand it. ''Devisive Strife." One of the bitterest political contests ever held in Des Moines began early in February between the supporters and the opposers of municipal waterworks. The supporters under the dual leadership of James G. Berryhill and John Mac Vicar, backed by the Daily News; the opposers, under the vigorous leadership of the Register. The term "devisive strife" frequently employed by Editor Clarkson, finds perhaps its best exemplification in the memorable waterworks campaign of '96. But, withal, it was an educational campaign — part of the preparation needed for the active citizenship which was to come in the next decade. The stormiest meeting in this campaign of education was one of conference with the city cen tral committee — in the Y. M. C. A. hall, March 13, where the rush for seats, in a factional attempt to pack the house almost assumed the aspect of a riot. Chair man William H. Fleming, of the committee, announced that the object of the meeting was to anticipate the factional charges of fraudulent purpose by agree ing upon methods to secure an honest ballot and a fair count. He unfolded a long petition of prominent citizens asking for the Australian ballot at the pri maries. Judge Nourse then read lengthy resolutions, previously prepared by the committee, detailing methods for conducting the primaries. The reading of the resolutions was frequently interrupted. Pandemonium followed. In time Dr, Schooler moved that, in view of the disorderly nature of the meeting, the con ference adjourn to meet at the Kirkwood parlors March 23. The motion was declared out of order, another motion — one on the adoption of the resolutions — having been entertained. Ignoring the chairman's ruling, ex-Sheriff McGarraugh demanded that the secretary put the motion. Secretary Chamberlain put the motion and it was declared to be carried. The McCartney, anti-waterworks forces withdrew ; Chairman Fleming called Col. D. M. Fox to the chair and the conference proceeded. The Nourse resolutions were then unanimously adopted. Mr. Berryhill made a vigorous speech which nerved the MacVicar forces to reneyved effort. The campaign closed with the primaries on Thursday, March 17, resulting in the selection of John MacVicar as the republican nominee for mayor — Mr. McCartney declining to run against the regular nominee of his party. The elec tion, April 6, resulted in Mr. Mac Vicar's success by a large majority over Mr. Loomis, the democratic nominee. The new mayor went in under the pledge, made by his party in convention, that the waterworks should be purchased "at their actual value." The East Grand avenue home of Isaac Brandt was saddened March 2Q bv the death of the beloved wife and mother. The original home of the Brandt's on the site of their later home, corner of East Twelfth and Grand, was the first dwelling within the city limits on the East side. It was then — in '58 — in the midst of a natural forest. The funeral of Mrs. Brandt on the 31st was conducted by Dr. Frisbie, assisted by Mrs. Billington and Dr. Kennedy. The early settlers, the Tippecanoe Club and a vast concourse of friends were present. The last reception of the legislative season was given at the State House on the evening of April 1, and it was said that more than 5,000 people paid their respects to Governor Drake and his daughter. The appearance of William Jennings Bryan in Des Moines in April was an event of interest to fifteen hundred people who turned out to hear "the coming man" of democracy. "Free Silver" yvas his theme. Another forerunner of the movement which was ultimately to revolutionize methods of municipal administration in Des Moines was a Civic Federation, CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 341 formed on the 29th of April, having for its object "the advancement of the municipal, industrial and moral interests of the city," and the promotion of "honesty, efficiency and economy" in city government. Its chief objective point was municipal reform legislation in the shape of a primary law such as had been formulated and favorably considered in Chicago. The dedication of the Callanan College building, which Judge Callanan had generously donated to the organization of the "Old People's Home," or Home for the Aged, was a happy event for the devoted women who, some five months before, had undertaken the task of founding such a home. Mrs. Durley pre sided. Mrs. N. M. Smith, of the board, made the opening address. Mayor Mac Vicar, Governor Drake and others spoke encouraging words for the enterprise. The ladies had cleaned, repainted and redecorated the interior, and, with furni ture donated and about $4,000 in money, had made the building look presentable — even , inviting. The long-drawn-out and sensational trial of S. R. Dawson for the murder of his son-in-law, Walter Scott, on the 24th of December, 1895, went to the jury May 8, and after eight hours of consideration, the jury rendered a verdict of murder in the second degree. It was a sad and painful case and a distressing outcome, though the justice of the decree was not generally questioned. The case may be briefly stated as an unhappy marriage and a father's uncontrollable exasperation. Mr. Dawson, the perpetrator of the homicide, was famous in his time as the inventor of "the Damascus blade," a steel so highly tempered as ** have all the conditions of the traditional Damascus blade. So thoroughly did he believe in his invention that after his incarceration a company was formed for the manufacture of the steel ; but the enterprise died from lack of capital and lack of faith. The old man was oardoned bv Governor Shaw. The spring campaign brought James G. Berryhill to the front and resulted in a contest between Mr. Berryhill and Captain Hull for the seat in Congress long occupied by Hull. The storm center of the campaign was a joint debate between the two candidates for the republican nomination, in the old Tabernacle on the East side, on the evening of June 3. The building was packed and the debaters were tremendously applauded. Rarely is a political audience as evenly divided in sentiment as was the case that night. The chief burden of the debate was the railroad question — rates, regulation, pooling, etc. In the course of his speech and in verification of his statements, Captain Hull read a long letter from Judge Reagan of the United States Railroad Commission, and a long extract from the Railroad Commission law, which tended to quiet the enthusiasm of his hearers. But the audience awoke when the Captain returned to Mr. Berryhill and paid his respects to Editor Hamilton of the News. Mr. Berryhill's last fifteen min utes straightened out his record on railroad legislation which his opponent had left badly tangled. A second joint debate was held in the Grand Opera House, June 4. The net result of the meetings was the inclusion of more "ginger" into the campaign, which resulted in the renomination of the incumbent. What was at the time pronounced to be "the longest procession ever seen in Des Moines or the west" was the Sunday school parade of June 8. The purpose was to give to the world a show of the strength of the Sunday school as a factor in the city's problem of progress — and as such it was a pronounced success. It was reported that thirty thousand men, women and children witnessed the parade, and that several thousand children were in line when Chief Marshal J. W. Hill gave the marching command. There were eleven marching divisions, including nearly all the Sunday schools in the city. After marching through the principal streets, the procession broke ranks at the courthouse, where a "rally" was held, conducted by Rev. Dr. Frisbie. Mr. E. B. Stevenson, prominent in Sunday school work, delivered an address, pre ceded and followed by singing. An impressive feature of the exercises was the repetition of the Lord's Prayer by several thousand voices. The event which brought so many children together was the annual conven- 342 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY tion of the State Sunday School Association. The second day was made memor able by two addresses by the great evangelist, Dyvight L. Moody. Calvary Taber nacle, on the East side, was packed with people eager to hear the man who had been instrumental in turning many thousands to repentance and right living. Presidents Rosenberger of Penn College, Oskaloosa, and Beardshear of the State College at Ames, and others, made stirring addresses. It was a notable event in the history of Des Moines as a religious center. On the 18th and 19th of June the Young People's Christian Union was con vened in Des Moines with many notable bishops, preachers, professors and lay Sunday-school workers. The many friends of Plon. P. M. Casady could scarcely let go by the fiftieth anniversary of the Judge's arrival in Fort Des Moines. Learning of their pur pose to pay their respects to him on that day, the Judge and Mrs. Casady and their son arranged a dinner for the occasion. It was a notable group made up in part of pioneers and in part of men who had "made good" in the places the pio neers had filled in the social and commercial life of old Fort Des Moines.4 To recall the names of the older guests present on that occasion is almost equivalent to calling the roll of the illustrious citizens of Des Moines who have passed away during the last fifteen years. The only ones present who were living in Des Moines when young Phineas Casady arrived were E. R. Clapp and Dr. James Campbell, and both these, with their honored host, have since entered into their rest. Reminiscences were freely exchanged, vividly reproducing upon the minds of the younger generation the scenes and events and personages of that shadowy past in which many of those present were known to have performed important parts. Certain well-known names — of necessity and by right of service oft repeated in this history — all closely associated with that of the venerable host — were frequently mentioned in connection with characteristic incidents of that elder day when to be a leading citizen was honor enough for any one man — such names as Drs. Grimmel and Fagen, W. D. Frazee, "Tom" Mitchell, "Ben" Bryant, Dr. T. K. Brooks, Peter Myers, Judge McKay, Judge McFarland, R. L. Tidrick, Madison Young, Rev. J. A. Nash, and — of a later time — General Crocker. These were the days of the bicycle. Men, women and children were mounted on wheels. Bicycle parties and bicycle races were of the commonest occurrence. It was generally remarked that the wheel had permanently revolutionized loco motion. But, a few years later, as if by command from some central source of authority, the bicycle as a pleasure vehicle disappeared, and all that remained to remind one of the recent past was the wheel as a means of conveyance to and from the store, the office and the shop. Perhaps the acme of interest in the bicycle was the third annual road race of the Des Moines Wheel Club in the early evening of June 15,-1896. It was esti mated that fully ten thousand people saw seventeen-year-old Frank Hale, son of ex-Governor Hale of Wyoming, win the eighteenth mile race in 48 minutes, 15 seconds. The course was from the clubhouse on Tenth and Mulberry westward into the country and back to the starting point. The race created much enthu siasm. The announcement of the nomination of McKinley reached Des Moines June A The published list of guests on this notable occasion were : Hoyt Sherman, ]. S. Polk, F. M. Hubbell, Conrad Youngerman, L. Harbach, George Whitaker, George F. Henry, lames G. Berryhill, A, Y. Hull, F. M. Mills, J. C. Savery, W. W. Moore, C. D. Reinking, J. J. Williams, E. R. Clapp, L. P. Sherman, Barlow Granger, Tacitus Hussey, lohn M. Day, Ira Cook, J. B. Stewart, E. A. Temple, S. A. Robertson, Will Porter, lesse W. Cheek, Martin Flynn, W. K. Bird, G. M. Hippee, Howard Henry, J. M. Griffiths, lames Campbell, David Norris, Alfred Hammer, loseph Rogg, Ed. C. ' Smith, W. W. Witmer, I. H. Windsor, William Foster, loseph Eiboeck, Bvron Rice, William Phillips, Martin Tuttle, N. S. McDonnell, Ed. Finkbine, B. F. Gue, Charles Aldrich, Isaac Brandt, R. P- Clarkson, Henry Wallace, Harry West, C. C. Cole, C. H. Gatch, William Galbraith, CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 343 18, at 5 :20. There was much interest in the result and general satisfaction. It had long been evident that "the people's choice" would win, and the mention of "gold" in the platform was satisfactory to most republicans and gratifying to the gold democrats. The result of the St. Louis convention, followed by the result of the Chicago convention, supporting free silver, led to a temporary realignment of parties locally, some free silver republicans going over to the support of Bryan and a number of influential democrats aligning themselves temporarily with the republicans, or giving their support to Palmer, the gold democrat. At the national republican convention in St. Louis in June, J. S. Clarkson declined to remain on the national committee and A. B. Cummins was elected to succeed him. Mr. Cummins reluctantly consented, "not caring to go into poli tics so deeply." By such seeming circumstances are the destinies of mortals - shaped ! The nomination of McKinley and Hobart was enthusiastically ratified by Des Moines republicans on the evening of June 23. Governor Drake, A. B. Cummins, G. L. Dobson and others were the principal speakers. "The Chautauqua" organized in Colfax in 1889. It began its career in Des Moines in 1896, in Crocker woods, on the river bank at the north terminus of Ninth street, and was for several years a conspicuous success. With a few excep tions its largest attendance each year was on Music Day, when the musical strength of Des Moines was out in full force led by Professor Sinclair and later by Dr. Bartlett. In the course of these successful years, new and commodious buildings were erected in the grove at the northern terminus of Twelfth street. Among the more distinguished lecturers of the period were General Gordon, Bishop Fowler, Dr. Gunsaulus. Senator La Follette, Jonathan P. Dolliver and Champ Clark in joint debate, Mrs. Ballington Booth and Booker T. Washington. In time, popular interest waned, with a consequent deterioration in programs, and finally the grounds were sold and, after several experimental years, the enterprise was abandoned. The program of this first Des Moines Chautauqua was strengthened by such well known lecturers as Gen. John B. Gordon, Dr. (now bishop) T. B. Vincent, Professors Graham Taylor and H. L. Willett of Chicago, Dr. Frank W. Gun saulus, and Jonathan P. Dolliver. The Iowa orator gave a grand address on "The Basis for a National Character." The first Chautauqua made about $1,400 above expenses. The nomination of William Jennings Bryan for the presidency, on the demo cratic ticket, was hailed with joy by the free-silver men and by ali that remained of the populist and greenback parties of other days. The enthusiasm of these new allies with not a few free-silver republicans, filled the single-standard men with consternation ; but it was not long before the followers of the gold standard were marching through the streets, hopeful but far from confident. On both sides the interest was greater than it had been since 1864. The "gold democrats" who had not surrendered to the party majority and had not gone over to McKinley, organized in Iowa, as in other states, and called a convention which was held in Des Moines, August 4, — a notable gathering of men who felt they could not conscientiously follow Bryan on the currency ques tion. These gave their allegiance to Palmer. On July 31 the trustees of the city library voted to build one of the finest libraries in the country. They then had $19,000 on hand, and anticipated a like amount from the fall taxes. The library officers at the time were Colonel Gatch, president; Mrs. S. Green, vice president; D. F. Witter, treasurer, and Ella Mc- Loney, librarian. Des Homes' Semi-Centennial. A notable event in the history of Des Moines is the celebration of the Semi centennial of the organization of Polk county and Fort Des Moines, on July 8, 1896. The date was chosen more for convenience than because of historical 344 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY significance, for Polk county was legally created on the 17th of January, 1846, and Fort Des Moines was incorporated September 22, 1846. The pioneers of the Capital city and their sons, and not a few newcomers, comparatively speaking, entered into the spirit of the occasion with keenest interest. On the general committees were Hoyt Sherman, P. M. Casady, Col. G. L. Godfrey, Isaac Brandt, "Commodore" Tacitus Hussey, Barlow Granger, and other pioneers of the Forties and Fifties. The celebration was ushered in with a "Land Parade" led by Marshal E. G. Pratt, in which State, county and city officials participated. This was followed by a "Water Parade," marshaled by Commodore Hussey, — in commemoration of the old-time importance of river navigation in the affairs of the city. It was especially fitting that Maj. Hoyt Sherman, a pioneer of 1848, should preside over the ceremonies in Union Park. The Major said : "We are standing here upon historic ground. One of the earliest pioneers of Iowa, selected this lovely spot for an ideal home. Within a stone's throw of this stand the first white child was born in Polk county. Its occupant pre empted this spot. Its title came to the Park Commission through but one inter vening transfer. When this charming homestead was laid out, there was nothing in all this region but the old Fort Des Moines, within which a troop of govern ment soldiers were maneuvering for the protection of the whites against the Indians. The wildest fancy could scarcely look across the intervening half- century and forecast, or foresee, such a busy, bustling, happy and healthy city as that in which we live to-day." Then, on behalf of the Park Commission, he presented Union Park to the City of Des Moines. The afternoon program was replete with historic interest. John A. McCall delivered an address on "Polk County as it was in 1846, according to History and Tradition." Frank A. Sherman, son of Major Sherman, spoke on "Boyhood Recollections of City and County." Simon Casady, son of Judge Casady, pioneer of 1846, spoke on "The City of Des Moines To-day Socially, Politically and Commercially." Judge Marcus Kavanagh, of Chicago, a native son of Des Moines, spoke on "The Centennial of City and County — What we and our descendants hope to be," a brilliant prophecy which time is in large measure fulfilling. Reminiscences followed, from the lips of pioneers nearly all of whom, like the honored chairman, have since gone on into the Beyond. The music interspersed between the addresses was furnished by Mrs. Cheek, of war memory, and a corps of the city's representative singers. The Register and the Leader gave extended reports of the celebration, from the fifty guns at daybreak on the river front, to the last item on the evening parade. They noted, among other features, a pow-wow by the Musquakie Indians who had come over from the Tama reservation to participate in the commemora tion of the good old days when the Sacs and Foxes, their ancestors, hunted and fished in this bottom. A feature of the parade contributed by L. J. Wells, a pioneer of Des Moines, was an old gray horse in an old-time harness, hitched to an ancient cart, in which Mr. Wells and several members of his family were seated, attired in the cos tumes of the early Fifties. The vehicle reminded old-timers of the cart in which Mr. Wells hauled brick for the building of the first Kirkwood hotel. An other feature noted was an old stage-coach, reminder of the clays when the only means of transportation across country was the lumbering coach, and when alternating flood and drouth made the stage route along the bottom lands of the Des Moines, or on the ridge road, slow and halting as it was, the old reliable route to and from "the Forks." The stage on exhibition was driven by Fred Cromer, a veteran stage-driver ; and on top sat a dozen other old stage-drivers, also the little son of Chief Mus-sat-tau-wee-qua, of the Tama Indians. Inside the coach sat James Stephenson of Omaha, B. F. Clayton, of Indianola, E. L. Burnham, E. R. Clapp, Samuel Noell, James Campbell and J. W. Cheek, of Des CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 345 Moines, — pioneers all. Behind the coach rode Isaac Warfield, of Des Moines, his horse bearing the legend "U. S. Mail, 1846," reminder of the days when, on horseback, he carried the mail to and from Fort Des Moines. Following came sixteen representatives of the Sac and Fox Indians, the "first families of this region." These were led by their chief Mat-a-wee-que, escorted by Isaac Brandt, a pioneer of 1856. The naval parade, led by Commodore Hussey, in the flag canoe, "Dabchick," followed by canoes and row-boats, and these followed by the big steamer, W. H. Lehmann, with four hundred people on board, the excursion steamer, J. S. Clarkson, the barges Irene and Zatella, Captain Kirk's boat and barge, the Viking and barge, and Frank Clarkson's launch, Delia Fox. The procession of river- craft yvas a vivid reminder of the time when the port of Des Moines loomed large in the vision of the pioneer. The printed report of the after exercises, includes a translation of an in formal address delivered by Chief Pus-sa-ton-eka, preceding the lively war dance of his braves. He is reported as saying: "White Friends : We come to see our white friends to-day to give you a war dance, but we come in peace. The Musquakies smoked the pipe of peace with the white face many years ago. Our tribe was always friendly to the white face. The other tribes hated us for it, and killed many of our tribe be cause we were friendly to you. We were glad that the white face came and helped us fight the other tribes, for they would have killed all of our tribe if you had not helped us. Our tribe tries to be Christians, and God above knows what I say to you to-day is true about the Musquakie Indians. We want to be good Indians, and we are glad we were invited to come and see you to-day. One of our old chiefs, Matameequa, is with us to-day. He was here many years ago, and knows many white faces. He was glad to come. He is eighty-four years old and cannot dance, but says he likes the white face because they were good to his people when he was young. "We will dance our war dance for you to please you, but it will not be danced as we danced when we went into battle with the other tribes that hated us. We were mad then. We are pleased now. We want to please you, and we come to see you because we know you are our white-faced friends." One of the minor features was the distribution of the mail by Judge Casady, who was appointed postmaster by President Polk in 1847. The Judge distributed letters to the following pioneers : Hoyt Sherman, Thomas J. Saylor, Colonel Griffith, George C. Tidrick, Mrs. McQuiston, E. R. Clapp, Barlow Granger, C. D. Reinking, A. D. Jones, Isaac Cooper, Mrs. B. Saylor, Dr. James Campbell and Byron Rice. On many of the letters back postage was due — in some in stances making an extra charge of 25 cents. The letters were brought by Isaac Warfield, a letter carrier of '46, in a pair of saddle-bags, kept all these years. Mrs. Ankeny, the oldest lady in Polk county, 96 years old, who was intro duced by Major Sherman, rose and pleasantly took exception to being called an old lady! Mr. Bryan was becoming quite intimate with Des Moines ! He decided to stop off at the Capital on the evening of the 7th of August, on his way to New York to receive his official notification. A reception was tendered him, as the rounding out of a ratification meeting by silver republicans, democrats and popu lists. The enthusiasm with which the orator's brief speech was received yvas unbounded. Mr. Bryan was presented by Governor Boies as "the next president of this grand republic." Congressman Cousins made his debut as a political speaker in Des Moines, September 3. A big campaign tent holding 5,000 people was packed to hear the young orator. For more than two hours Mr. Cousins held his audience by his original and forceful utterances. And yet he lacked the ease and conscious reserve power which marked his later convention addresses. 346 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY James Callanan and A. Slimmer of Waverly united, in September, in offer ing the Des Moines Home for the Aged $100,000, conditioned upon the manage ment raising $50,000 additional inside of six months. By the 23d of September more than half the additional sum was raised, but the rest was not in sight. The Business Men's Sound Money Association, a non-partisan organization yvas formed in Des Moines in September, its purpose being to antagonize what was regarded as "an industrial Niagara." Under its auspices was held the Bourke Cockran meeting mentioned farther on. John M. Thurston held a mass meeting in the big tent on the evening of September 30. This tent would hold 5,000 ; but an imaginative reporter placed the audience at from ten to fifteen thousand ! Fred W. Lehman, a life-long democrat, spoke against "Bryanism" in the Tabernacle, October 3, the meeting presided over by W. W. Witmer, and called by about two hundred gold democrats. Among the great political speeches which have been delivered in Des Moines, must be named the speech of October 8, 1896, by the famous convention orator, Bourke Cockran, of New York. The independence of Cockran in break ing with the party in which, by sheer mental strength and powerful oratory, he had been accorded a commanding position, gave to his anticipated utterances a significance which drew a vast audience, composed of men of all parties and ' no party and many keenly interested women. From first to last Mr. Cockran spoke as a democrat and not as a recruit to republicanism. His return to his party after the defeat of its Free Silver candidate is still fresh in the memory. The silver anniversary of Rev. Dr. Frisbie and Plymouth congregation was an October event. The congregation, assisted by the pastors of other churches and the members of other congregations, assembled one Friday evening in the beautifully decorated parlors of the old Congregational church to pay their respects to the venerable pastor and his wife, who for a quarter-century had been a source of social cheer and religious strength to thousands in the community. Col. G. L. Godfrey was master of ceremonies. A prayer by Rev. J. M. Chamber lain, pastor of the church from '59 to '65, stirred memories of pioneer days. George H. Lewis delivered an address from the layman's standpoint. Rev. B. St. John followed, reviewing the growth of Congregationalism in Des Moines. On behalf of the ladies of the church Mrs. H. C. Windsor spoke feelingly of their beloved pastor's faithful service. Mr. Clyde Lynde spoke for the younger members of the congregation. Rev. T. O. Douglass supplied the humor for the occasion. President Gates, of Iowa College, Grinnell, wrote a letter telling the story of Dr. Frisbie's devotion to the college and the services he had rendered that institution. Dr. Breeden paid eloquent tribute to his associate of the Ministerial Association. Judge Phillips followed, speaking affectionately of the Doctor as a friend and neighbor. Mr. J. E. Clarey, on behalf of the congrega tion, presented Dr. Frisbie with an easy chair and a gold-headed cane. Mrs. J. C. Cummins, on behalf of the ladies, presented Mrs. Frisbie with a complete set of silver tableware. So much of real feeling was expressed in these presenta tion speeches and in Dr. and Mrs. Frisbie's impromptu responses as to leave no question concerning the ideal relation existing betyveen the two and the members of their religious family. A notable evening was passed, October 30, at Foster's Opera House, with the then phenomenally popular preacher-novelist, John Watson, the "Ian Mac- laren" of literature whose "Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush" had made him famous. Though the lecturer's date was near the close of an exciting election, Foster's Opera House was filled. The recollection of that evening is one of rare enjoyment in the presence of a large-hearted, generously built Scotchman whose genial smile was a benediction and whose rich Scotch burr gave rare pleasure to lovers of Gaellic-English. Just what Mr. Watson's mission was, beyond the dissemination of good cheer, it would be difficult for most of his audience to recall, after these fifteen years, but all who heard him will be willing CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 347 to admit that they were captured by the stranger, and that "it was a famous victory." The long and strenuous campaign of 1896 was unique. Men who hadn't sat together in public meetings since the old River Improvement and Railroad Promotion days now sat upon the same platform in the McKinley and Hobart club and men who had never before marched in political processions marched side by side through the streets of the city, shouting vigorously for "McKinley and Prosperity." On the other side, there was also a strong realignment. Men who in other years had followed the lead of the eloquent and masterful Weaver when the greenback party yvas full of potentialities, and, later, had shouted for the General as the populist candidate for the presidency, were now found enthu siastically serving in the ranks of the democracy under the brilliant leadership of the preeminent champion of the double standard, William Jennings Bryan. To a degree without a parallel since the War of the Rebellion, men made the presidential issue personal, and when the end came there was on the one side a depression amounting almost to despondency, and on the other a degree of elation such as men individually feel when they experience relief from a severe and prolonged nerve-strain. The big tent was packed with a noisily jubilant crowd of republicans and gold democrats on the Friday evening after election, to rejoice together over the election of McKinley and Hobart. C. A. Dudley presided. Horns, bells and whistles, the Drum Corps, and a "tramp quartet" 5 made music for the crowd. The musical hit of the evening was a song by the quartet — words by Tacitus Hussey — entitled "I want to be a Gold Bug," beginning with — I want to be a gold bug, And with McKinley stand ; Or climb up on the band-wagon And travel with the band. I want to join the singing Which tells of victory, And shout the loud hosanna Swelled by the G. O. P. The gold democrats who made speeches were N. T. Guernsey and Samuel Strauss. The republican speakers were G. L. Dobson, Secretary of State (elect), Captain Hull, Judge Granger, James G. Berryhill, Major Conger, and Mayor Hughes of Keokuk. The city's fire loss in 1896 was only $121,059, most of the property covered by insurance. The implement house of Randall, Selby & Bell, successors to Randall & Dickey, made an assignment December 19, with liabilities amounting to about $125,000. The failure was attributed to "hard times, low prices of grain and bad collections." Secretary Brown of the Commercial Exchange in his review of the year 1896 reported that the aggregate real estate transfers of the year was over six million dollars, — a slight falling off from the two preceding years. The public improve ments included total paving, 47.40 miles ; sewers, 62.70 miles. The total of pri vate improvements was estimated at $500,000. There had been an addition of 45 acres to Union Park. The total park acreage of Greenwood, Grand View, Waveland and Union Parks was 432. The school board was then disbursing nearly $300,000 a year — and "with no suspicion of peculation or misappropria tion." The school buildings numbered 50; the total enrollment 14,857; the average daily attendance, 9,750; the number of teachers, 301; the expenses of the last fiscal year, $28,870. Thirty new corporations had been organized during the year. 5 Ralph Hale, Archie Hale, Grant lordan and W. P. Guiberson constituted the quartet. 348 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 1897 YEAR OF WATERWORKS REORGANIZATION AGITATION. January 7, 1897, was a day of sadness to the surviving pioneers of Des Moines, for on that day died Col. Isaac W. Griffith.6 He was 77 years of age, and had been in feeble health for sometime. He was a sergeant in the Mexican War, and in the Battle of Cherubusco was so severely yvounded as to lose his right arm. He was representative from Lee county in the Second General Assembly. In 1858, President Buchanan appointed him Register of the Land Office, in Des Moines, which office he held until President Lincoln appointed his successor. In '61 he was elected sheriff of Polk county. He held the position two terms, when he was appointed deputy marshal of the western district of Tennessee. In '68 he returned to Des Moines. He afterwards held several posi tions of trust in Polk county, and served on the staff of Governors Merrill, Kirk wood and Newbold, respectively. The Colonel was accorded the honor of a mili tary funeral. In the procession that followed his remains to the grave were Com pany H, I. N. G. ; members of the Grand Army, the Odd Fellows, the Tippecanoe Club and the Early Settlers' Association. On his casket his comrade of the Mexican War, Judge Given, placed a piece of the flag he had followed in the battle of Cherubusco. An impeachment resolution introduced in the city council January 11, by Alderman Miller was the surprise of the day, the object of the unusual proceed ings being Judge Frank Phillips, accused of withholding moneys belonging to the city. An expert examination of the books afterward resulted in the with- drawal of the charge and the exoneration of the accused. The National Association of Cooperative Mutual Insurance Companies yvas the next national body to find Des Moines. It was in session February 2-3. One of the features of the convention was the presence of Hon. James Wilson, then as now Secretary of Agriculture. Mr. Wilson spoke of the growth of cooperative insurance and its excellent effects. Governor Drake also addressed the associa tion. The failure of the firm of Redhead, Norton & Lathrop, wholesale and re tail dealers in books, stationery and wall-paper, was the depressing news with which the local business world entered upon the year 1892. Later, came a re organization of the business under the firm name of Lathrop & Rhoads, but under conditions which were not easy to meet, with the result that on the second of January, 1896, the Lathrop-Rhoads Company that had bravely struggled to handle the large business solely on borrowed capital was compelled to make an assignment. In May, '96, the stock of the company was sold to the highest bidder, W. H. McCain, for $2,900. Two days later the" Lathrop-Rhoads-McCain company began business, and for a time it looked as though the former prestige of the house was soon to be restored; but the end came February 15, 1897, when a disastrous fire destroyed the entire stock and with it the four-story brick- building owned by Judge Byron Rice, which stood next to the new Equitable building on Locust street. The Commercial Exchange in February became interested in two measures aimed to facilitate municipal reform, one of which was introduced by Senator Cheshire in April, '96, and passed the senate but was killed in the House on the last clay of the session ; the other, the so-called MacVicar bill giving the mayor power over and imposing upon him responsibility for the three civil service commissioners to be created. At a meeting of the Exchange February 15, '97, that body contented itself with a request that the Polk county delegation in the Gen eral Assembly, Messrs. Cheshire, Dowell and Doubleciay, use their influence "to obtain for Des Moines a measure whereby the merit "rather than the spoils system shall prevail in the appointment of municipal officers and employes," and recommending that the appointees to the proposed civil service commission be approved by the judges of the district court. "Distinguished by the title "Old Cherubusco" from Capt. Harry Griffiths and Col. J. M. Griffiths. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 349 David Norris, known everywhere as "Uncle Davy" died February 20, at his home in East Des Moines, at the advanced age of 95 years, 6 months and 17 days. Mr. Norris located a claim in Saylor Grove in 1845, by special permis sion of Captain Allen of Fort Des Moines. The land he entered is now the Poor Farm of Polk county. His nearest neighbor then was "Tom" Mitchell, on Camp creek. In 1855, he removed to the county seat and built a double- brick house at the corner of Eighth and Grand. He later removed to Bloom field township; but after sixteen years' absence returned to the city where he had resided ever since. "Uncle Davy" had a career which extended back to the War of 1812. The funeral, from the home of Thomas Nagle, was a sad reunion of many early settlers of Polk county. A sensation "on the hill" on the 25th of February, was the appearance before a senate committee of a delegation of prominent ladies of Des Moines, their object being to petition that body against reporting out a bill granting the suffrage to their sex. Mrs. H. A. Foster was the chief spokeswoman, maintaining that a large majority of the women did not want the suffrage and sustaining her contention by showing how little interest women had shoyvn in the suffrage on questions on which they already had .the right to vote. The death of P. B. Durley, long the business manager of the Daily News, occurred February 26. In his death Des Moines lost a good citizen and a high- minded man. His widow, until recently a citizen of Des Moines,7 continued to serve on the editorial pages of the News, and was long at the head of literary and humanitarian movements in the city. William K. Bird who, in 1847, came to Fort Des Moines with his parents, Rev. and Mrs. Thompson Bird, died March 11, aged 50. The spring of '97 was marked by much agitation over the location of a union depot. Several owners of near-by property protested, while the public insisted. March was an "off" month in waterworks agitation. The city's offer to buy at $800,000 and the company's offer to sell at $985,000 were both withdrawn. On March 25, the Des Moines Union Railway company began building its machine shops from plans made by Architect Hallett. The burning of the extensive wholesale millinery house of Riegelman & Company occurred early one morning in March. The stock carried by the firm was about $150,000, about three-fourths of which was a loss. The company carried about $80,000 insurance. This old established house had occupied the building on Walnut street for twenty-seven years. The ¦ house reopened on Court avenue near the postoffice. Des Moines was the first, and for years the only, city in the United States to have government mail-boxes attached to its street cars. After two years, Postmaster Hunter finally, in April, '97, succeeded in obtaining the consent of the Department to making the system permanent. It is still in successful oper ation. Easter morning, April 18, was saddened by the announcement of the death of "Grandma" Ankeny, the venerable mother of Gen. R. V Ankeny, Miss Harriet L. Ankeny, and Mrs. Susan Barcroft, of this city, and of other chil- dred residing elsewhere.8 Her death was the result of an accident. Harriet Susannah Ankeny had been a widow since 1876. She lived to see her ninety- sixth birthday and died loved and venerated by all. Electric lighting was the next movement in the evolution of the village into the city. An enormous mass meeting was held May 13 to crystallize public sentiment in favor of more and better light. Other meetings followed, indicat ing the general interest. A special election was held May 17, to pass upon the proposition of the 7 Now a resident of Los Angeles, Calif. 8 The history of the Ankeny family prominent in Des Moines and Polk county is told in the Biographical Volume of this work. 350 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY McCaskey & Holcomb Company to construct an electric light plant and to supply the city with light. The proposition involved a six-year franchise to the com pany and the ultimate purchase of the plant by the city. Both propositions car ried by over twenty-five hundred majority. The widow of the late George G. Wright died in Sioux City, June 27, at the age of 7J. Mrs. Wright was in advance of her age, her career anticipating, by at least a score of years, the thought and purposes of the club woman of today. She was a charter member of the Des Moines Women's Club, was long the president of the Christian Woman's Home, and a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Women, and of other societies of an al truistic nature. In June, Sam Jones held a two weeks' revival in a tent in North Des Moines, dividing the good people of the city into two camps : those who believed in the evangelist's sensational methods and those who feared they would do more harm than good. Several hundred converts "went forward." The enlargement of the Savery in the summer of '97, was an evidence of the growing demands of the traveling public. The death of Col. C. H. Gatch, July 1,. removed one of the most public- spirited, useful and highly esteemed citizens of Des Moines. Colonel Gatch came to the Capital city thoroughly equipped for service. He had practiced law in Kenton, Ohio, had seen service in the Ohio senate, and had risen from captain to colonel in an Ohio regiment. He had passed the fortieth milestone when, in 1866, he became a citizen of Des Moines. His worth was soon recognized and he was made district attorney, and in 1885 he was elected senator. During his eight years in the Senate, he was recognized as a leader, and some of the best laws of that period — notably the library laws of the State and the creation of the State Historical Department — bear the impress of his constructive mind. His public spirit brought him to the front in movements for the purification and elevation of municipal politics, — movements which, though not directly success ful, made an impression upon younger minds and brought results in later years.. The Chautauqua Assembly held its second annual meeting in Des Moines, July 5 to 22. T. Dewitt Talmage was the principal drayving attraction. Une of the unknowns of that year's program was Prof. Charles F. Aked, of Liver pool, who years afterwards became famous as a preacher of Christian dem ocracy, to a congregation of millionaires in New York city. Bishop Fowler's lec ture on Abraham Lincoln created a profound impression. Waterworks Complications. A complete reorganization of the Waterworks Company was effected July 21. John A. Cole of Chicago, was elected president, J. G. Rounds, treasurei. Directors: John A. Cole, George E. Bird, Frederick Robie, William M. Bradley, William G. Davis, George H. Richardson. The organization was effected by Mr. Bird, a Portland, Me., capitalist. Messrs. F. M. and F. C. Hubbell, Den- man, Thompson, A. B. Cummins, Huttenlocher, Carroll Wright, Jewett and 0. H. Perkins previously tendered their resignations. From this time forth the relations of the council with the company were not affected by local consid erations. A conference speedily followed, in which President Cole urged a settlement of the waterworks question, and the council appointed Aldermen Wilkins, Garver and Tone to confer with the company's officials. The Register of July 24 came to its readers with the reassuring heading "It is Settled at Last." An agreement was announced, by which all further litiga tion would cease ; the company's claim against the city for service amounting to $31,000 was to be settled for $15,000, and the water ordinance was to be amended "to suit purchasers." The water contract was at once attacked in court, on substantially the same grounds as those on which the original injunction proceedings were brought. city of des Moines and polk county 351 The location of a site for the proposed municipal electric light plant, on Des Moines and Shepard streets, east of the river dam, was thought to tie a step of progress in the summer of '97. The injunction prohibiting the council from entering into a contract for the construction of the plant having been denied, the mayor and council felt yvarranted in taking measures for establishing a plant to be owned and operated by the city. It was estimated that the power house and machinery would cost $105,000, which sum it was proposed to raise by annual appropriation supplemented by the $55,000 which the city was then pay ing the electric light and gas companies for lighting the city. It was estimated that the city would save $30,000 a year by the operation of its own plant. August 3, the city entered into a contract with the McCaskey & Holcomb Company to establish the electric plant. The terms were so worded as to enable the city to become the owner of the plant in two years ; the company to receive $60,000 on acceptance of the plant, $25,200 one year later, $24,000 two years later "and annually for each of said two years the sum of $32,500. The con tract resulted in long and costly litigation. A private corporation still supplies the city with electric light! On the evening of August 25, Des Moines republicans enthusiastically rat ified the nomination of Leslie M. Shaw for Governor. The large auditorium was filled. Judge Prouty, Senator Cheshire, Editor Young, Representative Carr, Citizens Odell and Cummins, Congressman Hull and Senator Gear were ratifiers-in-chief. The pressure of many believers in "the City Beautiful" and of many more who had regard for the utilities, compelled the city council to rescind its order to pave -Sixth avenue hill as it then was. A new resolution was passed, early in September, directing that the hill be cut down six feet, thus greatly adding to the beauty and utility of that central thoroughfare. The memorable river spectacle late in the summer of 1897, the vivid fire works exhibition of the taking of Vicksburg, with other brilliant spectacular features, drew thousands to the banks and bluffs of the Des Moines. The railway surgeons of Iowa held a two-days' state convention in Des Moines October 13-14, with President Fairchild in the chair. The association was addressed by A. B. Cummins. In the course of the address the experiences of an old railroad lawyer were made to point several morals. It was eminently fitting that one of the public schools of Des Moines should bear the name of the first public school teacher in Fort Des Moines. Byron Rice came to Fort Des Moines in 1849, ana-> forty-eight years later, found his last resting place in the city he had helped found. His death occurred October 14, 1897. His early experiences as a teacher have already been recounted in these pages. He had been admitted to the bar before coming to Des Moines, and in 1850 he became a law partner of J. E. Jewett. When the code of '51 created the office of county judge, Byron Rice was prosecuting attorney for Polk county. On the death of County Judge Burbridge, he was appointed to fill the vacancy. He was afterward elected to succeed himself. His administrative ability well fitted him for the position. On retiring, in '54, he became the junior and resident member of the banking house of Greene, Weare & Rice. Later, he became a member of the law firm of Finch, Rice & Clark, in which he gave evidence of much legal acumen. During his last years his activities were greatly limited by ill-health ; but his interest in public affairs continued till the last. The great Modjeska, as "Lady Macbeth," at Foster's, October 25, with Joseph Haworth as "Macbeth," revived traditions of the elder days when trag edy would draw and when Shakespeare had its place in a liberal education. The tragedienne was greeted with a "capacity audience." November 10, the revised offer of Messrs. Slimmer and Callanan in con nection with the Home for the Aged was made public. The two agreed to give the Home for the Aged $25,000 in cash, or its equivalent, if the people of Des Moines would raise $35,000. About $17,000 had already been raised toward 352 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY that sum. The terms were bravely accepted by several charitably disposed young men of Des Moines, and the canvass was renewed. The Commercial Exchange had long been running behind, and on the 18th of November its members assembled to hear the report of a committee on reor ganization. Money was raised to run the Exchange another year. The resigna tion of Secretary O. L. F. Browne was accepted. The consensus of opinion was that the Exchange should more closely confine itself to things having to do with the commercial interests of the city, — matters upon which there could be no reasonable difference of opinions. The Woman Suffragists in Des Moines. The National Suffrage Association finally discovered Des Moines on the map, and during the last week in 1897 that body was in convention in the Capital city. It was a historic body, uniting under one roof the brave, strong women who had made a name and place for the womanhood suffrage movement in every state in the Union. All the officers of the association were hospitably entertained at Inglebrae, the suburban home of Mrs. Callanan, that staunch pioneer advocate of the reform. The officers were Susan B. Anthony, president; Anna H. Shaw, vice president ; Rachel Foster Avery, corresponding secretary ; Alice Stone Black- weil, recording secretary; Harriet Taylor Upton, treasurer; Laura Clay, auditor. Among the other notable women in attendance was Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, present head of the world-movement for womanhood suffrage. Mrs. Catt was the guest of Mrs. A. B. Cummins. Other notable women present were Charlotte Perkins Stetson, Lillie Devereaux Blake, Mary C. Bradford and Clara Berwick Colby. The association was cordially welcomed by Governor Drake, Mayor Mac Vicar, Dr. Breeden, Mrs. Mattie Locke Macomber and Mrs. Adelaide Ballard. The social event of the week was the reception given the city's guests at Terrace Hill, — the gracious hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Hubbell affording towns people and visitors opportunity to mingle. The Central Christian church was thronged at every session. The venerable president, Miss Anthony, was preeminent in popularity. In her opening address to a standing-room audience, Miss Anthony became reminiscent, remarking that this was a very different audience from the one she had faced twenty-eight years before on the occasion of her first visit to- Des Moines. The small audience she then had, she said, was "a real good audience," composed of the very best people of Des Moines, a large number of whom were present after all the intervening years. Then, she added, with a genial smile lighting up her stern strong face, "You'd better not join the suffrage society if you want to die young!" The voluntary assignment of the Central Loan and Trust Company was one of the business events of the year. The company was organized in 1884 with $160,000 capital stock, about half of which was held in Des Moines. Its deben ture bonds were about $80,000. At the date of the assignment not a single depositor remained yvith the company, it having been the policy of the manage ment for a year and a half to pay off the depositors and wind up the company's affairs. During the year of 1897, 150,000 square yards of paving were laid, 15,435 feet of sewerage was constructed, 25,850 feet of curbing was put in. The paving represented an expenditure of $188,064; grading, $45,000; sewerage, $26,828, and curbing, $8,000. The cost of grading exceeded the levy of 2*4 mills. The annual report of the Commercial Exchange for 1897 showed increased business during the year, with an increase of two million in the bank clearings, whereas many cities had a falling off. The brick plants of the city turned out forty million brick. The coal mines turned out 764,000 tons of coal. Public CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 353 improvements aggregated $315,920. Private improvements footed up a half- million. The postal receipts were larger than those of any other three cities in the state. The outlook was so. encouraging that much was said about the possi bility of 100,000 population in 1900! A "100,000 society" was talked of, for the attainment of that end. Manufactures were growing too fast for their capital and measures were taken in a number of instances to increase their working capital. The only diminution noted anywhere was in real estate transfers. These aggregated $5,954,372; whereas a year before they aggregated $6,164,829; two years before, $6,569,142, and three years before, $6,284,047. The postal receipts of Des Moines in '97 were $207,952, as against $79,996 in Sioux City, $64,995 in Dubuque and $62,494 in Cedar Rapids. Des Moines at the close of 1897 had fifty-five miles of paving, more than sixty-five miles of seyverage and thirty-seven miles of street railway. Among the private improvements of the year yvere the following: The Des Moines Savings Bank building, the Good Block, the Lederer-Strauss store; the Baker estate, Sixth and Grand; the Great Western freight station; the Han sen building, Fifth and Grand ; Schmitt & Henry Manufacturing Company, First and Vine; the Merchants' Transfer and Storage, Ninth and Elm; Iowa Chil dren's Home, Grand Vieyv, and Savery Hotel annex. The report concludes with a long list of new corporations and business houses. The city's finances at the close of the year 1897, as presented by Auditor Hanger, show that the city was carrying a debt of $821,575.44. Deducting the cash on hand, $84,857.96, the city's net indebtedness was $736,717.48. Of this sum, $764,000 was in bonds, the remainder in warrants. 1898 — THE YEAR OF THE WAR WITH SPAIN. Few men who have filled the gubernatorial chair have come to that exalted position with so little prestige as that which preceded the advent of Leslie M. Shaw in Des Moines, as the Governor-elect of Iowa. No other governor had that entire freedom from office-holding experience. In fact it was his convincing argument against free silver that made Leslie M. Shaw governor. The inaugura tion occurred January 13, 1898. The presence of General Drake was notable in that it was the last public function in which the ex-Governor participated. The municipal campaign of 1898 opened early. On January 16, John Mac Vicar, the incumbent, and John Sherman, nephew and namesake of Senator Sherman, published their platforms. Both advocated municipal ownership. Mr. MacVicar was renominated, and reelected. January 22, Milo B. Ward was chosen Secretary of the Commercial Exchange. He filled the office acceptably for' several years until failing health compelled his resignation. An important business change in January, 1898, was the consolidation of the W. J. Pratt Grocery Company and the Warfield, Howell, Watt Company, under the name of the Warfield-Pratt-Howell Company. The capital stock of the new corporation was $500,000. The principals of the company were W S. Warfield, of Quincy, J. W. Howell and W. J. Pratt. James Watt retired from the busi ness after a connection of thirty-five years. The city council having adopted the policy of segregating houses of prostitu tion, and having apparently acquiesced in the policy of regularly mulcting prosti tutes and gamblers, on February 7, the Ministerial Association administered a stinging rebuke to the council, repudiating all responsibility for the twin evils. The policy was tried and ultimately abandoned. After many years of agitation, the city council finally passed an ordinance February 7, vacating Sixth Avenue to the Des Moines Union railway in con sideration of the erection of a Union depot on Cherry street, between Fifth and Seventh, at a cost of not less than $75,000. The companies certain to use the Vol. ]_23 354 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Union depot were the Des Moines, Northern & Western, the Chicago Great Western, the Wabash and the Des Moines Union. The Burlington, the Keokuk & Western and the Milwaukee came in later, leaving only the Rock Island and the Northwestern outside the fold, each with a depot of its own. Alexander Lederer, of the wholesale house of Lederer & Strauss, died in Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, on the 19th of February. Besides being the senior partner in a large wholesale millinery house, he was vice-president of the Citizens' National Bank and a director of the Des Moines Insurance Company. A Cuban Relief mass meeting was held at Central Church Sunday afternoon, February 20, presided over by Dr. Frisbie and addressed by Governor Shaw, Dr. Breeden, Mayor MacVicar and others. Early in March, 1898, U. S. Marshal Christian removed the marshal's head quarters from Omaha to Des Moines. March 8, the directory of the Commercial Exchange accepted plans for an auditorium. A contract was let March 17, for the erection of a factory for the Cownie Glove Company, on Tiiird and Elm streets. Large as this factory looked when completed, it was small compared with the building now occupied by the com pany opposite the Union depot. A permanent organization of the State Conference of Charities and Correc tion was formed in Des Moines March 19. Many prominent workers were present and the local interest was considerable. The scheme — since become a settled policy in the city — of going out after trade, of forming acquaintances in new territory, and extending the reputation of the city as a trade-center was urged as far back as February, 1898. On the 22d of March a first Jobbers' Excursion invaded northern Iowa. About fifty lead ing men of the city convened at the Commercial Exchange on the evening of March 29, to organize a Jobbers' and Manufacturers' Association. Directors were chosen and arrangements were made for a second excursion. The directory of the new association was : T. M. Langan, A. R. Dempster, W. B. Bentley, E, J. Risser, R. M. Galbraith, George Bathrick, W. G. Jordan, John Cownie, S. S. Brinsmaid, C. C. Prouty and W. S. Palmer. Des Moines' Famous Parks. The Park Commissioners' report for 1898, showed that the original forty-two acres of Union Park had been increased by the incorporation of Boatmin's Island — eighteen acres. The park system now represented over $150,000 — a sum deemed large at the time, but far below present values. Following is the story of Des Moines' park reduced to figures : Des Moines Township — Park District No. 1 — Greenwood, 81 acres; cost per acre, $705.38; total cost $ 57,T3D Waveland, 190 acres ; cost per acre, $150.00; total cost 28,500 Union, 51 acres; cost per acre, $397.29; total cost 20,261 Clifton Heights, 18 acres; cost per acre, $350.00; total cost 6,300 Average cost per acre, $340. ' $112,197 Lee Township, Park District No. 2. (East Des Moines.) — Grandvieyv, 98.50 acres; cost per acre, $322.11; total cost $31,728.80 Union, 10.55 acres ; cost per acre, $762.27 ; total cost 8,042.00 Franklin Square, 2.50 acres ; Donated. En.st Park, 1 acre ; Donated. Average cost per acre, $364.87. S39.7ro-^ CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 355 Des Moines and the Spanish- American War. The Spanish-American War found Des Moines ready and eager for the fray. For several weeks before the Declaration of War, preparations had been going on. An informal muster-roll had received many signatures and squads had been drilled for service. Adjutant-General Byers and Governor Shaw were in daily conference over possibilities to Iowa in the strained relations between the United States and Spain. Thursday, April 21, soon after 11, o'clock, came the news from Washington that Spain had refused President McKinley's ultimatum, thus virtually declaring war. The whistles in the factories announced the news, and soon the principal streets of the city yvere brilliant with bunting, and men assembled on the corners and talked excitedly of war. That evening an enthusiastic war meeting was held in the courthouse. A. P. Lowery acted as chairman. Dr. E. R. Hutchins, unloosed a pent-up flood of eloquence as he talked of duty to country. The Harris-Emery company posted a notice to the effect that all employes who might choose to enlist would remain on the pay-roll and have their positions held for them till their return, and that should any be killed or totally disabled, the firm would pay his family $1,000. Tenders of service to. the State and government came from all quarters and in large numbers. April 22, Adjutant-General Byers notified company commanders of the Iowa National Guard, to hold themselves in readiness to respond to telegraphic orders. The companies would be directed to mobilize at the State Fair grounds. Capt. J. A. Olmsted, U. S. A., had worked out the daily rations for the expected army of 3,000 men. A forty-foot steel flag-staff was erected on the dome of the Capitol, and soon "Old Glory" floated 395 feet above the city. President Polk, of the street car company, posted a notice on the 22d that all employes who desired to enlist would have their places held for them until their return. On April 25, 1898, President McKinley sent a war message to Congress. The senate passed the naval appropriation bill and the Hull appropriation bill and Congress formally declared war. Events occurred with equal rapidity at Iowa's Capital. At 6:10 that Monday evening, Governor Shaw received a call for 3,000 infantry and two batteries of light artillery. The responses were all that could have been desired and next morning the forty-eight companies, or four regiments, of National Guards were on their way to Des Moines. Col. James Rush Lincoln was assigned to duty as commander of "Camp McKinley," Des Moines; Maj. J. P. Davidson was made camp adjutant; Maj. A. L. Rule, camp quartermaster, and Maj. W. S. H. Matthews, camp surgeon. By Tuesday night all the forty-eight companies — save one — were in camp at the fair ground, and the forty-eighth arrived early the next morning. Colonel Lincoln soon mobilized his troops and in a few days, in camp and on dress-parade, the boys bore all the evidences of service — except bronzed faces and hands, and these they were fast acquiring. In this splendid, organization were two companies . from Des Moines, Com panies A and H, Third Regiment. The sinking of the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay, on Sunday, May 2, made the guardsmen hilarious. On Thursday noon, May 5, the "big contract," taken by the ladies of Des Moines to give the 3,000 soldiers a complimentary dinner was fulfilled to the letter, with a degree of organization which could scarcely be surpassed. An aftermath of this "chicken dinner" was the organization of a Sanitary Commission. Aunt Becky Young was unanimously elected president; Mrs. Henry Wallace, vice president; Miss Parsons, secretary; Mrs. F. D. Jackson. treasurer; Mrs. J. B. Hatton, corresponding secretary. An executive committee 356 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY was named consisting of Mesdames Hutchins, Capron, Billington, Foster, Leonard and McKay. On Friday, May 6, the Iowa troops passed in review before Governor Shaw and staff, and in the presence of many thousands of citizens and strangers. Companies A and H had their own particular inning at the Savery 'Hotel on Saturday night, May 7, the occasion being a banquet given in their honor by the Savery Hotel Company. Governor Shaw and a number of invited guests, soldiers and civilians, sat down with "the boys" in the large and beautifully decorated dining room. W. W. Witmer, A. B. Cummins, J. S. Polk, Governor Shaw, Judge Given and Dr. Hutchins were the orators of the evening. General Lincoln, Colonel Loper and other officers were honored guests. On the second Sunday in camp, came a "get ready" telegram from the War Department. The hope that the Iowa troops might go to the front as a brigade was crushed by the refusal of the War Department to modify a previous order in response to pressure from Iowa. On the afternoon of May 12, the Kinsman Woman's Relief Corps presented Company H with a beautiful silk flag. The ladies of Crocker Relief Corps, cooperated with Crocker Post in raising money for the future relief of sick or wounded members of Company A. Accordingly Dr. Hutchins, on behalf of the Post, presented the company a check for $110. In order to preserve the identity of the forty-eight regiments of the Civil Wrar, Governor Shaw decided to name the four regiments then in camp, the 49th, 50th, 51st and 52d. The Des Moines regiment was no longer the 3d but the 51st The physical examinations over, the Des Moines contingent of the Fifty-first Iowa Infantry found itself materially reorganized. Company A — the West side company — passed the examinations well — only 17 failing, — eleven of these passed the second examination. Seventy-one officers and men were tentatively enrolled. The company as finally enrolled was made up as follows : 9 Company A William R. Gibson, captain. Frank W. Kihlbom, first lieutenant. Park A. Findley, second lieutenant. John A. Graham, first sergeant. Sylvester S. Boylen, quartermaster-sergeant. Charles St. George, sergeant. William E. Parvin, sergeant. Francis H. Lincoln, sergeant. Emery B. Smith, sergeant. Ira J. Dresser, corporal. Charles F. Seibert, corporal. Harry W. Penn, corporal. Edward F Couter, corporal. Edward F. Cornell, corporal. Lorin J. Roach, corporal. John B. Findley, musician. Craig J. Schramm, musician. Clarence M. Henderson, artificer. Charles M. Beck, wagoner. Privates — Brock, William J.; Cheshire, Carey A.; Clarke, George R. ; Earle, Samuel K. ; Edwards, Joseph A.; Elder, Albert E. ; Fulton, Clarence A.; George, Murray M.; Guianan, Frederick; Guthrie, Arthur J.; Hart, Lyman A.; Harvey, 9 From the original rolls in the Adjutant General's office. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 357 Rufus H. ; Haug, Aksel H. ; Heindorff, Barney; Hickey, Allen; Holmes, Ralph T.; Hutchins, Edward R., Jr. ; Hutchinson, Walter E. ; Kinney, Earl R. ; Koesling, Imanuel R. ; McCarthy, Richard; McKeon, John F.; Marsh, Walter E. ; Mason, Ralph T.; Mather, Benjamin C. ; Melosh, Edward; Merrill, Will J.; Miller, John R. ; Paschal, Henry T. ; Patterson, Blaine H. ; Price, Alfred S.; Scholes, Jay W. ; Sharp, George F. ; Slatten, Amon M. ; Spensley, Montford B. ; Still- man, Wayne L. ; Syvanson, John L. ; Thomas, Andrew H. ; Thompson, Chas. W. ; Tibbetts, Edwin F. ; Toulouse, Joseph H. ; Wall, John E. ; Whitman, George A. ; Williams, Mark W. ; Lanterman, Harry M. ; Toulouse, John J. ; Crowell, Charles G. The East side company, Company H, came out of the examinations with only nine failures, and six of these were reinstated after the second examination. Following is the first enrollment of Company H : Emory C. Worthington, captain. Ernest R. Bennett, first lieutenant. Fred L. Baker, second lieutenant. Alfred B. Pray, first sergeant. Fred Robinson, quartermaster-sergeant. Frank E. Jones, sergeant. Frank E. Suddoth, sergeant. Hiram L. Fickel, sergeant. George L. Garton, sergeant. John W. Heawilin, corporal. Delmer J. Maricle, corporal. Ernest W. Painter, corporal. James B. Hedge, Jr., corporal. Frank P. Christy, corporal. Charles E. Stitzell, corporal. Edward O. Fleur, musician. Albert E. Wharff, musician. Rufus M. Tones, artificer. Daniel C. Newquist, wagoner. Privates — Amend, George H. ; Bain, Claude J. ; Bakeman, Christopher J. ; Bates, Lorenzo D. ; Borduwine, Alfred J. ; Brewer, Guy S. ; Brewer, James W. ; Brown, Charles W. ; Dorfler, Leonard ; Dejarnette, Henry ; Doran, James W. ; Drake, Almarin T. ; Dunker, Harry J. ; Elkins, John F. ; Eustis, Edward G. ; Grace, Bertrum H. ; Gregg, Fred P. ; Hansen, George O. ; Hess, Percy H. ; Hollis, Alfred B. ; Jensen, Otto; Kinnaman, Noel; Kinney, Charles J.; Koppe, Charles H. ; Larson, Lars A. ; Lee, Robert H. ; Linton, Charles M. ; Long, Claude A. ; Meline, Levi T. ; Moershell, Fred C. ; Moulton, Myron D. ; McBride, William D. ; McClelland, Alexander W. ; Nygaard, Charles C. ; Pahre, Edward R. ; Ruecker, John H.; Russell, Herbert D. ; Smull, Percy O. ; Smull, Vernon C ; Snure, John ; Spry, Berthel F. ; Suit, Frank P. ; Tillotson, Leroy R. ; Traver, Lawrence J.; Twining, Granville H. ; Turner, John; Turbett, Charles H.; Willis, Benjamin S. These companies, incomplete in numbers, were afterwards recruited in San Francisco by recruits forwarded by the Adjutant-General from Des Moines. The total number of men reported at Camp McKinley on the 20th of May, was 3,373, of which number the 52d mustered 936. A memorable pageant was the Flag Spectacle, at Camp McKinley, May 20, when 1,300 school children of Des Moines, attired in the flag colors, were so arranged on the raised seats that they presented the appearance of an animated American Flag. The 49th, the 51st, and the 52d regiments then passed in review before the flag stand. When General Lincoln passed the stand, a hun dred children from Irving School removed their red and white capes, and there in the center of that monster living flag stood out in great letters the word "Iowa." The pageant was arranged by Mrs. H. R. Reynolds, with the hearty cooperation of the teachers in the public schools. 358 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The Fiftieth Iowa was the first regiment to quit Camp McKinley. The regiment started Saturday forenoon, May 21, headed for Tampa, Fla. There was no demonstration at their departure; but the remaining three regiments escorted the troops to the train. On the 28th, the Fifty-second took train for Chickamauga. The old Third, now the Fifty-first, was, on the 28th, the recipient of two beautiful presents, one from the Daughters of the American Revolution and the other from the King's Daughters, of Des Moines. When the hour of dress- parade arrived, the two color-bearers bore two beautiful silken flags, the regi mental colors and the stars and stripes, to a point in front of Colonel Loper, where Mrs. W. FI. Bailey, regent of Abigail Adams Chapter, D. A. R., presented the regimental colors. Mrs. Baily was followed by Mrs. Sara Wharton Moore, president of the Union of the King's Daughters, who presented the flag. Colonel Loper feelingly responded. On Memorial Day the 51st was mustered into the service of the United States. On Saturday, June 11, the 49th Iowa, the last of the "big four," departed for Cuba, via Jacksonville, leaving Camp McKinley deserted. A company of negroes, immune to yellow fever, organized under the second call for troops, finally completed its organization and, June 13, elected the fol lowing officers : Captain, E. G. Willett ; First lieutenant, E. G. McAffee ; second lieutenant, E. T. Banks. The men were made up chiefly from Des Moines. A feyv days after the election came a telegram from Washington that the company must have a white captain. There was indignation over this ruling, and the disposition was to disband. But, with many, desire for service overcame the resentment, and so the old company disbanded and a new one was formed — but not without much friction. Representative Hull selected ex-Auditor Amos Brandt, Des Moines, as the white man to lead the company of "immunes." The com pany cheerfully accepted the captain named for them and in due time Captain Brandt reported to Colonel Godwin in St. Louis. The third expedition of the Army of the Philippines sailed June 27, includ ing in its numbers the 51st Iowa. Late on the night of June 2d, Colonel Loper received telegraphic orders from Adjutant-General Corbin, directing him to move the Fifty-first regiment to San Francisco at once, there to report to General Merritt. There was no mistaking the meaning of the dispatch — a voyage over the Pacific to far-off Manila. On Sunday, June 5, at 9 a. m. the Fifty-first took cars for the Pacific — the first battalion over the Rock Island, the second over the "Q," and the third over the Northwestern — the three battalions meeting in Cheyenne. Companies A, D, F, and H constituted the first battalion. All Des Moines was down to see the boys off. The journey of the First Battalion across country was a series of ovations, ending in San Francisco where thousands of former lowans and others greeted them. The destruction of the Spanish fleet soon brought peace. On August 29, Captain Olmsted began the work of disbanding Iowa troops, by mustering out ¦the two Iowa batteries. The Valley Junction extension, surveyed in '97, took form April 21, '98, in an incorporation of the Interurban Railway Company, the incorporators being H. H. Polk, Simon Casady and J. B. Jones, — the capital stock, $50,000. _ The announced purpose of the company was the construction of a street railway from the terminus of the Des Moines line at Greenwood Park to the depot at Valley Junction, the work to be completed by the close of the season.. The distance is about three miles. The cost was estimated at $15,000 a mile. A forerunner of the present market-place was a meeting of market-gardeners CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 359 at the courthouse, April 23, for the formulation of a petition to the city council for a public market-place. In the midst of preparations for war, on the 26th of April, came the Golden Wedding of Col. and Mrs. J. M. Griffiths of Des Moines, — quiet and unostenta tious, but delightful to the many friends of the veteran and his bride of fifty years. The two came to Des Moines in 1850, where young Griffiths engaged in mercantile business, remaining until 1859. In August, '62, he entered his coun try's service and in November following he was commissioned Major of the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry. At the close of the war he returned to Des Moines a full colonel. At least a passing mention should be made to the half-century record of Maj. Hoyt Sherman as a resident of Des Moines, — a record rounded out May 1, 1898. The only others in or near the city who were living in Fort Des Moines on that far-off May day, 1848, were Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Casady, Dr. James Campbell, Mrs. T. K. Brooks, L. H. Bush, James Holcomb, Resin Wilkin, E. R. Clapp, Diantha Rathburn, J. C. Jordan, Mrs. Louisa Bird, J. H. Dean, Elizabeth Cady and Guy Ayres. There followed a brief period of excursions when it seemed as though; all Iowa was pouring in upon Des Moines, the chief point of interest being Camp McKinley. Thousands witnessed the first dress-parade on Sunday, the first day of May. At last a permanent location for the Home for the Aged was purchased — the old Samuel D. Philbrick place, two blocks west of Science .building, Drake Uni versity. There are ten acres in the tract. On this the $35,000 building was later erected. At a meeting of the officers of the Home for the Aged, May 17, the announce ment was made that the ladies had met the conditions of the offer of $20,000 from Messrs. Slimmer and Callanan, having raised about $16,000 in money and notes to the amount of about $19,000. Mrs. Martha Callanan succeeded Mrs. Durley, as president of the Home. On June 13, the State issued a warrant for $15,000 for the purchase of the Lyon tract at Eleventh and Grand, for the proposed Memorial and Historical Building, — now one of the principal architectural ornaments of the city, and one of the most frequented. The erection and completion of the building extended over many years, owing to the insufficiency of any one appropriation to complete the structure. Another final settlement of the waterworks question ! It was announced, June 17, that the Citizens' Committee and the Water Works Company had reached an agreement by which the city would get the works for $850,000 ; possession given July 1, 1900; the company to pay the taxes of 1897-99, on an assessment basis of $100,000, etc. It only remained for the council to approve the deal, and for the voters to ratify it ! June 27 was notable in the history of Des Moines socially as the day which marked the fiftieth anniversary of the wedding of Phineas M. Casady and Augusta Grimmel. It is a sad commentary on the brevity of life that Judge and Mrs. Casady were the only couple living at the time whose married life in Des Moines covered the half-century period; and, of the thirty guests on that occasion only two persons yvere living to celebrate with them, in remembrance, this glad recurrence of the day. The two were Dr. P. B. Fagen, of Santa Cruz, Calif., who was Mr. Casady's best man at the wedding, and Maj. Hoyt Sherman, still a resident of the city of his early choice. In the summer of '98, the citizens' committee made a strong campaign for the purchase of the water works at the price agreed upon, namely $850,000. The city had already accumulated about $70,000 from the proceeds of a two- mill tax. It had been shown in the courts that the yearly revenues of the water works at the time were at least $105,000. With the operating expenses estim- 360 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY ated at $30,000, half of which to be expended in maintaining and extending the system, the citizens' committee estimated that at the end of the eleventh year the city yvould have paid for the plant and would have a surplus. August 18, it was decided by the city council that a new bridge should be built over the river on Sixth avenue west and another on east Sixth street. The question of purchase of the water works was referred to the voters of the city, August 29, and, by a surprisingly small vote, the proposition to pur chase was voted down. Scarcely a third of the city's voting population regis tered their will. Analyzed, the vote was regarded as not so much against mu nicipal ownership, as against paying $850,000 for the property. "High Carnival." The first week in October, 1898, was given over to a carnival of huge pro portions to which had been given the name Seni Om Sed.10 It was a week's campaign of publicity for Des Moines, on the pleasure-loving side of com munity life. Open air band concerts, free circus exhibitions, midway shows, street illuminations, a State Shoot, an Art-Loan Exhibit, a floral parade, Jap anese fireworks, burlesque parades, foot-ball games, horse-races and a "Battle of Manila" pyrotechnic display constituted the chief attractions. The streets in certain sections of the city were given over to the carnival. Thousands were attracted to Des Moines and tens of thousands thronged the streets. The mid week floral parade was one of the most popular features of the carnival. Hand some turn-outs beautifully decorated, ladies and gentlemen mounted on horse back, and on bicycles, beautifully designed floats, allegorically significant, — these are among the best remembered features of the parade. To those who since have come to regard the carnival as a publicity feature of doubtful value, it is not easy to comprehend the extent to yvhich this first and best carnival took possession of the Capital City. Amusement of the lighter sort was not supreme during the week. The notable "Art-Loan Exhibit" attracted many thousands. There yvere nearly two hundred paintings on exhibition, selected by Prof. Charles A. Cumming. It was a notable collection in which the Des Moines Women's Club, Professor Cumming and his students, and many of the most elegant homes of the city contributed their treasures, giving a strong impetus to art in Des Moines. A pioneer of the forties, and one of the unique characters which pioneer life accentuated, was Dr. James Campbell, whose life closed on the 9th of October, 1898. A native of Ohio, he came to Fort Des Moines in 1846. He was one of the chief boosters of the old town. Around his memory are grouped many an ecdotes revealing a genial nature with faults that leaned strongly to virtue's side. The death of Dr. W. H. Dickinson occurred in November, 1898, removing from the school of homeopathy its most distinguished Iowa leader, and from Des Moines one of her most beloved and respected citizens. Dr. Dickinson had practiced medicine in Des Moines for forty years and at his death was 70 years of age. He was for twenty-two years a lecturer in the State University, and for six years dean of the faculty in the homeopathic department. He had served on the State Board of Health under two Governors, and had served as president of county and state societies of his school. The burning of the boat-house of the Des Moines Canoe Club with fourteen canoes on the evening of November 17, was a severe loss to the club and to sev eral of its members and a temporary check on the growing popularity of canoeing on the Des Moines. A new Turner Hall was opened, with a pleasing variety of festivities, on the evening of November 27. The society yvas organized in 1857. The year 1898 closed with a record of 275 new names of business houses and manufactures added to the Des Moines list in the Bradstreet Commercial Agency 10 "Des Moines'' spelled backwards. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 361 report. The building and enlargement of factories and the erection of dwellings and handsome residences were all the local contractors could well handle. 1899 THE RETURN OF THE 5 1 ST FROM MANILA, ETC. In California, in 1859, occurred the death of Wilson Alexander Scott, who had donated to the State a large part of the ground upon which Iowa's Capitol stands. He also donated "Governor's Square" — with a view to the future erection of a Governor's mansion on the grounds. The panic of 1857, vvith the collapse of the Capitol real-estate boom of 1856, bore down heavily upon this generous giver. Mr. Scott had gone to California in the hope of recovering his lost for tune. Death finely ended the long struggle. His remains were brought home for burial. Forty years had passed. The brother, James L. Scott, who ac companied the remains home from California and petitioned the legislature for a suitable monument to the memory of this generous donor, passed away on the 10th of January, 1899. He died feeling that the State had been ungrate ful to his brother for the sacrifices he had made. The question of building the new court house on the old site, or on the river front, was submitted to a vote of the county January 25, 1899. Most of the outside towns of the county voted for the old site. Thirteen of the sixteen pre cincts in the city on the West side voted for the old site. But twelve of the thirteen precincts on the East side (Lee township) gave overwhelming majorities for the river front location, giving the new site an unquestioned majority. The validity of the election and of the proposed issue of bonds to the amount of $100,- 000 for the purchase of real estate was questioned in the courts and, finally, the majority decree was ignored and the supervisors erected the courthouse on the old site. At a banquet held in Des Moines on the evening of April 3, 1899, dedicating the new Union Depot, that far-sighted promoter and railroad builder, Jefferson S. Polk, told in few words the whole story of the relation of railroads and in- terurbans to the development of Des Moines. News came from Washington, April 8, that the President had named one of the new cruisers "the Des Moines" — a "protected cruiser of about 2,500 tons trial displacement." On the ioth of May, there passed away a pioneer generally loved and esteemed, named Joseph Button Stewart, better known as "J. B. Stewart." In 1853, he came from Fort Madison to Fort Des Moines to fill a place in the government land office. After a year's service, he engaged in the real estate business. In 1857, after the location of the Capitol, he bought 362 acres in town and platted it as Stewart's addition to Des Moines — a speculation which yielded him rich returns. On May 17, the day of the laying of the corner-stone of the State Historical Building, Governor and Mrs. Shaw gave a State reception at the Savery Hotel. About five hundred guests were invited to meet James Harlan, John A. Kasson, the former governors of the state and other honored guests. The corner-stone ceremonies drew together large numbers of the prominent citizens of the state, and several thousand from the city. Union Park was formally dedicated May 20. A committee of residents of North Des Moines appeared before the city council early in May, urging the building of a better bridge on Sixth Avenue than the one which had been planned — a steel structure which was to cost about $60,000. The demand was for a brick or stone structure which would last a thousand years instead of twenty-five. The council heard the petitioners and, after due deliberation decided to have new plans drafted — which years afterward resulted in a Melan arch bridge, built of brick and concrete, costing $146,476.94. The Union Veterans' Union of the United States and the Woman's Veteran Relief Unions convened in Des Moines, August 22. The union gave a parade in the early evening, led by Troop A. 362 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Tyvo thousand people yvitnessed the dedication of a new Auditorium on Fourth street, Monday evening, August 28. Mr. Cummins presided and brief addresses were delivered by Mayor MacVicar, Governor Shaw, Editors Strauss, Hamilton and Young, Architect Hallett and Sidney A. Foster. The managers of Cottage Hospital in August decided to close its doors Sep tember 1, for want of adequate maintenance fund. The history of the hospital is one of womanly sacrifice covering many weary years. New and better equipped hospitals in the city compelled the trustees to face the alternative; more money, or suspension. The action had scarcely been taken before the emergency occurred which caused the management to throw open its doors. The most destructive fire occurring in Des Moines in years was the burn ing of the five story building and contents of the Harris-Emery department store on the 3d of October. The losses were estimated as follows : Stock, $225,- oco ; building $55,000; total loss, $360,000. The company found temporary quarters and prepared for the erection of a still larger and better building. No murder ever occurred in Des Moines more baffling than that of Mabel Schofield, a young woman from Macksburg, Iowa, temporarily residing in the city. She was last seen on leaving the Union Depot after bidding her mother good-bye, early Saturday morning, October 21. On Sunday morning following, her body was found in the river near the public bath house. Charles Thomas is now serving a life sentence for the murder of Mabel Schofield. An evening pleasantly recalled by lovers of literature was November 1, 1899, when the dean of American Literature, William Dean Howells lectured in the Christian church in Des Moines, on "Novels and Novelists," quaintly styling his lecture "an Impersonal Confidence." Mr. Howells gave himself "a day off" in Des Moines. In the forenoon he visited Drake University. A luncheon was given in his honor and in the afternoon a drive about the city. In a letter to the State librarian on his return to New York, he said, "My whole visit to Des Moines yvas delightful and I remember with peculiar pleasure my moments with you and the brave books in the State Library, and the look we had together at the city from your yvindow." The business event of the week was the opening of the great department store of Younker Brothers on the 9th of November. The Younkers had been in Iowa over forty years and in Des Moines a quarter of a century. The Fifty-first Iowa Welcomed Home. A special cable from Colonel Loper, dated Manila, March 14, announced that the first battalion of the 51st Iowa was on the fighting line at Manila; the sec ond at Cavite, and the third was on an outpost of Cavite; that in the main the men were in good health and that no casualties had thus far been reported. On May 4, the Iowa troops near Manila were reported as under fire, being part of the forward movement of General MacArthur pushing the insurgents on toward San Fernando. A severe engagement was reported at a bridge near Santo Tomas in which the insurgents were routed. A dispatch of June 17 mentioned the attack of 5,000 insurgents on San Fernando. The Iowa and Kansas regiments received the first attack. Our loss was fourteen men wounded, and the majority of these only slightly hurt. On the 19th of June the news was cabled that Walter Wagner, of Company A, 51st Iowa, youngest son of Charles D. Wagner, had fallen, the first Des Moines victim of insurgent bullets. Early in August, Des Moines began to arrange for the anticipated return of the 51st. Reports of hard fighting near San Fernando and of the illness of sev eral members of the regiment were, however, disconcerting to those eager for the return of their loved ones. August 14, came the report of the death in hos pital of Walter E. Hutchison of Company A, Des Moines. Again, after nearly a quarter-century, the people of Des Moines assembled COLONEL LOPER AND STAFF, OF THE 51ST IOWA, ON THE MORNING OF EM BARKATION FOR THE PHILIPPINES. THE COLONEL ON THE LEFT ARRIVAL OF THE 51ST IOWA IN SAN FRANCISCO FROM THE PHILIPPINES, OCTOBER 22, 18f!9 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 363 to witness the home-coming of Iowa troops. The first regiment to return was the Fifty-second loyva. The regiment had been held in camp near Chickamaugua where impure water had spread the deadly typhoid, cutting short the lives of many, and leaving many more debilitated by disease. The Fifty-second arrived in Des Moines, August 30, 1899, direct from Chickamaugua. The appearance of the men verified the reports yvhich had been coming home from the fatally un sanitary Camp Thomas. Thirty-seven sick soldiers were removed at once to the temporarily reopened Cottage Hospital and nineteen to the Red Cross Hos pital. Most of the boys soon rallied under the yvelcome change and when, later, they were mustered out, yvere in fairly good condition. Several deaths occurred in camp hospital during the regiment's stay in Camp McKinley. The Fifty-first Iowa was relieved from duty September 6, after an arduous campaign of several months, during which time the regiment suffered much from the ravages of disease. General Otis highly complimented the regiment for gal lantry and fidelity. The regiment sailed from Manila Bay on The Senator, September 21, 1899. Not since 1865, had there been such a joyous home-coming in Des Moines as that which occurred one Monday evening in November, 1899. Delegations from Knoxville, Pella and other towns interested in the 51st joined with all Des Moines in celebrating the event. At 8 p. m., November 6, the curfew whistle at the gas house shrilly announced their coming, and other whistles combined with church and school bells in a general notification. Colonel Loper and staff were met by Governor Shaw and staff. The Auditorium was the scene of the formal greeting. Governor Shaw and ex-Governor Jackson made stirring ad dresses of welcome. Gold and silver medals were presented by the committee to the members of Companies A and H, and bouquets were pinned on their coats by fifty-one volunteer flower girls dressed in white. Many reunions followed the home-coming, thus concluding an eventful chap ter in the history of the Capital City. Sunday afternoon, November 12, citizens and soldiers convened once more in the Auditorium, their purpose, this time, being to pay tribute of respect and ap preciation to the soldiers of the 51st Iowa Infantry who had lost their lives in the service. Chaplain Williams read memorials of the men who had died. Ad dresses were delivered by Dr. Frisbie, Editor Young and General Given, with a response by Colonel Loper. Twenty young girls, sisters of soldiers, took part in the distribution of flowers. ' Of the two companies organized in Des Moines, only four members had died. Walter Wagner, of Company A, transferred to the Thirty-sixth United States, was shot in an engagement June 13. When the Camp of the Army of the Philip pines was organized in Des Moines, in respect to their comrade's memory they took the name "Walter Wagner Camp." John Turner, son of Robert Turner, of East Des Moines, was only sixteen when he enlisted in Company H. At Manila, April 16, he fell a victim to small pox, not yet eighteen years of age. Elisha L. Doran, of Company H, a grandson of one of Polk county's pioneers of 1848, died in camp hospital in California, September 14, 1898. Walter E. Hutchinson, of Company A, son of Samuel T. Hutchinson, a representative from Calhoun county in the 19th General Assembly, died August 8, 1899, at the age of 21. That there might be nothing lacking in the welcome extended the 51st Iowa, the Mothers' Prayer Circle of Des Moines entertained the returned soldiers and their friends with a banquet served at the State Capitol, Wednesday evening November 15. About 300 sat down together when the bugle call was given. Twenty-four tables, set in the rotunda, were loaded with substantials and del icacies prepared as only mothers know how to prepare a feast. 364 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The dedication of the new and capacious addition to Mercy Hospital erected at a cost of $75,000, occurred November 15. Music and brief addresses with a banquet, to the physicians of the city and their guests, the mayor, the city council the governor and resident member of the Supreme court were the chief features of the event of the day. Dr. Priestley served as toastmaster. John H. Given, seventy-nine years of age, — for fifty-four years a resident of Iowa and for forty-eight years a resident of Des Moines, — died in December, 1899. Mr. Given's first constructive work in Des Moines was as a maker of carriages and agricultural implements. Later, as a member of the firm of Given & Carpenter, he did much to make Des Moines a center for manufactures, ope rating a large factory on Second and Vine. He had served the city in Council and on the School Board. Adam Howell's death in December, 1899, removed a pioneer in the fire in surance business of Des Moines. Adam Howell was at the time the most widely known insurance man in Iowa, if not in the entire west. The year 1899, the last year of what has here been arbitrarily termed the third decade of Des Moines' progress, closed with a showing of more than a million dollars in improvements. It must be noted that the totals of several years in the first and second decades — 1870 to '79 and 1800 to '89 — were swollen by the large sums expended by the State on its Capitol — a Des Moines improve ment, but not, as such, an indication of Des Moines' local gains. The improve ments of 1899 were, with one exception, strictly local and most of them repre senting small amounts invested — the product of encouraging local conditions. A few of the larger items mentioned are these: Citizens' Improvement Company, Sixth Avenue business block, $16,000; Frankel Improvement Company, brick store, $80,000; Conrad Youngerman office building, $80,000; Augusta T. Vorse, business block, 7th and Locust, $18,000; F. M. Hubbell, 7th and Vine business block, $18,000; Younker Bros. Construction Company, business block, $85,000; Auditorium, $45,000; Home for the Aged, $35,000; City Library, $125,000; Still College, $20,000; I. Friedlich, Utica building, $24,000; Savery Hotel addition, $40,000; State Historical Building, $40,000; F. M. Hubbell, Son & Co., the Victoria, $50,000. CHAPTER IV. FOURTH DECADE OF PROGRESS. Continuing the roll of tlie locally illustrious dead, — of the men and women who in their lifetime did much to make Des Moines prosperous and great among cities, and who in death as in life are honored as few are honored living or dead, the reader will find that in the course! of the first decade of the new century, few were spared of the community and commonwealth builders of the Forties, Fifties and Sixties, whose names are part of their city's history. We may well pause from time to time, in our review of the events of these later years, to note the passing of| those pioneers, and the respect and regard in which they were held. The ancient Greek well said, "History is philosophy teaching by example." If this work — part history, part annals — inferential!/ teaches one thing more than another, it tells the younger generation the important truth that nothing endures but character and generous service ; that nothing so enriches as giving, and that public spirit, though it of ttimes seems to avail little, yields to the individual citizen large dividends, in satisfaction through life and to his family after death. I9OO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY WELL BEGUN. The nomination of John H. Gear in republican legislative caucus, preceded by the withdrawal of the Des Moines candidate, Albert B. Cummins, was the theme of the hour on the 9th of January, 1900. State Senator Cheshire, in withdrawing Mr. Cummins' name, the night before, indulged in a prediction which has since fared better than most political prophecies. He said Mr. Cum mins' political sun had not set, adding: "and it has not yet reached its zenith." Not less than 4,000 persons witnessed the inauguration of Governor Shaw in the auditorium, January 11. Among the guests on the platform were ex- Governors Larrabee, Drake and Jackson, and ex-lieutenant Governors Scott and Gue, Mr. Gue then the oldest ex-member of the Iowa legislature. In the evening the Governor and Mrs. Shaw held a reception at the Capitol. B. F. Allen, whose name has appeared on many a page of this history, paid his old home a visit in January, and was heartily welcomed by his many old friends. Then seventy-one years of age, he was in splendid health. Out-door jife on his orange grove near Los Angeles, had evidently renewed his youth. It was good news to his friends that Mr. Allen had prospered in his California ventures. One Saturday evening, January 20, 1900, Crocker Post held a meeting of unusual interest in recognition of the honor which Conrad Youngerman had done the brave soldier whose name the Post commemorates, in naming after General Crocker the large, substantial and beautiful office building erected by him on the corner of Fifth and Locust streets. Among the invited guests and speakers of the evening were: J. B. Weaver, J. S. Polk, P. M. Casady, Barlow Granger, John Scott, F. M. Hubbell and C. C. Nourse. The Crocker Building was erected by its owner, Mr. Youngerman, himself a master-builder, whose career in Des Moines was one of marked success. It covers 66 feet on Fifth and 132 on Locust and is seven stories high. It is one of the absolutely fire- 365 366 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY proof buildings of the city. Its walls contain 250,000,000 brick, and 265 tons of steel beams were placed in its construction. Its basement walls, of vitrified brick, rest upon a foundation of isolated pier construction including over a hundred tons of steel laid in Portland cement. It is classified as of Roman architecture, the predominant suggestion of yvhich is solidity. Mr. Younger man took satisfaction in speaking of "the Crocker" as a home-grown product. It was built with Des Moines money, designed by Des Moines architects, super vised by a Des Moines builder and erected by Des Moines mechanics. The brick was made by a Des Moines company, as was the yvood-work, and the mantels were supplied by a Des Moines house. "The thirty-eight" who stood by Mr. Cummins in the recent House caucus, banqueted their chief at the Savery Hotel, January 31. Mr. Cummins in his response to the toast "the guest of the evening," expressed deep gratitude for the friendship and the kindnesses shown him. He assured his friends that the arrows shot his way during the heat of the campaign were not rankling in his breast. He assured them that he had "turned with a contented mind from the broad, plain and easy paths of politics to the narroyv, winding, hidden labyrinths of the law !" North Des Moines citizens obtained a hearing before the city council in February, and urged the building of the Melan-arch bridge. On March 21, the city council ordered the board of public works to contract with J. H. Kilmar, the lowest bidder for a Melan-arch bridge, but it turned out that the final letting of the contract, was a long way off ! A Des Moines Manufacturers' Exhibition at the Auditorium drew large numbers, late in February and early in March. An elegant reception was given by Governor and Mrs. Shaw at the Savery Hotel on the evening of March 2. On the 12th of March, ground was broken for the new Rock Island depot, west of the old station, — thus seemingly settling for all time the question of one union depot for all the roads centering in Des Moines. The first of several grain dealers' conventions held in Des Moines occurred March 14. The call for the convention was signed by thirty prominent firms and individual dealers in Des Moines. The general purpose of the association was to relieve Iowa grain-dealers from annoying conditions surrounding the grain trade. A Half -Century of Odd Fellowship. Eighty-one years is a long time for any organization to live in this new country, and few are the lodges that waken at all on the morn of their semi centennial. As we have seen, the first Odd Fellows' lodge was founded in Fort Des Moines in 1850. There were only six charter members of the lodge, Madi son Young, Charles C. Van, Granville Holland, I. J. Cole, B. F. Allen and Marshal Townley. At the formal organization, later, by District Deputy Gardiner, the following additional members were admitted : J. E. Jewett, William McKay, A. M. Lyon, William Kraus, P. M. Casady and T. W. Keene. The first officers of the lodge were: Madison Young, noble grand; C. C. Van, vice grand; Marshall Townley, recording secretary ; Granville Holland, treasurer ; B. F. Allen, secretary. Byron Rice was the first representative to the Grand Lodge. Of the charter members, none were living fifty years after. During the half-century of its existence the lodge numbered among its mem bers many of the most prominent citizens of Des Moines. Meantime, the lodge had occupied several different quarters, but on its fiftieth birthday, it awoke to find itself well established and elegantly housed in the then new Odd Fellows Building, on the corner of Sixth and Locust streets. During these years ten other lodges of the order had been organized, until at the time the Odd Fellows constituted a large and influential portion of the male population of Des Moines, and in 191 1 its influence had still further increased. m (jf~. w f I- .fi ¦flE?'-- L--' 5 Ej S. J. Kirkwood War Governor of Iowa Senator Albert B. Cummins K?5t "¦';^>E ' In Js; jr ^f -^^i^inHI^BIH-Bi^i^i^^M Gov. Cyrus C. Carpenter Lieut. Gov. Benjamin F. Gue CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 367 The anniversary exercises opened with an afternoon 'parade. Over 2,500 members of the order yvere reported in line. Chief Marshal W. F. Mitchell, assisted by Adam Hafner, C. J. McClenahan, J. E. Stout, George P. Curran and L. W. Smith, had the parade well in line. The loyva State Military Band led the procession in the following order: Pioneer Canton, Patriarchs Militant, with members of visiting lodges following, and the several Des Moines lodges in the rear. Fort Des Moines lodge was given the place of honor in the line. In the first carriage sat the ranking members of the order in Iowa, J. Nor wood Clark, of Iowa City, eighty-four years old, and a member since 1837; John McCain, of Polk City, seventy-three years old, and the only surviving charter member of the Polk City lodge; T. S. Keeny, sixty-seven; and FI. Y. Rogers, seventy-five. In other carriages sat distinguished officers and ex-officers of the Grand Lodge. Among these was that pioneer of pioneers, "Uncle Billy" Moore, of Des Moines, Past Grand Master. The Rebekahs were out in force occupying several carriages, prominent among the number was the chairman of the general commmittee, Mrs. G. L. Barquist. The several lodges following the pioneer lodge yvere : Sevastopol, No. 65 ; Capital, 106; Jonathan, 137; University, 356; Sherman, 576; Center Star, 588; Gold Leaf, 599; Chesterfield, 608; Highland Park, 612; and Montifiore, 630. The Rebekahs held an afternoon meeting, with music, speeches, and exempli fication of the Degree. The Odd Fellows convened in the Auditorium in the evening, presided over by Judge Bishop of the Supreme Court. The pioneer members, Judge Casady and Major Sherman, sat in a box and were the recipients of many courtesies. A joint letter from the two was read, eliciting much enthusiasm. In this well- worded letter, these patriarchs spoke tenderly of their half-century association with the order. The Commercial Exchange honored Congressman Hull with a banquet at the Grant Club, on the evening of April 12, in celebration of his success in securing the Army Post for Des Moines. Lafayette Young put everybody in a happy frame of mind by congratulating Des Moines on having obtained some thing that hadn't cost anything! He urged the business men of Des Moines to keep everlastingly at it, as that was the price of success. Chancellor Craig of Drake University, Edwin A. Nye, of the News, Samuel Strauss, of the Leader, Frank P. Clarkson, of the Register, Maj. J. A. Olmsted, inspector general of Iowa, Governor Shaw and Judge Prouty, made congratulatory speeches to which the congressman happily responded. The report of a special location committee, Messrs. Lyons, Godfrey and McGarraugh, was read, recommending the tract three miles from the Keokuk & Western Road and four miles from the Indianola branch — the tract afterwards selected. The Harris-Emery Department Store, which was burned out last year, found itself in the spring of 1900 in a n,ew, capacious and beautiful five-floor building, which was formally opened to the public April 26. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Henry R. Heath was celebrated at the home of the Heaths on Sixth avenue, on the evening of May 1. Nearly five hundred guests were present. Of their fifty years of wedded life, forty- four had been passed in Des Moines. Mr. Heath was a pioneer miller in Fort Des Moines. In the spring of 1900, Capt. Amos W. Brandt wrote a series of interesting letters to the State Register on army life and local conditions in Luzon, Philippine Islands. Mrs. Hannah G. Solomon, of Chicago, president of the National Council of Jewish Women, was the recipient of profuse hospitality in Des Moines on the 3d of May. At a luncheon given by the officers of the local Jewish Council, 368 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Mrs. Solomon charmingly entertained her friends in an informal address at the conclusion of which a reception was held. An evening banquet closed a strenuous day for the city's guest. Mr. and Mrs. George Schramm celebrated their fifty-seventh wedding anni versary on the fifth of May. Children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren assembled at their old home on Ninth and School streets. Mr. Schramm came to Iowa in 1845, and to Des Moines in 1869. He and Mrs. Schramm first came by boat to the Capital city in '58, when Mr. Schramm yvas a representative from Van Buren county. Congress of Mothers. An event of much significance was the Mothers' Congress in Des Moines, May 22, 1900. It wa*-- a national gathering, including many of the ablest and best-known women in the United States. This first western session was secured by Mrs. Isaac L. Hillis, at the Washington Congress the year before. The club women of Iowa and its Capital city aided Mrs. Hillis in making the meeting successful. On rising to address the Fourth National . Congress of Mothers, Mrs. Hillis was given an ovation in honor of her services in first securing, and then arranging for, this unique and interesting gathering. The large and beau tifully draped Auditorium was thronged for two days with visitors and towns people. Ex-Governor Jackson and Mayor Hartenbower welcomed the city's guests. Mrs. Birney, the president, delivered an address which had the rare merit of being "all too short." Mrs. Gaffney, representing the International Council of Women, ably presented her cause. The ladies were not neglected on the social side. Monday night, Governor and Mrs. Shaw entertained the Congress at the Capitol. Tuesday evening, the Women's Club of Des Moines, received them at "Our Circle Hall." On Wed nesday noon the Des Moines Women's Press Club entertained at the Grant Club rooms. On Wednesday afternoon the ladies were given a drive about the city, ending with a luncheon at the Country Club. Thursday afternoon the P. E. O. Society received at Pythian Hall, and the D. A. R. received at the home of Mr. Charles T. Hewitt. There were two- distinct surprises in the Congress, one not altogether agree able, but, as it turned out, helpful ; the other a happy one. First, Oscar Chris- man, Professor of Paidology, Kansas State Normal School, aroused the wives and mothers by declaring in substance that man's love for wife and child is merely animal instinct and that women are the only ones capable of disinterested affection. Instead of winning the approbation of "the gentler sex," the pro fessor raised about his ears a cyclone of protest which left him confused and silenced. In the main his paper was excellent, giving good reasons why schools and colleges should give girls scientific training for motherhood. The other surprise was Mrs. A. J. Murray of Washington, a colored woman with a paper on the Mothers' Club among Colored Women. Mrs. Murray evinced rare refine ment and intellectuality, in appearance, manner and voice, and in the subject- matter of her paper, which withal abounded in that sympathy which makes the whole world kin. A pleasant incident of the Congress was a chorus of two hundred boys from the grammar grades of North Des Moines schools, under the direction of Mrs. Margaret L. Weber. The patriotic songs sung with vim, and with evident training, created no little enthusiasm. Mr. Hussey's "Iowa, Beautiful Land,' was especially well received by the visitors from other states. The first day of June, 1900, witnessed the formal dedication of the Home for the Aged. The program included brief addresses from prominent friends of the institution. The congratulations were expressed yvith a degree of warmth evincing far more than ordinary interest. FLORAL GARDEN, UNION PARK SCENE IN UNION PARK CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 369 June 16, Harry West bought the Des Moines Packing Plouse property, con sisting of two large buildings and about thirty acres of ground. Eastern capital was thought to be behind the purchase. Early Sunday morning, June 17, the new Auditorium was destroyed by fire. On the following Monday, a citizens' meeting was held at which plans were laid for the raising of from $15,000 to $30,000, which, yvith the insurance money, $25,000, was deemed ample for a new, larger and better auditorium than the one destroyed. It was decided to rush the building that it might be ready for the forthcoming Republican State Convention — on the ist of August. The consulting architect was reported as saying it couldn't be done, but — it was done! On the folloyving Wednesday the contracts were let, and on the first day of August, as announced, the convention assembled in the new auditorium ! The Music Teachers' National Convention was held in Des Moines, June 19-22, and was a notable gathering. Representative musicians from all the large cities and many of the smaller cities of the country were in attendance and participants in addresses, discussions, recitals and concerts. The principal attraction was the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. A Gloomy Fourth of July. Few residents of Des Moines can forget the gloom yvhich hung over the city on the Fourth of July, 1900, when the fate of Maj. E. H. Conger, our Minister to China, and Mrs. Conger was in serious question, with scarcely a ray of hope that their lives would be spared. For weeks, the members of the foreign legations had been besieged by the infuriated Chinese hordes, and the only apparent alternative was quick death, or slow starvation. The suspense lasted until August 14, when the allied troops raised the siege. Those were anxious days for the relatives and many friends of the Congers, and the relief was great when word came that they were out of danger. Then came the news that Major and Mrs. Conger had again set foot upon American soil. Soon followed the reception given them at the Auditorium, and many social functions in their honor. The home-coming was temporarily beclouded by the mistaken zeal of a local correspondent who wired Minister Conger, on his arrival at San Fran cisco, asking him if he would accept the republican nomination for Governor. The Major's response left him in a receptive attitude — no more; but, on arriving in Des Moines, that experienced politician found that long before his return "the pins had been set up" for his fellow-townsman and friend, Mr. Cummins, and his receptive attitude promptly changed to positive declination. The wholesale paper house of Langan Brothers was burned July 6. The firm removed to temporary quarters until a new and larger building could be erected. The Champ Clark-Dolliver discussion at the Chautauqua grounds, North Des Moines, on the afternoon of July 13, was notable chiefly because it brought together two prominent congressional debaters, both of whom were then well advanced on the high-road to premiership in their respective parties. But the debate itself was one only in name. Few who heard it can recall anything said beyond a few stories well told and many clever touches of raillery. The coming together of the two men added nothing to their fame, but added to the gayety of the then fast revolutionizing institution known as "Chautauqua" — originally a course of study, with incidental recreation. The opening of Bates Park on the evening of August 14, under the auspices of the North Des Moines Improvement Association, was one of the minor events in the history of the public parks of Des Moines. About three thousand people Vol. 1—24 370 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY attended the exercises. J. M. Orvis presided, reciting the circumstances under which Mrs. Bates had given the original park. Mrs. Bates was introduced by Mrs. Ogilvie and bowed her acknowledgments. Park Commissioner Foster Rev. G. L. W. Brown and others made informal addresses. Band music and fireworks closed the evening's exercises. The retail merchants of Des Moines organized, August 21, under the name "Des Moines Retail Merchants' Association." Harry West acted as chairman. 1. Friedlich, a prime-mover in the organization, demonstrated that the association could be made very effective, particularly in the running of excursion trains into the city, and generally in preventing existing abuses. Messrs. Frankel, Emery, Seeley and Chase spoke approvingly. The association elected M. Frankel president ; and Frank Carrell, of the Harris-Emery Company, vice president. Twenty-three dealers and firms at once united with the association, and others afterwards joined. Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine, was instituted in Des Moines on the evening of September 4, by Imperial Potentate, Windsor, and his associates. The temple began its career with six hundred charter members, — a record unex celled in the history of the order. Frank O. Evans and Charles H. Austin were given chief credit for the remarkable showing. The first officers of the Temple were : George Macartney, potentate ; F. O. Evans, chief rabbon ; C. H. Austin, recorder ; Homer Miller, treasurer. The Shriners parade including two camels, made a striking appearance on the streets. A Great National Gathering. On the night of September 8, five hundred delegates to the convention of the International Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen arrived in Des Moines, and were yvelcomed by an enthusiastic crowd of townspeople at the depot. A committee representing the Commercial Exchange and the local firemen met the grand officers at Davenport and escorted them to Des Moines. On Monday, September 10, more than two thousand members were greeted by Grand Master Sargent as he called them to order in the new Auditorium. The seventh biennial convention of the Brotherhood, held in Des Moines, is still referred to by many old members as the most successful and enjoyable one in their recollection. It lasted several days and was replete with interest. The welcome at the Audi torium yvas from all Iowa and all Des Moines. Secretary of State Dobson, for Iowa; Mayor Hartenbower, for the city of Des Moines, and President O'Bleness, for the State Federation of Labor. The responses were numerous and gratify ing. Grand Master Sargent informed his welcomers that the Brotherhood represented 36,789 members, an increase of 9,550 in two years; 564 lodges, an increase of 26 in two years. It had paid claims, during the past two years, aggregating $883,572. . A. B. Cummins added his welcome on behalf of the people of Des Moines, paying a tribute of praise to organized labor. Tuesday evening, for the first time in the history of the Ladies' Society, of the B. of L. F., the ladies gave a public reception. It was held in the Auditorium, with Mrs. Annie Krissinger, president of the A. B. Cummins lodge of the city, chairman of the meeting. The program consisted of addresses* music and an exhibition drill. Thursday night the Auditorium was the scene of a grand ball and banquet given by the local conductors and engineers. The first of a series of successful horse shows was held in Des Moines Sep tember 11-14. It was conducted under the rules of the National Horse Show and Exhibitors' Association, and placed Des Moines in a class with the larger cities of the country. W. P. Chase was president and D. R. Mills, secretary, of the local association. Liberal cash prizes were offered by many public-spirited CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 371 corporations, firms and individual citizens of Des Moines. The show was well patronized and was a "social event." 'The awful tragedy at Galveston, the tidal wave which swept over most of the city, drowning many and leaving many more homeless, appealed so strongly to the sympathies of Des Moines that a Galveston relief meeting was held in the City Hall on the 13th of September, at which committees were named to solicit subscriptions. A benefit home entertainment netted nearly $400. The sale of Hardy C. Harris's interest in the Harris-Emery Company to C. H. Seeley, of Des Moines, September 15, was one of the big business deals of the year. Mr. Harris had been in business in 'Des Moines for many years and his later departure for California was a regret to many. Robert M. LaFollette, then republican candidate for Governor of Wisconsin, was in Des Moines on legal business October 2, and cheerfully gave a local re porter an optimistic view of the outcome of his campaign. Senator Allison made a campaign speech at the State Capital October 3. A new organization of Rough Riders escorted the Senator from the hotel to the auditorium. Mr. Cummins presided over the meeting. Senator Allison, never a popular orator, made a characteristically strong and convincing speech on the issues of the day. During the afternoon the Senator was at home to his friends at the Savery. "Beautify the River Front," now a settled policy of the Capital City, was scarcely more than a maxim in the late Nineties. In the fall of 1900, Warren H. Manning, the landscape artist, came on from the East to study our city, its boule vards and parks, and from his study to make recommendations for the future beautification of the city. He found Des Moines "exceedingly fortunate in pos sessing so much of its river frontage in the very heart of the business district and at a point where it may be seen by nearly all strangers passing into and through the city." He deemed it "important that this property be improved in order that strangers may have a good impression of the city. . . . The thousands of citi zens who cross the river daily should also have the pleasure and benefit that more attractive conditions here will give." Mr. Manning reasoned that the river should be made the connecting link of an extensive boulevard system, — a general plan to which the city is now thoroughly committed, and one which is attracting nation-wide attention. After All, on the Old Site! After months of waiting, and thousands of dollars spent in trying out the case in the courts, on the 13th of November, 1900, County Supervisor Morris called up the original resolution offered by him March 14, 1899, selecting the old site for the new courthouse. The resolution was originally passed by Messrs. Morris, Chaffee and Fisher, over Teachout and Mathis. It passed again, twenty months later, by the votes of Morris, Britton and Fisher, against the votes of Teachout and Mathis. Lafayette Young, representing 25 East-side business men, had previously offered to present to the city the Gilcrest site near the river front opposite the new library building, an option on which had been obtained. He recited that the people of the county had three times said that the court house should be erected on the river front. He referred to the Mattes site which could be secured for $47,500. He showed the Board that the old site could be sold for $150,000; that by continuing to use the old building while the new one was being erected, the county would save in rents $50,000; that by the gift of the Gilcrest site it would gain $50,000, — altogether making a net gain to the county of $232,000. But the logic was lost on the Board. Messrs. Proud foot & Bird were named as architects ofthe new building, and Supervisors Morris, Britton and Fisher were named the building committee. The "new-siters" did not yield without a struggle. They fought the action of the supervisors with varying success and failure, but in the end the "old-siters" won. 372 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY In the fall of 1900 viaduct meetings and reports of viaduct committees were numerous, and to the optimistic the long-talked-of viaduct was in sight! Followers of the history of Fort Des Moines are already familiar with the name of Lampson P. Sherman, younger brother of Major and General Sherman editor of the Gazette, the pioneer yvhig paper of central Iowa, and long prom inent in local business, politics and public affairs. After a long life of useful ness, this pioneer passed away at his Des Moines home on Kingman Avenue, on tiie 24th of November, 1900. The officials of the city attended the funeral, and in consideration of the many forms of public service rendered by the deceased during his long residence in Des Moines, the city offices were closed for the afternoon. Rev. W. M. Walker, of the First Baptist Church, conducted the services. The honorary pall-bearers were P. M. Casady, E. R. Clapp, Conrad Youngerman, Barlow Granger, George Schramm and Thomas Hatton, — all of whom soon followed him into the Beyond. The active bearers were Simon Casady, Henry Lehmann, C. C. Loomis, Bert Maish, Pleas Mills, Cyrus Kirk, Tacitus Hussey and Jesse Cheek, — all pioneers of Des Moines. Des Moines as it Looked to J . S. Clarkson in 1000. After five years absence from his old home, Hon. J. S. Clarkson left with the State Register, with which his name is prominently associated, a few impres sions of Des Moines as it then looked to him. He noted the metropolitan ap pearance of the city, its new department stores and office buildings and the throngs of people on its business streets. It was his conclusion, drawn from ex periences, as editor and general promoter of the city's interests, that had there been unity and cooperation at all times among her citizens, Des Moines in 1900 would have had a population of 150,000. He saw in and about Des Moines more natural resources to support a city than were to be found in the entire region round about St. Paul and Minneapolis. With railroad facilities surpassed only by Chicago, he regarded Des Moines as legitimately entitled to a population of 2CO,coo. As Grand Rapids was the furniture center of the United States, "so Des Moines should be the manufacturing center for everything made from corn, oats, potatoes, flaxseed, and other of Iowa's natural products; while it had all about it, with railroads permeating every direction, the cattle and hogs to make it the great packing center. Nature had provided everything necessary to make Des Moines a city of a quarter of a million people and man could do the rest. At least the men of Des Moines could, if they would only unite and pull together, and pull as hard as the people of other cities do. In such suggestive words as these, and those which follow — uttered by a shrewd and trained observer, the reader of this history can see a prophecy of the Des Moines of the near future. Mr. Clarkson continued : "Open your gates, welcome capital, encourage new comers, stop fault-finding, and put down envy and carping, and Des Moines will rise to a hundred thousand in the next ten years. Make your fifteen railroads hitch all their engines to the town, too, and help you pull for factories and for all corporations employing labor and bringing in capital." A pioneer merchant, Frank R. Laird, of the once locally famous firm of Laird Brothers, died at his home on Oakland avenue, on the 9th of December, 1900, aged 75. He and his three brothers came to Fort Des Moines in 1854, and soon organized a general wholesale and retail merchandizing business which extended its operations far up and clown the Des Moines valley. A disastrous fire consumed the stores occupied by the brothers, incurring heavy losses. The firm resumed business but was later dissolved. After his retirement from active business, Mr. Laird held several public positions among them that of County Treasurer. During his long life he was a leader in the Baptist church. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 373 December 19, Noah Brockway Bacon of Des Moines celebrated his 101st birthday. He was visited by many of his old friends. He had been in the habit of penning birthday verses tor his relatives and friends ; but this year he was too feeble to make the effort. Few names figured more prominently in the history of Fort Des Moines than that of Dr. A. Y. Hull, father of Congressman Hull and Mrs. FI. C. Potter. The Doctor passed away December 29, 1900, at the home of his son, H. A. Hull, in Kiowa, Kansas. He had passed his eighty-third birthday, but retained his usual vigor till within two weeks of the end. His funeral took place in Des Moines, from the home of his son-in-law, Dr. Potter. The building record of the year of 1900 showed about $750,000 invested in new buildings. The large number of small buildings this year overcame the large figures of the previous year which included the big department stores. The Register states that a total of $1,250,000, at least, yvould be a moderate estimate of the building and improvement record of the year. Among the larger items were: D. S. Chamberlain, 35th & Grand, two-story frame and brick, $15,500; Rothwell Building Company, five-story business building, (for the Harris-Emery Company) $65,000; C. & N. W. Ry. Co-., freight house, east Fourth, $20,000; Kirkwood Hotel improvements, $12,000; Adelia S. Martin, brick tenement, Seventh, $19,000, F. M. Hubbell & Son, four-story business building, 9th and Cherry, $10,000. I9OI A YEAR OF MANY DEATHS AMONG PIONEERS. On New Year's Day, 1901, there was a brave attempt on the part of several groups of ladies, and of the "Y. M." and "Y. W." to revive the ancient glory of the day as a social event ; but the glory had in a measure departed. The younger generation of men were too averse to social formalities, or too busy, or other wise preoccupied, to keep alive the venerable custom. Thirty-two years of widowhood yvere closed when on the fourth day of January, 1901, the anniversary of her husband's death, Mrs. Anna Parkhurst Bird, widow of Rev. Thompson Bird, passed away. Mrs. Bird came with her husband to Fort Des Moines in '48 and shared with him in the vicissitudes of a frontier pastorate. She never complained of her lot, "never doubted clouds would break," and when her bereavement came accepted it with a Christian forti tude born of her great faith. Fortunately for the widow, from a worldly point of view, her husband's investments in the city left her a revenue ample for her simple life and few wants. Mrs. Bird was more than a pastor's wife : she was a pioneer educator. She erected one of the first school buildings in Des Moines, on the corner of Second and Locust streets, and there taught school for years. Mrs. Bird was in her 89th year when she passed ayvay. A movement for a more beautiful Des Moines took form at a meeting in the Grant Club rooms on the evening of January 24, when Chancellor Craig, Mrs. J. K. Macomber, Henry Nollen, Architect Hallett and others made pointed addresses and Park Commissioner Keffer presented stereoptican views of the good and the bad work done by other municipalities. A special committee, of which President Pratt and Secretary Cole of the Grant Club were members, was appointed to devise ways and means. The perceptible net gain of the movement of 1901 was the awakening of civic pride and of a sense of individual responsi bility for the future of the city. Whenever a building serving some worthy purpose is destroyed by fire, the loss is deplored by all who have the general good at heart, but when a building having been erected at large outlay of labor and money and dedicated to trade and commerce, is melted clown by the flames leaving the projectors not where they were at first, but with a mass of debris to remove before the work can be begun again, the situation awakens profound sympathy. The Frankels' new department store building on the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, one of the 374 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY largest and finest of its kind in the West, was in two brief hours made a mass of ruins. The fire was discovered early on the morning of January 29, and before daylight it had completely destroyed the building. Only by the fiercest war on the flames was a general conflagration prevented. Even while the smoke was rising from the ruins, the indomitable owners of the building were in consulta tion with an architect for the erection of a new building. Anticipating the out come, it may be said that the Frankels later acquired controlling interest in the Harris-Emery company, and sold the site to the Citizens' National Bank. The new Rock Island depot, erected at a cost of about $100,000, was thrown open to the public on the first day of February. Governor Shaw held a reception February 14, bringing to Des Moines a host of Iowa statesmen and politicians. The great Austrian singer, Madame Sembrich, filled a very successful engage ment at the Auditorium, March 4. Dr. P. B. Fagen, who with Judge Casady came to Fort Des Moines in 1846, and who was prominent in social and public affairs from that time until 1850, died in Santa Cruz, California, in February, 1901. The Doctor removed to the coast in 1850 and made a large fortune there in railroading and banking. E. J. Goode died in Brooklyn, N. Y., early in 1901. Mr. Goode was a native of Louisana and was a Confederate soldier during the war. He was a lawyer by profession. The death of Alderman Joseph E. Fagen, March 5, 1901, removed one more of the few survivors of the early days before Fort Des Moines was even incor porated as a toyvn. Mr. Fagen came yvith his father from Ohio in 1848, when he was only seven years old. His father was one of the first to locate in University Place, and the son continued to live there to the last. He yvas a nephew of Dr. Fagen whose death preceded his only a few days. John M. Mehan, founder and president of the Capital City Commercial College, died March 9, after two years of ill-health. He was a Virginian by birth and was 56 years of age. He founded the college in 1884, with three teachers and a small number of students. The growth of the school called for frequent enlargement and in '88, W. H. McCauley, later president of the college, became associated with him. The two prospered and in a few years their roll included the names of a small army of young men and women. Edward B. Whitcomb, long editor and proprietor of the Mail and Times, once an influential Saturday weekly published in Des Moines, died April 10, after a lingering illness. He came west in 1865, at the age of thirty, and became secretary of the Hawkeye Insurance Company. From '79 to '87 he was book keeper for the State Register. Then he became proprietor of the consolidated Mail and Times. His influence on the social and political life of Des Moines was invariably cast for the betterment of community life. The City's Parks in 1901. "Municipal Art" had free course and was glorified at the Grant Club on the evening of April 11. Park Commissioner Sidney A. Foster gave an account of the operations of the Park Commission since its creation in 1895. There were in Des Moines township (the west side) tracts of land devoted for park purposes as follows : Greenwood, with 81 acres, which, with improvements down to date, had cost the city $84,000. Waveland, 190 acres, the cost to date, including improvements was $30,000. A park of eighteen acres on the south side, west of Ninth street, had cost $6,500. Boatman's Island, and property adjacent thereto, on the West side oppo site and a part of Union Park, about 18 acres, the cost of which could not then be closely estimated. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 375 Bates Park, about three acres, on Clark and Fourth streets, half donated, representing an outlay of about $1,600. Other donations were Carpenter's Square, one twentieth of an acre, between Cottage Grove avenue and Kingman boulevard, and Highland Park, a half-acre lying between Seventh and Ninth streets, north of Franklin avenue. In Lee township (on the east side) there was Union Park, the principal property, which — including Boatman's Island — had a total of 98^ acres — on both sides of the river. The total cost of this property with maintenance, at that time was $98,000. Franklin Square, two and a half acres ; East Park, one acre, and Grand View Park consisting of ninety-eight acres, altogether represented a cost of $39,000. The total number of acres was 498.78. The total first cost yvas $203,477.80. The total cost of improving and maintaining this property was $86,505.83, and the total cost to 1901, $289,983.63. Mr. Foster stated that he was elected a commissioner in 1898 on the issue of the improvement of the river front, and had done all in his power to that end : but not until the last February were the park commissioners given possession of and title to the six acres lying on the river front where old Fort Des Moines once stood. It was the united purpose of the commission to beautify as much of the river front as the means at its disposal would permit. A movement for the restoration of the log cabins of old Fort Des Moines went so far as to interest Major Sherman, Judge Casady, "Commodore" Hussey and other early settlers in the production of a drawing of the buildings as they once stood. It is to be deplored that the purpose was not carried into execution. No other "show-place" would attract more attention than "the Point" with a reproduction of the log cabins in which Captain Allen and his dragoons passed the years of 1843-5. The death of John D. Seeberger, on the afternoon of April 19, 1901, removed a widely known, highly respected and successful pioneer hardware dealer of Des Moines. The wholesale house established by Mr. Seeberger on the south-west corner of Fifth street and Court avenue, where the beautiful McCune building now stands, was long the center of the hardware trade of Iowa. He died at his home on Nineteenth and Grand. His widow alone survived him. An Interstate Oratorical Contest brought the locally successful orators of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Iowa together in the auditorium on the second day of May. The auditorium was packed, and a more enthusiastic audience never assembled in the city. First place was won in the contest by Robert Loofbourrow, of Baker University, Kansas. The United Presbyterian Church of America held its General Assembly with the First church on Ninth and School streets, commencing on the evening of May 22. This notable gathering brought together the strong men of the church from all parts of the country. Rev. J. A. Thompson, D. D. of Tarkio College, Mo., was moderator. E. H. Sothern's "Hamlet" closed the theatrical season in Des Moines on the 23d. This talented young actor at least succeeded in keeping alive the memory of greater Hamlets, in an era that kneyv not, and apparently cared little for, the great Master of Tragedy. The next national church gathering in Des Moines was the General Synod of the Lutheran Church, on the 29th of May. Governor Shaw, Mayor Hartenbower and Rev. Dr. Wirt, of St. John's Lutheran Church, welcomed the General Synod to Des Moines and to Iowa. Twenty- four synods sent clerical and lay delegates. The Melan-arch bridge for Sixth Avenue, to which a former council committed the city, after many tribulations, yvas on June 3, 1901, progressed in so far as the council could progress it by voting to readvertise for bids on the proposed bridge ! 376 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Capt. J. E. Wilkins died in Joplin, Mo., June 9, of injuries received while alighting from a train. The Captain was long connected with the Fair Store on the east side, and later negotiated a deal by which his sons, the well-known Wil kins Brothers, became established in the dry-goods trade on West Walnut street. From 1894 to 1898 he served as alderman-at-large. He was a member of the city library board at the time of his death. He was 71 years old. He served in the 112th Illinois and since the war had been engaged in mercantile pursuits twenty years or longer in Des Moines. His sons are Capt. Harry Wilkins of the regular army and V. A. & E. J. Wilkins, the well-known merchants of Des Moines. Waveland Park was dedicated June 29. Several thousand people visited that beautiful stretch of rolling prairie. A handicap golf contest was the event of the day. The dry, hot weather proved too much for the Chautauqua in 1901.. The management were left with a deficit of about $800. This, following a series of moderate losses covering a period of six years, resulted in a temporary suspen sion. The debts of the association aggregated nearly $5,000. The Builder of the Capitol. The death of Robert S. Finkbine, July 8, removed one of the best known and most highly esteemed men in Iowa. It resulted from a stroke of paralysis, the third since the year 1892. Governor Shaw, on learning of his death, suggested that the remains be brought to the Capitol, there to lie in state until the funeral, but the widow's delicate health compelled the family to decline the Governor's kindly offer. The funeral was held at the Finkbine home on-the ioth, Dr. Frisbie officiating. Mr. Finkbine was in his 73d year. His life was one of rare achieve ment. As carpenter, a master-builder and contractor, he had risen step by step to fame and fortune. Born in Ohio, a resident of Iowa City from 1852 to '67, he early became identified with some of the largest building contracts made by the State. In '63, Messrs. Finkbine & Lovelace built the College for the Blind, in Vinton. In '64, and '66, Mr. Finkbine represented Johnson county in the General Assem bly of Iowa. In '73, he was named by Governor Kirkwood, in association with Messrs. Dey, Foote, and Fisher, to take charge of the work of erecting the new Capitol building. He came to Des Moines at once and entered upon his duties and continued until 1886 to represent the State in the construction of that edi fice. His family remained in Iowa City until the completion of the education of his four sons, three of whom are honored citizens of Des Moines. In 1890 Mr. Finkbine was appointed, by Mayor Carpenter, a member of the Board of Public Works. After four years of resultful service for the city, he practically retired, leaving behind him a record for honest, efficient, resultful public service. John M. Owens, for many years president of the Iowa Loan and Trust com pany, and in other ways prominent in Des Moines business circles, died July 19, in his 82d year. He was vice president of the Loan and Trust company from 1876 to '86, and president from that time to '96, when he tendered his resignation. He was one of the organizers of the company in '72, and a stockholder in local banks and other corporations. All local heat records were broken, between 4 and 5 o'clock, on Monday, July 22, 1901, when the record of 1886 was passed and the mercury climbed to 10S degrees. Notwithstanding the intense heat of the summer of 1901, the campaign for the republican nomination for Governor was pushed with much vigor. The friends of the rival candidates carried the contest into every doubtful county in the State. On the first ballot Mr. Cummins won the nomination by 86oI/2 votes, a majority over the five other candidates. On his return to Des Moines on the evening after his nomination, Mr. Cum mins was the recipient of an enthusiastic ovation, which began at the Northwest ern depot and extended to the Grant Club rooms where the speech-making, begun at the depot, was continued to a late hour. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 377 The death of Mrs. Martha C. Callanan, on the 16th of August, removed from Des Moines one of the strongest characters recalled in the city's history. She was the wife of James Callanan, one of Des Moines' millionaires. For many years she shared with Mrs. Coggeshall the honor and financial burdens of leader ship in the woman suffrage cause. She was a strong advocate of prohibition and gave freely of time and money for that cause also. The old Callanan mansion, in the woods, on the hill north of the Ingersoll car-line, yvas for years the scene of many social activities. Late in life, Mrs. Callanan organized and generously contributed to the Business Women's Home. She was a director of the Benedict Home, and president of the Home for the Aged. Her benevolences were broad and liberal. At her death Mrs. Callanan was 75 years old. But for a sad acci dent, her life would doubtless have been spared many years. The shooting of President McKinley in Buffalo, on the afternoon of Sep tember 6, sent a thrill of anguish through every heart in Des Moines. In com pliance with the proclamation of President Roosevelt, echoed by Mayor Harten- bower, memorial services were held in many of the churches on Thursday, Sep tember 19. Business was suspended in Des Moines during the holding of the funeral services at Canton, Ohio. In the afternoon, a memorial meeting was held in the Auditorium with Mayor Hartenbower presiding. Eloquent addresses were delivered by Congressman Hull, Judge Prouty, Sidney A. Foster, W. L. Read, Edgar A. Nye and Walter McHenry. In the evening, the Good Citizen ship League held a meeting in the same place, with addresses by Judge Given, and others. In the forenoon of the day, several of the city schools held memorial exercises. Alonzo F. Dicks, who, in the fall of 1849 came to Fort Des Moines and with his father engaged in the hardware business, remained in the business until 1899, when he retired altogether, having been afflicted by a stroke of paralysis a few years before. He died September 29. He had been associated with Odd Fellowship and with the First Methodist Church ever since his young manhood. At last in November, 1901, ignoring all previous contracts, new contracts — one for the Sixth Avenue bridge and one for the east Sixth street bridge — were signed by the city with the Capital City Brick and Pipe Company, work to begin in the spring of 1902. The burning of the starch-works in December was reported a loss of about $250,000, practically covered by insurance. Marcus Kavanaugh, one of Des Moines' oldest citizens, father of Judge Marcus Kavanaugh of Chicago, was another prominent citizen whose career closed in the year 1901. He was a native of Ireland and was 68 years of age. He was a successful railroad builder. The Winterset and Des Moines railroad was built by him, also the Indianola line. He built a portion of the Texas-Pacific also. He was for sixteen years a member of the city council of Des Moines. 1902 IN WHICH A DES MOINES MAN BECOMES GOVERNOR. Captain William Merrill came to Des Moines in- i860 and organized the firm of Merrill, Keeney & Company, furniture manufacturers, long located near "the Point." In '88, the firm went out of business and the Captain organized the Merrill Brick Company, with which he remained until '93. Going back to the war period, William Merrill early enlisted as a private in Company E, Twenty- third Iowa Infantry. Fle was promoted to a lieutenancy and during the latter part of the Siege of Vicksburg was in command of his company. He later served as regimental quartermaster. Returning to Des Moines in '64, he was elected captain of the home guards organized to protect the Capital from the threatened raid of Price. Captain Merrill died in Des Moines January 3, 1902, at the home of his son, A. W. Merrill, a teacher in the high school. Des Moines' appreciation of the honor done Governor Shaw by President Roosevelt was evinced by the banquet given the newly appointed Secretary1 of 378 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY the Treasury, at the Savery Hotel, January 9, to which about four hundred citi zens and visitors" sat down together. Governor-elect Cummins acted as toast- master. Responses were given by Judge McPherson, Editors Perkins, of the Sioux City Journal, Rosewater, of the Omaha Bee, and Young, of the Des Moines Capital, President MacLean of the State University, Col. Charles A. Clark, of Cedar Rapids, and others. The ex-Governor and the Governor-elect were given flattering ovations. Secretary Shaw made a speech which contained few of his wonted flashes of humor but dwelt with all seriousness on the opportunities for public service offered by the Secretaryship of the Treasury and the grave re sponsibilities of the position to which he had been called. There was more than the usual local interest in the inauguration ceremonies of January 16, 1902, a prominent citizen of Des Moines having been elected governor. The day's program consisted chiefly of a parade from the Capitol to the Auditorium, the inaugural exercises, the address of the incoming Governor and a Governor's reception at the State House in the evening. The military features of the parade were unusually imposing. Fifty carriages in line were oc cupied by leading citizens of the State. The Auditorium was beautifully dec orated and the boxes were filled with ladies and gentlemen of prominence in the city and the State. Governor Cummins' statesmanly address covered the whole range of the state's activities, and through it ran a trend of hope for better condi tions, which it was afterwards the Governor's pleasure to see realized, in large measure at least. The attendance at the evening reception was almost over whelming. A Man of Large Constructive Ability. David R. Ewing, senior member of the pioneer lumber firm of Ewing & Jewett, and a resident of Des Moines since 1864, died suddenly at the home of his daughter, Mrs. N. E. Coffin on the 25th of January. Mr. Ewing had been prominently engaged in business in Des Moines for more than thirty-eight years. As a contractor, builder and dealer in lumber, he had been remarkably success ful. In 1876 he was superintendent of the Centennial Exposition in Des Moines. In '78 he became a member of the city council, and sat in that body for several years. In '79 he became a member of the firm of Chandler, Ewing & Jewett. On Mr. Chandler's retirement he became the senior member of the firm. Mr. Ewing organized the Retail Lumber Dealers' Insurance Association, and was for years its president. On retirement from active business he bought a large farm in Bloomfield township and devoted much time thereafter to fruit culture. In '89, Mr. Ewing was selected as superintendent of construction of the new Central Church of Christ, and was a liberal contributor to the construc tion fund of that church. In '91 he was elected president of the National Con vention of the Church of Christ. He was for many years vice-president of Drake University, and was a liberal contributor to the endowment fund of that institu tion. The funeral of Mr. Ewing was attended by many friends and fellow- citizens. The musical event of the new year was an evening at the Auditorium on March 8, with Madame Nordica as the prime attraction. Of all the great sing ers who have sung in Des Moines, no one has left a more delightful impression. The first banquet given by the City Federation of Women's Clubs, at the Savery on the evening of March 17, was a brilliant affair. Mrs. P. B. Durley, presided. The principal response of the evening, by Mrs. J. H. Windsor, was an eloquent address entitled "The Club Women of To-day." Other responses were made by Judge Prouty, Governor Cummins, and others. The Seventh street viaduct, now a substantial fact in steel and cement, was anticipated by the so-called "Teachout Viaduct bill" which on the 31st of March, CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 379 1902, was messaged over from the House, substituted for the Dowell bill and passed the Senate without dissent.- It was in the form which had been agreed upon by the Commercial Exchange, the railroads and others specially interested in the bridging of the tracks. The Folly of Party Politics in Municipal Affairs. The spring election in 1902 was an eye-opener to many who had acquiesced in the unbusiness-like and absurd custom of carrying party politics into munici pal elections. The republicans swept everything before them. "It was a famous victory;" but — going no farther down than the head of the ticket, — it placed in the mayor's chair one James M. Brenton as the successor of a fairly capable and honorable democratic mayor, J. J. Hartenbower by name. Mr. Brenton brought to his office few'qualifications for the position. A fluent talker, a generous prom- iser and a general "jollier," he rode into office upon indefinite pledges of reform. The Brenton administration measurably broke down, and many a party man vowed he would never again support a candidate simply because he had captured a party nomination. The Brenton episode in local politics was but another prep aration of men's minds for the on-coming revolution in municipal affairs. The largest meeting ever convened under the auspices of the Commercial Exchange yvas held at the Grant Club on the night of April 4. E. H. McVey announced it as a "harmony meeting" and many and various views were ex pressed, all in the spirit of good-fellowship and with an evident purpose to "brace up" the new mayor. The chief interest centered upon Mayor Brenton, and the attitude he might take on public questions. Mr. Brenton was grateful for the support he had received and was proud to claim he was a republican. He approached the street railroad question, guardedly, admitting that there were elements at work with yvhich it was nearly impossible for him to cope. He had been mixed in politics for twenty-three years, and thought he knew some thing about the game, but recent campaigns had shown him that he had not even graduated from the kindergarten ! He frankly declared that in naming mem bers of the police department he purposed to consider two things : their qualifi cations for the position and "their friendliness to Jim Brenton" ! He closed with a promise to give the city a clean administration. One of the most baffling of mystery murders was that of the Peterson chil dren, Lena, aged 16, and Thomas, aged 13, at about 9:30 on Sunday night, April 13, 1902. The deed was done at a lonely spot on Madison avenue, about a half-mile northeast of Highland Park College. The commonly accepted theory is that an assault was attempted on the girl, but was prevented by the resistance of the boy, and that the girl's life was taken, with that of the boy, to prevent the exposure of the criminal. No definite clue to the murder has ever been obtained. The combined Myrtle-Capital Lodge No. 9, Knights of Pythias, already the largest Pythian Lodge in Iowa, on the 22d of April admitted the largest class of candidates for membership — 250 in number — ever admitted into any Pythian lodge. The addition made "No. 9" the largest Pythian domain in America. The reported complete exhaustion of the general contingent fund with ten months of the current fiscal year yet remaining, and a prophesied diminution of future receipts from the police court, was the prospect with which the city council "viewed the remains" in May — two months after the famous partisan victory at the polls ! A local association of bookkeepers and accountants was in session May 14, with a view to affiliation with the State Association then temporarily organized. Louis Pritchard was president of the local body; Mrs. E. N. Blackman, vice president; E. R. Snyder, secretary, and Franklin Campbell, treasurer. "The 380 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Loose Leaf and Card System," now so commonly used, was a question up for discussion at a later meeting of the association. Again the Bugle-Call. Fourteen years had elapsed between the first and the second meeting of the State Department of the Grand Army at the State Capital. The first encamp ment was in 1888 ; the second, in 1902. The return of the Grand Army of Iowa to the State Capital, in a two-days' celebration of the 28th anniversary of the order in Iowa, was an event of much interest locally. The encampment opened Tuesday, the 20th of May, with Gen eral Given in the chair. Addresses of welcome were given by the Governor and the Mayor, with responses by Governor Van Sant, of Minnesota, General Dodge. of Iowa, and others. The General gave many interesting personal recollections of Sherman. Governor Cummins received the visiting veterans at the Capitol. The event yvas made the occasion of many reunions — that of the "Vicksburg Survivors" being the most notable. The Veterans of the Spanish-American War held an interesting camp-fire, the Sons of Veterans renewed their youth, and the ladies of the Grand Army held a meeting for the election of officers. The procession of several thousand veterans through the streets of the city was an impressive sight and was witnessed by throngs of people eager to pay tribute to the members of a fast-diminishing host. Finally, on the 29th of May, 1902, the end came to the long life of the vener able Noah Brockway Bacon. The centenarian passed peacefully into rest at the advanced age of 102 years 5 months and 10 days. Memorial Day, 1902, was especially memorable by reason of the presence of the eloquent Gen. James A. Beaver, of Pennsylvania. The General's plea for the soldier was all the more eloquent because of the evidence the orator bore on his own person of the sacrifice he himself had made in the war for the supremacy of the Union. The Ladies' Improvement League, on the 26th, dedicated the new fountain in City Hall Park, turning the ceremonies over to the Elks. Mrs. W. N. McKay, on behalf of the League, presented the fountain to the city and Mayor Brenton responded. Mrs. F J. Van Horn and ex-Alderman John Gibson delivered ad dresses strongly appealing to civic pride. The Register Absorbs the Leader. The first day of July, 1902, is the date of an important event in the history of Iowa journalism. On that date the Des Moines Leader, having half-completed its eighteenth year, and the Iowa State Register, having half -completed its forty- third year, yvere merged into the Register and Leader. The Leader office was closed, and the consolidated paper was thereafter issued from the Register office. The retirement of R. P. Clarkson was deeply regretted by the old office force of the Register. On the night of the 28th of June, just as "time" was called for lunch, the foreman of the composing room presented the venerable ex-printer, ex-publisher and ex-editor with a solid gold printer's rule, upon one side of which appeared the words : "December 6, 1870 — June 30, 1902" — the dates including the years of Mr. Clarkson's proprietory service on the Register. The flood of July, 1902, exceeded any one of several disastrous floods recalled by the oldest inhabitant — always excepting that of 185 1. The yvater-gauge at the highest point, July 10, showed 21.3 feet above the mean level, which was eleven inches higher than the highest previous high water mark. The submerged area covered several miles on the south side. The Great Western bridge went out — a loss of $20,000. But one fatality occurred, though many suffered great inconvenience and loss. A conservative estimate of the losses from the flood was $300,000. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 381 Articles of re-incorporation of the Warfield-Pratt-Howell company, filed July 14, increased the paid-up capital stock of the company from $500,000 to $1,000,- 000, and the authorized stock to $1,500,000. The increase was provided by a transfer of the surplus and undivided profits of the corporation to the capital stock account. The incorporators and directors were J. W. Howell, W. J. Pratt, W. S. Warfield, E. C. Finkbine, D. E. Howell, J. G. Berryhill and H. B. Shepard. The death of Isaac Cooper in California, late in August, removed a veritable "ancient landmark." Mr. Cooper came to Fort Des Moines early in the forties and his many and varied activities made his career part of the history of the town. He died in his ninetieth year, survived by his three children, Mrs. F. M. Hubbell and Mrs. W. H. Ginn, of Des Moines, and Fenimore Cooper of Oleta. Mrs. Ginn was with her father at the time of his death. The remains were con veyed to Des Moines for burial. The armored cruiser "Des Moines" was launched September 20, in the ship yards of Quincy, Mass. A party from Des Moines, including Governor Cum mins and several other State officers, Mayor Brenton and a number of other citi zens of Des Moines, witnessed the launching. Miss Elsie Macomber, a native of Des Moines, christened the cruiser. The death of General James A. Williamson, of New York, in September and his burial in Arlington cemetery, near Washington, on the 9th, brought back to many still living in Des Moines memories of their former townsman who had gone from them to the war and had won fame and high position as a soldier, and later had won honors and wealth as a railroad builder. General Williamson was commissioner of the general land-office under President Grant. Later, he became commissioner of lands yvith the Atlantic & Pacific railroad and took charge of construction work. Later, still, he became president of the company. With large ability as a lawyer, General Williamson had still larger ability as a practical man of affairs. He died at the age of 73. The Odd Fellows of the Country in Des Moines. The Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd Felloyvs convened in Iowa's Capital city on the week beginning Sunday, November 14. Dr. Breeden delivered the annual sermon. Nearly all the states of the Union were represented — and many of the states with large delegations. The regular proceedings were enlivened Wednes day forenoon by a grand parade in which, as was reported, from eight to twelve thousand Odd Fellows were in line. On that evening a banquet was served by the local Odd Fellows, at which about six hundred brethren sat down together. Toasts and responses happily filled the hours after the dinner. Thursday fore noon, the Patriarchs Militant, the uniformed rank of the Odd Fellows, gave a prize drill on the Fair Grounds. The many tents, and the many signs of tent- life, to be seen on the grounds recalled the days of '98 when "the big four" regi ments of Iowa Infantry were there in camp. Thursday evening, the Iowa de partment of the order gave a reception to the visiting Patriarchs Militant. On the same evening, Crocker Post gave a "smoker" in honor of Confederate and Union ex-soldiers in attendance on the Supreme Lodge. General Given and Dr. Hutchins eloquently welcomed their guests. Judge Semmes, of Alabama, as eloquently responded. In October, Secretary Shaw made final decision in favor of the Walnut street, or river front, site for the new post-office. There had been some opposition to this site ; but the excellence of the carrier system had made the location question one of little interest to the average citizen, and there was general satisfaction with the Government's contribution to the beautification of the river front. The Homestead newspaper and plant, a valuable property, was put under the hammer, October 16, — the final outcome of a long struggle in the courts be tween James M. Pierce, the incumbent and Samuel F. Stewart, formerly a part- 382 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY ner. Mr. Pierce outbid his rival for possession, and the much coveted Home stead property was sold to him for $162,010. The fact that the property was to remain with Mr. Pierce was the occasion of a joyful demonstration from the employes. Both parties seemed highly pleased with the outcome; Mr. Pierce, because he knew the growing value of the plant, and Mr. Stewart because he had made Pierce pay well for the property. The eloquent Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the National Equal Suffrage Association, addressed the state convention of equal suffragists in Des Moines, October 29, and was welcomed by many local suffragists. The appointment, in November, of Richard P. Clarkson, ex-editor of the Register, to the Pension Agency of Iowa and Nebraska, came just in time to "round out the career" of a man who had done much for Iowa and for its Capi tal city. The venerable General William Booth, his daughter Mrs. Booth-Tucker, and other prominent general officers of the Salvation Army, arrived in Des Moines Friday night, December 6. The General addressed three large audiences on Sunday. 1903 THE YEAR ROOSEVELT CAPTURED DES MOINES. C. H. Getchell, one of Des Moines' strong men, died January 25, aged 62. He had resided in Des Moines since 1861, when with his brother-in-law George C. Tichenor, he founded the lumber business of Getchell & Tichenor, on the corner of Seventh and Locust. Later, he became a gold-miner. After three years spent in the far west, he returned to the lumber business in Des Moines, this time with his father and brothers, under the firm name of H. F. Getchell & Sons. The firm established branch yards throughout the state, and a wholesale business in Chicago. He aided in founding several institutions in Des Moines. To him and C. A. Dudley belongs the honor of doing most toward founding the Des Moines Public library. He yvas one of the projectors of the narrow-gauge road from Des Moines, to Ames. He was vice-president of the Des Moines National Bank, and was identified with other successful institutions. Early in the year 1903, there was a general movement in the Catholic diocese of Davenport to create a new diocese with Des Moines as the See city. From time to time thereafter the movement received new impetus ; but not until the fall of 191 1 was the diocese created and Des Moines named as the See city. On the 2d of February, W. L. Brown, for fifteen years manager of the Sav ery, entered into a contract with D. S. Chamberlain for a new hotel to be erected for him on Seventh and Locust streets. Mr. Brown retired from the Savery, March 1, to supervise the construction of the building. It was origi nally planned for four stories, but the now well-known Chamberlain Hotel has six floors, with a large annex on Grand Avenue. In February, '03, the Park Commission bought of the Clifton Heights Land Company forty-three acres west and north of South Park, for $24,000, thus giving the South side of the city a capacious and beautiful park. The Wellington Hotel, built as an experiment by Henry C. Hansen, was early in 1903 enlarged and improved, adding 120 guest-rooms to the 105 already in use. And even this enlargement proved inadequate, for eight years later Mr. Hansen entered into a contract to more than double the hotel's capacity. Work on the immense warehouse and storage plant of the Blue Line Trans fer Company was begun early in the spring of 1903, the building covering a quarter-block on Third and Elm. The Capital City Woolen Mill yvas destroyed by fire on the night of March 7 with a loss of about $60,000, covered by insurance. Mr. and Mrs. George White, pioneers, celebrated their golden wedding March 10. They had resided in Des Moines since 1863. Both have since died, leaving two daughters, Mrs. W. E. Mason, wife of ex-Senator Mason of Mi- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 383 nois, and Miss Frances R. White of Des Moines. Mr. White was a successful merchant in the Capital city, and Mr. and Mrs. White were pioneers of the Uni tarian church in Iowa. The consolidation of four local ice companies, the Crescent, the Arctic and the Des Moines, with the Iowa Ice Company was an important business change in March. The incorporators of the new company were O. E. Danielson, A. L. Clinite, J. M. Willoughby, J. A. Ruskin, V L. Pugh and F. E. Clinite. The long-heralded Jefferson Day, 1903, was celebrated, April 2 with a ban quet in the evening and William Jennings Bryan and Gen. Adlai E. Stevenson the guests of honor. The General pleaded eloquently for party harmony and was applauded to the echo. A letter from William Randolph Hearst was read by Charles E. Russell, his personal representative, advocating harmony. Jerry B. Sullivan, of Creston, (now of Des Moines) made eloquent protest against "Imperialism." Gen. J. B. Weaver, of Colfax, had "come a thousand miles to attend the banquet" and spoke with his old-time fire in eulogy of Jeffersonian principles. But the climax was reached when, despite the lateness of the hour — for it was nearly three a. m. — Mr.. Bryan was called on for a response. The "matchless orator" was greeted with a remarkable demonstration, verifying the fact that he had lost nothing of popularity in Iowa. He spoke first of "har mony" — true and false — and plainly stated that differences still existed. "Re- oiganization means retreat," said he, "and retreat means demoralization and dis aster. . . . The party polled nearly a million more votes in support of the Chicago and Kansas City platforms than were polled by Mr. Cleveland even before his political crimes were exposed." In no uncertain terms did he pay his respects to the would-be reorganizers. The corner-stone of the new courthouse was laid with ceremony on the 20th of April, the Masonic lodges of Des Moines, Mitchellville, Altoona, Valley Junction and Adelphi officiating. It was preceded by a Masonic parade. The principal address, a strong appeal to civic duty and civic pride, was delivered by Governor Cummins. The Des Moines Ministerial Association went on record, on the forenoon of corner-stone day, with resolutions protesting against the "usurpation" "by a secret fraternity" of "a public function which should be performed only by a rep resentative of the sovereign people;" also against the inscription of the name of that fraternity and of its "Most Worshipful Grand Master" on the corner stone. Sidney Lee, of London, the great Shakespearean scholar, lectured in Des Moines April 25, on "The Truth about Shakespeare and his Life." Dr. Lee convinced his auditors that he was a far better writer than lecturer. On the 18th of April, occurred the death of James B. Locke, a master-builder whose name is associated with the erection of many of the largest edifices in the State of Iowa. His first work of magnitude was as a builder of railroad bridges. His supervision of work on the new State Capitol included the steps, the stone coping and curbing. In 1870, he became a partner of Robert S. Finkbine in the construction of state buildings, railroad bridges, 'banks and business houses, in which work he won a name for thoroughness and integrity and in the prosecu- - tion of the work acquired a competency. Only three months before this sad death, Mr. and Mrs. Locke had celebrated their golden wedding, with their three living children and several grandchildren about them. Roosevelt Captures Des Moines. Preparations for the postponed visit of President Roosevelt (April 28) be gan in the middle of March. The city officers and the Commercial Exchange made all the arrangements for the day. Governor Cummins, Senators Allison and Dolliver, Representative Hull, Mayor Brenton and a party of prominent citizens met the President at Clarinda early on the morning of April 28, and proceeded with their distinguished guest to Des Moines, arriving in the city at 384 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 2 :20 p. m., where carriages awaited the party. A question of official etiquette raised by Mayor Brenton was settled by the selection of the Governor and the Mayor to ride with the President from the depot, barring out Representative Hull who had first been named, with the Governor, for the temporary honor. The other plans were carried out without friction. The carriages moved slowly, of necessity, through the vast crowd, escorted by Capt. H. H. Polk of "Troop A." A gorgeous display of bunting lined the street, with flags floating overhead. Along the line of the procession, were thousands of school children whose greet ings met with generous response from the President. Large delegations came in the morning from all parts of central and north ern Iowa, and it was no exaggeration to say that at least a hundred thousand people saw the President. In response to an expressed desire to have a view of the city, President Roosevelt was given an hour's drive through the principal streets. The other hour was given over mainly to speech-making. During the drive, the President gallantly shook hands with a young lady on horseback, and, at a brief stop along the line, improved the time shaking hands with several ladies and kissing one very kissable baby. A flying visit was paid the Shriners at the Auditorium. A three-minute speech, and he was off again for his last stop at the State House grounds, where he ac commodatingly divided time with the thousands in front, and other thousands at his right and left and in the rear. He was in high spirits and made a pleasing impression on an easily pleased audience. The President was gratified to meet a number of old friends, among them Captain Hull, "Lafe" Young, Editor Howell of Atlanta and others; but he ex pressed no greater pleasure than when he met Eugene Waterbury, who was a corporal in Company B, of Colonel Roosevelt's "Rough Riders." "Waterbury, I'm mighty glad to see you, old man !" was the hearty greeting given. The talk at the Auditorium was a keenly appreciative expression of pleasure in being in Iowa and in her Capital city and of the enthusiastic greeting given him. His general theme was Iowa's prominence in agriculture and the necessity of legislation which would make rural life more desirable. Reaching the State House grounds forty minutes behind time, he looked over the broad acres of humanity with the imposing State House in the background, and said to Governor Cummins : "This is the most magnificent spectacle I have witnessed, and nowhere have I been given so hearty an ovation. I speak truly when I say that this is a sight I shall never forget." The President's first utterance was "My friends and fellow citizens, I have almost begun to think I have seen all Iowa !" He paid high compliment to Gov ernor Cummins and Congressman Hull; spoke eloquently of the veterans of the Civil War, representatives of whom sat before him; he congratulated Iowa on her soil and climate, on her crops and products, "but especially upon her crop of children," adding : "They seem to be all right from the standpoint of both quality and quantity ! And as I like the stock, I am glad it is not dying off." Much of the speech was devoted to the Civil War and Iowa's glorious part in the struggle; but the President did not forget to pay tribute to the representa tives of the War of 1898, adding: "Now you and I, of the younger genera tion, did not have* the tasks that they, the men of the great war had. All we had to do was to show that we were willing — I trust I may say anxious — if op portunity arose, to show ourselves not wholly unworthy of the men of the days of 1861 to 1865." On May 15, T903, occurred the death of John Wyman, a resident of Des Moines since 1867. Mr. Wyman yvas a pioneer dry-goods merchant of the city. He was, later, one of the organizers of the New England Loan & Trust Com pany and was the company's first president. He was also a founder and the first president of the Des Moines National Bank. About three years before his death, DEER AND FAWN Grand View Park BIRDLAND, UNION PARK f - / * - '- &J^'~a~"- /¦ " ¦•'-: - ¦'-'-¦; ."-.-,-'-'•' . ,"¦'•' . ^ - w*w>y-- -.rj, Sksuw ..-A. , ••>. A;;.V; -- ¦¦--'• S'6di-'iraB| PI Pl% * ii ELKS IN PADDOCK, GRAND VIEW PARK CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 385 he resigned the presidency of another company of which he was one of the or ganizers, — the Iowa Deposit & Loan Company. He was long a member of the school board, and was interested in everything regarded by him as likely to benefit his city. A mass meeting of citizens without credal or racial distinction was held in Des- Moines in May to protest against Russian cruelty toward the Jews of Kis- hener, and as a result more than $1,000 was raised in aid of the sufferers. Still Higher High-Water Mark! Even the high-water record of 1902 was beaten by that of 1903. Not since the historic floods of '51 had the waters of the Des Moines and the Raccoon risen as high as in 1903. The damage of the earlier period was much lighter because there was less improved property for the flood to work upon. But in 1903 there was nothing like the general distress which followed the floods of fifty-two years before, for the little community then was practically cut off from the outside world of supplies; while the sufferers of the later time were promptly relieved through the organization of our modern social life. Late in May, occurred a tornado in South Des Moines which resulted in two deaths and the destruction of several buildings. This was followed by unusually heavy rains. The river rose very fast. Rain continued to fall swelling the flood, until on the 28th, all records for fifty-two years had been broken. The highest record made by the Des Moines was 23 feet 5 inches above high yvater-mark. On that day, water began flowing into the poyver-house of the street-railway, stopping the city's street-car system. The entire lower levels of the city were several feet under water and hundreds of families were compelled to vacate. The streets approach ing the Capitol looked like canals and the entire southern portion of the city was a vast lake dotted with half submerged houses. Part of the Melan arch of the new Sixth Avenue bridge yvent out, jeopardizing the bridge below. A workman trying to save the false work of the bridge was drowned. On the 30th, after the flood reached the height of 23 feet, 5 inches, the water began to subside, and the danger was past. More than fifteen hundred homeless ones temporarily housed in the hotels, churches, schools, and the State Capitol building went back to their homes. Life in the bottom lands soon resumed its various activities as though nothing had happened. The loses from the flood were considerable, estimated by the press at not less than $350,000. Late in September, 1903, it was announced in the press that the possessions of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick M. Hubbell had been conveyed to Frederick M., Frede rick C, and Grover C. Hubbell as "trustees of the Frederick M. Hubbell Estate," the conveyance providing "that in case there are no lineal descendants of Fred erick M. Hubbell at the end of the trust period the estate should go to the State of Iowa to be used in founding a college of learning in the city of Des Moines." The trust period yvould terminate twenty-one years after the death of the last of the parties named in the instrument, namely : Mrs. Hubbell and the children and grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. Hubbell. By this conveyance the Hubbell estate will be kept intact after the decease of the head of the family. The opening of "the Iowa Falls road" formally named the St. Paul and Des Moines, and recently absorbed by the Rock Island system, was an event so marked that on the 18th of September, 1903, 269 business men of Des Moines celebrated it by a trip to the northern terminus of the road, in response to the invitation of the builder and president, E. C. Ellsworth. A delightful ride to Iowa Falls, a bounteous noon lunch served by the ladies, an address of welcome by Mayor Funk, a hearty response by D. B. Lyon, a number of impromptu speeches, a tramp through the picturesque glen and a ride about the beautiful little city, are among Ihe pleasurably remembered incidents of the day. Among the incidents was a Vol 1-25 ^ J 386 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY "mock council" held on the stage of the opera house by a quorum of the Des Moines council, presided over by Mayor Brenton. The proceedings were humor ously suggestive of the then recent meetings of that body. Three Prominent lowans Pass Away. In the fall of 1903 occurred in quick succession three deaths of men who are part of the history of the State and its Capital city. First, September 23, came the death of Col. John Scott, long a resident of Nevada, but during his last years a resident of Des Moines. A veteran of the Mexican War and of the War of the Rebellion, a legislator, a distinguished agri culturist and stock-breeder, stalwart and vigorous in mind and body, genial and companionable to the last, at the age of 79, his life was rounded into a degree of completeness attained by few. The month had not yet passed (September 27), when John H. Rollins, long one of Des Moines' most prominent business men, closed his long career of use fulness. He, too, was 79 years of age, and, when the end came, was apparently in the enjoyment of excellent health. A stroke of paralysis in the morning re sulted in his death in the evening. Mr. Rollins was identified with a number of extensive interests. He was president of the Iowa Pipe and Tile Company and of the Rollins Vinegar and Pickle Company, and a director and heavy stockholder in the Citizens National, the German Savings bank and the Security Loan and Trust Company. He had loyally served for ten years as a member of the city council at a time when membership of that body was full of embarrassment to a genuinely public-spirited citizen. On the 20th of November came the announcement of the death of Gen. Francis M. Drake, ex-Governor of Iowa. His four years' residence in Des Moines, his extensive interests centering here, and his intimate acquaintance with Des Moines' leading citizens, caused many to regard his death as a positive loss. It was fitting that the University which bears his name and to which he had gen erously contributed much time and money, should hold Memorial services after his death. On Monday afternoon, November 23, at the hour of his funeral in Centerville, the students, faculty and friends of Drake University assembled in the chapel and joined in personal tributes to the character, public services and benefactions of their departed friend. But the tributes to the memory of General Drake were not confined to the University. Nearly all the officers of State, and many prominent citizens of Des Moines went to Centerville in a special car, that they might show the General's family and friends the strength of their personal regard for the distinguished railroad builder, soldier, statesman, financier and philanthropist. The will of the late Francis M. Drake, for which search had been diligently made, finally, late in November, came to light,' having been deposited by the Governor with the Des Moines Consistory of the Scottish Rite Masons. In this will Drake University was remembered to the amount of $50,000. I9O4 THE YEAR OF THE STATE HOUSE FIRE. The most startling local occurrence of the new year, 1904, was the fire on the 4th of January, which came near destroying the splendid Gapitol building, one of the finest structures in the country, as viewed from the architect's standpoint, and, with the building, the State Library with nearly a hundred thousand volumes, many of which could scarcely have been replaced. At 11 a. m., parties approaching the Capitol from the west saw a cloud of smoke arising from the north end of the building. The nearest alarm was turned in and the entire fire department of the city was soon upon the ground. The firemen guided by Capitol officials proceeded to the great attic above the House of Representatives and found it a mass of flames. Soon the water pressure was found to be wholly inadequate and the efforts of the firemen, directed by Chief Burnett, and of the State officers and employes, led by Governor Cummins in CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 387 person, were mainly directed to the prevention of the spread of the flames to the rotunda and so to the attic on the south side and to the library, separated from the House of Representatives by a single brick wall and from the attic by a ceil ing in which there was a large stained-glass imitation skylight. This brick wall grew hotter and hotter, until the Governor directed that, with such pressure as the firemen could command, the water should be turned on the east wall of the library. The water could not reach the high ceiling, and those most interested could only watch the fire through the stained glass and wonder whether it would make headway or die out. Meantime firemen and employes were battling heroically in the rotunda overhead to prevent the spread of the flames south ward. At about 2 :30 p. m., when the destruction of the library seemed inevitable, chutes were improvised and extended from the upper windows of the library to the library-porch, and thence to the ground, and, under orders from the Gover nor, and under direction of the State Librarian, some twenty or thirty thousand of the more valuable books were taken from the shelves to the chutes, and will ing hands transferred them to the longer chute extending from the porch to the ground. Meantime there had collected on the library floor several inches of water which dripped down into the Supreme Court room, destroying the fres coes on the walls. The fire extended into the south gallery of the House of Representatives and, with the water, made havoc in that beautiful auditorium. After a hurried consultation with Architect Liebbe, Governor Cummins directed that all the office-buildings as well as the library be cleared of furniture and valuables. The militia was called out to protect the State's property and preserve order if necessary. At about the middle of the afternoon, the catastrophe developed into a tragedy. F. J. Elbert, a sub-foreman employed at the time of the fire in electrifying the building, was moving about in the attic above the House of Representatives; when, overcome by smoke, he stepped, or fell, upon the lathing which held the plaster, and the ceiling gave way. He fell with a heavy thud upon the floor of the House. The lifeless body was borne to an ambulance and taken to the El bert home. Meanwhile the volume of smoke and tongues of flame continued to rise from the north wing, seeming to set at nought the efforts of the fire-fight ers on the inside. But as night came on, the flame disappeared and the smoke diminished in volume, giving evidence that the fire was burning itself out in the attic. Watchmen stayed by it all night and for several nights thereafter to pre vent the wind from fanning the smouldering fire into a blaze. For several weeks- a thin curling column of smoke arose from one of the smaller domes on the- north end of the building, but no trace of its origin could be found. Not until' that ceased was the relief complete. For several days, the library force, assisted by high school students, were busy replacing the thousands of books from the ground to the library floor, and from' the floor to their respective shelves. The office furniture and valuables. were restored next day. At the time, there was much speculation, and there were several theories, as- to the origin of the fire; but the most thorough investigation proved nothing conclusively. By extraordinary endeavor on the part of the Executive Council, the House was made ready for the incoming General Assembly by the nth of the month, and when the legislators arrived there were few evidences of the fire which, on the 4th, had threatened to destroy the building over the erection of which there had been such fierce and long-drawn-out contest. The extent of the damage was variously estimated. At the time, it was esti mated by Governor Cummins at $200,000 ; but State Architect Liebbe placed it at a much higher sum. At the time the fire occurred, electricians were employed under the supervision of Professor Cumming, the local member of the Capitol Improvement Commission, in wiring the building; but, as there was no current turned on, the fire must have had some other origin than "defective wiring." The death of Olive McHenry, February 21, was a sad event in the lives of 388 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY many, young and old. A graduate of West High School, a teacher in the pub lic schools of Des Moines since 1870 she had endeared herself to many who are now active in the business and social life of Des. Moines. It was fitting that the school board should honor her memory by naming one of the city's new school buildings the "Olive McHenry" school. The "unique" Mayor Brenton retired to private life April 4. He was suc ceeded by ex-Sheriff Mattern, who held the office of mayor for two terms. A musical event of April was the appearance at Drake University of the Damrosch Symphony Orchestra, in recitals and mixed programs, arousing much enthusiasm among music-lovers. May 31, a graceful tribute was paid to the veteran Barlow Granger. About fifty friends went out to his home on the heights south of Des Moines to cele brate with him his 88th birthday. Informal speeches followed refreshments. L. Harbach slipped upon Mr. Granger's finger a heavy gold ring with a brilliant setting. Scarcely more than a year later, the honored host of this pleasant occa sion passed away. The death of Elias J. Fairall, September 8, at the age of 71, removed a pio neer member of the Des Moines Park Commission, to whom much credit is due for the city's valuable park possessions. The death of James Callanan occurred on the 26th of September. Mr. Callanan died at the age of 87. He had been in failing health for more than a year. He was born in Albany, New York, where in 1845 ne was admitted to the bar and practiced law. In '57 he visited Des Moines and here became a partner in the banking house of Callanan & Ingham. In the early Sixties, he removed to this city. Wise and fortunate in his investments, he became very wealthy for his time. He founded Callanan College; but after years of experimentation became convinced that his benevolent purpose was not likely to be successful and the college was turned over to the Methodists for use as a hospital. His benefactions were numerous and various. As has already been related, one of the latest to enlist his sympathies was the Home for the Aged. Mr. Callanan's holdings were as numerous as his charities. He was president of the Capital City State Bank, vice president of the Citizens National Bank, a director of the Valley National and of the Iowa Loan and Trust. He was president of the Hawkeye Insurance Company, and president of the Durango Steel and Iron Company in Mexico. Mr. Callanan persistently resisted all temptations to public life. His home in the woods in the western part of the city was more attractive to him than any other place in the world. He was a man of education and re finement. He had the charm of the old-school gentleman. The will of James Callanan was the most conspicuous example of individual generosity ever chronicled in the Capital City. Without giving the items in de tail, suffice to say, it bequeathed $175,000 to educational institutions. It gave $148,000 to churches and charities. Of these the following were located in Des Moines : Benedict Home, $10,000 ; Iowa W'oman's Equal Suffrage Association, $3,000 ;. Iowa ITumane Society, $20,000 ; Home for the Aged, $20,000 ; Salva tion Army, $20,000 ; Iowa Humane Society, $50,000 ; Corinthian Baptist Church, St. Paul's A. M. E. Church, First African' Baptist Church, Burns' Chapel, M. E. Church, Maple Street Baptist Church, Union Congregational Church, each $1,000; Home for the Aged Colored Folks, $5,000. The remainder of his wealth was bequeathed to relatives and friends. Senator Charles W. Fairbanks, republican nominee for the vice Presidency, spoke from the rear platform of his car at the Rock Island depot on the fore noon of October 12. Fle was introduced by Governor Cummins. The stalwart Indianian made a favorable impression upon the few hundred who heard him- The Congregationalists of the Country Convene in Des Moines. The National Council of the Congregational Church convened October I3> 1904, bringing together under the roof of the new Congregational church in JAMES CALLANAN Pioneer Capitalist and Philantliropist MUS. IJARTIIA CALLANAN CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 389 Des Moines a distinguished body of preachers and laymen. In connection with this convention, were held the conventions of the American Missionary Associa tion and the Congregational Home Missionary Society. The council was wel comed by Governor Cummins. Graham Taylor, of Chicago, and several nat ional representatives of labor unions led in discussion of labor problems and the church. A. L. Urick of Des Moines took prominent part in the discussion. Washington Gladden, preacher and author, and president of the American Mis sionary Association, was chosen moderator of the council. The council ser mon, on Sunday, the 16th, by Rev. Alexander McKenzie, on "the Holy City," was an eloquent presentation of the real "city of God on earth." The gathering of the three bodies brought together a large number of great Christian educators. Lyman Abbott, on "The New Theology," delighted the radicals and startled the conservatives by his advance thought on the Bible and a personal God. The great council closed on the night of the 20th, having settled several important questions of church polity and considered not a few questions of doctrine. Dr. Gladden, summing up the events of the week, pronounced the council "unprecedented in the history of American Congregationalism," — larger in num ber of delegates, and more significant in the quality and direction of its utterances. On the 13th of October, Lowell Chamberlain, secretary of the Chamberlain Medicine Company, handed to President Keffer of the Board of Park Commis sioners, a deed for a tract of land on Ingersoll Avenue, then valued at $12,000, — but now worth much more, — the land to be used as a children's playground. Thomas Hatton, a man who could ill be spared from the social and business life of the community, died October 26, at the age of 74. He came to Des Moines when he was 31 years old and was the first local agent of the Northwestern road, in '61. In '66 he engaged in the real estate business. The firm of Percival & Hatton continued for over thirty years. This well known firm platted many addi tions to Des Moines — including Clifton Heights, Grand Park and Kingman Place, and laid out many towns along the lines of roads leading from Des Moines. He was possessed of a high sense of honor, and carried his religion into business and politics. In middle-life he was frequently chosen a delegate to republican con ventions. He was a staunch churchman and had been warden of St. Paul's church for many years. Presidents and other representatives of forty-three state universities of the United States convened in Des Moines, October 31, to attend the two-days' an nual convention of the National Association of State Universities at the Savery Hotel. Governor Cummins welcomed the educators to the Capital City. The presidents and the other representatives of the State Agricultural Col leges and experiment stations of the country, about 160 in all, held their annual convention at the Chamberlain, Nov. 2-3. The year 1904 showed large balances in Des Moines' favor. A conservative estimate made at the time was that the jobbers and manufacturers of Des Moines had done business aggregating not less than $70,000,000. Several firms aggre gated from one to five millions. Des Moines had won for itself third place in the United States in the extent of its vehicle and implement business, with Kansas City and Minneapolis alone outranking her. Add to that the product of her extensive brick and tile industry, her coal-mining interests and her woolen mills, and pile on top of these the aggre gated product of her factories and jobbing houses, and the estimate is accounted for. The volume of business of the year was slightly larger than that of the year before, notwithstanding the warm weather of the fall and early winter and the partial failure of crops. 390 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The aggregate local business of the seven steam railways entering Des Moines was estimated as follows: Total receipts, $5,000,000; freight, $3,750,000; pas senger, $1,250,000. The passenger business was reported as from 10 to 15 per cent over that of the previous year. The seven roads were the Rock Island, the Milwaukee, the Northwestern, the Iowa Falls & Northern, the Burlington,' the Great Western and the Wabash. In addition to the steam railway business, the Des Moines City railway handled business aggregating $535,966; and the Colfax interurban, $113,699 in passenger and $19,091 in freight. During the year 1904, real estate transfers in the city aggregated $5,416,- 777, — about $500,000 more than in 1903. The feature of the year's business was the number of transactions rather than the amounts, indicating a very large sale of lots and small homes. The improvements in Des Moines in 1904 showed a grand total of $3,756,257, Of this amount, the city expended $2,387,257,— chiefly in paving, curbing, sewers, drains, bridges, sidewalks and river front. The waterworks company expended $84,000 in ten miles of extension, and $40,000 in a new gallery. The gas com pany expended $150,000 in extensions; interurban, $200,000; street railway company, $206,000; courthouse, $200,000; Historical building, $250,000; State warehouse, $60,000; Capitol improvements, $150,000. I905 THE YEAR THE METHODIST HOSPITAL WAS PUT UPON ITS FEET FINANCIALLY. The bell which citizens of Des Moines presented to the cruiser "Des Moines,'' at a cost of $835, was placed on exhibition in the Commercial Club hall, in Feb ruary and remained there until the cruiser returned from its trip to foreign shores. The design on the face of the bell is that of a woman holding in one hand the "key to the city," and with the other hand pointing to a map of Iowa. Underneath the figure is the word "Alert," presumably the normal attitude of Des Moines. The further wording on the bell is "Presented to the U. S. S. Des Moines by the Citizens of Des Moines, Iowa, A. D. 1904." Albert S. Kingman, a resident of Des Moines since 1850, died, March 1, aged 78. Kingman Place was a possession early secured by him, and for fifty-five years he had lived on this tract. The property was bought at $1.25 an acre. On the fourth of March, the jury in the case of Charles Thomas, charged with the Mabel Schofield murder, returned a verdict of murder in the first degree, decreeing that Thomas be imprisoned for life. "Back to the people" came William Jennings Bryan. The radicals of the democratic party in Iowa came together in Des Moines on the first day of April, 1905, and organized an Iowa Democratic Club, officered from top to bottom by "the faithful." H. C. Evans of Des Moines was elected president, and on the executive committee were Jerry B. Sullivan and W. K. English of Des Moines and James B. Weaver of Colfax. The club adopted the Bryan plan of organiza tion, which may be condensed into the one yvord "thorough" — extending into every township in the State. Mr. Bryan was in a militant mood and made a speech which thrilled every radical heart. The party, "snatching victory from defeat" was to move on conquering and to conquer. Mr. Bryan was cheered to the echo, as he hurled defiance at the conservatives of his party. The banquet hall was crowded. Many republicans were present and about twenty-five ladies. Many pronounced Mr. Bryan's speech the most eloquent of his many eloquent efforts. Assessor Schramm's assessment valuations put upon the city's franchise cor porations were railroaded through the Board of Equalization April 7, and came out reduced by $373,000, or nearly the entire amount of the increase over the previous year. The assessor's increase aggregated $382,000. The old Rothwell block, southwest corner of Sixth and Walnut, was pur chased by the Fleming brothers, April 10, — the consideration reported to be CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 391 $167,500. The property has a frontage of 88 feet on Walnut street and a depth of 132 feet. This was a new frontage record for down-town real estate. On the 18th of April, the old M. E. Church became the property of Zag-Ga- Zig Temple. The purchase price was $35,000. Fifty years ago, May 7, 1905, Frederick M. Hubbell, a lad of sixteen, united his fortunes with Des Moines. The anniversary was celebrated at Terrace Hill. Among the guests who greeted him on the occasion were many prominent early settlers and their son9. Early in the year 1905, Mr. Pierce accepted plans for an enlargement of the Homestead office to three times the size of the old five-story building and ar ranged to build during the coming season. The Political Equality Club signally honored its surviving founders, Mrs. Mary J. Coggeshall and Mrs. Eliza J. Hunter, at a reception May 17. The club was founded in 1870. In May1 the residence of the Callanans was purchased by Dr. Gershom H. Hill, purposing to convert this beautiful property into a retreat for those tem porarily afflicted with mental diseases. Gen. John C. Bates, commander of the northern- division of the United States Army made his first annual inspection of the Eleventh Cavalry at Fort Des Moines May 27. On the following evening, a reception was given the General by Colonel Thomas. General Bates and other distinguished army officers were met by many of the leading citizens of Des Moines on their arrival in the city. The Iowa Methodist Hospital, an institution which has made for itself an enviable record of public service, succeeded to the Callanan College buildings. Some eighteen months before his death, the management received from James Callanan a personal note for $30,000, accompanied by the stipulation that the hospital was to pay him $100 a month during the remainder of his life-time. The hospital had paid Mr. Callanan $1,800. The executors contested the note. In June, Judge McHenry ruled that the note should be paid, as was the intent of the maker. The result of the decision prepared the way for the larger useful ness of a hospital founded four years befpre. Judge David Ryan, late President of the Polk County Bar Association, died suddenly June 19. The Judge was 65 years old. He was a lieutenant in the Eighth Iowa Infantry, was a member of the Eleventh General Assembly, and was for twelve years a judge in the Sixth district of Iowa. On the 5th of June, after eighty-nine years of activities many and varied, Barlow Granger, the veteran journalist of Fort Des Moines, and a prominent democratic leader in Iowa, and at the time of his death president of the Octo genarian Club, passed to his rest. His funeral took place from the Granger home, on the 9th, and his remains found interment in Elm Grove cemetery, south of the city. The funeral brought together many early settlers from all parts of the county. Two hundred people attended the reunion of the Casady clan on the 27th of June in celebration of the 57th anniversary of the marriage of Judge and Mrs. P. M. Casady, and the 59th anniversary of Mr. Casady's arrival in Fort Des Moines. Speeches were made by Rev. Thomas Casady, Ward C. Henry, A. L. Frisbie and Mrs. W. W. Williamson. Mr. Hussey read a poem. About this time a new school building in Des Moines was appropriately named in honor of this pioneer in matters educational. The death of J. C. Savery occurred in Montana, in August. There was a large gathering of pioneers at the funeral in Des Moines on the 28th. The national Board of Evangelization of the Church of Christ convened in Des Moines September 18. The movement which this board embodies was started by General Drake with a gift of $1,000. The veteran editor and publisher, Richard P. Clarkson passed away on the 3d of October. His funeral, on the 6th, brought together all the members of his family and many prominent men from all parts of the State. Many were the 392 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY tributes of respect and regard paid this strong character. Those who best knew him held him in highest esteem — "a plain, blunt man who loved his friends." Mr. Berryhill, not content with a study of the Galveston Plan at long range, made a trip to investigate the practical workings of the plan on the ground. His after-reports did much to interest Des Moines and the press of the city in the commission form of government. The question "Has the Des Moines City Railway Company a franchise to operate cars over the streets of Des Moines?" came before District Judge Howe November 27, with Judge Brennan sitting with Judge Howe by request. The case yvas brought in the spring by the Civic League, Messrs. Baily & Stipp at torneys. County Attorney Miller also entered an appearance as a plaintiff in the action on the part of the State. The differences between the. street car com pany and the citizens were, later, by agreement, left to a committee of citizens consisting of James G. Berryhill, W. N. Heaton, J. W. Hill, George H. Lewis and D. H. Kooker. Action was deferred until the committee could confer with the bondholders of the company. On the 9th of December the Civic League was ruled out of court. The court declared the quo warranto proceedings were in order, but that the county' attorney should bring the action. In December, M. H. Cohen, assistant city solicitor, also made a personal in vestigation of the Galveston plan, reporting that the tax rate in Galveston was higher than in Des Moines. His further observations were later used by the op position against the adoption of the commission plan in Des Moines. Late in December, City Solicitor Bremner presented a plan for acquiring the street car property by a graduated tax, a contract to run fifteen years with the privilege of purchase at the end. This plan and one previously offered by Mr. Berryhill — on a twenty-five year basis — were duly considered but were not found to offer an acceptable basis of agreement. I906 — THE YEAR THE MUNICIPAL REFORM MOVEMENT BEGAN. Brinsmaid & Company, one of the oldest business houses in Des Moines, cele brated its fiftieth anniversary on the opening of the year 1906. This china and glass-ware house was founded by Keyes & Knight, January, 1856. Mr. Knight, a pioneer dry-goods man, took on Mr. Keyes and a small stock of crockery as an experiment. The firm started out a wagon loaded with crockery. Later, Mr. Keyes went by himself and soon formed a partnership with "Charley" Gray, his clerk. In '71 O. H. Perkins bought the interest of the senior partner, and launched out into the wholesale business. In '78, Fred Brinsmaid entered the employ of the firm, and the next year came S. S. Brinsmaid. Mr. Gray died, and Elwood Gatch took his place. A few years later the Brinsmaid brothers bought Mr. Gatch's interest, and the firm-name became Perkins & Brinsmaid. In '99 the brothers bought out Mr. Perkins' interest. James S. Carter, the pioneer bookbinder of Des Moines, died January 5, aged 73. He came to Des Moines in 1857, and worked for N. W. Mills & Com pany. For years he was of the firm of Carter & Hussev, which was founded in '64 as Carter, Hussey & Curl. The firm did a large business but passed into the hands of a receiver in 1901. The failure, followed by the death of a son. shortened Mr. Carter's days. A forerunner of "the Des Moines Plan" was a committee appointed by citi zens of Des Moines to draw up a bill for presentation to the General Assembly making possible the operation of municipal government by Commission. The committee was made up of William H. Baily, Tohn Read and James G Berry hill. Mr. Berryhill, yvho had early made a thorough studv of the Galveston Plan, was satisfied that it included features of great value which might well be applied in Des Moines. A meeting of citizens was held at the Commercial Club rooms January 24 to consider the municipal reform measure drafted by this committee. The bill CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 393 as read was subjected to -much criticism; but several amendments submitted by W. W. Witmer, and one amendment submitted by A. K. Stewart, removed the most serious objections and it was adopted as amended. Those present signed a petition to the legislature praying for action. Gradually, for a number of years, Des Moines had been growing in favor as a horse-market. On the 26th of January, horsemen from Omaha, Kansas City and many Iowa towns congregated to attend a sale at the Garrison horse-market. About 200 young horses, chiefly draft horses, were sold, the sales aggregating about $25,000.. This was the beginning of the annual sales yvhich have made Des Moines the horse-market of Iowa. "Father" George Schramm, pioneer legislator, apparently as young as at sixty, celebrated his ninetieth birthday at his Des Moines home on the 12th of February. A few months later, the friends who had called to congratulate him on his birthday were summoned to attend his funeral. He died at Lake Okoboji, July 26. On the 20th of February the cities-and-towns committee of the Senate killed the so-called Galveston bill offered by Senator Dowell, giving as a reason the differences existing among the people of Des Moines as to the measure. To all appearances the movement was dead. The death of Judge L. G. Kinne (at his home in Des Moines March 15, 1906,) removed a man of unflinching honesty and courage, and a lawyer of ability. He was the only democrat whom men in middle life had seen on the Supreme Bench of Iowa. As a member of the new Board of Control, he was an indefatigable worker and scrupulously honest and honorable. Mayor Mattern was reelected in March, by 234 majority over C. O. Holly — the smallest majority given a mayor in several years. The scratchers' ticket was partly responsible for the circumstance. At a democratic conference and banquet in Des Moines April 2, Governor Folk, of Missouri, made an earnest plea for the primary election system. Late in April Des Moines sent about $12,000 cash to the San Francisco earthquake relief fund. The hardest-fought campaign ever conducted in Iowa for the gubernatorial nomination in the republican party was carried on in April and May, 1906. The contestants were George D. Perkins, of Sioux City, and Albert B. Cummins, the first governor of Iowa who had ever been a candidate for a third term. The contest was waged in every county in the state. In Polk — and especially in Des Moines — it was intensely personal. It resulted in Governor Cummins' victory in the primaries of Polk county — as in the State — by a considerable majority. Mme. Sarah Bernhardt made her first appearance in Des Moines April 27. The great tragedienne gave "Camille" at Ingersoll Park to a loud accompani ment of rain beating upon the roof, rendering the scene on the stage almost a pantomime. Her appearance at the park was because all syndicate theatres had been closed to Bernhardt, and all the theatres in Des Moines were under the control of Manager Foster, who was under contract with the syndicate. The Presbyterian General Assembly in Des Moines. An event in the church history of Des Moines was the convening of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the city, the 16th of May, 1906. The Central Presbyterian Church, the First, the Westminster, the Sixth, Highland Park and Clifton Heights were all equally at home to their friends. The occasion brought together about 700 delegates and many keenly interested visitors. The Woman's Board of Home Missions was also assembled, two hun dred strong. The principal meetings were held in the auditorium. Dr. Hunter Corbett, a returned missionary, was elected moderator. There was much interest in the question of sustaining Dr. Henry Van Dyke's 394 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Book of Forms, and debate ran high. The Doctor, briefly closing the debate, Droved himself abundantly able to defend his work. During their extended stay, the delegates discussed a wide range of subjects, impressing their hosts with their breadth of view and their devotion to service. Di. Van Dyke yvas perhaps the most interesting personality in attendance. His verse, his essays and his short stories had revealed him to many in advance of his spoken word. His two Sunday sermons, far from being a declaration of independence, as some had anticipated, were accepted by even the most con servative as satisfactorily orthodox. An impressive meeting of workingmen was held in the Auditorium Sunday afternoon, with Rev. Charles Stetzle in charge. Mr. Stetzle, himself a mechanic in early life, well knew how to reach his audience. A Presbyterian Brotherhood within the church was an outcome of the Des Moines meeting. Plans were adopted for its spread to all the churches of the country. But the supreme moment of the convention was reached on the 25th of May, when the moderator declared that, after ninety-six years of separate existence, the Presbyterian church and the Cumberland Presbyterian church had been made one. There was first a solemn silence and men bowed their heads in thanksgiving. Then, there was a loud demonstration of joy, including hand- clapping, shouts and hallelujahs which rivaled the outbursts of the old-time "shouting Methodists." Then, someone started "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." This was followed by "Blest be the tie that binds," and other hymns suggested by the occasion. There was a moment of dramatic intensity when the negative question was put, and two men, Dr. Lawrie. of Bellefonte, Pa., and Rev. Roger F. Cressey, of Jacksonville, 111., rose to their feet. From every quarter came a storm of protest ; but the two defied the storm. The moderator asked if the two votes should be recorded, and hundreds shouted "No ;" but the two insisted that their votes should be — and they were — recorded. The Cumberland General Assembly's report in favor of union had already been recorded, and it only remained for this body to take action. The representative of the Cumberland branch, Rev. Dr. Black, called to the platform after the vote had been announced, was received with much enthusiasm and his brief speech was applauded to the echo. There was but one embarrassing episode during the stay of the Assembly in Des Moines. Dr. Anderson, of Philadelphia, an able and scholarly negro, had been invited to attend, and had bought a ticket to, the Princeton banquet at the Chamberlain Hotel ; but, on the day of the event, was informed by the chairman of the banquet committee that there was objection to his presence, the reason given was the refusal of the hotel manager to receive negroes as his guests. It turned out that Manager Brown had made no objection whatever, having engaged to serve dinner to sixty-five guests, leaving the selection of the guests to the committee engaging the dinner. Dr. Anderson said the real reason was the fear of the committee that the presence of a negro might disturb the harmony following the recent reunion with their Southern brethren. On the 8th of June, that veteran of many a struggle for the upbuilding of Des Moines, Edwin R. Clapp, passed away, leaving many to grieve. His funeral brought together all tne survivors of the Fort Des Moines days in which Mr. Clapp had figured so prominently. Drake Memorial Hall, erected at a cost of $30,000, was dedicated on the nth of June, with elaborate ceremonies. On the 14th, President Theodore P- Shonts delivered the annual address before the students of Drake — an address full of sound counsel to young men. A degree of Doctor of Laws was con ferred upon Mr. Shonts by Chancellor Craig on behalf of the University. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 395 One of the most exciting political conventions ever held at the State Capital, was that of August i, 1906. There had been a county-by-county contest for delegates, and there were many contesting delegations. When the convention assembled, it was evident that, though apparently in the lead, Mr. Cummins was to be fought to the finish by the supporters of Mr. Perkins. Harmony programs won little support from either side. The hotels were packed with visiting statesmen and the streets about the hotels were thronged. The audi torium would hold but a small fraction of those who would attend the convention. The so-called "progressives," won a clear-cut victory, renominating Governor Cummins by 226 majority, also nominating Warren Garst, the progressive can didate for lieutenant-governor. The successful candidate was called out and made a finely tempered speech, followed by a few remarks from the defeated candidate which were variously interpreted by his hearers. The Army of the Philippines held its seventh annual reunion in Des Moines. August 14. It was preceded by a parade, in which the Eleventh U. S. Cavalry of Fort Des Moines, the local posts of the Grand Army, Camp Walter Wagner, the Modern Woodmen drill team and the visiting Philippine veterans participated. Mayor Mattern and Governor Cummins gave the veterans a hearty welcome. A camp-fire, a review and drill at the Army Post and an automobile ride about the city were among the most interesting features of the three-days' stay in the city. The surviving members of the old Olmstead Zouaves, to the number of about twenty, met with W. B. Keffer, August 20, in honor of F. A. Shepherd of Chicago, who, thirty-five years before, had captained the company in Des Moines. Ruth McPherson Morris celebrated her hundredth birthday, August 22, at the East-side home of her granddaughter, Mrs. James M. Edworthy. Several hundred friends paid their respects to the centenarian. Mrs. Morris died in 1908. The successful State Fair of 1906 gave Des Moines and all Iowa its first sight of a dirigible balloon. Aeronaut Hamilton in his airship made flights several days in succession — at one time circling around and above the dome of the Capitol. At a meeting of the Iowa League of Municipalities in Des Moines, September 13, James G. Berryhill explained and commended the Galveston system. The Mayor of Eldon bitterly attacked the system. Mr. Berryhill met the attack with a vigor and an array of facts and conclusions which won hearty commen dation from the reform element constituting a majority of those present. Des Moines was the Mecca of 2,000 Shriners, September 27. They came from all parts of the middle West to participate in the dedication of Za-Ga-Zig Temple of the Mystic Shrine. The parade, the dedicatory services, the cere monial and the banquet, altogether, made the occasion memorable. A hundred or more candidates "trod the burning sands." Senator Beveridge of Indiana, opened the political campaign for the repub licans in Des Moines, October 3, with a 3,000 audience in the auditorium. The Eleventh Cavalry of Fort Des Moines, started early in October for Cuba. "Factory Day" was inaugurated on the 17th of October. Thousands of Des Moines men, women and children, visited the factories of the city and, by previous arrangement of the Commercial Club, found open house wherever they went. The showing of factories and of their equipment and the labor employed was a surprise to many. "Citizen" Bryan spoke to a crowded house in the Auditorium, October 29, in the interest of Claude Porter for Governor and of the democracy of 1896 and 1900. The new $750,000 courthouse, built on the old courthouse square, was dedi cated on the 31st of October. The formal house-warming occurred in the afternoon, accompanied by speeches delivered from the main corridor of the 396 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY building. The Greater Des Moines Committee arranged the exercises, the county board having turned the program over to the committee. The magnificent in terior was a surprise to many. The court rooms were in striking contrast with the old rooms in which justice had long been dispensed. Mr. Ingham, of the Register and Leader, presided. Mayor Mattern, Judge Halloran, Judge Carr, Attorney John Read and Lafayette Young, Jr., of the Capital, delivered brief addresses. Governor Deneen, of Illinois, and James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, spoke in the auditorium October 31, closing the campaign for the republicans. Mr. Wilson devoted much of his time to outlining the many large undertakings of his department. "College Day" soon followed "Factory Day." This time college presidents, professors and students kept open house, and thousands visited Drake, Des Moines and Highland Park Colleges, who had never before been inside their walls. November 5 witnessed the opening of the interurban line between Perry and Des Moines. President A. B. Sticknev of the Chicago Great Western railroad, was given an informal reception at the Elks' Club, November 20, and spoke of the mutually profitable relations existing between his road and the chief city on its line. He pronounced Des Moines "a city of opportunities." He rejoiced to find so many divergent interests at last united to "boost Des Moines." The famous evangelist, J. Wilbur Chapman, began a series of remarkably well-organized and well-conducted revival meetings in Des Moines, December 2. Never before in the history of the city was a campaign against sin so thoroughly planned and so well wrought out. The city was divided into ten evangelistic districts — one including Valley Junction. Cottage and church prayer meetings supplemented the big meetings in the auditorium. The preaching was remark ably forceful, yet free from the crudities and eccentricities of certain other evangelists who have labored in Des Moines. The singing was of itself a great attraction. At every meeting the auditorium was crowded. The revival closed December 17, with a climax of enthusiasm. The free-will offerings were gen erous and the best of feeling prevailed. The aftermath of new members to the churches of the city was scarcely equal even to the more moderate expecta tions. There was, however, much of consolation in the general awakening of Christians to the needs of the churches and to the necessity of united action for the salvation of souls. 1006 Compared zvith 1905. Good crops and good prices tell the story of Polk county and Des Moines for 1906. The increase of the county's "buying power" is reflected in the increased sales of city merchants. But the retail trade of Des Moines was fast extending beyond the limits of the county ; while the wholesale trade had long since passed beyond the boundaries of the State. The previous year showed a larger aggregate of real estate transfers and building permits ; but in all other respects the figures show a marked increase of business over that of 1905. The real estate transfers in 1905 aggregated $7,611,112; in 1906, $7,017,304 — a falling off of $593,808. The building permits of 1905 aggregated $1,099,582; in 1906, $1,094,965 — a falling off of $4>SI7- Bank deposits in 1905, $20,006,970; in 1906, $23,116,999. Factory output in 1905, $15,084,952; in 1906, $18,101,949 — a gain of $3,016,999. Jobbing out put, in 1905, $50,000,000; in 1906, $60,000,000 — a gain of $10,000,000. Retail output, in 1905, $25,000,000; in 1906, $30,000,000 — a gain of $5,000,000. Num ber of factories in 1906 was 291; employes in same, 4,986; wages of same, $2,083,209; capitalization of same, $9,593,926. Number of home insurance companies was reported at 46 ; employes in same, 3,000. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 397 Forty-eight miles of interurban road had been added during the year, directly connecting Des Moines with a population of at least 50,000. During the year the city did paving to the amount of $88,893, — which was $17,421 more than during the previous year. It extended its sewerage system at an expenditure of $75,602, — an increase of $25,550 over the previous year. 1907 — THE YEAR THAT MADE DES MOINES FAMOUS. "We want a change," the slogan of 1906, was renewed in January, 1907. The Register and Leader obtained the opinions of about 120 leading men of Des Moines as to the need of a change, and 117 wanted a change. Of these, 62 favored "the Galveston plan;" 26, "the Indianapolis plan;" the rest were not ready to commit themselves to any specific measure.1 The "Commission Plan" — buried by legislative action in 1906 — was resur rected, on the evening of January 31, at a meeting of citizens at the Shrine Temple — the final vote of the meeting resulting in 106 for the plan and 27 against. A committee consisting of James G. Berryhill, chairman, W. H. Baily, I. M. Earle, John M. Read and S. B. Allen, was created for the purpose of framing a bill to be urged upon the legislature. A committee of 320 had been named, about half of whom were present. The general need of reform was conceded ; the only question remaining was as to means to that end. The plan submitted was, in general, the same as that presented to the last General Assembly. Mr. Berryhill made the principal address, presenting the strong features of the Galveston system. Mr. Stipp read a paper prepared by Mr. Baily, favor ing the Indianapolis plan. It was at this meeting that "the Des Moines Plan" came into being as a popular phrase. Mr. Bannister urged delay and the for mulation of a distinctively "Des Moines Plan." Mr. Witmer offered a resolu tion to that end, but it was voted down, a majority holding that while it was based upon the Galveston plan, the measure contained a number of original features already entitling it to be called "the Des Moines Plan." The committee reported on the 6th of February. The principal features of the plan as reported were : "The abolition of all elective offices except mayor and four councilmen ; the recall ; the referendum ; the merit system ; the abolition of passes and franks ; the publishing of campaign expenses ; the division of city affairs into five departments with an elective officer at the head of each; nomination of candidates for the five elective offices by petition, the primaries and the election to be non-partisan, the first a general clearance of the field, the second a final choice between the ten candidates receiving the highest num ber of votes for their respective offices ; the mayor to have a vote in council, but no veto; the council to allot the departments, etc., etc.2 The bill embodying these features came up as a special order in the House, March 25, Representative Sullivan leading in the debate, in opposition to various amendments offered by the opponents of the measure. In the afternoon the bill passed the House by a vote of 84 to 9. The bill in the Senate, coached by Mr. Dowell, was on the 27th amended to meet the changes made in the House, and then passed yvithout serious opposi- 1 The first suggestion of a commission form of government as applicable to Des Moines came from Charles W. lohnston, who in a letter to the Register and Leader April 25, 1905, urged a change from the old order of things. This was followed in May with a letter from F. W. Conaway suggesting the Galveston system as a remedy for existing 'evils. November 16 of that year lames G. Berryhill gave direction to the desire for a change in an address before a meeting of citizens at the Commercial Club. 2 A full analysis of the plan and review of its operation after three trial years is given >n a later chapter. 398 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY tion. Governor Cummins promptly signed the bill, and thus was won the first great victory for the cause of municipal reform in Iowa. The approval of the Governor soon brought together the committee of 300, to arrange for compliance with the conditions preliminary to the practical appli cation of the measure — a submission of the plan to a vote of the people. At a citizens' dinner given April 5, the management of the campaign was turned over to a committee of seven : Walt H. Butler, chairman, F. R. Korns, H. H. Lantz, Sidney J. Dillon, W. N. Heaton, A. K. Stewart and B. S. Walker. With the signatures of 50 per cent of the voters necessary as a preliminary to the submission of the plan to a popular vote, there was much work for the committee to do. Several speeches were made at the dinner, not so much in felicitation over the success of the bill as in appeal to the members of the committee to spare no effort to secure for Des Moines the reforms embodied in the law. The brunt of the working campaign for the Plan fell upon Mr. Korns, of the committee. Alderman Wise managed the campaign of the opposition. Many leading citizens took the field for the reform. The opposition was also well- organized and active. The so-called "City hall gang" and the saloon-keepers and their supporters and backers were extremely active and well organized for the campaign. The Civic League "got busy" and, through its president, I. E. Tone, the chairman of its executive committee, Robert Fullerton, and its secretary, H. H. Coggeshall, publicly announced, on information, that padded registration, repeat ing, marked ballots, the destruction of ballots and the falsifying of returns were among the expedients to which the opposition were planning to resort. To meet these conditions, the League offered for the detection, conviction and punishment of the party or parties attempting these crimes, the sum of $300 for the first instance, $200 for the second and $100 for the third. City Clerk Poorman was summoned before Judge Howe to explain the instructions he had issued to registrars which, it was charged, had made padded registration possible. Members of the council were also put upon their defense. Several corporations were charged with secret opposition to the plan; but this was vigorously denied. A final rally of the friends of "the Plan" was held at the auditorium on the 19th, when Jerry B. Sullivan, Lafayette Young, N. E. Coffin, I. M. Earle, Harvey Ingham, O. M. Brockett, H. C. Evans and George L. Dobson, made effective pleas for the reform. Ex-Governor Jackson presided. Letters from Louis Post, the Chicago reformer and Brand Whitlock, Toledo's reform mayor, were read urging Des Moines to be good to herself. On the eventful day, the 20th of June, from 7 a. m. to 7 p. m. the voting went on without special incident. Long before the day closed the opposition conceded their defeat. The result was a decided victory for the reform. Two questions were submitted to the voters, the Des Moines Plan, and an appro priation for a new city hall. The popular interest in the plan was so intense that little was said about the city hall proposition. The vote on the plan was quite evenly distributed through the wards and precincts. While the West side gave a majority of 2,576 for the plan, one precinct on that side gave a majority against it and several West-side precincts cast a large minority vote against it. The West-side vote was 4,527 for, and 1,951 against. While the East side gave a majority of 287 against the plan, more than half of the East-side precincts gave majorities for the plan, and in the others there were large minorities for it. The East side vote was 1,849 for the change, and 2,136 against. The total vote for the plan was 6,376; the total against was 4,087 — a majority of 2,289 in favor of the plan.3 The city hall proposition carried by a majority of 872, with a small adverse majority on the West side, and a large affirmative majority on the East side. 3 As analyzed by the Register and Leader of lune 21. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 399 There were not a few West side citizens who disapproved of the purchase of an East-side site, and thought it safest to vote against what they regarded as an East-side scheme. But the splendid building consequent upon this vote, which is now nearing the point of completion, with the new and architecturally beautiful concrete bridge leading to it, giving the first East-side demonstration of what can be done by the city toward the beautifying of the river front, is in the minds of most West siders, ample vindication of the action of the council in locating the Municipal Building on the East bank of the river. Going back over the ground traversed, we note several events yvhich belong in the annals of 1907. James H. Windsor, for nearly a third of a century a leading business man of the Capital city, passed away January 11, the result of a stroke of paralysis in November. A pioneer in the packing industry of Des Moines, a pioneer dealer in live-stock, one of the organizers of the State Insurance Company, and a stockholder in many local corporations, Mr. Windsor had been closely related to the business history of Des Moines ever since 1873. The real estate record for January 17, 1907, beat all previous single-day records in the history of Des Moines. Three transfers alone aggregated $575,000, namely: the eight-story fire-proof Equitable building, sold by the Equitable of New York, to F. M. Hubbell, for the Equitable of Iowa, $285,000; the Reinking block, the northeast corner of Eighth and Walnut, to F. M. Hubbell, $190,000; and the Turner block, the southwest corner of Seventh and Grand, to the Des Moines Life Insurance company, for $100,000. Frank S. Campbell, former lieutenant-governor and railroad commissioner, and for many years an influential citizen of Des Moines, died in Lima, Ohio, March 6, aged 71. At a banquet given by the Jefferson Club, April 6, Mr. Bryan and Congress man Champ Clark, the principal speakers, made it clear for the first time that they were not going to force Government Ownership as an issue in 1908. The venerable wife of Judge C. C. Cole died April 7, with most of her chil dren and grandchildren about her. She was 82 years of age. Early in the spring of 1907, the Greater Des Moines Committee committed itself to the plan of a great Coliseum on the river front, and, as with this com mittee committment means action, the Coliseum in due time followed, as the annals of a later year will show. Edwin H. Conger, ex-Congressman from the Des Moines district, and former minister successively to Brazil, to China and to Mexico, died in Pasadena, Cali fornia, May 17, aged 74 years — a man who, through a long public career, as soldier, statesman and diplomat ever "wore the white flower of a blameless life." Interurban service between Des Moines and Boone, initiated June 10, marked another step of progress. The Political Equality Club, through its attorney, Miss Grace Ballantyne, gave the public a severe jolt by instituting proceedings against the city to prevent its proposed action in purchasing the East-side site for the new city hall. The club, however, consented to amend its injunction petition so as to enable the council to acquire the land before the expiration of the option given the city by the Gilcrests. The State troops, commanded by General Lincoln, engaged in mimic war fare during the week in Camp Cummins, marched in parade through the prin cipal streets of the city on the 12th day of August and were reviewed by the Governor and his staff. lefferson S. Polk's Dream of Heaven. At an Old Settlers' annual picnic, August 15, 1907, Jefferson S. Polk, whose voice was soon to be stilled by death, closed an informal speech by picturing 400 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY a dream of Heaven which, coming from that practical man of affairs, was startlingly unique. It is interesting as a revelation of the poetic side of the man's nature, and too, as a glorified character sketch of three prominent pioneers After describing the general appearance of Heaven in a decidedly materialistic way, he said he began to recognize many of his old-settler friends. He thus particularized : "I saw Colonel Spoffard, that genial, stately old gentleman of the past, driving by me in his open three-seated carriage drawn by his beautiful bays. With him were several newcomers whom he was showing around the Eternal City as he used to do here. "Again I saw coming down the street a stage-coach of beautiful construc tion, pulled by a spirited team of six white horses. When it approached me I recognized that superb and courtly old gentleman, Colonel Hooker, on the box handling the reins in his princely manner and guiding the coach dextrously through the thronged streets as you have seen him in Des Moines. His coach was filled . . . with emigrants for the New Jerusalem. As he passed he winded his heavenly trumpet and O, what a thrill passed through me! . . . I wandered on down the street. I was hailed by that grand old settler, William H. McHenry, Sr., than whom no more noble, honest, able, or Christian gentle man ever lived. He seized me by the hand with warm and vigorous grip. He embraced me and welcomed me to God's country (this was the familiar title he always applied to Iowa when in life.)" The Judge sent to his old friends in Des Moines a message testifying to the breadth of the Universalist doctrine of religion, so frequently advocated by him while on earth. Having delivered his departed friend's message, Mr. Polk in his stately, yet kindly manner, said his farewell, adding, "And may God bless you and permit you all to meet again !" It was indeed a farewell. On the 5th of November, 1907, the spirit of Jefferson S. Polk took flight.4 After years of delay, several mishaps and much extravagant mismanagement, the Sixth avenue bridge was finally, in 1907, completed and thrown open to the public — a Melan-arch bridge built of brick and stone and concrete at a cost estimated at about $140,000. The first anniversary of the Greater Des Moines movement was celebrated in the Commercial Club hall, September 12, with over two hundred leading members present. P. C. Kenyon presided. Lafayette Young, Jr., told his hearers what Des Moines had done during the past year and what it would do during the next five years — much of his prophecy having since been realized. He urged the erection of a great Coliseum, and the laying out of boulevards connecting the city with its parks and yvith the Army Post. More and better buildings of the type of the Fleming building was urged — a number of which have since been erected. County Treasurer Dobson, Freight Commissioner Wylie, of the Greater Des Moines committee, F H. Luthe and others enthusiastically followed up the subject — Mr. Wylie talking more exclusively of unjust discriminations in freight rates which should be removed. The total membership of the club had increased to 755. The financial panic of the fall of 1907, sometimes called a "flurry," was an event too serious to be dismissed as a mere episode. It left its trail from one end of the country to the other — in broken fortunes, shrunken incomes and financial failures. It began October 22, and was caused by an unprecedented run on the New York banks, following the insolvency of the Knickerbocker Trust Company. The panic was vigorously met by Morgan, Stillman and other millionaire bankers of New York, and the storm-center rapidly shifted to the •'The will of Mr. Polk divided the large estate between the widow and four surviving children. Harry H. Polk and George B. Hippee were named as executors. COL. E. F. HOOKER Manager of the Frink & Walker Stage Lines centering in Fort Des Moines COL. SUMNER F. The popular landlord of House SPOFFORD the old Demoine CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 401 West. With general solvency, there was general inability to cash checks and to secure funds to pay off maturing loans. A currency famine in a time of pros perity and plenty ! Des Moines bankers promptly met the emergency by issuing a clearance-house certificate as a temporary circulating medium, — having first satisfied themselves that the principal business houses and manufacturers would accept them in lieu of cash. A few hundred miners demanded, and were paid in, cash, but the general public accepted the certificates and in a few days, the banks resumed. Locally the harm done to business was only temporary. The death of Harry West, October 24, removed from Des Moines one of the most genial of men and a prominent business man. He was 57 years old, and a son of the pioneer banker, Capt. Francis R. West. As bank cashier with B. F. Allen, as manager of the Liverpool and Des Moines Packing Company, and in all public measures, he was a leader among men. At a meeting of the Commercial Club, on the evening of November 7, the subject of interurbans held first place. J. F. Blake, general manager of the Fort Dodge line, C. H. Crooks, general freight and passenger agent of that line, Frank S. Gummins, general superintendent of the Inter-Urban Railway Company of Des Moines, and others, presented the inter-urban as the greatest factor in the development of a city. Mr. Berryhill followed with an explanation of the recent financial flurry and with suggestions as to the financial future of the city and the country. The erection of the Fleming building was accompanied November 9, by the tragic death of Harry H. Grahl, one of the best known metal construction con tractors in Iowa. By a misstep he fell down the elevator shaft the entire eleven stories. The constitutionality of the Des Moines Plan was affirmed by Judge Howe, of the Polk County district court, in a carefully prepared opinion read November 23, 1907. John MacVicar, ex-mayor of Des Moines, after a year's absence and study of municipal problems in New York, returned in December, and announced himself a candidate for a seat in the council under the Des Moines plan. At first men did not take his candidacy seriously; but, as time wore on, it became evident that "John" would have to be reckoned with. 1908 THE YEAR THE DES MOINES PLAN WENT INTO OPERATION. The market-place question reached the petition stage in January, 1908, when about 1,500 citizens united in a petition praying the city council to set apart an adequate market-place for country produce. The Juvenile Court established in Des Moines in 1907, was reported, in January following, as a gratifying success. Miss Lillian Matthews, probation officer, reported several hundred cases investigated and dozens of children taken from criminal surroundings and placed in good homes. A few delinquent chil dren had been sent to the reform schools. A large percentage of cases did not reach the court, but were adjusted through the efforts of the probation officers. The Federation of Mothers' Clubs, the school teachers, the clergy and those in charge of philanthropic institutions rendered valuable assistance. The willing ness of the judges of the District court to hear cases had been a great source of encouragement. .The Board of Supervisors had not as yet cooperated to any appreciable extent. Des Moines was honored in January, 1908, by the presence of many bishops and prominent clergymen and laymen of the Episcopal church, the event being the fifth annual Missionary Conference of the Protestant Episcopal church of America. Among the bishops present were Edsell and Morrison of Minnesota, Brewer of Montana, Williams of Nebraska, Morrison of loyva, Hare and John son of South Dakota, Mann of North Dakota, and Brent of the Philippines. The venerable Bishop Hare presided at the opening meeting of the conference Vol. 1—26 402 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY in St. Paul's church on the 16th. Questions of a decidedly practical nature received most attention from both clergy and laymen. One of the most popular sessions was an evening given over to the church in the Philippines. Bishop Brent eloquently pictured the progress of civilization in the islands and the duty of continuing the work well begun. Dr. A. S. Lloyd, secretary of the Board of Missions, gave his experiences and observations in the Orient, and pleaded for a more generous support of the cause of foreign missions. The conference lasted several days. The First Local Campaign Under the Des Moines Plan. The hold-over committee of three-hundred citizens early entered into serious consideration of the selection of men to carry into effect the reforms embodied in the new commission law. On the evening of January 17, the committee met and was addressed by President J. J. Hill, Attorney I. M. Earle, and others. Secretary Dillon read the report of the first sub-committee,5 in which was presented the difficulty of selecting five men who could be elected and would serve if elected. It recommended another week for consideration. Lafayette Young, moved a new sub-committee of 25 to suggest candidates. The members of such committee were separately nominated and elected.6 H. E. Sampson was appointed secretary to the committee. A vote had been taken by the first sub-committee, on candidates for mayor and councilmen, and I. M. Earle was the first choice for mayor, with 46 votes. The other names in their order were: E. W. Waterbury, John MacVicar, J. G. Olmsted, Henry M. Rollins, B. S. Walker, J. W. Hill, John McKay, Sr„ J. B. Sullivan and W. H. Baily. The referendum for councilmen brought out John MacVicar, yvith 72 votes. The other names in their order were : Charles S. Worth, D. H. Kooker, J. G. Olmsted, A. B. Elliott, Al. C. Miller, H. M. Rollins, Simon Casady, A. K. Stewart, H. H. Coggeshall, J. B. Sullivan, B. S. Walker, C. L. Gilcrest, Eugene Waterbury, A. I. Mathis, I. Friedlich, H. C. Wallace, J. B. Lucas, I. M. Earle, G. L. Garton, W. H. Baily, C. E. Campbell, I. M. Lieser, L. Harbach, H. U. Keazey, J. R. Hanna, John McKay, Sr., S. B. Garton, J. W. Donovan. Many of those named had, however, refused to enter the field as candidates. The committee of twenty-five entered at once upon their difficult task. The members met daily at noon lunch, and formulated many a good ticket; but in every case there were those yvho refused to run. Later, the original committee was raised to 500 and the sub-committee to thirty-five. On the 21st of January, the sub-committee, after much consideration of availability, united on the following ticket: For mayor, Eugene W. Waterbury; for councilmen: Charles S. Worth, James R. Hanna, Buffon S. Walker and Harry C. Evans. On the 24th the committee of 500 heard the report. The meeting was far from unanimous. There was no censure of the personnel of the ticket. It was conceded to be made up of good men, and was representative in character. The principal objection raised was that the method of selection was undemocratic. After a somewhat heated discussion — which at times overtaxed the ability of Chairman Delmage to preserve order — a vote was taken on candidates. The committee was sustained by 137 votes for Waterbury to 38 scattering votes. On councilmen the nominees of the committee were sustained by votes ranging from 106 to 164 for their nominees, against a scattering vote in which Mr. 0 The first sub-committee was : George M. Van Evera. J. W. Hill, Harvey Ingham, Lafayette Young, I. M. Earle, Sidney J. Dillon and J. G. Olmsted. 6 The enlarged sub-committee named was : lohn M. Read. lohnson Brigham, S. F. Dunshee, Charles N. Page, C. L. Gilcrest, H. B. Hawley, A. K. Campbell, George Boody, Paul lones, T. F. Stevenson, W. H. Arnold, Mack Olsen, Pleasant Mills, J. H. Henry, lames Donovan. H. E. Teachout, S. B. Garton, Frank Randolph, W. H. Baily, A. O. Hauge, C. W. Terrill, E. D. Hamlin, H. C. Evans, H. E. Sampson and Henry A. Haas. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 403 MacVicar led with 79 votes, — no other candidate receiving more than 16. But the ominous result of the ballot was that more than 200 votes were cast against "the ticket." Soon the field was full of candidates. Mr. MacVicar early announced him self a candidate for a seat in the council. The old city hall alliance made a vigorous effort to capture the movement. Many good men entered the field. The campaign opened. Meetings were held in every ward in the city and the candidates were patiently heard. Sometimes candidates would come in groups on invitation; at other times they would combine and "hire a hall." In not a few meetings there were informal joint discussions between candidates. In many, a volley of questions was fired at the candidates. As the campaign neared its close, it became apparent that the following of Mr. MacVicar was in a majority and that the "citizens' ticket" was lost — with possibly one exception. But the election, on the 30th, swept even that one down with the rest. Lorenzo Harter, a pioneer merchant of Fort Des Moines, died January 23, aged 68 years. One of the first dry-goods stores in the little city was that of Ring & Harter, at the corner of Fifth and Walnut. Lorenzo's father, Philip Harter, was proprietor of the old Cottage Avenue House, which became a head quarters for the soldiers during the war. The Supreme Court, on the 18th of February, gave a lengthy and exhaustive opinion (written by Judge Bishop) sustaining in all respects the constitutionality of the municipal commission law adopted by Des Moines, thus removing the last obstacle to a practical application of the law. Before the Des Moines plan election, the old city council had increased the wards of the city from seven to nine; but, on the 24th of February, the council repealed the ordinance restoring the original seven wards. The Civic League, early in March, endorsed the citizens' ticket with one exception. Wiser than the committee, of twenty-five, the League named ten candidates for councilmen, any four of whom, in their judgment, were worthy of support, namely: James R. Hanna, Buffon S. Walker, Charles S. Worth, E. D. Brigham, J. L. Hamery, I. M. Lieser, J. B. Lucas, John MacVicar, C. W. Schramm, and A. K. Stewart. The League also endorsed Mr. Waterbury for mayor. A Good Government club was organized in March with Edwin Hult, presi dent; E. D. Sampson, vice president; J. A. Baal, secretary; and A. O. Hauge, treasurer. The club membership included many men deeply interested in muni cipal reform. The club threw its support to the citizens' ticket. Charles Aldrich, "journalist, soldier, legislator, publicist, historical collector and man of affairs," and the founder of the Historical Department at the State Capitol, died March 8. His funeral was held in the building which owes its existence to him, and at his old home Webster City, a military funeral was ac corded him. In the ceremonies on the nth, Dr. Frisbie, Governor Cummins, Colonel Crossley, Judges Ladd and Deemer, John A. McCall, S. H. M. Byers, Lafayette Young and W. S. Dungan, bore strong testimony to the worth and public services of the deceased. The venerable President Eliot of Harvard was the guest of the Grant Club, on the 15th of April, and on the following forenoon spoke at Drake University. At noon he lunched with the Flarvard Club and met many representatives of the Des Moines Plan and plied them with questions as to its practical workings. A Harvard dinner was held at the Chamberlain Thursday evening, in which, as in his other speeches, he bestowed high praise upon the Des Moines Plan as the best contribution yet made to municipal reform. The result of the primary, May 16, was the virtual defeat of the citizens' ticket, though it gave "one more chance" to its candidate for mayor and to three of its four candidates for councilmen. The vote for mayor was: A. J. Mathis, 5,414 ; Eugene W. Waterbury, 3,380. The remaining candidates received votes ranging from 22 to 1,918. For councilmen, the eight having the highest 404 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY number of votes — entitling them to place on the ticket — were John MacVicar 6,399; John L- Hamery, 3,733; Charles S. Worth, 3,520; Wesley Ash, 3,488; James R. Hanna, 2,742; Buffon S. Walker, 2,248; Charles W. Schramm, 2,244; W. H. Brereton, 2,104. The thirty-five other candidates received votes ranging all the way from 80 to 2,018. The campaign narrowed down to the citizens' ticket against the field, and, after a strenuous two-weeks campaign, the field won. The vote on the 30th resulted as follows : For mayor, Mathis, 8,863 .' Waterbury, 5,187. For coun cilmen, MacVicar, 9,488; Ash, 8,191; Hamery, 7,739; Schramm, 7,520. The vote for the defeated four was as follows: Worth, 5,756; Hanna, 4,837; Brereton, 4,635; Walker, 3,559. _ A proposition for the establishment of a Superior court was defeated. A proposition to expend $50,000 for a market-place was carried. "Aunt Becky" Young, the well-known and beloved army nurse of the Civil war, and J. H. Stuckey, adjutant of Crocker Post, died on the same day, April 6, '08. The 27th day of May witnessed a unique gathering in the Capital city, — a reunion of the veteran railroad men of Iowa. The Iowa Railway Club gave the veterans and their families a lunch ; the city firemen gave them an exhibition run, and the Second Cavalry — succeeding the Eleventh at the army post, put on an exhibition parade, review and drill. In the evening they were welcomed at Foster's by representatives of the State and the city. Peter A. Dey was one of the conspicuous figures in the assemblage. President Winchell, and other officials of the Rock Island road, were present. The best part of the meeting— the unreportable part — was the flood of reminiscence of the old days of stage coaches and pioneer railroads. "Seein' the Wheels Go Round." The members of the new commission — or "council" — first met in conference, on the 31st of May, to lay out the work for the coming year. The council was a fairly representative body. At its head was a man of years and experience, having long served as police justice, an East-sider, a democrat and a prominent member of the Baptist church. Mr. Mathis' career as police justice had been marked by almost excessive leniency ; but the vote showed that his election was due not alone to the wide-open-town vote, but also to the vote of large numbers of the church people of the city. The most conspicuous member of the new council was Mr. MacVicar, a man in middle-life, a past-master in experience on municipal affairs, and at the time secretary of the League of American Municipalities. His residence was in North Des Moines, and he had long been a representative of the interests of that section. A former mayor of North Des Moines and, after the consolidation, mayor of Des Moines, his knowledge of conditions which needed reforming was unquestioned, and he had long been a leader in the movement for city ownership of the water-works. Mr. Ash was a miner by trade ; had served as deputy sheriff of Polk county, and yvas an active member of the Miners' Union. As a vote-getter he was a surprise to most people. As a successful employer of labor and enforcer of law, he was thought to be well fitted for either one of two departments in the Council. His residence was in the far-eastern portion of the city. Mr. Schramm owed his success at the polls to his course as city assessor, having convinced the public that he was a respecter of values rather than of persons. Pie was also a trained accountant, and especially fitted for the depart ment of finance. Mr. Hamery was a resident of University Place, was a real-estate man of moderate means. Fle owed his election to his well-known zeal for the cause euth Mcpherson moeris 'AUNT BECKY" YOUNG CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 405 of municipal reform and his well-developed instinct as a runner-down of vice and crime. These five were all relatively poor men and therefore representative of the masses. Fortunately there was no conflict over departments. The mayor's department— that of public affairs — was fixed by statute. The department of finance naturally gravitated toward Mr. Schramm. Public improvements was the choice of Mr. MacVicar. Mr. Ash chose parks and buildings and Mr. Hamery was not reluctant to take the department of public safety. It is not necessary to follow the subsequent conferences of the councilmen. Suffice to say that each evidently felt a due sense of individual responsibility for his de partment, and at the same time, in a general sense, a responsibility for the four other departments. The pressure of office-seekers was strong; but, in the main, the appointments were satisfactory. The one conspicuous failure — revealing a weakness in the law which publicity eventually remedied — was the election of a chief of police not acceptable to the head of the department of public safety. But, after a full and fair trial, and an excess of "politics," that official was ousted and the choice of Mr. Hamery was substituted. The formal change from the old to the new occurred on the 6th of June, 1908. On the morning of that day, the nine aldermen of the old council, repre senting seven wards and the two townships, Des Moines and Lee, assembled to conclude their work. Mayor Mattern presided and Aldermen Waterbury, Brereton, Christy, Donovan, Fraley, Hamery, Johnson, O'Grady and Staley, were in their seats. The retiring mayor administered the oath of office to his successor, and Mayor Mathis administered the oath to the incoming councilmen. Thus, after fifty-six years of trial, the old system, having served its day and genera tion, was set aside for the new. Capt. M. T. Russell, ex-park commissioner of Des Moines, and a former resident of Mitchellville, Polk county, died in California, July 2, in his seventy- | second year. As a soldier he won distinction, having received from the govern ment a medal for extraordinary bravery in battle. The captain's prison experiences form a thrilling narrative of personal history. Captain Russell was a member of the Fifty-first Indiana, and came to Polk county soon after the war, engaging in the grain business in Mitchellville. L. M. G. Barnett, the pioneer photographer of Des Moines, died, with his four children about him, on the 6th of July. He came to Des Moines in i860 and opened a photograph gallery. His widow was a daughter of J. H. Long, proprietor of the old Avenue House on Court avenue, a headquarters for enlistments during the war. A decision by the Supreme Court, July 7, compelled another expression of the voters of Des Moines as to the erection of a municipal building. The almost fatal defeat in the former vote was the exclusion of women because of their sex. The case was brought by Grace Ballantyne on behalf of the militant woman suffragists of the city. The second vote, like the first, was for the building. The Supreme Court confirmed the decision of the lower court as to the validity of the recent consolidation of school boards of the city, thus "leaving the coast clear" for the merger.7 Maj. O. L. F. Browne, long secretary of the Commercial Exchange, and latterly secretary of three mutual insurance companies in Des Moines, died early in July. Maj. R. D. Kellogg, author of the famous resolution in the Iowa legislature in 1861, pledging Iowa's further credit and resources in men and money in maintenance of the national honor, died at his home in Des Moines, August 2, 7 See later chapter on Schools. 406 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY aged 80. He represented Decatur county in the House in '61 ; and was major of the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry. A special car conveyed a number of state officials and Des Moines friends to Dubuque on the 8th of August, to attend the funeral of Senator Allison, who died on the 4th. Senator Allison's Successor Chosen. The death of Senator Allison created a vacancy which led Governor Cum mins to call an extra session of the General Assembly, August 31, to determine the senatorial succession by directing a primary election to be held in connection with the November election, and to fill the vacancy until the expiration of Senator Allison's term. On the evening of September 4, the republican caucus named Governor Cummins by 58 of the 59 votes in the caucus — a majority of ten of all the republicans in the General Assembly. There were, however, 49 members who did not participate in the proceedings. The opposition organized to defeat the Governor, and after repeated joint ballots the General Assembly adjourned, September 10, to reconvene November 24 — "without expense to the State" — for the purpose of electing the republican who should be nominated at the special primary, November 3. The "stand-pat" opposition organized to defeat the Governor. Ex-Governor Jackson was tendered the "stand-pat" sup port, but declined to enter the lists. Maj. John F. Lacey was selected in his stead. The Major made a gallant contest, but to no avail. The star of Governor Cummins was still in the ascendant. Death of P. M. Casady. The long and useful career of Phineas M. Casady terminated on the last day of summer, 1908. So inwoven is the career of this sterling pioneer with tlie history of Des Moines and Polk county that little is left to be said except to note the general love and respect in which the aged man was held. As Mr. Hubbell well said of his old-time benefactor and friend, Judge Casady was "a strong power for good throughout his whole life." Judge Cole paid loving tribute to his capacity for friendships, and to the strength of his convictions. Isaac Brandt had known him for fifty years and had "never known him to do anything wrong." His funeral brought together men and women from all classes and conditions of society. Candidate Taft Given a Royal Reception. William H. Taft, the republican nominee for the presidency, spoke at the auditorium in Des Moines, September 25. The meeting was a state-wide affair and attracted many to the Capital. At Plymouth church in the early evening, Mr. Taft addressed an audience exclusively of women — of itself a unique ex perience for a presidental candidate. His enjoyment of the ovation given him was evident. He said it "capped the climax." Thence to the East Fifth street meeting, where Fred H. Hunter introduced him to a vast assemblage gathered on the streets. His voice was husky from overuse and he spoke briefly, reserv ing his strength for the big meeting at the auditorium. After two distinct ova tions, — one when he appeared, and the other when he arose to speak — Mr. Taft in the auditorium, began in a tone too low to be heard in the galleries; but as he progressed, the huskiness disappeared in part, and nearly all present could hear him. He had found no evidence of the much advertised factionalism in Iowa. He reviewed the recent record of his party, and paid high tribute to the "chief exponent of the recent moral awakening," Theodore Roosevelt. He spoke plainly of trusts and of what should be done to relieve the people^of their exactions. Pie referred to the need of tariff reduction, and declared him self in favor of "revision downward." He alluded to the recent panic and its HON. P. M. CASADY Pioneer Postmaster of Des Moines, 184C. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 407 lessons. On the whole, the candidate left a favorable impression upon his hearers. The first "tag day" in Des Moines, October io, netted $2,700 for the Home for Friendless Children. In the afternoon nearly every man on the street wore the red tag, so thoroughly was the canvass made. The prediction of President Roosevelt that Taft would beat Bryan "to a frazzle" was verified by the headlines on the morning of November 4. The confidence of Governor Cummins in his own election to the Senate over Major Lacey was equally well founded. For the first time since the resignation of George G. Wright, the Capital city could now boast a United States Senator. Governor and Mrs. Warren Garst, assisted by Senator and Mrs. Cummins and others, gave a reception at the Capitol, November 24, on the occasion of the assembling of the legislature to ratify the special senatorial primary. Many from the city greeted the new governor and senator. The primary was duly ratified and Albert B. Cummins, who first became a candidate for the senator- ship in 1893, was finally a full-fledged United States Senator. His election for the long term followed at the next regular session. The fight having once been made, nobody felt disposed to renew it. The year 1908 was one of marked progress in Des Moines. In 1907 the building permits aggregated $1,021,903; in 1908, the aggregate was $898,509; but the real estate transfers of 1907 totaled $7,880,679.57; while those of 1908 were $8,202,512.71. Business, wholesale and retail, pushed ahead rapidly. Many local houses enlarged their business capacity. The retail district was much enlarged during the year. Among the new buildings of 1908 were the Y. W. C. A., the Des Moines National Bank, the new Grant Club, the hotel on Eighth and Mulberry, the quarter-block of the Hubbells on Eighth and Walnut, and the Western Electric Company building on South Fifth. Several elegant apartment houses and many fine residences were erected during the year. The influx of new residents with capital extended the city limits in all directions. I909 THE EVENTFUL LAST YEAR OF OUR "FOUR DECADES OF PROGRESS." The year 1909, the last year of our "Four Decades of Progress," began with abundant promise of material growth — which promise was amply fulfilled. An estimate of a million dollars to be expended in the city during the year 1909 was deemed an understatement — as it proved to be. Just ahead could be seen, in the mind's eye, the new Municipal Building, the Coliseum, the Chase & West building on Eighth street, the enlargement of the Des Moines Life building and other big improvements. The Greater Des Moines Committee and the Com mercial Club, working in harmony for one common purpose, did much to develop the down-town improvements of the year. Capt. J. W. Muffly, forty-four years a residt.it of Des Moines and prominent in Grand Army and Loyal Legion circles, died on the first day of the new year, 1909, aged 69. In 1865 he came to Des Moines from Pennsylvania, and founded the Iowa Business College, and continued at its head for eleven years. Since that time he had held several positions of trust. The selection of the veteran farmer-editor, Henry Wallace, of Wallace's Farmer, as one of the Commission to inquire into the conditions of country life, was a high honor paid by President Roosevelt to a distinguished citizen of Des Moines. A made-in-Des Moines banquet was the novel feast to which two hundred business men sat down at the Commercial Club banquet, at the Savery on the night of April 22, the Des Moines companies contributing the entire menu. The feast proved a healthful stimulus to a local application of the slogan, "Patronize home industries." 408 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The first big fire in the spring of 1909 destroyed the old-time Essex building on Sixth avenue, a memento of the Lowry Goode failure. A new block was soon erected on its ruins, by Boody, Holland & New. A fire broke out on the night of May 10, which destroyed the building of the New York Wall Paper and Stationery Company on Fifth and Court, and an adjoining building owned by A. C. McCune, incurring a loss of about $150,- 000. New and modern buildings soon replaced the old structures. Fred Harbach, one of the oldest German- American pioneers of Des Moines, died at Salt Lake City, May 2. He came to Des Moines in 1855, and was prominent in business circles, and in the Elks and Pythian lodges. Mr. Har bach was keeper of the records and seals of Myrtle-Capital Lodge for forty years. He was one of the organizers of the German Turners' Society in Des Moines in 1857. An event in the sporting world occurred in the auditorium at the Fair Ground in Des Moines, on the evening of June 14, which was heralded far and wide — the final "meeting" between Thomas Jenkins, the world's champion wrestler, and Frank Gotch, the sturdy young Iowan ambitious for world-championship. The event was witnessed in the stock pavilion at the fair ground, by about seven thousand people. It was of short duration, the Humboldt, Iowa, athlete pinning the champion's shoulders to the mat, — the first time, in less than fifteen minutes, and the second time in less than eight minutes. The entrance of Congressman William B. McKinley of Champlain, 111., and the financial interests represented by him, into relations with Des Moines was marked, July 15, by the announced sale of the Des Moines Electric Company to him and the capitalists behind him. His announcement that he would favor ably consider the development of any attractive field for interurban railroads in Iowa confirmed the rumor that he proposed to interest himself in the street car system of Des Moines, provided the franchise question could be settled to« his liking. This was the beginning of a campaign in the interests of Mr. McKinley which finally closed by mutual consent, as between the city council and the company. George Garver, a resident of Des Moines since 1871, founder of the Garver Hardware Company and president of the Enterprise Coal and Mining Company, died July 25, aged 78. Senator Cummins' Triumphal Return. Senator Cummins' return from his initial services in Congress was signalled by a reception and ovation on the evening of August 9. The special session had brought the junior senator to the front of debate on subjects upon which few senators were as well equipped as himself, by reason of ability and extended legal experience ; and he came out of the session with flying colors. On arriving in Des Moines he yvas greeted by several thousand friends and admirers and an automobile parade was formed, with him at the head of it. A monster ovation awaited the Senator. As the Register and Leader well said, "Had Senator Cummins won a victory every time he suffered defeat at the hands of Senator Aldrich and his cohorts, he could have received no higher testimonial of admiration and esteem than were tendered him by his fellow-townsmen.' The Senator frankly and familiarly talked to his friends and neighbors of his recent experiences. Tributes of praise were extended him by the democratic mayor, Mr. Mathis, A. L. Urick, president of the State Federation of Labor, Lucius Wilson, secretary of the Greater Des Moines Committee, L. A. Jester, from the East Des Moines Commercial Club, Geis Botsford, secretary of the Commercial Club and Harvey Ingham for the public generally. It was such a demonstration as is rarely accorded any public servant. MR. AND MRS. ISAAC BRANDT Married November 1, 1S49 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 409 General Grant Number Two. Frederick Dent Grant, son of General U. S. Grant, was an honored guest of Des Moines on the last day of the summer of 1909. The special occasion was a campfire in the assembly tent on the State Fair grounds. Governor Carroll cordially welcomed General and Mrs. Grant to Iowa. The General responded in conversational tone, with no attempt at oratory, thereby — as in general appearance — resembling his honored father. He pleasantly recalled the famous reunion in Des Moines in 1875. He referred to his father's much discussed Des Moines speech on free schools, which Cardinal Antonelli, then primate at Rome, pronounced "one of the most effective political enunciations of the century." The General read from manuscript an interesting narrative of hi* own experiences during the Civil war. The Grants remained in Des Moines until the following evening, the objects of many social attentions. Death of Isaac Brandt. Isaac Brandt, one of the most prominent of the little group of old pioneers of Des Moines, died on the night of September 12, leaving a vacant place in several circles, notably that of the Pioneers of Polk County, the Octogenarian Society and the Baptist church. He was apparently in vigorous health to the last, when at the age of 82, a stroke of apoplexy removed him from the loved ones about him. -Mr. Brandt was a picturesque character. Tall, erect and strikingly resembling the full length portraits of Washington, his was a figure to attract attention anywhere. Only on the coldest days, could be be induced to wear an overcoat. When others were shivering with the cold, his cheeks were glowing with health. He was another of the old-school gentlemen to whom the Des Moines of to-day oyves much — those preachers by example of the good old gospel of courtesy and good-will. Mr. Brandt came to Des Moines in 1856, making the trip from Iowa City by stage. Thence he walked to Council Bluffs, spending four days on the way. He speedily returned and opened a general store on East Fourth and Locust streets. During the war Mr. Brandt's home was a station of the "underground railroad." John Brown was his friend and had been his guest. He was a member of the Fifteenth General Assembly and for six years was Deputy Treasurer of State. He was for years a successful real estate dealer and at one time was reported to be rich ; but reverses came and left him in moderate circumstances. To Mr. Brandt, more than to any other man, the State is indebted for the permanent location of the State Fair on the beauti ful site now occupied. In '84, the General Assembly appropriated $50,000 for a site adjoining a city that would raise a like amount. He undertook to raise the $50,000 and succeeded. In '83 President Arthur appointed him one of three commissioners to inspect two sections of the Northern Pacific Railway, and in '90 President Harrison appointed him postmaster of Des Moines. Mr. Brandt was one of the most public-spirited of men. During his last years he lived much in the past and was an authority on local history, as these pages testify. President Taft Visits Des Moines. In his first "swing around the circle," in 1909, President Taft arrived in Des Moines early Monday morning, September 20. The city was resplendent with flags and banners. Arriving at 7 o'clock he was driven to the home of Senator Cummins for breakfast. At 9.35 the President was in his place at the reviewing stand near the Soldiers' Monument and ten minutes later the grand review of troops began.8 At the head of the procession rode the soldierly General Morton, followed by as fine a body of men as were ever in line. The commander-in-chief graciously -acknowledged the salutes of the General and the colonels, and stood with uncovered head as the regimental flags passed before him. 8 Described on succeeding oages. 410 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The reception given the President by the vast audience assembled to hear him was reported as lacking somewhat in enthusiasm, — though there was surely no lack of courtesy. Some were inclined to attribute the absence of vigorous de monstration to certain utterances in the President's Winona speech, three days before, which were construed by many as an attempt to read out of the party those republicans in Congress who had voted against the Aldrich Tariff bill. The absence of applause during the progress of the speech was in a measure due to the fact that the President read from manuscript and was closely confined to his text. It might be added that the address, — including a plea for a special com merce court, — was one which a popular audience could not closely follow. There was also a disturbing murmur of voices from the thousands on the Capitol grounds who could not even hear the speaker's voice. The Great Tournament of 1909. An event in the military history of Fort Des Moines No. 3, and of the city of Des Moines was the coming of regular army' troops from Forts Omaha, Crook, Riley, Russell, Meade and Crawford to join with the troops of Fort Des Moines in a series of army manoeuvres lasting from the 20th to the 26th. The plans in cluded the presence of 5,800 troops on the Fair grounds at the State Capital. These represented all branches of the service. The week opened with a grand parade of all the troops, with five military bands, through the main business streets of the city, passing a reviewing stand near the Capitol, where the Presi dent reviewed them. There had never before, and there has never since, been a tournament quite equal to that of 1909. The manoeuvres were brilliantly executed, and the at tendance broke all records. Every day's program began with a review of the troops. There was necessarily some repetition from day to day, but the audiences daily evinced increasing interest. The program each day contained some original feature. The regular programs included the drill by saddle squad and by bare back squad, infantry drill, artillery drill, building and demolishing bridge, Butt's manual — a fancy drill, yvall-scaling, Roman race, signal corps drill and contest, musical sabre-drill, machine-gun contest, rescue race, section contest — mountain battery, hospital corps race, packing contest, skirmish race, relay race, section contest — field battery, wireless telegraphy, and — every day — the concluding tug of war. The derigible balloon, with Lieutenant Lahm at the helm, made a few successful flights during the week. The first day's attendance on the manoeuvres was about 20,000, and every man, woman and child was delighted with the day's performances. The attendance during the week placed large sums of money to the credit of the fund for the annual manoeuvres and enabled the management to give large prizes to the winners in the several contests. Camp Corse, on the fair grounds, had been formally opened the Sunday be fore, with Brigadier-General Charles E. Morton in command. About seven thousand people visited the camp during that first day. Monday morning the reveille was sounded at 6 o'clock and after a hurried breakfast the troops pro ceeded to the city where they formed for the grand review. The troops in line were: Second Cavalry, Col. Frank West; Fourth Cavalry, Maj. James Lockett; Fourth Field Artillery, Capt. H. L. Newbold; Fifth Field Artillery, Capt. 0. L. Spaulding; Seventh Cavalry, Captain S. R. H. Tompkins; Fifteenth Cavalry, Maj. W. F. Flynn; Sixth Field Artillery, Capt. Edward Hill; Medical Corps, Capt. J. W. VanDusen ; Thirteenth Infantry, Col. R. H. Loughborough ; Sixteenth In fantry, Col. L. A. Gardner. The Commercial Club, the Hyperion Club and other organizations did much to make pleasant the stay of the army officers in the city. The crowning social event, however, was the ball given by the Greater Des Moines Committee at the Shrine Temple on the evening of the 23d. Congressman Hull and Mrs. Charles Denman led the grand march yvith General Morton and Mrs. Hull following. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 411' The seventy-sixth birthday of Gen. Cyrus Bussey was celebrated at the Sixth Avenue home of the General's son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac L. Hillis, on the evening of October 5. Among the old arrrty friends present was General Winslow, whose presence added to the interest of the occasion. General Bussey was a member of the Eighth General Assembly and colonel of the Third Iowa Cavalry. He commanded a brigade at the battle of Pea Ridge and was in command of the advance of Sherman's army against Johnson's army to Jackson, Miss. His home is in Washington, D. C. More than tyvo hundred business men banqueted Congressman Hull at the Grant Club on the night of October 14, as a renewed expression of their appre ciation of what Mr. Hull had done for Des Moines. Representatives of various organizations and of all parties were present and happy speeches were made to which the Congressman happily responded. A notable character was that of Edward Entwistle, an old time locomotive engineer who had the distinction of having made, with the inventor, George Step henson, the trial trip of the "Rocket," from Manchester to Liverpool in 1831. Mr. Entwistle died in Des Moines October 30, at the age of 94. His three daugh ters and one son were with him at the last. Mr. Entwistle came to Des Moines in 1856 and was engineer in the Perrier-Shepherd mills, on the east bank of the river. Later, he made several trips as engineer on river steamers. Later still, he became engineer of the Ankeny mills. He was the oldest Odd Fellow in Iowa. The new Princess Theatre on Fourth street was thrown open to the public by Elbert & Getchell November 1. The after-success of this stock-company- popular-price theater was remarkable. The National Grange met in Des Moines early in November and remained in session ten days. The meetings were in the main secret. Sir Horace Plunkett, the Irish agriculturist and reformer, attended the sessions on the nth, and ad dressed that body on cooperative methods in agriculture. On the evening of the 12th, he addressed the Prairie Club, describing farm and town conditions in Ire land. He was the guest of Henry Wallace. The great Coliseum, fathered by the Greater Des Moines Committee, was in formally opened November 29, for the seventh annual exposition of the Iowa Corn-Growers' Association. Jerry B. Sullivan delivered the address of wel come for the city, E. J. Curtin for the State Agricultural Society and Governor Carroll for the State. Prizes to the amount of $20,000 were contested for. Many papers on practical subjects were read. The contract for the erection of the new Municipal Building was let, Decem ber 1, to Charles Weitz's Sons of Des Moines, for $301,960. There were four teen bids, the highest $374,094. "History repeats itself" — but always with variations. Major Riche heading a party of army engineers, after examining the Des Moines river, preliminary to a survey, reported his conclusion that the river was navigable between Des Moines and its mouth and could be profitably improved. The next step was a survey. Charles Mulford Robinson, the famous landscape architect, in an extended report developed a plan for making the Des Moines river a civic center, with a boulevard parkway system connecting every public park with the center. The plan was taken under serious consideration, and afterward, with modifications, adopted. A Year of Unusual Progress and Promise. The last year of the Four Decades of Progress closed with a very satisfactory showing and with unusually bright prospects. In the judgment of men who know it was declared to be the most prosperous year in the city's history. The year's realty transfers aggregated $9,063,650, an increase of $861,143 over the previous year, and more than a million in excess of 1907. More than three millions- were 412 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY expended in the city during the year for building and improvements, public and private. The rise in the value of down-town, front-foot property during the year was remarkable, and yet only the beginning of a substantial advance. More than forty factories were reported as having located in Des Moines during the year, their total capitalization nearly a million dollars. Many large corporations established branches in Des Moines, buying or erecting buildings for their use. Several new additions were platted and put upon the market and the lots found numerous buyers. Much money was expended on the school buildings of the city to provide room for the fast-increasing number of school children. The F. M. Hubbell, the T. K. Brooks and the Byron Rice schools were erected, at a cost respectively of $60,000, $64,000 and $18,000. The chief building items of the year were: the Coliseum, $127,000; the Grant Club, $30,000; the Des Moines College, Nash Hall, $75,000; the Younker Broth ers' addition, $100,000; the Victoria Hotel addition, $90,000; the Princess theatre, $75,000; the White Line Transfer warehouse, $100,000; the Des Moines Na tional Bank, $75,000; Chase and West, $80,000; Blue Line Transfer warehouse, $100,000; Plawkeye Transfer warehouse, $75,000; F. M. Hubbell, Eighth and Cherry, $75,000; Van Evera & Robinson, Walnut, $60,000; Des Moines Life In surance addition, $150,000; and University Church tabernacle, $80,000. Dur ing the year 900 residences were erected. Bradstreet's commercial agency, in a comparative statement of improvements in cities, in September gave Des Moines first place in percentage of increase Chicago's percentage was placed at 49.7, that of Indianapolis, 49.5 ; Denver, 13 ; Columbus, 17; Baltimore, 55.8; Des Moines, 730! Thus in a blaze of achievement and promise closed the four decades of prog ress which it has been our task to outline. BOOK III. DES MOINES. PART V. SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. 1858-1911. CHAPTER I. THE SCHOOLS OF DES MOINES. In the reorganization of the schools of Des Moines in accordance with the new school law of 1858 the school district of Fort Des Moines known as Dis trict No. 5 became Sub-district No. 1 of the City of Des Moines, and the part of the city east of the river became Sub-district No. 2. From this reorganiza tion until August, 1859, the schools of East and West Des Moines were under one board, of which R. L. Tidrick was president ; J. W. Laird, secretary ; A. J. Stickney sub-director for the West and A. Y. Hull sub-director for the East Sub-district. West Des Moines, 1858-1011. In August, 1859, the electors residing east of the river voted to organize an independent district. At this time West Des Moines had but one school build ing, erected in 1856 as a cost of about $10,000, and known as the "Brick" school house — later as the "Third Ward School." This pioneer building stood at Ninth and Locust streets and accommodated more than 300 children, there being at times a hundred children in a single room. Soon after its erection it ceased to be adequate and for several years prior to the erection of a second school build ing, in 1863, the board was compelled to rent rooms for school purposes. The first teachers of the West Des Moines schools, elected October 16, 1858, were W. P. Smith, Bina C. Moulton, Adda (Adelaide) L. Bausman,1 Sallie Houston, Ellen Hedge and Mollie Norton. The branches taught were orthography, pen manship, reading, arithmetic, geography, grammar, history, geometry, algebra and plane trigonometry. A committee of three ministers, Messrs. Bird, Jocelyn and Remsburg were appointed a committee by the board to visit the schools. After the separation of the East and the West schools, in 185^, a special election was held in the West Des Moines district to choose a school board for the remainder of the year ending March, i860. This election resulted in the choice of J. A. Nash as president and C. C. Dawson, secretary. Two abler or more useful school officers Could hardly have been chosen. It seems unfair, how ever, to write of these men and their work without mentioning Benjamin Say lor, Thompson Bird, Byron Rice, P. M. Casady, Hoyt Sherman, R. L. Tidrick, W. H. Leas, and many others who deserve the gratitude of the present gener ation, for these men stood for free schools when they were not as popular as they are today. In response to a petition of twenty-one residents of the north part of the city it was voted August 22, 1859, to establish a school of two teachers in the Fourth Ward. This, the second school in Des Moines, was first known as the Fourth Ward school, and later as the Crocker school. A building was not erected until 1863, the school being held till then in rented rooms. The following notice was printed in the Iowa Weekly Citizen of September 7, 1859: SCHOOL NOTICE. The Directors of School District City of Des Moines, West Side, hereby give notice that the Public Schools of the city will open on the second Monday in 'Mrs. Frank R. Laird, 1823 Oakland Avenue, Des Moines. 415 416 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY September, 1859, and continue in session twenty-four weeks, allowing two weeks vacation during the holidays. The following teachers have been employed: In the Brick School House: Mr. James R. Cary, Principal. Miss Lois Clark, Assistant, ist Dept. Miss Bina C. Moulton, Assistant, 2nd Dept. Miss C. A. Bloodgood, Assistant, 3d Dept. Miss Mary E. Norton, Miss Ellen Hedge, Assistants, 4th Dept. Miss Adda L. Bausman, Class teacher. In the room lately occupied by Miss Houston a private school on Seventh street in the Fourth Ward: Mr. Charles Stratton, Principal. Miss Sallie Houston, Assistant. These schools will be free to all pupils in the district; but the Directors will expect the larger pupils in the Fourth Ward, especially the boys, to go to the Brick School House. The following list of Text-books has been adopted by the Board and will be used in the schools of the district: McGuffey's Speller and Readers. Monteith and McNally's Geographies. Pineo's Grammars. Ray's Arithmetics. Davies' Algebra and Geometry. Rightmyer's Copy Books. Cutter's Physiologies. Norton and Porter's First Book of Science. Parker's Philosophies. Willard's U. S. and Universal History. Quackenbos' Composition. The course of study will be confined to the English branches. David Norris, H. R. Lovejoy, W. H. Dickinson, Directors. On the 31st of August, 1861, the board adopted a regulation governing the conduct of teachers and pupils. Among them is the following, suggestive of the war spirit of 1861 : "Any scholar carrying fire-arms or other deadly weapons shall be suspended and reported to the board." Rule 3 says, The Regulator in the establishment of Parmelee & Bro. will be the standard time-piece for the District. The following notice published in the Register in July, 1863, recalls the former method of teachers' examination. SCHOOL NOTICE. All persons desirous of teaching in the public schools of the City of Des Moines, West Side, are hereby requested to present themselves for examination at a meeting of the Board of Directors of said school district to be held in the Brick School House in said city on the 15th day of August, 1863, at 9 o'clock, A. M. M. S. Dickerson, Sec. This examination was conducted in the presence of the full board. The questions were asked by Messrs. Ingalls of Muscatine, Wade of Boonsboro, XORTH HIGH SCHOOL it 1 11 m m. m mmMm i a MMW % EAST HIGH SCHOOL WEST HIGH SCHOOL CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 417 Atkins and Barrows of Des Moines, to whom the board later tendered a "vote of thanks" for their "politeness in conducting the examinations." During the summer of 1863 the Fourth Ward school building — now called the Crocker school — was erected as a four-room building, at a cost of $4,250, including the lot. Only the two lower rooms were then completed. At a meeting of the board May 30, 1864, "Mr. Barrows, the County Super intendent, being present, was requested to make some remarks upon the neces sity and propriety of opening a high school." A committee composed of Messrs. McClelland, Leas and Dickerson was appointed to examine into the necessity and feasibility of establishing a high school. On July 1, it was voted to estab lish a high school to be opened in the fall in the new Fourth Ward building, and accordingly the sum of $135 was appropriated to finish the upper story, and Mr. Barrows was elected principal of the new high school and sent East to purchase books and apparatus. Such was the beginning of "West High," now the largest high school in Iowa. For several years only one teacher was required and the humble quarters in an upper room of the Crocker building con tinued to be the "high school" until the completion of the Second Ward build ing at Ninth and Mulberry streets, now in the Lincoln building. The spacious rooms on the third floor of this building was the home of West High for twenty years. Here under the leadership of James H. Thompson and A. N. Ozias it developed into a real high school. In 1864 a course of study was adopted outlining in detail the work of each grade and of the high school. Much of the high school course consisted of elementary and grammar-grade studies, the last two years' work only deserving to be called secondary work. By 1865, the growth of the city to the South necessitated a school beyond the Raccoon river. Here for many years a one-room school was maintained until 1874, when the First Ward, or Washington school, was erected. At the March election in 1867 a proposition to levy a special tax to erect a fine building in the Second Ward was carried almost unanimously. This really marks the beginning of a new era. The last building erected had cost a little over $4,000. This one was to cost almost $100,000, and before it was completed steps were taken toward the erection of another at Tenth and Pleasant streets to take the place of the "Brick School House" — at a cost of $70,000 — though the money to build it had to be borrowed at 10 per cent! The corner stone of the Lincoln building was laid with much pomp and ceremony August 20, 1867. April 20, 1869, the board was given authority to sell the "Brick School House" at Ninth and Locust, and to purchase a site for a new Third Ward building. The old property was sold for $7,025, and $5,000 was paid for a new site on which was erected, the following year, the large and imposing Irving School, still one of the largest schools in the city. From 1866 to 1873 the East and West district maintained jointly a school for colored children, but no records of the school appear to have survived. In August, 1868, the first superintendent of schools, D. G. Perkins, was em ployed at a salary of $1,200 a year. His supervision extended over four schools, one in each ward. Mr. Perkins was succeeded in 1872 by James H. Thompson who came from Illinois. Mr. Thompson held the position until his death in 1879. To him probably more than to any other man do the schools owe their fine gradation and his excellent printed reports for six years show the high character of his work. In 1876 the school population of the district was over 3,000 and the enroll ment 2,000, with thirty-two teachers receiving $21,983 annually. The Des Moines exhibit of school work at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia won one of the two awards made to the State of Iowa for educational work. The schools were now well organized and a fine spirit pervaded _ the system. This period was characterized by remarkable interest in school visiting. The Vol. 1—27 418 , CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY board appointed many visiting committees. Among the names on the record are Mr. and Mrs. Galusha Parsons, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Frisbie, Mr. C. A. Dudley, Mrs. L. F. Andrews, State Superintendent C. W. von Coelin. The erection of new buildings is proof of the growth of the schools between 1876 and 1890: Hawthorne in '79; Garfield and Howe in '82; Cooper and Frank lin in '84 ; Grant in '88 ; West High, '88 ; Bird in '90. In 1876 a private kindergarten was established by Mrs. Lucy Collins and in 1884 it was made a part of the public school system with Mrs. Collins as tbe first supervisor. In 1890, soon after the completion of the new "West High and Industrial School," manual training and cooking were introduced, Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Miller, of the Toledo public schools, having been employed by the board to introduce their methods. In 1879 L. W. Parish succeeded to the superintendency. He remained until '85, when he in turn was succeeded by Mrs. Luella Wilson, a woman of large ability, who for many years had been the principal of the Irving building. In 1881 a teachers' training school was established. It was continued for several years. In 1903 an attempt was made to reestablish it and Miss Olive McHenry, the able principal of the Hawthorne school, was chosen for the work ; but her illness and death led to the abandonment of the project. In April, 1889, the West High school was moved from the Lincoln building into the new building at 15th and Center streets. On the day of its opening, the retiring superintendent of schools, Mrs. Wilson, introduced her successor, Dr. William M. Beardshear, who remained in charge of the schools until the spring of 1891 when he accepted the presidency of the State Agricultural Col lege. Frank B. Cooper, professor of pedagogy at the State University, was made superintendent in 1891 and remained at the head of the schools more than eight years. His work and his influence are still felt in Des Moines. There was substantial growth in the schools between 1890 and 1900, but the most marked growth was in the high school which increased from 260 to over 600. Following are the principals of the high school from its beginning in 1864 to the present time : Simon Barrows 1864- 7 Richard D. Jones 1883- 86 G. W. Corlis 1867- 8 Mrs. Louise Morrow 1886- 89 William Willis 1868- 70 Miss Celia Ford 1889- 91 T. A. Snow 1870- 71 H. T. Kinkead 1891- 93 Miss C. Mann 1871- 72 William Wilcox 1893- 96 James H. Thompson 1872- 73 W. O. Riddell 1896-1904 A. N. Ozias 1873- 78 W A. Crusinberry 1904- co L. B. Cary 1878- 83 Maurice Ricker 1966- In 1899 F. B. Cooper was succeeded by S. H. Sheakley, during whose super intendency the school district was considerably enlarged bv the annexation of the Forest Home, Oakdale and Greenwood districts. The Forest Home district popularly known as "North Des Moines" included the North High School, Oak land, Lake Park, Summit and Forest Home schools. The Oakdale district contained the Elm-wood, Kirkwood and Pleasant Hill Schools. The Greenwood district had two small schools which were succeeded by the new Greenwood school. In a similar manner two other independent districts were merged into the West Des Moines district, Park Avenue in 1904 and Evergreen in 1006. Following is a list of the presidents of the West Des Moines School Board from the organization of the district in 1859 : Rev. T. A. Nash 1859-60 Rev. T. A. Nash 1865-68 W. H. Leas 1860-61 Hoyt Sherman 1868-69 T. H. McClelland 1861-65 W. IT. Leas 1869-73 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 419 C. A. Dudley 1873-76 Crom Bowen 1897-98 C. H. Gatch 1876-77 L. M. Mann 1898-99 P. M. Casady 1877-78 L. C. Kurtz 1899-01 C. A. Dudley 1878-80 H. L. Preston 1901-02 L. H. Bush 1880-85 L. C. Kurtz 1902-03 William Musson '. 1885-89 Elmer E. Farr and C. H. Dil- F. S. Whiting 1889-91 worth 1903-04 Lamoine Mott 1891-93 Homer A. Miller 1904-05 Crom Bowen 1893-94 Theodore F. Grefe 1905-06 C' L. Dahlberg 1894-96 Robert J. Fleming 1906-07 L. M. Mann 1896-97 Following is a list of the presidents of the Des Moines School Board from its organization in 1907 : Charles H. Martin 1907-08 James A. McKinney 1910-11 John W. Ray 1908-09 Robert J. Fleming 191 1-12 Jerry B. Sullivan 1909-10 The following named members of the Board have records of honorable service covering many years — many of them eight years and longer : Rev. J. A. Nash, L. C. Kurtz, W. H. Leas, Homer A. Miller, J. H. McClelland, Theodore Grefe, C. A. Dudley, Robert J. Fleming, L. H. Bush, John Ray, Crom Bowen, . Charles Martin. The following is a list of secretaries of the West Des Moines school board: C. C. Dawson 1859- 61 C. A. Weaver 1896-1900 M. S. Dickerson 1861- 65 W. A. Abbett 1900- 04 A. Newton 1865- 70 H. U. Keasey 1904- 06 D. G. Perkins 1870- 71 H. N. Whitney 1906- 09 J. M.St. John2 1871- 95 A. L. Clinite 1909- 12 Charles Saylor !895- 96 In 1899, by vote of the electors, the free text-book system was adopted. In 1901 the Fro-ebel Association maintained the first vacation school, an institute which two years later was taken over by the school authorities. The same year the Penny Savings Association was organized. Between 1900 and 1903, three new school buildings of the best, modern types were erected, the Greenwood, the McKinley and the new West High. East Des Moines — 1858-1911. East Des Moines was not slow to respond to the new impetus given by the location of the State Capitol in her midst. In 1858, a number of public-spirited citizens "on the hill" subscribed liberally for the erection of a school building. A site was chosen and a building erected near the corner of East Ninth and Des Moines streets. In the fall of that year Fred Stone was chosen as teacher and the new school was opened. While the enterprise was sustained by sub scription fees, its founders intended to exclude no one from attendance. On the morning of the opening, the number of children presenting themselves was a surprise. The congestion was complete, necessitating a temporary suspension. 2 Mr. St. John was secretary of the board for nearly twenty-five consecutive years. 420 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY In a short time the school was reopened, but with certain restrictions limiting the attendance to the capacity of the building. The school year extended over only four months. A summer school was opened with Mrs. Sarah, wife of Rev. William Remsburg, as principal. Mrs. Remsburg had come with her husband from Ohio in 1856, and had opened a private school on the corner of East Seventh and Walnut streets, there demonstrating her ability as an educator. At the opening of the school, an incident occurred which unhappily developed the now obliterated color line in the school. Two negro children presented themselves on invitation from Mrs. Remsburg. Certain white children objected to their presence, and their parents joined them in protest. One of the most liberal subscribers to the school fund went so far as to demand that the negroes be sent home. In her perplexity Mrs. Remsburg went to the late Isaac Brandt, one of the principal supporters of the school. Mr. Brandt told her to give herself no uneasiness, for he would see that the school lost nothing by the disaffection. Consulting Elijah Sells, then secretary of state, Jonathan Cattell, auditor of state, and John W Jones, state treasurer, Mr. Brandt obtained from those gentlemen subscriptions which, together, amounted to the sum contributed by the disaffected party. The objector removed his children, and the school went on as though nothing had happened. In the fall of that year, Mr. Stone resumed his duties as principal, remaining only in charge for nine months. The schoolhouse was then sold and moved. Late in 1859, the independent district of East Des Moines was organized. The meeting for organization was held in the State House with Mr. Sells in the chair and John M. Davis, deputy secretary of state, acting as clerk. The board employed Mr. Woodruff as principal, and Misses Mosier, Tisdale and Pritchard as assistants. The school was opened in the Griffith block, which afterwards became the Capital City Hotel. In i860, Carl W. von Coelin, after wards one of the foremost educators in the state, was chosen principal. Miss Tisdale followed as principal, and Mr. Willard succeeded her. In 1865, James Wright, William Mathews and D. E. Jones, a committee on course of study, reported a three-year course. A few years later the school was removed to a building near the C. & N. W. depot. A year or two later it returned to its old quarters in the Griffith block, where, it remained until 1866, when the district provided a building for its use. Until that time every effort to provide funds for a school building had failed. In those days, bond issues for school purposes were illegal, hence the re luctance of taxpayers to add to their already heavy burdens. For several years, the question of a school building was an open one. The first tax voted was only a half-mill ; the next, that of '64, was much larger, as was that of the two following years. The new brick building completed was the largest and best-built schoolhouse in the western half of the State. Most of the material was hauled from Nevada, then the nearest shipping point. After "boarding around" for seven years, in 1867 the district entered into its own. With the occupancy of the new building on Grand and Pennsylvania avenues, the district entered upon a new career of usefulness. Albert E. Roberts, chosen superintendent, entered upon his work with enthusiasm and surrounded him self with excellent teachers. In 1870 he was succeeded by A. W. Stuart, later of Fort Dodge and Ottumwa. The first class graduated from East High was in 1871. It consisted of one member, Elizabeth Mathews. The school con tinued to prosper until 1872 when, "a spasm of parsimony struck the city. A secret organization known as the "City Guards" had for its mission the cut ting down of expenses. It obtained control of the city government and the city schools, to the serious detriment of the East side school. In 1873, Superintendent Stuart resigned and was succeeded by Thomas IT. Smith, who filled out the remainder of the school year. He was followed by Superintendent Chamber lain, and he in turn by Superintendent Cotton. Then the board undertook to CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 421 dispense with a superintendent, putting the work of that official upon the principal. Henry Heaton, later of Cass county, though a competent educator, found his duties extremely burdensome. In 1874, a second building with four rooms was erected. This, proving too small, was later enlarged. William H. Dixson was made its principal. After serving the district for several years, Professor Dixson removed to Webster City. A third building was erected in 1875, yvhich has since been enlarged. In 1876, Mr. Smith returned to the superintendency of the district. He remained nearly six years, doing much to build up the schools in his charge. In 1877, the demand for a high school became so strong that a loan of $30,000 was authorized for the erection of a commodious building on Twelfth and Lyon streets. This building completed was one of the largest in the State, and yvas regarded as one of the most elegant and complete. This school, under the principalship of Isaac L. Hillis, afterwards Mayor of Des Moines, rapidly gained in the number of its pupils, and in the respect and esteem of its patrons. In 1878, the high school was placed nominally under the principalship of Superintendent Smith, but the actual head was Franc B. Taylor, a brother of the late Mrs. Florence Miller. He remained a year, doing efficient work. His successor was John W. Wolf, who served the district successfully for a feyv years. Hermann Martin was the next principal. He was highly advanced in mathematics. At one time he performed the notable pendulum experiment of demonstrating the rotation of the earth on its axis. The attempt was success fully made in the rotunda of the State House. Retiring in 1885, Mr. Martin was succeeded by Frank Plummer. At this time the high school took on new life. The attendance rapidly grew in numbers. The first graduating class under Mr. Plummer numbered nineteen ; the next numbered forty-four. Thereafter the number passing out of the school was always large. In 1881 the plan of graduation twice a year was adopted. In March, '81, the present high school was opened. The opening was made the occasion of a ceremonial observance which attracted wide attention. With the school fairly in operation in its new quarters, Mr. Plummer relinquished the principalship. Elmer E. White was now called to the high school, and for ten years served it faithfully, the attendance steadily increasing. Already before he retired, the edifice occupied by the school was beginning to be found inadequate. It becom ing evident that something must be done to relieve the situation, a determined effort was made to get possession of State square, a block which had been given to the State at the time the Capitol was located. The district availed itself of an opportunity offered by the State and bought the entire square. The East Des Moines district which bought the property was shortly afterwards united with all the others in the city, then five in number. In 1880, the East side schools were formally named. The one first built, on Grand and Pennsylvania avenues, was named after the poet, Bryant ; the second, Sixth and Racoon streets, after General Curtis, formerly a prominent East-side citizen; the third, Sixteenth street and Capitol avenue, was named after Governor Kirkwood and the fourth, Twelfth and Lyon, after Webster, the lexicographer. A school near the packing house was named Benton, after a former State Superintendent of Public Instruction. A school to accommodate the Swedish-Americans in the vicinity of the Swedish church was named Bremer, in honor of the Swedish authoress. In 1882, the East side district chose for its school superintendent, Leigh S. J. Hunt, a brilliant educator yvho, after serving three years, accepted the presidency of the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. He was succeeded by David Kent, and he in turn by Amos Hiatt, who remained for many years, and was counted an able administrative officer. In 1882 the Longfellow school was erected on Pine street. In the same year, the Lucas, named after Governor Lucas, was enlarged. In '84, the Emer son school was built, at Sixteenth and Maple. This has since been enlarged. 422 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY A three-room building has been erected on the Webster street grounds called the Alcott school, in honor of the author of "Little Women." In 1891 Miss May Goodrell, a successful teacher, was promoted to the principalship of the high school. Miss Goodrell surrounded herself with a corps of able and devoted teachers, and was heartily sustained by the loyalty .of the student body. East Side High School is now one of the recognized leaders in the State. In 1907 occurred the consolidation with the West Des Moines schools, re ferred to later. In 1910 the question of a new high school on the East side was submitted to the people and was carried, the proposition authorizing a loan of $400,000 for that purpose. This was carried by a large majority. Thereupon, in 1910, the money was borrowed, and the work of erection begun. It is expected that the new building will be opened for the reception of pupils about the beginning of the year, 1912. It is, without doubt, the largest, costliest and most imposing high school building in Iowa. Its provisions for manual training, without de tracting from the other courses, are more ample than those of any other high school in the State. In fact, it has few equals in the country. Among the public-spirited men who have presided over the school board in East Des Moines during the past eighteen years are: J. H. Koons, J. F. Burgess, A. K. Stewart, C. J. Lynch, Joseph Deemer, J. Auracher, E. F. Whit ney, W. F. Johnson, Andrew Burquist, John A. Thomas, A. W. Carlson, George L. Garton and Amos Brandt. North Des Moines. North Des Moines, separate and distinct from the West Des Moines school system until the consolidation of 1900, owed its start as an educational center chiefly to the venerable Dr. J. A. Nash, Judge McClelland, J. M. Ross, R. A. Rollinson, and Drs. Royal and Hallett. The first public-school teacher in North Des Moines was H. K. Horning. The first directory consisted of Dr. Hallett, H. B. Mosier and L. I. Williams. The first superintendent of the North Des Moines schools was O. E. Smith, now superintendent of the schools in Indian ola. He was succeeded by Professor Lacey who soon after the consolidation was retired, the office having been discontinued. Beginning with W. W. Clifford, with whom the comparatively recent history of the school commences, the principals have been A. W. Brett, W. E. D. Rum- mel, W. A. Crusinberry, Amelia Morton and J. G. Grundy. Among the more recent presidents of the North High School Board are Dr. George Royal, Nel son Royal and W. H. Penn. Much of the history of the schools of North Des Moines is merged with that of the city; while the later history, since the consolidation, is part of the general history of the public schools of Des Moines. Time was when the school board was severely criticised for establishing a high-school in North Des Moines ; but since Professor Grundy entered upon the principalship of "North High," the school has grown relatively as fast as any high-school in the city. Capital Park. Capital Park which for years had a separate organization, was merged into the Greater Des Moines system with East Des Moines, in 1907. Of recent years, its superintendents have been Z. C. Thornburg, R. J. Hiartung, W. A. Brandenburg and J. R. McComb. With the merger of '07 its high school was discontinued. Among the active men on the former Capital Park school board were : S. W. Baker, W. W. Wise, A. W. Guthrie, D. H. Niebel, A. M. Miller, George N. Frink, Bert McKee and George W. Franklin. The Consolidated Schools of Des Moines. In 1904 W. O. Riddell, for eight years principal of the West High school, was elected superintendent to succeed S. H. Sheakley, and in 1907, with the CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 423 consolidation of all the school districts in the city, he was made superintendent of the Greater Des Moines schools. As city superintendent Mr. Riddell has developed a rare combination of scholarly attainments and executive ability. He commands the respect and confidence of the students, the teachers, the School-Board and the public. The outlook of the schools of Des Moines under his superintendency is gratifying to all who are interested in the education of the masses. For several years the policy of the board had been a progressive one and the wide duties and responsibilities of the greater district developed a still more liberal and progressive policy. There were differences of opinion as to the wisdom of having one large school district instead of many small dis tricts; but there can be no difference of opinion as to the awakening effect of consolidation on the school spirit and on school policies. It has brought the city to a period of larger conception and of greater undertakings, a period of better construction, better equipment, better teaching. It has also created a de mand which the schools will have to satisfy 'for better results. The tremendous cost of bringing all the schools up to the level of the better ones, of equipping the less favored schools as well as the more favored, has been a burden uncomplainingly assumed and borne by the taxpayers of the city. Since the union of the schools in 1907, nearly three-quarters of a million dollars have been expended in constructing new buildings and in rebuilding old ones. Larger playgrounds, more substantial buildings and higher class equip ment have marked every step since the consolidation. The course of study has been widened and developed along industrial lines by the introduction of sew ing and cooking, and the extension of the work in manual training. Behind the superintendent and the teachers and the students is the School Board — a body of public servants who, without pay and with the certainty of more or less censure, give their time and their best thought to the serious prob lem of supplying and maintaining public schools in a fast-growing city. It has been the good-fortune of Des Moines from the first to have had, with few ex ceptions, members of its school board whose honesty has been unquestioned and whose deep interest in schools has been coupled with just conceptions of the mission of the schools. Severely criticised for extravagance in the matter of salaries paid their executive force, they have demanded of their assistants a high degree of efficiency — and in the main their demand has been met. The enrollment of the schools of Des Moines in 1910-11 was 17,123 — the largest enrollment shown by any city of less than 100,000 population — except Salt Lake City! The high school enrollment — about 2,200 — is equally remark able in numbers. In comparing the cost of the maintenance of schools in Des Moines with that of schools in other cities, this exceptional enrollment should be bome in mind. Nor should the exceptional geographical situation of Des Moines be lost sight of — for example : the more compact city of Omaha, with a larger population than Des Moines, has but one high school, whereas Des Moines — a city of magnificent distances — has three high schools, each located miles apart from the other two. No one having the welfare of Des Moines at heart could wish to see this number reduced. With three high school buildings to provide and maintain, and with three separate groups of salaries to pay there for, the high school expenses of Des Moines are relatively more than those of most cities of its size. Borrowing a remark of President Cleveland, "we are confronted with a condition — not a theory." Without entering into a defense of the Des Moines School Board — that may or may not have been extravagant in its expenditure of public moneys — it is to be said, to the Board's lasting credit, that it has raised the standing of Des Moines schools, and that every consolidation which has been voted by the peo ple has added to its burden, because of its just insistence that the schools which have been included in the recent consolidations shall share the advantages which the more favored West Des Moines schools have all along enjoyed. CHAPTER II. DES MOINES HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. The story of Des Moines College — a pathetic story of high hope and self- immolating endeavor, of hope deferred, and lost, of hope again and again re vived and endeavor again and again renewed — has already been told in frag ments in the pages of this work. But so important is it as a part of the history of Des Moines, and so full of human interest has it been found to be, that it has seemed best to round the fragments out into completeness of outline in a chapter by itself. As a "human interest" story it shows the influence of a great purpose upon a few thoroughly consecrated lives. It illustrates the readiness with which men collectively, yvhen moved by enthusiasm for a noble cause, incline to promise more than they individually feel able or willing to perform. It also — as in the repeated action of Central University — brings out the latent loyalty of alumni to their alma mater — even to the extent of repudiating the pledges of their rep resentatives on the board and in the faculty.1 Des Moines College — 1864-ign. At a Baptist State Convention held in Des Moines October 23, 1862, T. S. Griffith, of Keokuk, was chosen president, D. P. Smith, of Iowa City, vice presi dent, and J. F. Childs of Oskaloosa, secretary. During the summer of 1863, these three worthies took an outing through the new settlements of northwest Iowa. On their return they passed through Des Moines. As they entered the city from the northwest, they noted the abandoned Lutheran college building — a three-story brick — which had long since passed into the hands of creditors.2 The question rose : "Why not buy this property and make it the central point of our church's educational work in Iowa?" They called on the resident pastor, Rev. J. A. Nash, and sought his views on the subject. Mr. Nash was at that time conducting, along with his pastoral work, a seminary of learning called Forest Home School.3 The project presented to his mind a vision of a great Baptist university, in Des Moines and he promised to investigate and report. He found that the pro-pert)' could be bought for $9,000, and on reasonable terms. At the meeting of the board in Oskaloosa in January, 1864, the matter was presented, and booked for consideration at Iowa City in April. At Iowa City, delegates from Burlington and Pella, each community with a church school of its own, expressed the fear the new institution might em barrass them in their efforts to pay off their indebtedness. They asked delay, assuring Des Moines that, once relieved of present embarrassments, they would favor the enterprise. The project was for the time abandoned, and the Meth odists took the Des Moines offer under consideration. When Mr. Nash found the Methodists had concluded not to buy, he reopened negotiations, obtaining a refusal of the property at $8,000. 1 The outline sketch which follows has as its historical basis Col. Alonzo Abernathy s valuable work, "A History of Iowa Baptist Schools." 2 Near the present corner of Fifteenth street and Woodland avenue. 3 Located on the corner of Ninth street and Forest avenue on ground now occupied by Councilman MacVicar, a son-in-law of Mr. Nash. 424 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 425 At Cedar Rapids, in 1864, a resolution was adopted recommending a mass meeting of Iowa Baptists to be held in Des Moines November 16, to consider and decide the question of purchase. Nothing was done beyond the appoint ment of a committee of three to negotiate further with the trustees of the property and report. Rev. Luther Stone, of Chicago, generously consented to buy the property, making the necessary payments, and, on a refund of the money, to deed the property to his Iowa brethren. The property was bought for $9,300; but the trustees donated $1,300, mak ing the net price $8,000, as agreed. Mr. Nash then called a meeting which was held in Oskaloosa January 18, 1865. At this meeting a corporation was or ganized "to establish, support and govern, in Des Moines . . a univer sity to consist of a primary department, an academy, and a college, and such other departments appropriate to a university as the patrons and trustees shall find themselves able, and shall deem it advisable to maintain, said university to be forever under the special control of the Baptist denomination." A board of forty-five trustees was authorized — which number might at any time be ex tended to sixty ! Of this board, Mr. Nash was elected secretary and Deacon W. A. Galbraith, of Des Moines, treasurer. Mr. Nash resigned his pastorate and, with great reluctance, undertook the task of raising money for the proposed university. During the summer of '65 he raised $12,000 in Des Moines, part of which sum was applied on the debt and part on finishing and furnishing the building. As a beginning of its educational work, the board opened a young ladies' department, in the pioneer Baptist church, with Josephine A. Cutter in charge. April 9, 1866, this school was transferred to the college building and a boys' school was opened with Mr. Nash in charge. The school closed June 22, with an enrollment of 76 pupils. Ill health compelled Mr. Nash to relinquish his task, and Rev. I. 'W. Hay hurst was chosen principal. Before the close of the next school year, Principal Hayhurst and Miss Cutter had resigned. Dr. W. H. Dickinson was elected treasurer in August, 1867, and in that capacity he served faithfully for many years thereafter. At a state convention in Pella in October, 1867, resolutions yvere adopted cordially endorsing "the University at Des Moines as one of the denomina tional institutions of the state," commending it to the Baptists of Iowa, and approving of an "effort about to be made to secure for it an endowment of $20,000." The school was suspended during the year i867-'68, but yvas re-opened in September, '68, by Messrs. H. A. Brown and R. M. Stone, who conducted it a year, with an enrollment of seventy-five pupils. At Marshalltown in October, '68, the case of Des Moines was presented and the convention resolved, as a denomination to "unite in paying off the in debtedness of its Des Moines school." Rev. J. F. Childs, of Oskaloosa, started out early in '6g to raise funds for the school and after a hard year reported $12,000 subscribed. Mr. Stone of Chicago, offered to deduct $1,000 if the trustees would, before August 1, 1870, refund the money he had advanced. To save the $1,000 Mr. Childs generously paid off Mr. Stone and assumed the debt himself — and was obliged to carry it, at serious inconvenience for about fifteen years thereafter ! In September, '69, Rev. D. N. Mason became principal. The attendance was about sixty. Next came Col. Alonzo Abernathy, who held the principal- ship during the year 1870-71. The enrollment increased to ninety-three. He was followed by Prof. T. N. Snow, who in turn yvas succeeded by Mr. Nash, who meantime had served as county superintendent of schools. With Rev. B. H. Briasted as financial agent and Professors Goldthwait and DeWolf as as sociates, the school began to look prosperous, with an enrollment of 164 students. 426 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY With the close of the year 1874-5, Mr. Nash again withdrew, and Judge Mott, of Winterset, succeeded him. Mr. Nash remaining in charge of Greek and natural sciences. There was a total enrollment of 157. On President Mott's retirement in 'yy Mr. Nash, the old stand-by, succeeded. At this time the University of Chicago honored that deserving preacher and educator with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In 1881 Prof. D. F. Call yvas elected president. Finding no adequate pro vision had been made for salaries, he and his associates resigned, his resignation to take effect at the close of the school year. Again Dr. Nash responded to the call to fill the breach, serving tyvo years, as head of the school. Eighteen years had elapsed and the original purchase price had not yet been paid ; the debts of the institution were sloyvly increasing, and part of the prop erty had been sold on execution. Dr. Nash asked to be relieved of his heavy burden. Colonel Abernathy was offered the presidency but declined Dr. Ira E. Kenney accepted the position in 1882. Before the close of the year 1883-4 the old campus was abandoned for the new site on West Ninth street, and the old building was taken down and re-erected on the north side of the new campus, — where it still stands. Contracts were let for the erection of a new and larger building. During this transition period the school opened, in the fall of '84, with only sixty students, the school housed temporarily in the basement of the Baptist Church. The neyv building was to have been paid for by a transfer of a portion of the old campus, but scarcely were the foundation walls in place when the con tractor failed, and work was suspended. President Kenney's health failed, early in '85, and Colonel Abernathy — who, like Dr. Nash, had come to be regarded as a godfather, — was persuaded to take his place. Rev. A. R. Button, financial secretary, devoted three years to endeavors to finance the new building, secur ing about $6,000 new subscriptions and collecting about $3,000 on old subscrip tions. From 1886 to '89 Rev. C. T. Tucker, financial agent, devoted three successful years to superintending the new building and raising money to pay for it. On Colonel Abernathy's retirement, in the fall of '85, Prof. A. B. Price, of the faculty, succeeded, remaining at the head for two years. During all these years there was throughout the state a growing sentiment in favor of a union of the Des Moines school and the school at Pella — to each of which the term "university" had long been attached, though, in fact, both, at that period, were scarcely more than schools or seminaries. The movement took definite form in 1870, when on the 12th da)' of July an educational convention was held in loyva City, with a view to locating a university at Pella, Des Moines, or some other city in central Iowa. The point on which all yvere agreed was — "One Baptist University for Iowa." The Iowa City convention of July 14, 1870, resolved to locate a university at some suitable place which, in addition to proper buildings and grounds should "lay down a subscription of $50,000 endowment on an equal sum raised by the denomination abroad." At the convention held in Des Moines October 24, 1870, Dr. Nash objected to the proposed sale of the college to the highest bidder. After much debate it was resolved "that the convention unite in making Des Moines the seat of one Baptist College," and pledged itself to raise $50,000, provided Des Moines would raise that amount, in addition to the present grounds and buildings, by July 1, 1871. The American Baptist Educational Commission interested itself in the sub ject giving both Pella and Des Moines patient hearings and sent a committee to "view the land." The committee made a lengthy report. It found that Des Moines had not met the demand for $50,000, and therefore the Iowa City dec laration was of value only as showing Iowa opinion as to the desirableness of Des Moines. The conditions necessary to the proposed institution were all found centered in Des Moines. "Indeed the beauty and salubrity of the place, CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 427 the enterprise, yvealth and culture of its citizens, the natural concentration there," etc., all pointed to the state capital as the desirable point. Years passed. In 1886 there was a revivalof the movement for union. The Pella and the Des Moines board agreed on a committee of five chosen by each school, the ten to choose five other members, — the fifteen to settle the ques tion forever ! Another lengthy report concluded with a unanimous resolution rec ommending "Des Moines University to the cordial support of the Baptists of the State." The committee congratulated itself that "at length, after so many years of differences," the vexed question was settled ! Meantime, something had happened ! The Cedar Rapids convention of 1886 deeply deplored the action of Central University in rejecting the decision, going so far as to secure from the courts an injunction restraining the board from carrying out the decision of the committee. In October, 1888, an educational convention was held in Ottumwa. To ob viate an objection from Pella that the proposed Iowa Baptist Education Asso ciation might be used "in the interests of certain schools," Rev. H. L. Stetson, of the First Baptist Church, Des Moines, moved that neither the Des Moines nor the Pella school be recognized by the society. The Des Moines Convention in '89 came and went and made no sign. Surely, the movement was dead ! Meantime, new forces for higher education were introduced in "Des Moines University." The fall of 1887 found Rev. J. P. Stephenson acting president and professor of Greek, and Mrs. Florence T. Stephenson professor of modern languages, and Rev. H. L. Stetson, of the First Church, professor of Bib lical Literature and Christian evidences. There were sixty-nine students enrolled. In 1889, the Des Moines board modestly changed the name of the institution from "University of Des Moines' to "Des Moines College." It elected Dr. Stet son president. The year was notable for a conditional gift of $25,000 from Joseph V. Hinchman, of Glenwood, and one of $12,500 from the American Baptist Edu cation Society, the conditions being that the trustees of the college raise $62,500 additional before January 1, 1891, and that they clear the college of all debts. President Stetson, Rev. H. B. Foskett, Dr. Rairden, Prof. Goldthwait and others made strenuous efforts to meet the conditions and on June 15, it was re ported that the conditions had been met. William Aitchison became treasurer of the college in 1890, and served with rare fidelity and ability until 1905. In the year, 1891, President Harper visited the college, and addressed the students; and on July 1, 1892, the college was formally affiliated with the Chicago University. It continued for several years with a fair degree of success, with an enrollment ranging from 157 in 1892, to 181 in 1898. We have now reached the Marshalltown convention, marking another move ment for consolidation. Resolutions were adopted in '96 urging the Education Society to secure the federation of the church's educational interests in Iowa. That society convened in Des Moines October 26, 1897. After consideration of the question a special committee of eleven was named and a conference was called by the committee to be held at Marshalltown December 21, 1897, the conference to consist of fifty members of the Baptist church in the state to be named jointly by the committee and by the churches. The conference considered the question in all its bearings and finally reached a ballot of preference as to locality. The result was : Des Moines 85, Pella 26, Waterloo 5, Osage 3, Iowa Falls 2. The conference pledged itself to make good all losses sustained by Pella as a result of its action. Measures were taken to raise an endowment for Des Moines college. Again the question was settled ! The convention of 1898 commended the action taken, and congratulations were generously extended. Central University accepted the plan of cooperation on these conditions : a satisfactory indemnity for losses ; the honoring by Des Moines College of Central University's outstanding scholarships and the relinquishment of the academic department by Des Moines. Des Moines College accepted the second and third conditions ; and declared that with the first, it had nothing to 423 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY do. Meanwhile the American Baptist Education Society was asked to contribute $25,000 toward the $100,000 endowment fund. So far, all was well. A committee of Ave on endowment was created. Prof. A. Loughridge, presi dent of the society, was appointed chairman, with power to select his associates. He chose Colonel Abernathy, J. A. Earl, H. L. Stetson and A. B. Chaffee. Presi dent Chaffee declined to serve — discouragement No. 1. The American Baptist Education Society failed to make good its unofficial assurances of -financial aid discouragement No. 2. Pella refused to cooperate — discouragement No. 3. The financial secretary, failing to secure the cooperation of Pella, or of the national society, resigned, — discouragement No. 4. President Loughridge, chairman of the committee was called to the presidency of Bishop College, Texas, thus leaving the committee without a head — discouragement No. 5. The end of the movement came in July, 1899, when the Central University Board finding no indemnity in sight, and threatened with suits by Major Curtis and Captain Barker for the recovery of funds secured by them for the endow ment of Central University, deemed it "u'nyvise to longer delay with the matter, and urged the maintenance of both colleges as the way to secure harmonious cooperation." In 1899, President Stetson made a brief report to the effect that little had been clone toward unification, and with that the whole subject was dropped. President Stetson tendered his resignation at the close of the college year 1900. Rev. George D. Adams, of Kalamazoo, succeeded to the presidency, January 1, 1901, and served two years. Dr. J. K. Richardson, of Calvary Baptist Church, Des Moines, succeeded, serving till June, 1904. In October Dr. Stetson was unanimously recalled, but the call was declined. Dean J. P. Stephenson was again temporarily placed at the head of the college. In June, 1905, the board elected Rev. Dr. Loren D. Osborn to the presidency, and in July Dr. Osborn entered upon his work. He devoted six resultful years to the college. His resignation was presented and accepted in the spring of 191 1 to take effect at Commencement, June 14. His administration covers a period which will be known as one of growth, in buildings, in organization, and in publicity. The gymnasium was erected in 1906, and the main building, Nash Hall, was re-built and enlarged in 1909. During the years 1906-7, still another effort was made to unite the Baptist colleges. The movement began at the State Convention in Shenandoah, in Octo ber, 1906. A committee of seven was appointed to canvass the claims of Des Moines College and of Central University for recognition and support as the one denominational college in the State. At the meeting of the convention the following year at Grinnell, the report of the committee was presented recommend ing Central University. The resolution calling for the appointment of this com mittee also provided that a two-thirds vote would be required to adopt. When the vote was taken it was found that a majority of the votes were for Central, but not the requisite two-thirds. Since that time it has come to be generally recog nized in the denomination that each school will be left to work out its own destiny. The new president, Rev. John A. Earl, D.D., of Chicago, was elected April 1, 191 1. He arrived in Des Moines August 18, to enter upon his work. Dr. Earl is an alumnus of Des Moines College having graduated in the class of 1892. Since the coming of the new President, the college has fast forged ahead. President Earl has himself raised about $60,000 — $20,000 of which was given by Mrs. Childs of Waterloo for a girls' dormitory. The attendance at the college for the last year was 238. The number of regular professors in the college proper was nine. The number of instructors in all departments was 22. Dr. and Mrs. Stephenson have been with the college 24 years ; and Miss Harris has served 19 years. The college library contains about five thousand volumes. One of the creators and sustainers of Des Moines College CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 429 Drake University — 1881-1911. Drake University 4 is the youngest of the important educational institutions of the state, and one of the youngest in the country, having but recently celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. In Iowa, as in the other states of the West, a multitude %of small schools sprang up, whose chief asset was the faith of their promoters. Each had a building yvorth perhaps $20,000, provided as a bonus by the commu nity to secure the location of the institution in its midst. Equipment of every sort was meager. Endowments were projected but only occasionally realized. The small tuition paid by the students, perhaps $30 a year, was practically the only source of revenue, and the institutions were only kept open at all by the heroic sacrifices of the teachers. In June, 1855, a convention of the Churches of Christ in Iowa was called to meet at Mount Pleasant to consider the two questions, Education and Missions. At this meeting a motion was introduced providing for the founding of an institu tion of higher learning at Mount Pleasant, Iowa. A substitute motion was offered, naming Marion as the location. Differences over this point caused the question to be dropped for a year. The next convention met at Marion in June, 1856. At this convention a reso lution was adopted to found a college in that town and county of the state which should pledge and secure the largest amount of money. Oskaloosa, with a $30,000 subscription, won over Marion's $25,000 pledge. An endowment subscription of $20,000 was also provided. The college was chartered late in 1857; but the finan cial crisis caused contractors to fail and subscriptions to shrink. It was only by the aid of an outside supplementary subscription of $10,000 that one wing of the building was completed in 1861. School work actually started in September of that year, when the brothers George T. and W. J. Carpenter were alloyved the use of the building to conduct a private school. For twenty years a struggling college was maintained, the Car penters being prominently connected with it most of the time. It did a creditable work and numbered among its presidents and faculty many educators of ability and power, but the financial struggle was a losing one, and faculty after faculty was starved out. In the fall of 1880, three prominent members of the faculty, Shepperd, Botten- field and Macy, decided that the outlook for building up the college did not justify further sacrifice. At a faculty meeting they announced their decision. President Carpenter said, "I have organized the last faculty for Oskaloosa College." As the result of conferences with D. R. Lucas, J. B. Vawter and others, Carpenter determined that the interests of the cause demanded the removal of the school from Oskaloosa to Des Moines. Stubborn opposition was met, however, and the effort to transfer the assets of the old school was blocked. All the faculty, except one member, and most of the students, cast their lot with the new venture. Local in terests reorganized and maintained a struggling school at Oskaloosa for nearly twenty years longer. George Thomas Carpenter, the first president of Drake University, was a man of undaunted energy, prophetic vision and a devotion to the cause of education. In 1881, Northwest Des Moines was a wilderness. The undergrowth was so dense as to be penetrated with difficulty. The street cars stopped at 15th and Woodland, which was practically the limit of settlement. One day, in company with Norman Haskins, D. R. Lucas and others, Dr. Carpenter looked the ground over and selected the site for the main building. He enlisted a number of responsible citizens and formed the University Land Company. They purchased 140 acres of land, set aside a portion of it for a cam- pus,_and proceeded to sell the rest, devoting a portion of the profits to the Uni versity, partly for endowment and partly for a contingent fund. Norman Haskins was induced to take the presidency of the land company and Dr. Carpenter was 4The author is under obligations to Prof. C. O. Denny for the subject matter of this sketch. 430 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY made secretary. Both served without compensation until the books of the com pany were closed. In 1880, land in the vicinity sold for $15 an acre, but prices were advanced at the prospect of the new school, and the land company had to pay $80 for its first purchases, and as high as $1,000 for tracts secured later. With the money thus realized for the contingent fund, and with supplementary subscriptions, a four- story wooden structure was erected on the site of the present Music building at a cost of about $11,000. It bore on its front the name "Students' Home," as it was designed ultimately for a dormitory and boarding hall. But, for a year or two, it served all the purposes of the college. About fifty students, mostly from Oskaloosa College, were present at the open ing, September 20, 1881. Most of the faculty were from Oskaloosa, with the ad dition of W. H. Kent in science, and Norman Dunshee in the ancient languages. The other teachers in the Liberal Arts faculty were G. T. Carpenter, president, and Professors Bruce E. Shepperd, William P. Macy and Lyman S. Bottenfield. Milton P. Givens, Mark E. Wright and Mrs. W. P. Macy presided over the de partments of commerce, music and art, respectively. Professor Bottenfield and his wife conducted the students' home and the boarding club. Religious services were maintained in the assembly room, conducted by President Carpenter and Professors Macy and Dunshee, Professor Givens su perintended the Sunday School. The city churches were two miles away. General Francis Marion Drake, soldier, railroad builder and man of affairs, was associated with the neyv enterprise from the beginning. Fle was the brother- in-law of Carpenter. The General took a peculiar delight in making his brother- in-law his agent in dispensing a large portion of his wealth. Carpenter pos sessed initiative, the power to inspire others with his ideals, and great executive and administrative ability. Drake contributed business sagacity and wise coun sel. The General was president of the board of trustees from 1881 till his death, November 20, 1903. At critical emergencies he came forward with large gifts. The school could not have started, nor could it have lived through its earlier years without these two. When the plans began to take definite form and the question of a name was under discussion in a conference of the provisional board of trustees, Carpen ter proposed that the school should be named for the man who would give $20,000 toward an endowment fund. D. R. Lucas was directed to write Gen eral Drake and ask whether he would supply the $20,000. The answer came back, "I can and will do it." This was the first of the General's many gifts, which amounted in the aggregate to $232,076.47. It was the General's theory that his gifts should bear some proportion to the gifts of others ; that it was better for the school to receive gifts from a large number of people. He said he did not want it to be looked upon as his university. In 1882, B. J. Radford was made president of the College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Carpenter was elected Chancellor of the University. He held this office till his death in 1893. Dr. Radford remained but one year. The duties of president devolved upon the Chancellor until 1889, yvhen Barton O. Aylesworth was made .president. President Aylesworth held that office until 1897. In 1897, William Bayard Craig was made Chancellor, and Bruce E. Shepperd was placed m charge of the College of Liberal Arts, with the title of dean. On the resignation of Craig, in 1902, Hill McClelland Bell became acting head of the University. He had been called to the principalship of the normal and preparatory depart ments in 1897, was elected vice-chancellor in 1901, and dean of the college of liberal arts in 1902, holding these several offices simultaneously. After serv ing a year as acting-chancellor, he was in 1903 made president of the university, that office having been created and the office of chancellor discontinued. . From the first, the university has been non-sectarian. Great liberality has been evidenced in the composition of its board of trustees and faculties ; but fe "f% afl& SBKBBTfMEBiRS 4 IV* -V v !:v- ^ •A. ¦ ¦' HE ^* 3ji ¦_'¦¦- •4? *» Si1"* GBfc* Or". jliJgyjj i! ^^^| Buy .... ¦¦. Institute of Fine Arts, Howard Hall Carnegie Library Science Hall Administration Building Cole Hall— Law College Memorial Hall GROUP OF DRAKE UNIVERSITY BUILDIXfiS CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 431 its earliest, and most of its largest benefactors, have been members of the Church of Christ, or Disciples, and they have always been prominent in its counsels. The new school started out with departments of Liberal Arts, Bible, Music, Art, Oratory and Commerce. A Law College and a Medical College yvere se cured by affiliation. The Law College, known as the Iowa College of Law, had been affiliated with Simpson College at Indianola, since its organization in 1875. The Iowa College of Pharmacy, organized in 1882, was affiliated in 1887, and the Des Moines College of Dentistry in 1900, thus completing the circle of col leges as originally planned by the founder of the University. From the first, great expectations on the part of the Disciples of Christ were centered in Drake University for it came to be looked upon by many wise observers of the state and nation as the coming school of the church. The knowledge that their brethren all over the land had such boundless con fidence in them and expected so much of them was a burden on the hearts of the teachers. As new demands came, with no money to provide additional teachers or equipment, they were met by these men with additional sacrifices ; and. in reckoning the gifts that have been made to Drake University by gen erous friends, the names of Carpenter, Shepperd, Bottenfield, Macy, Dunshee, and others should be assigned to a special roll of honor. The articles of incorporation for the University were filed May 7, 1881. Fol lowing were the incorporating board : F. M. Drake, C. E. Fuller, G. T. Carpen ter, D. R. Lucas, J. B. Vawter, E. N. Curl, Samuel Merrill, Larkin Wright, C. A. Dudley, P. M. Casady, H. G. Van Meter, R. T. C. Lord, D. R. Dungan, J. B. White, Allen Hickey, N. A. McConnell, A. L. Frisbie, and F. M. Kirkham. F. M. Drake was chosen president of the board ; G. T. Carpenter, vice-president ; D. R. Lucas, secretary, and C. E. Fuller, treasurer. The corporation being com pleted, the work of soliciting funds, planning and erecting buildings, platting, im proving and selling lots, and organizing the several departments of the school was promptly entered upon. Soon' after the opening of the school, President Carpenter placed in the hands of C. B. Larkin, architect, outlines for the main building. October 5, [881, a contract was let for the necessary excavation. The work of selling lots and raising subscriptions went rapidly forward. In the spring of 1882, work was begun in earnest. In the fall three or four basement rooms of the roofless building were finished and occupied by classes. The building was completed in 1883. In the preliminary announcement of Drake University, issued early in 1881, is found this significant paragraph : "This University has been designed upon a broad, liberal and modern basis. The articles of incorporation provide that all its departments shall be open to all without distinction of sex, religion or race. In its management and influence, it will aim at being Christian, without being sec tarian." Years passed before Des Moines began to show any real interest in Drake University. That the city is now heartily behind the school is made manifest not only by popular demonstrations on every occasion where there is opportunity to show loyalty, but by the fact that more graduates of Des Moines high schools now attend Drake University than all other colleges and universities combined. A decided majority of the members of the Des Moines bar are Drake alumni, and hunr'reds of her sons are found in the other professions and in business. Eighteen hundred students and one hundred sixty-six teachers contribute nearly a million dollars annually to the commercial interests of the city. A suburb of fifteen thousand population has been built uo about the University. One of the last acts of th'e administration of Chancellor Craig was to bring all the professional schools under the direct ownership and control of the Univer sity. Hitherto, they had held their own charters and were private corporations, with little more than a nominal relationship to the University. In October, 1908, the Keokuk Medical college was merged with Drake University College of Medi cine, and all its assets transferred to Des Moines. 432 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY During the administration of President Bell the school has enjoyed a phe nomenal growth. The physical assets have been multiplied by three during this period. The entire number of students has increased almost one-half. This however, does not show the real growth in numbers, for the preparatory, com mercial, and other schools of sub-college grade have been dropped, and the attendance in the College of Liberal Arts increased from one hundred seventy m 1902 to seven hundred thirty-four in 1911. The total attendance for 1910-11 was 1,827, or, excluding the Summer -School, 1,586. This has also been a building era. The second permanent building was Science Hall, erected in 1890. A telescope with an eight and one-fourth inch objective was added in 1893, the gift of General Drake. In 1900, the Auditorium was built, with money supplied by General Drake. In 1903, the same generous hand pro vided the funds to build Howard Hall for the use of the Conservatory of Music. At about the same time the General proposed to give $10,000 toward a building for the layv school, $10,000 for a Medical and $10,000 for a Bible building, conditioned on the raising from other sources of the further sums necessary to complete these buildings. The funds necessary to secure these gifts were promptly raised, and the Medical building was erected in 1903, the Law building (Cole Hall) in 1904, and the Bible building- (Memorial Hall) in 1905. In 1907 the Carnegie Library was erected, Mr. Carnegie contributing $50,000 for the building, and the citizens of Des Moines a like sum for endowment. A $25,000 heating plant was added the same year. In 1909 the Men's Gymnasium (Alumni Hall) was erected, and a Women's Gymnasium was equipped in the north wing of Administration building, adjoining the Auditorium. In 1908, the capacity of the Music building was doubled by the addition of a wing on the east. In 1910, a large addition was added to the Medical building, and in 191 1 it was further increased in size so as s, to accommodate all the classes in the Medical School. The Drake Stadium was completed in 1907. The funds were largely pro- v- vided by the generous gifts of Norman Haskins. It is a natural amphitheater. '0, At present it has a seating capacity of 10,000 people, with room for as many more. '%; The University is on the accepted list of colleges of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, — a guarantee of its standards, and insuring its instructors a retiring allowance when their days of activity are over. The University's present assets amount to $1,280,000. Necessary equipment is provided, and the ordinary needs of the student are well taken care of. The men now guiding its fortunes share the belief of Chancellor Carpenter, that the institution is destined to be one of the great educational seats of the country. Highland Park College — 1889-1911. Highland Park College was organized in 1889 by a company of business men in Des Moines. These men were all in a measure interested in real estate in North Des Moines and in Highland Park. The main college building was started in the summer of 1889 and the corner stone was laid in the fall of that year. President Longwell was engaged in Feb ruary, 1890, and came to Des Moines in April, to take charge of the finishing of the main college building, the erection of other buildings and their equipment, the selection of the faculty, and in fact, everything that should be looked after in the organization of the college. While the syndicate furnished the money and con ferred with the president as to the general plans of the buildings, the selecting of the faculty, the arranging of the courses of study, and the organization of the school were left to President I.ongwell's judgment and management. The opening of the college was set for September, 1890, and the correspond ence indicated that the attendance would be large. A large dormitory for young ladies and one also for young men had been planned, but there came a strike in the brick yards, and the company was unable to finish either of these dormitories ; so there were erected four large temporary board buildings 100 feet long, con- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 433 taining ioo rooms, for the boys, also three large twenty-room cottages for the young ladies. These were finished at the time the college opened. There was a large attendance for a new institution, and the president told the students they should hold a jubilee when the attendance reached five hundred stu dents. They held the jubilee early in October ! The strike at the brick yard was settled and Humboldt, Lowell and Franklin Halls, three large brick dormitories were successfully erected. Humboldt Hall was first occupied on Thanksgiving day and Franklin and Lowell Halls about Christmas. The attendance for the first year was 825 students, and this first-year record was counted almost unprecedent. The attendance the second year was over 1,200 and the third year over 1,500. The panic of 1893, however, proved disastrous to the men behind the college. Their private fortunes were swept away and it became necessary to sell the prop erty, yet the college as a business enterprise had been a financial success from the beginning. If by some means it could have been separated from the rest of their possessions, it would have escaped the trouble that attended it in 1894 and '95. The college was, however, reorganized in 1896, and it has been growing in at tendance and in material improvement ever since. A large Science Hall has re cently been erected and equipped at an expense of about $150,000. The manage ment have established an engineering school and machine shops. It is claimed that the machine shops are larger and better equipped than those of any other en gineering school in the country. The machinery alone has cost about $12,000. The building is 135x104 feet with saw-tooth roof admitting light from the north. In this same building is conducted the trade school, including the machinists' and the automobile machinists' courses, manual training, traction engine, blacksmith ing, forge work, foundry and gas and steam laboratories. The college is well equipped in all its departments. Its laboratories are counted as good as there are in the state. They number the biological, physical, electrical, chemical, pharmaceutical and Materia Medica. The engineering department has been inspected by the government and placed upon the list of approved govern ment engineering schools. The College of Pharmacy has been admitted to the highest rank of pharmacy schools and societies in the country. The Normal Col li lege was the first accredited in accordance with the new normal law and graduates S| from the Normal College and from the College of Liberal Arts receive state cer- |? tificates without having to take the examinations, — same as graduates from the State Normal or from the State University. Every department of the school has been standardized. The college now has an annual attendance of over 2,000 students. In connec tion with the residence school it has a correspondence school covering normal work, preparatory work and much technical work. During the current year it has had between 800 and 900 students in this department doing regular work, some of them making splendid progress. Hon. Henry Sabin, long state superin tendent, while at the head of the department of pedagogy, placed that department on a high plane which it has since maintained. In January, 191 1, the school was transferred to the Presbyterian church and later was accepted by the Presbytery of Des Moines. The new board of trustees includes some of the leading members of that church. Rev. Dr. George P. Magill, pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church, is secretary of the new board of trus tees, L. L. Hamlin, president of the Des Moines Tent and Awning Company, is vice president of the board. John Cownie, Sr., is a member of the board and also of the executive committee. Other members are Dr. Thomas Bond, Judge A. K. Stewart, Rev. S. D. McFadden, J. A. Hosmer, Rev. William Boynton Gage, A. D. Struther, James R. Martin, Prof. Z. C. Thornburg, and O. H. Long- well, who remains as president of the college as well as president of the board of trustees. Two destructive fires recently visited the college. One destroyed the machine shops and all the machinery, but this has all been replaced by the new shops and machinery already described. The second fire recently destroyed Lowell and Vol. 1-28 J 434 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Franklin Halls ; but the insurance enabled the board to build a new hall which will contain as many rooms as both the other halls, and which will be strictly modern in every particular. It will be 243 feet long, four stories high, with a high base ment and will contain 134 student rooms. In this basement, which is especially adapted to the purpose, will be organized a domestic science and household arts department. Grand View College and Theological Seminary — 1895-1911. Grand View College and Theological Seminary belongs to the Danish Evan gelical Lutheran Church in America and was founded in 1895. It was opened with one scholar and three professors besides the temporary president, Rev. N. P. Gravengaard, then of Brayton, Iowa. Its yearly attendance is now about 125, and its staff of teachers numbers ten. From 1897 to 1904 the president was R. R. Westergaard, now in Denmark. The next president was Rev. B. Norden- toft, who resigned in 1910, after whom Rev. E. Wagner was temporarily elected. No successor to President Nordentoft has yet been chosen. The institution was established for young Danish Americans and about 1,300 of them have attended it thus far. It was built primarily as a theological seminary and twenty-five of its grad uates are now ministers in the synod of which Des Moines belongs. It has also a teachers' course, but this has not been well attended thus far. The greater part of the students come for the general course, — Danish Americans who would be helped along in English by teachers who know just what they need; also native Danish Americans, to gain a deeper understanding of the language and history of their forefathers beyond the sea. Many parents send their children to this school because it is the school of their church. It should also be mentioned that since 1908 the college has had a special course for the training of teachers in gymnastics after Ling's System. This course has had about fifteen graduates. A new model gymnasium has been built for this purpose by the young people. It cost $4,500. The apparatus was imported from Denmark. GRAND VIEW COLLEGE CHAPTER I. THE METHODIST CHURCH. Dr. Waring, historian of the Des Moines Conference,1 says that Methodism in Iowa in 1844 was under one jurisdiction — that of the Iowa Conference. The Upper Iowa Conference was formed in 1856, leaving Des Moines in what was left of the Iowa Conference, the south half of the State. The Des Moines Con ference was created in 1864, consisting of all the south half of the state west of a north and south line running between Wayne and Appanoose and Lucas and Monroe, dividing Marion in the middle and Jasper nearly in the middle. In 1872, the northern boundary of the conference was enlarged to include Story, Boone, Greene, Carroll, Crawford and the southern part of Monona. Dr. Waring refers to the formation of the Three Rivers mission, "includ ing the south part of the Ft. Des Moines mission." He records the organiza tion of a new district including Fort Des Moines and "the rest of the Three Rivers mission." David Worthington was its first presiding elder. According to Turrill,2 the first sermon ever preached in Fort Des Moines was by an itinerant Methodist preacher named Ezra Rathbun, the occasion be ing a funeral — held some time in 1845. Waring' s History of the Iowa Confer ence says "the first preaching at the Fort was in February, 1846, by Ezra Rath- bun, assisted by his two brothers, all local (lay) preachers." In '46, a Meth odist Society was organized at the Fort, with Rev. B. H. Russel as pastor. Russel was a circuit rider in what was known as the Fort Des Moines Mission, including Polk, Madison and Warren counties, also the north half of Marion and the south half of Jasper, Boone and Dallas. This pioneer organization at the Fort consisted of Joseph Solenbarger, class-leader ; Sarah Solenbarger, Rev. Abner Rathbun, Betsey Rathbun, Sr., Rev. Ezra Rathbun, Jonathan Rathbun, Benjamin T. Hoxie and William Meacham and wife. The pioneer presiding elders in the Fort Des Moines district were John Hayden, 1851 ; J. B. Hardy, i855- . Michael H. Hare, an Ohio man, in his early ministry traveled the large circuit of those days. In 1850, at the age of thirty-three, he was appointed to the Fort Des Moines mission, and "did much pioneer work, visiting and plant ing societies in the region for forty or fifty miles north and west of the Fort. In '62, he was appointed chaplain of the 36th Iowa Infantry. With his command he was captured in '64 and imprisoned in Camp Taylor, Texas," where his confinement developed tuberculosis from which he died July 27, 1868. He was a man of fine physique and strong mind. His social qualities and his gift of song greatly aided him in his pioneer labors. The first Methodist Conference held in Des Moines and the fourteenth in the history of the Church in Iowa, was that of 1857. Bishop E. R. Ames presided. The body convened in the unplastered basement of the old Fifth street church. The panic of '57 affected the attendance, the collections and the proceedings. Business was transacted in haste. Many of the reports were wanting, and those made were not especially gratifying. Sunday morning, J History of the Iowa Conference of the M. E. Church, by Rev. Edmund H. Waring, of Oskaloosa. 2 Turrill's Reminiscences of the City of Des Moines, p. 24. 437 438 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Bishop Ames preached on "Faith." In the afternoon, Dr. Elliott preached on "Love," and in the evening, Dr. Scott's theme was Ministerial Education. The conference lasted from the 24th to the 29th of September. The tearing down of the old First Methodist church on Fifth street, Des Moines, to make room for the new Iowa Loan and Trust Company building, drew from the late Isaac Brandt a reminiscent interview in the Register, which throws light upon the Fifties in Fort Des Moines. Mr. Brandt said the church erected in 1856 was dedicated "not only to God but also to patriotism." F. M. Mills, now of Sioux Falls, S. D., had just come to Fort Des Moines and bought a half-interest of John Daugherty in a brick yard, and the firm supplied the brick for the church. Charles Cate did the brick work and Harrison & Eddy, the carpentry. The first trustees of the first church were W. W. Williamson, Alexander Bowers, H. S. Burick, M. Sypher, Reuben Wilson, J. W. Payne and Alexander Gordon. The funeral of Father Gordon, trustee, was the first serv ice held in the church. The first pastor was Rev. Samuel B. Crawford. The second service held in the new building was at the funeral of Mr. Harrison, one of the builders of the church. It was conducted by Rev. Mr. Barnhart. The hard times of '57 brought work on the church to a standstill. It was all the congregation could do to pay the preacher and keep up the interest on $3,000 borrowed of A. J. Stevens, James Callanan and S. R. Ingham. In the summer of i860 services were held in the completed basement, with Rev. Dr. George B. Jocelyn pastor. Mr. Ingham became the owner of the mortgage, and he finished off the upper part of the building so that it could be rented for conventions, shows, etc. It was called Ingham's Hall. In this hall, in '61, several stirring war meetings were held. In 1863, Rev. David N. Smith, on coming to assume the pastorate, objected to the promiscuous use of the upper part of the church. He told his people they must lift the mortgage. A committee waited on Messrs. Ingham and Callanan. Judge Callanan told them he and Mr. Ingham didn't want the prop erty and they would help the church redeem it. "Raise us a little money and you can have all the time you want on the balance." The entire amount was soon raised, and within a year the church was dedicated. The congregation grew strong and a number of its members planted a second church on Seventh street near Aulmann's brewery. The nearness of the brewery became offensive. In time the two churches united in erecting the commodious church on Ninth and Pleasant streets which seemed ample for all coming time ; but, in 1909, the con gregation moved into the still larger and far more beautiful edifice on the hill on Pleasant street, facing Tenth. The following named ministers have served the First Church : Joseph Ackerman,3 1845; Andrew G. Pierce and James Ranier, 1846; James Q. Hammond, 1847-8; Joseph Ackerman, 1849; Michael Hare, 1850; Sanford Haines, 1851-2; William E. Butt, 1853; Edward W. Twinging, 1854; Samuel B. Crawford, 1855-6; George B. Jocelyn, 1857-8; Edward H. Waring, 1859; Eph raim H. Wians, i860; Eli M. H. Fleming, 1861 ; Charles C. Mabee, 1862; David N. Smith, 1863; Samuel M. Vernon, 1864-5; Pearl P. Ingalls, 1865-7; Addison C. Williams, 1867-70; Pearl P. Ingalls, 1870-73; Thomas S. Berry, 1873-6 • Thomas F. Houts, 1876-7; Charles S. Ryman, 1877-80; Emerson K. Young. 1880-84; Emory Miller, 1884-7; Alfred IT. Ames, 1887-92; Jos. L. Sooy, 1892-6: E. L. Eaton, 1896-1900; Albert B. Storms, 1900-03; Edward T. Hagerman, 1903-10; George A. Scott, 1910. Meantime congregations have gone out from the mother church until now )ckerman ; and changed to fill 3 In Waring' s history of the Iowa Conference this name is spelled Ockerman; and Waring adds that he "was assigned to 'Raccoon Forks mission,' but was chan a vacancy at Ottumwa, then a more important place." CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 439 there are twenty churches that maintain the standards of Methodism in the Capital City. These are as follows: Asbury — East Sixteenth and Capitol avenue, Rev. Edward Fintel. Burns — Twelfth and Crocker, Rev. LeRoy Woolrich. (This was the first Negro church organized in Des Moines. It was founded May 8, 1866, with S. T. Wells, pastor.) Capital Park— East Thirteenth and Polk, Rev. J. C. Pike. Easton Place — Easton boulevard and Wilbur, Rev. Carl Brown. Fort Des Moines — South Ninth, Rev. W. A. Lower. German — 516 Third street, Rev. R. W. Tautenhahn. German — East Seventh and Scott; Rev. Albert Smith. Grace — Nineteenth and Crocker, Rev. O. W. Fifer. Highland Park — Fifth and Euclid avenue, Rev. John Arnold. Jordan — Walnut Hill, Rev. Roy Thomas. Norwegian-Danish — East Ninth and Maple, Rev. A. Christensen. Oak Grove — East Thirty-first, near the city limits, no. settled pastor. North Des Moines — Eighth and Washington, Rev. O. A. Luce. Sevastopol — South Des Moines, Rev. Edward Durant. Simpson — East Twenty-sixth and Capitol avenue, Rev. Clifton H. Hiller. St. Paul's A. M. E. — Second and Center, Rev. I. N. Daniels. Swedish — Pennsylvania avenue and Maple, Rev. Oscar R. Palm. Tenth M. E.— Sixth and Garfield, Rev. Edward Durant. Wesley — East Eleventh and Des Moines, Rev. J. W. Abel. This last named church is one of the oldest church societies in the city. It was organized as Wesley M. E. Chapel in the fall of 1856, with only four mem bers. The organizer was Rev. E. M. H. Fleming. In the winter following, a chapel building was erected, and in February, 1857, the building was dedi cated. In 1863, under the supervision of Rev. P. F. Brazee, an addition to the chapel was built on the north end — the addition larger than the original chapel. By this time the membership had increased to 165. A strong feature of the Methodist Episcopal organization in Iowa is the State Methodist Convention. The first of the series was held in Iowa City in 1871. The second was held in Des Moines May 31, 1881. Bishop John F. Hurst, then a resident of Des Moines, was elected president, and Dr. J. C. W. Coxie, secretary. Hon. Coker F. Clarkson, of the Iowa State Register, deliv ered a pleasing address of welcome, to which Bishop Hurst gave a felicitous re sponse. At the gathering, all the great subjects involved in the work of the church were ably presented, including the history of the church in the State, temperance, education, the press, the Sabbath and Sabbath schools, revival meth ods, the local ministry, class meetings, the pastoral office, and missions. Those agencies that call out the energies of the ladies of the church were ably repre sented by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, Mrs. W. P. Hepburn and others. In a statistical view of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Iowa in 1909, it appears that the Des Moines conference then included six of the twenty-one districts in the State; 225 of the 757 pastorates; 215 of the 728 effective preach- > ers; 55,067 of the total membership of 153,821 ; 460 of the 1,385 churches; 205 of the 682 parsonages ; and the total value of church property in the Des Moines Conference was $2,111,800, while that of all the churches in the State is $7,628,242. In 1881, the sum of $1,924 was apportioned to the districts as the part of the Iowa Conference toward the erection of an Episcopal residence in Des Moines. But as the General Conference of the church, in 1884, took away the resident bishop from Des Moines, the project was abandoned, and the money paid was refunded to the subscribers. The Iowa Methodist Hospital of Des Moines is owned and controlled by the M. E. Church. It proffers its services to all who may need and desire them, without regard to race, nationality, color or creed, charging moderately those 440 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY who are able to pay and extending free service to others. Its surgical staff consists of seventeen members, and its corps of about fifty nurses has reached a high grade of efficiency. The hospital opened its doors January 16, 1901, with about thirty beds. The first year it cared for three hundred patients. During 1904-5 a west wing was built at a cost of $50,000, enlarging the capacity by about one hundred beds. In 1906, its patients numbered 1,321; in 1907, 1,558; in 1908, 1,935; in 1909, more than 2,000. In 1908 a separate home for nurses was built at a cost of $30,000 with equip ment. It accommodates seventy-five. The property was originally valued at $35,000 ; it is now held to be worth not less than $200,000. The Deaconess Home and Bible Training School, Des Moines, is one of the two homes sustained by the Methodist Episcopal Church in Iowa through the agency of the Woman's Home Missionary Society. In 1892 a Deaconess Home Association of Des Moines was formed and a small house rented as headquar ters. Maj. A. C. Bidwell left to the First M. E. Church $2,500 for home mis sionary work. This sum was turned over to the Association and with it the Bidwell Deaconess Home, on Ninth street, was founded. The property was conveyed to the Des Moines Conference Home Missionary Society. In 1904 the Home was enlarged by the addition of eleven rooms, at a cost of $5,200. Still other additions have since been made. In 1909 the family numbered fifty, including eight deaconesses and thirty-nine in the training school. The laudable purpose of the Home is to fit women for evangelistic and nurse work, at home and abroad. ASA TURNER Pioneer Congregationalist Preacher CHAPTER II. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. Congregationalism in Polk county begins with the visit of Rev. Benjamin A. Spaulding to Fort Des Moines, in 1844. 1 Mr. Spaulding was a member of the famous Iowa Band, composed of eleven young men who came from Andover Seminary, Massachusetts, to Iowa in November of 1843. He chose for his field the New Purchase, locating at "Autumwa." In his first year he made a visit to Fort Des Moines which he reports, in part, as follows : "A few weeks since I visited 'Raccoon River Agency,' nearly one hundred miles from this place, and thirty or forty from the line which divides this from the country at present occupied by the Indians. Nearly a mile from this, on the point between the Raccoon and the Des Moines, is a garrison consisting of about one hundred soldiers, and five commissioned officers. The whole population of the settle ment is not far from two hundred. On the Sabbath I preached to as many of these as could be crowded into a single room, officers, soldiers, merchants, me chanics, farmers, gentlemen, ladies, children, and servants, both black and white." The next Congregational minister to visit Fort Des Moines, is Rev. George B; Hitchcock, a native of Massachusetts, one of the pioneer preachers of Iowa. In 1847 he was located at Oskaloosa and Eddyville and made an occasional visit to Fort Des Moines. The first permanent work in which the Congregationalists of Des Moines have a share, is the settlement of Rev. Thompson Bird as a missionary of the American Home Missionary Society, work which was sustained by both Con gregationalists and Presbyterians. His work was the beginning of the now great Central Presbyterian church of Des Moines. Plymouth church was organized December 6, 1857. A year previous the Rev. Joseph T. Cook had come to Des Moines. He was originally from Ohio ; was pastor from 1853 to 1856 in Eddyville; and from 1856 to 1859 did mission ary work in Des Moines. Under his direction the Plymouth church was organ ized at the date before indicated. ( Mr. Cook was afterwards pastor at Elgin and Geneseo, Illinois, and Maquoketa, Iowa. Later, he practiced medicine at Sabula, Iowa, and died April 18, 1897.) Other pastors of the Plymouth were as follows: Joshua M. Chamberlain, '859-65. During his pastorate the church membership grew from eleven to fixty-six, and the building was moved and enlarged. The third pastor was Henry S. DeForest, 1866-70. In 1870, Samuel P. Sloan of McGregor, was called and accepted, but died before entering upon his work. Rev. A. L. Frisbie, served from 1871 to 1898, and since 1898 has continued to serve as Pastor Emeritus. Recent pastors have been Francis J. Van Horn, 1899-1903; Frank W. Hodgsdon, 1903-11. The first building, 25x44, was erected November 7, '58. This building was moved from Seventh to Locust street, and enlarged so as to accommodate four hundred people. The second dedication occurred January 14, 1877. The cost of the building was $37,000. The present building was erected in 1902. Mr. Chamberlain was born in Brookfield, Mass., October 2, 1825. He gradu- 'The author is deeply indebted to Rev. T. O. Douglass historian of the Congregational Church of Iowa, for the subject matter of this sketch. 441 442 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY ated from Dartmouth College and Andover Seminary; and came to Dubuque in 1858. After leaving Plymouth church he was agent for the American Mis sionary Association, pastor at Eddyville, treasurer and librarian of Iowa Col lege, and for thirty-six years a trustee of Iowa College. His gifts to that institution run up into the thousands. He died November 11, 1897. H. S. DeForest was a native of New York, and a graduate of Yale College and Divinity School. His Iowa pastorates were Des Moines, Plymouth, Council Bluffs and Waterloo. He was president of Talladega College for seventeen years. He died January 27, '96. Writes Mr. Douglass: "Perhaps it would be superfluous to give a sketch of Dr. Frisbie, he is so well known in Polk county, but this is what I say in my forthcoming book on Congregationalism in Iowa : Alva Lillie Frisbie came of the purest blood of the Pilgrim stock, though himself a New York Yankee, born in Delaware county, October 22, 1830. On his twentieth birthday, he learned his first lesson in the Latin grammar, and went on through Courtland Academy, Oberlin and Amherst Colleges, Yale and Andover Seminaries, to his first pas torate of five years' duration, at Ansonia, Conn., beginning in February, i860. One of these five years, he was at the front in the work of the Christian Com mission, and as chaplain of the Twentieth Connecticut regiment; then six years at Danbury, and then Plymouth, Des Moines, for twenty-nine years pastor, and to this day Pastor Emeritus. For nearly thirty years he was the leading Con gregational minister in the State ; beyond dispute the Primate of the Congrega tional Bishops of Iowa. By his position in the Cathedral parish, by his vigor of intellect, and by the abounding grace of good will and fellowship he gained and held this high distinction, and — what is rare — excited no envy thereby. The good Doctor's testimony is : 'The long pastorate has been one of prolonged blessing and joy, in the fellowship of the splendid men of the Congregational ministry of Iowa, in the loving sympathy of the Plymouth people, and in the feeling that the labor in the Lord was not in vain. For all His name be praised.' " The second church of Polk county was at Polk City, organized April 3, 1858. Rev. Joseph T. Cook, who organized Plymouth church, did the preliminary w.ork in the organizing of the Polk City church. The first regular pastor was Rev. John K. Nutting, — born at Groton Mass., May 17, 1832. He graduated from Williams College and Hartford Seminary. He was ordained at Eddyville, but his first pastoral work was in Polk City. He was in charge from 1858 to i860. His next pastorate was at Bradford, Iowa, where he built2 "The Little Brown Church in the Vale," of which he was the architect and principal builder. His other Iowa pastorates have been Nashua, Monticello, Glenwood, Buffalo Center, Thompson, Gaza, Sioux Rapids, College Springs and Farmington. For a num ber of years he was pastor in Ohio. He is still living, and nearly eighty years of age, and in charge of the church at Auburndale, Florida. The pastors who followed Mr. Cook in Polk City are : E. Cleveland, '6o-'62 ; William Apthorp, '62-'6s ; G. W. Palmer, '6s-'70 ; Alexander Parker, '70-'7i ; L. S. Hand, '72-'78; John Grawe, 79-'8o ; R. W. Hughes, '83-'87; R. F. Laven der, '87-'9i ; S. A. Arnold, '9i-'92; L. C. Bellsmith, '93-'94; A. S. Houston, '94-05 ; J. W. Buck, '95-'99 ; followed by the short pastorates of E. U. Menzier, and O. D. Crawford. The present pastor, since 1904, is J. H. Mintier. The first church building of the Polk City Congregationalists was the old schoolhouse, purchased and remodeled in 1863. The new building was dedicated January 30, 1870. The parsonage was purchased in 1879. The church building was re modeled and rededicated October 22, 1899. Mr. Apthorp, the third pastor, came to Iowa in 1836, locating in Fort Madison, and supplying at Denmark. He was the first Congregational minister in the state, but not the first Congre gational pastor. That honor belongs to Asa Turner. Mr. Apthorp, though a Congregational minister, was pastor of the Presbyterian church at Fort Madison. 2 Since immortalized in a popular song. See Midland Monthly, v. S. P- 310- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 443 The next church in Polk county was organized twenty years later, — "the Moriah" of Des Moines, in 1878. This church was Welsh at the first, but later became English. It served a good purpose for the people of the community for about twenty years. The name is still on the list, but the church is practically extinct. On September 10, of this, same year — 1878 — the Mitchellville church was organized. Dr. Frisbie had much to do with the organizing of this church, for he did the preliminary work in gathering the material and after the organization supplied the pulpit for about two years. He would preach at Plymouth in the morning, drive the twelve miles, hold a service at Mitchellville, and return for the evening service in the city. The pastors of the Mitchellville church have been as follows: Rev. J. W. Ferner, '8o-'8i ; G.. H. Sharpley, '83-'87; J. G. Sabin, '87-'89;'H. C. Rosenberger, '89-'97; C. B. Taylor, '97-'99; V. B. Hill, '99-'oi; W. L. Brandt. 'oi-'o3; J. V. Rosewarne, '03-'os ; L. W. Nine, 'os-'o6. Present pastor, since '07, P H. Fisk. The first house was dedicated May 14, 1882, and the present building, September 27, 1903. The fifth Congregational organization of the county was the Des Moines Pilgrim church, organized July 2, 1883. Here also, Dr. Frisbie is entitled to the credit of supervising the enterprise. Shortly before the organization, Rev. Sylvester S. Grinnell, a native of Ohio, and a graduate of Oberlin, began work in the east part of the city, and supported by the Iowa Home Missionary Society, prepared the church for organization. After leaving Des Moines, Mr. Grinnell had a pastorate at Rockford, Iowa, '84-'87, and other pastorates in Wisconsin and Michigan. He died September 12, '97. The pastors of Pilgrim church have been as follows: S. S. Grinnell, supply, '83-'84; A. W. Safford, '84-'88, now resides at Antioch, 111. ; A. D. Kinzer, '88-'92, at present resides at Kent, Wash ington; Clinton Douglass, '92-1900, deceased; J. W. Fetterhoff, 1900- '02, resid ing now at Macon, III; John B. Losey, 'o2-'o7; Arthur Metcalf, 'o7-'io, now pastor at Webster City; and Rev. John C. Prince, 191 1. The sixth church is the North Park, Des Moines, organized January 5, 1885. This, too, is the handiwork of Dr. Frisbie; although he knew it would cut into Plymouth's membership, somewhat, he thought there ought to- be a church in the north part" of the city, and took it upon himself to project the enterprise. Before the church was organized he secured the services of Rev. Benjamin St. John, who began work in that part of the city in 1884. Mr. St. John is a native. of Iowa, born and reared in Riceville, Howard county. He served the church from '84-'98; was for a time general missionary of the Iowa Home Missionary Society. Later he served the church at Fayette, and now resides at Benicia, California. Other pastors are John S. Colby, '98- '99; John Comin, '99- '08; Fred A. Stephens, 'o8-'09; and T. O. Douglass, Jr., present pastor, who began in 1910. The next church to be organized was at Prairie Hill, March 17, 1886. This, during its existence, was associated with the Polk City church, and supplied by its pastors. It lived to do a good service for about a decade, and then disbanded. The next is the Berwick church, organized July 13, 1886. For some years there had existed a Union church in the community now known as Berwick. Mr. Charles E. Blodgett, who was engaged in business in Des Moines, in 1885, supplied Jhis Union church. Under his leadership it came into the Gongrega- tional fellowship. He continued to supply the church until 1888. Mr. Blodgett now resides in Chicago. Subsequent pastors have been: M. D. Archer, '88-'9i, deceased; W. R. Griffiths, '91 -'92, now in Wales; Joseph Steele, '92-'o2, now pastor at Kingsley ; E. C. Chevis, '02-'o3, now at New Windsor, 111. ; Nelson IT. May, '03-'o6, pastor in South Dakota; T. B. Couchman, 'o7-'o8, Independence, Iowa; and the present pastor since '08, E. A. Elliott. The next to be organized is Linn Grove, February 24, '91. The credit of the gathering of this church is to be given to Rev. Joseph Steele, at that time pastor at Berwick. He served the Linn Grove church from 1891 to 1895. Later this church was united with the Bondurant church. 444 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The next in point of time is the Des Moines German, organized October 20 1892. The material for the church was gathered by Rev. Carl Hess, general missionary for the German people of the state. The first pastor was Rev. Jacob ITenn, born in Germany, April 27, 1835; educated in the Fatherland; a preacher of the Evangelical Association, '58-'93 ; pastor of the Des Moines church, '92-'98; subsequently had pastorates in Chicago and Muscatine; died February 20, 1903. The second pastor was Rev. Otto Gerhardt, who was also born and educated in Germany. The date of his birth was June 29, 1850. He was pastor of the Evangelical Association, '76-'98, and of the Des Moines church, '97-99. He died in office, December 4, 1899. Subsequent pastors were John P Wilhelmie, i900-'o2, and Julius H. Kramer, 'Q2-'o4. This was the last pastor. The church disbanded in 1904, some of the members going to other German and some to English churches. The eleventh church in the county was organized at Runnells, February 18, 1893. The town had been in existence for years, but the community had been left without Gospel privileges. An attempt was made at Christian unity by building a Union house of worship. This made the situation all the more con fused. More than a half-dozen different denominations were quarreling for the use of the building. By and by some of the people concluded Christian unity would be best secured by organizing a Congregational church. The first pastor was Protestant Methodist, R. C. Moulton, residing in Des Moines. He served the church for the first year. Subsequent pastors were : A. M. Leich- liter, '93-'95 ; J. A. High, '95-'97; L. F. Bufkin, '97-'oi ; J. F. Lansborough, 'ot-'o2; L. S. Hand, 'o2-'o5 ; W. A. Alcorn, 'o5-'07; Edwin S. McClure, 'o8-'o9; H. M. Peterson since '09, pastor. Bondurant was organized January 27, '94, and from the beginning until now has been united in support of a pastor with the Linn Grove church. The pastors are as follows: Joseph Steele, '9i-'95 ; H. H. Long, '95-'98; H. W. Rose, '98- '99; H. G. Colley, '99-1900; G. W. Tingle, i90O-'02; B. C. Tillett, '02- '04; George O. Long, 'o5-'o7 ; H. C. Rosenberger, 'o7-'io. Valley Junction organized November 5, 1895. Dr. Frisbie, here again, by his counsel and influence assisted in the founding of this church. The pastors have been as follows: F. L. Johnson, '96-1900; F. W. Horner, 1900- '02 ; B. C. Baumgartner, '02-'03 ; G. L. Marsh, '03-'o4 ; W. C. Barber, 'o5-'o7; F. H. Rich ardson, '07- '08; George O. Thompson, '08-10. The building was dedicated in '98, at a cost of $3,400. The fourteenth Congregational church in the county, is at Ankeny, organized February 15, '98. This church was organized by Mr. Steele, while pastor at Berwick. He built up the Berwick church, had to do with the organization of Bondurant and Linn Grove ; and now organized this church at Ankeny. Mr. Steele was pastor of the Ankeny church from '98- '99. He spent a year on the western coast, but has returned to Iowa, and is now pastor of the church at Kingsley. Rev. Monroe E. Bachman followed him at Ankeny. The church building was dedicated November 27, 1898. This is one of the few churches that never received aid from the Home Missionary Society. The next church to be organized is the Greenwood, Des Moines, July 3, '9& The church was gathered by the labors of Rev. C. C. Harrah, who was in the field from January to December, 1898. Other pastors were, D. B., Spencer, 'q9-'oi ; W. C. Stone, '02 ; F, G. Beardsley, 'o2-'o4 ; H. C. Rosenberger, '04-'07- The present pastor (since '07) is James P. Burling. The dedication occurred October 15, 1899. Crocker was organized November 3, 1901. Joseph Steele, of Ankeny, or ganized this church, and served as pastor from the organization to 1909. The Union church of Des Moines, organized December 18, 1903, is a colored church. Rev. H. W. Porter was pastor from '04-'io. The present pastor is Rev. J. P Sims. A short time ago the church dedicated a fine brick building costing over $10,000. The church is now free from debt. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 445 The last church to be organized in the county is the Adelphi, November 17, 1906. Adelphi is a small station a little south of the city. The church has had a surprising development and now numbers one hundred and sixty-two. Rev. W. A. Alcorn of Runnells, supplied the church for one year, 1906-07, and since that time Mr. R. C. Helfenstein has been in charge of the church. He is a student in one of the colleges of Des Moines. CHAPTER III. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Two prominent names will ever be associated with the founding of the Presbyterian church in Fort Des Moines, those of "Father" Samuel Cowles — and Rev. Thompson Bird, — the second-named, a man of rare strength and in fluence in the civic as well as religious life of the community in which he early cast his lot. Mr. Cowles represented the "Old School" and Mr. Bird, the "New School," and yet both raised the same standard in the Des Moines valley and each in his own way worked for the religious upbuilding of community life on the frontier. The Presbyterian church began work in Fort Des Moines in a sort of double- headed way.1 Rev. Thompson Bird . . . exchanged horses with his class mate, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, then pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Indianapolis, and harnessed his team for a journey to the west. With his wife and small family he drove across Indiana, Illinois and into Iowa, reaching [the Fort] in 1847. He organized the Central Presbyterian church (New School), on the 4th of June, 1848, with five members, in one of the block houses occupied by the soldiers. On the same day, Rev. Samuel Cowles organized an Old School Presbyterian church, of thirteen members, and called it the First Presbyterian church of Des Moines. Sometime after the organization of the First church it was supplied by Rev. Mr. Swan. Here let us turn to the minutes of the spring meeting of the church in 1851. It was resolved "that the committee on missions apply to the Board of Domestic Missions for aid to the amount of $250, for Mr. George Swan, a licentiate, as missionary at Fort Des Moines and vicinity for the following reasons : "Mr. G. M. Swan, having visited Fort Des Moines and preached to the acceptance of the congregation, they raised a subscription, and requested that he be commended to the board as a missionary. Fort Des Moines is an impor tant place, surrounded by thriving settlements for fifty miles around; expected by many to be the future seat of State government. The church there is sixty- five miles distant from any other of our denomination, consists of sixteen mem bers and can raise $100. Mr. Swan will preach there one-half his time, the other half in points where churches are likely to be organized, in three or four adjacent counties. Mr. Swan has no funds, needs a horse and books, and cannot labor in that region unless the board can aid him to the amount of $250. Boarding there is very dear, and from their circumstances, and the smallness of their houses, none of the members of the church are prepared to board him." The author of "The Story of Iowa" commenting on this resolution says: "That would hardly answer as a picture of the great city of Des Moines, with its large and prosperous churches, and splendid and hospitable Presby terian homes of today; although the prophecy in regard to the future of this point has been exactly fulfilled. As to early results the following statement is taken from a volume published in 1854, but we have no means of verifying the accuracy of the figures given : 1 Rev. S. E. Wishard, D. D. (pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church of Des Moines in the Eighties) in Harsha's "Story of Iowa," 1890, p. 277. 446 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 447 "The Synod of Iowa is divided into three Presbyteries. ' According to the statistical reports for 1854, this Synod consists of the following: No. Members No. Churches 1. Presbytery of Iowa 247 24 2. Presbytery of Cedar ygg 47 3. Presbytery of Des Moines 787 100 In Synod of Iowa t,833 171" The Presbytery of Des Moines in '54 included Fairfield, Libertyville, Sigour- ney, Birmingham, Winchester, Oskaloosa, Washington, Brighton, Albia, Craw fordsville, Troy, Keosauqua, Bentonsport, Kirkville, Indianola, Ottumwa, Knox ville, and Fort Des Moines. Continuing the record of the First Church of Fort Des Moines,2 we find that, in '53, Mr. Swan was succeeded by Mr. Lippencot, who remained one year. Rev. Robert Drake, from Lebanon, Ohio, followed, remaining about three years. Rev. Mr. Taylor, of Winterset, subsequently gave part of his time to the church. Rev. D. L. Hughes succeeded, serving as pastor for three or four years. In 1856 the congregation erected a church building on Locust street, between Seventh and Eighth, which was occupied in 1858. Mr. Hughes was followed for a brief period by Rev. Mr. Scribner, who in turn was followed by Rev. Mr. Dinsmore. By this time the membership had greatly increased. Rev. W. J. Gill succeeded Mr. Dinsmore and continued to serve until the two churches were united. Meantime the New School church was bravely struggling on. The Presby tery of Des Moines in 1852 consisted of eight churches and only four ministers, Revs. John H. Shields, of Centerville ; John C. Ewing, of Troy ; Asa Martin, of Bloomfield; and Thompson Bird, of Fort Des Moines. Dr. Wishard well says, "Mr. Bird was obliged to be minister, elder, deacon, trustee, and financier in general, so far as any finances entered into the life of the church." We have already .seen how prominent and helpful he was as a citizen, a leader in every good word and work, and, in'1851, the first president of the incorporated town of Fort Des Moines. The Central church in. '52 numbered only eleven members. In ten years, "Pastor Bird's little flock had grown from eleven to seventy-eight," and had become the largest congregation in the Presbytery. After holding services in the homes of the members since 1848, in '50 the meetings were held in the courthouse. In '53, the congregation was holding church services in a small frame building of its own on Fourth street. In 1864 Mr. Bird was released from the pastorate because of failing health, and in '67 his eminently useful career was rounded out into completeness. He was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Wetmore, who served one year. Rev. T. O. Rice followed, continuing his labors until 1871. During these years plans were matured for a larger church building. The old church property was sold, but was still occupied by the congregation. The foundations of the present Central church on Eighth and High were laid. In '66 the Fourth street building was burned, and with it all the church records were destroyed. Under the pressure of necessity, the new edifice was pushed to an early completion. The dedication occurred in 1870. Mr. Rice's ministry had been fruitful of results. The mem bership of the church in its new home had increased to 140, — nearly as large^ as that of the First church. Rev. Mr. L. P. Rice served as pastor from '72 to '75. In 1875 the desire for a union of the two congregations developed into con ferences to that end. The two branches of the Presbyterian church in the county had been happily united and as Dr. Wishard says, "The dangerous horns had been shed." With all their growth, the two congregations in Des Moines 1 Following Dr. Wishard's sketch. 448 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY found it difficult to maintain two separate churches and pay adequate salaries to two pastors. The Central church had incurred obligations in building and its capacious edifice had somewhat anticipated the future. The two congrega tions safely passed the conference period and finally agreed upon a basis of union. The First church sold its property and put the proceeds of the sale into the Central. The two pastors Mr. Hill and Mr. Gill removed all remaining em barrassment by resigning their pastorates. Mr. Gill was chosen the first pastor of the united church, and continued his labors until 1878. In '79 Rev. S. H. Thompson succeeded to the pastorate of "the Presbyterian church of Des Moines." Then occurred a vacancy. This was happily filled in 1881 by Rev. J. B. Stewart, D. D., of Milwaukee. Because of delicate health, Dr. Stewart declined installa tion ; but, as his work progressed, his influence grew and the church correspond ingly grew, in grace and in membership. With occasional rests he was able to continue his labors until the spring of '87. During his six years' service, 235 members were added to the church, 50 by profession of faith and 185 by letter. Rev. S. E. Wishard, D. D., took up the work in the following fall, and in November, 1887, was duly installed. During the two years of his pastorate, 196 were added to the church, 82 on profession and 14 by letter. The succession of pastors is as follows : Dr. Howard Agnew Johnston, Dr. Albert B. Marshall, Dr. Barton B. Bigler, Dr. Murdoch McLeod, and Dr. George P. Magill. The present membership is 918. Retracing our steps, let us note the blossoming out of the missionary spirit of the pioneer Presbyterians of Des Moines. The First Presbyterian church, on the East side, sprung from the parent Central church. Rev. W. J. Gill organized the congregation June 21, 1877. In November following, Rev. Wallace W. Thorpe succeeded, continuing his labors until August, '80. Rev. William J. Young then gave the church three years of effective service. During his ministry a church building was erected on Des Moines and Seventh streets. In October, '83, Rev. William M. Bartholemew began a pastorate of eleven years. He was followed by Rev. F. N. Riale. In March, '96, Rev. W. C. Atwood began a ministry which continued until the fall of '99. During his pastorate, the question of a larger church building was first agitated. Rev. J. W. Day followed, remaining until the fall of 1910. During his pastorate the present church building, corner of Twelfth and Maple streets, was erected and dedicated. Dr. Day was succeeded by Rev. Dr. R. K. Porter, of Columbus, Ohio, the present pastor. With the new pipe-organ recently in stalled, the members have ground for the claim that theirs is the most modern and best equipped church in the city. "The First" has an enrollment of nearly four hundred members. Of the thirty-five charter-members, Mrs. L. C. Barlow is the only one now on the church roll. The South Des Moines Presbyterian church, the outgrowth of a mission Bible School, yvas organized in Pierce's Hall, March 3, 1879. Rev. J. H. Malcom, later of Chicago, was instrumental in the work of organization and was the church's first pastor, remaining in that field altogether about a year and a half. In September, 1880, Rev. Alexander Scott succeeded him, remaining about two years. Rev. W. J. Young served the church about two years, at the same time carrying on other work on the east side. In May, 1885, Rev. S. Ollerenshaw began his labors with the church. The little house of worship was improved and a parsonage was erected during his pastorate. In 1890 the church reported 80 members and 240 members of its Bible school. Mr. Ollerenshaw was succeeded by Dr. Robertson, whose life came to an untimely end, by asphyxiation, during his attendance upon the Sessions of the General Assembly of the church. After him the church was served by Rev. Harrison Scott Condit who in November, 1899, went to Russell, Iowa, where he is now serving Unity church. Next comes the longest pastorate in the history of the church, that of Rev. A. W. McConnell, D. D., now pastor of a church in Los Angeles. During his pastorate of almost ten years, the old church building was destroyed by fire. When the little strug- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 449 gling congregation rallied from the blow they built the present handsome and convenient edifice. The next pastor was Rev. W. S. Crozier, who stayed but one year and then, for the health of his family, went to Colorado. Next came Rev. W. R- Coventry, who is at present serving the church at Seymour, Iowa. While he was pastor, the church enjoyed a measure of prosperity. The congregation then divided, part staying with Clifton Heights, having called Rev. J. E. How ard, the present pastor. The new wing of the church is now known as the Park Avenue church, and is in a flourishing condition under the leadership of Rev. Mr. Hughes. The beginnings of Westminster church are to be traced to a school held at the home of Mrs. Edwards, 1068 Twelfth street. The church society was or ganized by Rev. J. B. Stewart, D. D., Elder J. A. Ankeny and Rev. W. J. Young, missionary, on March 23, 1884, with forty-four charter members. Mr. Young was the heart and soul of the movement and continued with the church until Oc tober 10, 1887. On his own responsibility he erected the church building on Thirteenth street just below University. The building is now occupied by the congregation of the First Christian church. The Rev. G. N. Luccock began his ministry on December 4, 1887. He con tinued to serve the church as pastor until September 9, 1891. Rev. William Miller was called to the pastorate and began his labors on September 23, 1891. He remained with the church until September 15, 1892. Rev. William Gardiner was secured as stated supply, beginning his labors on November 20, 1892, and remaining until April, 1894. Rev. Hugh Jack was called from Nevada, Iowa, on the 27th of May, 1894. He continued until December 31, 1895. After an interval of six months a call was given to Rev. Samuel R. Boyd, who began his labors in August, 1896, and continued with the church until February, 1899. For the second time the Rev. Hugh Jack became pastor of the church, beginning his ministry March 5, 1899, and remained until April, 1904. After a vacancy of six months the Rev. S. D. McFadden was called and served acceptably until the summer of 191 1, when he accepted the vice-presidency of Highland Park College. Rev. John Bamford succeeded Mr. McFadden. Until 1893 the church home was on Thirteenth street. During the closing year of the pastorate of Mr. Luccock it became evident that the church should be out farther. A lot was purchased at the corner of Twelfth and Forest ave nue, but owing to the fact that the growth of the community had not been so rapid as had been anticipated, the society did not attempt to place a building on the new location until during the pastorate of Mr. Gardiner. At that time, what is now the interior of the chapel was erected and made ready for the brick veneer. After Mr. Jack's first pastorate the church passed through many reverses. The membership was depleted by removals, the organization became involved in debt and the situation was such when he returned that it was im possible for the congregation to offer any fixed salary; but Mr. Jack soon had the work in a fairly prosperous condition. In 1901 the first steps were taken toward the erection of the present building. The thought at first was to erect a building much more expensive and larger than the one now on the ground, with the result that it was not until the fall of 1903 that the foundation of the present building was laid. Before work was begun, Mr. Jack accepted a call to the First church of Peoria. The building was brought to completion and for the most part paid for during the present pastorate. It is built of buff pressed brick — the auditorium is about fifty-eight feet square. It is seated with heavy oak pews, has a hard-wood floor, is finished in rough plaster and frescoed. The room, with the balcony, will seat nearly 500. The church has a fine pipe organ purchased about three years ago. The windows are stained glass, two of them being memorial windows, placed, one in memory of William Dennis, one of the early elders of the church, and one in honor of Mrs. Edwards, "the mother of the church," who is still living on Twelfth street. Vol. 1—29 450 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The property of the church today is valued at about $20,000. The actual membership has been more than doubled during the last seven years in the face of large removals from the church, due to removals from the city, and now numbers a little more than 300. The Sabbath School has an enrollment of 275. Bethany church was organized in 1888, also the outgrowth of Bible school work. Rev. S. W. Pollock was placed in charge of the work of organization. A house of worship was built, and at the organization nearly thirty members were enrolled. Rev. W. H. Black succeeded, taking up the work with result ful vigor. Others who have filled the pulpit are : Rev. A. M. Heizer, Rev. Isaac White, Rev. E. M. Barakart, Rev. P. Read, Rev. John D. Carpenter, Rev. A. W. Haines, Rev. Thomas Hughes, Rev. Hugh Ewart, Rev. H. A. Leaty. There were seventeen members at the outset. There are fifty members on the roll at present. During the five years of the present pastor's service about sixty have been dismissed to other churches. The Sunday school is in a flourishing con dition. The Sixth Presbyterian church, in the western portion of the city, at the intersection of Twenty-fourth street with Cottage Grove avenue, also grew out of Bible school work organized by Rev. W. J. Young. In the fall of 1888, Mr. Young gathered a Mission Bibie school on Twenty-second street, rented a vacant store-house, and seated it and began preaching there. In the following spring a church was organized, with about thirty members, most of them dis missed from Central and Westminster. The membership rapidly increased. Lots were secured, a church edifice was erected, at a cost of about $7,000, and the dedicatory exercises were held. The name has been changed to Cottage Grove Avenue Presbyterian church. Dr. J. W. Comtermine is the present pastor. Highland Park Presbyterian church was organized in April, 1890. The congregation's first pastor was Rev. S. W. Pollock. The succession was Rev. John E. Stewart, W. M. Grafton, D. W. McMillan, E. B. Linn and the present pastor, W. Boynton Gage. From small beginnings the church membership has increased to 253. Thus with seven centers of influence in Des Moines, the pioneer Presby terian church is evidently "here to stay" and grow. With able pastors devoted to the service to which they have been called, and with a following of united and enthusiastic members, and with Sunday schools vigorously maintained, the church's power for good in the community is unmeasurable. CHAPTER IV. THE BAPTIST CHURCH. The first Baptist society of Des Moines came into being November 17, 1850. The society was formally organized January 18, 1851, with Rev. J. A. Nash as moderator.1 Its services were held for a time in the Methodist church. On the ioth of February, following, it was formally resolved that although Mr. Nash, the first pastor, ought to receive $150 for his year's work, the church was unable to pay him more than a third of that amount. A committee was ap pointed to consider and report on plans for the erection of a church building. In due time the committee reported in favor of the erection of a structure 35 x 25, one story high, "with suitable doors and windows," the walls to be constructed of brick if the brick could be obtained. The recommendation was approved, and the first service in the new church was held October 13, 1855. The dedi cation occurred March 11, 1856. It stood on Mulberry street, north of the old courthouse, and remained standing until well along in the sixties, when it was torn down to make room for a new brick building. The congregation so increased that on August 9, 1863, the church appointed Dr. W. H. Dickinson to secure plans and figures for a larger building. Three years later the Baptist society had what wa's then conceded to- be "the finest church in the State," located on the corner of Eighth and Locust streets, which years afterward was torn down to make place for the Rogg building, long used as a public library. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Goodspeed, pastor of the Second Baptist church of Chicago. Dr. Nash continued to serve as pastor until 1865. After his resignation he and other pastors continued to supply the pulpit until April, 1866, when Rev. L. W. Hayhurst was chosen pastor. Late in 1866 the church membership had increased to 273, notwithstanding the organization of a new church in the city. But the end of growth and consequent enlargement had not yet come. A still larger, more convenient and more beautiful church building was voted, the. result of which commitment was the dedication, on the 17th of November, 1896, of the new and beautiful edifice now standing on the corner of Eighth and High streets. The burden of the work of the building committee fell upon Mr. W. D. Lovell. The latest evolution, this third church home of the Baptist society was at the time of its dedication well described in the press as "commodious, symmet rical, chaste and ornate," and "as nearly a matter of honor to the city as it is one of pride to the church." It was designed by Architect Eastman of Des Moines. The stone of which it is constructed is from an Iowa quarry. It is roofed with slate, and the interior is artistically decorated. It has a large audi torium, a lecture room, Sunday school room, pastor's study and basement din ing room and kitchen. It was built at a cost of $68,000. Buildings erected by the voluntary subscriptions of many are not erected by * The purpose to organize antedated this event. In lanuary, 1848, the Polk County Commissioners donated a lot to the Baptists of Ft. Des Moines on condition that they build a church within two years, — the lot to be held in trust by Major McKay, clerk of the board. Near the end of the two-year period, the Major (then District ludge) bought the lot to prevent its reversion, and, later, he presented it to the society. 451 452 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY magic. The movement for the new church began in 1892, when the society was notified that the Locust street building was unsafe, and might topple over at any time. Following this startling announcement the services were held in the Y. M. C. A. auditorium, and later in the old High street church. The corner stone of the new church was laid September 23, 1894; but not until the 17th of November, 1896, the forty-sixth anniversary of the organization of the society was the dream of its members realized. The morning service was opened by an organ voluntary by Miss Lulu Nash, the invocation by Rev. J. R. Murphy, a former pastor ; scripture reading by Rev. E. P. Bartlett, secretary of the Baptist State Convention; prayer by Rev. A. H. Ballard, pastor of the East Side Baptist church ; an original hymn by Rev. W. E. Witter, of Boston, former pastor of this church; sermon by Rev. Dr. Law rence, of Chicago. At the afternoon service, Attorney General Remley, Governor Drake, the pastors of several other city churches, and the resident pastor, Dr. Til- den, took part, and a hymn written by Dr. Dickinson, one of the pioneers of the church, was sung by the choir and congregation. Following is a list of pastors over this church : J. A. Nash, 1851 ; L. W. Hayhurst, 1866; J. V. Schofield, 1869; J. R. Murphy, 1871; L. M. Woodruff, 1879; C. M. Brink, 1882; H. L. Stetson, 1887; H. W. Tilden, 1890; W. M. Walker, 1898; Howland Hanson, 1905. At the present time there are nine Baptist churches in the city as follows : First — Eighth and High, Rev. Howland Hanson, D. D. Maple St. Baptist, Rev. Samuel Bates. Swedish — Pennsylvania avenue, Rev. Albin Holmer. Forest Avenue — Forest avenue and nth, Rev. E. M. Griffin. Duncan Church — Lyon street, Rev. A. C. Snowberger. Corinthian — Linden and 15th, Rev. T. L. Griffith. St. Mary's — Pennsylvania avenue, Rev. J. O. R. Wimbush. Calvary — E. Ninth and Des Moines, Rev. James W. Graves. First African Baptist — School (no pastor assigned.) CHARTER V. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.1 Polk county from its beginning belonged under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic bishop of Dubuque. In 1851, the Rev. Alexander Hattenberger was sent as the first resident priest to Ottumwa, whose mission included the en tire Des Moines valley as far as Fort Des Moines, where he made visits in '51 and '52, and is remembered to have said holy mass in the log hut of a German Catholic in Fort Des Moines. In 1853 Rev. Father Timothy N. Mullen was sent to the Des Moines valley. He was accompanied by several families who settled about fifteen miles south west of Fort Des Moines, known as the "Irish Settlement," and at Churchville also. Father Mullen commenced a log church in the "Settlement," but remained only a short time. The church was finished in 1854 by Father Kreckel. Rev. John Kreckel was in 1853 appointed pastor of Ottumwa, with Fort Des Moines as one of his out-missions. In 1854 he celebrated mass in Fort Des Moines and found only eight families, — amongst whom was T. Cavanagh, "the friend of mis sionary priests." Father Kreckel afterwards spoke with grateful remembrance of the first assistance given him in Fort Des Moines — a gold half-eagle from Mr. Cavanagh. The Catholics in "the Settlement" made better progress ; and in the autumn of 1854 Rev. Father Philip Laurent, who passed through Fort Des Moines — riding horseback from Council Bluffs to Dubuque, stopped over Sun day with the Catholics of the Settlement. He estimated the number of Catholics at that time in Polk county to be about thirty-five families. Early in 1855, Rev. Louis DeCailly, nephew of Bishop Loras, was sent to Fort Des Moines ; but remained only a month or two. Before returning to Dubuque, he arranged for the purchase of two lots on the southeast corner of Sixth avenue and Locust street, Fort .Des Moines, Bishop Loras completing this purchase from Thomas G. Given for $1,000 for the two lots. Bishop Loras sent P. M. Casady $1,000 (exchange on St. Louis) ; however, the grantor was satisfied with $800 and returned $200. In 1855 Rev. William Emonds spent a week in Polk county, visiting the few Catholics in the city, and administering a baptism at Des Moines in July. St. Ambrose. In the spring of 1856, the Rev. George H. Plathe was sent to Des Moines as resident pastor. He opened the baptismal register of St. Ambrose church, and this historic volume shows his first date as March 16, 1856, and his last date as April 8, i860. The baptisms in 1856 numbered sixty, and in the follow ing year eighty-nine. Among the earliest Catholics occur the names of O'Neill, Sommer, Walsh, McGorrisk, Rogers, McTighe, Drady and the Cavanaghs. Until 1856, divine services were held in residences; in that year Father Plathe built 1The author is under many obligations to the historian of the Catholic Church of Iowa, the Rev. John F. Kempker, of Davenport, formerly of Valley Junction, Po'ik county, for this carefully prepared outline history of the Catholic church in Des Moines and Polk county— written in response to the author's request, seconded by the request of the Rev1. Father Nugent, of Des Moines. The author's part in these pages is that of editorially adapt ing the subject-matter to the general treatment accorded the several other pioneer churches. 453 454 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY a frame church on the southeast corner of Sixth Avenue and Locust street a place then considered pretty far out. A small room was added for his study and residence. Later, he resided with Mr. and Mrs. Mulholland. Pending the erection of the church he used a building on Fifth street, between Market and Vine. The first church, about 40 by 24 feet, soon proved too small. In 1858, an extension was added. The removal of the State Capitol to Des Moines in 1857 brought many Catholics to Polk county. During these years, until i860, the number of St. Ambrose parish gradually increased to about one hundred families. Many others settled in more remote corners of the county, also in the Irish Settlement and in Churchville. Father Plathe "was a most exemplary priest, spare, somewhat tall in figure, soldierly in bearing, kindly-spoken, zealous and watchful, a little se vere against dancing and the like, but urbane, cultured and loved by his people." Pioneer hardships broke his health, and he was removed to his brother's home in Dubuque county, where he died, April 23, i860, in the 54th year of his age. During the nine months ensuing, the congregation was visited from time to time by Rev. J. J. Marsh, from Ft. Dodge. In the autumn of i860, the Very Rev. John F. Brazill was sent as pastor. He soon awakened a wonderful interest in church matters in Des Moines. The whole city became alive to the thoroughness of his lectures and sermons. Soon afterwards a large church fair stirred up some strife ; but, through his diplomacy, it ended in making the church very popular in Des Moines. In 1861, Father Brazill added still another extension to the church and bought a frame house for a residence. In 1862, the new brick St. Ambrose church was commenced. It was finished in 1864, its dimensions about no by 56 feet. It was considered at that time one of the best churches in the West. It was dedicated in 1865. In 1874, a new parochial residence was purchased on the northwest corner of Sixth Avenue and Locust street, at a cost of $8,000. Father Brazill remained in Des Moines until his death in 1885, becoming closely identified with the history of St. Ambrose church and of the city of Des Moines. In August, 1885, Father Brazill was stricken with disease, and in a few days thereafter, on the 25th, he died aged 58 years. He was buried in the Catholic cemetery of Des Moines. In his last will, he bequeathed his pos sessions to the church. In a few weeks, the work was taken up and ably continued by the present incumbent, the Right Rev. Monsignore Michael Flavin, D. D. V. F. Father Flavin first saw tbe light in Ireland in 1841. As a student in Mount Melleray Seminary, and Carlow College, he gained a finished education, completing his theology in St. Vincent's College, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in 1869 and '70. July 20, 1870, he was ordained priest in St. Ambrose church, Des Moines, by Bishop O'Gorman of Omaha. He was first assigned to Dubuque, was then sent to some missionary work on the prairies, and then for ten years became pastor of St. Mary's church, Davenport. Father Flavin has proved himself a wise director and a zealous priest, as is seen in the flourishing and prosperous condi tion of his Des Moines congregation, and as is demonstrated especially in the successful completion of the beautiful St. Ambrose church on the northwest corner of Sixth Avenue and High street, with a commodious residence for the priests. St. Ambrose is built of stone in cathedral style, with extra dimensions of 185 by 103 feet. From St. Ambrose several other congregations have been called into ex istence, the first of which was St. Mary's, organized chiefly for the benefit of the German-speaking element of the community. In 1871, Rt. Rev. Bishop John Hennessy sent to Father Brazill as his assistant the Rev. Aloysius Nicolas Sassel, and before the close of the same year appointed him pastor of St. Mary's. Father Sassel selected a church site on the west bank of the Des Moines river at Second and Crocker streets. Generously aided by others in the city, he succeeded so well that in 1873 he had completed and in use a large two-story basement, and had 4 ' Ji £** 61 '^£~m \ s REV. J. F. BRAZIL OF ST. AMBROSE CHURCH A prominent character in Des Moines from the '60s to the '90s KEY. SAXFORD HAINES Pioneer Methodist Preacher of Polk County CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 455 surrounded himself with a parish of about seventy families. In 1875 the church was completed, a neat brick edifice, in dimensions about 120 by 46 feet, in Gothic style, and presenting a pleasing view from the street and from the river. Father Sassel opened a parochial school. He introduced the Sisters of St. Francis of La Crosse, and continued unflinchingly the task of making necessary improvements, little by little, and of cancelling the indebtedness incurred, which at one time reached the sum of $8,000. "This was no easy task, for the congregation was small, and widely scattered. Furthermore, Father Sassel was so genial, kind- hearted, zealous, learned and talented, that he gained the cooperation and good will of all. He lived a plain, frugal life, and devoted his income and his strength to his parish. At the time of his demise he had the congregation on the highway to prosperity, and with an incumbrance reduced to $4,000." Father Sassel died May 6, 1883, and was interred in St. Ambrose cemetery. "The congregation of St. Mary's was then intrusted to the spiritual direction of the Fathers of the Benedictine Order, and, under the pastorate of Pater Rev. Winfried Schmitt, it has abundantly prospered — its debts all paid, its improve ments completed, the school enlarged and improved, and the whole parish well organized and prosperous." In 1882, Bishop McMullen, of Davenport, created a new parish in Des Moines, appointing as the first pastor the Rev. Joseph F. Nugent, who was at that time pastor of What Cheer and out-missions. He arrived in East Des Moines to as sume his duties, on July 1, 1882. "Although it was Saturday, he set to work with his usual energy to prepare for the Sunday celebration, gathered about him a few parishioners, secured a hall, built a temporary altar in it, borrowed a chalice and altar-stone from Father Sassel, and vestments from Father Bra zill, and at half-past ten o'clock on Sunday, July 2, 1882, the congregation had assembled in Teachout's Hall, 512 East Locust street, for the celebration of the first holy mass in the new parish. As this was the Feast of the Visitation, Father Nugent and his parishioners selected the Visitation as the title for the prospective church." In the previous year two lots at the northwest corner of East Court avenue and Seventh street had been purchased, and a small two-room school had been built thereon. St. Michael's school was opened in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity, two of whom came daily from the west Des Moines school. "Many of the first parishioners well remember the charitable zeal and tireless energy of Sister Mary of the Cross and Sister Mary Eulogia." In 1883, four rooms were added. Here Sister Mary of the Cross presided as the first Sister Superior. On Tues day, the first week in July, 1882, we find fifteen or twenty men at work put ting up a temporary church, close by the school, the structure, measuring 50 by 36, built of boards set- on end, with board roof. It was finished for services before the close of the week. It was formally opened and occupied July 9. In October of the same year it was enlarged with an extension, received a shingle roof, and was designated the "wigwam." A more eligible church site was chosen on the southwest corner of East Walnut and Tenth streets, but it was some years before the congregation was able to build. After many struggles the incumbrances on the church grounds were liquidated, and in the summer of 1889 the foundation of the new church was laid. On December 20, 1892, the edifice was completed and opened for divine services. It is brick, 125 by 56 feet in dimensions, "well constructed, after a beautiful Gothic plan, with provision for extension and tower in the same style to be added on the north front. It presents a magnificent view from the trains entering Des Moines from the east, where the fine lines of this temple blend into a pleasing picture with the State Capitol in the background. The material progress was insignificant, however, in comparison with the growth of the spiritual edifice, reared by Father Nugent. The influence of the sacra ments and teachings of the church were enhanced by Father Nugent's eloquence and his talents for organization. A deserved tribute was paid him on the twelfth 456 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY year of his pastorate. John Flannery, acting as speaker for the congregation delivered an address warmly commending the faithful and resultful labors of Father Nugent, and commenting on the far-extending influence which he had. gained not only in his parish but in the city and state, and in other states as well." "The vigor and activity of Father Nugent continued and increased with the years. In 1901, he procured a beautiful and ample convent home for the Sis ters, on East Twelfth and Court streets. In 1907, an excellent school edifice was completed, on Tenth street and adjoining the church on the south. The parish now is strong and prosperous and is a monument to the rare worth and executive ability of the Rev. J. F. Nugent, LL.D." In 1905, the Rt. Rev. H. Cosgrove, D. D., Bishop of Davenport, created St. John's parish, forming it from the northern portion of St. Ambrose congregation, and appointed Rev. D. F. Mulvihill, of Adair, as the first pastor. He organized the parish, secured favorable grounds at Twentieth street and University avenue, built a large brick school with good ventilation and furniture, arranged the upper hall for a temporary church, and built a substantial brick parsonage. The Sisters of Charity are conducting a well managed school with six sisters as teachers and with an enrollment of nearly two hundred pupils. St. Anthony's church, Des Moines, was created in 1906 by the Rt. Rev. H. Cosgrove, D. D., with a view of providing for the spiritual welfare of the Italian people of the community. He appointed Rev. F. V. Romanelli as the pastor, who organized the congregation, secured grounds on South Fifth street, where he built a church and parsonage, and opened a parochial school. "He is a devout, ener getic, well educated priest, specially accomplished in history and the fine arts, and has achieved good results for the Italians of Des Moines." St. Joseph's Academy, one of the leading academies of the state, under the ad ministration of the Sisters of Charity, is situated on Grand avenue, and surrounded with ample grounds. "Father Braziil, who had a sound judgment as to the value of sites and the future growth of the city, was instrumental in securing this loca tion and founding St. Joseph's Academy. Although for many years the growth was slow and the hardships were discouraging, the sisters persevered, until now the St. Joseph's has grown into a highly favored institution for advanced learning, with a staff of thirty-three sisters, and an enrollment of nearly two hundred and fifty students." In 1893, the Sisters of Mercy, of Davenport, were called to Des Moines, where they opened a hospital in a rented building. Two years later they built a hospital on Fourth and Ascension streets, naming it Mercy Hospital, to which several solid additions have been made. It is now a large and well equipped hospital, ranking high in the estimation of physicians and the public, regardless of church affiliations. St. Catherine's Home for Working Girls was founded in 1907, on Twentieth street and Grand avenue by Sisters of Mercy from Council Bluffs. It is conducted by these sisters with the view of furnishing shelter and a home to young ladies who are wage-earners. In this it has been eminently successful. Polk county has a strong Catholic congregation with resident pastor in the Sacred Heart church of Valley Junction, to which is attached the out-mission of Cummings, in Warren county. The parish was formed in 1893 with Rev. Hugh O'Rourke as pastor, who built a frame church of about 60 by 32. He was suc ceeded by Rev. J. IT. Renihan in 1894, and the Rev. John F. Kempker, from July, 1896, till April, 1897, during which time Father Kempker liquidated a foreclosed mechanics lien on the church, and other claims. The attendance was good, the congregation including more men than women, a rare circumstance. Rev. William B. McDonough then assumed the administration, and built a parsonage. He died March 8, 1899. "He was a lovable priest, in whom there was no guile." Valley Junction then came under the pastorate of the present incumbent, the Rev. M. Gleason, who has since built a substantial, handsome brick church. The town was called into existence by the location of the C. R. I. & P. railway round house MERCY HOSPITAL ST. AMBROSE CHURCH ______ -y.W ' ¦ HOME FOR THE ACiED AXD IXFIRM • CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 457 and shops, and the "newly forming congregation went through the inevitable pio neer vicissitudes and disappointments ; but now it has every prospect of becom ing a strong parish." St. Mary's church, Mitchellville, is attended as ah out-mission from Valeria, in Jasper county. CHAPTER VI. st. john's evangelical Lutheran church. The records of organized work in the Lutheran church in Des Moines dates back to the fall of 1854. At that time a meeting of all the Lutherans of the city was called for the purpose of organizing. This first gathering was held in the old Grimmel homestead located on the corner of Sixth and Grand avenues. The per manent organization of the English Evangelical Lutheran church was effected at that time. The first place of meeting was the old courthouse, then standing where the Wabash depot now stands. The society moved from this place to the south room of the Kirkwood House. Afterward they used, through the kind ness of Rev. Thompson Bird, a building" bought by him as a schoolhouse for Mrs. Bird. This first organization was under the pastoral care of Rev. Reuben Wiser. In this same Grimmel homestead, a few years later, a meeting was held for the purpose of considering the propriety of locating a Lutheran college in Des Moines. Plans were perfected and the present Hoyt Sherman property, extending west to Nineteenth street, was secured. The Baptists afterward purchased it and built the Des Moines college thereon. The church and college failed to receive the necessary support and the work remained at a standstill until May, 1865, when the Rev. Morris Officer, secretary for Home Missions, visited the field for the purpose of finding material with which to organize an English Lutheran "work," in this then growing town. A committee of inquiry was appointed, consisting of H. N. Weller, Joseph King, Mrs. Kate Rambo, and Samantha Hilbert, who became the acting agents making possible the organization of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church. This event occurred on Sunday, November 26, 1865, in the First Christian church, with Rev. A. M. Geiger as the first pastor. The following was the char ter membership : Joseph King, Mrs. Ellen King, W. Hippee, Mrs. Rachel Hilbert, Mrs. Samantha Hilbert, Mrs. Daniel Hoxie, Mrs. Mary Hoxie, Gotlieb Amis, Mrs. Caroline Arms, Philip Arms, Mrs. C. A. Curry, H. N. Weller, Mrs. Mar garet Weller, Mrs. Rebecca Holliday, Mrs. Mary Fox, John Altaian, Mrs. Eliza beth Altaian, Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, Mrs. Joanna Beaner, Miss Melinda Keffer, Mrs. N. G. Thornton, Seigfred Weiser, W. H. Lehman and Miss Mary Lehman. On March 4, 1866, the first trustees, Messrs. Hoxie, Beaner and Weller were elected. These were given authority to purchase a church site. They secured the southeast corner of Seventh street and Grand avenue for $1,500. The deed tp this lot was secured, but, being without funds, George Schramm, not then a resi dent of Des Moines, but who afterwards became very active in the church, ad vanced the money. Not until January 3, 1869, was the first little frame church dedicated. The building committee was George Schramm, George Sneer and Rev. A. M. Geiger. The cost of the building was $6,000. In January, 1883, when the Rev. George C. Henry became pastor, the need for more commodious quarters was recognized and a committee was appointed to se cure a new location. In June, 1889, the old property was sold for $15,000 and the present site on the corner of Chestnut and Sixth avenue was purchased for $8,000, and the same year, on September 12, the corner-stone was laid. The building was not completed until two years later, on February 28, 1892. On that occasion two of the former pastors were present. Dr. Clutz delivered the dedi- 458 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 459 catory sermon. The cost of the present building, including organ and furnishings was $25,000. The present membership of St. John's is about 700. Following are the pas tors who have served this congregation : Rev. Reuben Wiser, 1854 , Rev. A. M. Geiger, December 2, '65-September 12, '71 ; Rev. A. I. Crigler, December 10, '71 to December 20, '74; Rev. C. A. Gelwicks, December 13, '74 to April 1, '80; Rev. G F. Behringer, February 15, '80 to December 1, '81; Rev. George C. Henry, December 3, '82 to October 21, '94; Rev. J. A. Wirt, June 22, '95 to May 9, '08; Rev. A. B. Learner, August 1, 1908, to the present time. The first directory of Des Moines (in 1866-7) adds a bit of local color to the story of the pioneer Lutherans of the city. From this source it is learned that the church's opposition to secret societies was at first not well understood, and at the organization the affiliation of several prospective members with such societies cut down the number of charter members to a few families. In 1866 the little congregation consisted of "eleven families, four wives, with their children, four widows and eight single persons, in all about one hundred souls." The Locust Street church, first occupied in '64, though only 30x40, was large enough to enable the pastor to live in the rear of the auditorium. During the school week, the German school maintained by the congregation occupied the auditorium. Zion's Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, "a strict representative of con servative Lutheranism in Des Moines," with a membership of 275, was founded, November 16, 1859, with J. List, pastor, who was succeeded, in '63, by F. Lutz. The succession of pastors is reported as follows: F. Matter, 1867; A. C. Klein- lein, 1883; J. Klindworth, 1891 ; H. W. Kahre, 1896; H. W. Schmidt, 1903; Charles W. Vo-ss, 1908. to the present time. Thib church is located on Third and Chestnut streets. The First Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church, of Des Moines, was or ganized November 28, 1869, and incorporated in 1871. Its present church edifice, built of brick, was erected in 1886. It is located on the corner of East Fifth and Des Moines streets. A brick manse for the pastor was built in 1910, on the corner of East Seventh and Maple streets, at a cost of $7,000. The present membership of this thriving congregation is about twelve hundred, two-thirds of whom are communicants. Its list of pastors is: J. Tilleen, D. D., now of Chicago, 1872-80; L. A. Johnston, D. D., now of St. Paul, 1881-86; A. W. Stark, now of DeKalb, 111., 1886-90; A. A. Dahlberg, now of Menominee, Mich.. 1891- '98, J. A. Sandell, deceased, 1899- 1907. Present pastor, A. P. Westerberg. Zion's Norwegian Lutheran church, of Des Moines, was organized June 23, 1880. The church building of this congregation is on the East side, corner of Ninth and Des Moines streets. Its membership is 130. Its pastors have been J. H. Myhre, H. C. Halm, O. E. Bordahl, L. A. Vigness, O. O. Hafsted, John Hetland, W. Williams and O. R. Sletten. The German (St. Paul's) Lutheran church, on East Ninth and Court, was organized in 1885, by Rev. M. Buerer. Succeeding the founder, the following pastors have served: G. Weng, John Remsch, H. Christiansen, IT. Japen, H. Schmidt and E. A. Sagebiel. Its present membership is 175. CHAPTER VII. the episcopal church.1 The first recorded service of the Episcopal church in Des Moines was held on Sunday, October 15, 1854, the Rev. Edward W. Peet, recently arrived from Rail way, N. J., officiating. After the service, a number present adjourned to the home of Dr. Morris on Third street, near Walnut, and effected an organization, elect ing as vestrymen Dr. J. W. Morris, D. O. Finch, Madison Young, Wm. F. Ayers, Hoyt Sherman, John D. McCall, John F. Howe, Lamed Case, and Byron Rice. Larned Case and Madison Young were appointed wardens. Ira Cook 2 was soon after elected a member of the vestry to fill a vacancy. The organization was named St. Paul's. Rev. Mr. Peet took charge of the work in March, 1855. Serv ices were held in the courthouse until the church was built on Seventh street, near Walnut. The first service in the new church was on Christmas day, 1856. At the end of five years, the rector reported fifty communicants. Dr. Peet's rectorate ended in the autumn of '64.3 At this time it was found necessary to enlarge the little church. Later rectors were Rev. J. Evans Ryan,4 Rev. Frederic Brooks, a brother of Bishop Phillips Brooks, Rev. Edward Lounsbery, who resigned to become presi dent of Griswold College, in August, 1869, Rev. Pliny B. Morgan, during whose rectorate the lots at the corner of Ninth and High streets were purchased and the rectory built. The church also was enlarged in 1871 by wings on both sides, thus providing about two hundred additional sittings. 1 The author is indebted to Rev. Allen Judd for the sketch from which the follow ing is compiled. 2 To whose history of the church, Mr. ludd acknowledges himself indebted for much of the data used. 3 Perhaps mention should be made here of Rutherford Chapel. Through Dr. Peet's efforts money was raised, lots were bought and a small chapel was built where Mercy Hospital now stands. A Sunday school was kept up here for some time and services were held, but the mission did not prosper, and finally the property was sold. 4 Mr. Ryan's rectorate was shortened by the following event, which occurred after the assassination of President Lincoln. It was Easter day after the black Good Friday of the assassination, and Des Moines was aroused to a pitch of excitement almost bordering on frenzy. Mr. Ryan, though a loyal republican in politics, and himself deeply moved by the common feeling, went to church believing that Easter Day, with its hallowed associations, and the Church with her faith in God, should rather soothe than stimulate the excitement, and turn the thoughts of the people into other channels. He therefore began his sermon by saying : "There are those here who will expect me to speak at length of the great tragedy which is agitating our minds today. They will be disappointed. I will speak rather of Easter and of the resurrection of the dead." And he went on to preach an Easter sermon as though there were no murdered Lincoln at Washington. Perhaps, he was not tactful in his way of saying it. At least, some of the people, part of the vestry even, -were indig nant that he should ignore the subject of the hour. The congregation was divided, some believing Mr. Ryan to be right and others condemning. During the week, the feeling be came more intense, and on the following Sunday morning, Mr. Ryan went to the church to find the doors locked. No services were held in St. Paul's Church that day, but during the following week, a compromise was effected, by which Mr. Ryan was allowed to S°°P with his work as rector until such time as he could resign without unseemly haste. This he did in August at the end of his first year in the parish. 460 IEA COOK Pioneer Surveyor CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 461 Rev. J. Saunders Reed 5 took charge of the parish just before Christmas, j873. Mr. Reed was a missionary and held the first Episcopal church services on the east side of the river, thus beginning what afterwards became the Church of the Good Shepherd, later renamed St. Marks. During all these years some of the original vestrymen continued in their of fices, among whom were Hoyt Sherman and Ira Cook. Faithful women also did their part. After Mr. Reed's resignation in August, 1876, Rev. J. B. Clark was minister in charge until the election of Rev. Joseph S. Jenckes, in '78. Meantime debts had accumulated ; hard times came on ; the lot on High street was relinquished, and even the church was offered for sale ; but generous gifts by members of the vestry and of the congregation saved the property, and ultimately, in 1881, it secured again the lot on Ninth and High streets, upon which the new church was later built. Mr. Jenckes was succeeded by Rev. William H. Van Antwerp in January, 1882. Dr. Van Antwerp labored diligently for the building of the new church and remained to see it completed, at a cost of $37,670, or, with memorials and special gifts, about $42,000 ; all of which was paid during the construction, with the exception of about $11,800. Dr. Samuel Watson succeeded Dr. Van Ant werp in 1889, followed by Rev. J. J. Wilkins in January, '91. Largely through Dr. Wilkins' earnest efforts and the hearty cooperation of the vestry, the Easter offering in '92 was $11,157, — more than enough to pay off the entire debt of the parish. The church, now free from debt, was ready for consecration, and Bishop Perry, assisted by Bishop Garrett of northern Texas, consecrated the beautiful building on November 27, 1892. Later rectors have been the Rev. J. Everest Cathell, whose rectorate was the longest in the history of the parish, and to whose efforts is due the beautiful chime of bells ; and the Rev. R. B. H. Bell, the present rector, whose talents and zeal promise well for the future of the parish. Mention has already been made in this sketch of service held on the East Side by Rev. J. Saunders Reed. These were continued at irregular intervals by Rev. Joseph Jenckes, and an organization was effected early in the Eighties, with B. P. Bush as warden, Mr. Burgess secretary, and Mr. Curtiss treasurer. H. C. Senteney was appointed treasurer in March, 1881, and held that office and per formed its duties faithfully for seventeen years. Lay services were held every Sunday, B. P. Bush, H. C. Senteney, and others acting as lay readers. Services were held in various down-town halls until Christmas of 1884, when for the first time, the little new church, only partly finished, on the corner of Thirteenth and Des Moines streets, was occupied by a joyful little band of worshipers. Rev. W. P. Law was minister in charge. Mr. Law had worked with his own hands on the new building. Sophia R. Drake, and Mrs. Louise Hurley constituted the board of trustees. Mr. Law was succeeded by the Rev. J. Evans Ryan, then dean of Des Moines convocation, in 1887; under whose devout and earnest ministrations the congregation and Sunday school were rapidly built up, and the church build ing completed and freed from debt. Next came Rev. Allen Judd, from January 1, 1890, to January 1, '96, the longest rectorate, up to the present time. During his time, the first rectory was built, an addition was put on the north front of the church, the vested choir was introduced, and the membership of the parish in- 5 As illustrating the churchmanship of the time, .the following is told by Mr. Cook : A certain Mr. Fuller, a member of the parish, got at loggerheads with Mr. Reed. Mr. Fuller was an earnest churchman and never missed a service ; but he would not stay to hear Mr. Reed's sermons. When remonstrated with, he replied "The Bible was written by inspired men, and is the word of God. The Prayer Book is the best and nearest book to the Bible, and it is expressly declared that no matter how unworthy the man may be who officiates and uses these books, the efficacy of the truths contained in them is not impaired ; and so I attend the service. But the sermon is that of J. Saunders Reed. That is not inspired. I am. not obliged to sit and hear it ; and I am not going to do it." And so, every time at the conclusion of morning or evening prayer, the gentleman would arise, tuck his prayer book under his arm, and quietly walk out, while his good wife would remain in her pew until the sermon was preached and the congregation dismissed. 462 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY creased to about one hundred. The Rev. A. V. Gorrell succeeded Mr. Judd. Then Rev. Dr. Cathell of St. Paul's exercised a fatherly oversight over the congregation until Rev. Mr. Hatton took charge in February, 1898. Rev. Milton Runkle came in November, '99, and the Rev. William Bowen in 1902. During his time, the church was remodeled and refurnished, a chancel added and a furnace put in. The present rector, Rev. Thomas Casady, appointed January 5, 1908, took hold of the work with vigor and enthusiasm, and his four years of service have been marked with great progress. The old rectory has been moved away; the house and lot east of the church has been purchased for a rectory, and the com modious and admirably arranged Neighborhood House built on the site of the old rectory at a cost of $30,000. The institutional work inaugurated- by Air. Casady has greatly stimulated church work and is doing excellent "social uplift" work in the community. These improvements are nearly all paid for, and the outlook of the parish is bright. St. Luke's parish, in North Des Moines, third of the Episcopal churches in Des Moines, traces its beginning back to about the year 1887, when at a meet ing of ladies held at the home of J. M. Orvis, a guild was organized with Mrs. Orvis, president. The guild was afterward suspended, but the money it earned became a part of the church building fund. In the year 1899, a Sunday school was organized at the home of J. B. Marsh, with about forty members. W. C. Ince was elected superintendent, William Hoffman secretary, J. M. Orvis treas urer, and Mrs. Anna West musical director. For several years, a faithful band of workers kept up the Sunday school, meeting at private houses and in the Baptist College. Judge David Ryan urged the claims of the mission upon the vestry of St. Paul's parish. In 1905, two-thirds of the Easter offering at St. Paul's was pledged to the North Des Moines Mission. This amounted to $1,- 359.83, — which was increased to $2,125.83 by the North Des Moines people. A lot was purchased on Eighth street between Clark and State, a pretty little church built and dedicated May 6, 1906. At this first service in the new church, nine persons were baptized ; pledges were made for the support of a clergyman, and the mission was organized. Of the Bishop's committee appointed, Edward A. Temple was chosen president; Charles Clark, secretary; J. B. Ryan, treas urer. On July 4, 1906, the Bishop appointed Rev. F. T. Beckerman to be priest in charge of St. Luke's Mission, and he began his work in October of the same year. During Mr. Beckerman's time, the material and spiritual interests of the mission were advanced, and a parish house was built adjoining the church. In December, 1909, he was succeeded by Rev. Charles J. Shutt, under whose faith ful ministrations the mission has become a self-supporting parish, and is steadily gaining in strength and usefulness. CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST CHAPTER VIII. THE CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST. The Central Church of Christ, the pioneer of a dozen churches of this denomi nation in Des Moines and its suburbs, had a humble origin in the religious zeal of a few pioneers in 1856. Several settlers in Fort Des Moines had brought' with them the simple working faith of Alexander Campbell, and these were the nucleus of the church in the new city of Des Moines. The charter members of the pioneer organization were : David D. Skinner, Mrs. Mary Skinner, Samuel Bell, Mrs. Rachel Bell, Thomas Hendrix, Mrs. Pauline Hendrix, James L. Scott, Mrs. Mary A. Scott, Samuel Van Cleve, Mrs. Ruth L. Van Cleve, J. K. Gilcrest, Mrs. Julia Gilcrest, William H. Gilcrest, Mrs. Catherine Bell- Handly, Charles Nicholas, Mrs. Susan Nicholas, Benjamin F. Jones, Mrs. B. F. Jones, David Hamlin, David Hunter, William Croskey. These pioneers, led by Evangelist B. F. Snook, attempted to organize a church in 1858, but nothing of a permanent nature was accomplished. The rallying point in those days was the Skinner home, on the site of the West High School. In i860, another attempt was made, and this proved successful, though the total membership did not exceed twenty-five. On the 12th day of September, of that year, this little band of Christians assembled in an upper room of the pioneer pork-packing house of Des Moines, owned by Alexander Scott — a brick building then standing on the east bank of the river. The Rev. Peter T. Russell — one of the noble band of circuit riders to whom the Iowa of to-day owes much for the start they gave the territory in things spiritual — had ridden across the State on horseback to lead the meeting. No settled pastor was within reach at the time. In 1862, the Rev. John Kimmons settled in Des Moines and divided time between the local charge and other congregations elsewhere. The meetings of the church were first held in schoolhouses and public halls. In 1863, the first courthouse of Polk county, located on the site of the present Union depot, was bought by the church for $800. In 1864, the Rev. James E. Gaston, of Abingdon, 111., was called to Des Moines, and became the first settled pastor, at a salary of $800 — a liberal salary for central Iowa in those days. On July 1, 1866, the church dedicated a new building on Cherry street, the Rev. James Challen, of Davenport, conducting the dedicatory service. In 1875, the fast-growing congregation bought, for $5,500, the property of the old school Presbyterian church, on Locust street, near Seventh, upon which the building of the Garver Hardware company now • stands. When, later, a new church building was agreed upon, the property was sold for $24,000 — thought to be a good price at the time. Later, while the building was undergoing repairs, the church held services in Fairall block on the East side. The temporary change of base fortunately resulted in the organization of the Capitol Hill church, fifty-eight of its mem bers taking letters from the parent church. The founding of Drake university in Des Moines, in 1881, was an event of great importance to the Christian church at the State capital. From that time Des Moines became the rallying point of the church in Iowa. The founding 463 464 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of a church in University place followed in 1886 — --387 taking letters from the Central church. Notwithstanding the numerous withdrawals from the parent church, the Central was still fruitful and its members continued to multiply, and a larger and more convenient edifice was deemed essential to the future growth of the organization. In May, 1889, the "Lamp" Sherman homestead, on Ninth and Pleasant streets, was bought for $11,000, and a building committee, composed of Messrs. Ewing, Breeden, Shuck, Shackleford, Owens and Jewett was ap pointed, with D. R. Ewing as superintendent, Foster & Liebbe, architects, and George A. Jewett, secretary of the building committee. Ground was broken in June, 1889. The corner-stone was laid in the following November, Superin tendent Ewing laying the stone. The ministers of all the down-town churches were invited to participate in the exercises. On the 19th of October, 1890, the building was dedicated. In the progress of the dedicatory service, the sum of $24,000 was raised toward the liquidation of the church debt. Former pastors Hobbs, Lucas and Hay assisted Dr. Breeden in celebrating this "red-letter day" in Des Moines church history. From that day began a new era of usefulness in the career of the Central Church of Christ. A semi-centennial jubilee of this church was held on the 19th of October, 1910, with sermons, addresses and sacred song, commemorative of the eventful history of the organization. Rev. Dr. H. O. Breeden, of San Francisco, who had been pastor of the Central church for twenty-three years, delivered the anniversary sermon, and in other ways assisted his worthy successor, Rev. Finis Idleman in making the occasion memorable. The Sunday school also had a notable celebration over which Hon. N. E. Coffin presided, and in which greetings were exchanged by former superin tendents.1 The regular pastors of the Central church from 1864 to 1910 are : James E. Gaston, to April, 1867; Alvin I. Hobbs, to June 11, 1871 ; John Encel, to Febru ary, 1872 ; D. H. Garry, to November 24, 1872 ; John C. Hay, to January 17, 1875 ; John W. Monsor, to March 19, 1876; D. R. Lucas, to June 11, 1881 ; B. J. Rad ford, to August 1, 1883 ; A. P. Cobb, to July 13, 1884; H. O. Breeden, from De cember, 1885, to December, 1906. On the retiring pastor's recommendation, the Rev. Finis Idleman, of Paris, 111., was chosen to succeed Dr. Breeden, and on the first day of January, 1907, Mr. Idleman began his successful pastorate here. The outgrowth of the movement for the organization of a church of the Dis ciples in Des Moines in i860 is eloquently suggested by the following list of Chris tian churches in Des Moines and its suburbs, with the membership of each:2 Central church, membership 2,200 University Place, membership 2,800 Capitol Hill, membership 1,200 Grant Park, membership 400 Valley Junction, membership 350 Highland Park, membership 300 Park Avenue, membership 250 Mondamin Avenue, membership 125 Ninth & Shaw, membership no Chesterfield, membership 90 Clifton Heights, membership 30 Grand View, membership 30 Total membership 7,885 1 George A. lewett, W. E. Coffin, D. F. Givens, E. A. Nye, J. W. Hill, G. L. Hostetler' and Dwight N. Lewis. 2 These figures and most of the information, given in this subdivision of the chapter on "The Pioneer Churches of Des Moines" were drawn from the "Survey" of George A. lewett Esq. read at the lubilee service on October 19, 1910. ±.-,.. ,,'$ 'V#^ J. K. Gilcrest Julia Gilcrest Wm. H. Gilcrest David D. Skinner Mary Skinner Peter T. Russell f "- it Samuel Bell Rachel Bell Catherine Smith CHARTER MEMBERS OP THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN DES MOINES CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 465 The dedication of the Grand View Church of Christ, the happy culmination of the effort of Mrs. Nannie B. Howe to establish a church in Grand View Addition to the city, occurred June 25, 191 1. The effort began with the opening of a Sun day school at the home of Mrs. Howe on Hull avenue. Evening services were later established, students of the Bible department of Drake university preaching to good-sized audiences. The Brotherhood of University church came to Mrs. Howe's aid. They secured three lots on East Ninth street, near the end of the street-car line, then bought the frame building erected as a gymnasium of the Danish college, moved it onto the lots, finished and furnished it, giving it a seating capacity of 300. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Arthur Long, after a beautiful exercise by the girls of the Sunday school entitled "The Crowning of the Cross." Mr. Idleman made a successful appeal for funds, and Mr. Medbury gave the new church an inspiring greeting from University church. Vol. l-w. CHAPTER IX. THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The United Presbyterian church obtained a foothold in Fort Des Moines in 1856-7, when Revs. D. D. Christy, William Douthett, J. N. Pressly and Jonathan Stewart were sent to Iowa, by the general synod of their church, as of old the spies were commissioned by Joshua to "view the land;" and the waiting souls in the Des Moines valley that received these missionaries felt as felt the woman who concealed the spies from their pursuers — that the Lord had given them the land to be converted to His uses. At the meeting of the general synod, in 1857, Rev. Jonathan Stewart was appointed a missionary to the West. About the middle of September of that year he entered Des Moine« on horsehack. He visited those likely to be interested in his mission and announced his purpose to preach to those who cared to hear him. He found a friend in the Rev. Thomp son Bird, who gladly gave him the use of the Central Presbyterian church on Fourth street, south of the Kirkwood house. Mr. Stewart made a full report of the conditions and prospects in Des Moines, but the secretary could do nothing until the next meeting of the general assembly of the church in 1858.1 The home board appointed John H. Young missionary to the Des Moines valley for one year from July 1, 1858. Unable to enter the field until August, Mr. Young was preceded by Rev. J. A. Vance, of the neighboring county of Warren. The vicissitudes of missionary life in the Des Moines valley are well illustrated by this incident : "There were great floods in July, which damaged bridges and prevented Mr. Vance from going back to Warren county, and Mr. Young from crossing the Skunk river, so on the first Sabbath of August Mr. Vance preached in Des Moines and Mr. Young in a log schoolhouse east of the Skunk river." The formal organization of the First United Presbyterian church of Des Moines occurred October 15, 1858. Following is the record of the organiza tion. "Old School Presbvterian Church, "Des "Moines, la., Oct. 15, 1858. "The members and adherents of the United Presbyterian church residing in Des Moines and vicinity this day met in this place to organize themselves into a congregation. "Rev. James Miller of St. Charles, Iowa, preached a sermon from 2d Cor., 8th Chp. and 9th vs., at the close of which session was by him constituted, the members being as follows, viz : Rev. James Miller, moderator ; John Lewis, rul ing elder, and Rev. J. H. Young (missionary), clerk; Mr. John Lewis having first satisfied the moderator that he was a member in good standing in the Asso ciate Reformed church and a ruling elder in Brighton congregation, Iowa. "The following persons were then, upon certificate and attestation, received into membership : Mrs. Caroline Clark, from Blairsville, Pennsylvania, congrega tion ; Mr. Stephen J. Loughran and Mrs. Loughran, of Davenport congregation of the Associate Reformed church, and Mr. David Hillis, from Madison (In diana) congregation of the Associate church. "The moderator then declared the congregation organized and after some 1 Semi-Centennial Souvenir of the First U. P. Church of Des Moines, 1908. 466 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 467 words of encouragement and advice to the session and congregation, closed by pronouncing the benediction. "James Miller, Moderator. "J. H. Young, Clerk. "Memorandum. "Services were held regularly every Sabbath, either in the public schoolhouse or house of representatives, from the ist of August until November, 1858. Hav ing then been denied the privilege of longer occupying the schoolhouse, and the Capitol being too far distant from many of the congregation, during the winter season, Temperance hall, East Des Moines, was procured. We commenced our services in Temperance hall, November 2, 1858, and have continued them up to the present time, March 21, 1859. Our average attendance morning and after noon since occupying Temperance hall has been from twenty-five to thirty. In January, 1859, a Bible class was formed in connection with the church, which is still continued and is conducted by Stephen J. Loughran. Thus far we have reason to feel that our labors have not been in vain in the Lord. Our prayer is that God will continue to bless our labors. J". H. Young, Missionary." "March 21, 1859. The two branches of the church which had but just united, namely, the "Associate" and the "Associate Reformed," were both represented in this little body of charter members, and these were rejoiced to be able to exemplify in the then far West, the union happily consummated in the East. During the half century of this pioneer church three edifices were erected. The first was a small frame structure on East Second street, built at a cost of about $1,300. It was formally opened late in October, 1859. Nearly a score of years passed before the congregation began the campaign for a new and larger church. A lot was bought for $2,800 on the corner of West Grand avenue and Seventh street, and a brick church was erected. It was dedicated in 1878, under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. T. J. Kennedy. The board of church extension gave $5,000 and the local organization added $5,700. From a business point of view the property proved a good investment, for, after enjoying the use of the church until 1896, the property was sold for $18,000. The present valuable site on the corner of Ninth and School streets was purchased at a reasonable price and with the large balance a commodious, beautiful and modern edifice was erected. The first pastor to occupy the new building was Rev. W. T. McConnell. Its present membership is about 225. Of the five charter members, three were participants in the semi-centennial of their church in 1908, namely, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen, J. Loughran and Mr. David Hillis. Its pulpit record, briefly given, is as follows : Rev. John H. Young con tinued to serve as pastor till November, 1863. Rev. Thomas McCague, D. D., served as stated supply until July, 1866. He was succeeded by Rev. William Johnston, D. D., who remained until March, the following year. Rev. Richard Turnbull was installed in November, 1867, and remained until April, 1872. Rev. James P. Cowan, D. D., was installed in June, 1874, and served until April, 1878. Rev. T. J. Kennedy, D. D., became pastor in April, 1878, and remained five years. In December, 1883, Rev. Thomas A. Shaw was chosen pastor, and, after completing his theological course, entered upon his duties in the following March, serving until April, 1889. He was succeeded by Rev. W. T. McConnell, D. D., in May, 1890. His pastorate closed in December, 1897. Rev. A. C. Douglass accepted a call to this church and began his ministry in January, 1898. His pastorate closed January 31, 1910, when the present pastor, Rev. Charles P. Proudfit, succeeded him. The new pastor's work is strongly supplemented by a 468 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY large class of men in the Sunday school, ably led by the veteran publicist and author, Hon. Henry Wallace, himself a preacher until failing health drove him from the pulpit to the farm. An outcome of the pioneer activities of the First church and of the growth of Des Moines was the Second United Presbyterian church, organized in 1889 by sixty-eight members of the First church. An edifice was erected on the cor ner of Sixth and Center streets. Its first pastor was Rev. W. H. Patterson, who served until June, 1901. Rev. J. A. Hervey succeeded him in the following year, serving until 1904. The growth of Des Moines to the northwest and the removal of several members led to a change of location. Through the labors of Rev. D. W. McQuiston, the Elmwood United Presbyterian church was organized in 1905, several members of the First and Second churches uniting in the organ ization. The new church began its career of usefulness January 1, 1906. The property at Sixth and Center was sold and a beautiful and commodious house of worship was built at Thirty-fifth street and Cottage Grove avenue. The mem bership of the new church is nearly a hundred. Mr. McQuiston was succeeded by Rev. J. F. Jamison, the present pastor. A Third United Presbyterian church was organized in March, 1900, by mem bers of the First church residing in East Des Moines. With a charter member ship of only sixteen,, the present membership is about one hundred. Rev. I. M. Knipe was pastor until 1904. Rev. J. A. Hervey served in 1905, and Rev. D. M. Davis to September, 1908. The church is located on East Ninth and Filmore. Chas. Nicholas Susan Nicholas Judge W. V. B. Croskey Mary P. Fuller Jas. L. Scott Mary Ann Scott Mary Hopkins-Smith CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IX DES MOINES CHAPTER X. THE JEWISH CONGREGATIONS. There had long been a small Jewish contingent on the East side, but not until after the holidays of 1873 was the congregation of Bnai Yeshurun orga nized. Its first officers elected October 12, 1873, were : Joseph Kuhn, president ; J. Mandelbaum, vice-president; S. Redstone, secretary; G. Jacobs, treasurer; A. Lederer, D. Goldman and S. Goldstone, trustees. Its constitution was origi nally written in German and translated into English by H. Riegelman, J. Mandel baum and S. Redstone. On January 11, 1874, a cemetery was purchased. June 8 of that year the congregation elected one Jacobs to preside over their spiritual affairs, and at the same time it -joined the American Hebrew congregations. The first minister remained but two months, and L. Samish, a West side jeweler, was called to officiate during the approaching holidays.1 The next minister called was F. Shauer, of Milwaukee, who put new life into the congregation. On No vember 1, 1874, Bnai Yeshurun' unanimously decided to inaugurate the Minhag America in their services. The first public function given under the auspices of the West side Jews was a "purim ball" in 1875, which proved to be very successful. The ball netted $230, which sum was handed over to the treasurer of the congregation for charit able purposes. M. Riegelman was president of Bnai Yeshurun congregation during the years 1874-5, and Julius Mandelbaum during 1876-7. A suitable site for a synagogue was next selected, and a brick structure erected opposite the present Congrega tional church. In 1878 the congregation had strayed so far from the ancient standards of orthodoxy that A. Lederer, J. Alexander and M. Schloss resigned. Messrs. Kuhn, Goldstein and Samish were elected to fill their places. The next ministers chosen were Messrs. Pollock and Dushner; but the Re form Jews of Des Moines demanded a full-fledged minister and, in 1881, Rabbi Davidson of Ottumwa was chosen as both teacher and preacher. The wives of the prominent Jews already named were, according to Rabbi Glazer,2 "the real spirit of the Jewish community." Every pioneer even unto this day bears witness of the heroic work of the Jewish ladies. Going back to Bnai Israel, the East side congregation, the following were the charter members : Joseph Blotcky, M. Frank, Wolf Frank, Ben Cohen, Samuel Arenberg, David Cohen, Isaac Goldberg and Moses L. Levin. In 1885 began the building of a synagogue on the East side. Ben Cohen, the first president of Bnai Israel, was that year succeeded by Joseph Blotcky. The congregation held out long against the new order of things; "but," says Rabbi Glazer, "gradually most of them have Americanized themselves, and soon a new order was attached to their laity life as well as their religious conduct." In the years 1879-81 a division took place among the East side Jews, and during the holidays an attempt was made to organize a separate "mynion" which evidently failed, for two years later the two mynions were consolidated. 1 L. Samish died in Des Moines, in 1875. 2 Author of "The Jews in Iowa," from whom much of the data of this sketch was ob tained. 469 470 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY There was simultaneous progress in both the East and West side congrega tions. "The Orthodox have a vigorous orthodoxy, and the reformers an ever- advancing Reform." By 1885, each congregation had erected permanent head quarters, and notwithstanding their differences as to forms, "both aimed to dedi cate their respective places of worship to the same God * * * " When the synagogues were dedicated, the events were of general interest, and Gentile joined with Jew in celebrating: The West side congregation was later strengthened by the Younkers and the East side by Falk Brody and J. R. Cohen. Marcus Younker has served as vice- president and as president of Bnai Yeshuran congregation. There are degrees of orthodoxy, and in time the temporary division already referred to was succeeded by an actual union of several Jewish families, mostly new-comers, who named the congregation Beth el Jacob, and these, without church or minister, have for several years conducted three services a day, accord ing to orthodox laws. Its leader is C. Silberman. For a time Rabbi Zarchy ministered to this congregation. In 1895 a plan to establish a third orthodox congregation in the city was pushed to success by prominent West side merchants, including the Davidsons, L. Ginsburg, O. Cohen, Moses Levich, Abraham Adler and others. Among the Reform Jews who have ministered in Des Moines with most success were Rev. Dr. Isaac Mueller, now of Louisville, and the late Rabbi Sonnenschein, both men of marked individuality and highly respected by the community. Rabbi Sonnenschein was succeeded by Rabbi Eugene Mannheimer, a young man of liberal education, wide range of information and rare public spirit. Since coming to Des Moines he has identified himself with the Associated Charities, social settlement work and other philanthropic movements and has gained the respect and regard of men of all creeds and conditions. The Jews are financially and socially very strong in Des Moines. CHAPTER XI. THE FIEST UNITARIAN CHURCH. "In the fall of 1880," wrote the Rev. Sylvan S. Hunting in his journal, "I came to Des Moines from Davenport to take up a forlorn hope in the form of a small body of Unitarians in this city. Four hundred dollars was all they could offer me as a salary, and the state conference added four hundred more. Eight hundred dollars as a salary! Think of it, reader, in a city where it cost us $1,500 or $2,000 to live! Well, I took up this job with a zeal that I never put into any other work, in a hall 60 by 20 feet — a small congregation indeed. But I induced everyone to believe that we could succeed, and we pushed the enterprise. The society raised its four hundred dollars, and then added a little more the second year. Then we began the church edifice. About $6,000 was raised in this city, and when we were through the American Unitarian associa tion had put in $4,000 more. December 3, 1882, we dedicated a church — a good building and a small congregation. "I am not sorry I began here. I have made a great sacrifice, if seen from a business point, but no sacrifice from the moral standpoint. I have preached temperance, righteousness and judgment to come — and now. We have had some cheerful times, and much to try my patience. I think I do not rely enough on the sympathy of others to win their real friendship." Rev. Leon A. Harvey, in his memorial address June 10, 1894, the Sunday fol lowing Dr. Hunting's death, refers to the subjective note at the close of the quo tation above made, and says : "We are glad to believe that in this he was mis taken." The other addresses delivered on that occasion all leave the impression that Dr. Hunting underrated his hold on the people to whom he ministered. The movement for the founding of a Unitarian church in Des Moines began in 1877. The Iowa Unitarian association secured the services of Rev. John R. Effinger, of St. Paul, as its state missionary, and he at once established head quarters in Des Moines and commenced work there and at other points in the state. The first meeting was held by him June 3, 1877, with about thirty persons present. Other meetings were held from time to time and on August 5, 1877, the church was organized, nine persons signing the bond of union. At the next meeting ten others joined, and in two years the number increased to forty-two actual members, with many more in the parish as regular attendants at the church services. Mr. Effinger divided his time between the state missionary work and the new church at Des Moines; but late in 1879 he resigned to accept a call from the Unitarian church at Bloomington, Illinois. Rev. Sylvan S. Hunting, then at Davenport, held occasional services at Des Moines, commencing early in the year 1880, and in the fall of that year became the resident minister. He at once actively took up the work of organization, the membership being considerably increased, and the movement for the erection of a church building being undertaken. Mrs. Mary H., wife of Judge George G. Wright, generously gave the lot at Fifteenth and Linden streets. The little society raised some $6,000 for the building; and the American Unitarian asso ciation made a loan from its building fund to complete the structure, which was dedicated December 3, 1882 ; Rev. Oscar Clute of Iowa City preaching the dedi catory sermon. 471 472 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Dr. Hunting remained with the church as its minister for six years, suc ceeded in September, 1886, by Rev. Ida S. Hultin, who was minister of the church for five years. Miss Hultin was a preacher of remarkable ability and force, and attracted large congregations. The church gradually increased in membership under her ministry. In September, 1891, Miss Hultin was succeeded by Rev. Leon A. Harvey, who came to Des Moines from Cincinnati. He was active in all the philan thropic movements of the city. He was president of the Associated Charities and helpful in other lines of work. In the summer of 1897 he accepted a call to an eastern church, and for about a year the society was without a minister. Then Rev. Oscar Clute supplied the pulpit for some time. In September, 1899, Rev. Mary A. Safford left a long and successful pas torate at Sioux City to take up active missionary work for the Iowa Unitarian association. She came to Des Moines, bringing with her Rev. Marie H. Jen- ney, her brilliant young assistant at Sioux City. They accepted a call from Des Moines, and immediately undertook the task of renewing the active life of the church. Under their combined ministry the church prospered steadily and increased in numbers as never before. Miss Jenney resigned in 1902, and married Frederick C. Howe of Cleveland, the distinguished author of works on municipal affairs. In June, 1902, at the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the church, the building had been greatly improved and all indebtedness had been paid. Immediately a movement for a new building was undertaken. The large lot at Eleventh and High streets was bought, and on September 4, 1904, the corner stone of the new building was laid. Through the kindness of the Hebrew con gregation, the society held services in the temple at Eighth and Pleasant streets for several months during 1904-5. Her arduous work for the State association and for the Des Moines society overtaxed Miss Safford, and during the winter of 1904-5 she was very ill, Rev. Eleanor E. Gordon officiating during most of that year. Miss Safford had only recovered sufficiently to be able to assist at the dedicatory services, held in the new church on April 30, 1905. She continued in charge of the church until January 1, 1909, when a leave of absence was given her and she took an extended trip abroad. Rev. Gertrude von Petzold, formerly of Leicester, England, was acting minister from that time until July, 1910, when she returned to England. On her return from Europe, Miss Safford declined a call to the active ministry of the church, and was elected pastor emeritus in August, 1910. After hearing a number of min isters the succeeding fall and winter, the church called Everett Dean Mar tin, formerly of Dixon and Chicago — a brilliant and scholarly preacher, and a man of profound sympathy with men. From a little band of nineteen members in 1877, the society has grown to about two hundred members, with a parish including some four hundred people. It has a well equipped and modern church building erected at a total cost of about $35,000, all of which is paid. It has no indebtedness of any kind In addition, it has well started a fund for the securing of ground for additional buildings or for the purchase of a parsonage. It has an active Sunday school; its Unity Circle is one of the best known and most largely attended of the women's clubs of the city; its young people are doing effective work in their Unity Guild ; and the men have a vigorous Unity Club. Press of official duties has compelled the resignation of Mayor James R. Hanna as chairman of the board of trustees after six years of service. The present board is composed of Mesdames H. L. Carrell and F. C. Waterbury, Miss Florence A. Harsh, and Mesrs. Homer A. Miller, Tansen Haines, M. M. Pratt, J. B. Herriman, Franklin Brown and H. H. Griffiths. The work of the Unitarian society was preceded by a Universalist organiza tion, with which were associated Unitarians and Hicksite Quakers under the leadership of Revs. T. C. Eaton, W. W. King and J. P. Handford. B. J. Radford A. P. Cobb Corydon E. Fuller J. W. Mouser John Encel Alvin I. Hobbs John C. Hay James E. Gaston Finis Idleman GEOUP OF CHEISTIAN CHUECH PASTORS CHAPTER Xii. THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH. The Christian Science church in Des Moines was organized in 1892, and held its first services in the old First Baptist church. Later the services were held in the Redhead building. In '96 they were held in the Y. M. C. A. audito rium. In 1900 a church building fund was started. Two years later the society bought a lot on Eighth street, and in 1903 was erected the capacious church now occupied. The outer walls are of gray brick and stone. The interior woodwork is white enamel finish. The interior walls are of ivory and buff. The building has a seating capacity of about 700. The church cost about $30,000. The building was dedicated January 12, 1908, with about 225 members. The mem bership has since increased to about 250. The dedicatory services were con ducted by Arthur J. Allen, first reader, and Mrs. Victoria G. McCord, second reader. The dedicatory address was delivered by John L. Rendall, chairman of the official board and prominent in the councils of the church at large. 473 BOOK III. DES MOINES. PART VII. THE LEARNED PROFESSIONS. I. THE LAW. CHAPTER I. BENCH AND BAR OF DES MOINES. When Fort Des Moines became Des Moines, William M. Stone, of Marion county, was on the district bench in the fifth district, and had held several terms of court in the Capital City. -In '58 Judge Stone was legislated out of Polk, but continued to serve until 1861, when he resigned to enter the service. In i860 both candidates for the judgeship were residents of Des Moines, M. M. Crocker, democrat and John H. Gray, whig. Gray was elected, and later' re-elected. He died during his second term. Charles C. Nourse, also of Des Moines was ap pointed to fill the vacancy. After about six months' acceptable service on the bench, in 1865, Judge Nourse resumed the practice of the law. In 1866 Hugh W. Maxwell was appointed his successor, and in 1866, later, was elected, and re elected. During all this period the district included five counties besides Polk. John Seward, of Winterset, succeeded in '74, but in '78 was defeated at the polls by William H. McHenry, Sr., of Des Moines. Though a member of the minority party, Judge McHenry was easily re-elected in '82. In 1868, the circuit court was created, with exclusive probate jurisdiction,,1 and with concurrent civil jurisdiction with the district court. John Mitchell was the first circuit judge in this the seventh district. He was twice re-elected. His successor, Josiah Given was elected in '80 and re-elected in '84. The circuit court was discontinued after January 1, 1887. In 1886, Polk county was the ninth district, and was given three district judges. Josiah Given, William F. Conrad and Marcus Kavanagh were elected that year. In '89 Judge Given resigned to fill an appointment on the supreme bench, and Charles A. Bishop succeeded by appointment. In 1890, William F. Conrad, Calvin P. Holmes and Stephen F. Balliett were elected. In '94, the district was given an additional judge, and William A. Spurrier was appointed. Later, Judge Conrad, Holmes and Spurrier were elected and with them Thomas F. Stevenson. In '98, Judges Conrad and Holmes were re-elected and along with them were elected Charles A. Bishop and S. F. Prouty. In 1902, A. H. McVey, W. H. McPIenry, James A. Howe and C. P. Holmes were elected. Judges McVey and McHenry had previously been appointed to fill vacancies. In 1906, Hugh Brennan, W. H. McHenry, Jesse A. Miller and James A. Howe were elected, Judge Brennan having previously been appointed to fill a vacancy. In 1910, Charles L. Bradshaw, Hugh Brennan, Lawrence DeGraff, and W. H. McHenry were elected, Judge DeGraff having been appointed tp fill a vacancy. In 1911, Governor Carroll appointed James P. Hewitt to the fifth judgeship created by the General Assembly. 1 Probate jurisdiction had formerly been given the county judge, and prior to 1851 had been exercised by a probate judge. 477 CHAPTER II. THE LAW SCHOOLS OF DES MOINES IOWA's PIONEER LAW SCHOOL. In 1866, a vigorous effort was made in the general assembly of Iowa to found a law department of the State University, but the measure failed; "and," as the Western Jurist says, "it was left to private enterprise to found the first Iowa law school." The enterprise was in excellent hands. Two able and public-spirited justices of the supreme court, George G. Wright and Chester C. Cole, became interested to the extent of jointly directing the studies of the few, chiefly residents of Des Moines, who enrolled themselves as students. Commencing in November, 1865, with only two students, the number steadily grew to twelve, or thereabouts. Three evenings a week were spent by the instructors in examining the students on their readings, and in ex tempore comment on the Subjects developed in the readings and on correlated subjects. The failure of the general assembly to act determined the managers of the school at the State Capital to make the local institution general and to establish it on a permanent basis. In a circular announcing their new purpose, they said: "Unpretending in our efforts and promises, our hope is to contribute somewhat in advancing the student in his studies, and at the same time benefit ourselves by the undertaking." Editor Hammond in the Jurist of December, 1868, pays well-deserved tribute to the two men who freely gave of themselves in aid of the project. He remarks on the harmony with which these twain became one, each supplementing the other in the difficult task undertaken. "The former," he says, "came to Iowa at the commencement of his profes sional life, and at a very early period in the history of the territory. For thirty years he has been identified with that history, taking an active and leading part in every good work, and especially in the promotion of education, and of justice. After a very successful career at the bar he was elevated, while still a young man, to the chief justiceship of the supreme court, a position which he retained and honored until it ceased to be permanently held by one person, under the new constitution. With the exception of a few months in i860 he has occupied a seat on the supreme bench for fourteen years, and has undoubtedly done more than any other man, living or dead, to mould the jurisprudence of our young state, and to give it the honorable name which we may justly claim for it. Endowed with an intellect singularly clear and acute, and remarkable powers of analysis, the whole character of his mind is eminently judicial, and happily framed to impress upon students the principles of that science which he has so- long and so ably ad ministered." "Judge Cole on the other hand, had been, at the time we speak of, but a year or two on the bench, and was best known throughout the state as a remarkably successful advocate. For some years previous he had enjoyed one of the largest practices in Iowa, the extent of which is singularly evidenced in the reports by the large proportion of cases decided in 1864-5 m which he was precluded from sitting by having been of counsel. The leading qualities of his mind are energy and concentration: even on the bench, and in delivering judgment, he presses home a point with the force and directness which made him so effective before a jury. Coming thus fresh from the contests of the bar, his instructions were 478 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 479 admirably calculated to arouse the interest of students and train them for the expert and effective use of their acquisitions. "The two teachers therefore had each his peculiar work in forming the pro fessional character of the young men under their tuition. One represented the judicial, the other the forensic mind; one formed the judgment, and the other disciplined the active powers."1 At the end of its first school year, the Iowa Law School at the State Capital was formally incorporated. Its corporate members included all the federal and state judges, and many ex-judges of Iowa, also leading members of the state bar. On December 4, 1866, Chief Justice Lowe of the supreme court, conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws upon the twelve members of the first graduating class. These had been previously examined by a committee designated by the court, and on the committee's recommendation the twelve were admitted to prac tice in the courts of the state. The committee found the examination "alike creditable to the numbers of the class and honorable to the learned and distin guished gentlemen who" had "taken upon themselves the task of instruction." The committee expressed the belief that the successful inauguration of the Iowa Law School marked "an epoch in the jurisprudence of the state," permanently raising the standard of professional education in Iowa. In behalf of the bar of the state, as well as themselves individually, they expressed "their obligation to Judges Wright and Cole for this great service, and their earnest wish that the school founded by them may have a long and prosperous career under their super vision."2 The second school year began auspiciously, with William G. Hammond as a member of the faculty. Mr. Hammond had in 1866 removed from Anamosa, Iowa, to Des Moines, and in 1867, had founded The Western Jurist. He was a man of marked ability, as his subsequent career indicates. This addition to the faculty enabled the school to continue without interrup tion during the enforced absence of the supreme court judges, and gave the stu dents a wider range of instruction. A class of nine completed the course during the second year. By a re-arrangement of the course, the third class — eleven mem bers — entered the school in September, 1867, and graduated in June, 1868. Though the attendance was not materially increasing, the fame of the school was extending. Letters and formal applications indicated a class of about twenty in the fall. But, meantime, it happened that the general assembly of 1868, finally waking to the possibilities of the State University, appropriated $20,000 for the pur pose of establishing a law department in connection with that institution. The university trustees met in June, 1868, and voted to carry out the purpose of the legislature and appointed a committee to execute that purpose. The trustees established a two-year course, placing the tuition fee at $150. The position of resident professor and director of the department was ten dered Mr. Hammond, of the Des Moines Law School ; but he declined the honor feeling convinced, from his experience in the Des Moines school, and from cor respondence with law students throughout the state, that a two-year course would prove to be too long and expensive to be successful, and that a fee of $80 was none too small, under the then existing circumstances. After several interviews and much correspondence, the committee abandoned the two-year course for the time- being, and a plan was matured which resulted in the absorption of the Des Moines school by the State University, and the transfer of Dean Hammond from Des Moines to Iowa City, and to the headship of the law department of the State University. Judges Wright and Cole retained their relations with the instituton, having contracted to "spend a considerable part of each term" in pursuing in structional work. 1 Western lurist, 1868, pp. 329-30. : Western lurist, 1868, p. 331. 480 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The Jurist comments on the unselfish course of Judges Wright and Cole. "They had spent much time and labor in building up their school, and had just reached the point where they could hope to see it become remunerative. In giv ing it to the university without compensation, they unquestionably made that in stitution the most valuable donation, even in a pecuniary sense, it has ever re ceived from private individuals. Their appointment as professors in the depart ment, so far from being any consideration for the gift, constituted an additional benefaction, since the salaries they receive come entirely from the tuition fees earned by the department, and must for years to come be scarcely more than a nominal reward for so much time and labor, away from home, as these gentlemen devote to their respective chairs." On the 17th of September, 1868, commenced in Iowa City the fourth year of Iowa's pioneer law school, and the first year of the law department of the State University. The success of the new law department is attested by the fact that during the year closing June, 1871, there were forty-five students in the law class, twenty- six of whom graduated. Judge Cole, in the Jurist, editorially says : "We have personal knowledge of the legal attainments of the graduates, and predict for each of them a bright future in the profession." Des Moines' Second Law School. A second law school in the Capital city was announced in the Jurist of June, 1876, as "the law department of Simpson Centenary College." The faculty an nounced was as follows : President, Rev. Alexander Burns, D. D. Dean of the faculty, Hon. C. C. Cole, LL. D. Professor of Real Property Law, etc., Hon. George G. Wright, LL. D. Professor of Pleading and Practice, Equity Law, etc., J. B. Bissell, Esq. Professor of the Law of Corporations, Torts, etc., J. S. Runnells, A. M. Professor of the Law of Bailments, Insurance, etc., Galusha Parsons, A. M. The college was announced to open September 11, 1875 ; the winter term Jan uary 5, 1876; the spring term March 27, and the commencement exercises to occur, June 15, 1876. The tuition fee was $50 a year, or $20 a term, students were to be entered without examination. The regular course was to cover a year. The Iowa College of Law was organized in 1875, and was for six years a de partment of Simpson College, at Indianola, Iowa. In 1881, at the time of the organization of Drake University, the Iowa College of Law ceased to be a department of Simpson College and affiliated with Drake University. The first dean of the College of Law, as a department of Drake University, was George H. Lewis, who served from 1881 to 1883. His successors were A. H. McVey, who served from 1883 to 1888; Andrew J. Baker, from 1888 to 1890; Josiah Given, from 1890 to 1892; C. C. Cole, 1892 to 1907. In January, 1907, the present incumbent, Edward Baker Evans, became dean of the school. Prior to being made dean, Mr. Evans had occupied the position of secre tary and professor for five years. The College of Law continued as an affiliated school until 1902, when it became one of the regular colleges. The growth of the Law School has been continuous. During the school year of 1908-1909 the attendance of the Law College was 135. The attendance for the year 1909-1.910 shows an increase over that of preceding years. The College of Law occupies a brick building erected for the Law School on the main campus. It was built in 1904, and is named Cole Hall, after the dean emeritus, Judge C. C. Cole, who for so many years was in active control of the school, and who was the founder of the pioneer Law School of Des Moines. On the first floor there are four large lecture rooms, three offices and two cloak rooms. On the second floor are the library and reading rooms, the assembly room (court room), one class room, and the dean's office. The college library is located in five well-lighted rooms on the second floor of the law building. It contains about four thousand volumes, one CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 481 thousand being added during the school year 1910-1911 at an expense of $3,500. Here may be found two full sets of the Iowa Reports ; the entire Reporter System, covering all the leading cases in the supreme courts of every state in the Union ; the Federal Reporter and Digest ; the United States Supreme Court Reports ; the Supreme Court Reporter ; the American Digest ; the American and English En cyclopaedia of Law; the Encyclopaedia of Pleading and Practice; the American Decisions ; the American Reports ; The Encyclopaedia of Evidence ; the Century Digest, and many other standard reference works, and every facility is afforded them to their work or engage in besides the usual law text-books. Commencing thirty-six years ago, with only a few students, the college roster for 191 1 num bered three post graduates, thirty-seven seniors, forty-one juniors, forty-three freshmen and five unclassified students. Vol. 1—31 CHAPTER III. THE PIONEER LAW JOURNAL AXD THE PIONEER STATE BAR ASSOCIATION OF IOWA. The Western, Jurist, Des Moines, William G. Hammond, editor, Mills and Company printers, — a well edited and relatively long-lived special publication, came into being in Des Moines February, 1867. It began as a bi-monthly pub lication. Its editor's evident purpose was to publish in every number a few original papers, addresses or speeches, on subjects of interest to the profession and to students of the law ; these followed by reports of important cases tried in other states ; then in finer type, to give a comprehensive digest of recent Iowa decisions ; these followed by an abstract of recent decisions in the United States courts, the courts of other countries and other states, concluding with reviews of new law books. The initial number fitly opens with Hon. George G. Wright's remarks to the graduating class of the Iowa Law School,1 December 1, 1866. The August number contains a favorable review of Thomas F. Withrow's "Reports of Cases in Law and Equity Determined in the Supreme Court of Iowa." 2 The critic3 notes with satisfaction Mr. Withrow's improvement in facilitating references to portions of opinion, an improvement now generally practiced — namely, side headings with their appropriate numbers, placed in the margin of the opinion, each adjacent to that portion in which the proposition is discussed.4 In October, "The Constitutional Protection of Vested Rights" is thoroughly considered by T. M. C[ooley], also "The Iowa Justice," by Gharles H. Conklm, late judge of the 8th judicial district, a work apparently much needed at the time.4 "The Judiciary System of Iowa," by T. F. W[ithrow] has the place of honor in the December number. The same number includes a review of "Reports of Cases in Law and Equity determined in the Supreme Court of the State of Iowa." ly Edward PI. Stiles.4 Taking up the reports where Mr. Withrow left off, Mr. Stiles maintains the high standard of his predecessor. In passing, it is worth while to note the local lawyers and law firms whose names appear in the advertising supplement to this volume. These are: Gatch & Stewart, James Embree, McHenry & Kendall, Mitchell & Brown, Phillips & Phillips, Stephen Sibley,5 Seward Smith and AVilliam G. Hammond.8 Volume II, beginning with February. 1868, leads off with an unsigned re view of "Maine's "Ancient Law." — probably by Mr. Hammond. In April, T. M. Cfooley] discusses "The Constitutional Limits to the Power of Taxation"; Francis Lieber, of New York, writes on "Nationalism" and C. K. Gilchrist re views "Washburn on Easements and Servitudes." In the June number an in teresting account of a jury trial in Heidelberg is given by the editor. The variety of themes considered during the remainder of the year evince the wide range of vision enjoyed by the able editor and his distinguished con tributors. 1 Law School Building, Fourth Street, Des Moines. 2 Published by Mills & Co., Des Moines, 1867. 3 C. K. Gilchrist, of Oskaloosa, Kansas. " Published by Mills and Company, Des Moines. " United States Commissioner. 6 Editor of The Jurist, and a professor in the Iowa Law School. 482 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 483 The inside history of the Iowa Law School, of Des Moines, is told in the December number.7 Volume III, 1869, has a formidable array of editors : William G. Hammond, Iowa City, General Editor. For Missouri: Charles C. Whittelsey, Esq., St. Louis. For Kansas : Hon. C. K. Gilchrist, of Oskaloosa, Kas. For Illinois: Norman L. Freeman, Esq., State Reoorter of Illinois, Spring field. For Iowa: Hon. George G. Wright, of the Supreme Court, Des Moines; Thomas F. Withrow, Esq., late State Reporter, Des Moines. For Michigan: Hon. Thomas M. Cooley, of the Supreme Court, Ann Arbor, Mich. The fourth volume, 1870, appears with Chester C. Cole, of Des Moines, as general editor. The reader notes the disappearance of three names from the editorial staff of '69, namely : Hammond, Wright and Cooley. The periodical now presents itself in two successive double numbers and, from May to Decem ber, in monthly numbers, thus doubling its former size. Evidently its editors and publishers had no thought of giving up simply because the state had absorbed the Des Moines Law school. The prospectus bound with the volume is signed by Mills & Company, Des Moines. In this prospectus, Chancellor Hammond is mentioned as still sharing with Judge Cole in the editorial management. In the legal directory of 1870, accompanying the December number the fol lowing named Des Moines attorneys not mentioned in the hst three years before are given : G. A . Stewart, Brown & Dudley, H. Y. Smith, Barcroft & Gatch, C. C. Cole, S. S. Etheridge, Finch & Rivers, W. H. McHenry, C. C. Nourse, Polk & Hubbell, J. M. St. John, T. F. Withrow, G. G. Wright, Harbert & Clark and James Callanan. The only other Polk county attorney named is J. W. Weaver, Peoria City, Madison township. The pioneer editors of old Fort Des Moines are not the only editors with a tale of woe. The March, 1870, number of The Jurist opens with an apology for "unavoidable delay" and "the miscarriage of the mails ;" and the June num ber has its "Errata," notifying the users of its Digest of Recent Decisions that "owing to the special engagements of the editors," the copy "was handed to a young man in the office to classify under the proper headings ; and, contrary to the expectations of the editors, this number went to press without their correc tion of the proof," etc. The firm hand of Judge Cole is seen in the leading articles and in the general editorial work of this year and the next. The sixth volume, 1872, presents the name of Audley W. Gazzam, of New York City, as associate editor. Mr. Gazzam was an authority on bankrupt law. An apology for delay in the issue of the February number, a note in the May number explaining that its leading article had been previously placed with an other periodical, and that knowledge of the fact had come too late to prevent its publication in The Jurist, a July apology for the pressure of official business pre venting the usual editorial work, indicate that the editor's lot was not altogether a happy one. An address by ex-Judge, then Senator George G. Wright, of Des Moines, before the National University of Washington, D. C, May 21, 1872, gladdens the editor of the Jurist in that "its merits were appreciated and highly applauded by the faculty, alumni and audience." The October number leads with a strong paper on "The Legal Existence of the Wife," by Charles S. Schofield, Esq., of Des Moines. Judge Dillon on "Municipal Corporations" is reviewed in the November number. The Judge's brief residence in Des Moines gave personal interest to the great work with which his name is associated. T The history of this school is given in another chapter entitled "The Law Schools of fes Moines." 484 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The January number of Volume VII, 1873, contains the "Times of Holding the District and Circuit Courts of Iowa." The district court then convened in Des Moines, January 6, May 26 and September 22. The circuit court, Feb ruary 17, May 5, August 25 and December 1. Judge Cole heads the February number with an interesting and timely paper on "The Press and the Bench," made especially timely by the then recent killing of Fisk by Stokes in New York. The article is a protest against the prevalent journalistic abuse of the courts. The editor promises another enlargement of The Jurist, without extra price to the subscribers. The June number contains an editorial plea for the advancement of Justice Miller, of Iowa, to the Chief Justiceship, noting the united endorsement of all the Supreme Court judges in his circuit, the federal and nisi prius judges of those states and the members of the Bar of his circuit. Answering the argument that there was no precedent for such advancement, Judge Cole cites President Washington's nomination of Associate Justice Cushing to the Chief Justiceship in 1795, and Cushing's confirmation — and, later, his distinction on the Supreme Bench. Some poet unknown to fame 8 has in this number the first and only rhymed contribution to the Jurist, a page of verse on "The Jolly Testator who makes his own will." The verse has two merits, humor and suggestiveness, and withal is a good piece of rhyming. The first stanza gives the key to the whole: "Ye lawyers, who live upon litigants' fees, And who need a good many to live at your ease: Grave or gay, wise or witty, whate'er your degree, Plain stuff or Queen's Counsel, take counsel of me, When a festive occasion your spirits unbend, You should never forget the profession's best friend So we'll send round the wine, and light bumper fill To the jolly testator who makes his own will." The third stanza is rather severe on the proverbial testatrix : "Testators are good; but a feeling more tender Springs up when I think of the feminine gender; The testatrix for me, who, like Telemaque's mother, Unweaves at one time what she wove at another. She bequeaths, she repeats, she recalls a donation, And she ends by revoking her own revocation; Still scribbling or scratching some new codicil, Oh ! success to the woman who makes her own will." The obvious moral is well stated in the last lines : "And the law, when defied, will avenge itself still On the man and the woman who make their own will." This volume and the next include a series of valuable papers on "Tax Titles in Iowa," by Judge Cole, an embodiment of much thought and research. A. N. Porter's "Iowa Probate Manual" was announced by Mills & Co., in the November number. In the May number of 1874, Mills & Company, announce a second edition of "The Iowa Justice," by Charles H. Conklin, late judge of the 8th Judicial Dis trict, and Julius B. Bissell, of the Des Moines Bar. Of Judge Conklin's less known associate in this work, the editorial review has this to say: "Mr. Bissell is not so well known throughout the State, but in the Fifth Judicial District where 8 Judge Cole is unable to recall the author's name. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 485 he resides, and is well known, and where he has with marked ability and success discharged the duty of prosecuting attorney, he stands deservedly high, both as a lawyer and as a man." 9 The same number contains high praise from the Central Law Journal for Volume I of Judge Cole's 'Reports of Cases at Law and in Equity in the Supreme Court of the State of Iowa." This new series of Iowa Reports was undertaken by the editor of the Jurist in response to a demand. The first twelve volumes of the Iowa Reports were not stereotyped, and the plates of volumes 13-21 were mostly destroyed by the Chicago fire of 1871. Hence the necessity of a new edition. Early in the Seventies, the formation of a State Bar Association was gen erally discussed; but nothing definite resulted until the year 1874, when the Polk County Bar appointed a committee to consider the subject and suggest a plan. The plan was adopted, and the result was a meeting in Des Moines May 27, which was attended by representative lawyers from all parts of the State. A constitution was adopted; officers were elected, and the association was launched. Its avowed purpose was to promote mutual acquaintance, to maintain a high standard of professional integrity, honor and courtesy, to encourage a thorough and liberal legal education and to improve the laws and the administration of justice. The first president was James Grant of Davenport. The following residents of Des Moines were among the other officials chosen: first vice-president, C. H. Gatch; corresponding secretary, Crom Bowen, and the eighth judicial dis trict member of the executive committee, W. G. Hammond, then of Des Moines. In the October, 1874, number, Judge Grant announces his standing committees, among whom are mentioned the following well-known members of the Polk county bar: John Mitchell, on amendment to laws; J. R. Barcroft, on judiciary; D. 0. Finch, on grievances, and J. B. Bissell, on legal education. The publishers' department of the December number announces that a new attorney, Ed. R. Munck, has hung out "his shingle at No. 2, Mills Block," face tiously adding: "Mr. Munck has a legal phiz and comes well recommended." Volume IX, 1875, drops from the list of editors C. C. Whittelsey and C. H. Gilchrist. It adds Hon. O. M. Conover, as editor for Wisconsin, and Hon. J. S. Runnells, of Des Moines, reporter of the Supreme Court of Iowa. This volume includes a series of timely papers on "Prohibitory Liquor Laws," by Judge Cole. The July, 1875, number reports the meeting of the State Bar Association in Moore's Opera House, Des Moines, May 14, of that year. The Polk county bar was liberally represented in the list of officers elected. Col. C. H. Gatch was vice president, Crom Bowen, corresponding secretary, and C. C. Nourse, treasurer ; also in the make-up of the standing committees, as follows : John Mitchell, J. R. Barcroft, D. O Finch, and J. B. Bissell. Judge Wright and Crom Bowen were on a committee to collect facts, history and statistics of the legal profession in Iowa. The event of the session was the annual address by the eminent jurist, Hon. Thomas M. Cooley, of Michigan. In the same number, one "P. N. B." published a paper on the implication in the resolutions passed at this session of the Bar association that the association was "manipulated in the interest of Des Moines attorneys." He objected vigor ously to the exclusive sittings of the court in Des Moines and the rule against oral arguments, rendering it impossible for the bar of the state to attend the long protracted terms, "thus necessitating the employment of local attorneys." The tenth volume, 1876, adds A. N. Porter, author of the "Iowa Probate Manual," as associate editor. The June number of the Jurist, 1876, contains a brief report of the meeting of the State Bar Association in the Federal court room May 11. Chancellor Ham- 9 Mr. Bissell removed to Colorado, and was there made a judge on the Court of Appeals. 486 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY mond was elected president ; Colonel Gatch was re-elected as vice president, Crom Bowen, corresponding secretary and C. C. Nourse, treasurer. Capt. J. S. Clark was elected recording secretary. Other members of the Polk county bar were appointed committeemen as follows : On executive committee, E. J. Goode; on the several standing committees : John Mitchell, George G. Wright, Galusha Parsons and J. B. Bissell. The evening session was given up to addresses by Hon. J. M. Love of Keokuk and Hon. E. H. Stiles of Ottumwa. The Jurist notes with satisfaction that Professor Hammond, one of the founders of the Des Moines school has been made chancellor of the Law Depart ment of the State University. The November number publishes Judge Cole's resignation from the supreme bench of the state. The judge is prompted to resign because of the inadequacy of the salary to the support of his family. He states that during the last ten years or more, he has been able to meet his family expenses only by adding to his salary as judge the sums received for his services as a professor of law, as editor of the Jurist, as editor of a series of Iowa Reports, and by other labors. But the business of the court has so increased as to occupy all the time and capacity of all the judges, and his health and nervous energies have already been impaired by the undue amount of work done by him. He recommends an increase of the supreme court judge's salary to $5,000 — a recommendation too long unheeded by the state. He also recommended an additional judge on the supreme bench, that the business of the court might be expedited. The once celebrated "Brandt case," appealed from the Polk district court obtained a hearing in the December term, 1875. From the Jurist report of the case, the following outline is condensed : The supreme court overruled the petition for a rehearing which had been filed by the attorney general in the case of the State vs. Brandt. In brief, nearly seven years prior to the hearing, Isaac Brandt of Polk county, was appointed by State Treasurer Rankin as his deputy. On the expiration of the treasurer's second term in January, 1873, every dollar officially received by the treasurer and his deputy, as such, was turned over to his successor. But Rankin, as treasurer of the State Agricultural College, was confronted with a deficit of $38,500. Brandt was not charged with any responsibility for the shortage. The charge against him was that he loaned state money to the banks of Des Moines and elsewhere, and that, under the name of bonuses, he received over $40,000 interest on such money, and that no part of this interest money was turned into the state. The outcome was that a Polk county grand jury in April, '74. found seven indictments for embezzlement ; but the defendant was acquitted on them all. Judge Maxwell overruled two motions to set aside. Brandt appealed, and the supreme court reversed the decision on each point. The petition for rehearing was overruled, and so the case closed. The members of the Polk county bar whose names appear in the Jurist's legal directory for 1876, show the following additional names since 1870: L. F. An drews, P. F Bartle, Charles Beckington, P. N. Bowman, W. Connor, Jr., E. J. Goode, C. P. Holmes, A. G. Kingsbury, George H. Lewis, W. E. Miller, A. N. Porter, J. S. Runnells, John D. Rivers, B. A. Williams, R. W. Barger and J. A. Harvey. Several new firm names appear, as Finch & Sickmon, Gatch & Wright, Nourse & Kauffman, Bannister & Phillips, Bryan, Maxwell & Seevers, Crane & Bissell, Macy & Sweeney, and Williamson & Williams. The June number, 1877, contains a brief report of the proceedings of the Fourth annual session of the State Bar Association, held in the Federal court room, Des Moines, May 17. John Mitchell of Polk reported 52 applicants for membership. The association elected Judge Trimble of Keokuk, president, J. S. Runnells, corresponding secretary, re-elected J. S. Clark recording secretary and C. C. Nourse treasurer. G. G. Wright was named the local member of the execu tive committee ; Colonel Gatch was on the standing committee on legal education JUDGE DAVID RYAN CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 487 and William Phillips on amendments to laws. The afternoon session was held at Moore's opera house. The question of petitioning the next legislature for a reasonable fee-bill, or system of costs, to be taxed against the losing party in civil actions was discussed, but no action was taken. A two-year term as precedent to admission to the bar was discussed and action postponed. In the evening at the Opera house, a scholarly address was delivered before the association by Presi dent Magoun of Iowa College, Grinnell. At the fifth annual session of the State Bar Association held in the Academy of Music, Des Moines, May 15, 1878, the two-year term period question came up again and a resolution carried committing the association to a two years' course, also a resolution declaring that the power of admitting candidates for the bar ought to be vested in the supreme court. John N\ Rogers, of Davenport, was elected president, G. G. Wright, vice president ; George F. Henry, corresponding secretary; J. S. Clark, recording secretary; C. C. Nourse, treasurer, and D. O. Finch, local member of the executive council. Among the new members voted in were A. B. Cummins and William M. Montgomery, of Des Moines. Hon. John F. Dillon delivered the annual address on "Inns of Courts and Westminster Hall," an address of great interest and historical value. The Jurist of May, 1880, publishes the address of Judge George W. McCrary before the Iowa Bar Association, prefacing his address on "Professional Ethics" with an expression of his appreciation of the honor done him on this his first judicial visit to Des Moines. Among the officers of the Association, for 1880, were the following from Polk county : George G. Wright, president ; John Mitchell, vice president ; J. S. Clark, recording secretary; George F. Henry, corresponding secretary; C. C. Nourse, treasurer. The fifth district executive committeeman was W. S. Sickmon. The local committeemen were W. E. Miller on amendment of laws, and James G. Berryhill on admissions. Volume 16, 1882, appears with Seymour D. Thompson, "editor of Leader de partment," and Nathaniel B. Raymond "resident editor." In 1883, Nathaniel B. Raymond appears as editor. The February number of that year contains a feeling tribute to Levi G. Brown, of the Des Moines bar, whose sudden death occurred on the fifth of January. It reports a- meeting of the Polk county bar on February 10, in which memorial addresses were delivered by Judge Mitchell, C. A. Dudley, A. B. Cummins, George F. Henry, H. S. Wil cox, W. F. Conrad, J. M. St. John and C. C. Nourse. Resolutions were read and Judge Josiah H. Given, of the supreme bench, accepted them with a beautiful tribute to the memory of the deceased and ordered them spread Upon the records of the court. Referring to a petition for a rehearing in the prohibition amendment case, prepared by Judge Nourse of Des Moines, the Jurist says : "Prohibition in Iowa is fortunate in having for its friend so able a counsellor as Judge Nourse, who has so generously contributed his services in its behalf." The publisher, with well-founded self-complacency quotes the What Cheer Reporter as astonished at the number of presses at work in the old Exposition building at the State capital. The building which is described as "to Des Moines what Printing House Square is to New York City," was then the home of the widely known firm of Mills & Company, printers of the Jurist, the Des Moines Leader and other periodicals, "with all their stereotyping, lithographing and print ing machinery." The Jurist approached its end "as one who . . . lies down to pleasant dreams !" As the last number of the seventeenth volume, October, 1883, went to press, it announced that arrangements were "under contemplation," by some of the leading members of the bar of the state, whereby a change would be made in the management, the magazine would be "considerably enlarged and improved and made at least double its present value to the profession. Contributions to the several departments of the journal, including legal articles of practical value," 488 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY would "be secured from the leading law writers of the country, some new features added, and no effort nor means practicable be spared to meet all the wants, of the profession in a journal of its kind." Its editor regrets his inability to make a positive announcement of the whole plan contemplated, but says due announcement will be made upon the consummation of the negotiations then pending. Evidently the negotiations stopped short of consummation. Apparently Mills & Company, wearying of the load it had long carried, declined to carry it farther. When the present-day reader goes back in mind to the Seventies and the early Eighties and considers the slender support this pioneer western law journal must have had, and runs his eye over the seventeen volumes of the Jurist, commenc ing in 1867, and closing in 1883, noting the quantity of good work done, and the consistency with which, from' first to last, its several editors adhered to the orig inal plan evolved by its pioneer editors, Judges Wright and Cole, the wonder grows, not that the journal should have suspended after seventeen years, but that it was able to live so long and do so much. .iud;;e c. C. cole Tn middle life JUDGE C. C. COLE Taken about 1864 .11 "DUE C. C. COLE In 1885 CHAPTER IV. THE DES MOINES BAR ASSOCIATION 1885-I9H. As has already been noted there was a bar association in Des Moines in the Sixties, with several notable members. But, unfortunately, it left no record, be yond an occasional newspaper mention. The Des Moines Bar Association of a later day, was organized February 14, 1885, with a membership of about one hundred. Its first officers were: president, E. J. Goode; vice presidents, C. H. Gatch and J. C. Macy; secretary, George F. Henry; treasurer, J. D. Whisenand; executive committee, E. J. Goode, B. F. Kauffman, J. S. Runnells, R. N. Baylies, A. B. Cummins, W. F. Conrad and Crom Bowen. The charter members included several members of the pioneer bar association, and most of the younger members of the Des Moines bar. Its constitution indicated that the association was formed "to promote reform in the law, to facilitate the administration of justice, to elevate the standard of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession, and to cherish a spirit of brotherhood among the members thereof." An important standing committee on law reform was created, whose duty it was to consider and report such amendments to the law as in its opinion should be adopted ; also to scrutinize proposed changes in the law and report upon the same; also to observe the practical working of the judicial system of the state, and recommend, from time to time, any changes which observation or experience might suggest. The association provided for an annual meeting on the last Thursday of January and such adjourned and special meetings as should be deemed necessary. Mr. Sweeney reported rules of practice in the circuit court, which were adopted and referred to the judges of the court without recommendation. The judges themselves took a hand in preparing rules of practice. At a called meet ing on March 21, there was a lengthy discussion of a draft of rules of practice in the circuit court, prepared by the judges of that court. At the annual meeting held January 28, 1886, the old officers were reelected. There was an extended discussion which resulted in the adoption of a resolution, offered by Mr. Cummins, that a committee be appointed to urge the General Assembly "to secure for Polk county a sufficient judicial force to dispatch its rapidly growing business." A resolution was also adopted, that "no less than three judges of general jurisdiction should be provided for this county." On motion of Mr. Lehman, the committee on legislation were directed to re port a plan for reorganizing the judiciary system of the State, and the senator and representatives of the county were invited to be present. The chair an nounced as that committee Messrs. Kauffman, Lehman, Runnells, Cummins, and Baylies; and, on the president's suggestion, Judge Given was added to the com mittee. At a special meeting held February 4, the legislative committee presented a report which was adopted, that in its judgment, jurisdiction of all classes of business, civil, criminal and probate should be vested in the District court, in creasing the number of districts and the number of judges. Specifically, it recommended that Polk county be constituted one judicial district, and that there should be not less than three judges in the district. 489 490 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY A law was passed by the General Assembly and approved April io 1886 abolishing the Circuit court and reorganizing the judicial districts of the state. ' By this law Polk county constituted the Ninth district and was accorded three judges — the number later increased to four, and still later — in 1910 — to five. ihe retirement of Judge Henderson from the circuit court — that court having been abolished — was the occasion of action by the bar association, on June 26 1886. Judge Connor paid high tribute to the retiring judge. Judges Given and Mitchell spoke in highest terms of their friend and associate. A committee re ported resolutions highly commending Judge Henderson and his associate, Judge Given. Mr. Runnells delivered a fine eulogy upon the retiring judges. The closing day of the district court, December 24, 1886, brought with it a surprise for Judge McPIenry and District Attorney Wilkinson — the presentation of an elegant seal-skin cap to the judge and a set of Bulwer's works to the dis trict attorney. A meeting of the association brought out speeches from Messrs. Lehman, Goode, Connor, Kauffman and others and resolutions of respect and regard for the retiring judge. At a special meeting, December 31, the membership was increased by the addi tion of many names, including: P. M. Casady, William W. Phillips, W. H. Mc Henry, Galusha Parsons, J. S. Polk, George G. Wright, C. C. Cole, and other pioneer lawyers, and as many more of the younger attorneys. In conformity with the new law the new judges met in Des Moines January 5, 1887, to arrange rules, terms, etc., for their future guidance. Polk county, the new Ninth district, was represented by the newly elected judges, Given, Conrad and Kavanagh. The trend of thought was in favor of few and short rules and as much freedom from technicalities as was consistent with sound practice. At the annual meeting of the Bar association, January 24, 1887, the district judges were formally asked to substitute their own rules for the rules then in use. Following are the officers elected for the year 1887; President, James G. Day; vice presidents, B. F. Kauffman and A. B. Cummins; treasurer, J. K. Macomber; recording secretary, James B. Weaver, Jr. ; corresponding secretary, Crom Bowen; executive committee, James G. Day, W. L. Read, E. J. Goode, John Mitchell and Fred Lehman. Seward Smith, a prominent member of the Des Moines bar, was honoredi in 1887, by appointment as judge of the United States district court, fifth district, with headquarters at the capital of South Dakota. The enormous volume of accumulated work in the district proved too much for Judge Smith's strength, and on his return to Des Moines late in the year 1887, it became evident that his strong mind was weakening. He was taken to the Hospital for the Insane at Mt. Pleasant, where he died, at the age of 57. His remains were brought to Des Moines and on the 21st of December the bar association attended his funeral in a body. Inasmuch as the meeting of the American Bar, in Washington, early in 1888, had been fixed at a time when all the courts would be in session at Des Moines, it was deemed impracticable to send a delegation to the meeting, and Secretary Weaver was directed to express "the general sympathy of our Bar with the pro posed movement." A banquet in honor of Galusha Parsons, in view of Mr. Parsons' early de parture for Washington Territory, was held at the Savery Hotel, November 8. Judge Connor offered a resolution, which was unanimously adopted, expressing regret in that the professional and social ties of many years were soon to be sev ered, and appreciation of Mr. Parsons' worth as a neighbor and citizen and his learning, ability and eminence as a lawyer. Mr. Lehman offered the toast 'Our Guest of the Evening," to which Mr. Parsons feelingly responded. Mr. Mitchell presented the toast, "Our Judges," with response by Judge Kavanagh. The other toasts of the evening were : "Our Emigrated Brethren," to which Judge Cole re sponded ; "The Boys who are left behind," by John A. McCall ; "The Pioneers of the Profession," by Judge McHenry. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 491 A special meeting was held January 7, 1889, to take action on the death of James Embree, the first member of the local bar to pass away since the association was organized. Resolutions were adopted, the district court was requested to adjourn for the funeral ; members were chosen to serve as bearers and the associ ation resolved to attend the funeral in a body. Mr. Embree's courageous struggle against ill health and misfortune drew strongly upon the sympathies of the members. In 1889, the association elected : President, B. F. Kauffman ; vice presidents, A. B. Cummins and W. L. Read ; secretary, John A. McCall. At a special meeting February 9, Mr. Cummins, from a special committee on law library, reported that a satisfactory library could be started with $5,000 cash and $3,000 in contributions of books, that about $450 would be required annually to renew sets, etc., and that the library should be organized on a commercial basis; that sixty or more subscribers would be required, at a rate of $25 a year for each individual and $50 for each firm. The retirement of Judge Given from the district bench gave rise to a discus sion as to the successor, which led to the adoption of a resolution offered by Judge Wright that the entire bar of the county be requested to attend a meeting to determine the choice of the bar for the vacant judgeship. A meeting was held March 16, at which the members greeted Hon. S. V. White of Brooklyn, N. Y., a distinguished member of the early bar of Des Moines. Mr. White in a few happy remarks, said he owed much to the training he had received as a member of the Polk county bar. The pioneer lawyer at an early day was expected to be able to cope with the question of treason, or meas ure the damage done by a hog breaking into a garden ! He pleasantly alluded to Senators Allison and Wilson, Judge Nourse, "Tom" Withrow, John A. Kasson, Clay Caldwell, Judges Miller, Dillon and McCrary, the young giants of the Iowa bar in his time. Mr. Kauffman, from a committee on resolutions, paid high tribute to Judge Josiah Given, for many years on the circuit and the district bench, who had re cently been appointed chief justice of the supreme court of Iowa, commending the judge's fidelity and impartiality and testifying to his ability and fitness for the high position to which he had been called. The death of L. G. Bannister brought the association together July 6. Resolu tions were adopted, and Mr. Harvison was appointed to present them to the dis trict court and Mr. Dudley to the supreme court. In July, E. J. Goode and N. T. Guernsey were selected as the association's first delegates to the annual meeting of the American Bar Association. A special meeting was held January 2, 1890, to take action on the decease of George F. McLelland, and to attend the funeral. At the annual meeting, January 30, 1890, the following officers were elected: President, A. B. Cummins; vice presidents, William Phillips and John M. Read; secretary, S. S. Cole ; treasurer, W. A. Park. A Well-intended Non-partisan Movement. A movement for a non-partisan judiciary was held at the Savery Hotel, June 6, 1890, with President Cummins master of ceremonies. The members, about sixty, were there to consider the question of a commitment of the association to a non-partisan local judiciary to be selected by the bar of the county. President Cummins presented the question, "What is the duty of this association with re spect to the selection of candidates for judicial positions in this county?" The sub ject was informally discussed. Resolutions were presented by Chairman Dudley of the committee on legal reform, to which one amendment after another was submitted only to be voted down. After prolonged debate the resolutions, slightly amended, were carried. These were based upon the theory that members of the bar. having the most favorable opportunity to discover the merits of can- 492 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY didates for judicial position, representing every variety of interests to be affected in the administration of laws, and having "no purpose to serve except to secure an able and upright judiciary" were the best judges as to the fitness of candidates for the judicial office." The resolutions committed the association to the recommendations made each member voting for three candidates, not more than two of whom should be of the same political party ; a two-thirds vote necessary to the selection of a can didate, no member to be a candidate without first receiving the recommendation of the association. A special meeting was held on June 21, for the selection of three candidates for district judge. On an informal ballot, there were forty-nine ballots cast, each containing three names. Of these, 34 were cast for C. A. Bishop, 32 for W. F. Conrad and 13 for W. L. Read. An adjourned meeting was held in the evening. While a committee was out searching for Judge Conrad, the judge appeared. On being interviewed he de clared himself opposed to the principle lying at the bottom of the bar movement, opposed to the resolutions adopted by the association, and declined to say that he would abide by the action of the association. The ballots already taken in the afternoon were therefore destroyed without being counted. The committee sent to interview Judge Conrad reported favorably, but still somewhat in doubt — on the judge's acceptance of the bar nomination, and so Conrad's name was included in the ballot, which resulted in 30 votes for Bishop, 22 for Conrad and 20 for W. L. Read. Bishop having the requisite two-thirds vote, was declared a nominee. A third ballot gave the nomination to W. L. Read. Seven ineffectual ballots were taken for the third nomination and the meeting adjourned. June 23, the association reconvened. A communication from Judge Conrad was read, in which he stated that having served one term on the bench, he preferred to run solely on his record. He repeated his conclusion that the ac tion of the bar was wrong in principle. On the twelfth ballot — the third at the adjourned meeting, J. H. Detrick was declared the third nominee. Committees were appointed to present the names of Bishop, Read and Detrick to the nominating conventions, and to the public through the press. At a called meeting September 27, a paper was circulated for signatures af firming approval of a non-partisan judiciary, and pledging effort and influence in aid of the election of the three men recommended. The paper received seventy- four signatures. A committee of ten was named to present to the people of the county the names of the three men recommended; and the executive committee • with this auxiliary, was "instructed to use all honorable means and adopt all proper measures, consistent with the dignity of the association, to secure the election of the three candidates named." The movement of the association was not well received by the public. Early in October, N. E. Coffin, chairman of the Polk County Republican committee, wrote J. K. Macomber, a member of the association, asking him if he was in favor of what was known as "the bar movement." The inquiry gave Mr. Macom ber the opportunity he evidently desired. He published a lengthy response in which he denied having anything to do with the movement, or any sympathy with it. He regarded it as "the attempt of a few firms of lawyers to control the judic iary of Polk county." The bar association held a public meeting at the Grand Opera House on the evening of October 11, with Tudge Day in the chair. Colonel Gatch, Judge Nourse, Mr. Dudley and Mr. Henry explained the attitude of the bar. The News says "the speeches were good, the applause generous ; but there was the lack of that genuine enthusiasm so noticeable in popular movements." A second public meeting of the association was held in the Capital City Opera house, on the 28, at which President Cummins ably presented the case of the association. He was followed by A. P. Chamberlain and Colonel Gatch, both paying their respects to the city newspapers that "had misrepresented the motives of the association. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 493 Then followed the election, November 4, and the complete repudiation of the movement by the election of Judges Conrad, Holmes and Balliet, over the bar nominees. Thus ended in humiliating defeat a movement well intended for the elevation of the judiciary above the plane of partisan and party politics, — a movement anticipating by several years the non-partisan spirit of the Des Moines plan — a spirit which, at least in the matter of selecting judges, might well be extended to the county and the state. The sad occasion of the meeting of December 30, 1890, was the death of a charter member and one of the most influential members of the association, Hon. John Mitchell. It was arranged that the bar attend the funeral in a body, and present suitable floral offerings. At a special meeting held January 5, 1891, resolutions were adopted for presentation to the several courts, expressive of sorrow over the loss the association had sustained. The resolutions note that Judge Mitchell, who came to Des Moines a young man, had served the city, county, state and nation, with marked fidelity and ability. Exemplary in private life and. distinguished in public service, he was universally loved and respected. At the annual meeting for 1891 held February 7, the following officers were elected: President, C. A. Dudley; vice presidents, John A. McCall and W. W. Phillips; secretary, John H. Blair. The death of Judge Whiting S. Clark called the association together April 27. Arrangements were made to attend the funeral on the following day. The resolutions reported later, bore testimony to the worth of Whiting S. Clark "as a man, citizen, soldier and lawyer." The sudden death of T. E. Brown next brought the members together, on the 5th day of May, the date of the funeral. In August, C. A. Dudley and Thomas A. Cheshire were elected delegates to the American Bar Association. James Harvey Phillips died on the 15th of September. Though not a mem ber of that organization, it was decided to attend his funeral in a body. E. J. Ingersoll was next to- pass away. A meeting, October 31, was ad dressed by Judge Cole and others and resolutions were read. At the annual meeting for 1892, held January 30, the following officers were elected: president, William Connor; vice presidents, W. L. Read and C. A. Bishop ; secretary, F. S. Dunshee ; treasurer, C. L. Nourse. Law Reforms Proposed. At a meeting held February 6, the question of law reform came to the front. Judge Day made report with especial reference to the relief of the supreme court. 1. Ah additional judge. 2. That the presence and concurrence of three judges only should be neces sary to a decision, the opinion showing the judges who concurred in it. 3. In case of disagreement, the three should submit the case to the whole court, the concurrence of four being necessary. 4. In case of an equal division, the decision appealed from to be affirmed, the decision having no force, however, as precedent. 5. Petition for rehearing to be presented to the judges who determine the case. Several expedients for relieving the court in the matter of rehearings were recommended. It was recommended that constitutional questions and those involving the validity or construction of statues should be presented to the entire court, or a quorum — a quorum to consist of four members. The report was signed by Messrs. Day, Kauffman, Berryhill, Bowen and Read (W. L.) 494 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY At an adjourned meeting it was voted that the committee urge upon the leg islature the adoption of these recommendations, and to call the attention of that body to previous recommendation. A banquet given by the association at the Savery on the evening of May 26, 1892, was an unusually successful affair. President Connor as toastmaster brought out speeches from Judges Woolson, Wright and Nourse. Judges Roth- rock, Kinne, Robinson, Given and Day, were guests of the club. It is noticeable that less than a score of years later, all these supreme court judges save one — Judge Robinson — had passed away. And, of the three speakers named, but one, Judge Nourse, survives. At an executive committee meeting September 2, the committee decided to recommend to the district judges the adoption, in substance, of two rules as follows : 1. That members of the bar should not attempt to hold any conversation with the judge on the bench on other than official business, "and not at all ex cept by arrangement with counsel who has the floor." 2. That a penalty of $3 be taxed as costs against the losing party in all cases of demurrers or motions attacking pleadings." In November, following, Judge Given called the district judges together to consider the changes made in the laws and their effect upon the practice. At the annual meeting, January 28, 1893, Crom Bowen was elected presi dent; J. M. St. John and W. A. Park vice presidents; F. S. Dunshee, secretary; C. L. Nourse, treasurer. A committee of three was appointed to communicate with other associations relative to a reorganization of the State Bar Association. The death of Thomas F. Withrow, in Chicago, February 3, called the mem bers together February 4. The chair appointed the following named members as its representatives at the funeral : C. C. Nourse, J. S. Polk, C. A. Dudley, C. A. Bishop, C. H. Gatch and J. R. Barcroft. Resolutions were passed expressive of the high esteem in which the deceased was held, by his old-time associates. Mr. Withrow came to Des Moines soon after the location of the Capital, and from that time until he was called to Chicago, to the highest legal position in the Rock Island system, he was foremost in all patriotic and philanthropic move ments, and a recognized leader in the bar of Iowa. He died at the age of sixty. In a personal letter to Judge Wright dated Chicago, March 10, 1893, Mrs. Withrow wrote that no words had touched her more deeply than the resolutions passed by the Polk County Bar. "These resolutions," she adds, "prove that Mr. Withrow was most fortunate in possessing such kind and noble friends as those among whom he passed the years which make up his Iowa experiences, and I know he counted among his sweetest memories the warm hand clasp and sincere friendship which you and his other friends so often extended to him." On February 11, the recent death of Judge W. W. Williamson called forth resolutions drafted by Judge Connor, paying tribute to the deceased as "an hon orable and honored citizen, an upright and conscientious judge, a capable lawyer and a kind and indulgent husband and father." Mr. Kauffman reviewed the long and varied career of Judge Williamson and paid tribute to his worth as a man and his public spirit as a citizen. The association was profoundly grieved in May, by the death of B. F. Kauff man, one of its strongest and most active members. Nearly every member at tended the funeral. The association was convened on the 20th when resolutions read by Mr. Cummins were adopted, expressing keen appreciation of the asso ciation's third president. The resolutions paid tribute to Mr. Kauffman's rare ability as a lawyer, "his analysis keen and perspicuous, his judgment sound and comprehensive, his reasoning strong and convincing, his language copious but clear, simple but eloquent." In the more sacred region of friendship, the vacant place was declared to be permanently vacant, "and the memory of his pure and CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 495 upright life, his encouraging word, his helpful hand," rested like a benediction upon every member of the association. The death of Judge William H. McHenry was another occasion of deep grief to the association. The judge was one of the pioneers of the Iowa bench and bar, and a man of strong individuality and great personal popularity. The association was called together September ii, to arrange to attend the funeral in a body. It was arranged that the members of the association march together from the house to the cemetery. At a special meeting held later, resolutions were adopted for presentation to the courts, paying high tribute to the ability, sterling integrity and personal worth of the deceased. The annual election, January 27, 1894, resulted in the selection of C. L. Nourse, president ; vice presidents, W. W. Phillips and Hugh Brennan ; secretary, Jesse A. Miller ; treasurer, C. W. Johnston. The death of Thomas S. Wright, in Chicago, came with the force of a personal loss to the younger members of the association — the generation closely following in the footsteps of the pioneer lawyers. A meeting was called for July 28, '94, to arrange to attend the funeral on the following Sunday. C. A. Dudley, T. S. Stevenson, George H. Lewis, Judges Day and Connor were named on committee to present a suitable memorial to the courts. A committee headed by N. T. Guernsey was appointed to meet the remains at the depot and accompany them to the home of Judge Wright. An informal reception was given by Judge and Mrs. W. E. Miller on the oc casion of their golden wedding on the first day of August. Messrs. Park, Hume, McCaughan, St. John and Phillips were appointed to represent the association on that occasion, and, in its name to present the judge a hundred dollars. The resolutions prepared by Mr. Dudley in memory of Thomas S. Wright were presented at the opening of the court July 31, and brief addresses were delivered by Judges Day and Connor, A. B. Cummins, George H. Lewis, C. H. Gatch and N. T. Guernsey. The resolutions referred to Mr. Wright's great natural ability supplemented by careful preparation and discriminating reading. They referred to his career as ennobled by "the most sacred observance of his oath as an attorney." C. H. Gatch and A. B. Cummins were delegates to the American Bar Asso ciation in 1894. The death of H. Y. Smith, on the 4th of November, brought the members together on the 6th. It was ordered that all members of the association meet at 1 :30 on the day of the funeral and attend in a body. The usual committees were named to draft resolutions and present them in the several courts. A meeting of the State Bar, in Des Moines December 27, to organize a State Association was favored by the local body and arrangements were made for rep resentation, and for the reception of visitors on that occasion. The election of officers for 1895, February 2, resulted in the election of Judge Phillips, president ; N. T. Guernsey and W. A. Park, vice presidents ; Nelson Royal, secretary; A. K. Stewart, treasurer. The death of Hugh W. Maxwell in Des Moines December 6, 1894, was men tioned by President Phillips who read resolutions which had been prepared by him as chairman of a committee appointed by the district court. The resolutions hear testimony to the Judge's worth as a man, the purity of his character and his faithfulness as a lawyer. The last entry in the old record book of the Des Moines Bar Association bears date July 6, 1905, showing a hiatus of more than ten years between the old and the new. On the date named, Henry H. Griffith, recording secretary, states that the record book had just come to hand from J. B. Ryan, former secretary of the association, who informed him that after his election, three years ago, he had dif ficulty in finding the book ; that former secretaries had kept no minutes of meet ings. Authorized to buy a new record book and preserve the old one, he had made this memorandum to explain the break in the record. 496 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY After a Lapse of Nearly Twelve Years. A special meeting called by the president, Howard J. Clark, was held at the court house, March 15, 1906, to take action in relation to the death of Judge LaVega G. Kinne. A floral committee and a committee on resolutions for the presentation of memorial addresses to the courts were named. The committee on resolutions was Charles A. Bishop, J. C. Hume and E. E. Clark. A special meeting was called June 2, to arrange entertainment for the forth coming meeting of the State Bar Association. At a meeting of the executive committee, June 23, N. E. Coffin was selected to deliver the address of wel come. A committee of arrangements was created with R. L. Parrish, chairman, a reception committee, with Howard J. Clark, chairman, and a committee on entertainment with T. A. Cheshire, chairman. At a special meeting held January 19, 1907, George F. Flenry, chairman of the committee appointed to draft a bill for the selection of grand and petit jurors, moved that his bill be read and considered by sections. Mr. Noble moved as a substitute that the bill be approved and referred to the General Assembly for its approval. Finally on motion of Mr. Henry the subject was made a special order on the 26th. At the adjourned meeting J. C. Hume moved that the pending question of amending the present system of selecting jurors be referred to the standing committee on Law Reform, "that committee to report at a called meeting for the purpose of considering the report, it being the sense of said association that there are defects in the present system, and that the same 'ought to be amended, or changed to the end that the character of jurors and juries be improved;'" it also being the sense of the association "that jurors ought not to be selected by a commission named or appointed, directly or indirectly, by the court in which said jurors are to sit." The motion was declared to be out of order. Mr. Hume then moved the adoption of his resolutions as a substitute for all previous motions and resolu tions. A general discussion ensued. On roll-call, the Hume substitute carried by a vote of 46 to 37. On motion of Mr. Hume, Governor Cummins was invited to appear at a meeting of the association and give his views on the matter before that body. The annual meeting and banquet on February 5, 1907, was attended by about a hundred members and several invited guests. The officers elected for the ensuing year were : President, James P. Hewitt ; vice presidents, A. L. Hager and John L. Read ; secretary, R. J. Bannister ; corresponding secretary, Ward F. Henry; treasurer, Charles S. Wilcox. Judge Deemer of the supreme court, Attorney General Byers, and Judge Robinson, of the board of control made interesting after-dinner speeches. Jury Reform. Mr. Flenry, from the committee on Law Reform, made report, as directed, on changes in the laws relative to impanneling and drawing grand and petit jurors. The members were agreed to the following (in substance) : First — That the present statutes should be more rigidly enforced, and that they should be changed "by increasing the provisions as to eligibility of persons to serve as jurors, so as to secure the highest possible grade of intelligence and integrity." Second — That a commission should be created, to make up lists of jurors, including provision for a hearing at the request of any person not found upon such lists of eligibles, or at the instance of any one complaining of a person whose name is upon the list — with the right of appeal to the district court in either case. A provision was recommended giving the commission power to strike one in ten names from such list peremptorily — with a privilege accorded any of the ten to be heard by the commission, and, on appeal, by the district court, for the purpose of being restored to the lists. ,^-^u CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 497 The committee recommended that the same individual be not permitted to serve more than once in two years. As safeguards for the drawing of names from boxes in the final selection of the jury panels, the committee recommended the use of cubes or balls with num bers thereon corresponding with the number of names on the entire jury lists, — the balls or cubes mixing better than paper slips. On the question of approval of the general points suggested in the report, there was a round of five-minute speeches. The resolution of approval was adopted. At an executive committee meeting February 7, the president named Howard J. Clark, W. L. Read, W. H. Baily, H. F. Dale and C. L. Nourse as the com mittee to confer with Governor Cummins in relation to the drafting of a jury drawing bill to be presented to the legislature. The customary annual banquet of the association was over-shadowed by the death of one of the most loved and respected veterans of the Des Moines bench and bar, Gen. Josiah L. Given. A special meeting was held February 5, 1908, and it was arranged that the members meet at the court house and proceed in a body to the church in which the funeral services were held. A committee consisting of Judge Cole, Crom Bowen and J. B. Weaver, Jr., was appointed to draft and present in court resolutions of respect and regard. As a mark of respect to the deceased the banquet was postponed to the 17th of February. The banquet and annual meeting was held at the Grant Club on the 17th of February. The officers chosen for 1908 were: President, W. L. Read; vice presidents, A. L. Hager and John M. Read; secretary, R. J. Bannister; corresponding secretary, Ward C. Henry ; treasurer, C. S. Wilcox. The com mittee on Law Reform was instructed to investigate the question as to the ad visability of having a superior court in Des Moines. The evening was rounded out with ten-minute speeches by E. B. Evans, C. L. Nourse, William H. Mc Henry, James C. Davis and J. B. Weaver, Jr. A special bar meeting was held October 28, the occasion being the recent death of Judge Charles A. Bishop and that of Maj. Charles Mackenzie. Com mittees were appointed to draft suitable resolutions. At a special meeting held later, Chairman Parrish read the Bishop resolu tions, which were adopted. Remarks were made by Messrs. Carr, Powell, Dudley and McHenry. James F. Hewitt read the resolutions in tribute to Major Mackenzie. A banquet in honor of Senator-elect A. B. Cummins, a charter member and an ex-president, and one of the association's most interested and active mem bers, was held November 28, at the Golf and Country Club. There was a large attendance. James B. Weaver, Jr., served as toastmaster and the following was the program of toasts and responses : "Cummins, the Lawyer," — George H. Carr; "Our United Congratulations and Good- Wishes,"— A. L. Hager; "The Office and the Man,"— Nathaniel E. Coffin ; "New Relations in Public Service" —James C. Davis. Frederick W. Lehman, of St. Louis, now Solicitor-General of the U. S. Department of Justice, drew a pleasing picture of the Des Moines Bar of a quarter-century ago, and, taking Mr. Davis's somewhat conservative conclusions as a starting-point, gave his own advanced views on certain ques tions of the day. Senator Cummins was the recipient of many hearty congratula tions, to all of which he responded with evident appreciation. The death of Lemuel Kinkead occasioned a special session January 4, 1909. The chair appointed a committee to prepare appropriate resolutions, which reso lutions were duly presented to the courts. The annual meeting of 1909 was held at the Grant Club February 5, preceded hy the annual banquet. Alva L. Hager was unanimously chosen president ; John VoLI-32 ib 498 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY L. Read and A. A. McLaughlin, vice presidents; Robert J. Bannister, secretary; Charles S. Wilcox, treasurer; C. A. Hartman, corresponding secretary. After the banquet, Judges Evans and Deemer of the supreme bench, were called out and briefly responded. The regular program of the evening was : "The Polk County Bar, a Compari son," C. A. Dudley; "The Brotherhood of the Bar," H. H. Stipp; "Some Belated Thoughts from a Gentleman of Leisure," Carroll Wright; "The Function of the Lawyer in Relation to the Law's Growth," James M. Parsons. At a special meeting held December 4, 1909, a resolution was unanimously adopted strongly endorsing Justice Horace E. Deemer for the vacant seat on the supreme bench of the United States, and urging the judge's appointment. The resolution was forwarded to President Taft. The annual meeting of the association for 1910 was held at the Elks Club House on the evening of January 27, and was preceded by a banquet. Judge James A. Howe took early opportunity to announce that he would not be a can didate for re-election to the district judgeship. A resolution was carried expres sive of the regard and appreciation of the Des Moines bar for U. S. Circuit Clerk E. R. Mason, who "after thirty-five years of continuous and efficient service" had signified his intention to resign. Another resolution was offered and referred to the executive committee, favoring the combination of the offices of clerk of the cir cuit and district courts of the United States for the Southern District of Iowa and recommending the appointment of William C. McArthur for the combined office. Mr. McArthur was afterwards appointed to the dual position. The officers elected for the year were: president, John M. Read; vice presi dents, A. A. McLaughlin and Crom Bowen ; secretary, John L. Gillespie; treasurer, Casper Schenck. Judge Prouty offered a resolution which was accepted, expressive of the general regret that Judge Howe was about to retire from the bench, and of the bar's keen appreciation of the judge's fairness and ability. The banquet closed with several toasts and responses as follows : "Law," Charles L. Powell; "Common Interests in Law," W. C. Strock; "Some Comments on the Practice," W. G. Harvison ; "State and Federal Procedure," Jerry B. Sulli van. Judge Cole and Frederick M. Hubbell were called out and made brief ad dresses. At a meeting held March 12, 1910, President Read was instructed to appoint committees in preparation for the forthcoming meeting of the State Bar Associa tion, in Des Moines, June 23-24. At a meeting on May 4, 1910, committees were appointed to prepare resolutions on the death of Col. P. Gad Bryan, one of the last of the old-time lawyers and pub lic men. Colonel Bryan had years before, retired from general practice and at the time of his death was a resident of Des Moines. The death of Judge Balliet was similarly recognized by the appointment of com mittees to present memorial resolutions to the courts. The sudden death of J. K. Macomber, an active member of the association, was also the subject of resolutions. It was arranged, at a meeting on the 4th of May, that the members individually attend the funeral, and send a suitable floral offer ing. A sad mistake had been made by a local paper in publishing misinformation as to the cause of Mr. Macomber's death. A committee was appointed to wait on the editors and request a correction of the error. The editors readily complied with the request, keenly deploring the reporter's statement. On June 29, 1910, the association met in the Portrait Gallery of the His torical Building for the presentation of the portrait of Judge Bishop to the His torical Department. Vice President McLaughlin made the presentation speech, and Justice Scott M. Ladd, on behalf of the department, delivered an address accepting the portrait from the association. The death of William H. Baily called the members together May 12, 1910, when arrangements were made to attend the funeral in a body, and to send suit- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 499 able floral offerings. Resolutions were duly presented and were supplemented by addresses by the committeemen. A meeting of the association was held September 15, when resolutions were read and adopted in memory of Col. P. Gad Bryan, Judge S. F. Balliet, J. K. Macomber and W. H. Baily. The annual banquet was held at the Elks' Club room January 5, 191 1. The annual election resulted in the election of the following officers : president, A. A. McLaughlin ; vice president, Crom Bowen ; second vice president, C. A. Dud ley; secretary, John L. Gillespie; treasurer, Casper Schenk. Mr. Read, the re tiring president, addressed the association on "The Elevation of the Morals and Ethics of the Legal Profession." O. M. Brockett spoke to the theme, "Contingent Fees and Legal Ethics." Horatio T. Dale, from the committee on Law Reform, made a report recom mending certain changes in the practice. The report provoking general discussion. On motion the committee on law reform for 191 1, consisting of Messrs. Dale, Earle, Parrish, Nourse (C. L.) and Miller (W. E.) was appointed a legislative committee, to consider the recommendations made and to draft such bills as they might deem advisable and introduce the same in the 34th General Assembly. At a special meeting held March 11, it was resolved that, the Governor hav ing approved the act creating an additional judge of Polk county, it was desirable that the association make known to the Governor its preference for the position created. In conformity with the resolution a ballot was taken in which 125 votes were cast, resulting in the selection of Earl F. Mills by 41 votes. The action of the association was duly presented to Governor Carroll, who soon thereafter ap pointed James P. Hewitt — an appointment entirely acceptable to the bar, though the appointee was not in the list of candidates for the bar endorsement. Here the record of the Des Moines Bar Association closes, to be renewed, at the latest, soon after the ushering in of the new year 1912 — and possibly be fore. It points to the solemn old moral — the brevity of life. During the sixteen years covered by the record, the number of deaths which have 'occurred within its membership is startlingly large. In glancing over the minutes, one cannot help being impressed with the dual fitness of the association to the needs of its era, — in passing on from one generation to the next the ethics of a noble pro fession, and in suitably honoring the members of that profession as one by one thev enter into their rest. CHAPTER V. INCIDENTS AND EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE BENCH AND BAR OF DES MOINES. With the advent of the Supreme Court of Iowa at the new State Capital in December, 1857, began a new era in the history of Iowa jurisprudence. The change from the then centrally located old Capital to the frontier town in the in terior anticipated by several years the westward course of empire. It was with the utmost difficulty that the members of the bar in the older portion of the State conformed to the necessity put upon them by the premature change. The difference between "then" and "now" is best illustrated by descriptions left by pioneers of the Fifties. Hon. James O. Crosby, of Garnavillo, Iowa, in a chapter of reminiscences read before the State Bar Association in Mason City in 1898, describes his journey to the Capital City to attend this first term of the supreme court held in Des Moines in December, 1857. Assembled in the old capitol, then occupying the site of the soldiers' monument, he found Chief Justice George G. Wright and the Associate Justices William G. Woodward and L. D. Stockton, and Samuel A. Rice, attorney general, and Lewis Kinsey, clerk. He says : "December was a soft month, and the mud extended from Garnavillo to Des Moines. In company with Elijah Odell I started by Frink & Walker's stage line to attend that court and submit our cases. . . . The journey took five days and we rode all nights except a stop at Dubuque and another at Iowa City. The kindly reception the judges gave us made us forget for the time the fatigue of the journey. There was the cordiality peculiar to a new country. We pro cured entertainment at the Grout House, kept by a Mr. Marsh. "The C. R. I. & P- railroad was completed from Davenport to Iowa City, and we returned home via Chicago and Prairie du Chien. After the railway was completed to Des Moines, our quickest and easiest route to the capital was by Chicago. The general assembly at its next session made it unnecessary to go to Des Moines for our Supreme Court business." . . . Hon. T. B. Perry, of Albia, in an interesting paper in the Annals of Iowa describes the attempt of Judge Mason and himself to attend the first meeting of the new state board of education. Senator Perry writes : "Judge Mason under took to make the trip from Keokuk to Des Moines via steamboat on the Des Moines river. I was at Ottumwa when the "Badger State" hove in sight, on which he was a passenger. This was the afternoon of Saturday, the 4th day of December, 1858. A cold wind was blowing from the northwest, and the boat stopped only a few minutes, and passed up the river ; but it was not able to as cend higher than Eddyville, when it landed its passengers, unloaded its cargo, and at once returned clown the river to escape the threatened 'freeze up.' Judge Mason completed his journey from Eddyville by stage-coach, and I from Ottumwa in the same way." The members of the bar in Des Moines in 1862, as published at the time were: J. S. Polk, P. M. Casady, William and Flarvey Phillips, C. C. Cole, John C. Turk, C. C. Nourse, J. M. St. John, M. D. & W. H. McHenry, D. O. Finch, George W. Clark, T. E. Brown, S. Sibley, E. J. Ingersoll, Curtis Bates, W. W. William son, S. V. AVhite, Barlow Granger, John Mitchell, Thomas F. Withrow, Seward Smith, Giles H. Turner, John Jack, Jr., J. M. Elwood, W. J. Gatling, J. M. Walker, F. C. D. McKay, A. Y. Hull. 500 C. A. BISHOP JUDGE L. G. KINNE CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 501 The death of General Crocker, a distinguished member of the Des Moines bar, on the 26th of August 1865, was a source of deep sorrow to the members of the bar. On the evening of August 31, resolutions prepared by a committee were read and adopted. These referred to the General as "a distinguished member of the legal profession, a jurist of high attainments, of irreproachable character, of ardent devotion to his profession and an honor to the bar of the state." The local Bar sustained another loss on the 14th of October, '65, in the death of Judge John H. Gray. It was said of him that he had fallen a sacrifice to his devotion to duty. "Had he been more careful of himself and less scrupulous in his determination to do all which his onerous position imposed upon him," his life might have been prolonged. Late in October of the same year occurred the death of John F. Seeley, a young and promising attorney of the Polk county bar. At the meeting of the bar President Polk appointed Messrs. Sibley, Smith, St. John, Orwig, Stewart and Chester pall-bearers at the funeral on the 28th. The appointment of C. C. Nourse to the district judgeship, made vacant by the death of Judge Gray, brought to the bench in November, 1865, a man of large experience and rare ability. Early in December, a meeting of the Des Moines Bar was held in honor of General Crocker, Judge Gray and J. F. Seeley, Esq. Resolutions were spread upon the records of the court, and Judge Nourse delivered an address eminently fitting the occasion*. John R. Barcroft, of Ohio, the Judge Barcroft of a later time, became a citi zen of Des Moines in December, 1865, and was cordially welcomed by the local bar. In 1892, Judge Woolson was strongly commended by members of the bar for his after-course in the case of the acquitted millionaire, J. C. Newton, vice presi dent and general manager of the Des Moines & Kansas City railroad, who had been charged with conspiring to defraud the government, by padding the mails carried by his road. After his acquittal, May 26, Newton gave the jury that acquitted him a sumptuous banquet. Next morning the Judge gave Newton and the jury a severe reprimand, declaring that, such a precedent established, it would soon be well-nigh impossible for a poor man to get justice. He summarily dis charged the jury, saying he could not ask any litigant to take them as jurors after their highly improper conduct. The Bar Association submitted to the Supreme Court, May 26, a set of reso lutions adopted February 4, bearing testimony to the worth and ability of the late Thomas F. Withrow, who for thirty-five years had resided in Des Moines, and whose departure for Chicago a few years prior to his death (to accept the position of general solicitor for the Rock Island road) was keenly felt by his many friends of the Des Moines bar. The death of Thomas S. Wright, eldest son of Judge Wright, in a hospital in New York, July 26, 1894, was the sad message sent by R. B. Cable on the 27th. The loss of this gifted and generally loved and respected man was a sad blow to the family and to many near and dear friends. The deceased was general solici tor for the Rock Island system, and had quietly and unobtrusively impressed his individuality and his legal ability upon the railroad world. He was nearing his fiftieth year when the end came. In his career in Des Moines he had been asso ciated with several of the city's best lawyers, Messrs. Withrow, Gatch, Reynolds, Cummins, his eminent father, Judge George G. Wright ; and his younger brother, Carroll C. Wright, at present the Iowa solicitor for the Rock Island. The testi mony of those who knew him most intimately was remarkably strong. Colonel Gatch spoke of him as "modest and unassuming, but at the same time very self- reliant," and of his life as "one that his friends could regard with entire sa^ faction." George F. Henry bore testimony that "not the least element in his suc cess as a lawyer — and he was in the very front rank of railroad attorneys in the country — was his high character and standing as a man." W. E. Odell, formerly 502 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of McGregor, said that his irreproachable life and his high rank as a lawyer was known not only to his friends here but to lawyers in remote parts of the state. The State Bar Association in the Seventies had been allowed to die, and in 1895 there was a resurrection. The event occurred in Des Moines on June 27 of that year. The first president of the association was Judge L. G Kinne and the first treasurer was George F. Henry, both of Des Moines. A resurrection banquet was held at the Savery hotel, in the course of which Judge Nourse responded to the toast, "The Early Judiciary of Iowa," in the course of which he emphasized the point that the bar should sustain fearless judges, recalling by way of illustration the hanging of Howard by a mob in Des Moines, some twenty years before. Judge Kinne, toastmaster, told a characteristic story de veloping the fact that Judge Wright — and not Judge Deemer — as was generally supposed, — was the youngest man ever elected to the Supreme Bench of Iowa. In the list of members of the association, are the names of fifty-eight Polk county attorneys, not a few of whom were members of the pioneer association. At the meeting of the association in Davenport, in '96, Judge H. S. Winslow, chairman of the committee on legal biography devoted his report entirely to the decease of the Hon. George G. Wright, which occurred January 11, 1896. With in the membership of the association no death has occurred which has occasioned such general sorrow. In his report Judge Winslow said : "When a life that has been for many years a continual illustration of the best conception of humanity, goes out, there is nothing but good that may be said. "The faults incident to our common human nature Judge Wright had, . . but in this case, if so, they are swallowed up in and hidden by his goodness, amiability and extraordinary kindness of heart, and are now forgotten in the brighter light of the memory of his genial, companionable ways, and his constant effort to encourage, lift up and support all with whom he came into contact. "He loved his chosen profession and was true to its demands, diligent, perse vering, successful. He did not confine himself alone to this work. In the large ness of his grasp, in the greatness of his intellect, in the activity of a wonderful brain power, he found time to give attention to the affairs of the public. . . . Every impulse in his nature went out toward the young in their efforts to reach the goal of success, and at all times he was ready to encourage, help and sus tain them, in the struggles of life. This trait, which was largely developed in his life work, was confined to no profession, class or condition. A kindly word, a cordial welcome, a genial cheery smile, he always had for each and for all. Such a man could not help being great." The dissolution of the widely known firm of Cummins & Wright, one of the oldest and best-known law firms in the state, occurred August 1, 1896. The firm was organized in 1868, with Judge Wright at its head. In its time there had been associated with it a galaxy of brilliant lawyers. Besides the judge there were, at different times, John S. Runnells, Thomas S. Wright, Col. C. H. Gatch, Thomas F. Withrow. The firm of which Cummins & Wright, the lineal descend ed, originated in 1868 as Withrow & Wright. In 1870, Mr. Withrow retired to take the place of general solicitor for the Rock Island road, and the firm became Gatch, Wright and Runnells. In a few years it became Wright, Gatch & Wright — Judge Wright having resigned from the bench and returned to practice. In '78 it became Wright & Wright — including the father and his two sons._ In '81, A. B. Cummins entered the firm, the firm name being Cummins & Wright. In '86, J. P. Hewitt, the Judge Hewitt of the present time, entered the firm— though his name did not appear. The dissolution was followed by the organization of the firm of Wright, Hewitt & Wright, — the junior member of the firm, Mr. Craig T. Wright, son of Thomas S. Wright, deceased. Two deaths occurred in Des Moines in 1897 which were greatly deplored by the legal fraternity and by many friends throughout the state. JUDGE G. G. WRIGHT CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 503 The death of W. A. Park, at the early age of 45. Born in Indiana, a farmer's son near Indianola, a law student with Bryan & Seevers and later in Michigan university, he began the practice of law in Des Moines in 1880. He soon formed a partnership with the now famous lawyer, F. W. Lehman. On Mr. Lehman's removal to St. Louis, he formed a partnership with W. E. Odell, and later with C. A. Balreich, now of Denver. Mr. Park's legal career covered sixteen suc cessful years. Col. C. H. Gatch's death on the first day of July, removed from Des Moines one of her most public-spirited citizens, and one of her ablest lawyers. His seventy-two years were full of activities, many of them in the interest of the city, state and country he loved. His early life was on an Ohio farm. At 33 he was a member of the Ohio senate, a few years later, lieutenant-colonel of an Ohio regi ment. He removed to Des Moines after the war closed and soon thereafter was elected district attorney of Polk county. He was Polk county's senator in the Twenty-first and Twenty-second General Assemblies. As a legislator be did much to bring to pass our liberal library laws. He conscientiously attempted to solve the saloon question by moderate legislation, and was greatly misjudged by many well-meaning prohibitionists. He was a Christian lawyer, soldier and statesman, and his record, scarcely mentioned here, will some day be the basis of a biography. He was buried in Des Moines where the best part of his life was passed. The memory he has left is that of public spirit, rugged honesty and ability of a substantial rather than a brilliant character. At a banquet given in Mason City, in 1898, Judge G. S. Robinson, not wait ing until his death, paid this graceful tribute to the venerable Judge, Chester C. Cole, then in his 74th year: "Judge Cole is a man of marked ability, of marked clearness in his work. He has perhaps no superior in his power to ex press concisely just the facts he desires to state or the proposition of law he de sires to present." The retirement of Judge Josiah Given from the bench, on the 25th of No vember, 1903, was an event which the judge's friends of the bar were not disposed to let pass without giving some evidence of their appreciation of the man who had so long and faithfully served the cause of justice and humanity. After serving ( long on the supreme bench of Iowa, he became a lecturer in Highland Park College of Law. Then came his appointment to fill a vacancy on the district bench. After serving for a time, the illness of his daughter led to his resignation that he might accompany her to the South. The judge was the subject of a set of strong resolu tions, drawn by Attorneys George F. Henry, 'W. L. Reed and James P Hewitt. Eloquent speeches were made by his associates, Judges McHenry, Howe and Mc Vey, and by Attorneys Hume, Macomber, McCain, Sampson, Dunshee and Morri son. With a happy compound of wit and sentiment, the venerable judge responded making the occasion one long to be remembered. Judge Given's reminiscences were especially interesting, as told in the quaintly humorous vein into which the eloquent orator of many a camp-fire delighted to drop whenever he recalled the golden age of youth. He landed in Des Moines in May, 1868, "with a covered wagon, two horses, a colt, and a milk cow that had to be led by a rope to make her follow the procession." At first he tried brick-making, but didn't make much headway; so, "one day, he went home, put on a white shirt and returned to the legal profession" in which he was engaged before coming to Iowa. He formed a partnership with J. M. St. John, and was soon actively engaged in the practice. Then followed his election to the bench and his elevation to the supreme bench. The modesty and good humor with which the venerable judge recounted his ex periences made his response extremely enjoyable. After forty-two years of public service as a teacher of the law, Judge C. C. Cole received notice, January 7, 1907, that he had been designated by the Carne gie Foundation as one to receive pensions from the ten million dollar fund set apart for retired educators. The yearly allowance was $1,280. The judge re tired at once from active service at the Drake University College of Law, and was given the title of dean emeritus. 504 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The years have gathered for eternity a number of the members of the bar who in the nineties were among the best known attorneys of Des Moines, among whom are these well-remembered names: C. H. Gatch, John Mitchell, Thomas G. Wright, George G. Wright, L. G. Kinne, Josiah Given, Charles A. Bishop, W. S. Baily, Charles Mackenzie, William Connor, Lemuel Kinkaid, J. K. Ma comber, Judge Ryan, P. Gad Bryan, Judge Barcroft, John A. Kasson, B. F. Kauffman, Harvey and William Phillips. The last decade has made many changes in the personnel of the local bar. Able lawyers from other Iowa cities have located in Des Moines, and have won deserved recognition in this larger field. Another generation of "home-grown" lawyers have ably filled the places of their fathers and advisers who were mak ing history in the Capital city a few decades ago. And, treading upon the heels of those in middle life, are many young attorneys not a few of whom give abun dant promise of ability to fill future vacant places. Rising from the study of history, general or local, we are wont to exclaim, "There were giants in those days !" But it is entirely safe to predict that the future historian of Des Moines, viewing the recent past with the perspective which intervening years alone can give, will freely accord to the present generation of lawyers and public men quite as much of honor as we of this generation freely accord to- those of our immediate past. " 1^' i lllltlllll :^StSS«Ki P^^^^^» COL. C. H. GATCH One of Des Moines' early settlers II. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. CHAPTER I. MEETINGS OF THE IOWA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY IN DES MOINES. The Iowa State Medical Society was organized in 1850, and, with the ex ception of two years (1862-63), met annually thereafter at various times and places, attended by a few from the immediate neighborhood of the meeting-place. Not until the year 1869, were the means of communication by rail such as to encourage a general attendance. Even as late as 1870, the attendance from western and northern Iowa was small ; but, soon thereafter, with fast improving railroad facilities, the state as a whole was fairly well represented. Not until the year 1869, was there a medical department in the State university. Not until the revival of interest in 1868 were the society's meetings held at the state Capital. Des Moines appears to have been unrepresented in these meetings until 1858, when the name of the veteran physician and surgeon, A. G. Field, a pioneer physician and surgeon of Polk county, appears in the list of censors. In 1867, Dr. Field was made secretary, and in this position he served for three years in succession. The first published volume of the transactions of the Iowa State Medical So ciety, published in 1871, was prepared by a committee on publication of which A. G. Field was chairman and editor-in-chief. This initial volume commences with the transactions of the sixteenth annual meeting, held in the hall of the Good Templars, Des Moines, February 5-6, 1868. Dr. H. L. Whitman, president of the Polk County Medical Society, welcomed the visiting members. Dr. William Watson of Dubuque was president and Dr. A. G. Field, secretary. Of the twenty members present, three were residents of Des Moines, Drs. A. G. Field, J. O. Skinner and D. V. Cole. Drs. Whitman, W. H. Ward and C. FI. Rawson were elected members. Of the six incorporators of the society, two were resident members, Drs. Field and Whitman. In the articles' of incorporation it was settled that the business of the society should be conducted, and its annual meeting held, in Des Moines. Dr. Field was elected secretary and Dr. Whitman, a member of the board of censors. Dr. Field was chosen a delegate to the American Medical Association. Dr. Whitman was chosen as one of the five members delegated to draft a stringent law for the more effectual suppression of crimes. The Polk County Medical Society provided an evening entertainment for the members of the society on this its first meeting in Des Moines. The State society was duly appreciative ; but, inasmuch as it had voted to meet at the state capital annually, "and as their tendency is to an unnecessary expenditure of money, and to consume time too valuable to be thus employed," it was voted that the local society be advised "to refrain from such preparations or entertainments in the future." That the stage-coach was, even as late as 1869, slow to yield the field to the railroads, is evident from a resolution of thanks offered by the society "to the 505 506 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Western Stage company, and also to the various railroad companies," for reduced fares and other courtesies. The annual address of the president refers to this meeting as "an epoch in its history, as the first ever held at the state capital," the realization of its long- cherished hopes that the influence of the society was extending, and that it would continue to extend until it should be felt over the entire state ; and at each suc ceeding annual meeting, all parts of the state should be fully represented, — hopes since amply realized. The society reconvened in Des Moines May 25, 1869. At this meeting, Drs. George P. Hanawalt, J. B. Buchtel, E. J. McGorrisk and David Beach, of Des Moines, were elected members. Dr. Field was re-elected secretary. Dr. Whitman, treasurer ; Dr. Beach, a member of the board of censors and Dr. Rawson, a trustee. Drs. Whitman and Field were placed on the publishing committee. Dr. J. F. Kennedy, then of Tipton, afterwards, for many years, secretary of the state board of health, and a resident of Des Moines, read an interesting report, drawn from his own experience at the front, on a gunshot wound in the abdomen, also on a fracture of the skull with loss of brain substance. The eighteenth annual meeting, convened in Des Moines in February, 1870, was strengthened by many new members, including these resident physicians: H. Cox, M. Hilbert and O. B. Thompson. A heated discussion followed the reading of resolutions severely condemning the action of the State University in organizing a medical department "without giving the profession of the state an opportunity for an expression of opinion in relation to the necessity of such action." The resolutions carried. Dr. Hanawalt was elected corresponding secretary. Dr. Beach continued on the board of censors and Dr. Whitman was placed on the board of trustees. The nineteenth annual meeting was held in the court house, Des Moines, April 19, 1871.1 Among the many new members, the only resident physician was Dr. C. W. Ullrich. Dr. Field was elected president, and Dr. Hanawalt secre tary. Dr. E. H. Hazen, then of Davenport, since, and for many years, a specialist in Des Moines, read a learned paper on the advances of Ophthalmology in the preceding fifteen years. Among the obituary notices published in the volume from which most of the data above given is taken, is a feeling tribute to Dr. Henry Courtney, of Des Moines, who died in June, 1861, at the age of 48. Born in Kentucky, he removed to Des Moines in 1853. His last illness was of but a few days' duration. In 1859, he was elected president of the Polk County Medical Society, and up to his death was one of that society's most active members. After meeting elsewhere for several years in succession, in 1878 the society returned to Des Moines, and from that time on for many years it continued to meet at the capital every two or four years. The meager reports of these meet ings are chiefly interesting as showing who were the active members from time to time. The Polk county delegation in '78 were Drs. J. T. Priestley, J. Bowman, Jr., and J. W. McDowell, all of Des Moines. Dr. J. F. Kennedy was secretary and was re-elected several years in succession. The society then included 244 members. Besides the regular delegates, were present Drs. D. V. Cole, A. G. Field, G. P. Hanawalt, Charles IT. Rawson, W. H. Ward, IT. L. Whitman and Isaac Windle, all of Des Moines, and J. O. Skinner, of Polk City. In 1880 Dr. Hanawalt was president and Dr. H. R. Page was the sole local delegate in attendance. Polk county's representation in '84 was : Drs. Brubaker, Eschbaugh, Benson, King and Finlayson of Des Moines and Drs. Gwuer [Grover] of Grimes, Booth of Altoona and Kearby of Elkhart. 1 In 1872 a new Constitution and By-Laws, those now in force, were adopted, and the Society became "a delegate body." The result of this action was 'the organization of local medical societies — in the counties, districts, and cities — throughout the State, and thus a greater degree of fraternization and professional improvement was secured. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 507 The Medical and Surgical Directory of 1886 prints twenty-seven names of Des Moines physicians and surgeons who in 1885 were members of the Iowa State Medical Society, as follows : J. W. Adams, joined in '83 ; J. S. Baker, in '82 ; O. D. Benson, '84; I. P. Brubaker, '84; C. M. Colvin, '82; F. E. Cruttenden, '80; H. C. Eschbaugh, '84; A. G. Field, '65; Edith M. Gould, '82; W. W. Hale, '82; G. P. Hanawalt, '69 ; W. Hutchinson, '85 ; Azuba D. King, '84 ; H. C. LeRoy, '84 ; E. T. Likes, '76; J. W. McDowell, '78; E. J. McGorrisk, '83; J. W. McKee, '82; H. R. Page, '80; R. A. Patchin, '81; J. T. Priestley, '78; H. Prichard, '81; L. Schooler, '80; A. C. Simonton, '70; J. I. Wakefield, '82; W. H. Ward, '68; A. L. Worden, '82. In '86, the county delegation was Drs. Stuart, Nysewander, Moore, Clark, Currie, Anderson, Liebhardt, Coskery and Crawford, all of Des Moines. In '88, the county was represented by Drs. Henderson, Mathews, Cleaves (Margaret A.), Twining, Latta, Pipino and Finlayson, all of Des Moines. In '90 the local representation was : Drs. Kelleher, Adams, Carothers, Hoff, Bagley and Benson, of Des Moines, and Stoner, of Altoona. In '92, Des Moines was honored with the first vice presidency, and two years later, by the presidency of the society, in the person of Dr. Lewis Schooler. Dr. Hatton of Des Moines was chosen one of three state delegates to a medical con vention in Belgium. In '94, the city, through Mayor Hillis, accorded the society a cordial welcome, and Dr. Priestley, on behalf of the medical profession of Des Moines, heartily greeted the city's guests. Dr. D. S. Fairchild, of Clinton, now of Des Moines, succeeded to the presi dency in '96. The city welcomed the society, with Sidney A. Foster as its spokesman. For several years in the Nineties, Dr. Cokenower, of Des Moines, served as the society's secretary. The Polk delegates in '96 were Drs. McCarthy, Monash, Minassian, Overholt, Priestley (Crayke), Patchin and Schiltz. At this meeting the Iowa Medical Journal was made the official organ of the society. In '98, the society was welcomed to Des Moines by Mayor McVicar. The county delegation was Drs. Grimes, Hoff, McGorrisk, Pearson and Seegar. Dr. J. T. Priestley was elected first vice president, and Dr. Cokenower began a second course as secretary. In 1900, Dr. E. E. Dorr delivered the address of welcome. The local delega tion was: Drs. Anderson, Currie, Davis, King, Means (Lenna L.), Parriott, Payne, Rockaf ellow, Stoner, Smith, Shope and Wright (Rebekah). Mayor Brenton gave the society an effusive welcome in 1902. The Polk delegation was : Drs. Ely, Tyrell, Hoffman, Conkling, Callahan, Shively and Flan nery of Des Moines, and Drs. Fountain and Schener, of Valley Junction. Des Moines was again honored with the presidency, this time in the person of Dr. J. T. Priestley. Dr. Gershom H. Hill, then of Independence, now of Des Moines, was elected a state trustee. Polk county's only delegations in 1904, were Drs. D. S. Fairchild and E. L. Stevens. At this session the society began to elect "councillors" who were to serve five years. Dr. W. S. Conkling was Des Moines' first representative for the full term, Dr. E. E. Dorr was elected a state delegate to the American Medical Association. The society returned to Des Moines in 1905, and was again welcomed to the city by Sidney A. Foster. The Polk delegates were Dr. D. S. Fairchild and J. T. Priestley, with Drs. Conkling and Grimes as their alternates. Dr. Walter S. Bierring of Iowa City, now of Des Moines, was elected first vice president. In 1906, Dr. E. E. Dorr was again elected a delegate to- the American Medical Association; and two years later Dr. Bierring was elected president. Dr. Dorr was made the seventh district delegate on the council and Dr. D. W. Smouse was made a trustee. In 1908, Dr. N. C. Schiltz of Des Moines was elected second vice president. In 1910, Dr. M. N. Voldeng, of Cherokee, formerly of Des Moines, was elected 508 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY president of the society, and Dr. H. A. Minassian of Des Moines, second vice president. The society's meeting in 191 1 was held in the new Coliseum, and was called to order by President Voldeng. Dr. Granville N. Ryan was elected a trustee. At this meeting the society adopted a new policy — that of owning and publishing its own journal. The report of the committee, which was adopted, was in sub stance, that "the 'House of Delegates' establish an official monthly journal of the society to be called the Journal of the Iowa State Medical Society, in which shall be printed the proceedings and papers of the annual meeting, etc.; that its edi tor be elected by the house of delegates, his salary to be fixed by the trustees; that Dr. Dorr, publisher of the Iowa Medical Journal, be paid in full for all advertising contracts then held by him which they may desire to carry, "and that this be considered as full compensation to Dr. Dorr for any rights which he may have." Dr. D. S. Fairchild. was elected editor of the Journal. The committee on necrology memorialized Dr. L. Drakely Rood, for nineteen years an active prac titioner in Des Moines, who died August 8, 1910. The total membership of the society had increased from about 600 to 2,000. The first number of the Journal of the State Medical Society issued from Des Moines, was dated July 15, 191 1. CHAPTER II. DES MOINES AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. The personal history of the men who took the places of the pioneer physi cians of Fort Des Moines is not as well preserved and as full as that of the earlier period. Putting fragments together we get glimpses of a few promi nent physicians who served their generation faithfully, and went down to death loved and respected by those to whom they had ministered and by their fellow- citizens with whom they had public spiritedly labored. The original Polk County Medical Society was organized in Des Moines on the 26th of May, 1858. The first organization was effected with W. H. Ward, president; J. Bowman, Jr., and H. R. Page, vice presidents; F. E. Cruttenden, secretary and A. C. Simonton, treasurer. Drs. Blanchard, Kennedy and Raw- son were chosen as censors. There were twenty-three charter members. The annual meetings were placed on the first Tuesday in May. Evidently the min utes of subsequent meetings have not been preserved, since none of the sur viving members know aught of them. Dr. A. G. Field, a pioneer physician of Des Moines, recalls the temporary lapse of the society during the years of the war, and a reorganization in 1865, or later. He also' recalls many interest ing meetings and able discussions later in the Sixties and for years thereafter, but is of the opinion that the records were never placed in permanent form for preservation. Among the arrivals in Des Moines in the late Fifties were W. H. Dickinson and James Lillie, homseopathic physicians. Perhaps no other pioneer physician has remained in continuous practice in Des Moines as long as Dr. Dickinson. A graduate of two eastern colleges of medicine, he came to Des Moines in '58 and continued in local practice, until his death in 1898. During this time, how ever, he served as a professor in the State University. He was for years an influential member of the State Board of Health. From 1870, when he became president of the State Medical Society of his school until his death, he was the recognized leader of that school. Dr. Lillie was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, and afterwards took a theological as well as medical course. He practiced his profession in Des Moines for several years and then removed to Iowa City, where he became a professor of ancient languages in the State University. Dr. Steele was a pioneer in Warren county and "moved over" in 1861. For more than a score of years he practiced in the Capital city. He took an active part in politics, but never as a candidate. He was a godsend to the poor, seem ing to care very little about compensation for his services. Drs. Isaac Windle and William Molesworth also came to Des Moines in the late Fifties. The Register of June 12, '61, speaking of the late Dr. Courtney, says "he was one of the most popular, successful and scientific physicians that ever located in Central Iowa." The War of the Rebellion brought out in bold relief two well-known physi cians and surgeons of Des Moines, whose services, frequently, referred to in the war dispatches and correspondence, entitle them to- be better remembered than they are. 509 510 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Speaking of Dr. Charles H. Rawson's appointment as surgeon, the Register of June 26, '61, said "The doctor has had much experience and his coolness of nerve, resolution and professional judgment will render him an invaluable auxil iary to the regiment." Reviewing Dr. Rawson's career we find that destiny" led the doctor a long way round to Des Moines. After graduating with honor in the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons, and rising superior to the terrors of small-pox in Bellevue Hospital, in '49 he became surgeon on the steamship Lewis, bound for San Francisco, via Cape Horn. He survived the wreck of the steamer and for two years served as surgeon in the Marine Hospital, in San Francisco. He then paid a visit to his old home in Vermont, where he first learned of the new Capital city of Iowa. In 1856, at the age of 28, Dr. Rawson located in Des Moines, his home from that time until the day of his death. He became surgeon of the Fifth Iowa Infantry, and later became brigade surgeon of the Third Brigade, Seventh Division, Army of the Mississippi. His extreme devotion to duty finally compelled his resignation because of ill-health. He returned to Des Moines and formed a partnership with Dr. W. H. Ward, which continued until 1881. Mr. Andrews, in his "Pioneers," says he is con fidant the doctor in the course of his twenty-five years' practice visited every family in the city, "so- universal was public confidence in his skill." In 1865, when the pension office was located in Des Moines he was appointed president of the board. This position he held until the last. His last illness illustrates his devotion to- duty. During the absence of several Des Moines physicians in at tendance on the meeting of the American Medical Association, in '84, Dr. Raw- son undertook to attend their patients, but the burden, added to his own large practice, proved too heavy, and on June 27, 1884, he died — literally with his armor on. Speaking of Dr. W. P. Davis, whose services had been mentioned in connec tion with the Eighth Iowa, the Register of August 14, '61, says: "Not a surgeon in the state is better qualified." The after record of Dr. Rawson and of Dr. Davis amply substantiates Editor Palmer's words of praise. Of Surgeon Davis's services at the front, Rev. V. P. Fink, who had just returned from Bird's Point, wrote:1 "It was refreshing to see Dr. Davis and estimable lady, whom I found actively employed, the doctor in the medical, his lady in the culinary department, doing their utmost for the restoration and comfort of the sick. . Very many spoke in the highest terms of the doctor as possessing a heart in the right place and of the right material. With much loss of rest at night, he is daily oc cupied from early dawn to a late hour in giving every possible attention to the sick. Careworn, his clothes fit loosely now. He told me he had not rested one day in four months, and that he felt certain that rest would soon be indispensable. His lady is to the sick of the regiment an angel of mercy, devoting every spare moment in preparing nourishment with her own hands for all who need her aid. The poor sufferers look upon her as a mother." Dr. Davis, in a letter from New Madrid, Mo., March 14, '62, published in the Register of March 23, tells an interesting story of experiences in field and hospital — a story of self-sacrifice modestly told. Dr. D. Beach, of Des Moines, was in July, '63, appointed assistant surgeon of the Fourth Iowa Infantry, then with Sherman's Army in pursuit of Johnston. Dr. S. V. Campbell, assistant surgeon of the 23d Iowa reached Des Moines August 11, '63, having been forced to resign by continued ill health. Dr. A. G. Field was in November, 1865, appointed examining surgeon for the Pension Bureau. The Polk County Medical Society, at a meeting held October 12, 1867, passed resolutions of respect and regard for Dr. W. P. Davis, who died on the ioth, from the effects of his arduous labors in the field as surgeon of the Tenth Iowa Infantry. The doctor was one of the founders of the society. 1 Daily State Register, January 18, 1862. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 511 Dr. H. L. Whitman, one of the ablest of Des Moines physicians and surgeons, died August 17, 1885, in the seventy-first year of his age. Pie was born in Con necticut, was a graduate of Amherst in the class of '39. He taught school a while in the southwest, and returned east to study medicine. He graduated from Jeffer son College, Philadelphia, in '45 ; practiced his profession in Freeport and Du buque, and came to Des Moines in 1853. He continued in active practice until 1875, winning high place in his profession both as physcian and surgeon. He was the first president of the Polk County Medical Society, and for many years was one of its most active and influential members. Among his many friends none were more dear to him then were the members of his profession. Dr. Blanchard went with his friend to Lake Superior in the hope that the change might prove a benefit. Despairing of a change for the better, he brought the doctor back to his home, where Drs. Ward, Schooler and Turner were unremitting in their attend ance upon their friend. He left a wife and several children and many friends who mourned their loss. Cottage Hospital was organized in 1870 and at the time was the only hospital in Des Moines. It was built to accommodate about fifty patients. It received its support partly from the city which appropriated $1,000 a year for its maintenance and partly by paying patients and by donations. In 1885 the Polk County Medical Society had charge of this hospital, the managers electing a medical staff of twelve physicians, members of that society. The staff at that time was composed of Drs. Hanawalt, Kennedy, Priestley and Ward — consulting physicians ; Drs. Brubaker, Cokenower, Colvin, Currie, Gould, Hale, Moore, Patchin, Smouse, Swift and Worden — attending physicians, and C. E. Cruttenden, oculist. The subsequent history of the hospital, down to 1899 has already been told in these pages. In 1886, the local society held its meetings on the first Tuesday of the month in its hall over 311 Walnut street. Its officers were : H. R. Page, president ; A. D. King, vice president ; J. F. Kennedy, second vice president ; J. W. Cokenower, sec retary; J. T. Priestley, corresponding secretary; W. W. Hale, treasurer: censors, C. M. Colvin, L. C. Swift, O. D. Benson; trustees, J. T. Priestley, H. R. Page, W. H. Ward. Besides the officers above named the following was the membership a quarter century ago : J. W. Adams, I. P. Brubaker, C. F. Clark, T. A. Coskery, A. J. Crawford, P. R. Crosswaite, F. E. Cruttenden, C. E. Currie, R. M. DeWitt, H. C. Eschbaugh, A. G. Field, D. W. Finlayson, Mary Frederick, E. M. Gould, B. B. Grover (Grimes), W. W. Hale, G. P. Hanawalt, Woods Hutchinson, E. W. Kearby (Elkhart), A. D. King, L. L. Liebhardt, J. W. McKee, J. W. McDowell, Charles D. Moore, C. Nysewander, R. A. Patchin, Lafayette Redman, L. Schooler, F. W. Shearer, A. C. Simonton (Mitchellville), J. O. Skinner (Polk City), D. W. Smouse, R. L. Stewart, L. C. Swift, James Wakefield, W. H. Ward and A. L. Worden. In 1885 there were twenty-two regular physicians and surgeons practicing in Polk county (outside Des Moines) as shown by this directory as follows: B. B. Armstrong, Polk City; W. H. Booth, Altoona; C. M. Chandler, Valley township; F. E. English, Altoona ; Josephine C. Felix, Mitchellville ; V. D. Fox, Adelphi ; A. L. Cockley, Elkhart; B. B. Grover, Grimes; T. J. Jones, Sevastopol; J. B. Martin, Commerce Mills, H. G. W. Matter, Polk City ; W. D. Monnett, Mitchellville, E. C. Mosteller, Rising Sun ; J. R. Myers, Elkhart ; W. L. Pence, Runnells ; T. Seems, Mitchellville; A. C. Simonton, Mitchellville; P. H. Sharp, Elkhart; J. O. Skinner, Polk City ; Charles Swan, Lincoln ; D. Tisdale, Polk City ; Lewis White, Ridgedale. In 1886, Des Moines had three medical colleges : (1) The Iowa College of Phy sicians and Surgeons, reported by the Medical and Surgical Directory of 1886 as having a faculty of twelve professors and one lecturer. The faculty's secretary was Dr. T. W. Shearer. (2) The Iowa Medical College, medical department of Drake University. It reported a faculty of twelve professors, Dr. I. W. Martin was dean of the faculty. (3) The King Eclectic Medical College, with a faculty of fifteen members and three lecturers reported. Dr. O. H. P. Shoemaker dean of the faculty. 512 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Dr. Elias L. Russell died at his home in north Des Moines in. 1890, at the age of 75. He had been ill for nearly two years. He was a New Yorker by birth. He came to Des Moines in 1849. He studied medicine after coming to Des Moines and began practice early in the fifties. He practiced his profession until ill-health compelled him to relinquish his work. The death of Dr. Robert A. Patchin, on the 31st of August, 1903, removed one of Des Moines' oldest and best-known physicians. For twenty-eight years Doctor Patchin had been in and out among the families of the Capital city and during those years had endeared himself to thousands. Quiet, and at times apparently gruff, he was a man of great kindness of heart and conscientiously devoted to those who trusted their lives in his hands. His brother physicians, the Masons, the Elks, and many old citizens ' and new friends attended his funeral. His widow, Calista Halsey Patchin, now of Washington, is a journalist and authoress of rare ability, and their two sons have been eminently successful in Washington and New York journalism. The death of Dr. L. Drakeley Rood, the result of blood-poisoning, August 8, 1910, was a shock and a grief to many. The doctor was only 49 years old, a fine embodiment of mental and physical vigor and of the social qualities which make a physician's coming a blessing to the afflicted. CHAPTER III. THE REORGANIZED POLK COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. Taking up the later record of the Polk County Medical Society at the earliest accessible date, we find that in 1905, the society's president was E. E. Dorr; secre tary, Chester A. Ayres ; board of censors, A. R. Amos, Eli Grimes and Gershom H. Hill. At the close of the year its membership numbered 98 ; life members 4. In 1906, the society was officered by A. C. Page, president; C. D. Deshon, vice president; C. A. Ayres, secretary; Clifton Scott, treasurer. Its board of censors was: Eli Grimes, Gershom H. Hill, J. W. Cokenower; delegates to state convention, J. T. Priestley ; alternates, L. E. Stevens and J. W. Cokenower. The number of members at the close of the year had increased to 102 ; life members, 7. In 1907, its officers were: Frank A. Ely, president; C. M. Werts, vice presi dent ; George Cullen, secretary ; Dr. Pearson, treasurer ; censor, Dr. Frisbie. In 1908, the president was N. C. Schiltz; vice president A. C. Stoner; secre tary, M. S. Turner; treasurer, C. N. O. Leir; censors, Drs. Page and Dorr. In 1909, A. R. Amos was president ; R. S. Parker, vice president ; J. W. Os borne, secretary; Eli Grimes, treasurer; N. C. Schiltz, censor; A. P. Stoner, dele gate to state convention. In 1910, the following officers were chosen: president, Wilbur S. Conkling; vice president, Ed. R. Posner ; secretary, J. W. Osborne ; treasurer, Eli Grimes ; censor, A. R. Amos; state delegate, J. W. Osborne. Its members numbered 105. In 191 1, the society was officered by O. J. Fay, president; S. E. Lincoln, vice president; T. F. Duhigg, secretary; Nellie S. Noble, treasurer; censor, W. S. Conkling; state delegate, T. F. Duhigg. The present membership is 150. The Hahnemann Medical Association of Iowa was organized in Des Moines May 31, 1869, under the name of the Society of Homoeopathic Physicians of Iowa. In July, 1873, it was reorganized and incorporated under the title first- named. In 1885 Des Moines was represented in the organization by W. H. Dick inson, vice president and George Royal, censor. The other local members were : C. W. Eaton, E. C. Hough, A. O. Hunter, A. M. Linn. The Polk County Homoeopathic Society was organized in May, 1883. Its first officers were: W. H. Dickinson, president; C. W. Eaton, vice president; Wealthy Merry, secretary and treasurer. Its present officers are : Erwin Schenck, presi dent; Alice Humphrey Hatch, vice-president; M. A. Royal, secretary and treas urer. The society has twenty-six members. The Iowa State Eclectic Medical Society was organized in Des Moines in 1868, and was incorporated in May, 1873, its constitution providing that "none except graduates of reputable medical colleges are eligible to membership." The society's local membership in 1885 was as follows : J. L. Bennett, William C. Buel, H. 0. Conaway, John Cooper, I. A. Hammer, J. G. Hill, Dr. Mallery, W. C. and F. M. McCanon, A. S. O. Flyng, D. B. Rees, O. H. P. Shoemaker, D. Tisdale, and E. D. Wiley ; Dr. Wiley was secretary of the society. Polk County Osteopathic Society was organized October 21, 1905, with the following officers : S. S. Still, president ; Emily Fike, vice president : the present officers are : A. E. Dewey, president ; Jennie A. Still, vice president ; E. B. Cald well, secretary and treasurer. The society has twenty-one members. The society is closely identified with a vigorous state organization which, overcoming vigorous opposition, has attained an assured place in the practice through legislation re cently enacted. Vol. 1—33 513 BOOK III. DES MOINES. PART VIII. THE CITY'S INSURANCE INTERESTS. CHAPTER I. DES MOINES AN INSURANCE CENTER THE LOCAL COMPANIES. Des Moines owes much of its prosperity and prestige to the early founding of insurance companies at the Capital City. Insurance companies are gregarious. * * It was worth much to the city that the State and the Hawkeye, away back in 1865, and the Equitable of Iowa, in 1867, and the Royal Union in 1886, estab lished homes in Des Moines. It was fortunate that in 1873 the Ancient Order of United Workmen founded its home office here. One after another, came other companies of various classes, until in 191 1, there are forty-four insurance companies with home offices in Des Moines, all together providing employment to several thousand men and women. These are classified as follows : Life, six ; assessment life, two ; assessment accident, six ; fraternal benefit, five ; fire, nine; county assessment, two; State mutual, eight; tornado, one; hail, four; travelers (in a class by itself), one. During the year 1910 the life, fire, assessment life, hail, tornado, county mutual and State mutual companies of Des Moines wrote insurance, of various classes, to the amount of $333,257,683. In this total are not included the traveling men's, the live-stock and the accident policies issued. The total of accident policies written and increased during the year was $102,824,816. This gives a grand total of insurance written by Des Moines companies reaching $436,082,499. The following analysis of these several home companies reveals the healthful condition of this great investment and industry in all its departments: Life — Level Premium Companies. American Life. — Incorporated in 1899; president, M. H. Brinton, vice presi dent, E. P. Barringer; secretary, J. C. Griffiths; capital stock, $129,400; policies issued in 1910: iWhole life, 1,000 — $1,509,951; endowment, 32 — $46,000; all other, 40 — $109,000; in force January 1, 191 1, 4,171 — $5,832,380. Central Life. — Incorporated in 1896; president, George B. Peak; secretary, H. G. Everett; capital stock, $100,000; policies issued in 1910: Whole life, 2,625 — $4,138,100; endowment, 381 — $527,000; all other, 213 — $563,300; in force January 1, 1911, 3,978 — $5,596,891. Des Moines Life. — Incorporated in 1885 ; C. E. Rawson, president ; Wilmot A. Harbach, secretary; capital stock, $100,000; policies issued in 1910: Whole life, 2,745 — $4,392,905 ; endowment, 53 — $104,852 ; all other, 242 — $744,621 ; in force January 1, 1911, 4,617 — $6,520,347. Equitable Life of Iowa. — Incorporated January, 1867; president, Cyrus Kirk; secretary, J. C. Cummins; capital stock, $300,000; policies issued in 1910: Whole life, 4,106— $6,618,500; endowment, 1,171 — $1,638,450; all other, 118 — $295,- 500; in force January 1, 191 1, 36,792 — $53,496,365. Royal Union Mutual Life. — Organized in 1886; president. Frank D. Jack son; secretary, Sidney A. Foster; policies issued in 1910: Whole life, 2,610 — $3,986,284; endowment, 127 — $210,500; all other, 32 — $112,690; in force Janu ary 1, 191 1, 14,568— $23,088,186. Standard Life (mutual). — Incorporated in 1897; president, F. W. Sprague; secretary, T. H. Knotts ; policies issued in 1910: Whole life, 209— $375,000; 517 518 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY endowment, 24 — $35,000; all other, 8 — $11,000; in force January 1, 191^ ^733 —$3,135,300. Assessment Life Associations. Bankers Life. — Incorporated in 1.879; president, E. E. Clark; secretary, H. S. Nollen; vice president and treasurer, Simon Casady; certificates written or increased in 1910, 33,865, amount, $67,730.00; total certificates in force Janu ary 1, 191 1, 225,574, amount, $451,148,000. National Life. — Incorporated in 1899; president, J. B. Sullivan; vice presi dents, Guy Barker, Edwin B. Naish; secretary, Henry Pyle; policies or certifi cates written in 1910, 3,481, amount, $7,810,500; in force January 1, 1911, 10,089— $19,392,500. Assessment Accident Companies. American Health and Accident. — Organized in 1903; president; J. Q. Thomp son; vice presidents, J. C. Sullivan, A. H. Hatt; secretary, C. H. Thompson; policies or certificates written or increased in 1910, 927, amount, $584,600; in force January 1, 191 1, 1,618, amounting to $1,065,400. Bankers Accident. — Incorporated in 1893; president, F. L. Miner; vice presi dents, C. H. Martin, E. C. Budlong; secretary, J. A. Kizer; policies or certi ficates written or increased in 1910, 17,541, amount, $19,919,730; in force Janu ary 1, 191 1, 22,213, amounting to $21,303,921. Great Western Accident. — Incorporated in 1901 ; president, H. B. Hawley; secretary, R. D. Emery; policies or certificates written or increased in 1910, 11,068, amount, $21,139,736; in force January 1, 1911, 23,139, amounting to $38,220,359. Inter-state Business Men's Accident. — Incorporated in 1908; president, G. S. Gilbertson ; vice president, F. E. W. Huttenlocher ; secretary, Ernest W. Brown ; policies or certificates written or increased in 1910, 10,005, amounting to $50,025,000; in force January 1, 191 1, 15,207 — $76,035,000. Business Men's Protection Accident. — Incorporated in 1906; president, G. S. Gilbertson; vice president, F. E. W. Huttenlocher; secretary, E. W. Brown; policies or certificates written or increased in 1910, 1,098, amounting to $I,I55>~ 750; in force January 1, 191 1, 824, amounting to $1,592,450. National Travelers' Benefit. — Incorporated in 1909; president, Elmer Loucks; vice president, T. B. Cookerly; secretary, C. F. Johnson; policies or certificates written in 1910, 2,037, amounting to $18,333; m force January 1, 1911, 2,126 — $18,810. The Iowa State Traveling Men's Association is not included in this outline for the reason that it does not report to the Insurance department. It is men tioned, however, in the "Field Notes," which follow. Fraternal Beneficiary Societies. Ancient Order of United Workmen. — Organized in 1873 ; president, E. B. Evans, G. W. M. ; secretary, B. F. Rehkopf, G. R. ; treasurer, H. Michelstetler ; certificates written in 1910, 3,306 — $2,755,000; certificates in force January 1, 1911, 17,023, aggregating $26,907,000. Brotherhood of American Yeomen. — Organized in 1897 ; president, William Koch ; secretary, William E. Davy ; treasurer, Frank S. Dunshee ; certificates written in 1910, 41,286, aggregating $496,020; in force January 1, 1911, I33>" 984— $1,873,720. Common Brotherhood of America. — Organized February 9, 1910; president, C. F. Morgan; secretary, Glenn L. Tidrick; treasurer, A. T. Sheplee; certificates written in 1910, 710 — $724,000; in force January 1, 1911, 14& — $154,000. Homesteaders. — Organized in 1906; president, George A. Young; secretary,' A. H. Corey ; treasurer, Carrie C. Copeland ; certificates written in 1910, 5>429 $7459,5°o; in force January 1, 191 1, 14,156, aggregating $19,338,500'. GREAT WESTERN INSURANCE BUILDING DES MOINES LIFE BUILDING EQUITABLE BUILDING CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 519 Mystic Toilers. — Organized in 1899; president, W. H. Antes; secretary, J. F. Taake; treasurer, W. F. Bird; certificates written in 1910, 1,981 — $2,548,000; in force January 1, 191 1, 4,693, aggregating $5,394,500. Fire Insurance Companies — Stock and Mutual. Anchor Fire. — Incorporated in 1889; president, L. E. Ellis; vice president, S. G. Moore; secretary, G. A. Holland; capital stock, $103,025; risks written in 1910— $13,584,536; in force January 1, 191 1— $22,912,765. Atlas. — Incorporated in 1892; president, John D. Berry; vice president, F. G. Bryner; secretary, James M. Cushman; capital stock, $230,000; risks writ ten in 1910 — $20,234,002; in force January 1, 1911 — $22,700,000. Automobile Mutual. — Organized in 1910; president, W. W. Sears; vice presi dent, George M. King; secretary, W. H. Springer; risks written in 1910— $27,- 737.50; in force January 1, 191 1 — $27,737.50. Capital and Merchants and Bankers. — Incorporated in 1903; capital stock, $50,000; president, J. S. Dewell; vice presidents, Willard Secor and Joseph A. Brown; secretary, C. E. Campbell; risks written in 1910 — $12,414,554; in force January 1, 191 1— $33,705,210. Commercial Fire. — Incorporated in 1907 ; president, H. R. Howell ; vice presidents, W. D. Skinner and George A. Howell; secretary, P J. Clancy; capital stock, $50,000; risks written in 1910 — $19,794,386; in force January 1, 191 1 — $24,787,041. Fidelity — Incorporated in 1893; president, M. Carr; vice president, J. S. Clark; secretary, A. A. Clark; capital stock, $50,000; risks written in 1910 — $6,165,178; in force January 1, 1911 — $10,178,922. Hawkeye and Des Moines. — Incorporated in 1865 ; president, H. R. Howell ; vice president, George G. Hunter; secretary, C. S. Hunter; capital, $200,000; risks written in 1910 — $64,662,234; in force January 1, 191 1 — $112,937,884. Mill Onmers Mutual Fire. — Incorporated in 1875 ; president, H. J. Benson ; vice president, C. C. Dwight ; secretary, J. T. Sharp ; risks issued in 1910 — $5,878,820; in force January, 191 1 — $11,352,645. State Insurance. — Incorporated in 1865 ; president, H. A. Elliott ; vice presi dent, M. M. Pratt; secretary, Webb M. Elliott; capital stock, $100,000; risks written in 1910 — $13,256,842; in force January 1, 191 1 — $31,463,607. County Assessment Associations, Fire. Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance of Polk County. — Organized in 1874 ; presi dent, Robert Pilmer, Norwalk; secretary, P. B. Venneman; risks written in 1910 — $685,459; risks in force January 1, 191 1 — $2,307,302. Swedish Mutual Insurance. — Organized in 1881 ; president, John Wilson; secretary, Aug. Youngberg; risks written in 1910 — $86,680; risks in force Janu ary 1, 191 1— $329,277. Casualty. Northwestern Live Stock. — Incorporated in 1907; president, H. C. Wallace; secretary, C. C. Loomis; capital stock, $100,000; risks written in 1910 — $79,- 435-97,' in force January 1, 191 1— $70,742.45. State Mutuals. Automobile Owners Mutual Protective Association. — Organized in 1910; president, W. W. Sears; secretary, W. H. Springer; treasurer, F. P. Flynn; risks written in 1910 and in force January 1, 191 1 — $1,607,000. Farm Property Mutual. — Organized in 1900 ; president, Forest Huttenlocher ; secretary, C. V. Stanley; risks written in 1910 — $1,646,310; risks in force Janu ary 1, 1911 — $3,901,332. Home Mutual. — Organized in 1902; president, J. S. Backus; secretary, H. J. Rowe; risks written in 1910 — $2,837,238; in force, January 1, 191 1 — $10,- 003,466. 520 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Protected Mutual Fire. — Organized in 1908; president, C. N. Doane, New ton; secretary, M. H. Winhafer; risks written in 1910 — $433,501 ; in force Janu ary 1, 191 1 — $1,275,669. Retail Merchants Mutual. — Organized in 1900 ; president, J. J. Grove, Ames ¦ secretary, Ira B. Thomas; treasurer, F. L. Kauffman; risks written in 1910—= $2,080,859; in force January 1, 191 1 — $3,014,956. Town Mutual Dwelling House. — Incorporated in 1892 ; president, F. E. Gordon, Sac City ; secretary, C. E. Harsh ; treasurer, J. D. Whisenand ; risks written in 1910 — $9,583,397; in force January 1, 191 1 — $40,386,787. Western Grain Dealers. — Organized in 1907; president, Jay A. King; secre tary, George A. Wells; risks written in 1910 — $898,851; in force January 1, 1911 — $1,388,160. Exclusive Tornado. Iowa Mutual Tornado. — Organized in 1884; president, N. Densmore; secre tary, J. B. Herriman; risks written in 1910 — $35,042,424; in force January 1, 191 1— $149,851,496. Exclusive Hail. Des Moines Mutual Hail and Cyclone. — Organized in 1899; president, 0. G. Chesley; secretary, W. S. Hazard, Jr.; risks written in 1910 — $2,694,763; in force January 1, 191 1 — $3,647,379. Farmers Mutual Hail. — Organized in 1893; president, Scott Rutledge; secre tary, W. A. Rutledge; risks written in 1910— $3,136,162; in force January 1, 191 1 — $4,479,194. Mutual Hailstorm. — Organized in 1899; president, Forest Huttenlocher; secretary, C. V. Stanley; risks written in 1910 — $348,518; in force January i, 191 1— $727,317. Mutual Horticultural. — Organized in 1902; president, W. S. Tidrick; secre tary, W. F. Ghormley; risks written in 1910 — $631,079; in force January, 1911 — $985,046. ¦ %^ TV i ',J "'¦ SECURITIES BUILDING, DES MOINES LIFE ON THE RIGHT CHAPTER II. LOCAL FIELD NOTES. Until Wesley Redhead, pioneer in so many activities, established an insurance agency in Fort Des Moines in 1850, everybody in the little community insured his own property. For many years afterward, no one thought of insuring his life. Mr. Redhead was agent for the iEtna Insurance Company of Hartford, Conn. Later, when Charles C. Dawson became his partner, the firm took on several other companies. These, with Ira Cook as a partner, established a strong local agency. Prior to the Redhead agency, the Gazette of May 24, 1850, began the publication of an advertisement of the American Live Stock Insurance Company, Vincennes, Indiana, with Andrew J. Stevens, agent, "office on Second street next door below Lyon & Allen's store, Fort Des Moines." In the list of insurance companies that complied with the Iowa law of 1857, there was not a single company with headquarters in Des Moines. In fact, of the thirty-three companies then listed, only four were Iowa organizations. The year 1865 witnessed the birth of the two pioneer fire insurance com panies at the State Capital, — the State and the Hawkeye. The two companies have been in business, side by side, for forty-six years and give promise of endless duration. Insurance in Iowa first became a matter of statistics in the State Auditor's office in the report of Auditor John A. Elliott, in 1873. The oldest mutual fire insurance company in Des Moines is the Mill Owners' Mutual, which was organized in 1875. The incorporation of the Bankers' Life Association in Des Moines on the nth of June, 1879, was followed by the first meeting of the directors in the following July, when Edward A. Temple, the originator of the plan which has since been so successful, was elected president; P. M. Casady, vice president; Lyman Cook, treasurer; Simon Casady, secretary; Dr. George Glick, medical director; and B. F. Elbert, judicial director. The only member of this first official board who is still living is Simon Casady. In the year 1880 Des Moines found its place in the statistics of insurance in the Census of the United States. At that time the city's one representative life insurance company in Class A ("Old Line") was the Equitable Life Insur ance Company of Iowa. The next local old-line life company to appear in the Census of the United States was the Royal Union, organized March, 1886, and first noted in the census of 1890. Cyrus Kirk, president of the Equitable of Iowa, has been in active service as an officer longer than any other representative of a home company. It was a fortunate coincidence that the Equitable of New York wanted to sell just when the Equitable of Iowa reached the point where it wanted to buy. The Equitable building since the addition of four more stories, the tallest office building in the city, is a splendid home for the Des Moines company. The Des Moines Life was equally fortunate in opportunely buying, of the Turner estate, the new five story brick building on the corner of Seventh street and Grand avenue. Since purchasing the building, the company has doubled 'ts size and its frontage on Grand avenue. 521 522 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The Iowa Mutual Tornado Insurance Company is the largest mutual asso ciation of its class in the world, and is only twenty-seven years old. Its enor mous business is all transacted in Iowa. The Iowa State Traveling Men's Association, the oldest organization of its kind in America, was organized in Des Moines, November 27, 1880, when the following officers were elected: O. W. Hazard, president; T. M. Langan, vice president ; I. E. Tone, treasurer ; and J. P. Bushnell, secretary. At the first annual meeting, December 3, 1881, the treasurer's report showed a balance 011 hand of $27.75 with no benefits paid, while at the last annual meeting, January 21, 191 1, the secretary-treasurer's report showed a membership of about 45,000, and a balance (cash and bonds) of $142,412.57 and 2,540 claims paid for the year 1910, amounting to $297,663.34 and a grand total of benefits paid, since 1880, of $2,331,269.09. Mr. Hazard was secretary in 1883-84, and was suc ceeded by W. A. Work, in 1885. He was succeeded by S. Iu Ames in "89, and he in '91 by F. E. Haley. On August 26, 1905, the board of directors elected L. C. Deets secretary-treasurer to fill the unexpired term. In January, 1906, he was elected by the association. He was twice re-elected. In his last annual report, read at the annual meeting, January 21, 191 1, there was a total mem bership of 40,556. In 191 1, Mr. Deets was succeeded by A. W. Rader, the present secretary-treasurer. In his first annual report which will be read at the next annual election, January 20, 1912, Mr. Rader expects to show more than 45,000 members in I. S. T. M. A. The growth of accident insurance in Des Moines, as shown in the statements of the assessment accident companies, is a most gratifying feature of the local situation. The Town Mutual Dwelling House Insurance Association is the largest mutual organization in the world that limits its risks to dwellings in cities and towns. W. D. Skinner, secretary of the Hawkeye Insurance Company, entered the service of the company as a clerk in 1877, and has been identified with the company ever since. The Ancient Order of United Workmen was organized in Iowa in 1875, marking the entrance of home fraternal organizations into Des Moines. It was the only fraternal organization in the Capital City until 1890. The Iowa Tornado Insurance Company, organized in 1884, and until 1892 was located in West Union. Since its removal to Des Moines, it has had a phenomenal growth. From first to last, the company has had but one secretary, J. B. Herriman. A few years ago there was a well-organized attempt to oust Mr. Herriman, but the friends of the secretary rallied to his support and he was re-elected by a large majority. At a banquet held by the Iowa State Traveling Men's Association in Des Moines in December, 1891, it was reported that from 1880, the date of its organi zation, down to 1891, not a single death had occurred among its members — and at the time there were 4,758 of them ! The Brotherhood of American Yeomen has a $50,000 home on the hill on Fifth and Park streets. This flourishing association was organized in Bancroft, Iowa, in 1897. On the evening of October 17, 1900, F. M. Hubbell, then president of the Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa, entertained the officers and at taches of that company at dinner at Terrace Hill. The dinner was especially in honor of Cyrus Kirk, then vice-president, now president of the Equitable, who had been in connection with the company for more than a quarter-century. A solid silver coffee and tea set was presented to Mr. Kirk by Secretary J. C. Cummins, with remarks indicative of the love and esteem in which he was held and of the high estimate placed upon his business capacity. Capt. Charles W. Fracker, a pioneer insurance man of Des Moines, was the recipient of a banquet at the Savery on the evening of January 13, IQ°3- Tne Captain was 73 years old, and had been State agent for the Springfield Fire CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 523 and Marine Insurance Company for a quarter-century or longer. He was the recipient of several presents. One of these, a loving cup, went the rounds of the assemblage. H. C. Alverson, a pioneer insurance man at the State Capital, after eight years' residence in Erie, Pa., returned to Des Moines in January, 1903, to take the secretaryship of the National Masonic Association. All the great life insurance agencies of the East have general agencies at Iowa's Capital. The principal Fire Insurance companies of America and Europe also have agencies in Des Moines. BOOK III. DES MOINES. PART IX. BANKS AND BANKERS. v.- > O- i^^&£^„,,.;...„..^ CHAPTER I. PIONEER BANKS AND BANKERS AND THEIR SUCCESSORS. The genealogy of local banks and banking starts with 1854, and with B. F. Allen's private bank on Second street. The business of handling land script and warrants and loaning money — at "a living rate" — was at first conducted in small and even cramped quarters with uninviting surroundings. Soon Mr. Allen erected a three-story building on the corner of Fourth and Court — the present Register and Leader corner. The new bank was then regarded as a marvel of elegance and completeness. Its fire and burglar-alarm vault was the marvel of its day. Later in '54, a second bank was founded by Hoyt Sherman & Company, — the company consisting of P. M. Casady and R. L. Tidrick. In '56 the bank was removed from Third street, between Walnut and Court, to the new Sherman block, the pride of old Fort Des Moines. In '59, this private institution became the State Bank of Iowa. In '63, it was reorganized as a national bank, with B. F. Allen, president and F. R. West, cashier. In two or three years, it was removed to the old Opera House block, corner of Fourth and Walnut. In 1875, occurred the failure of its president.1 After the failure the bank was re organized with James Callanan, president. It later became a private bank under the firm name of F. R. West & Sons. But the burden of the first failure was upon the new bank and in 'yy it went into the hands of a receiver who closed it out. The third bank was organized in 1856, by Greene, Weare & Rice. The two first-named were Cedar Rapids capitalists, the third was Byron Rice of Des Moines. The firm occupied the west room in the Exchange block. About the same time Macklot, Corbin & White started a bank just east of the one last named. The firm-narfie was soon changed to White & Smith and their bank was styled "The Des Moines." A. J. Stevens & Company came next — the "com pany" being James Callanan and S. R. Ingham. Their bank was styled "The Bank of Iowa." It closed in 1858. The Des Moines Branch of the State Bank of Iowa. The constitution of 1857 provided that "the legislature might create corpora tions with banking powers which before becoming valid should be approved by a majority of the electors at a general or special election, and that, subject to above, they might provide for the establishment of a state bank with branches founded on an actual specie basis ; that the branches should be mutually responsible for one another's liabilities on all notes intended to circulate as money ; that every stockholder should be individually liable to its creditors for all of its liabilities, to an amount equal to the shares held by hm ; that in case of insolvency the bill- holders should have preference over other creditors, and that the suspension of specie payments should never be permitted or sanctioned.2 "Under this constitutional provision," writes Major Hoyt Sherman, "the legislature passed a law March 20, 1858, which took effect July 29, 1858, after submission to a vote of the people, to incorporate the State Bank of Iowa. ¦ • . The statute limited the number of branches to thirty, . . and 'The story of the B. F. Allen failure is told in another section of this chapter. 2 The history and functions of "The State Bank of Iowa" are given in detail by Major Jsnerman in the Annals of Iowa, v. 5, pp. 93-116. 527 528 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY created a board of ten commissioners, .... to supervise the first organi zation of the banks and branches; and whenever, upon careful examination, they ascertained that five or more such branches were formed, and that their stock holders, directors and officers were men of responsibility and integrity, the com missioners certified the facts to the governor, who by public proclamation, an nounced that the three directors named for the state, in the statute, with one di rector selected by each branch, constituted the State Bank of Iowa, with full authority to exercise all the duties and privileges conferred upon it by the con stitution and laws of the state." The nine men chosen to act as commissioners to inaugurate the new state bank system, after several sessions, reported favorably on branches in Musca tine, Iowa City, Des Moines, Dubuque, Oskaloosa, Keokuk and Davenport. The Board of the new State Bank organized in Iowa City, October 27, 1858, with the following named directors : Phineas M. Casady, W. T. Smith, Samuel F. Miller, Samuel J. Kirkwood, Chester Weed, T. Whiting, Hiram Price, and with Benjamin Lake and Hoyt Sherman state directors. It will thus be seen that the directorate of the State Bank included two prominent and influential capi talists of Des Moines. Besides the eight original branches, four others were later admitted, at Lyons, Burlington, Washington and Fort Madison. Later, one was established at Mc Gregor and another at Council Bluffs. The last to be admitted was the Maquo- keta branch, early in 1864. In the winter of 1864-5, the national banking law went into operation. The law heavily taxed the circulating notes of state banks and the desired effect soon followed. The Bank of Iowa, at a board meeting in Des Moines in February, 1865, took steps toward closing its affairs. One after another of its branches merged into the national banking system. The State Bank soon ceased to exist, and, to the credit of its directory, the discontinuance was effected without loss and with little or no inconvenience to the public. It is interesting to note that in the showing of dividends declared by the sev eral branches, in i860, the Des Moines branch, of which B. F. Allen was presi dent and Hoyt Sherman, cashier, annually declared two dividends of 7 per cent each, the highest dividend paid by any of the fifteen branches, except Os kaloosa, Davenport and Keokuk. In 1859, the Des Moines branch showed as sets as follows : Safety fund, $3,666.65; specie, $23,798.58; notes of other banks, $4,201; due from other banks, $5,224.30; loans and discounts, $24,433.54; other items, $1,- 850.07. Liabilities: capital, $25,000; circulation, $11,750; depositors, $25,440.37; other items, $983.77. In 1865, the Des Moines branch reported a safety fund of $19,500.00; specie, $36,731.00; notes of other banks, $66,646.37; due from other banks, $4,735-34 ! loans and discounts, $173,894.19; U. S. and state bonds, $10,000.00; other items, $1,986.15; total resources, $313,493.05. Liabilities: capital, $78,000.00; circulation, $140,035.00; due other banks, $1,- 404.19; depositors, $83,369.55; other items, $10,684.31; total liabilities, $313,- 493-05- J . The large influence of the two Des Moines directors, Messrs. Casady and Sherman, and the wise counsel of the president and secretary of the Des Moines branch, Messrs. Allen and Sherman, are not even implied in Major Shermans valuable contribution to the history of the State Bank; but there are those still with us who freely testify to the high value placed by their associates upon their large experience and sound judgment. The Tri-Weekly Citizen of January 12, 1858, announces the sale of the Bank of Nebraska, by Messrs. Allen, West and Sypher, of Des Moines, to a CAPITAL CITY BANK BUILDING IOWA LOAN AND TRUST BUILDING NEW HOME OF THE DES MOINES NATIONAL BANK CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 529 company residing in Omaha; also the proposed withdrawal and redemption of the bills of the bank as soon as circumstances would permit. A sidelight upon the passing of the old currency system, or absence of sys tem, and the inauguration of the new, is thrown by the Journal of January 27, 1858. Its editor, while thinking of the hard times and wondering where he could "raise" enough to meet his next payment, was invited to look in at B. F. Allen's bank. "Allen, flanked by West and Sherman, was busily engaged in . . . feeding the flames with bills of the 'Nebraska Bank.' " On inquiry the wonder ing editor found that the trio were consigning to the flames bills which on their face represented seventy thousand dollars, which bills had been in circulation in Des Moines and Polk county, but had been redeemed by the bank and were thus permanently retired from circulation. In 1858, the commencement of a new era locally, there were seven banking houses in Des Moines, as follows: B. F. Allen, Fourth and Court; Hoyt Sher man & Company, Sherman Block; Cook, Sargent & Cook, Walnut, between Third and Fourth; White & Smith, Exchange Block; Greene, Weare & Rice, Exchange Block; Callanan & Ingham, Second street, and Leas & Harsh, Third btreet. The First National Bank of Des Moines was organized in 1864, with J. B. Stewart, president; C. Mosier, cashier and F. C. D. McKay, F. W. Palmer, C. Mosier, J. B. Stewart and George W. Cleveland, directors. Two years later, Mr. Stewart sold his controlling interest to B. F. Allen, who consolidated it with his bank. The Second National Bank was also organized in '64. G. M. Hippee was president and George W. Jones, cashier. Its directors were C. C. Nourse, I. Windle, G. M. Hippee, G. W. Jones, Dwight Klinck and George Childs. It, too, was later absorbed by Mr. Allen. Coskery & Newell — later Coskery & Ulm, and later still, the Citizens' Bank- on the West side, was founded in 1869, and three years afterwards was merged into the Citizens' National Bank. The Capital City Bank, on the East side, was Mr. Allen's next venture. It was organized in 1871, with B. F. Allen, president and A. L. West, cashier. In the crucial year, 1875, it was sold to William Christy, Isaac Brandt and others. But, the West failure still fresh in men's minds, a refusal on the part of the bank to cash two checks — both overdrafts — started a run which reduced the de posits from $9,000 to $4,000, and it was thought best to suspend. A reorganiza tion was effected in 1878, when the present Capital City State Bank was or ganized with A. W. Naylor, president; William Christy, cashier and A. W. Naylor, J. F. Cochran, W. A. Haskell, Ed. Wright, J. Hollingsworth, G. F. Walker, George Garver and George C. Baker, directors. From 1878 down to date "the Capital City" has prospered. It is now housed in a modern seven- story brick office-building which bears its name — the largest building on the East side. Its present officers are Henry Wagner, president; J. A. T. Hull, vice president ; J. A. McKinney, cashier ; H. Wagner, W. L. Read, J.. A. T. Hull, J. A. McKinney, D. J. Van' Liew, F. W. Craig, J. D. McGarraugh, direc tors. In January, 1872, Capt. I. N. Thomas, ex-county recorder, opened a private banking house on East Fifth and Walnut. Later he erected, and moved into a building on the opposite corner. Financial difficulties soon compelled Captain Thomas to retire from business. The Citizens' National Bank was organized in March, 1872, with ex-Gov ernor Samuel Merrill, president; John A. Elliott, vice-president and John W. Ulm, cashier. The bank long occupied the southwest corner of Fifth and Wal nut streets, now the olace of business of the Century Savings Bank. In 1901, after the Frankel building burned down, the Citizens' bought the ground and erected the present large and beautiful eight-story brick office building on the northeast corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, in which, with the State Savings Vol. 1—34 530 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Bank, it occupies the first floor front. The bank moved into its new quarters in July, 1902. The present officers of "the Citizens' National" are : J. G. Rounds, president; George E. Pearsall, cashier and W. E. Coffin, J. E. Rounds, G. e! Pearsall, S. A. Merrill, M. Strauss, C. L. Gilcrest, B. A. Lockwood, G. E. King and M. Mandelbaum, directors. The Valley National dates from 1873, when J. J. Town and G. M. Hippee started the Valley Savings, a private bank in the small building on the site of the Iowa Loan and Trust Company building, with a capital of $50,000. About a year later, they removed to the northwest corner of Third street and Court ave nue. In '75 they removed to the northwest corner of Fourth and Court, where the bank remained until 1910, when the old building was pulled down to make place for a hotel building. It was organized as a national bank in 1883, with J. J. Town, president; W. W. Lyons, vice president and W. D. Lucas, cashier. It was originally capitalized at $100,000, but its capital stock is now $300,000. Its present directory is : D. S. Chamberlain, C. W. Mennig, Alfred Plammer, R. A. Crawford. C. T. Cole, E. W. Stanton. W. C. Harbach. Thomas F. Steven son, H. M. Rollins, W. E. Tone and D. P. Reinking. Its officers are R. A. Crawford, president ; D. S. Chamberlain and C. T. Cole, vice presidents ; W. E. Barrett, cashier. Affiliated with the Valley National is the Valley Savings,. with a capital stock of $50,000, with Alfred Hammer, president ; C. W. Mennig, vice president; R. A. Crawford, cashier; C. H. Weitz, A. Hammer, R. A. Craw ford, L. Harbach, C. W. Mennig, D. S. Chamberlain, W. E. Barrett, W. E. Tone and C. T. Cole, directors. The Des Moines Savings Bank was evolved from the Des Moines Bank founded in 1875 by P. M. and Simon Casady and C. H. and E. S. Gatch. Five years later, the Gatches, father and son, retired, their interest having been ac quired by the Hippees, father and son. The bank opened business in the little old Methodist church block on Fifth street. A year later it removed to Third street, and in 1881 to Third and Walnut. In 1883 the Union Savings Bank was founded, October 11, 1884, it merged with the Des Moines Bank and the name was changed to the Des Moines Savings. The officers after the merger were : P. M. Casady, president ; B. F. Kauffman, vice president ; J. G. Berryhill, second vice president; J. W. Geneser, cashier; Samuel Merrill, P. M. Casady, Louis Harbach, H. L. Whitman, James Callanan, J. G. Berryhill, B. F. Kauffman, J. O. Mahana and Moses Strauss, directors. In 1897 the bank was removed to the northwest corner of Fifth and Walnut, where it continued to do business for the next decade. The coming of Homer A. Miller, a successful banker of northern Iowa, in 1898 was an event in the history of the bank. Mr. Miller's extensive acquaintance throughout the state and his identification with a score or more of country banks made him a valuable man. As cashier, he ex tended the relations of the bank and materially increased the volume of its busi ness. In January, 1904, the stockholders of the Des Moines Savings Bank met and ratified a decision reached by its directory in November, .'03, to increase the capital of the bank from $400,000 to $500,000. This increase made "the Des Moines Savings" the largest commercial and savings bank in Iowa. The additional stock was all taken by the stockholders. This bank had undergone few changes since its organization in 1884. The Casadys, the Finkbines, the Hippees and Mr. Berryhill remained with it to the last, and went with it into "the Iowa National" when, later, the consolidation was effected. In the fall of 1907, before there was any thought of consolidation, "the Des Moines Savings moved into the second floor of the Fleming building, the entire floor haying been elegantly finished off with all the modern conveniences of a metropolitan bank. It was the purpose of the management to open in the new quarters as a national bank. Even a name had been selected — "the American National' and a charter had been applied for, when the unexpected thing happened. The old Iowa National Bank and the Des Moines Savings were consolidated, the re organized bank taking the name of the old "Iowa National." The subsequent CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 531 retirement of Simon Casady from the presidency of the bank — another surprise —led to a reorganization, with the following officers : Homer A. Miller, presi dent; H. S. Butler, vice president; Harry T. Blackburn, cashier. The present directory is: J. G. Berryhill, B. F. Kauffman, H. S. Butler, E. C. Finkbine, L. Harbach, H. T. Blackburn, J. H. Cownie, G. M. Hippee, H. A. Miller and G. M. Van Evera. The death of George H. Maish, in 1888, took from Des Moines one of its most active bankers and most public-spirited citizens. Cashier of the Iowa National Bank, president of the State Insurance Company and treasurer of the State Agricultural Society, the combined duties and responsibilities assumed by him wore him out at the early age of 52. The B. F. Allen Failure. The suspension of the Cook County National Bank of Chicago, of which the Des Moines capitalist, B. F. Allen, was president, occurred January 19, 1875. In his announcement Mr. Allen explained the suspension in a general way by stat ing that "promised and expected aid was refused at the last moment." He as sured the depositors, however, that no loss could come to them — "their payment being only a question of time . . The stockholders had decided to go into voluntary bankruptcy." Mr. Allen was reported as "at the bank all day, where he was waited upon by crowds of depositors, reporters and friends. . . . He bore himself ad mirably throughout . . . telling all inquirers that not a depositor nor any other creditor of the bank would lose a dollar, but it would take time to turn the bank's assets into money." Of the $800,000 deposits, about $500,000 was due country bankers. Mr. Allen soon departed for Des Moines where, as we have seen, he had large banking interests affected by the suspension. The estimate put upon him by those who knew him best — his fellow business men of Des Moines — is evinced by their announcement after the suspension that they would receive Mr. Allen's certificates in payment for goods or in liquida tion of debts. In a statement published in the Iowa State Register, Mr. Allen referred to "the great mortgage scare" working such mischief at the time, de claring that the very means by which he had sought to rescue the Cook county bank from embarrassment ("and which, but for bad faith on the part of others, would have succeeded"), had been used to precipitate its suspension, and to at tempt the destruction of his personal credit. He added "prudent moderation on the part of all interested in the latter will enable me to save all from the possibility of loss." To those who assailed his integrity his answer was the record he had made. His time and energies were for the present devoted to those who had caused the mischief. He had no fears for the outcome. At the time of the suspension Mr. Allen was reputed to own Des Moines prop erty amounting to nearly two million dollars. "At first," says the Register, "the news" of the failure "was not credited." As a matter of precaution Harry West, his cashier, closed his Des Moines bank. He wished to be fair to all depositors. "The good judgment of our people," con tinued the Register, "assured and strengthened by their knowledge of Mr. Allen and their faith in his honesty, and in his credit, prevented any panic." The one question Des Moines business men and rival bankers asked was, "Can we do anything to help?" An impromptu meeting of business men was held in Hoyt Sherman's office, with James Callanan, Jr., in the chair and H. L. Skinner, secretary. Major Sher- mansaid the object of the meeting was to consider the possible effect of the sus pension upon the business of Des Moines. West's bank was entirely unconnected with the Cook County National. The National State had $50,000 drawn against the Cook County National, and had $35,000 surplus, and its capital stock would be impaired only $15,000; it would then have $85,000 surplus. This was the 532 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY worst that could happen in case of the total failure of the Chicago bank. Messrs. Redhead and Callanan confirmed Major Sherman's statements. Mr. Hatton moved a committee on resolutions, and the chair appointed J. B. Stewart, Fred Getchell, John H. Given and C. H. Gatch. The committee reported: (i) That B. F. Allen individually had not failed, but only the Cook County National Bank, of which he was president. (2) That the National State Bank of Des Moines was not only solvent but sound and merited public confidence. (3) That the Capital City Bank was in no way involved. (4) That the suspension of Allen's bank in Des Moines was only temporary. (5) That the other banks in Des Moines were in no wise affected by the suspension. In conclusion, the committee resolved that it had entire confidence in Mr. Allen's business capacity and integrity and his individual solvency. The report was adopted, with applause, and was signed by nearly one hundred and fifty business men and firms. Further examination revealed the fact that the National State's drafts on the Cook County National were only $20,000 instead of $50,000, thus leaving the capital stock unimpaired. In East Des Moines a similar meeting was held at the Capital City Bank. H. C. Page, C. H. Ward, M. H. Bishard and W. F. Gruss were appointed a commit tee to draft resolutions. Their report, similar to that of the West side meeting, was signed by over sixty individuals and firms. Gen. J. M. Tuttle reported that he had examined the books of the Capital City Bank, and found its credit in no way affected by the suspension and further that he would individually guarantee A. L. West, its owner, to be financially "good." The reports as to the mortgage of Mr. Allen's personal effects, was that he had mortgaged his house, furniture, silverware, etc., to a friend and director of the bank, and had encumbered his Iowa property to the amount of nearly half a million. The Journal of Des Moines styled Mr. Allen "a second Jay Cooke," without Cooke's frankness. It wanted to know where the money had gone and why Mr. Allen had made way with all his available assets. The Register, on the other hand, maintained that "Frank" Allen was stronger than ever in Des Moines and in Iowa. It quoted many citizens, all of whom expressed unlimited confidence in their banker friend. On Mr. Allen's return to Des Moines he was met by many friends and neigh bors and on their behalf Thomas S. Wright presented him with an address of welcome full of expressions of affection and confidence — a tribute such as is rarely paid a banker in financial straits. The address was signed by one hun dred and thirty-five citizens. With no intimation of the welcome prepared for him, Mr. Allen when he arrived in Des Moines was met at the door of the car by Mayor Newton and Harry West. The mayor and Mr. Allen passed along the line of their fellow-citizens to the Allen bank where a general hand-shaking followed. Mr. Allen was deeply moved by Mr. Wright's address and by the cordiality of the welcome and could only say that it required less courage to face the crowd in Chicago on that blue Monday than to face the multitude of friends who had welcomed him home. The Register, editorially referring to Mr. Allen's career in Des Moines, styled him "the strong pillar ... in past financial crises, as in the crash of '56, when his bank and his money were the mainstays in our finances and in our business." January 26, soon as he could report his affairs in any understandable shape, Mr. Allen made a public statement. He related that on May 29, 1873, he pur chased of D. D. Spencer 2,665 shares of the capital stock of the Cook County Bank, Spencer giving his bond guaranteeing the assets of the bank to an extent proportional to the stock bought, — assets executed by Chicago parties of whom he knew little, and secured, if at all, by property of which he knew less. He CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 533 later found these assets were not as they had been represented to be and that Spencer's guaranty was of doubtful value. He therefore made the best terms possible with him, — in consideration of $12,000 discharging him from all claims and demands growing out of the guaranty. On the very eve of the "panic," and while Mr. Allen was in New York, Spencer's brother-in-law (who had remained cashier of the bank), handed over $100,000 in currency to a Chicago real estate operator in exchange for drafts drawn on New York which drafts returned pro tested. The panic found the bank with its capital stock tied up, its credit im paired and with nothing but Allen's individual credit to stand upon. Mr. Allen admitted that if any mistake had been made, it was in not turning the bank over for liquidation on learning its true condition. He admitted also there were many things done by him, in the emergency in which he was thrown, that were not consistent with sound banking ; but, feeling confident of his ability to carry it through, he determined to protect the bank. He made arrangements through his New York house, Allen, Stephens & Co., and other sources, for negotiating loans sufficient to meet his necessities. The much-talked-of mort gage was intended as a private pledge of his willingness to pledge all his real property for future advances and ultimate balances. His New York associates "in their mistaken zeal to place the paper on record misinterpreted the purpose for which it was given, and defeated that purpose, by their act, .conveying the impression that it was to give his New York house priority as a creditor in the event of his not being able to meet his obligations." He hastened to- discharge the mortgage of record, to undo as far as possible the injury done. The refusal of Allen, Stephens and Co. to pay the drafts of the Cook County Bank on Monday, January 18, when they received, that very morning, $85,000 of remittances from the bank was "a little remarkable." He pledged all his property and all his energies for the benefit of his creditors, and declared his re sources far exceeded his liabilities. He had determined to suspend his banking business in Des Moines until his creditors should become fully reinstated. He asked a meeting of all, or a majority, of his creditors at an early day and pledged himself to abide by their wishes. He closed with expression of "a rigid deter mination to do nothing that in any event" could "be construed into favoritism, even though such policy might alienate friends." To the long list given by Mr. Allen of his creditors and his indebtedness, there is added a foot-note stating that there are other claims, for a large amount, made by Stephens & Blennerhasset, the validity of which he denied. When Mr. Allen failed, and his Des Moines bank closed, proceedings were commenced in the federal court to close up his affairs and protect his creditors. Hoyt Sherman was named as assignee, to whom Allen made an assignment of all his property, except "Terrace Hill." The assignee held that this should also be included, since Mr. Allen had removed to Chicago. Allen claimed his former residence as a homestead. Judges Love and Dillon, of the federal court, were inclined to favor Allen's contention. The assignee, fearing he might lose all, compromised with Allen, who had returned to Des Moines and was then occupy ing the old home. He conceding the house and about six acres to Allen, the re mainder of the property to be disposed of for the benefit of the creditors. The compromise was approved by the court, and in June, 1884, "Terrace Hill" was sold by Mr. Allen to F. M. Hubbell, and on the 24th of August, Mr. Hubbell took possession of the property. Meantime the National State Bank underwent a temporary reorganization with James Callanan as president. It then, in 1876, became a State bank, under the firm name of F. R. West & Sons. But notwithstanding all the reassuring statements made and the efforts of local capitalists to bolster it up, the standing of the reorganized bank was found to have been seriously impaired and on the 18th day of July, 1877, more than two years after the Allen failure, the bank ing house of F. R. West & Sons suspended. While this second suspension was not such a serious loss to the community and the county as was the first, yet 534 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY the one, following upon the other, and in large measure a consequent of the other, had a very depressing effect upon the business men of the city and. for a time, gave the city a bad name in the business world. The second suspension was reported by the State Register as a great surprise. Many of the heaviest depositors had been induced by personal solicitation and had responded through personal friendship. The Iowa National was organized October 20, 1875, with a capital of $100,- 000. It was located at the northeast corner of Fourth and Walnut streets until the consolidation with the Des Moines Savings. Its first officers were: H. K. Love, president; George H. Maish, cashier; George A. Dissmore. assistant cash ier ; H. K. Love, J. S. Polk, H. R. Heath, N. G. Fledges, C. P. Reeve, C. Beck- ington, G. H. Maish, M. T. V. Bowman, O. FI. Perkins, S. A. Robertson, J. F. Ankeny and Fred Getchell, directors. In the Spring of 1904, Harry T. Black burn was elected cashier of the Iowa National succeeding Leiand Windsor, who resigned to engage in wholesale business in Des Moines. In 1876, after the storm had given way to a calm, there were nine banks doing business in Des Moines as follows : The National State, James Callanan, president ; F. R. West, cashier ; the Iowa National, H. K. Love, president ; George H. Maish, cashier; tlie Citizens' National, Samuel Merrill, president; J. G. Rounds, cashier; the Valley Bank, G. M. Hippee, president; J. J. Town, cashier; the Des Moines Bank, Simon Casady, president; Elwood Gatch, cashier; the Iowa Loan and Trust, Samuel Merrill, president; Jas. B. Hartwell, secretary; Corydon E. Fuller, treasurer; the State Safety Bank, E. J. Ingersoll, president; James Stutz, cashier; the Capital City Bank, East Des Moines. A. L. West, president; the I. N. Thomas Bank, of East Des Moines. Banking in Des Moines in 'j8. In a package of old letters recently donated the Historical Department of Jowa, by Mr. Hoyt Sherman, son of James Sherman, and a nephew of the late Hoyt Sherman of Des Moines, is a letter which throws light upon the practical effect of the Resumption Act upon the banking business in Des Moines. The letter was written April 17, 1878, by George IT. Maish, cashier of the Iowa National Bank, of which H. K. Love was president. Addressing Senator Sher man, Mr. Maish said : "Thinking that our first days experience in "Redemption' might be of some comfort to you, I desire to say, that having prepared ourselves with a sufficiency of gold coin, we gave notice in our city papers on Monday the 15th inst, that on the morning of the 17th inst, we would commence redeeming our circulation in gold. As the result of our first days' experience we had one five dollar bill presented for redemption. When we commenced busi ness, two and a half years ago, every dollar of our circulation was paid out over the coun ter, and not sent to remote places for distribution. "Our experience of today, it would seem, proves the fact that the people of the country have already resumed, and with a knowledge of the fact that the U. S. or National Bank Bill in their pocket is worth dollar for dollar in gold, that the paper is preferable to the gold. "Let Congress legalize the 'reception of U. S. Notes for duties on imports, etc., as con templated by the Senate Finance Committee, commencing luly 1, '78, and let us have re sumption, full and complete, January I, 1879; and the result will be that an era of prosperity will set in, such as we have not experienced in this Country for years." The Des Moines National Bank came into being September 17, 1881, at the southeast corner of Fourth and Walnut streets. In 1884 it moved into the CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 535 brick building on the southeast corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, on the site of the present unique and beautiful one-story-and-basement building which it now owns and occupies — perhaps the most down-to-date bank building in Iowa. The bank's capitalization has latterly been increased from $300,000 to $500,000. The first officers of the Des Moines National were: B. L. Harding, president; W. E. Hazen, cashier : J. S. Clarkson, J. S. Polk, B. L. Harding, W. E. Hazen, John Wyman, John Browne and G. W. Seevers, directors. The bank has under gone many changes since '81. Its present officers are: Arthur Reynolds, presi dent; John H. Blair, vice president; Cyrus A. Barr, cashier; J. H. Blair, Arthur Reynolds, W. S. Regur, Carroll Wright, C. W. Pitcairn, George M. Reynolds, D. G. Edmundson, L. Sheuerman, H. R. Howell, N. Frankel, and C. A. Raw- son, directors. In 1882 Ira W. Anderson opened a bank on Fourth and Walnut, but con tinued for only a single year. For a time Kellogg & McDougall operated a small bank on the same corner. Spencer Kellogg afterwards became a wealthy banker in Buffalo, N. Y. The name, "Polk County Savings Bank" suggests Judge Wright, whose ge nial personality was long a source of strength to the bank. Organized in 1882 with a capital stock of $50,000, the stock was later increased to $100,000. Its first and only president was George G. Wright. The other officers were: C. D. Reinking, vice president; A. J. Zwart, cashier; G. G. Wright, G. H. Maish, Wes ley Redhead, R. T. Wellslager, C. D. Reinking, Fayette Meek, J. B. Tuttle, J. H. Windsor, John A. Elliott, directors. The old two-story building which it occu pied, standing on the corner of Locust and Fifth, was torn down to make way for the Crocker building. The bank had previously been absorbed by the Des Moines National. On the 20th of June, 1894, "the Polk County Savings" was consolidated with the Des Moines National Bank. The effects of the bank were removed to the Des Moines National building on the site of the present new building, the southeast corner of Sixth and Walnut. A. J. Zwart, long cashier of the old bank, was made assistant cashier of the new, and two directors of the Polk County Savings Bank, C. W. Pitcairn and Carroll Wright, were added to the Des Moines National directory. The capital stock of the Des Moines Na tional was then $300,000. George M. Reynolds of Chicago, was the bank's presi dent, C. B. Atkins and E. A. Lynd, vice presidents. Arthur Reynolds, now presi dent, was then cashier. The directors were : G. M. and Arthur Reynolds, W. S. Regur, M. P. Turner, Henry Riegelman, E. A. Lynd, C. B. Atkins, John L. Bacon, and Adam Dickey. The American Savings was organized in 1883, with a capital stock of $50,- 000 — later increased to $75,000. It was located on East Fifth and Locust. Its president was James Garrity; vice president, James Harter; second vice presi dent, F. E. Elliott; cashier, R. L. Chase. Several years ago it was absorbed by the Capital City State Bank. The Merchants' National was also organized in 1883, on East Fifth and Wal nut. Three years afterward it removed to West Fourth and Walnut. After a year's trial on the west side it went into- the hands of a receiver. Its first officers were : H. J. Ranson, president ; William Christy, cashier ; H. J. Ranson, Thomas Mitchell, Gus Newton, W. Christy, Dr. Simonton and C. H. Ward, directors. The State Savings started out in 1887 with $50,000 capital, which was sub sequently raised to $100,000. It began business in the Manhattan building. A year later, it was removed to the Fifth and Walnut, rooms formerly occupied by the Iowa Loan and Trust. Its first officers were: J. IT. Merrill, president; M. P. Turner, vice-president; J. W. Geneser, cashier; J. H. Merrill, J. R. Rol lins, M. Strauss, D. W. Smouse, Francis and J. W. Geneser, J. H. Phillips, M. P. Turner, and J. E. McGorrisk, directors. In 1895, it was taken over by the Citizens' National and maintained as a savings department. The present officers of the State Savings are: M. Strauss, president; J. G. Rounds, vice presi dent; G. E. Pearsall, cashier; S. A. Merrill, D. W. Smouse,- M. Strauss, G.-E. Pearsall, N. E. Coffin, J. G. Rounds, S. T. Slade, directors. 536 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The People's Savings was founded July i, 1890, with a capital stock of $50,- 000. It is still "doing business at the old stand" — corner of Locust and Seventh— but around and above it was recently erected a new Flynn building, much larger and handsomer than the old. Its capital stock is now $100,000. Its first officers were: Martin Flynn, president; A. Dickey, vice president; C. H. Martin, cash ier; O. H. Perkins, Martin Flynn, H. Y. Smith, Martin Tuttle, J. A. Garver, A. Dickey, C. C. Loomis, W. W. Warfield, and A. Sheuerman, directors. Its pres ent officiary is as follows : Charles H. Martin, president ; F. P. Flynn, vice presi dent; E. A. Slininger, cashier; J. S. Carpenter, L. Sheuerman, O. H. Perkins, C. H. Martin, D. W. Smouse, T. F. and F. P. Flynn, R. J. Fleming and M. Man delbaum, directors. The Marquardt Savings Bank was organized July 19, 1890. Its first officers were G. W. Marquardt, president and F. A. Baylies, cashier. The first trustees were G. W. Marquardt, B. F. Kauffman, E. C. Finkbine, P. M. Casady, F. M. Hubbell, James G. Berryhill, W. O. Curtiss and Henry Wagner. G. D. Ellyson was elected cashier February 6, 1893, and president January 9, 1905. The name was changed to Commercial Savings Bank May 25, 1909. The Home Savings is a strong East side bank, organized January 29, 1891, V. P. Twombly was its first president, H. E. Teachout, vice president; A. C. Miller, cashier; V. P. Twombly, Andrew Nelson, B. A. Lockwood, H. E. Teach out, H. C. Hansen, F. A. Baylies, H. H. Taylor, S. B. Garton and T. A. Cheshire, directors. The present management is in the following hands : A. C. Miller, president; W. B. Lutz, vice president; Bert McKee, cashier; A. Nelson, A. C. Miller, W. B. Lutz, E. L. Bowen, Arthur Reynolds and Bert McKee, directors. In 1892, Fairburn & Aitchison opened a private bank in the Manhattan build ing on Fifth street. The ill-health of Mr. Aitchison, manager, compelled the firm, after two years, to dissolve and retire. Mr. Aitchison has since died. The death of H. K. Love, former president, resulted in a reorganization of the Iowa National Bank. A new board of directors was chosen, January 12, 1892, as follows : G. W. Marquardt, H. A. Elliott, S. A. Robertson, M. T. V. Bowman, E. H. Hunter, B. F. Kauffman, Frederick Field. The board elected B. F. Kauffman president, E. H. Hunter vice president, George Dissmore as sistant cashier. C. B. Worthington continued as cashier. The German Savings Bank is a bank with a history of success following fail ure. It was organized January 10, 1893. Its officers were Francis Geneser, president; J. D. Whisenand, vice president; J. W. Geneser, cashier; Francis and J. W. Geneser, G. Van Ginkel, Charles Weitz, Phil Schmitt, C. L. Kahler, J. B. Schuster, J. D. Whisenand, and W. B. Bentley, directors. The story of the suspension of the bank and of its reorganization with James Watt at its head, is told farther on in this chapter. The bank was originally located in a basement on Fifth street, between Walnut and Mulberry; but has for several years been well-housed on Sixth avenue, between Walnut and Locust. Its pres ent officers are: Jesse O. Wells, president; J. C. O'Donnell, vice president; John Hogan, cashier ; William Wilcoxen, J. O. Wells, L. H. Kurtz, H. B. Hawley, L. J. Klemm, Jerry B. Sullivan, L. C. Kurtz, J. C. O'Donnell and Forest Hutten locher, directors. The Bankers' Iowa State Bank was organized in 1893, with a capital stock of $160,000. It occupied the first floor rooms in the Equitable building now occupied by F. M. Hubbell. Albert Head was president, A. O. Garlock and J. R. Baxter, vice presidents; V. F. Newell cashier. Its directors were: A. O. Gar- lock, George Fairburn, S. F. Prouty, J. W. Reed, C. F. McCarty, C. T. Cole, George L. Brower, L. Linebarger, J. B. Burton, V. F. Newell, Albert Head, Charles Yate, Robert Eason, and N. B. Raymond. After a number of years it was absorbed by the Des Moines Savings. In 1893, Des Moines had sixteen banks. The directors of the Des Moines National Bank on the 6th of March, 1893, started a young banker from Panora on a remarkably successful career in the CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 537 world of finance. The resignation of V. F. Newell as cashier, created a vacancy which the directory filled by the election of George M. Reynolds to succeed Mr. Newell. Mr. Reynolds resigned the cashiership of the Guthrie County National Bank and entered upon his career in Des Moines April io, 1893. The Savings Bank of Iowa was organized in 1893, with an office on Seventh and Walnut. In 1896 it was absorbed by the German Savings Bank. Its of ficers were F. A. Baylies, president ; G. Van Ginkel, vice president ; George W. Rhine, cashier. The new year, 1895, brought with it a new organization of the Des Moines National Bank. W. W. Lyons retired from the presidency of that institution, and Cashier George M. Reynolds was elected as his successor. Arthur Reynolds succeeded his brother as cashier, having resigned his position of cashier in the Guthrie County National Bank, Panora. The Central State Bank began business May 1, 1895, at 235 Fifth street. Its officers were: President, Martin Tuttle; vice president, H. A. Elliott; cashier, J. D. Whisenand; directors, H. B. Hedge, Martin Tuttle, H. A. Elliott, R. T. Wellslager, W. B. Bentley, Robert Dempster, C. R. Chase, C. E. Rawson, J. G. Berryhill and J. D. Whisenand. A notable event in the history of this bank was the retirement of Simon Casady from the consolidated Iowa National, and the merging of Mr. Casady's interests with those of Mr. Whisenand in the manage ment of the Central State. The combination made one more heavily capitalized bank in Des Moines and by so much strengthened Des Moines as a commercial center. The bank as now organized has a capital stock of $200,000, and a large surplus. The present officers of the Central State are : Simon Casady, presi dent; J. D. Whisenand and H. B. Hedge, vice presidents; Fred S. Risser, cash ier; R. T. Wellslager, J. G. Olmsted, Simon Casady, W. FI. Langari, H. B. Hedge, C. R. Chase, H. A. Elliott, J. W. Hill, Fred S. Risser, J. D. Whisenand, directors. The little two-story building on Fifth street had long been too small for the steadily enlarging business of the Central State, and so, in 191 1, the bank purchased the old Dawson hardware store property, on Fifth between Walnut and Locust, and has under way a modern one-story and basement building, to be built and equipped of elegant and costly material and in beautiful design. On the first of November, 1895, J. H. Merrill, for many years president of the Citizens' National Bank, resigned and J. G. Rounds, cashier, was elected to the presidency. G. E. Pearsall, cashier of the State Savings, was elected cashier of the consolidated institution. M. Strauss remained president of the State Savings. Mr. Rounds had been associated with the Citizens for a score of years. Mr. Pearsall had removed from Spirit Lake about four years before. The Failure and Reorganization of the German Savings. The resignation of Harry T. Blackburn as assistant cashier of the Citizens' National Bank, and his acceptance of the cashiership of the German Savings was announced January 15, 1897. The assignment of the German Savings Bank, with Harry T. Blackburn appointed receiver, quickly followed, on the 21st. There was no excitement in financial circles. The clearing house held a meeting after banking hours and discussed the local financial situation. There had been no evidences of panic, and there were few withdrawals during the day. The general impression — which was sustained by after results — was that ultimately depositors in the German Savings would get dollar for dollar. The bank closed with $5,000 cash. Much slow paper, some bad paper and more of doubtful value was found to be the cause of the suspension. The failure was a surprise to State Auditor McCarthy, who had found nothing in the last statement he had examined, which could raise a ques tion as to its solvency. It was a question with the directors whether to assess the stockholders 33 1/3 per cent, or call in the clearance-house officers and take such action as they might recommend. They chose the latter alternative. An examination not proving satisfactory, the assignment followed. 538 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Receiver Blackburn filed his report February 3, showing assets amounting to $459,927.79 — which with assets held in trust, $67,000 — made the total assets $526,929.79. The liabilities were listed at $465,153.06 — of which $108,871.30 were in saving deposits, and $183,112.91 in time certificates. A few day's later the assets were reported increased about $20,000. The round-up showed a clear margin of about $82,000. The German Savings reopened for business June 7, 1897, with its old stock retired and a paid-up capital stock of $100,000. Many depositors, on invitation took stock in the reorganized bank. The reorganization was effected chiefly by Receiver Blackburn and vice president Geneser, assisted by a committee com posed of W. H. Cathcart, W. M. Wilcoxen and E. H. Hunter. The reorganiza tion in 1899 was the beginning of a new and successful career for the old Ger man Savings. The bank was reorganized with L. J. Wells, president; Charles Weitz, vice president; James Watt, cashier; W. G. Harrison, Charles Weitz, William Wilcoxen, L. J. Wells, J. R. Rollins, C. L. Kahler and James Watt, directors. November 4, 1897, there arrived in Des Moines one Isaac Norton Perry, a vice president of the Continental National Bank — the second largest bank in Chicago-. In time, the object of his visit became known. It was to tender the cashiership of his bank to George M. Reynolds, president of the Des Moines National Bank. The fast succeeding chapters of the remarkable story are familiar to the banking world; the promotion of the Des Moines banker to the presidency of the Chicago bank ; the merger of the Continental with the third larg est bank in Chicago, the Commercial National, and the election of Mr. Reynolds to the presidency of the giant concern. It reads like a Rupert-of-Hentzau romance ! Two well known city banks were consolidated on the 22d of January, 1899. The Bankers' Iowa State was merged into the Des Moines Savings Bank. The officers of the Des Moines Savings remained unchanged, namely: P. M. Casady, president; James G. Berryhill, first vice president; G. M. Hippee, second vice president; Simon Casady, cashier; Leland Windsor, assistant cashier. The re tiring officers were: W. W. Lyons, president; A. O. Garlock, vice president; J. R. Baxter, second vice president; C. T. Cole, Jr., cashier. The Grand Avenue Savings, (now the Iowa Trust and Savings) was the first local bank born into the business world in the Twentieth century. Its cap ital stock was $50,000. It was officered by D. H. Kooker, president; Wesley Juvenal, vice president ; G. W. Shope, cashier. It was reorganized in 1902. The name was changed to the towa Trust and Savings Bank, and the business was removed from East Fifth and Grand to the northeast corner of East Fifth and Locust. The reorganization brought to the front W. B. Martin, ex-secretary of state, as president; G. S. Gilbertson, ex-treasurer of state, vice president; John McQuiston, cashier. On the departure of Mr. McQuiston to engage in the banking business in Idaho, A. O. Hauge, long cashier in the State Treas urer's office, was elected cashier. The old bank experienced "hard sledding" for several years ; but since the reorganization and change of location it has been prosperous. The present directory is : W. B. Martin, A. O. Hauge, J. C. Simpson, B. IT. Thomas, G. S. Gilbertson, A. C. Flanger, E. T. Meredith, L. 0. Larson and O. K. Olsen. Plans have already been drawn for a larger bank building on the present site, to be erected by H. E. Teachout in 1912. In 1900, the University State Bank was founded by B. F. Prunty, on a basis of $50,000. The present officers are: B. F. Prunty, president; S. H. Holmes, vice president ; B. F. Prunty, Jr., cashier. The Iowa State Bank was organized in February, 1901, with $50,000 capital stock, with James R. Baxter, president ; E. H. Hunter, vice president ; George A. Disstuore, cashier; Arthur Rc-vnoHs, S, Weinstock. M. F. Kingman, William Steer, M. T. V. Bowman, J. M. Rockwell, James R. Baxter, E. H. Hunter and CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 539 George A. Dissmore, directors. The bank is in the Equitable building, on Wal nut street. Its present officers are : E. H. Hunter, president ; J. R. Baxter, vice president; G. A. Dissmore, cashier; J. R. Baxter, M. F. Kingman, E. H. Hunter, S. Weinstock, G. A. Dissmore, S. S. Still and George W. Mattern, directors. When in the summer of 1903, a new bank, the Century Savings, was started in the quarters vacated by the old Citizens' National, conservatives said it could not win. But, nevertheless, it has won. Its first officers were W. G. Harvison, president; E. R. Clapp, vice president; H. M. Whinery, cashier; W. G. Harvison, E. R. Clapp, R. M. McMullan, P. C. Kenyon, H. E. Teachout, J. B. Uhl, John B. Sullivan, J. W. Rudebeck and H. M. Whinery, -directors. In 1910, Leo E. Stevens, an Ottumwa banker, reorganized the bank. He is now at its head, with L. E. Harbach, vice president and B. B. Vorse cashier. Its present directory is : G. M. Christian, W. G. Burnside, H. H. Teachout, L. E. Stevens, R. J. Bannister, W. W. Maple, C. A. Swanson, B. B. Vorse, and L. E. Harbach. In 1904 Oak Park, north of the river, blossomed out with a bank, founded by Charles A. Holmes and others. It occupies a new brick building erected for its exclusive use. Mr. Holmes acts as president and cashier. In May, 1904, still another bank was organized in this city of banks, namely : the Mechanics' Savings, in the Manhattan building, on Fifth street. Its first president was H. B. Wyman; vice president, John L. Carey; cashier, G. E. Mc- Kinnon; directors, H. B. Wyman, Frank C. Waterbury, John H. Gibson, C. B. McNerney, Nelson Royal, G. E. McKinnon, S. S. Still and John L. Carey. The success of the Mechanics' Savings has further demonstrated the demand for banks in Des Moines. The present officers are: G. E. McKinnon, president; F. L. Walker, cashier; H. B. Wyman, C. B. McNerney, John H. Gibson, Nelson Royal, F. C. Waterbury, G. E. McKinnon, R. R. McCutcheon and H. F. Gross, directors. At the close of banking hours September 19, 1904, the entire deposit business of the Security Trust & Savings Bank, amounting to more than one and a third million, was transferred to the Des Moines Savings Bank. This transfer was the largest single transaction recorded in the annals of banking down to date. The remarkably successful career of Martin Flynn was suddenly brought to a close on the 18th of July, 1906. Mr. Flynn was president of the People's Savings Bank, and an extensive owner of real estate and of stocks in local cor porations. Overwork was declared to be the cause of the break-down which resulted in his decease — at the age of 66. Charles H. Martin, one of the or ganizers of the bank, was elected to succeed Mr. Flynn as president. The retirement of P. M. Casady from active banking on the first of October, 1907, after more than thirty years of continuous service as bank president was a notable event in local banking circles. The venerable president of the Des Moines Savings was 89 years old, and had well earned the few years of rest which remained for him. His interests in the bank were assumed by his son Simon Casady. In the spring of 191 1, the merger of the two great banks of Chicago, the Con tinental National and the Commercial National, both presided over by former residents of Des Moines, was an event of much interest to the bankers of the Capital city. George M. Reynolds, of the first-named bank, was long at the head of the Des Moines National, and George E. Roberts, as state printer for three successive terms and as the consolidator and owner of the Register and Leader, was intimately known in Des Moines. The ultimate outcome of the consolidation was the return of Mr. Roberts to his former position, that of director of the mint, and the premiership in the middle-west of the young Iowa financier, Mr. Reynolds, whose firm place in the banking world is evidenced by his refusal of the Secretaryship of the Treasury tendered him by President Taft. The Commercial Savings Bank changed hands on the 24b of July, 191 1, a controlling interest in the bank having passed from G. D. Ellyson to A. L. Hager, H. A. Elliott and John A. Elliott. At a directors' meeting, on that date, A. L. Hager and John A. Elliott were added to the old directory. President Ellyson's 540 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY resignation was accepted and Mr. Hager was elected to succeed him. Messrs Ellyson and Witter were elected vice presidents, and Mr. Elliott was named as cashier. To accept the new position, the younger Elliott resigned the cashier ship of the Mechanics' Savings Bank, which he had held since Mr. McKinnon's promotion to the presidency of that bank. President Ellyson resigned be cause of continued ill-health necessitating relief from active business. The in coming president retains his law practice, leaving to his son-in-law, Cashier Elli ott, the main burden of the bank's business. The new directory is made up as follows : A. L. Hager, John A. Elliott, G. D. Ellyson, D. F. Witter, E. H. Hunter, Johnson Brigham, Charles S. Bradshaw and Ellis C. Linn. The Des Moines Clearing House. The Clearing House was organized December 5, 1887, with the following banks included: the Citizens' National, the Des Moines National, the Iowa Na tional, the Merchants' National, the Valley National, the American Savings, the Capital City State, the Des Moines Savings, the Polk County Savings, and the State Savings. Its first officers were: W. D. Lucas, president; A. W. Naylor and H. K. Love, vice presidents; J. G. Rounds, secretary and manager; R. L. Chase, G. B. Hippee and F. W. Newell, committee of management. Represen tatives of the ten banks had held informal meetings for several days prior to the formal organization and had cleared their checks. The first clearing, November 29, was $43,059.66. Compare this total with the clearings for September 22, 191 1 — namely, $639,018.43. Note also the growth of business as measured by years. The total of clearances, the first year, 1888, was $26,188,199. In 1898, the total was $59,601,735.48.* The total clearings in 1910 were $205,895,999.01. The present officers are : R. A. Crawford, president ; John Hogan and D. J. Van Liew, vice presidents ; George E. Pearsall, secretary and manager ; clearing house com mittee, J. G. Rounds, Simon Casady, Homer A. Miller, Arthur Reynolds and A. C. Miller. The Clearing House has had but two managers, namely: J. G- Rounds, 1887 to 1896; George E. Pearsall 1896 to 191 1. The present member ship includes fourteen banks as follows: Citizens' National Bank, Des Moines National, Iowa National, Valley National, Capital City State, Iowa Trust and Savings, People's Savings, Home Savings, Commercial Savings, German Sav ings, Central State, Iowa State, Century Savings and Mechanics' Savings. U,l|i» lU'siltiunps Ulh'nrtnuljauspAssnrt.ttiiut Ml SET'' TO °v ~c the: bearer on or before three months from this DATE .THE 5UM OF I 'J ONE DOLLAR $ I °° . is certificate s secured by tbe deposit of approved securities with the cleari.ig tioase cor"irittee of. the es Moines Clearing House Association, -and it is also issued upon the credit of the banks ot the city of Moines, towa. members of said Association, and will be received by any ot said banks on deposit or payment of ary o*>l!sations doe them. Dated at Des Moines, Iowa, this 28th day of October, A.D. 1907. DES MOINES CLEARING HOUSE MSSPriATION. r VAL.ID ^ri-l_£NDORSE:0 i ..j • m 7 H£ PRESIDENT ORCASHIER BY jf *Jf**V-4s3A *.~.n , -^% A Des MO/USS CL EAFtlNG S£T aAHK $ \°£ *^3&%\ DES MOINES CLEARING OMMITTEE No. r :¦>> / -\ \ Cl)£ BfS f&omts Clearing Ibouar 2s satiation premises to pjy the bearer on or before three months from this date the sum i/ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, without interest. This certificate i? stctircd i,y the dct.ota ot dprirned >ccuntit.s u ,th the clan mis liouse committee of the Pes \l,iines Charing i/our-e A^oci.uion, mid it is jlzo issued ufion the credit of the ImnkH ot the Cits "1 lies Moines Iowa n>.ciot>cr> ¦>! >.iid Association whose names are i,nntei \\ ill he recent'! by jnyof sa;i liaoJK on deposit or in p.:y ment ot any nhliit:ition> due them. dM fief \lome~. lo\id. thin J*th day of octohcr, I. It. J'.inT. Ii„ DES MOINES CLEARING HOUSE ASSOCIATION, $;¦? £0- '<- $1,000.00 - '---'ffL-f y-*--- , iiH. t J" ...,-. -a^.- 1 '¦ 'if:'' tw- \Mjie* Lk.t rim: lluitbe t nMuti'Uet Facsimiles of Des Moines Clearing House certificates issued October 28, 1907, in denomi nations of one, two, five, ten and twenty dollars of one form, and of five hundred and one thousand dollars of the other CHAPTER II. "A CALL FOR CONVENTION OF IOWA BANKERS. The creation of a state association of bankers had long been the subject of conversation among the leading bankers of the Capital City. Finally there was general agreement that the time had come to act. Accordingly they united with several prominent bankers of the state in a call for a meeting to be held in Des Moines July 26 and 27, 1887. The call was published in the State Register of June 22, of that year. It reads as follows: "a call for convention of IOWA bankers. "It being manifest by and through the general business of banks that imper fections exist in the usual system of some of the branches, and believing that a full, thorough and more uniform system should be adopted to facilitate the com mercial interests of the state and county, and believing that an interchange of views of the several bankers of the state will inure to the benefit of the bankers and stockholders, as well as the business interests of the country, and, realizing the fact that a state association is the only effectual medium through which the personal ideas and views of the state can be mutually and profitably exchanged ; "Therefore, We, the undersigned bankers, for the purpose of effecting an organization to be known as the Iowa Bankers' Association, would most respect fully call a convention of the bankers of Iowa and those interested therein, to meet in the city of Des Moines, Iowa, on the 26th day of July, 1887, at which time all and any questions of moment in relation to said organization and its motives may be considered." Of the twenty-eight bankers who signed this call, the following were bank ers in Des Moines : Geo. G. Wright and A. J. Zwart, Polk County Savings Bank; P. M. and Simon Casady, Des Moines Savings; A. W. Naylor and George W. Baker, Capital City State; John Wyman, J. G. Rounds and W. E. Hazen, Des Moines National; J. J. Town and W. D. Lucas, Valley National; J. H. Merrill and J. W. Geneser, State Savings; H. K. Love, Iowa National; H. J. Ranson, Merchants' National and E. S. Harter, American Savings. Sixty-nine bankers responded to the call, and the Iowa Bankers' Association was organized. The meeting was called to order by George H. Maish. Coming together at 2 p. m. Secretary Henriques proposed an adjournment to 3 :45 to attend a ball game, and no objection was recorded ! Constitution and by-laws were adopted. John Nollen, of Pella, the oldest banker in Iowa, entertained the convention with reminiscences. After a general discussion of exchange on checks, etc., the convention adjourned to an evening banquet at the Aborn House. In 1894, June 14-15, the association celebrated its seventh anniversary at tfie place of its birth. The panic of '93 had retarded the growth of the organiza tion, but the benefits of association and the pleasure found in fellowship had become apparent. The panic was discussed in all its phases, and measures of bank protection and cooperation were considered. There was a grim humor run ning through the discussions, as members related recent experiences with timid depositors. To the address of welcome by Vice President Casady, response was made by Charles T. Cole, of Corning. Among the addresses delivered was one on 541 542 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY "The Banker in Law" by Judge George H. Carr, then of Emmetsburg, now promi nent in legal circles in Des Moines. Major Hoyt Sherman told the story of the old State Bank of Iowa. In the evening, the bankers of the city and their families entertained their guests at Cycling Hall, with refreshments, music and dancing. On the following day among the papers read was one by Col. D. F. McCarthy of Des Moines, on "Various Modes and Plans of Banking." It is interesting to note that the old and yet 'ever new subject, "An Elastic Currency," was threshed out on the second day. Simon Casady was elected president of the association. In 1900, the fourteenth anniversary of the association was also celebrated in Des Moines. Convened in Foster's Opera house June 13, they were welcomed by Lafayette Young of the Daily Capital. President Charles H. Martin deliv ered the annual address. Among the other addresses of the day was one from Judge Charles A. Bishop of Des Moines, a semi-humorous paper entitled, "My Friend, the Cashier." This time, the bankers held their afternoon session first, and attended the ball-game afterwards. The group system, early put into ope ration, was by this time found to be effective. G. D. Ellyson recommended the division of group 4, which then included twenty counties. The recommendation was acted upon. In the evening a reception was tendered the visitors at the Savery. On the second day, Arthur Reynolds read a suggestive analysis of "Our New Currency." The sixteenth annual convention was held in Des Moines, May 21 and 22, 1902. The association was welcomed by Sidney A. Foster, secretary of the Royal LTnion Insurance Company. The question of a permanent location for the association was raised. In the evening, the local bankers entertained the visitors at the Grant Club. On the second day, the principal feature was an address by Charles G. Dawes, ex-comptroller of the currency, in opposition to- asset currency and branch banking. There was general agreement with Mr. Dawes' views. Homer A. Miller, then cashier of the Des Moines Savings Bank, now president of the Iowa National, was elected president of the association. The eighteenth convention, June 15-16, 1904, also held in Des Moines, shows the trend of thought in financial circles. Congressman (now Justice) Walter I. Smith of Council Bluffs, chose as his theme : "Should the Silver Dollar be made redeemable in Gold?" While there was much question in other circles,. there was little among Iowa leaders, even in '94, as to the relative status of the two metals. An informal luncheon closed the session. On the second day a committee report in favor of a system of bank money orders with a general guaranty, also the question of insuring bank deposits, engrossed the attention of the members. The convention took a stand against the bankruptcy law, ask ing the Iowa delegation to work for its repeal. The nineteenth convention, June 7-8, 1905, was held in the Elks' Hall, Des Moines. Auditor (afterwards Governor) Carroll gave his experiences and ob servations in the auditor's office relative to Iowa banks and banking. On the after noon of the 7th all visited Fort Des Moines, where, by special courtesy of Colonel (now General) Thomas, the Eleventh U. S. Cavalry gave a parade, review and exhibition drill. In the evening, the visitors took their choice between vaude ville and Sothern and Marlowe in "Romeo and Juliet." Next day the convention took another turn at the bankruptcy law and at the insurance of deposits. The insurance scheme received its quietus by a vote of 116 to 94 against, and in favor of a request that the American Association inves tigate it. A large minority favored holding the convention regularly in Des Moines, but the measure was not pushed. The abolition of the private bank was urged by President Hubbard, bringing the private bankers to their feet. By this time the number of groups of Iowa banks in the association had grown to sixteen, of which Des Moines was — and still is — in group 7, of which J. A. McKinney, cashier of the Capital City State Bank, was and still is chair man. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 513 The latest meeting of the association in Des Moines was on June 15-16, 1910, the largest thus far held. It marked the beginning of a new system — an open headquarters at the Capital,1 with a paid secretary who would be expected to give all his time to the business of the association. Leo E.. Stevens, presi dent of the Century Bank, Des Moines, was acting president, "owing to , the death of the president of the association. There was a spirited contest for the secre taryship, in which P. W. Hall, of Sheldon, was elected. Secretary Dinwiddie, of Cedar Rapids, had served for many years ; but, with a membership of about 1,500, the draft upon his time had grown too great. The first day's sessions were held at the auditorium, and in the evening the delegates were given pos session of the theater at Ingersoll Park. The second day's sessions were held at Hyperion Club House, where a bounteous lunch was served by the local bankers. The afternoon session was made doubly interesting by the presence of ex-Secretary Leslie M. Shaw, who delivered a characteristic speech abounding in humor, yet permeated with a serious trend of thought on financial* questions of the hour. This convention, the seventh time the association had assembled at its birth place, was a record-breaker in attendance. The record of attendance is as fol lows: 1887 — 69; 1894- — 135; 1900 — 205; 1902 — 365; 1904 — 380; 1905 — 500; 1910 — 840. 1 Headquarters in the Fleming Building, Des Moines. CHAPTER III. THE BANKERS' CLUB. The Bankers' Club of Des Moines was organized January 12, 1905, with a charter membership of fifty-seven, representing fourteen banks, all of which were members of the Clearing House Association of Des Moines. The avowed object of the organization was the promotion of the social, friendly and busi ness relations of its members. The club's annual meetings are held on the first Thursday after the first Monday in October. Its regular meetings are held once a month for six con secutive months, beginning with October. Its programs are arranged by the executive committee. This committee consists of the officers and two addi tional members chosen by the club. The regular club meetings have been held in the hotels of the city, each meeting preceded by a dinner at an early hour in the evening. The Bankers' Club has realized even more than was hoped for it. Its meet ings have brought the officers and directors of the leading banks of the city together in closer relationship, and have socially developed cordial and even fraternal relations between representatives of rival banks, softening the asper ities of competition for business and broadening the general view as to the du ties and opportunities of banks and bankers collectively in a progressive and fast-growing city. The first meeting of the club was attended by forty-two of the fifty-seven charter members. It was called to order by Homer A. Miller, president of the Clearing House Association of Des Moines. J. D. Whisenand was elected to the presidency, A. C. Miller vice-president and C. T. Cole, Jr., secretary. The paper of the evening, by Mr. Ellyson, presented the question of "Fidelity In surance." Without following the programs of the club through the years, it is interest ing to note the range of topics discussed at its meetings. At one meeting, Mr, Harvison raised the question: "Has a bank authority to charge to a customer's account a note of such customer made payable at said bank?" The question led on to further question as to the liability for damages in case such a note is not paid. Other subjects considered at other meetings were: "Proposed changes in the law relative to lost certificates;" "Note payable on Sunday — or holiday — what day payable? Can interest be collected including the following day as last day of maturity?" "A better city government for Des Moines," by James G. Berryhill; "The proposed currency reform bill," by Ar thur Reynolds ; "The two plans for currency reform" — that of the New York Chamber of Commerce, and that of the committee of the American Bankers' Association of which Mr. Reynolds was chairman ; "Bills of lading as collat eral," by Judge T. F. Stevenson; "The legality of loans to savings banks," by W. G. Harvison; "The ideal clearing house for Des Moines," by Simon Casady; "Protest of bank items and negotiable paper," by C. T. Cole, Jr.; "The banker in literature," by Johnson Brigham; "Uniform negotiable instrument law," by George F. Henry; "The Washington meeting of the American Bankers' Asso ciation in 1905," by Simon Casady; "Insurance of bank deposits," by L. T. Richmond, of Albia, Iowa; "Certain significant features of the convention of the American Bankers' Association at Denver in 1908," by Arthur Reynolds; "The development of waterways," by 'A. C. Miller ; "The postal savings bank," 544 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 545 by J. D. Whisenand; "Clearing house rules," by J. G. Rounds; "The Carter savings bank bill," by Henry C. Wallace in the affirmative and J. G. Berryhill in the negative ; "Taxation of mortgages," by W. B. Brown in the affirmative, W. E. Coffin in the negative; "The importance of an immediate settlement of the street car question," by Harvey Ingham, editor of the Register and Leader; "How it happened"— remarks on the election of 1910, by Lafayette Young; "The relation of banks to legislation," by Senator James U. Sammis, and "The tax ferrit law," by ex-Senator G. N. Titus, of Muscatine. In 1907 A. C. Miller was elected president; J. H. Blair, vice-president; W. E. Barrett, secretary and treasurer. In 1908, G. D. Ellyson was chosen president; J. G. Rounds, vice-president; W. E. Barrett, secretary and treasurer. In 1909 the club chose J. G. Rounds, president; C. T. Cole, Jr., vice-president; A. O. Hauge, secretary and treasurer. In 1910 the officers chosen were : President, C. T. Cole, Jr. ; vice-president, H. S. Butler; secretary and treasurer, A. O. Hauge. The specially notable events which have occurred in the club's history are the following: On March 2, 1905, at the Chamberlain Hotel, the hospitality of the club was extended to Group 7 of the State Bankers' Association. Governor Carroll, Auditor Bleakley, and other guests delivered addresses. On May 26 of the same year, at a two o'clock luncheon at the Savery Hotel, Hon. Leslie M. Shaw, Secretary of the Treasury, was the guest of the club and spoke informally on the financial questions of the hour. On February 1, 1906, at the Grant club-house, a dinner was given in honor of Group 6 of the State Bankers' Association. Hon. August Blum, vice-presi dent of the First National Bank of Chicago, was the speaker of the evening. His address covered a wide range of themes. Senator John T. Brooks, of Hed rick, spoke on "Surety Bonds." On March 8, following, Hon. George E. Roberts, Director of the Mint, was the guest of the club. He spoke on "The influence of the new gold supplies." The banker members of the State Legislature were the Club's guests. On the evening of January 3, 1908, ex-Secretary Shaw appeared before a large audience in Foster's opera house, on invitation of the Bankers' Club, to give his view on the recent financial panic and its lessons. He outlined his plan of an elastic currency permitting an expansion of perhaps four hundred million in emergency — currency guaranteed by the government, differing in no way from an ordinary issue except that it would bear five or six per cent tax, thus automatically inclining the holder to present it for redemption as soon as safety would permit. On May 12, 1908, at the Savery Hotel, Group 6 of the State Bankers' Asso ciation were again the guests of the club. Hon. George E. Roberts addressed the assemblage, presenting the advantages of a central bank. On the evening of November n, 1909, the club gave a dinner at the Savery Hotel in honor of Hon. Nelson W. Aldrich, who delivered an address on the ' investigations made by the Monetary Commission, of which he was chairman, the trend of which was toward a federal system of bank exchange which would prevent a repetition of the financial embarrassments of 1907. More than three hundred guests were in attendance. The members of the club did much individually to cooperate with the Clear ing House Association in making successful the meetings of the State Bankers' Association, in Des Moines, June 16-17, 1910. They kept open house at the Chamberlain Hotel and assisted in the entertainment of visitors at Hyperion Club. On the 12th of October, 191 1, Prof. J. Laurence Laughlin, of Chicago, Chairman of the National Citizens' League, addressed the club, urging com bined efforts to secure legislation preventing a recurrence of the disaster of 1907. The club elected H. S. Butler, president; A. O. Hauge, vice-president; C. S. Barr, secretary and treasurer. Vol 1—35 BOOK III. DES MOINES. PART X. JOURNALISM. 1857-1911. CHAPTER I. JOURNALISM AND JOURNALISTS. Taking up the story of pioneer journalism where it was dropped — with the disappearance of "Fort Des Moines" from the map of Iowa and the appear ance of "Des Moines" in its stead — we enter upon the second stage of journal istic development in the Capital city — the period in which the newspaper began to be recognized and reckoned with as an exponent of local pride and individual ambition, and to a greater degree than in the first stage, the molder of public opinion. In this second stage the newspaper continued to be a party organ, with a generally recognized claim on the party for patronage in the shape of official advertising and elective and appointive offices, state and national. William, better known as "Will" Porter,1 the sole survivor of the journalism of the pioneer period, had bought the Iowa Statesman, moved it over on the West side, and christened it the Iowa State Journal. The first number of the weekly Journal was issued in February, 1857. The paper continued under Porter's management, with Robert Hedge as an associate, until late in 1858, when Stilson Hutchins and George M. Todd acquired it, rechristening it the Iowa Statesman. On the 13th of January, 1858, Will Porter issued the first number of a tri-weekly Journal, published in connection with his weekly. It was planned especially to cover the new legislative field. In his salutatory, the editor ex presses his deep obligations to members of the legislature, to citizens of Des Moines, and others, for subscriptions, and frankly announces his policy of reciprocity, naively saying: "We will remember especially those who have re membered us !" Having, at heavy expense, placed able reporters in both houses of the legislature, the editor throws himself upon the generosity of his friends, saying: "And we certainly look with confidence to the legislature for an appro priate response to our efforts to give to the people of the state a correct, reliable and early report of the actions and sayings of their representatives." In his initial number the Journal editor gives battle to the editor of the Citizen, his republican rival in the legislative field, apologetically informing his readers that he has tried to be kind and courteous to him, and to keep on good terms with him, "but," he adds, "it appears the little fellow ... is deter mined to keep us at a distance." While he cares little about what his neighbor may say of him, he assures the Citizen that he will stick by its editor closer than a brother — "closer by far than his assumed cloak of piety will stick to him!" Editorially the irreverent Journal editor was wont to refer to his brother editor as "Johnny of the Citizen,," and as "owned, body, soul and breeches" by one of the candidates for the senatorship. On February 1, sickness compelled the omission of the Saturday debate, and the Journal acknowledged obligations to the Citizen office for favors rendered. Evidently Editor Teesdale was heaping coals of fire upon his rival's head ! A reminder of old Fort Des Moines days is kept standing in the Journal's editorial column, which reads : "We will take wood, coal, flour, potatoes, provisions, anything we can eat or use, in payment of subscription or bills due the office. Send them on." Author of History of Polk County, 1004. 549 550 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The tri-weekly Citizen came out January 12, a day ahead of its rival for legislative support. John Teesdale, candidate for re-election as state binder, was its proprietor, with J. M. Dixon his associate editor. The Citizen did not hesitate to intimate editorially that it expected a substantial response from the general assembly. Referring to the anticipated completeness of its legislative reports, and the "very considerable outlay for the labor thus expended," its editor and publisher feels "assured that the legislature will make a fitting ac knowledgment of the effort to meet its wishes !" This first issue sharply re plies to the Journal of the Saturday before, claiming a third more subscribers than the Journal has, and referring feelingly to the attempt of its patronage-fed rival to take from it the little "patronage conferred by a republican legislature upon a republican editor." In the main, Editor Teesdale held himself well in check ; but once in a while, as in his issue of January 28, he contributes to the "amenities" of journalism by showing up his esteemed contemporary as a "con temptible representative of ignorance and locofoco vulgarity," "cousin german" to Balaam, etc. He squelches Porter (until the next issue of the Journal!) by the remark that his "shriveled intellect" has vainly attempted to cover up the depleted condition of Polk county finances!' Editor Teesdale loses his equilibrium on returning from Iowa City and find ing that the Dubuque Tribune has impugned his motives and questioned the value of his services as a public official. He styles the attacking party "Old Dishonesty," and pathetically remarks: "Twenty years' consistent political serv ice ought to give us immunity from assaults from one who, however old he may be in sin, has not been remarkable for anything but an intense selfishness, that would prompt him to sacrifice the best cause for a consideration." With the adjournment of the legislature on the 23d day of March, 1858, the tri-weekly Citizen closed its career, the weekly Citizen continuing "its wonted variety, adapted to the wants of the family circle as well as the political readers." On the 29th of July, 1858, Messrs. James A. Williamson and Will Tomlin son announced the revival of the Iowa Statesman, a democratic weekly, to be published in the interest of East Des Moines. The editors had no disposition to interfere as a rival of any other paper. "Our fields of operation," they say, "have been selected in such a locality that no collision need be anticipated with anything democratic. Locally we have a mission to accomplish." They "solicit the cooperation of every citizen of Polk county desirous of having an economical and honest administration." Mr. Williamson relies on his experienced partner to do most of the work. In a card of "special thanks" to their friend Porter, of the Journal, for use of type, etc., they offer the prayer "that every imaginable blessing attend him," and they add, "may the young Porters all be as handsome as their papa!" Journalism in 1859 was decidedly personal. "The amenities of journalism" is a phrase of later origin! In his issue of July 21, Porter resents Teesdale's attack on Judge Cole, then democratic candidate for the Supreme court, pro nouncing the editor of the Citizen "just as culpable a liar as if he had known it was false." He assumes the aggressive, charging Teesdale, as State Printer, with "taking paper belonging to the State and selling it" for his own pecuniary profit. Teesdale claimed his right to the common courtesies of life ; but Porter insisted that a man who steals cannot well be outraged when he is called a thief. With a reiteration of the charge he tosses "the little scamp" aside for the present ! In i860, Stilson Hutchins, a native of New Hampshire and a Harvard gradu ate, became sole proprietor of the State Journal. Mr. Hutchins was only twenty- two years old at the time, a man of powerful brain, commanding presence and dominating will. Notwithstanding the prevalence of the war spirit and the un popularity of the democratic attitude toward the war, he made his paper a power to be both courted and feared. Finding the Des Moines of the early Sixties too republican for him, in 1862 he sold the Journal and bought the Dubuque Herald. In 1866 he founded the St. Louis Daily Times. During the eleven years of his CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 551 stay in St. Louis, he saw service in the Missouri legislature. In 1877, he founded the Washington Post and made it the leading journal at the national capital. He sold the Post in 1889, and exploited the Mergenthaler Linotype. He was suc cessful in all his undertakings and became one of the leading capitalists in Wash ington. He died early in the year 191 1. The purchaser of the Journal was George M. Todd, former business asso ciate of Hutchins. Todd came from New York in 1856, and with others erected a large manufacturing establishment in Des Moines. The enterprise was un successful, and he took up newspaper work. Continuing the publication for some time, he then bought into the Burlington Gazette, and later removed to St. Joseph, Mo. The Conimonivealth was the next. It was founded late in i860, by Andrew J. Stevens and William H. Hoxie. The Commonwealth was not long-lived. Stevens, through Seward's influence obtained a consulship in Canada which he held for several years. He then removed to Nebraska where, as banker and land agent, he finally came to grief. Broken in health and fortune, he removed to California where lie died. In 1861 Hoxie turned over the Commonwealth to J. B. Bausman and S. W. Russell, one a pioneer surveyor and the other a compositor. They soon wearied of the burden and were glad to consolidate with the Journal and turn a con trolling interest over to Dr. D. V. Cole. Both newspaper names were dropped and the result of the consolidation was the Times. Dr. Cole was, in 1855-56, Polk county's agent for the sale of intoxicating liquors ; or, as Porter puts it, he kept what was commonly termed "the County Grocery." Russell went over to the Register office where he worked for many years, and Bausman became a surveyor and land agent in Minneapolis. Late in 1862, William H. Merritt bought the printing material of the Times and that of the Commonwealth, and revived the name of the Statesman. He put into the paper a degree of ability and force which soon made it one of the leading democratic papers in the State. With a record of success in public life and. in the Civil war, Colonel Merritt brought to his task a reputation which lifted the paper above the level of a mere purveyor of news. After nearly four years in the editorial harness, he sold the Statesman to Staub & Jenkins, who soon turned the burden over to G. W. Snow. Snow's health failed and at his death the paper suspended. Early in the Seventies appeared upon the scene a young man from Muscatine who resurrected the defunct democratic organ and, giving it a new name, started it on a career which forms no unimportant part in the history of Iowa. Possessed of a good education and a mind of unusual power and lucidity, and backed by the Barnhart Brothers, of Muscatine, W. W. Witmer soon made the Des Moines Leader an effective force in Iowa public affairs and politics. Mr. Witmer was deeply imbued with the fundamental principles and policies of the democratic party. To him free trade — or, as practically applied in governmental affairs, "tariff for revenue only" was not a mere clap-trap; it was fundamental; and for years he fought it out on that line with a degree of consistency and ability which commanded the admiration of even those who most keenly felt the force of his logic. For ten years he labored night and day, not only to make the Leader a success, but also to make converts to his views. During this decade, there were associated with him some of the keenest writers of the time, among them, George W. Parker, years afterwards the authorized biographer of Grover Cleveland, and Henry Philpot, the famous free trade doctrinaire. Among those Mr. Witmer drew about him during these ten strenuous years, all more or less contributory to the success of the Leader, were Joel W. Witmer, Phil S. Kell, W. H. Andrews, John Olsen, Charles Painter, George McCracken and Will Porter. Lowry Goode succeeded Mr. Witmer as editor and publisher of the Leader— a man of editorial ability — a journalistic optimist, as distinct from the melioristic 552 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY views of his predecessor. While Mr. Witmer worked and prayed for better conditions, Mr. Goode "saw golden ages coming," by several years anticipating the glad day ! He made of the Leader a better paper than even the fast-growing Capital city would warrant. Mr. Goode finally turned the Leader over to Frank Garrity and became a real-estate boomer, soon thereafter making and losing several fortunes in quick succession. He has since resided in Paris and New York, engaged in promoting a variety of extensive enterprises. Mr. Garrity is said to have lost considerable money in his endeavor to make the Leader a state wide morning daily. The failure to accomplish this result brought W. H. Welch W. W. Witmer, John Watts and others to his relief. The most marked of the new company's improvements was the issuance of a paper seven days in the week. The new company removed their printing house to a large brick build ing on Court avenue between Third and Fourth, and put in an extensive book and job printing establishment. Two fires in succession seriously crippled the company, and they were glad to turn it over to John F. Olsen and A. F. H. Zeigler, who induced Judge L. G. Kinne, of Vinton, former democratic nominee for governor, to become the Leader's editor-in-chief. Judge Kinne undertook the task with energy and ability, but the failure of his business associates to finance the concern compelled an assignment. Phil. S. Kell was the assignee. At the assignee sale, Henry Stivers became the purchaser. For five years Stivers bravely continued the struggle. Then, when Samuel Strauss, son of Moses Strauss, a wealthy wholesaler of Des Moines, and Allen Dawson, a bril liant editorial writer on the Sioux City Journal, became fired with an ambition for a journalistic career in Des Moines, they found Stivers quite ready to sell. Under the control of Messrs. Strauss and Dawson, the Leader reached its high water mark of journalistic enterprise, — a degree of excellence which should have yielded rich returns ; but the era of extensive advertising on a systematic basis as a feeder for business, was not yet fully come. The "standing ad" was still there, and the extensive displays in the advertising columns of today were rarely, if ever, seen, and advertising space was at a discount. The first number of the historic Iowa State Register appeared on Monday, January 9, i860, with John Teesdale, formerly of the Citizen, as its editor and publisher. It was an unpretentious four-page sheet, with only five columns to the page. Its reading matter was chiefly legislative proceedings, political, edi torial and clippings. It gave slight attention to local happenings. It was born with a very small silver (or triple-plate) spoon in its mouth, having been desig nated at birth "the official paper of the State." On the date of its first issue, the Eighth General Assembly began its sessions. It announced a tri-weekly legis lative issue in connection with the daily. An editorial confession in this first number must cause a smile on the face of the twentieth century free-lance journalist: "The editor had promised and meant sacredly to perform friendly offices for several worthy gentlemen who are candidates for offices to be disposed of in the organization of the legislature. His inability to fulfill these promises, arising from causes already known, is to him a source of profound but unavailing regret." In its second issue the editor explained the change in the name of his paper. The old name Citizen never seemed to him appropriate. In its stead, he had chosen the title of a submerged paper in Black Hawk county, as one "peculiarly appropriate to a journal at the capital of the State." Mr. Teesdale was at the time confined to his home with a crippled arm, preventing him from giving much attention to editorial duties. He acknowledged timely editorial aid re ceived from John A. Kasson, Esq., and placed reliance upon other friends for temporary help. REGISTER & LEADER DAILY CAPITAL DAILY NEWS CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 553 January 21, finds the editor still confined to his house half the day. In five weeks he hasn't once walked to his office. "Such facts," he thinks, "ought to be deemed a sufficient apology for many short-comings." In its issue of Febru ary 7, its editor makes a pathetic appeal for a continuation of patronage in the form of legal notices — a large item in the calculation of the pioneer publisher. In 1861, Editor Teesdale was appointed postmaster. After holding the post- office for two terms, Teesdale removed to Mt. Pleasant. In 1872, through Senator Harlan's influence, he took editorial charge of Forney's Washington Chronicle. Later he returned to Mt. Pleasant and there died. The advent of "Frank" Palmer as editor of the leading newspaper at the State capital, in 1861, was an event in the history of Iowa journalism. Palmer was then thirty-three years of age. Like his whig and republican predecessors he was a graduate of "the poor man's college," — the printing office. Like them he had taken a post-graduate course in the editorial department of that college. During the eight strenuous years of his double service as State Printer and editor he evinced much force as a journalist and success as a politician. He early enlarged the Register; but, not content with mere enlargement, in Janu ary, 1862, he issued the first regular daily printed in Des Moines. From January 12, '62, down to date, the daily edition inaugurated by him has not failed to make its visits to the homes and business houses of the Capital city. During the exciting war period on which he entered there was on his part enthusiastic sup port of all war measures and of the republican party as "the only war party." Palmer gathered around him a group of able and ambitious young men. Of these, Thomas F. Withrow, J. M. Dixon, John S. Runnells and the Clarkson brothers were the most prominent. In 1866, Mr. Palmer sold the Register to Mills & Company, the pioneer printers and publishers of Des Moines. By agreement he temporarily retained editorial control of the paper. In the congressional campaign of that year, he led the forces arrayed against Congressman Kasson, compelling the temporary retirement of Kasson from .national politics. Gen. G. M. Dodge, of Council Bluffs, succeeded Kasson, but after a single term voluntarily withdrew, leaving the field open for Palmer. After two terms in congress, Palmer became editor- in-chief of the Chicago Inter-Ocean, retaining that position from 1873 t° '7^- His position brought him the postmastership of Chicago. This position he held from 1877 to '85, during a portion of which period he directed the editorial policy of the Chicago Herald. In 1888, President Harrison appointed him to the responsible position of public printer. He was retired in 1894, by President Cleveland, and again appointed by. President McKinley, in 1897. He held the office until 1905. He died in 1907. The Mills brothers, J. W. and Frank M., were well equipped for the task they had undertaken. They further improved the Register, reaching out after the best available news-gathering and editorial talent. When they obtained con trol of the paper it was a six-column folio. They enlarged it several times dur ing their management. After Frank Palmer retired, J. W. Hills assumed the editorship, assisted by a corps of special writers. It is remarkable that at this time, 1866, there were employed in the Register composing room, three young printers who were destined to become famous in Iowa history, — James S. Clarkson, about twenty-six years old; "Al." (Albert W.) Swaim, twenty-three years; and "Lafe" (Lafayette) Young, twenty. These three soon evinced capacity for journalism and were severally graduated from the composing room to the editorial office. The foreman and night editor of the Daily Register under the Mills regime was L. F. Andrews, author of a valuable work entitled "Pioneers of Polk County," and still — at the age of eighty-three — a vigorous and picturesque special writer for the Sunday edition of the Register and Leader. On Mr. Andrews' arrival in Des Moines in 1863, to take the foremanship of the Register office, he found every printer in the establishment in arms against him. The younger 554 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of the Mills brothers had a certain old-fashioned notion that a man should run his business his own way, and he so informed his men. To help the publishers over the crisis, the veteran "Lamp" Sherman, Barlow Granger, Will Porter Duane Wilson and other ex-printers pulled off their coats, rolled up their sleeves^ filled their cases and "stuck type" with a dexterity scarcely expected of men who had been so many years out of college ! The one objection raised against the new foreman was that in another office he had put two women at work at the case ! Mr. Andrews gives an interesting picture of Senator Lafayette Young, when he was a boy in his teens, a printer's apprentice in the office of Mills & Com pany. "I recall an instance when Lafe Young one day very gently informed Frank [Mills] that a boy of his caliber, superior ability, and large experience — less than a year — was worth more than three dollars and a half a week — it was too small pay entirely. Frank solaced him by telling him that too much money was bad for a boy ; that to succeed in business, he must learn the business, prac tice economy ; that then was the time to acquire habits of economy. He [Young] graduated from the establishment as the city editor of the Daily Register and is now [December 4, 1904] the publisher of the Des Moines Daily Capital, with a circulation of over 46,000." The inference is that "Lafe" took the unselfish (?) advice of his employer; and if so, the credit of his after-successes must be shared with Frank Mills. One day in May, 1861, a tall, lean, brainy looking young man, twenty years of age, came to Des Moines from Grundy county, Iowa, and applied for work in the composing room of the Iowa State Register. He was told by Frank Palmer, to take off his coat and go to work. For several months he was em ployed as a compositor. One day in October of that year, he threw down his composing stick, pocketed his printer's rule, walked out and enlisted in the Twelfth Iowa Infantry. We next hear of him at the battle of Shiloh, where he was captured with his regiment while making a brave but unequal fight. For seven months he was an inmate of a Confederate prison. On being ex changed, he returned to his regiment, remaining with it until the close of the war. In 1866, a younger brother of the young man from Grundy found em ployment as a printer in the same office. In course of time, he was promoted from the composing room to the editorial room, — first as local editor and then as editorial writer. It was not long before it became evident to every reader that a new force was behind the printed page of the Register. In 1870, the father of the two young men, himself an old printer and editor turned farmer, following "the boys" to Des Moines, joined with them in the purchase of the Register. The union of the three Clarksons in the purchase and management of the Iowa State Register was an event in the history of Des Moines, and of Iowa as well, the beginning of an era of aggressive, expansive journalism in the Des Moines river valley. The father, Coker F. Clarkson, had printed and edited a weekly newspaper in Brookfield, Indiana, and there had taught his sons, Richard P. and James S., the printer's trade, and, incidentally, some of the ins and outs of editing and publishing. With brains and experience at the head of the firm, and brains, energy, ambition and practical knowledge as the chief working capital of the junior partners, here was a combination to be reckoned with in all questions affecting the future of Iowa and of her Capital city. The father's intimate knowledge of practical farming soon made his page of the Register invaluable to thousands in the new State who were struggling with problems and details of farm management which "Father" Clarkson had wrought out on his Grundy county farm. His intimate knowledge of politics and public men in two states, his rugged honest)-, unaffected simplicity and courageous frankness in approaching public questions made his editorial utter ances so many key-notes to new situations and occasions, teaching new duties" and suggesting new opportunities. His part in supporting the farmers in tnt\J contest with the Barb Wire trust was important and was keenly appreciated. W. G. HALE Editor of "Daily News'' LAFAYETTE YOUNG. SR. Editor of "Daily Capital" CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 55", Richard, the older son, was a power in the business office, personally supervising every detail. Later in life, after the departure of the younger brother for the East, the elder developed marked ability as an editor; but for years he was content with the successful .business management of the paper. James S., or "Rett" as he was familiarly called, soon developed force and originality as an editorial writer, surpassing his father in brilliancy and audacity and a certain down-to-date quality which anticipated twentieth-century journal ism. In a few years the Register became a literal register of the political and economic thought of a large majority of the republicans of Iowa. It was more than that ; as a purveyor of state and local news it was in advance of its time. As its editor said in 1885, looking back over the years, "in these fifteen years the Register has chronicled a change in nearly every family in Iowa. . . . It has been the messenger of many joys and of many sorrows." At the end of those fifteen years the paper had nearly doubled in size and had more than doubled its expense. Early in the Seventies Father Clarkson transferred his interest to his sons, retaining the agricultural editorship. In this capacity he retained his connection with the paper until his death, which occurred May 7, 1890. James S. was appointed postmaster of Des Moines in 1871 and served in that capacity for nearly eight years. He was a successful molder of public opinion, suggesting and frequently writing his party's platform in State conven tions. His influence in time extended to national politics. He was a delegate- at-large in several national conventions. In 1880, he became a member of the national republican committee. A warm personal friend and enthusiastic sup porter of Blaine; in 1884 he took a leading part in the management of the Blaine campaign. From 1890 to '92 he was chairman of the national republican execu tive committee. Meantime he took the presidency of the then influential national republican league. The severance of his relations with the Register began with his appointment by President Harrison as first assistant postmaster-general. In 1891, he sold to his brother his interest in that journal and removed to New York city, where he has since resided. Though frequently tempted to reengage in journalism in Chicago and in eastern cities, he confined his activities mainly to the promotion of large corporate enterprises until 1902, when President Roosevelt appointed him surveyor of customs. He held this position until 1910, when he resigned and retired to a farm in Westchester county, New York. We have now reached the third epoch in the history of Des Moines journal ism, one in which the newspaper presents a new attitude toward the public, — one of independence within party lines, independence of caucus, convention and State central committee, and emancipation from the allurements of office, ap pointive and elective. The Leader, under the management of Mr. Witmer, and later, Messrs. Strauss and Dawson, was a forerunner of the new dispensation. Since 1878, George E. Roberts had been editor and publisher of the Fort Dodge Messenger. From '82 to '88 he held the office of State printer, dividing his time between Des Moines and Fort Dodge. . He had long been recognized as a writer of ability on economic themes ; but in 1896 his ability blossomed forth in a convincing reply to "Coin's Financial School," a pamphlet which by its popu larity threatened to undermine the gold standard of currency. The reply was used as a campaign document by the republican national committee. Other works followed, strengthening his reputation as a student of finance. His writings attracting the attention of Lyman J. Gage, and when Mr. Gage became secretary of the treasury, he appointed the Fort Dodge editor director of the mint, which position he held under two administrations. Almost from his youth, Mr. Roberts' ambition had been to succeed the Clarksons in the ownership and management of the State Register. The departure of one member of the firm and the appoint ment of the other to the pension agency in Des Moines, a position commanding aH his time and attention gave him an opportunity which he could not resist. 556 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Interesting Harvey Ingham, a young man and influential country editor, of Algona, Iowa, in a scheme to consolidate the two morning dailies of Des Moines the Register and the Leader, and offering Mr. Ingham the editorship of the pro posed Register and Leader, he opened negotiations which resulted, July i, 1902, in the purchase of a controlling interest in both plants and. the fusion of the two into one, with George E. Roberts and Daniel Strauss, owners. But the director of the mint soon found that the consolidated journal was too big a proposition to be handled from Washington. And again, he learned the lesson which coines to many a man in middle life — that he had outlived the dream of his youth, had outgrown his early ambition. He discovered that official life in Washington gave him opportunities for first-hand study of economic ques tions from a national standpoint, and for reaching the whole country, on public questions. It soon began to be whispered in the clubs that the Register and Leader was in the market, and that a rich syndicate was negotiating for its purchase. Mr. Ingham had come to Des Moines, not for a vacation, but with a serious purpose to master the editorial situation at the State Capital. Mr. Roberts hav ing decided to sell, A. B. Funk, of Spirit Lake, backed by Senators Smith, of Osage, and Maytag, of Newton, made definite arrangements to buy. At this point, Mr. Ingham interested Gardner Cowles, a successful business man, banker and farm-owner of Algona, and an ex-member of the legislature, who, though unacquainted with the details of publishing, is an experienced and far- seeing man of affairs to whom no business situation is too difficult to compre hend and whom no discouragements can dishearten. Mr. Cowles purchased a controlling interest November 3, 1903. The combination was a fortunate one in every respect. Gathering around them men of talent and ambition in their re spective fields, they have made the Register and Leader a great metropolitan daily with its news, editorial, financial and amusement departments maintained at an expense undreamt of even in the Nineties. Even in sporting news, unim portant as it may seem to many whose chief interest is in politics, or business, or general world-affairs, is said to cost its publishers more than the entire news service of the Register or Leader early in the Nineties ! The circulation of the Register and Leader combined in 191 1 ranked seventeenth among the journals published west of the Mississippi. Its circulation with that of its evening edition has now passed the 50,000 mark. The Register and Leader now receives full double-leased wire service of the Associated Press, the same as that received by St. Louis, St. Paul and Minneapolis. It has thirty-five people on its editorial staff, a corps of twenty reporters, and about three hundred paid correspondents in the field. It has a $38,000 press with capacity to print 72,000 forty-eight-page papers an hour. The Evening Tribune was founded by Charles D. Hellen as an East side journal with a mission to correct the erroneous judgments of the older journals on the West side, and to "stir up the animals generally." It was enterprising and for a time gave evidences of prosperity. When it became evident that he could not win in this field, the Tribune publisher was relieved to find Mr. Cowles will ing to take the paper off his hands, and so the Tribune in December, 1908', be came the property of the Register and Leader management. The Tribune has already made a place for itself in Des Moines, as a newspaper, as an exponent of advanced republican views and as a promoter of civic righteousness and bet terment. The after-association of J. H. Darling ("Ding"), the brilliant cartoon ist, with the editorial department of the paper, of William B. Southwell, formerly of the Burlington Hawkeye, in the business management, and of Leon Brown, long at the head of the city department, as managing editor, greatly strengthened Mr. Cowles in his reorganization of the Register and Leader and the Tribune. JAJIES S. CLARKSON RICHARD P. CLARKSON CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 557 The Daily Capital has so long been the exponent of that forceful and withal genial personality known round the globe as "Lafe" Young, that few, even among the old inhabitants clearly remember that there was a Daily Capital long before Lafayette Young entered upon that most difficult undertaking, the vitalizing of a nearly defunct newspaper. Disposing of his little daily in Atlantic, Iowa, in 1890, he removed to Des Moines to relieve Thomas J. Duffus of his losing news paper venture. No man could be better equipped for the undertaking. A practi cal printer, editor and publisher ; in '73, at the early age of twenty-five, a State senator, and twice re-elected to the senate, he possessed an intimate knowledge not only of every phase of journalism, but also of laws and legislative methods. And, too, he enjoyed a State- wide acquaintance with the prominent men of Iowa. For nearly a decade he struggled against obstacles which would have crushed an ordinary man. Then the tide turned in his favor. During all those years fate had taken his measure and found him prepared to turn defeat into a victory. In 1893 he was a prominent candidate for the republican nomination for governor. A year later he was elected State binder. He held the office six years. Legal complications, resulting from disputed questions of interpretation as to binder's charges — which finally were satisfactorily adjusted — caused Mr. Young some annoyance, but did not prevent him, with the efficient aid of his sons — by this time become his business associates — from making the Capital one of the best and most profitable newspapers in the West. Turning over to his son, Lafayette, Jr., the general management of the paper, Mr. Young gave a free hand to editorial work and a free rein to his long-cherished desire for travel. A war correspondent's experience in Cuba in '98, followed by a tour of the world, via the Philippine Islands, with Secretary Taft, and frequent trips to other utter most parts of the earth, have measurably widened his range of vision. His son Harry assists in the editorial management; Lafayette, Jr., has developed strong managerial ability and a degree of public spirit which has placed him at the head of the Greater Des Moines committee and given him a degree of influence rarely attained by a young man. There is now no evening daily in the entire middle West that surpasses the Capital as a newspaper. During the twenty-one years of the Young management the Capital's circulation has grown from a few hundred to over forty-five thousand, and its advertising patronage has proportionately in creased. In 1910 its bills for white paper alone amounted to about $50,000, and its postage bills aggregated $25,000. There are one hundred and ten names on its pay-roll. It has one $20,000 press, and another, a "Goss," which cost $38,000, with a capacity of seventy-two thousand forty-eight-page papers an hour — a striking contrast with the old thousand-an-hour press on which the paper was originally printed. On the morning of November 10, 1886, the Iowa State Register contained this announcement : There appeared yesterday in the city a new daily, named the News. It is a six-column evening sheet and says it will be independent in politics. It is printed by the News company, but does not give the names of the company, nor those of its editors. It starts out in a lively and cheerful way and seems glad that it has come. There's nothing like a city having daily papers enough and we are tickled at the news that two or three more are to be started yet this fall. The adventurous founders of the News were Charles S. Painter, George L. McCracken, and C. S. Wilson. They projected the enterprise in a little room on the third floor of the old Hawkeye building. "The founders were without capital and the entire equipment was purchased on faith."3 The little ten by twelve served as editorial room, composing room and press room. The paper was printed on a small Potter press, the speed limit of which was a thousand an hour — a rate of speed which would make impossible even a single four-page sheet of the pres- 3 From the 25th anniversary edition of the N'ews, Nov. 25, 1906. 558 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY ent large edition. The limitations under which the News operated at the outset is illustrated by the editorial apology accompanying the second edition of the first issue. The editor laments the circumstances that two of his compositors had "suddenly disappeared," compelling him to assist in setting type and making up the forms. Next fall the Nezvs removed to roomier quarters on Fourth street, south of the old Aborn house, occupied also by the Newspaper Union, the union doing the press work. A year later the News installed its own machinery. A few years later the plant was removed to the building north of the one it had originally occupied, and installed a Goss press, with a capacity of 8,000 an hour, also a stereotyping outfit. Seven years passed and another change became necessary. The News was installed in the building north of the old postoffice. Then came the Mergenthaler typesetting machine — the first used in the city — opening up still larger possi bilities. On May 11, 1895, the News became a penny paper — the first in the United States. Its friends viewed the change with alarm; but John J. Hamilton, then its business manager, "saw millions in it," and made thousands by it. In a year and a half the paper's circulation had gone up from a few thousand to over twenty-three thousand — of which seventeen thousand copies were sent outside the city. Eleven years after the adventurous reduction, the proprietors cele brated the paper's twenty-fifth anniversary with a circulation of more than forty thousand, and with a relative increase in advertising space and prices. Mr. Hamilton bought Mr. Wilson's interest in the spring of '83. First city editor, then managing editor, in '97 he became general manager, retaining that position until his retirement in 1905. In '86 his brother-in-law, the late Preston B. Durley, acquired Mr. Painter's interest, and became business manager, retain ing that position until his death in '97, when his widow, Mrs. Ella Hamilton Durley, long a popular contributor to the News, became associate editor. In 1895 E. A. Nye purchased the McCracken interest and was made manag ing editor. Later he became editor-in-chief. In 1902 the Clover Leaf League acquired the property, retaining Mr. Hamilton as manager and Mr. Nye as editor. This arrangement continued a year or so, when Mr. Hamilton retired. He was succeeded by W. L. Kellogg, who in turn was followed by Mel Uhl. Mr. Uhl severed his connection with the paper in 1908, when the Clover Leaf League retired from the Des Moines field and the News became a member of the Scripps-McRae League. With this change, E. A. Nye retired as editor and was succeeded by W. G. Hale, who now occupies that position. Mr. E. S. Fentress, manager of a Scripps-McRae paper in Oklahoma City, was chosen as manager. Despite the many changes from the time the Clover Leaf League acquired the Hamilton-Durley-Nye interests, until it was taken over by the Scripps-McRae League, the Nezvs enjoyed a steady growth both in circulation and advertising receipts. It is to-day one of the leading State papers, both in circulation and in fluence. The Nezvs has a very large clientele among the workingmen of Des Moines, and has proven itself an influential factor in municipal affairs. It is influ ential in municipal politics and is a vigorous supporter of labor interests. It is well housed in the Nezvs Arcade, corner of Seventh and Mulberry, and is amply equipped with fast presses and a small army of well-trained men and women. It is evident that the journalism of Des Moines has passed far beyond the "day of small things" and is in all respects metropolitan, having kept pace with the evolution of the city. Des Moines has become a world-recognized center in agricultural newspaper- dom. With its four agricultural periodicals having an enormous aggregate circulation — running well up toward a million — reaching into every portion of the United States and Canada, Des Moines has a standing in this field unsur passed by that of any city in America. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 561 The pioneer of modern agricultural journalism is the Iowa Homestead. It was founded by Mark Miller,4 who removed his plant by wagon from Racine, Wis., first to Dubuque and then to Des Moines. Mention has already been made of the Homestead in other years. In succession, H. W. Pettit, Frank Palmer, Gen. Duane Wilson, Dr. Sprague and J. M. Snyder became interested in the paper. In 1872 ex-Lieutenant Governor Gue bought the plant. Appointed pension agent that same year, he sold it back to Sprague and Wilson ; but the next year the two were glad to sell it back to him at a sacrifice. Its circulation had dropped to less than four hundred. A stock company was organized and during his ab sence a controlling interest, and with it the editorship, passed out of the hands of the Gues, father and son. In 1884, J. IT. Duffus sold the property to James M. Pierce. Mr. Pierce organized a company and entered upon his successful life-work. But the success was purchased at a fearful price in labor and anxiety and at a big price on the market — as preceding references have shown. The property originally bought by Mr. Pierce for $20;ooo was sold under the ham mer for $162,000 — a tribute to Mr. Pierce's management. With a circulation reaching far up among the thousands, and with a group of other farm and home papers also published by the company, the Homestead is one of the best paying properties in Des Moines. The real beginning of Wallaces' Farmer was February 15, 1895. It had been published prior to that time under the name of Farm and Dairy. The February, 1895, number carried the announcement that Henry Wallace had become its editor, and the name was changed to Wallaces' Farm and Dairy, the stock being owned by Henry Wallace, H. C. Wallace, and John P- Wallace. Gradually the name was changed — first to Wallaces' Farmer and Dairyman, then the words "and Dairyman" were made less conspicuous in the title and finally dropped altogether, and the name became simply Wallaces' Farmer. It was originally started at Ames, but was moved to Des Moines in January, 1896. In 1903 was built a commodious fire-proof building, the third of the kind in the city, at the corner of Eleventh and Walnut. Under the Wallaces, father and sons, the pub lication has been very prosperous, and its influence has won general recognition. Successful Farming was organized in May, 1902. From small beginnings it has grown until its monthly issues are measured by tons of paper. Its publisher, E. T. Meredith, has made his large success the measure of his public spirit and has come to be recognized as one of the leaders of the young business men who do things. Associated with him as advertising manager is T. W. LeQuatte, promi nent among the "ad. men" of the country. Mr. Meredith is erecting a home for his periodical, three floors above and two below ground, constructed of steel and concrete, at a cost of about $150,000 and to be newly equipped throughout. The Iowa State Register and Farmer, long the weekly issue of the State Register, and made famous by the ability and individuality of the senior Clark son, was purchased several years ago by Charles H. Clarke and has since been pushed on its own merits as a farm-and-home paper, and, in a field apparently full, has been remarkably successful. Besides the great dailies and the agricultural periodicals published in Des Moines are several other publications which exercise large influence in their re spective fields, chief of which are the following: The Iowa Posten, an independent republican weekly, published by the Scandia Printing company, with C. L. Oleson, editor and manager. The Posten has a large circulation among the Scandinavians' of the Northwest. The Iowa Staats Anzeiger is an independently democratic weekly printed in German. At its head is that veteran editor and publisher, Joseph Eiboeck, whose part in shaping public opinion dates back to 1874, when he became a resident of ' Father of George A. Miller, the pioneer printer and publisher, of Des Moines. 560 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Des Moines. Colonel Eiboeck has made a large contribution to Iowa by his "His tory of the Germans in Iowa," published in 1900. The Iowa Unionist weekly was established in 1899, D. H. Caldwell editor and manager. The Unionist is a representative of labor union views and opinions and takes much interest in municipal problems. The Northzvestern Banker, a high-grade monthly devoted to the interests of banks and bankers, is now well entered upon its seventeenth year. Its able editor and publisher is Emerson DePuy, whom the bankers of Iowa are glad to honor in their State gatherings. Plain Talk is an old established East side weekly, published by Bishard brothers, and paying much attention to municipal affairs, treating them independ ently and fearlessly. The People's Popular Monthly is a low-priced magazine published by A. M. Piper, and is successfully reaching out after a large circulation among "the plain people." Spirit of the West, with Phil S. Kell, the veteran authority on matters per taining to the turf, at its head, and issued by the Iowa Turf Publishing company, has a constituency all its own. The Underwriters' Review long since passed the danger-point in its career, and is now a flourishing semi-monthly, with A. H. Huling, editor, and F. L. Miner, manager. The Iowa Bystander is a republican weekly edited by J. L. Thompson, late of the archives department of Iowa. It is a mouth-piece for the negro republi cans of the city and State. There are several church and mutual insurance association papers and trade journals published in the city which evidently fulfil their mission. Des Moines has a beautifully and profusely illustrated monthly magazine, The Midwestern, devoted to literature and the development of the social and art side of city life. It first saw the light in September, 1906. From the first it has been edited by Mrs. George W. Ogilvie, and published by the Greater Des Moines Publishing company, G. W. Ogilvie, president. BOOK III. DES MOINES. PART XI. PROMINENT CLUBS, ETC. CHAPTER I. THE GRANT CLUE A CLUB WITH A HISTORY. The largest men's club in Iowa, and the best known and most influen tial political club between Chicago and Denver, refers its origin back to a meet ing of members of the Capital City republican club held in the Armory room * on the 14th day of December, 1885. The meeting was called for the purpose of forming a permanent organization, in a broad sense republican in principle, and at the same time social in character. The late W. D. Lucas acted as chair man. A committee on permanent organization reported the following officers who were unanimously chosen : President, Hoyt Sherman ; vice-presidents, H. L. Chaffee, W. L. Alexander, M. B. Christy, F. S. Whiting and George McNutt ; secretary, W. A. Jones; corresponding secretary, J. H. Dietrick; treasurer, W. D. Lucas; sergeant-at-arms, Amos Rowley. The name selected for the organi zation was the Grant club, in honor of General and President Grant.2 On the 28th day of June, 1886, the club was incorporated, with the follow ing named incorporators: H. L. Chaffee, Hoyt Sherman, William Connor, W. D. Lucas, J. S. Clarkson, C. F. Meek, John A. McCall, George F. Henry, J. G. Berryhill, George G. Wright and W. A. Jones. The object of the club as stated in the articles of incorporation was "the establishment and maintenance of a library of historical and political literature and a political lyceum, and to provide and furnish suitable rooms therefor." This peculiar language was thought to be "necessitated by the existing laws for the organization of corporations other than those for pecuniary profit." 3 The capital stock of the club was $5,000, and this was paid in full. The third story of a building on the south side of Walnut street between Sixth and Seventh was rented and furnished, the club members pledging their individual credit for the furnishings. In 1888 John C. Macy was elected president and E. R. Hutchins secretary. In the following spring, under the vigorous leadership of Col. C. H. Gatch, the club took an active part in municipal politics to the extent of pushing a move ment for redistricting the city with a view to secure cleaner politics and more satisfactory results generally. * In 1889 Robert Fullerton succeeded to the presidency, with W. A. Park vice-president and E. R. Hutchins secretary. In 1890 James H. Dietrick became president, H. M. Pickell vice-president and E. R. Hutchins secretary. In 1891 Colonel Gatch filled the presidential chair, with Dr. Lewis Schooler vice-president and C. F. Saylor secretary. In 1892 began the long and successful career of Col. E. G. Pratt as president 1 S13-1S. Walnut street. 1 t,2'^'16 or.'Si"al intent was to name the organization the Lincoln club, but an East Side club— long since disbanded — had preempted the name ; hence the choice made — a fortunate choice in view of the large number of Lincoln clubs in the country, and the growing fame 3erpreat Commander. See Des Moines News, April 26, 1903. Dr. E. R. Hutchins, in a sketch of the club printed in 1899. 563 564 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of the Grant club. John A. McCall was at the same time chosen vice-president and C. L. Dahlberg secretary. During Colonel Pratt's administration the fol lowing members served as vice-presidents : G. A. McCall, W. H. Baily, C. A. Dudley, T. A. Cheshire and Charles E. Gilcrest. Mr. Gilcrest is still vice-presi dent, having persistently refused the presidency on the retirement of President Pratt. In 1892 J. D. Whisenand was elected treasurer. He continued to serve in that capacity until 1898, when, declining a re-election, George E. Pearsall was chosen to succeed him. Mr. Pearsall still holds the office. During its early years the club held evening meetings, depending for oratory and discussion upon its own members, with an occasional address from a visiting statesman. The members who have served in the laborious position of secretary without compensation, since the retirement of Dr. Hutchins, are: C. F. Saylor, C. L. Dahlberg, Spenser S. Cole, William H. Brecht, Jr., G. E. McKinnon, Ernest S. Olmsted and Ira B. Thomas. During its twenty-seven years' existence the club directory has been remark ably free from changes. One by one "the old stand-bys" on the board have given way to a younger generation of members. The new constitution, adopted several years ago, excludes from holding office all members of city, county or state offices, the purpose being to prevent any possible use of the club as political leverage. The directory in 191 1 consisted of the following ex-officio members: George E. Henry, president ; W. D. Skinner, vice-president ; Ira B. Thomas, secretary; George E. Pearsall, treasurer; additional members, Henry S. Nollen, Charles A. Rawson, John P. Wallace, Walter St. John, Harley H. Stipp. The membership of the club continued to increase until, in 1895, the ques tion of a clubhouse took form. The closing of the doors of the old Des Moines club was the Grant club's opportunity. Mr. F. M. Hubbell, owner of the club building on Grand avenue, between Fourth and Fifth, offered an advantageous lease and on October 3, 1895, the club voted to accept the terms. With the change from a third-story hall to a commodious clubhouse began — in 1896 — a new era of prosperity for the Grant club. The membership rapidly increased, and the clubhouse soon became a popular social as well as political center. A cafe was opened in the building and ladies and out-of-town visitors were admitted to its privileges, when accompanied by members. Receptions, dancing parties and various public functions were one by one taken on. A billiard room was opened and a bowling alley was added afterward, greatly en hancing the popularity of the club. It should be noted in this connection that the twin evils of club life in cities, namely, gambling and intoxicating liquors, never had a place in the activities of the Grant club. In 1895 the management filed new articles of incorporation in which, to the objects of the club as named in the old constitution, was added the "promotion of the principles of the republican party." In a few years the once caplcious clubhouse, even after its dining-room had been enlarged, was deemed inadequate to accommodate its growing membership, and a carefully planned campaign was inaugurated for new and larger and more inviting quarters. The result was the acceptance of an offer made by Mr. Rich ard Rollins to erect a building on High street, between Sixth and Seventh. The architect's plans were, after some modification, accepted, the building was erected in the fall of 1908 and completed during the winter of 1909, and on the first day of the following March the club moved in. On the 17th the new clubhouse was formally opened. The capacious building, beautifully decorated and elegantly furnished, its walls hung with wreaths, flowers and portraits of distinguished American generals and statesmen, and prominent members of the club, was ablaze with light, and its reception rooms were thronged with the leading ladies and gentlemen of the city and visiting statesmen and their wives. The large cafe was a brilliant scene, having been given over to dancing. The officers of CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 565 the club and their ladies, headed by President and Mrs. Henry, received the guests, some five hundred in number. A congratulatory letter from Gen. Fred erick D. Grant was read by the president. The resignation of Colonel Pratt, already referred to, was necessitated by the colonel's forthcoming removal from the city. It was an event deeply deplored by every member of the club. In April, 1903, a reception was given the retir ing president and his wife, at which Mr. McCall, on behalf of the club, pre sented Colonel and Mrs. Pratt with an elegant chest of silver. Mr. C. E. Gilcrest reluctantly assumed the presidency for the remainder of Colonel Pratt's term, and on November 19, 1903, began the long and popular presidency of Hon. George F. Henry, continuing until the present time, and likely to continue as long as Mr. Henry is willing to serve the club. The death of Major Hoyt Sherman January 25, 1904, was a severe blow to the club, which the major had helped originate and develop, and in which his wise counsel was frequently sought and generously given. The most notable feature of the club's history has barely been mentioned as yet. From first to last, the meetings have been marked by a series of papers, addresses, speeches and discussions which of themselves have been a pleasure to all, and a liberal education to the young men who constitute a large majority of the club's membership. There is scarcely a phase of the political life of our time which has not been presented at the Grant club meetings, from first to last. Many of the foremost American statesmen, from Alexander Hamilton down to William McKinley, have been made the subject of exhaustive analytical and philosophical treatment. The defects in former methods of administering the affairs of the city of Des Moines, and of American cities generally, had been pointed out long before the campaign for municipal reform which resulted in the now famous Des Moines plan of city government. To illustrate the wide range of topics considered in regular meetings of the club, let us group a number of titles to papers and addresses read by members during the more recent years, in which the regular meetings have taken on the form of dinners — with after- dinner addresses and speeches. The local situation has from time to time been variously considered under such titles as "Municipal Reform," "Should a City Government be Conducted Strictly as a Business Corporation?" "How Can Municipal Reform be Prac tically Effected?" "Civic Pride," "A More Beautiful City." Politics, free from partisanship, has been treated in a broad way in the con sideration of such themes as these: "What Ought the American People Do to Enlarge their Commercial Relations with the South American States?" "The Venezuelan Question," "Our Political Leadership in the Western Hemisphere," "Our Duty to Cuba," "Our Monetary System," "Constitutional Law," "Im perialism," "The Isthmian Canal," "The Effect of the Joseph Chamberlain Tar iff on the United States," "Lawmaking and the People" — with special reference to Roosevelt, "Restoration of Credit," "James G. Blaine and the Policy of Ex pansion," the "Origin of the Republican Party," "Corporate Regulation," "The Constitution in its Relation to Present Conditions." Among the state questions considered are the following: "What Should be Iowa's Attitude on Finance?" "The Mulct Law," "Prohibition and Local Op tion," "The State Deficit," "The Political History of Iowa." Educational, literary and historical themes have also been presented, among which is a paper by President Main of Grinnell college, on "College Ideals and Business Life," another by President Storms of the state college at Ames, on "An Englishman's Estimate of Hamilton," and still another by President Nollen of Lake Forest university, on "William II and the Germany of Today ;" "Eng land at the Time of the American Revolution," by E. E. Clark, of Des Moines, and "American Interests in the Far East," by Prof. W. C. Wilcox, of the state university. There remain as yet unmentioned the red-letter days of the club, most of 566 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY them associated with the annual celebration of the birthday of General Grant. Many of the great orators and statesmen of America have graced these occa sions. All that oratory can do to fire the soul with love of country, and loving regard for the greatest general in history, has been done on these occasions. As far back as April 27, 1889, Russell A. Alger and John M. Thurston were the orators of the day. On October 5, 1894, Hon. William McKinley came to the club from a polit ical meeting in the old auditorium and addressed the members in eloquent tribute to Grant and his citizen soldiery. It so happened that the Army of the Tennes see had on the previous day concluded its annual meeting at Council Bluffs, and on their way eastward Gen. G. M. Dodge, Col. Fred D. Grant, Gen. O. O. How ard, General Swayne, General Sherman's two sons, and Hugh, son of General Belknap, became the guests of the club. The presence of these distinguished men, with that of the prospective president of the United States; the rare ora tory of McKinley, supplemented by the exceedingly interesting remarks of the distinguished survivors of a great army, and the honored sons of the two great est soldiers of the Union army, well supplemented by the eloquence of Iowa's favorite sons, Congressmen Henderson, Hull and Dolliver, Editor Young of the Capital, Governor Jackson, Charles E. Blythe of the Republican State Cen tral committee, altogether make the fifth day of October, 1894, the day of days in Grant club history. On Grant's birthday, 1905, Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, of Illinois, was the guest of honor, giving the club his views at length on the tariff, and, incidentally, giving frequent exhibitions of his famous windmill gesture ! For the three following years the oratory at the annual banquet was liber ally supplied by local speakers. The anniversary in 1899 is likely to remain in the traditions of the club as the preeminent red-letter day — in so far as a single oration could make it so — the event being the famous eulogy of General Grant, delivered by Hon. Henry D. Estabrook, of Omaha, now of Chicago. The annual banquet of 1900 brought to the club the rare eloquence of Hon. Luther Laflin Mills, followed by a historical address on "The Mississippi Val ley, the Cradle of the American Race," by Hon. Frank O. Lowden, both speak ers from Chicago. Iowa's brilliant orator, the late Jonathan P. Dolliver, was the principal speaker at a ratification meeting held June 28, of the same year. At another political meeting held September 26, the record of attendance was broken. The orator of the occasion was Hon. Dudley Foulke, of Indiana. Lincoln's birthdav was celebrated in 1901, with a memorable address by Hon. John L. Griffiths, of Indianapolis. Grant's birthday that year was cele brated with a brilliant oration by Hon. Albert J. Beveridge, of Indiana, on "The American Situation." The young senator was given an enthusiastic ovation. On May 23, 1901, the club gave Hon. Edwin H. Conger, late minister to China, a hearty welcome home, after having escaped the perils of the Boxer siege of the legations. His modest recital of the part he had taken in the lead ership of the defense thrilled every hearer. September 19 of that year the club participated in memorial exercises in honor of the late William McKinley. The sixteenth annual banquet in 1902 was celebrated by an all too brief eulogy of Grant, from Hon. Robert G. Cousins, who was made world-famous by his speech in congress following the sinking of the Maine. He was fol lowed by Lion. Hugh Gordon Miller, of Virginia, the son of a confederate officer, on "The Old and the New Flag," his florid oratory in striking contrast with the evident reserves of strength in the eloquent Iowan. A series of notable papers followed, on famous American statesmen, in which Judges Deemer and McClain, of the supreme court, and other prominent lowans did themselves and the club rare credit. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 567 The year 1907 included notable evenings, among them one on which Hon. Charles Adams Young of Kansas City aroused the members to their duty as citizens of Des Moines; and another, addressed by Lieut-Governor George W. Clarke, on "Public Office a Public Trust." In the fall of 1904 the club gave a brilliant reception in the old clubhouse to Colonel Thomas and his brother officers of the Eleventh U. S. Cavalry, Fort Des Moines, and early in 1910 a reception in the new clubhouse was given Colonel Rogers and his associate officers of the Sixth Cavalry. Each of these functions was hospitably returned by the officers of the little city of soldiers on the heights to the south of Des Moines. At various times through the years, the Grant club has given notable recep tions, respectively, to Senator Allison, Governor Jackson, Governor Drake, Sec retary Wilson, President MacLean of the Iowa State university, Oscar Diegnan, Iowa's hero of the Merrimac crew at Santiago; Secretary Shaw, Congressman Hull and Senator Cummins. At the Cummins reception, September 14, '09, the question of a larger navy was referred to the club. On January 26, '10, the club considered the question, and notwithstanding the eloquent plea of Judge Carr for more ships, the members present voted in the negative on the proposi tion. Through the kindness of relatives and friends, the club has accumulated a good-sized collection of letters, pictures and other mementoes of General Grant. The walls of the new clubrooms are adorned with fine steel engravings of American statesmen and portraits of prominent members, including an oil por trait of Colonel Pratt and a large photograph of Major Hoyt Sherman. It only remains to be told that the club, begotten of a single idea in the minds of a few prominent republicans and public-spirited citizens, away back in 1885, has grown with the growth of the city until its list of membership in 191 1 in cluded five hundred resident and two hundred and fifty non-resident members, every one highly prizing the advantages of membership ; its cafe and spacious reception rooms perhaps the most frequented meeting-place of the prominent business and professional men of Des Moines and their out-of-town friends. The Prairie Club. In the spring of 1890 a number of representative citizens of Des Moines met in the law office of Cummins & Wright to organize a club to their liking, — a happy combination of the literary and the social — more literary than social, and with a wholesome mixture of the sociological. The first roll-call found the following-named gentlemen present : Rev. Dr. H. O. Breeden, now of Denver ; Fred W. Lehman, now solicitor general of the United States ; A. B. Cummins, now senior senator from Iowa ; Rev. J. F. Nugent, still pastor of the Church of the Visitation, Des Moines, and since '97, become a lecturer of national reputa tion ; Judge Charles A. Bishop, since deceased ; Judge William A. Spurrier, Adel- bert Jones, L. B. Abdill, since deceased; Carroll Wright, recently deceased; Rabbi I. Mueller ; Rev. Dr. A. L. Frisbie ; B. O. Aylesworth, of Drake university ; Samuel Watson; A. H. Ames, Woods Hutchinson, since become famous as an author; Thomas C. Dawson, famous in diplomatic circles; William Beardshear, late president of the State college at Ames ; Henry Stivers, of the Des Moines Leader; J. C. Cummins, secretary of the Equitable Life of Iowa; W. W. Fink, who has since won a name as a poet ; and Rev. George C. Henry, now of Belle- fonte, Pa. Of these, there now remains not one whose membership has been continuous for the quarter-century of the club's existence. Froni time to time, burning questions have threatened the club's life; but the organization safely passed the heated terms. There were times when ex tremely technical papers threatened the death of the club through general lack of interest ; but the vigorous after-discussion supplied the interest lacking in the papers. Then, too, there came a period of unpreparedness when some of the 568 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY club's best members refused to give their evenings to hearing papers hastily thrown together, evincing little or no thought. But the club withstood this test also, substituting new members for the indifferent ones. For a time the club met at the homes of members and many pleasant memories are associated with these meetings. But the "clubbable" men of its membership, in one respect at least, like Johnson, Goldsmith, Reynolds and the rest, had a natural fondness for the democratic associations of. the tavern; and so, in time, the club drifted back to the Savery hotel, where the meetings have ever since been held. For years the meetings were held in the evening and without other than intellectual refreshment; but one evening in 1897, some one proposed the meet ings be held at 6:30, accompanied by a substantial dinner. It was a happy thought. Instead of going home from the day's work, the members come directly to the dinner, and are given ample time for rest and refreshment and more time than before for the paper and the discussion. The membership of the club is limited to thirty, and instead of soliciting members, names are first offered, then considered in secret committee and then voted on. It often happens that a name remains for months, or even years, on the waiting list. The Prairie club is now one of the oldest clubs in the city, and for a quarter of a century it has not materially modified its general purpose. In the selection of members, its aim is to choose men of representative character in the learned professions and in business, men whose mental activities are not confined to the narrow range of any individual occupation. In its time the club has entertained many guests. On January 6, '91, Henry Watterson was the honored guest. Later in the Nineties the famous East Indian lecturers, Vivekananda, Negarkar and Dharmapala were separately entertained. George W. Cable was a charming guest January 24, '98, followed by a literary evening of rare excellence. Of the Howells evening in '99, mention has else where been made. Edward Austin Clapp, the Shakespearean scholar, Dr. Wines, the famous statistician, and many others, have come within the range of the club's genial hospitality. A recent world-famous visitor was Sir Horace Plunkett, of Ireland, who at the time was the guest of his friend, Henry Wallace. The club has a custom of holding an open meeting at least once a -year, to which the members' wives and friends are invited. There have been a few dull moments at some of these meetings, but in the main they have abounded in bright sayings and happy repartee. The first president of the Prairie club was F. W. Lehman — i890-'9i. The succession is as follows : H. O. Breeden, whose term closed in 1891 ; A. B. Cummins, Woods Hutchinson, Carroll Wright, J. C. Cummins, E. E. Clark, Johnson Brigham, L. G. Kinne, George H. Carr, W. W. Witmer, George F. Henry, H. S. Nollen, James C. Hume, J. E. Cathell, F. I. Herriott, Henry Wal lace, C. A. Dudley, J. B. Weaver, Jr., G. S. Robinson, H. H. Stipp, Harvey Ingham, and W. E. Comfort. In addition to those already named, the following complete the present mem bership : H. E. Deemer, A. R. Amos, Emlin McClain, Gardner Cowles, Jesse A. Miller, W. O. Riddell, James C. Davis, Jansen Haines, W. D. Evans, James G. Berryhill, Lewis Worthington Smith, James R. Hanna, Henry C. Wallace, J. F. Jamieson, Warren Garst, J. P. Burling, Robert Fullerton and Everett Dean Martin. "The Octogenarians." The Iowa Octogenarian association was organized in Des Moines and by Des Moines men. All its meetings are held in Des Moines. Its first meeting was at the Savery hotel, October 26, 189 1. Those present were: P. M. Casady, Barlow Granger, M. N. Miles, Joseph Rogg, C. Brazelton, R. A. Powell, H. P. lohnston, R. G. English, R. V. Marshall, Samuel Noel, H. N. Woods, C. B. Reinking, L. G. Coughlin, Elijah Mahin, D. Gerberich and D. M. Fox. Of PAVILION Wavelaiul Golf Links ELKS' CLUB OLD GRANT CLUB GOLF LINKS CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 569 these well known pioneers only a few are now living. One by one the members have passed on, and newly eligible members have taken their places. On the 26th day of October, 191 1, the society held its annual banquet with J. M. Orvis in the chair, with about forty in attendance. Samuel Green is now president and John L. Crawford has long been the indefatigable secretary of the association. The Des Moines Pioneer Club. Ever since January 1, 1894, the Des Moines Pioneer club has held annual meetings. That was a notable gathering at the Kirkwood in '94. The hosts on that occasion were Judges Casady and Wright. Of the number present three had served in the house and four in the senate of Iowa. All except three had been admitted to the bar and most of them confessed to having, resorted more or less to other expedients for raising revenue for the support of their families! Following is a list of those present, with the year on which each one came to Iowa : George G. Wright, 1843 J Thomas Mitchell, 1840 ; E. H. Conger, 1865; Barlow Granger, 1848; Ed. Wright, 1852; G. M. Hippee, 1854; J. B. Stewart, 1835; E. R. Clapp, 1840; Ira Cook, 1837; J. C. Savery, 1853; P. M. Casady, 1846; Hoyt Sherman, 1848; A. Y. Hull, 1849; C. H. Gatch, 1865. A year later, the pioneers were the guests of J. C. Savery at the Savery hotel. The dinner was an elaborate affair. The center-piece was a pastry log- cabin. The host sat at one end of the long table, and Judge Wright at the other, and between the two there was an abundant flow of soul. Among the new names in the list of guests were: C. P. Holmes, W. E. Brown, Joseph Kuhn, L. Harbach, Martin Tuttle, S. O. Robertson, Conrad Youngerman, W. C. Smith, J. A. T. Hull, N. M. Hubbard, W. W. Phillips, R. S. Finkbine, James Callanan, J. J. Towne, W. O. Curtiss, J. M. Griffiths, F. C. McCartney and L. H. Bush. The after-dinner speeches were informal, interspersed with many a touch of humor. At the close of the feast, it was proposed that the annual dinner which a few had for several years been in the habit of holding on New Year's day, be developed into an "organized appetite," and so the Des Moines Pioneer club was formed. J. C. Savery was chosen president, and L. H. Bush, secretary and treasurer. The modest purpose of the organization is to hold an annual dinner and to have a good reminiscent time, and the club has been eminently successful in these respects. All present were constituted charter members. Eligiblity to membership was made to depend upon residence in Des Moines since October 19, 1857, residence in the State for forty-five years, and continuously for twenty-five years. The third annual dinner of the club was saddened by the then recent death of Judge Wright, the life and soul of every festive occasion. Major Sherman read an appreciative memorial on the death of his friend. Mr. Savery read a paper on Col. Edward F. Hooker, of the old stage-coach days, who also had passed away since the last meeting. Among the new names in the list of Mr. Savery's guests were C. C. Nourse, Thomas Hatton and Charles Sherman. The club has held annual dinners ever since. These reunions have been saddened by many deaths, and cheered by many newly eligible members, not a few of them native sons of Iowa pioneers. The Iowa Press and Authors' Club. The Iowa Press and Authors' club was organized originally as a press club, in 1896, by women of Des Moines who were either regularly engaged in jour nalism or occasional contributors to the press. Mrs. F. W. Weitz, who, before her marriage, was on the staff of the Mail and Times, was its first president. The presidents of the club since 1897 have been : Mrs. Henry Wallace, Mrs. Ella Hamilton Durley, Miss Jessie Lee Wilcox, Mrs. G. W. Ogilvie, Mrs. Nancy Pike Howard, Miss Emilie Blackmore Stapp, Mrs. D. H. Reichard, Mrs. Belle V Drake, Mrs. C. H. Clarke, Mrs. Addie B. Billington, Miss Alice S. Tyler, Mrs. James G. Berryhill, Mrs. Ella Hamilton Durley and Mrs. H. B. Hawley. Associated with Mrs. Hawley, the new president, are Mrs. Sarah Wharton Moore, secretary, and Miss Margaret W. Brown, treasurer. The club's active and resident members are thirty-three in number. A few 570 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY years ago, the purpose of the club was so far enlarged as to include resident authors, also associate members who reside in other parts of Iowa, and honorary members who reside outside the state of Iowa, — these three additional without regard to sex. The annual and special banquets given by the Press and Authors' club are prime social events. Among the club's specially honored guests have been numbered John Kendrick Bangs, Richard Burton, Kate Upson Clark and Randall Parrish. The eighth annual meeting in November, 1910, was held at the Golf and Country club with Hamlin Garland as the guest of honor. The 191 1 event, in November, was made memorable by the presence of Miss Alice French the "Octave Thanet" of the literary world. "The Hyperion." There are many evidences of the results of "the Des Moines spirit," but none more striking than the success of the Hyperion club — a monument to- the energy of Des Moines' young business men. The club was organized January 25, 1900. W. C. Cavanagh was elected president; A. T. Hale, vice president; George W. Fowler, secretary ; and R. W. Beeks, treasurer. The following, with the officers, composed the first board of directors : C. H. Casebeer, E. Paul Jones and 0. H. Thomas. The object of the club was "to give entertainments and parties for the mutual enjoyment of its members." In 1904 the question of organizing an athletic club was talked of, and the Hyperion accordingly increased its mem bership with one hundred new members. Three acres of ground adjoining Waveiand park were purchased, and a clubhouse was built at an expenditure of about $7,000. In a year or two the new quarters proved inadequate. A tract of ground on the interurban line, north of the city, and on the Beaver road, was promptly purchased. The name was changed to the "Hyperion Field Club." The limit of membership was raised to three hundred. Plans were drawn for a new and beautiful clubhouse. The reorganized Hyperion now has one of the finest clubhouses in the Middle West, located on its own grounds comprising two hundred and twenty acres, overlooking the Beaver valley. It represents an investment of over $50,000. The present name of the club is the "Hyperion Field and Motor Club." Golf, automobiling, tennis and archery are included in its range of activities, with ample provision for shooting, billiards, etc. The present officers of the club are: President, Ralph P. Bolton; vice president, Ralph H. Plumb; secretary, John Kingston; treasurer, G. E. Mc Kinnon ; directors, James G. Berryhill, Jr., Jansen Haines, R. F. McAdoo, James B. Green and Frank J. Koch. The Commercial Club. The Commercial exchange, which in its day performed an important part in the awakening of Des Moines to its opportunities, was organized January 24, 1888. The first directors were: L. Harbach, Theodore F. Gatchel, Jefferson S. Polk, Tacitus Hussey, N. S. McDonnell, James Watt, J. D. Seeberger, W. W. Witmer, R. T. Wellslager, J. E. Clarey, Norman Lichty, W. B. Bentley, Gus Smith, and Herman Younker. L. Harbach was president, with Theodore Gatchel and Jefferson Polk, vice presidents and Tacitus Hussey, treasurer. The name was changed from Commercial exchange to Commercial club by articles filed m 1902. The present officers are: E. T. Meredith, president; H. H. Stipp and Len Harbach, vice presidents; L. E. Stevens, treasurer; Geis Botsford, secre tary. These, with the following, constitute the board of directors: D. F. Givens, H. H. Polk, Mack Olsen, Jerry B. Sullivan, B. S. Walker, Milton Gold man, Nate Frankel, James B. Green, Frank Camp, Walter St. John, B. F. Kauff man, W. B. Southwell, J. A. Getchell. The present membership is about 75°- The Commercial club of today is one of the most potent factors in the recent progress of Des Moines. Its members are behind every movement for efficiency in administration and for the development of opportunities for the city's ad vancement. uibj ti n jHHJkH - |:4^ DES MOINES CLUB HOUSE OF THE HYPERION FIELD AND MOTOR CLUB CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 571 The Greater Des Moines Committee. Of ' the several small organizations which are making the Des Moines of today a sure prophecy of the Greater Des Moines of tomorrow, foremost in influence and achievement is the Greater Des Moines committee. So many activities are directly traceable to this small body of trained business men that the public has come to look upon "the Boosters' club" — as the committee is fre quently called — as sure of success in its every undertaking. The committee was organized with a clearly defined purpose. Its platform is a model of direct statement : First. The establishment of a freight bureau. Second. The encouragement of steam and interurban railways. Third. The promotion and encouragement of existing and prospective fac tories through money and personal effort. Fourth. The encouragement and promotion of public institutions. Fifth. Influencing by all proper means the general public to appreciate their city and patronize home industries. Sixth. Compiling and publishing industrial and commercial statistics of the city. Seventh. Compiling and publishing matter showing the city's attractions, as parks, public buildings, colleges, the army post, etc. Eighth. The establishment of a news bureau to advertise the city abroad. Ninth. Procuring, so far as practicable without expense, the publication by the local press of facts and figures showing the growth, industries, interests and attractions of the city. Tenth. Seeing that strangers and visitors to the city are properly entertained. No one who has followed the trend of local events, can question the great value of the public service rendered by this organization. The Greater Des Moines committee has strikingly demonstrated the efficiency of thoroughly or ganized and well directed effort; and, too, the far-reaching significance of that great fact in the moral universe which the Wise Man put into the words, "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth, and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." The committee has in the main lived up to its self-imposed decalogue. Perhaps the most striking illustration of its public serv ice is to be seen in the working out of the first commandment in its decalogue. The work of the committee relating to the establishment of a freight bureau was promptly organized with E. G. Wylie in charge, and, under his manage ment, has been remarkably successful. It has had for its aim the destruction of artificial handicaps hampering, and in some instances even killing, manu facturing and commerce in Iowa cities. Some specific examples indicating the character of this work and its results are as follows : (i) The Southern states are the main source upon which, in recent years, Iowa has drawn its supplies of lumber. When the source of supply was the northern white-pine territory the freight rate into Des Moines and into Omaha upon that commodity was the same figure, and for a time there also existed a parity of freight rates from the South into the cities of Des Moines and Omaha ; but there were successive increases of the rates made to Des Moines without reciprocal increases to Omaha. In recent testimony it was shown that_ the Omaha yards could lay southern lumber down in Valley Junction with a freight- rate advantage equivalent to 34c per 1,000 feet, as against the ability of Des Moines to lay the same character of lumber down in this suburb. By persistent and well directed effort a realignment of rates has been secured so that _ on this southern lumber the rate to Des Moines now has been restored to a parity with the rates to Omaha, giving Des Moines the advantage of its geographical loca tion. It is indicative of the importance of such corrections to say that within three years the outbound shipments of Des Moines' manufactures from lumber have increased four- fold in amount. (2) Throughout the state of Iowa there was much animal waste that, in- 572 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY stead of being a source of wealth, was a menace to health. On the inauguration of freight-rate reform by the committee, attention was directed to the desirability of utilizing this offal, or semi-offal, in the manufacture of glue, but the freight rates did not permit the economical gathering together of this waste at a point where it could be utilized. The successful outcome of endeavors to overcome this obstacle resulted in the building and equipping of the plant of the Iowa Glue company which soon was turning into wealth much that had before been lost. (3) Repeated endeavors had been made to bring about the manufacture of Portland cement in Des Moines, but every endeavor had been abandoned owing to the existing intrastate freight rates and what were believed to be peculiarities of the Iowa law relating to freight rates. This subject, however, was taken in hand with much care and thoroughness and a solution worked out and approved by the proper State authorities, which enabled the building of the plant of the Iowa Portland Cement company in Des Moines. As originally promised it was to have a capacity of 2,500 barrels of Portland cement per day, but more recent plans contemplate at least doubling the capacity output. (4) Until recently commerce by railroad with the states east of Illinois was burdened by charges for the short hauls between the Mississippi river points and Des Moines, a service which between Keithsburg, 111., and Des Moines, for instance, is but 159 miles, — rates that in certain instances were as high as was charged on traffic having origin in St. Louis and destination in St. Paul or vice versa, — the transportation between those cities via the shortest route being 575 miles. A correction of these rates was earnestly contested by the railroad com panies, but these charges for the part of the service lying between Des Moines and the Mississippi river were eventually ordered materially reduced. Where under the new rates the transportation tax for this service is $1, under the old rates the business interests of Des Moines paid approximately $1.17. There have been many modifications material in amount in various other rates. These examples are cited as indicative of the results accomplished and the nature of the work in progress, and as suggestive of other gains — as in increased manufacturing, selling, and shipping, which may logically be expected to result from continued efforts in these directions. The financing of the Coliseum, with the speedy erection and furnishing of the building, was undertaken by this committee, and, when it had raised all the money possible by subscription, its members gave their individual obligations for the balance, — some $35,000. These do not measure, but rather illustrate the public spirit evinced by this committee. Whenever there is money to be raised by subscription for any purpose which will redound to the general good, whenever there is discoverable a wrong that needs resistence, the Greater Des Moines committee has a way of acting while many are getting ready to act. The officers of the Greater Des Moines committee are: President, Lafayette Young, Jr. ; vice president, F. C. Hubbell ; treasurer, T. P. Sharpnack ; secre tary, Ralph P. Bolton ; freight commissioner, E. G. Wylie. The one notable change in the officiary of the committee is the retirement of Lucius Wilson, the first secretary, who resigned early in 191 1 to enter upon similar duties in the larger field offered at Detroit. The East Des Moines Commercial Club. The East Des Moines Commercial club dates its birth from January, 1905. D. H. Kooker was then elected president ; Addison Parker, secretary ; and A. C. Miller, treasurer. These, with the following, constituted the first directory: J. A. McKinney, Charles S. Worth, R. P. Bolton, A. B. Elliott, C. B. Dockstader, Frank A. Mathis. From small beginnings the club's membership has grown to about three hundred. Its present officers are: H. F. Leibsle, president; L. A. Jester, secretary ; A. O. Hauge, treasurer ; additional directors, Charles Engleen, CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 573 George W. Richter, William Brereton, F. T. Van Liew, F. A. Mathis, S. Nesting, and William Donovan. At the outset the club avowed' its objects to be to build up the East side from the railroad to the river, to beautify the river front, to secure substantial and beautiful bridges and to do all else in its power to bring together in a closer bond of union the East and the West sides, thus building up a greater Des Moines. Its banquets and business meetings and its working committees have done much to stir East Des Moines to its duty and opportunities. The Golf and Country Club. The Golf and Country club of Des Moines was organized in October, 1897. The first officers were : President, N. T. Guernsey ; vice-president, G. I. Gilbert ; secretary, C. A. Cheshire ; treasurer, Frank P. Flynn ; directors, O. PI. Perkins, W. E. Statler, W. W. Witmer, W. E. Cless, Craig T. Wright, J. G. Berryhill, E. G. Pratt, F. C. Hubbell, Arthur Reynolds, Frederick Field, N. T. Guernsey and John R. Clarkson. The first links were on a forty-acre tract near Ingersoll park. The first clubhouse was a modest affair soon outgrown. Six years later a long lease was obtained on a beautiful hundred-acre tract west of the first tract, upon which a capacious and sightly clubhouse was erected, with hardwood finishings and mod ern equipment. The new clubhouse and the splendid golf links stretching far to the north and west gave added impetus to the membership, which rapidly in creased from seventeen to a membership of about two hundred and forty. This has since been materially increased. The following named gentlemen have suc ceeded Mr. Guernsey to the presidency: Frederick Field, George F. Henry, E. C. Finkbine, Sidney A. Foster, W. O. Finkbine, James G. Berryhill, Charles S. Denman, J. B. Weaver, Jr., D. W. Corley and J. W. Howell. The amusements of the club are not confined to golf. Its tennis court, east of the clubhouse, is one of the finest in the country and has been the scene of several brilliant tournaments. Archery has its devotees, some of whom evince marked efficiency. Bowling, baseball, trap-shooting and cards are also in the list of attractions. The golf links have drawn many to its tournaments and the golfers can point to many excellent scores made by its members and visitors. The clubhouse has from the first been the scene of many brilliant social gath erings, and scores of notable banquets have been held within its walls and on its capacious porches. The Saturday evening dinners have proved a popular feature, attracting hundreds who rarely give themselves time for outdoor amusements. The University Club. Several years ago a University club was organized in Des Moines, with club rooms, but little to attract its members, and in two or three years it suspended. In March, 1908, a second University Club of Des Moines was formed, chiefly through the efforts of Ward C. Henry, its present secretary. Avoiding the mis takes of its predecessors, this organization made no attempt to open club rooms, committed itself to no ambitious projects, made no effort to accumulate funds in the treasury. Recognizing a grain of truth in the cynical philosophy that man finds his warmest welcome at an inn, and a substantial fact in the experience of many of its members that a club finds its most inexpensive welcome at a hotel, the University club has confined its meetings to a series of informal dinners "every once in a while," as opportunity has offered for securing some distin guished educator as the speaker of the evening. The principal speakers thus far have been President George E. MacLean, of the State University of Iowa, Presi dent John H. T. Main, of Iowa College, Grinnell, Dean George H. Vincent, of the Chicago University, - since called to the presidency of the State Univer sity of Minnesota, President Harris, of Amherst College, Dean Wilcox, of the State University of Iowa, and President John Nollen, of Lake Forest Univer sity. These distinguished educators have in their turn considered a wide range of themes, social and educational, and every dinner has been an inspiration — and 574 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY that without resort to any artificial stimulant other than the regulation coffee and cigars. The club dinners have been held in the Chamberlain hotel, and the attend ance has been large, and representative of many of the colleges and universities of the country, of all the learned professions and of the several university, col lege and high school faculties of Des Moines, also of the leading corporations and commercial houses of the city. The total membership of the club is about one hundred and fifty. The Nezv Des Moines Club. During the summer of 1908 plans were laid for a social organization of lead ing business men, to be known as the Des Moines Club. The original idea was to erect a handsome and exclusive clubhouse with ample space for lawns and gar dens, and toward the accomplishment of this purpose a site was purchased at Fifth and Chestnut streets. This location was not approved by many of the members, as they considered it too far from the center of the business section of the city, for the club was not to be for millionaires but for business men. It was decided to secure a location suitable for a business block, a part of which could be leased for stores or offices. The first few months of 191 1 — nearly three years after the first plans were laid — were busy ones for the building committee, for then the contracts were let, and the construction was begun. The structure from a point of architecture and equipment will rank second to none in the State. The first two floors are given over to business purposes and leased for a period of ten years or longer. The third, fourth and fifth floors will be occupied by the club. The building occupies sixty-six feet on Eighth street and one hundred and thirty-two feet on Locust. The cost of the building is to be about $200,000. The luxurious fixtures, furnishings and decorations will cost nearly $50,000. The new Des Moines club, in beauty of design, elegance of appointment and excellence of cuisine, will be unsurpassed. The formal opening will probably be early in February, 1912. Charles Hewitt is president; F. C. Hubbell, vice-presi dent; C. H. Martin, treasurer, and John Evans, secretary. The building com mittee is N. Frankel, B. F. Kauffman and F. C. Hubbell. The house committee is: B.. F. Kauffman, Lafayette Young, Jr., and F. C. Hubbell. The trustees are: Charles Hewitt, F. C. Hubbell, C. H. Martin, N. T. Guernsey, Lafayette Young, Jr., A. R. Amos, D. W. Smouse, P. J. Mills, C. S. Hunter, C. A. Rawson, H. H. Polk and B. F. Kauffman. The Library Club. The Des Moines Library club was formed as a temporary convenience for the better entertainment of the State Library association which was to meet in Des Moines in October 12-14, 1909. The first meetings of the club were so helpful and enjoyable that all were agreed in that it should be made permanent. The presidents of the association have been three : Johnson Brigham, Ella M. Mc- Loney, and Helen M. Lee. The club has about thirty voting members and fif teen associate members. Its meetings have been, in the main, literary and social. The latest meeting, in October, 191 1, was a musicale at the home of J. G. Olmsted, president of the city library board. The Press Club. The Press Club of Des Moines was organized at a meeting held in the Savery hotel on fune 20, 1909. Regular quarters were soon established at 412 Locust street. The first officers of the club were : President, J. M. Pierce, of the Home stead ; vice presidents, Harvey Ingham, Register and Leader ; W. G. Hale, Daily Nezvs; Harold Young, Daily Capital; E. T. Meredith, Successful Farming; secre tary, C. C. Nye ; treasurer, W. H. Wiseman. From its inception the club has had a remarkable growth, and its present membership is more than two hundred. The present officers of the club are: President, J. M. Pierce; vice-presidents, CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 575 Harvey Ingham, W. G. Hale, Harold Young, E. T. Meredith, and C. C. Nye; secretary, Bert N. Mills; treasurer, George Gallarno. The Press club has de veloped strictly along social and literary lines, and has given many highly enjoy able entertainments for its membership as well as a number of interesting func tions to which the public has been invited. In August, 1909, the first annual frolic of the club was held at Ingersoll park. At that time a play was produced by the members called "An Hour at the City Hall," a good-natured satire on the then city officials. On New Year's eve, 1909, the club gave its first gridiron dinner, at which Senator A. B. Cummins and Congressman J. A. T. Hull were the guests of the club and the subjects of much harmless lampooning. The 191 1 gridiron was a rollicking take-off on the members of the thirty-fourth General Assembly, then in session, and nearly five hundred places were occupied at the tables. Dr. Frederick A. Cook, the Arctic explorer, was a guest of the club at a dinner in February, 191 1, after which he delivered his lecture, "The North Pole and After," at the Auditorium. The organization is now at home in com modious quarters in the Press club building at 712-714 Locust street. The Des Moines Admen's Club. In a city of State and national conventions — hundreds of them every year — it would hardly seem possible that the list of 191 1 could include a "first an nual." But on the 13th of February the first annual convention of the Iowa Associated Advertising clubs- — about three hundred members and guests — was called to order in the parlors of the Savery hotel, with delegates present from all parts of the State. The delegates were not simply the advertising men on the newspapers, but included all who believe in and operate legitimate publicity methods. The delegates were welcomed at a noon lunch by the Press club of Des Moines. Frank Armstrong acting as toastmaster ; Mayor Hanna, for the city; Lafe Young, Jr., for the Greater Des Moines committee; E. T. Meredith, for the Commercial club, and T. W. Le Quatte, for the local Admen's club, united in giving their guests a hearty welcome. S. C. Dobbs, president of the Associ ated Advertising Clubs of America, gratified the local boosters by assuring them that Des Moines "had more written about it in the last thirty days than had been written in the same time about all the cities of the United States and all the countries of the world combined !" The published list showed there were present representatives from not only the principal cities of Iowa, but also from New York, Boston, St. Louis and St. Joseph. The convention closed on the second day with a dinner given by the Des Moines Admen's club, with President Le- Quatte as toastmaster. Mr. Dobbs, the principal speaker, gave his views on "The Advertiser's Duty to the Public." D. N. Graves, of Boston, complimented Iowa on its enterprise in arranging to send a special train to Boston in the sum mer to attend the national convention of advertising men, adding: "It will be a privilege to have New England inoculated with the splendid spirit of the West." Many phases of publicity were presented in the convention and at the feasts. In this connection it may well be stated that for two years in succession the Des Moines Admen's club has held the Printer's Ink cup — a loving cup costing $500, awarded the club making the most practical use of its opportunities as an adver tising club. The Des Moines Real Estate Exchange. An organization of recent birth which is making itself felt is the Des Moines Real Estate Exchange. Its organizers were B. S. Walker, R. R. McCutchen, H. M. Porter, L. M. Mann, E. G. Mclntyre and Mack Olsen. Mr. Walker was its first president ; Mr. Mann, vice-president ; Mr. Mclntyre, secretary and treas urer, and Messrs. Porter, McCutchen and Olsen, directors. Its capital stock was fixed at $25,000. An avowed purpose of the exchange is the advancement and protection of the great real-estate interests of the city and vicinity, including not only those of real-estate brokers, but also those of owners, tenants and builders. 576 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Another purpose is to strengthen real-estate brokerage by promoting high stand ards of dealing and encouraging good-fellowship through cooperative work for common interests. The exchange would promote friendly and confidential rela tions with property owners by serving their interests in the development and sale of their property and in protecting them from loss through dishonest dealers and bad tenants. The inauguration of a smoke reform is attributable to the activities of the organization. Its president is at the head of a smoke abatement commission appointed by the mayor. The present officers of the exchange are : W. H. Harwood, president ; Frank L. Hall, vice-president, and Benjamin V. Standring, secretary and treasurer. The Des Moines Women's Club. On the 14th day of October, 1885, twenty-one women of intellectual and social prominence met in one of the homes of the city and organized the club which has since become one of the largest and most influential clubs in the general federation. Its first president was Dr. Margaret A. Cleaves. The or ganization came into being with a clearly defined mission, threefold in character, namely : 1. To establish an organized center of thought among women. 2. To create a nucleus for altruistic work. 3. To originate activities for mutual improvement. At the first monthly meeting thereafter, Mrs. Calista Halsey Patchin read a paper on art and literature, in which there was a forcible plea for an art gallery. Mrs. Patchin's dream long since came true. The first year closed with thirty- six members. Early in the second year Mrs. L. F. Andrews read a paper on education, which was published in Des Moines and Chicago and created much discussion. Committees were appointed to call the attention of the city school board to the need of facilities for instruction in the industrial arts. The creation of a depart ment of industrial arts soon followed. To one woman's initiative Des Moines owes the prestige of having been one of the first — if not the first — of the cities to introduce manual training — and with it the kindergarten — into the public school system. Mrs. Ella Hamilton Durley early proposed the motto which has ever since appeared upon the title page of the club's annual announcements: "Was man nicht bespricht bedenkt man nicht recht." 4 During the first five years of its existence the club met in twenty-eight dif ferent places. Finally, in September, 1890, it acquired the legal right to a home on the fifth floor of the Y. M. C. A. building. Now, with a home of their own, the club women began to plan for an art collection. The first gift received was from Mrs. E. H. Conger. An authors' carnival in the old Exposition building, managed by Mrs. I. L. Hillis, excited much interest, and added largely to the funds in the treasury. In 1892 the club, then composed of ninety-five members, joined the National Federation. A year later an offer of $1,500 from the Y. M. C. A. management tempted the club to relinquish its claim to the fifth floor, and the offer was ac cepted. In April, '93, invitations were issued to the women's clubs of Iowa, and thirty-two responded. The purpose of the meeting was effected. A State Federa tion was organized, with Mrs. James G. Berryhill as the federation's first presi dent. The next notable effort of the club was a production of the classical play, "Sappho," which put considerable money in the treasury, as the basis of an art fund. In June of that year the club sent to the Columbian Exposition at Chicago an exhibit of literary productions, photographs, club calendars, etc. In 1894 the club had the honor of entertaining Julia Ward Howe, then sev- 4 Freely translated, "Whatever is not thoroughly discussed is not thoroughly com prehended." UPS. L. F. ANDREWS Founder of the local society of the Daughters of the American Revolution A daughter of the Revolution in fact.— her father a soldier in the Revolutionary War L. F. ANDREWS Pioneer Printer and Publisher and Author of "Pioneers of Polk County" CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 577 enty-five years old. The presence and spoken words of this noble and gifted woman inspired the members with new zeal for service. Lorado Taft came next, with his contagious zeal for art. A bust of Diana, purchased in '95, and shipped from Rome, was a substantial addition to the meager art collection, then housed in the city library. Mrs. Frederick Field next presented the club with a copy of a Corot, painted for her in Paris. Next came a portrait of Sir Frederick Leighton, presented by Mrs. Henry Wallace. Before the year closed the club purchased four rare paintings. Then came the reception to Mrs. Henrotin, already described. The tenth anniversary was delightfully celebrated. During the year '95, the club purchased two marine views by David G. Gue, an Iowa artist, and "A Sum mer Afternoon," by Charles A. Cumming, of Des Moines. A water color by Graham came as a Christmas gift. One day in May, through the liberality of the street railway management, the women took possession of the street cars of the city and the fares they received enabled the club to present the sum of $1,000 to the Home for the Aged. Exhibitions of etchings and of oil and water colors added greatly to the art enthusiasm of the members and the enjoyment of the community. In 1899 the state federation came back to Des Moines and was most hospitably received. Several additions were made to the art collection during the year. The last decade has been one of cumulative growth, activity and influence. Among the events which stand out in the history of the decade are the National Mothers' congress, in entertaining which the club took prominent part. From time to time thereafter came a series of art lectures by Professor Cumming and another course by Professor Reasor, several banquets, "the Kirmiss," and the Daily News day (which netted the club $2,000), the club chorus, the purchase of several valuable paintings, among them "Loading the Caravan," by Edwin Lord Weeks; "Entering the Harbor," by Henri Guinier; two additions to the club's Innes collection, etc. But the preeminent achievement of the decade was the acquisition of "the Hoyt Sherman place" as a permanent clubhouse. Mrs. Mitchell during her presidency interested the board of park commissioners in the enterprise by which the city acquired the property by purchase and leased it to the Women's club for ninety-nine years, the club to maintain the home as a clubhouse and art gallery for its own uses and three days in the week for the enjoyment of the public; the club at once to erect a wing as a temporary art gallery and in the course of ten years to erect on the premises a permanent art gallery, to be open to the public at least three days every week. Ever since 1908 the club has had the use and enjoyment of this historic home. Its annex is both art room and auditorium, having a seating capacity of 300, which on several occasions has proved inadequate. It is the present purpose of the club, with the city council's consent, to enlarge the art gallery and auditorium rather than to build another art gallery, and steps have been taken to that desirable end. Since the presidency of Dr. Cleaves in 1885 the following ladies have pre sided over the club: Mrs. James Callanan, Mrs. Galusha Parsons, Mrs. Louis Ruttkay, Mrs. James H. Windsor, Mrs. Preston B. Durley, Mrs. James G. Berryhill, Mrs. E. R. Clapp, Mrs. Lowry W. Goode, Mrs. A. B. Cummins, Mrs. R. R. Peters, Mrs. D. H. Reichard, Mrs. W. W. Witmer, Mrs. T. M. Walker (two terms), Mrs. W. H. Baily, Mrs. B. F. Elbert (two terms), Mrs. J. C. Cummins, Miss Belle M. Gilcrest, Mrs. H. L. Carrell (to fill vacancy), Mrs. F. W. Mitchell (two terms), Mrs. A. E. Shipley, Mrs. G. D. Ellyson, Mrs. Ernest W. Brown and Mrs. W. O. Riddell. The "P. E. 0." Sisterhood. About five hundred women, from all parts of Iowa, appeared in Des Moines on the 7th of May, 1907, wearing badges on which appeared the cabalistic let ters "P. E. O." The occasion was the annual convention of the Grand Chap- Vcl. I— 37 578 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY ter of the P. E. O. Sisterhood, a secret fraternity of great popularity in the Middle West. The order had its origin in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1869. Its charter members were seven young women of Iowa Wesleyan university, Mount Pleasant. The order soon began to extend to other cities in Iowa and to other states, until finally it reached the Capital city where, on the 13th of April, 1888, was organized Chapter Q, with a charter membership of eleven. During the years which followed the chapter has been presided over by these well-known ladies of Des Moines : -Mrs. G. L. Godfrey, Mrs. G. W. Ogilvie, Mrs. Florence Ankeny Russell, Mrs. Mabel Lucas Locke, Mrs. A. E. Clark, Mrs. Frank Mason, Mrs. W. H. McHenry, Mrs. Walter Irish, Mrs. W. E. Ballard, Mrs. E. C. Spin ney, Miss Josephine Taylor, Miss Charlotte Rockwell, Mrs. George H. France, Mrs. Joseph Gardner, Mrs. John M. Callander, Mrs. Carrie T. Sales, Miss Nel lie Elliott, Miss Bertha D. Smith, Mrs. C. F. Irish, Mrs. Walter McHenry and Mrs. W. W. Littell. Its present membership is 194. Chapter V, P. E. O., was organized January 3, 1890, with seven members. Since then the chapter has steadily grown until in 191 1 it numbered 101. The chapter is active in educational and altruistic works. It has furnished a room in the Methodist hospital and has joined in the general work of' the P. E. 0. sisterhood in the educational fund for the assistance of young women in secur ing an education. The presidents of the chapter have been: Misses Georgia Warrick and Amanda Morey, Mrs. Hortense Reynolds, Miss Ella Goodrell, Mrs. Annie Wilkins, Miss Lillian Ayers, Mrs. Hattie Currie, Miss Flora Wright, Mesdames Florence Carpenter, Jessie Hollingsworth, Rose Garton, Mary Beyer, Alice Altoona and Evelyn O'Dea. In 1907 Mrs. Jessie Hollingsworth of Chapter V was president of the Iowa Grand Chapter of the sisterhood. The two chapters give the fraternity a strong following in Des Moines. While nobody is supposed to know the significance of "P. E. O.," the general trend of its programs and public meetings, and of its other activities, gives evidence of a serious purpose to train women to larger usefulness in education, in society and in civic affairs, and to larger views of woman's mission. "The Greeks." The Des Moines Women's Pan-Hellenic association was organized July, 1900, with the following officers : President, Miss Helene Nelson, Kappa Alpha Theta; vice-president, Mrs. E. D. Burbank, Gamma Phi Beta; secretary-treas urer, Mrs. John Beardsley, Kappa Kappa Gamma. Its first banquet was held at the Savery, January 1, 1901. The association is now officered as follows: President, Miss Sarah Loring, Kappa Kappa Gamma ; vice-president, Mrs. Mary H. Piper, Alpha Xi Delta; secretary, Mrs. Howard Gray, Gamma Phi Beta; treasurer, Mrs. F. E. V. Shore, Alpha Phi. The object of the association is to promote good fellowship among "Greeks." The Professional Women's League. An organization which from the first has taken high stand is the Professional Women's league, organized in 1900, with Rev. Mary A. Safford president. The club has held annual banquets of a high order, and has discussed many themes with a rare degree of thoroughness. Since 1900 the presidency has been filled by Marie Jenney-Howe, Grace Ballantyne, Lucy Busenbark-Harbach, Amelia Morton, Edith Gould-Fosnes, Adele Fuchs, Ella M. McLoney, Azuba Doty- King, Cordelia Kyle and Lenna Means. The present officers are Bertha D. Smith, president; Alice Marple and Sophie Hinzie-Scott, vice-presidents; Mary Rosemond, secretary; Alice Humphrey-Hatch, treasurer. Among the subjects which have been considered by the league are: "The Socializing of Municipal Government," "Parasitic Industries," "The Relations of the Emotions of Women to their Efficiency in Professional and Industrial Pursuits," and "What Con stitutes Rest?" MRS. ANNIE W1TTENMEVEI! CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 579 Women's Clubs Galore. Des Moines is rich in women's clubs. Besides those already mentioned are the following which are federated with the Iowa Federation of Women's clubs: The Chauncey DePew (organized in 1900), president, Mrs. A. E. Clark; secre tary, Mrs. Frank Horton. ¦ The Conversational club (1892), president, Mrs. Walter Brown; secretary, Mrs. Charles Cumming. Current Llistory (1903), president, Mrs. Griff Johnson ; secretary, Mrs. George Kraetsch. Highland Park Chautauqua (1910), president, Mrs. L. A. Blezek; secretary, Mrs. Crawford. Madeline de Scudery (1877), president, Mrs. L. F. Andrews; secretary, Mrs. Sophie Andrews. Monday (1879), president, Mrs. A. L. Smouse; secretary, Mrs. George Usry. North Side (1891), president, Mrs. Curtis Irish; secretary, Mrs. R. G. Durreth. Priscilla (1903), president, Mrs. M. McMichael; secretary, Mrs. Neufeld. Political Equality (1875), president, Mrs. Frank Shankland; secretary, Mrs. G. A. Fairley. Review (1892), president, Mrs. D. W. Finlay- son; secretary, Mrs. L. L. Casady. Seventeenth Street Conversational (1897), president, Mrs. Carrie Myers; secretary, Mrs. E. W. Woodruff. Thursday (1894), president, Mrs. Martha Judd; secretary, Mrs. Cora Shockley. Tourist (1892), president, Mrs. Charles Werts; secretary, Mrs. H. B. Lewis. Unity Circle (1900), president, Mrs. Jansen Haines; secretary, Mrs. J. M. Bowie. Wimodausis (1904), president, Mrs. E. S. Hunn; secretary, Mrs. William Agar. Women's Cooperative league (1911), president, Mrs. F. W. Dodson; secretary, Mrs. Henry H. Griffiths. Added to these and including in its delegate membership most of the local clubs in the state federation, is the Des Moines Federation of Women's clubs, organized in 1898. Its aggregate membership is 2,000. Its president is Mrs. 0. O. Roe; its secretary, Mrs. O. C. Riddle. This federation has become a powerful factor in the literary, art and civic life of the community. Its activi-. ties reach out in many directions, and its influence has been felt in many ways. Since its federation with the state organizations its presidents have been: Mes dames A. B. Shaw, Ella H. Durley, E. D. Samson, W. F. Mitchell, J. G. Berry hill, S. S. Still, 'A. E. Shipley (two terms), Homer Miller, W. O. Riddell, J. C. Grundy, O. O. Roe. CHAPTER II. PATRIOTIC ORDERS. Kinsman Post, No. y, G. A. R. Kinsman post, No. 7, named in honor of Col. W. H. Kinsman, of the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, was organized February 15, 1878, with fifteen charter members. Of these, only five are still living. C. W. Nelson was the first commander. The successive commanders since '78 have been: W. F. Con rad, W. W. Phillips, S. V. West, R. L. Chase, George H. Nichols, W. T. Wil kinson, J. A. T. Hull, A. W. Guthrie, P. C. Wilson, G. W. Beal, T. J. Doane, A. S. Carper, George C. Sims, V. P. Twombly, J. J. Moore, J. M. Ferree, F. F. Blyler, William Brown, John Shanley, J. H. Koons, Joseph Deemer, J. D. McGarrough, S. J. Fahnestock, A. S. Johnson, R. R. Meyers, C. H. Gross, G. A. Pease, Charles E. Stader, J. M. West, Milo Ward. Since the organization. 771 members have been enrolled, 169 of whom have held public positions. Many of the foremost men in the state are enrolled on its lists. Death has re moved 127. Others have removed to other localities. There are at present 175 members. The post has never failed to observe Memorial day. It has dispensed large sums in aid of comrades and their families. It has fostered patriotism by holding camp-fires and other open meetings and has participated in parades, and on Memorial day its members have addressed the children in the nublic schools. It was influential in support of appropriations for the soldiers' monu ment and for the soldiers' home and, later, for cottages about the home for the families of veteran soldiers. Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R. Crocker post was organized March 11, 1879, by Comrade F. Olmsted. Fol lowing is a list of the first officers of the post: Josiah Given, post commander; M. T. V. Bowman, senior vice; William Merrill, junior vice; George W. Bris tow, adjutant; D. R. Lucas, chaplain; G. P. Hanawalt, surgeon. The other charter members were: W. H. Sallada, H. C. Murphy, R. P. Clarkson, T. G. Orwig, J. W. Cheek, J. H. Long, C. S. Wilson, George E. Griffith, Godfrey Zelle, John S. Walker, W. L. Davis, W. L. Alexander, S. K. Clifford, M. K. McFadden, F. S. Whiting, Thomas Morgan, J. W. Witmer. Frequent allusions to Crocker post in the annals portion of this work attest the large part it has taken in keeping alive the memories of the devotion and sacrifices of those who were in the service of their country in the War of the Rebellion. The principal officers at present are : George A. Newman, assistant adjutant- general, G. A. R. ; Stephen C. Wilcox, post commander; J. B. Rabbitt, senior vice; C. S. Wilson, junior vice; W. H. Stiles, adjutant. The membership of the post since organization numbers 900. The present membership numbers 216, making it the largest post in the state of Iowa. The official records show that since organization Crocker post has never missed a meeting, a record well worthy of mention. The death list of members up to present date numbers I91- Kinsman Woman's Relief Corps. Kinsman Woman's Relief corps, No. 24, was organized February 12, 1885, 580 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 581 and is auxiliary to Kinsman post, No. 7. Meetings have been held every two weeks during these years. Since its organization 510 members have been en rolled, but of this number many have transferred, moved away, dropped out, and died, until at the present time the roll shows 180 members. Two state presidents have been elected from Kinsman corps: Mrs. Clara E. Nichols in 1891, and Mrs. Marie L. Basham in 1909. Several thousand dollars have been distributed by this corps for charity since its organization. The larger portion has been given in East and South Des Moines. The principal officers for 191 1 are: President, Mrs. Jennie Manbeck; senior vice-president, Mrs. Cyntha Cady; junior vice-president, Mrs. Evaline Rhodes; chaplain, Mrs. Phoebe Reddish; treasurer, Mrs. Nannie B. Howe; secretary, Mrs. Mary E. Snyder. The past presidents in good standing to January 1, 191 1, are: Nannie B. Howe, M. M. Phillips, Frances Myers, Jennie H. Trout, Amy C. Capron, Ten- nie Young, Lillian Deemer, Clemmie Carper, Mary E. Snyder, Marie L. Basham, Ida Selover, Lizzie Bishop, Maeme Eaton, Emma P. Williams, Alcena Markle, Anna J. Starks and Cora C. Eaton. Crocker Corps — Woman's Relief Corps. Crocker Corps No. 27, was organized March 26, 1885, at the home of the late Judge Josiah Given, with twenty-six charter members, as auxiliary to Crocker Post. Many of these charter members are still living. The object of this order is to aid and comfort in sickness and distress the Civil war veterans and their dependent ones; and well has Crocker Corps fulfilled its mission, having expended thousands of dollars and done much relief work during the past twenty-six years. It provides small silk flags to be placed upon the breasts of deceased soldiers. The sick and sorrowing are the recipients of flowers to cheer them in their distress and loneliness. It contributes annually to the Me morial University at Mason City; the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Davenport, and the Soldiers' Home at Marshalltown. It contributed to the altar furnishings of the "Sons of Veterans," Camp Kinsman No. 10. Not alone has it aided the Grand Army of the Republic, but in 1898, during the war with Spain, Crocker Corps sent to the front for field and hospital, large quantities of supplies, — flan nel bandages, sheets, night shirts, towels, handkerchiefs, etc., besides jellies, fruit, etc. Patriotic teachings have entered largely into its work under instruc tion from the department. Crocker Corps has presented many flags to the schools of Des Moines and twice in its history has it presented a large flag to the Y. W. C. A. It observes the birthday of Grant and McKinley, with appro priate exercises, and has exercises jointly with Crocker Post at the birthday anniversaries of Lincoln and Washington, also on the 14th of June, the birthday of the Flag. Crocker Corps assists Crocker Post in the exercises of Memorial day. It holds a unique bridge service for our sailor dead, and prepares wreaths and flowers to cover the graves of deceased veterans, and flags to mark their last resting place. The corps also holds memorial services for deceased sisters on the 14th of June. Crocker Corps has several times been honored by having departmental officers chosen from its membership. Department Presidents — Mrs. Clara E. Nichols, Mrs. Mira L. Parker. Department Jr. Vice President — Mrs. Mary J. Babcock. Department Treasurers — Mrs. Emily McCord, Mrs. Mira L. Parker. Department Chaplain — "Aunt Becky" Young. Department Secretary — Mrs. Sarah A. Windsor. Department Press Correspondents — Mesdames Mary B. Muffly. Sarah A. Windsor, Anna C. Van Hoesen, Mary E. Jones. This sketch would be incomplete without a tribute in memory to two of its deceased members, "Aunt Becky" Young, and Alice M. Cheek. Both these women were of sterling worth to Crocker Corps, and their influence for good was of untold value. "Aunt Becky" was a noted army nurse. In the three and more years of her mission of mercy during the fiercest struggle on record, she 582 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY was the heroine of many a battlefield, doing noble and valiant service, not alone in the hospitals, but at the very front of battle, out on the firing line or wherever there was work to do among the sick and wounded. She bound the bodies of men, both the blue and the gray, without thought of compensation. Many a boy sleeps in a Confederate grave whose eyes were closed by the gentle hand of "Aunt Becky." Alice M. Cheek was a sweet singer. She sang for the soldiers in time of the war when she was yet a little girl. Over fifty years of song- service for the soldiers is her record. Her voice was an inspiration. The memory of these beloved women will ever be revered in Crocker Corps. The present membership of Crocker Corps is 224 with Mrs. Eva M. Wilcox, president. Following are the presidents of Crocker Relief Corps since organi zation : Florence Sallada, Ellen S. Plumly, Ida E. Baker, Cecilia M. Hutchins, Mary B. Muffly, Elizabeth G. Shankland, Letta S. Hanger, Mary L. Scanlon, Mary A. Murphy, Sarah A. Windsor, Susan P. Walker, Mira L. Parker, Cota G. Lowry, Mary A. B. Leonard, Marie J. Bittinger, Emma Masser, Katherine B. Ridgway, Ella G. Herbert, Lucinda E. Drake, Alice M. Swanegan, Mary J. Babcock, May E. Jones, Anna C. Van Hoesen, Mary E. Bixby, Mary W. Hazard, Lillian Miskimen. The Loyal Legion — Commandery of Iowa. This order was instituted in Iowa, November 23, 1886. Its membership is composed of commissioned officers and honorably discharged officers of the United States army, navy and marine corps, regular and volunteer, and the eldest sons of such officers. Its objects are: To cherish the memories and associa tions of the war waged in defense of the unity and indivisibility of the republic; to strengthen the ties of fraternal fellowship and sympathy formed by compan- ionship-in-arms ; to advance the best interests of the soldiers and sailors of the United States, especially of those associated as companions of the order, and to extend all possible relief to their widows and children; also to foster the cultivation of military and naval science, enforce unqualified allegiance to the general government, protect the rights and liberties of American citizen ship, and maintain national honor, union and independence. The following officers became charter members of the Commandery of Iowa, viz : Major Hoyt Sherman, Lieut. Alonzo Van Ness Richards, Capt. Edward Reynolds Chase, Maj. Henry Leonard Swords, Col. David Bremner Henderson, Lieut.-Col. William P Hepburn, Maj. Joseph Lyman, Maj. Edwin Hurd Conger, Maj. William T. Clarke, Maj. William S. Robertson, Lieut. Moses Ayres Mc- Coid, Lieut. Adoniram J. Holmes, Capt. William Dennis Lucas, Maj. Eli Wil kins, Capt. Mortimer A. Higley, Capt. William B. Leach, Capt. Charles E. Put nam, Lieut. Henry Harrison Rood, Capt. Stephen B. Packard, Lieut.-Col. George A. Hannaford. Of these twenty, eleven have died; five have been transferred toother com- manderies, while Colonel Hepburn, Captain Putnam, Lieutenant Rood and Lieutenant-Colonel Hannaford are still on the active list. Altogether 424 have been admitted to membership. Of this number 214 are now on the roll. The members residing in Polk county are as follows : Senior members : Lieut. Samuel H. M. Byers, Capt. George S. Bacon, Capt. J. S. Clark, Chaplain A. L. Frisbie, Lieut. C. W. Fracker, Col. G. L. Godfrey, Col. J. M. Griffiths, Capt. E. D. Hadley, Lieut. Jacob Lichty, Capt. Henry C. Plumb, Maj. J. R. Prime, Lieut. J. P. Patrick, Maj. Daniel Robinson,1 Maj. -Surg. Lewis Schooler, Capt. Y P. Twomblv, Lieut. Byron C. Ward, Capt. C. L. Watrous, Maj. C. W. Boutin. Junior members : E. W. Allabach, DeForest Bowman, E. L. Bowen, C. S. Bradshaw, W. B. Brown, Ralph A. Clark, W. T. Clarke, D. G. Edmundson, M. L. Grimes. N. M. Hubbard, H. L. Hedrick, F. D. Jackson, F. E. Lyman, Jr., J. A. McCall, J. B. McGorrisk, P. J. Mills, J. H. Merrill, J. D. Wallingford, J. B. Weaver, jr., C. T. Wright, Chas. A. Watrous, Murdock Bannister. iRecently deceased. tyiiaA^^-^- i\jL CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 583 The officers of the Commandery of Iowa for the year commencing May 9, 191 1, are as follows: Commander, Capt. John S. Lothrop, Sioux City; senior vice commander, Lieut. Byron C. Ward, Des Moines ; junior vice commander, Lieut. Stephen Nelson Hinman, Belmond ; chancellor, Lieut. Charles W. Fracker, Des Moines; recorder, Capt. Elbridge D. ITadley, Des Moines; registrar, Capt. James M. Searles, Cedar Rapids; treasurer, Mr. Craig T. Wright, Des Moines; chaplain, Rev. Alvah L. Frisbie, Des Moines. Members of Council: Major Boutin, Major Schooler, Captain Clark, Lieu tenant Patrick, and Mr. W. T. Clarke, Des Moines. The Iowa Commandery has been devoted to the gathering of facts relative to the War of the Rebellion by procuring the preparation of papers coveringi the various expeditions and campaigns in which its members participated. A mass of war literature has thus been accumulated, of much interest and of great prospective value to the historian. Two volumes of these papers, called "War Sketches and Incidents," have been published and others will be pub lished. The commandery 's annual banquets in commemoration of the birthday of Lincoln have been attended by many notable commanders of the war. In later years addresses have been delivered by Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, Gen. Lewis A. Grant and others of high military rank. Abigail Adams Chapter, D. A. R. To the Abigail Adams Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution be longs the credit of initiating the movement commemorating the founding of Fort Des Moines. On the 14th of June, 1908, the chapter dedicated and pre sented to the city a granite monument, erected upon the site of the fort, near the junction of the Raccoon and the Des Moines. Set into the stone is a bronze tablet which bears the following inscription : Site of Old Fort Des Moines Established 1843 Evacuated 1846 Abigail Adams Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Assisted by Park Commissioners and Early Settlers of Des Moines Dedicated Iune 14, 1908. The monument is enclosed by a substantial iron fence, and is a permanent object ot interest to- citizens and strangers. The chapter was organized Aug. 17, 1893. Its principal officers are: Mrs. S. S. Still, regent ; Mrs. Frank Miner, vice regent ; Mrs. Corbin Dana, correspond ing secretary; Mrs. Harry Wallace, recording secretary; Mrs. Mary D. Ariethe, treasurer; and Mrs. Hal. Howell, historian. Its present membership in 180. Beacon Hill Chapter, D. A. R. A second chapter of this order, the Beacon Hill, was organized October 7, 1908. Its principal officers are: Mrs. C. B. Van Slyke, regent; Mrs. George A. Wells, vice regent; Mrs. Herbert Towner, registrar; Mrs. Charles Clarke, recording secretary ; Mrs. Charles H. Trisler, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Carl Weeks, treasurer; Mrs. F. I. McGraw, historian. Its present membership is 28. CHAPTER III. PROMINENT INSTITUTIONS. No institution for the betterment of the public has made a firmer place for itself in Des Moines than the Roadside settlement. This institution is part of a general movement which has had its best exemplification in the Hull house, Chicago. The first settlement house in Des Moines was opened in September, 1896, under the auspices of the Des Moines Union of King's Daughters, with Professor Taylor as its godfather. After several years, the King's Daughters turned the work over to the Roadside Settlement House association. The first "head resident" was Miss Clara Adams. At the time, her only assistant was a nurse in the day nursery. In 1901, Miss Adams resigned and was succeeded by Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Weeks, with Mr. and Mrs'. Charles Lynde and Mrs. Frances Lynde as residents. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks remained until September, 1903, when Mrs. Lucy Bitting took up the work. The coming of Miss Flora Dunlap, present head-resident, in September, 1904, was an auspicious event in the his tory of the settlement. Ever since Miss Dunlap, fresh from the inspiring ex periences in Hull house, took up the work in Des Moines, the growth and in fluence of the Roadside settlement has steadily increased, until now Miss Dunlap is a recognized power for good in Des Moines. Self-poised, well-educated in all the essentials, gifted in speech, genial in conversation and broadly democratic in her relations with all classes and conditions, she is admirably equipped for settlement work. In June, 1907, the settlement took possession of the new house at S. E. Seventh and Scott streets. Here the usual settlement classes are carried on, — sewing, cooking, dressmaking, carpentry, gymnasium, dramatic, singing and social clubs. Public baths and a public wash-house are maintained and largely used. A penny savings bank, an employment agency, a station of the public library, a milk station, a woman's club and children's gardens are features of the work. The neighborhood is English-speaking, but largely of German, Irish and Scandinavian ancestry, with small groups of newer immi grants. During the winter, about fifteen hundred people weekly use the house. The settlement's support is non-sectarian and by public subscription. The work undertaken by the Roadside settlement is general, but in order to secure best possible results, a degree of specialization has been developed as experiences have suggested and warranted. Its plans originally included a day nursery for the accommodation of mothers who have to go out to work, and yet are burdened with children too young to leave at home ; also mothers' socials, where working mothers may find restful relaxation, with music, conversation and informal talks. It operates boys' clubs and girls' clubs, with gymnasium, games, music, stories, etc. It is collecting a library for children. It conducts a sewing school, and a "Utility club" and opens its house to neighborhood social gatherings, clubs, etc. With every year the settlement functions become more numerous and compli cated. Its summer work is almost wholly confined to baths, a laundry, an em ployment agency, the day nursery, a milk station and a children's garden. In winter its gymnasium is a veritable social center for the youths and young men of South Des Moines. Many are the exciting games of basketball "pulled off in the Roadside gymnasium. Its dancing classes are an attractive feature of the winter work. Its sewing schools, cooking schools and kindergarten are well 584 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 585 attended. Its small library has been reinforced by the establishment of a branch of the City library in the building, with about 500 books and an attendant. The settlement has been used as a headquarters for the Visiting Nurses' association. It has cooperated with the Associated Charities, the Jewish Associated Charities and the Juvenile court. The officers of the association having charge of all these activities, represent all the leading churches in the city and those who do not affiliate with any church. Jew and Gentile, Catholic and Protestant, orthodox and liberal Chris tian — all unite in furthering the work of the Roadside settlement. The present management is, — Miss Flora Dunlap, head resident ; C. A. Rawson, president ; Mrs. Meyer Rosenfield, vice president ; Mrs. F. O. Green, secretary ; Miss Helen Witmer, treasurer. Members of board : Mesdames B. F. Elbert, R. J. Fleming, F. 0. Green, H. R. Howell, J. C. Hume, W. C. McArthur, R. B. Peters, Meyer Rosenfield, and Miss Helen Witmer. Messrs. D. J. Haines, Harvey Ingham, Morris Mandelbaum, S. A. Merrill, H. S. Nollen, A. M. Parker, C. A. Rawson, B. S. Walker. The Cumming School of Art. That was a great day for pictorial art — as distinct from handicraft — which marked the opening of a school of art in Des Moines. The event occurred in 1895. Prof. Charles A. Cumming, formerly of Cornell college, but more recently returned from an extended and successful art course in Paris, conceived the then audacious scheme of making Iowa's capital an art center. At first the encour agement was slight, but after years of struggle, the city government, recognizing his success as an artist and as an educator, turned over to Professor Cumming the capacious and well-lighted attic of the new city library building, the one con sideration being that he should grant six free scholarships yearly to deserving and promising students of art, resident in Des Moines. The Cumming School of Art has won its way to prominence, and of its hundred or more students annu ally enrolled, not a few have already won a sure foothold in the world of art. An art institute, with Professor Cumming at its head, is one of the promises of the Des Moines of to-morrow. Y. W. C. A. The Young Women's Christian Association was organized March 16, 1895, with Mrs. J. J. Hamilton, president, Dr. Frances Carothers, secretary, Mrs. J. M. Kneeland, treasurer. The first quarters were the rooms back of the old News office, corner of Fifth and Mulberry. Before the end of the first year the mem bership had reached 670. In October of the first year, a new home was found in the Redhead block, corner of Fourth and Locust streets. In 1909 it moved into its $90,000 building on the corner of Ninth and High streets. During the sixteen years since the organization, its growth has been marked. A General Secretary has oversight of the entire work, which comprises Religious Work, Extension, Physical training, Domestic Science, Domestic Art, Traveler's Aid and Educational classes. Two features of the association are the lunch room on the first floor and the dormitories on the third floor. The membership 's 1.335- Its officers are: Mrs. S. Baylor Keenan, president; Mrs. Charles A. Rawson, first vice president ; Miss S. Laura Ensign, secretary ; Mrs. James M. Cushman, treasurer. Its general secretary is Miss Harriette M. Shultz. Y. M. C. A. The Young Men's Christian association, soon to enter upon a new career of usefulness in Des Moines, is part of the history of the year 1868 and _of_ subse quent years. Its new $150,000 six-story and basement, fire-proof building, on Fourth and Chestnut, is rapidly nearing completion. The building includes a dormitory which will accommodate one hundred and twenty-five persons. The building and its furnishings together will represent an expenditure of nearly a 586 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY quarter-million dollars. Its first secretary was Daniel Sloan. Its present secre tary is J. H. Fellingham. Its present board of directors headed by J. G. Olmsted, who has long and faithfully served as the president, are A. M. Linn, S. A. Mer rill, A. G. Kenworthv, T. P. Bond, C. R. Chase, H. C. Harris, H. R. Howell F. L. Miner, A. M. Piper, Will E. Tone, J. P. Wallace, W. V. Willcox, H. C Hargrove, G. C. Carpenter, J. P. Montrose, and E. H. Jones. Its charter mem bers numbered eighty-four. The present membership is about twelve hundred. The association expects to occupy the new building in the spring of 1912. Capital City Commercial College. Among the institutions that are practically working out the problem of de veloping young men and women into useful members of the community none rank higher than "C. C. C. C," the Capital City Commercial college, an institu tion which was organized in a small way in 1885, and which has survived all the vicissitudes of new institutions and come out successful and with a future full of promise. The death of Professor Mehan, several years ago, placed the reins of management in Professor McCauley's hands ; and he in turn has passed them on to Prof. B. F. Williams, now president of the college. The 1910 enrollment in this institution was seven hundred and ninety-six. Business Women's Home. There is no more worthy institution in Des Moines than the Business Women's Home, supplying to business women the home life of which many of them are temporarily deprived. Several prominent women of Des Moines have given to this institution most generously of their time and means. Its officers are: President, Mrs. J. C. Cummins; vice presidents, Mrs. B. S. Schermerhorn and Mrs. T. A. Cheshire ; corresponding secretary, Mrs. A. L. Smouse ; recording secretary, Mrs. Frank J. Camp; treasurer, Mrs. W. W. Wheeler; auditor, Mrs. F. E. Marsh. Home for Friendless Children. The Des Moines Home for Friendless Children — 2018 Pligh street — is a local institution which appeals strongly to the sympathies of the public. Its benefac tions of themselves would make a history. The popularity of this charity may be measured by the tag-day benefit already noted, in which nearly three thousand dollars was the total of a single day's soliciting. Mrs. A. B. Cummins is presi dent of the association ; Mrs. E. H. Carter, secretary ; Mrs. Elizabeth E. Cook, superintendent. Anti-Tuberculosis League. The Anti-Tuberculosis League of Des Moines has done much already to re lieve local sufferers from the ravages of consumption, and its efficiency affords abundant promise for the future. Dr. E. Luther Stevens is its president, Rabbi Mannheimer its vice-president; Neal Jones, secretary, and Homer A. Miller, treasurer. The league has established a camp near the city in which patients in the earlier stages of the disease have made wonderful progress. The Home for the Aged. The several stages of progress made by the Home for the Aged and Infirm have been chronicled in these pages. The history of the home is one of labor and sacrifice and of ultimate success. The home, on University avenue, between Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth streets, is a monument to womanly courage and devotion. Judge Callanan, Mr. Slimmer, of Waverly, and others are en titled to much praise for their generosity ; but the women who took up this work gave not from their abundance, but because they felt they could not withhold. The Public Library. The public library of Des Moines, standing on the west bank of the river, on ground made historic by association with the early home of General Crocker, is CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 587 an institution of which every citizen has reason to be proud. It was built en tirely with money which came from the taxpayers of Des Moines, and is main tained by the taxpayers as one of the educational institutions of the city. Fre quent references have been made to this institution in earlier chapters of this work. It had its beginning in 1866, when Col. Gordon A. Stewart prepared a paper setting forth the plans and purposes of a few public-spirited citizens. This paper was used as a campaign document. Col. C. H. Gatch, the first to sign the pledge to support the movement, was later — from 1891 to the day of his death in '97 — president of the library board. Over one hundred and thirty names were obtained to this pledge, which took the form of a call for a "Young Men's Asso ciation," * * * "for the purpose of permanently establishing a reading room and library," etc., the members agreeing to pay four dollars a year for its sup port. On December 13, '66, a first meeting was held, and on the 17th the Des Moines Library association was formed. The first officers of the association were Rev. H. S. De Forest, president; J. M. Ellwood, vice-president; W. S. Pritchard, treasurer ; Samuel A. Ayers, secretary ; J. R. Cary, corresponding sec retary; with the following named directors: John McWilliams, C. H. Gatch, F. M. Mills, W. W. Williamson, W. S. Peterson, George W. Jones. On January 16, 1867, the association became a corporation of record. C. A. Dudley, now a prominent Iowa attorney, was the first librarian appointed. There were twenty- three hundred books in the library, when in September, '67, the institution was thrown open to the public. After a year's service Mr. Dudley resigned, retaining however, an active interest in the library, serving five years, in the early Nineties, as treasurer of the board. The1 history of the library is one of struggle, with ulti mate success through partial failures. In 1876 the library was turned over to the public-spirited women. Two years later the city council voted the new man agement $500 a year as a maintenance fund. In October, 1882, the library was turned over to the city, that it might be made free to all. That was the re-birth of the institution. It then had 3,192 books on its accession list. Originally, it had a board of five members, three from the library committee of the council, two from the association. Under the library law of '94 the board was increased to nine members, all appointed by the mayor of the city. Among its librarians have been Mrs. Ada North, Mrs. W. T. Dart, Miss Stella Bebout (Mrs. A. B. Morse), and Miss Ella McLoney. Miss McLoney has served since July, 1891. The library has had several halting places on its way to its present permanent home. It was opened in rooms now occupied by the Register and Leader. In '76 it was removed to the Youngerman building. In '90 it found lodgmenr on the first floor of the Y. M. C. A. building. In '95 it was removed to the Rogg build ing on Eighth and Locust. In October, 1903, it was installed in its spacious and elegant home — the first substantial movement toward the beautification of the river front. The building was erected, furnished and equipped at a cost of about $350,000, which, with the original price paid for the grounds, represents a cost to the city of about $367,000. The present members of the board appointed by the mayor are : J. G. Olmsted, Mrs. A. E. Shipley and James B. Weaver, Jr. Des Moines1 Conservatories of Music. Des Moines developed a love of music early in its career. An interesting chap ter might be made of the early attempts of the city to find itself musically. At the present time Des Moines is very much alive to "concord of sweet sounds." The city is much indebted to that pioneer of our time, Dr. M. L. Bartlett, also to the lamented Dean Howard, of Drake University, and that tireless missionary of art, Dean Frank Nagel, of Highland Park college, for generously passing on the torch of genius to younger generations of musicians. Latterly younger men and women have entered the steadily widening local field and brought their talents to the service of the public. Surely as a music center for Iowa, Des Moines is a city of certainties. BOOK III. DES MOINES. PART XII. PAST AND PRESENT. CHAPTER I. STORY OF THE NEW CAPITOL. One of the traditions of the Capitol, which old habitues delight to relate, is a visit from Rev. John Hall and Mr. Robert Bonner, of New York Ledger fame, in the early summer of 1894. These two, in attendance on a meeting of the Scotch-Irish Association of America, were escorted by Hon. Robert S. Finkbine through the new Capitol from cellar to dome. On their way to the carriage, Mr. Finkbine modestly received the broad words of praise alternately bestowed upon him as the builder of the Capitol, and, pointing with pride to the work of his ' hands, said : "Gentlemen: I will admit I am proud of one thing. The building cost less than three hundred thousand dollars — and from dome to cellar there's not a dishonest dollar in it!" "That's nothing," quickly retorted Dr. Hall. "We know — don't we Bobbie? — a State Capitol that cost over thirty million dollars; and not an honest dollar in it from top to bottom !" The anecdote, whether literally true or not, is founded upon a fact to which every citizen of Des Moines, and of Iowa as well, may point with well-founded pride ; the fact that Iowa's capitol building was erected within the limits of legis lative appropriations, without a dollar's indebtedness, and without even a sus picion of graft — a record to be proud of at a time when public plunder in the guise of legislation is equaled only by the rapacity of individuals to whom public office offers nothing better than opportunity for betrayal of public trust. THE LONG FIGHT FOR THE NEW CAPITOL BUILDING 1868-1872. The location of the Capitol in Des Moines, and on the east side of the river, and in the building guaranteed the state, was at most a temporary settlement of the capitol location question. The building erected in fulfillment of the citi zens' pledge, concerning which the local press of the period lavished a wealth of adjectives — such as "splendid" and "magnificent," was at best a temporary affair, too small, ill-arranged, and, when subjected to the strain of crowds at inaugurals, unsafe. Even before the occupancy of the building, it was evident that the state would soon be compelled to do for itself what it should have done at first — build a state house adequate for the needs of the future — the near future at least. The legislative contest for a new capitol building was deferred for ten years, and was not settled until 1872, — fourteen years after the first General Assembly convened in Des Moines. Several names stand out prominently in the history of the long struggle — be ginning in 1868, among them Jonathan Cattell, B. F. Allen, George W. Jones, and J. H. Hatch, respectively representatives of Polk county ; but the one man to whom the palm of leadership was cheerfully conceded by his compeers and to whom the glory of successful leadership is given by every survivor of that legisla tive period, — whether he was for or against the measure, — is the late John A. Kasson. In fact, Mr. Kasson was chosen, and twice re-chosen, a representative from Polk county that the movement for a new capitol might have in him a leader 591 592 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of large experience, rare tact in handling men and persuasive eloquence. "At the time of the fall election, in 1867," he says,1 "I was far away seeking rest and recreation after several years of hard public labors, when notice came to me that I had been elected to the house of the Twelfth General Assembly, with J. H. Hatch for my colleague. On my return they told me of the special object of Polk county sending me to that legislature." Jonathan Cattell, of Polk, was serving the second half of his senatorial term. With three strong men, and one of them a giant in the arena of debate and a diplomat by nature and education, Polk county was "all fit for a fight." And fight it was from the start. Arrayed against the proposed new capitol were various interests which together proved formidable. The representatives of state institutions at other points were easily lined up against the measure as one in volving an outlay which might jeopardize their own anticipated appropriations. Most representatives of districts dependent on other trunk lines than the Rock Island were rounded up by appeals to local interests. Disappointed representa tives of other localities which had failed to secure the location of the capitol, were eager to reopen the question of location. The times were flush and con servatives in the matter of expenditure were of the opinion that the time had come for a halt in the expenditure of public money. With not a few of this class, the inadequacy of the old capitol was regarded as a pretext and the danger, a scare, and the measure a selfish scheme of the Polk county trio to strengthen themselves with their constituents at the expense of the state. On the other side, were the citizens of Des Moines and Polk county who best knew the inadequacy of the old structure, and were continually haunted by the ever-present possibility of a re-opening of the whole question and the ultimate loss of that which had cost them so much of effort and of money which they could ill afford to lose. Behind these locally interested parties was a con siderable number of legislators who approached the question on its merits. This, in general, was the strained situation which confronted the young states man from Polk in 1868 as he entered upon his arduous home missionary labors. The initial move on the legislative chess-board was a resolution proposing a joint committee to examine the capitol building and, report on its sufficiency for the forthcoming inauguration. The committee reported the building safe for all who could be accommodated within its limited area. The next move was the creation of a strong house committee on public build ings of which Polk county's representative, Mr. Hatch, was chairman. February 1, the committee reported a bill providing for a state house at a cost not to exceed $1,500,000. The bill was taken up March 3, and was confronted with a substi tute, which was promptly voted down by an amendment limiting the cost to $1,000,000; and the next day by an amendment reducing the cost to $600,000. The amendments were voted down ; but, later, a million-dollar compromise amend ment was temporarily agreed upon. On the third day other embarrassing amend ments were carried. The war of diplomacy continued until the 7th of March, when the bill, as amended, passed the house by a vote of 55 to 36. The bill had comparatively smooth sailing until it reached the senate. There it was confronted by anti-capitol memorials, notably from Webster and Buchanan counties. It went to a committee favorable to the project, and was reported out on the 14th and made a special order for the 19th of March. The bill, once fairly before the senate, was confronted with a substitute which was promptly voted down. A motion was made to table it, but that also failed, by a vote of 25 to 20. A move to indefinitely postpone was defeated by a vote of 23 to 22. The bill then ran the gauntlet of unfriendly amendments. One of these amendments prevailed, striking out the building committees of the two houses from the board of commissioners on plans. Another volley of amend ments followed. Some of these carried, thereby seriously endangering the fate 1 Fifth Reunion, Pioneer Law-makers' Association, p. 20. Pioneer Legislator and Builder of the New Capitol JOHN A. KASSON Legislator and Diplomat CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 593 of the measure itself. Senator Cattell and the friends of the measure fought bravely; but, it became apparent that theirs was a losing fight. With the discre tion of a wise general, Cattell summoned all his strength for a retreat, securing postponement until the 25th, — the bill as amended to be printed meantime. The prospect on the 25th was far from hopeful. On the 26th, an amendment in the nature of a substitute, authorizing an advertisement for plans for a new state house, and providing for the repair of the old, was adopted by a vote of 27 to 20. All seemed lost ; but a friendly senator moved a reconsideration, which motion carried. , The bill, with its load of amendments, was referred back to the committee, March 30; the committee reported a substitute calling for plans, for a new capitol building, and appropriation money for repairs on the old. This was so amended as to call for plans for a two-million dollar building. On the third day of April, the substitute was adopted, by a vote of 39 to 7. The house promptly ratified the senate's action. The substitute was adopted by the house by a vote of 59 to 6. The net results of the session were : 1. A commitment of the state to the consideration of the question of a two million dollar capitol building. 2. A popular awakening to the desirability, if not necessity, of a new building. The Thirteenth General Assembly found Mr. Kasson in his seat and ready for the fray His colleague in the House this session was George W. Jones. In the senate the seat vacated by Jonathan Cattell was now occupied by B. F. Allen, one of the best known of the pioneer bankers and business men in Iowa, not gifted in debate but strong in the committee-room and in the lobby — a "good mixer" and a resourceful manager of men and measures. The opposition in the house, formerly led by the trio, Traer of Benton, Dud ley of Wapello and Brown of Van Buren, was now measurably strengthened by Cutts of Mahaska, a vigorous organizer and forceful debater. Mr. Kasson in. after years especially mentioned the redoubtable John P. Irish, of Johnson, and the witty Pat Gibbons, of Keokuk, as among his most serviceable allies. The tactics of two years before were reversed. The bill, this time, first saw the light in the senate. The building committee, of which Griffith of Warren was chairman, reported it out on the 28th of January, 1870, and it was made a spec ial order for February 4. There seemed to be an understanding that the fight this time would be in the House. In due time it was reached. In the Senate it was slightly amended and engrossed, and, on the following day, was read a third time and passed, by a vote of 27 to 18. Then began the fight for its life. The bill came over from the senate February 7, and on the usual motion to refer, Traer was opposed to any reference. Cutts urged indefinite postpone ment. Dudley urged immediate action. Kasson's motion to refer to the build ing committee finally carried by a vote of 53 to 39, — a vote which could not be taken as a measure of the strength of the bill. When the day set for the presentation of the committee's report arrived, a postponement of the special order until the 8th of March was asked and granted, though Cutts and Dudley vigorously opposed the motion. The day arrived and after a preliminary skirmish, the real battle of words began. Traer moved an indefinite postponment, urging the bad condition of the State's finances and the paramount needs of the several state institutions. Gibbons, of Lee, made a good-humored, generous plea for the new building. Ball, of Jefferson, took many words to declare himself unalterably opposed to the bill. Irish rose to the occasion, drawing from Ball an admission that if he felt free to vote he would vote aye. Then followed Cutts, "the Ajax of the opposition." Mr. Kasson long afterward said, "it would be difficult indeed to surpass that speech in artful adaptation to intimidate fearful members and to prejudice the doubtful against the entire proposition." It was a compound of humor, satire, argument and appeal. It is difficult to read with seriousness Mr. Cutts' picture of Iowa's pov erty,— "little children running round with their little knees protruding through Vol. I— 38 594 CITY OF DES. MOINES AND POLK COUNTY their pants, their coats all ragged and tattered and torn, their little caps with their fore-pieces off and all torn ; their father gone to the county seat to pay out the last half-dime which is to go into that magnificent state house!" It remained for Mr. Kasson to reply to "the Ajax of the House." As in mythology, Agamemnon awarded to Odyseus over Ajax the coveted arms of Achilles, so the verdict of most listeners to this notable debate was that the Polk county statesman fairly won first honors in the contest for supremacy. Mr. Kasson maintained that the reputation of his State was depreciated by the mean and narrow housing of its legislature and its executive officers. Dealing with plain, practical men, he did not rely on mere sentiment. He maintained that (i) the State house then occupied was at best only temporary and wholly inadequate, and was unsafe as against fire or storm. It had no committee rooms; its walls were defective and had been pronounced unsafe; the opposition had shamefully discredited the financial condition of the State, the appropriation asked could easily be paid out of existing resources without increasing taxation or robbing other state institutions; (2) that the old State house would be untenable before the possible completion of the new; (3) and that the implied obligation of the State to build a new capitol in consideration of the valuable grants of land and pecuniary sacrifices made by the people of Polk county should be fulfilled. Mr. Kasson was frequently interrupted by questions and comments, but he deftly parried every thrust and cleverly answered every question. The debate was continued into the next forenoon with Cutts, Irish and Ball frequently on the floor. Once the former member from Jefferson turned the laugh on the cleverer member from Polk. In the audience that packed the old capitol during the debate were many public-spirited women of Des Moines. Professing to regard the presence of the Des Moines ladies as an attempt to influence votes for the bill in which they were interested, Mr. Ball ironically remarked : "Don't you see, they have sent all these ladies and gentlemen to prove that there is danger here! They sit here, I have no doubt, in danger and fear! . I am pretty nearly — not quite, though — . . . satisfied to vote for the bill !"Everybody laughed. Mr. Kasson good-humoredly retorted that his old friend's modesty prevented him from seeing that the ladies of Des Moines were not there to show their courage, but were drawn thither by "the attractions of the gentleman from Jefferson." Ball came back with the remark that he had always had an excellent opinion of himself, and it was now demonstrated to his .entire satisfaction. Kasson's friends laughed last, for with nimble wit came the quick retort: "I take back what I said about the gentleman's modesty." But the tension was not long relieved. Intimations of attempted bribery were made and were met by ridicule, denunciation and challenge for proof. Petitions were met by remonstrances, and feeling ran high. Then came the calm following the storm. The period of compromise was reached. Mr. Kasson and his friends were driven to admit two riders on the third reading, their poverty of votes and not their will consenting. On the morning of April 8, four weeks after its engrossment the bill was called up for a third reading. The strained condition of the House is well il lustrated by an incident related by Mr. Kasson.2 He says : "As I left my house on the morning of that day for the capitol, I stopped at the hotel to see that no dilatory friend of the bill should be lingering there. At that moment a citizen hastened to tell me that , of — county, whose vote we counted on, had just been seen going into a drinking saloon near by. I sent him to look for this member, and received the report that he had 2 Fifth Reunion of Pioneer Law-makers' Association, p. 27. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 595 slipped out the back door. . . I learned that he had been beset by some anti- capitol members the night before who had drugged him with whisky, put him in his room and locked his door, thinking he would not awake in time for the vote. I dispatched a wagon instantly for my good friend, Father Brazill, whose in fluence over this member I knew, with an urgent request to follow him and bring him to the State house as soon as possible. I then proceeded to the State house with increased anxiety, not knowing whether that one absent vote might not defeat our bill at the very crisis of its fate. A short time before the voting began, however, I discovered the absentee entering the house, followed closely to his seat by the good priest who took post behind his chair, and did not let him out of his sight until the voting was over. He found the absent member on the lonely bank of 'Coon river, sitting solitary on a log, like a man either in manly shame of himself, or having a racking over-night headache. But when Father Brazill said, 'Come with me,' he went." That Father Brazill, of grateful memory, saved the day for Mr. Kasson, and for Des Moines and Polk county, is evident from the spirited report which follows : "The two rider amendments were adopted without a division, and the roll call began. Every member was present except three. Hall and galleries were crowded to overflowing, as they had been throughout the debate. Many mem bers had roll calls in their hand keeping count as the call proceeded, myself among them. The silence was intense — not a sound was heard save the clerk's mon otonous call of names and the answer aye or no. The phonographic report of that session prints the figures '20' after my name on the roll call. This will re mind some of you of a laughable incident that occurred at the time. If we had fifty-one ayes (no matter about the nays) the bill became a law, and I was therefore counting the ayes. At the moment the clerk called my name I was writing the number of nays, and inadvertently answered the call by shouting 'twenty,' at the top of my voice. It broke the silent tension of feeling, and for nearly two minutes the roll-call ceased, while the whole house and audience were convulsed with laughter. I do not know that the mistake made any votes for us, but it certainly put our opponents into a more amiable humor. The official count gave us one solitary vote to spare, 52 to 46, with only two absentees. The immense audience shook the frail walls of the old building with their ap plause. There was the usual motion to reconsider and to lay that on the table, upon which 66 members voted with our friends, and only 31 voted against them. Two-thirds of the house, indirectly befriended the measure. This vote probably represented the real judgment of the house, certainly much more than the vote on its passage. "The senate promptly concurred in the amendments, and the new capitol was finally authorized by law. Of course there was joy in the Capital city of Des Moines. The people of Polk county expressed their satisfaction by a procession headed by music and bearing to my door a gold-headed cane, which I have handed over to Mr. Aldrich as a souvenir of the event, to be deposited in that capitol museum which does so much honor to its founder and to the state." But Polk county had further use for Mr. Kasson. Two capitol commission ers, selected at large had been forced into the bill, and six others were to be nominated by congressional districts and elected in joint legislative convention. This procedure gave the State a partisan commission and, withal, too many in numbers. As was to be expected, the foundation work done was so defective as to give rise to a demand for a new start, with the probable reopening of the question of location. The appropriation which went with the bill was for a single term only. An annual appropriation and a working commission was the dual need which compelled the leader from Polk to accept a third term at the hands of his friends and neighbors. Mr. Kasson's colleague in the House this time was General Tuttle. Mr. Allen was a senate hold-over. Investigation was the first step taken. The investigating committee reported 596 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY condemning the stone and the foundation. The house committee on public buildings reported an amendatory act February 27, 1872; but its consideration was postponed until April 2. Mr. Kasson moved that Maturin L. Fisher, ot Clayton, Robert S. Finkbine of Polk, and Peter A. Dey, of Johnson, two re publicans and two democrats, be named as capitol commissioners. The Gov ernor was made ex officio chairman of the commission. The old board was abolished. An annual appropriation of $125,000 was secured. After much de bate and many votes, it was finally voted that the commission should keep in view a cost of $1,560,000. An amendment giving preference to all other ap propriations over that for the capitol was forced through, (only to be voted down in the senate,) and the bill passed by a vote of 63 to 24. The bill met with no mishap in the senate, carrying that body by a vote of 34 to 9. After a scurrying for votes to enable the senate amendments to pass the house, the bill as amended passed the house a second time, — and the long fight for the new capitol ended with a signal victory in which every one apparently rejoiced. CHAPTER II. THE LAYING OF THE CORNER-STONE IN '71. The laying of the corner-stone of the new Capitol occurred on the 23d of November, 1871. A procession was formed, led by and under the direction of Gen. Nathaniel B. Baker, Adjutant-General of the State. The other marshals were Generals J. M. Tuttle and J. A. Williamson. The Olmstead Zouaves, with a detachment of cavalry, followed ; then the firemen of the city. Following these were Governor Merrill, ex-governors and lieutenant-governors and state officers present and elect, the capitol commissioners, architects, mayor and city council, invited guests, judges national, state, district and circuit, members of Congress and members of the press. A second division, marshalled by Gen. J. M. Hedrick, Col. C. H. Mackey and Maj. D. C. Cram was made up of members of the 13th and members-elect of the 14th General Assembly, and the clergy, officers and members of the state, district and county agricultural, horticultural and historical societies, offi cers of state institutions and colleges, superintendents, contractors and mechanics who had been employed on the building, and members of the Stone-cutters' Association. A third division, marshalled by Col. S. F. Spofford, Capt. R. W. Cross and Hon. J. W. Jones was composed of citizens of Des Moines and other parts of the State. A fourth division was marshalled by Col. J. M. Griffiths, Maj. A. R. Ander son, Col. S. D. Pryce, Maj. Thomas Cavanagh, Conrad Beck, Esq., Capt. M. T. Russell and Col. George C. Tichenor, was composed of members of civic bodies, as follows: Turners' Association, Knights of Pythias, Sons of Erin, Sons of Temperance, Good Templars, Temple of Honor, People's Temperance Associ ation, Odd Fellows and Masons. The procession formed soon after 10 a. m., and moved through the principal streets of the city to the Capitol grounds, escorted by bands of music. Rev. Thomas O. Rice, of Des Moines, offered prayer. Hon. James F. Wilson made a brief address at the laying of the corner-stone. The principal address of the day was delivered by Governor Samuel Merrill, recounting the history of Iowa down to the event of the hour and with eloquent words of warning and of cheer pointing to the future of the commonwealth. Prof. A. S. Hardy, then of Iowa College, had written an Ode in honor of the occasion, which was read by Hon. J. B. Grinnell. Following is a part of the poem written by Prof. Hardy:1 "And here 'twixt suns that rise and set, 'Twixt river and river, sea and sea, Will we build thee a shrine, he said, where yet Our children's children shall worship thee As their fathers have, O Liberty! 1 Arthur Sherburne Hardy, soldier, educator, author, editor and diplomat, graduate from U. S. Military Academy, 1869, second lieut., 3d artillery, prof, civil engineering, Iowa College, '71-3 ; Dartmouth College, '74-93 ; ed. Cosmopolitan magazine, '93-5 ; U. S. minister lo Persia, '97-9; to Greece, Roumania and Servia, 99-01; to Switzerland, '01-3; to Spain, °3-5 ; author of several mathematical works, essays, novels and poems. 597 598 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Here where with stealthy eye and feet The Indian crept on the trail of war; Let its white walls stand, a symbol meet Of the tablets pure of peace and law, Till the world is dead and time grown hoar. And freedom shall be its corner-stone, And truth the pillars that tall and fair Rise stately above the great white throne Where Justice sits to guard her own, And over all shall hover there The solemn breathing of a prayer." Hon. J. A. Kasson, on behalf of the architects, Messrs. Cochrane and Pique- nard, presented the Governor a beautifully engraved silver trowel and, on behalf of the local superintendent, James Appleyard, a handsomely carved mallet, of Iowa wood, mounted with silver. Governor Merrill, taken wholly by surprise, accepted the gifts, assuring the donors that he would carefully preserve them as mementoes of the occasion. General Baker then moved the procession to the southwest corner of the Capitol building where the Governor deposited the leaden box — 20 by 10, and 12 inches deep, with its historic contents, and, with his newly acquired trowel and mallet, smoothed the mortar and adjusted the stone, then, turning to the assemblage, said: "In the name and in behalf of the people of Iowa, I pronounce the corner stone well set." The band played "The Star-spangled Banner," Rev. Mr. Rice pronounced the benediction and, as the audience dispersed, Captain Olmstead's Zouaves fired a national salute. The corner-stone was of Iowa stone, cut from a quarry in Buchanan county, and presented by David Armstrong. Its dimensions are 7x3x3. A panel, fronting west, contains this inscription : Capitol Commissioners. gov. samuel merrill, S. G. Stein, G. M. Dodge, J. N. Dewey, J. O. Crosby, Jas. F. Wilson, Jas. Dawson, Wm. L. Joy, Chas. Dudley, Cochrane & Piquenard, Architects. The stone in the new Capitol Building is as follows: The foundation stone is chiefly from the Bear Creek and Winterset quarries of Iowa. The basement is from Iowa City quarries. The buff-colored stone of the superstructure is from St. Genevieve, Mo., and the "blue stone" is from Carroll county, Mo. The granite in the base course is in part from the "prairie boulders" of Bu chanan county; but the dark colored pieces are from Sauk Rapids, Minn. The outside steps and platforms — which need replacement — are "Forest City ' stone, near Cleveland; the rails of Sauk Rapids granite. The pilasters and piers in the interior of the basement are from the Anamosa quarries, and from Lemont, 111. All the columns, piers and pilasters in the corridors of the first story are from Lemont. The red granite columns in the second story are from Iron Mountain, Mo., CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 599 the dark granite, forming the bases and caps of the pedestals, is from Sauk Rapids. The carved capitals, pilasters, and piers are of Lemont stone. There are twenty-nine varieties of marble in the interior decorations: Domestic: "Old Tennessee, Knoxville and Holstein — Tennessee; Glenn's Falls and Virginia — New York; Moriah — Vermont; and Iowa Coral— Charles City, Iowa. Foreign: Mexican onyx — Mexico; Lisbon — Spain; Sienna, Verona Red, Statuary White, Veined, Italian Dove, Alps Green, Bardiglio, Brocatelle, Le- vanto — Italy; Languedoc, Rose vit, Rouge Greotte, Greotte Renaissance, Yel low Eschalleon, Juan, Fleure — France ; Fermosa, Bougard — Germany ; Belgian Black, Belgium; Kilkenny Green, Victoria Red — Ireland. The cost of the marble work alone was $114,815. The length of the Capitol north and south is 363 feet, 8 inches ; east and west, 246 feet, 11 inches. The height of the building from ground to dome is 275 feet. CHAPTER III. THE ARMY POST THE THIRD FORT DES MOINES. On a clear clay, as the eye, looking southward, follows the horizon line from the library porch of the Capitol, it rests upon a shadowy flag seen floating from a shadowy flag-staff. On inquiry, the stranger learns that that is all which can be seen of Fort Des Moines from this point, four miles distant. It is the regimental flag floating over the third government fort of the same historic name. The first, planted early in the Thirties, near the mouth of the Des Moines river; the second, located early in the Forties, on the point of land at the junction of the Des Moines and the Raccoon ; and the third, the "city set upon a hill" — or plateau — beyond Richmond Heights. The location of a cavalry post at the State Capital of Iowa was the conception of a number of Des Moines' leading citizens, but chiefly the achievement of one man, Congressman John A. T. Hull. Long chairman of the Military Committee of the House of Representatives, Captain Hull was in position to do things. To him it seemed extremely desirable that such a post should be located at this central meeting place of the great railroads of the middle-west, enabling the War Department in an emergency to reach in a few hours any point of dis turbance along the Mississippi or the Missouri. The project dates from 1894, when a preliminary conference was held with Congressman Hull in Des Moines. Mr. Hull first introduced his cavalry post bill in the Fifty-fourth Congress, but the measure failed. He introduced a similar bill in the Fifty-fifth Congress, and that failed, also. Pie introduced practically the same bill in the Fifty-sixth Congress, and it passed. The bill carried an appropriation of $219,000. This has been supplemented by other appropriations until now the third Fort Des Moines,, the second in the history of Des Moines, represents much more than a million dollars spent on the building and grounds. Could Captain Allen come back from the grave, it would be difficult for him to comprehend the fact that the humblest of the many officers' cottages on yonder hill overlooking the site chosen by him, has cost the government at least twice as much as the entire cost of the cluster of log cabins and barracks which blossomed out at "the Forks" in 1843. x Congressman Hull freely acknowledges his great indebtedness to the public- spirited citizens of Des Moines, whom he enlisted for active cooperation with him in the fulfilment of his promise to provide a suitable and satisfactory site for the proposed fort, — with adequate water supply and other favoring condi tions. The sum of $40,000 was subscribed and paid in by the citizens' committee and their friends, and, with this sum duly approved, the Briscoe-Denny site — four hundred acres in all — was purchased and the property was turned over to the government. Government engineers took charge of the grounds and, under their direction. a vast amount of grading was done. The water supply was developed into a system connected with the city system of waterworks. Skillful architects planned scores of buildings. Competent builders erected them ; skilled decorators fur- 1 Captain Allen's instruction was not to exceed $2,500 in the erection of buildings, etc. 600 PREPARING THE GROUND FOR FORT DES MOINES, NO. 3 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 601 nished them, and in a few years an entire village built of brick had grown up and around the regimental flag, — a village having that symmetry and single central thought which bespeaks a well-defined general purpose. The post was designed to accommodate 1,200 cavalrymen, with their horses and general equip ment. The parade ground, 1,000 feet in width and 2,000 feet in length, surrounded by the administration building, hospital, chapel, officers' quarters, sabalterns' quarters, barracks and stables, presents a beautiful appearance from the en trance, with varying phases of picturesqueness as seen from other points of view. When the ground is alive with a regiment of splendidly mounted and well-uniformed cavalrymen, on dress-parade, or in exhibition drill, the scene is impressive. Old army officers, who from time to time have inspected the post, unite in pronouncing the site ideal and the improvements made upon it the best and most attractive to be found in the country. The purchase of the four-hundred-acre tract at a cost of $40,000 was made by a popular subscription, including the names of about two hundred public- spirited citizens, firms and corporations. Where all were generous it would seem almost invidious to name any, but no one of the contributors to this fund would in this instance withhold the names of the committee who managed and pushed the campaign making possible the success of Congressman Hull. The committee consisted of F. M. Hubbell, C. L. Watrous, H. S. Butler, F. M. Garrison, B. S. Walker, J. G. Rounds, C. W. Johnston, W. L. 'White and Lewis Schooler. Four miles south of the post and about eight miles south of the city, just over the line in Warren county, is the rifle range, for target practice. This tract contains 525 acres, since purchased by the government at a cost of about $40,000. This, with the 400 acres occupied by the Post, constitutes one of the •largest holdings of land in the region roundabout Des Moines. The dedication of Fort Des Moines, with the floating of the nation's flag in the breeze from the midst of it, was one of the conspicuous events in the recent history of Des Moines. In the forenoon of Thursday, November 12, 1903, the distinguished visitors were met at the trains by a reception committee escorted by the Iowa State Military Band. At 2 p. m. occurred a band parade in the city, and at 3, a run of the city fire department. On Friday, the day of days, the generals of the army and other distinguished guests were received and taken about the city in automobiles. At noon a lunch was given at the Savery in honor of the city's guests. From 10 to 4 a barbecue was served at the post, supplying a substantial lunch to about twenty-thousand citizens and soldiers. At 1 p. m. Major-General Bates and his staff and other guests of the city, accompanied by a military escort and band, were driven to the post. At 2 :30 occurred the dedication exercises, and the raising of the flag. At 8 p. m, was held the reception, followed by addresses and speeches, at the Des Moines auditorium. At the dedication, Major-General Bates expressed himself so gratified and pleased, that he concluded to send two squadrons of cavalry to- fill its quarters. The two companies of negroes to be sent first, to guard the government's prop erty, would soon be replaced by at least one full squadron of cavalry. The barbecue drew thousands from all parts of Polk county, and from sur rounding counties. The exercises were witnessed by thousands more. General Bates, a magnificent soldier physically, mentally and socially, was the center of attraction at the hotel, in the parade and on the parade grounds. Captain Wright, assistant adjutant-general of the army, Captain Miles of the general's staff, and other military men of both the State and the nation, were present in full uniform. These all made it a point to participate in the barbecue. The flag-raising ceremony was simple. Governor Cummins spoke briefly and eloquently, and then introduced General Bates, who also made a brief address. 602 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The raising of the flag by Governor Cummins was the signal for prolonged cheering. Congressman Hull made a few happy remarks at the raising. In the evening, Governor Cummins presented Lafayette Young as chairman of the meeting. Speeches were made by the Governor, Secretary of State Martin, State Auditor Carroll, and D. B. Lyons, president of the Commercial Exchange, Mayor Brenton, President Storms of the State College, at Amesj General Bates, Congressman Hull, W. B. Keffer and Lafayette Young. A third day was given over to general celebration, including outdoor sports. Altogether, the event was one in which the public evinced the deepest interest and the attendance on the exercises was surprisingly large. CHAPTER IV. PRESENT STATUS OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES CORPORATIONS AND THE CITY OF DES MOINES. Frequent references have been made in preceding pages to the legal compli cations in which the city and its public utilities corporations early became in volved, and to the more serious attempts made from time to time, by the city council, 'by citizens' committees and by the corporations themselves, to relieve the situation and to fix the status of the city and the corporations beyond the possibility of future differences. There must still remain more or less confusion in the public mind as to the present status of the parties in dispute. Following is an outline of the local situation on the first day of November, 191 1. The Street Railway franchise was granted in 1866 — to be exclusive for a term of thirty years from and after the completion of the first mile of track and the operation of cars thereon. Just what this original franchise means has been a subject of much dispute and endless litigation, the company claiming the fran chise to be perpetual, the first thirty years thereof being exclusive. The city, on the other hand, makes the assertion that it was simply an exclusive franchise for the period of thirty years, and did, therefore, expire January 1, 1898. The question was tried out in the federal court and Judge McPherson decided that the company had a perpetual franchise. The city appealed the case to the U. S. Supreme Court, denying the claims of the company and protesting against the jurisdiction of the federal courts. That court denied federal jurisdiction and remanded the case to the state courts for trial. The Street Railway Com pany took a change of venue from the Polk County courts to the court at Adel, Iowa, presided over by Judge Applegate. The company set up the claim to a perpetual franchise. The city asserted, first, that the franchise expired in 1898, or, second, that if it did not expire in 1898, it would expire in 1916, this being the end of the period of fifty years for which the company was incorpor ated at the time of the granting of the franchise. The present company and property is the result of the merging of several former companies and proper ties, together with their franchises. The Des Moines Waterworks Company is an incorporation, with headquar ters at Portland, Me. The company had a franchise which expired May 1, 1911. The city held an election on June 19, 1911, in which it was decided by the decisive vote of 3,330 to 1,242 that the city should either buy or build a water works plant. The city council has petitioned the Supreme Court for a board of appraisal, with the expectation of condemning the company's property. This board of appraisal, according to the Iowa law, consists of three District judges from districts outside of Polk County. They will hear the testimony as to the value of the plant and fix the price. The city will then vote on the purchase of the property at the price fixed and the issuance of bonds to pay for the property. The Iowa Telephone Company has a franchise under date of July 6, 1891, for a period of five years. That franchise expired some fifteen years ago. The telephone company, however, asserts a right to operate in the cities under a provision of State law which grants companies the privilege of entering cities, asserting that they need no further franchise. This claim, however, is contested and is now under litigation in the District court, the title of the case being 603 604 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Chamberlain vs. Iowa Telephone Company. The Mutual Telephone Company and the Iowa Telephone Company were merged during the year 1910 under the name of the Iowa Telephone Company. The Des Moines Gas Company is operating under franchises owned by pre ceding companies, its immediate predecessor being the Capital City Gas Light Company. The question of the duration of its franchise is somewhat in doubt and all negotiations between the city and the company contain a clause providing that the particular negotiations "shall not be construed to in any manner either confirm, recognize or deny any franchise, or other rights now claimed by the company." The city and the company are just concluding litigation in the Fed eral court under Judge Sloan as Master in Chancery, in which the company is contesting the city's right to reduce the price of 22 candle-power gas from $1.00 to 90c per thousand cubic feet. The Edison Electric Light Company's franchise was passed November 11, 1889, for a term of thirty years — expiration, November 11, 1919. This fran chise was granted to what was known as the Des Moines Water Power Com pany, but some two years ago the McKinley Syndicate, which deals extensively in electric lighting and street railway properties, purchased this plant and has since made extensive additions and many improvements in the service. CHAPTER V. EVOLUTION OF DES MOINES' RAILROAD SYSTEM. There are many yet unwritten chapters in the history of railroad building in Iowa. With most Iowa roads Des Moines has been directly or indirectly connected. The evolution and consolidation of Iowa roads in which the Capital city has been directly interested will best be seen by glancing down the following list of titles which include the name Des Moines : 1 Albia, Knoxville & Des Moines (Chicago, Burlington & Quincy). Chariton, Des Moines & Southern (Chicago, Burlington & Quincy). Chicago, Fort Madison & Des Moines. Des Moines, Adel & Western (Des Moines, Northern & Western). Des Moines & Fort Dodge (Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific). Des Moines, Indianola & Missouri (Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific). Des Moines & Kansas City. Des Moines & Knoxville (Chicago, Burlington & Quincy). Des Moines & Minneapolis (Chicago & Northwestern). Des Moines & Northwestern (Des Moines Northern & Western). Des Moines Northwestern (Des Moines Northern & Western). Des Moines Northern & Western (Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul). Des Moines Osceola & Southern (Des Moines & Kansas City). Des Moines & St. Louis (Wabash). Des Moines Union. Des Moines Valley (Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific). Des Moines Western (Des Moines Northern & Western). Des Moines, Winterset & Southwestern (Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific). Keokuk & Des Moines (Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific). Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota (Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific). St. Louis, Des Moines & Northern (Des Moines, Northern and Western). In addition to these are the great trunk lines of railroad that, though they do not pay word-tribute to Des Moines, are tributary to the city in fact : The Chicago and Northwestern. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. The Chicago Great Western. The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul. The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific. The Minneapolis & St. Louis. The Wabash. The Old "Des Moines Valley." The Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad company was incor porated in Keokuk in 1853. Eleven years later, the name was changed to the Des Moines Valley Railroad company. In 1873 the road with all its rights and 1 Based on data found in the Railroad Commissioners' Report for 1896, pp. 180-83 ; the roads then in operation are printed in italics ; the roads into which they were afterwards merged are in parenthesis on the right. 605 606 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNT\ franchises was sold under foreclosure of mortgage and was purchased by a com mittee of bondholders, by whom it was transferred to a new company incor porated under the name, the Keokuk & Des Moines Railway Company. It was operated by this company from November ii, 1873, to October 1, 1878, when the road and its equipment passed into the hands of the Rock Island as lessee for a term of forty-five years. The road beginning at Keokuk was completed to Bentonsport in 1857; was extended to Ottumwa in 1859, and reached Des Moines1 — the first railroad to enter the capital city — in August, if The Rock Island — The Mississippi & Missouri. The Mississippi & Missouri railroad company, afterwards acquired by the Rock Island, was incorporated under the laws of Iowa February 1, 1853. Con struction was begun in 1855. In 1866 the line was sold under a decree of fore closure to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific company of Iowa. At this time the road was completed from Davenport to Kellogg. The first survey of the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad company was made by Grenville M. Dodge. The field-work was under the direction of Peter A. Dey. After the consolida tion of several corporations into the Rock Island system, in 1866, steps were taken to extend the main line to Council Bluffs. It was completed and operated into Des Moines in 1867. The validity of the consolidation having been ques tioned in several suits brought, the Twelfth General Assembly passed an act approved February 11, 1868, providing for and requiring the early construction of the road from Davenport to Council Bluffs, the act recognizing the validity of the consolidation, re-granting the lands originally granted by the state in 1856, and providing for the forfeiture of lands and corporate rights should the com pany neglect to comply with the conditions of the act. The main line was extended from river to river in June, 1869. The extension of the Rock Island railroad from Des Moines to Council Bluffs occupied the attention of the General Assembly in 1868. The executive committee headed by John F. Tracy had put upon the New York market nearly four million dollars' worth of stock and realized the cash on it before certain other parties were aware of what had been done.2 With this money the Tracy party claimed they intended to build the road from Des Moines to Council Bluffs. (The road at this time being completed only to Des Moines.) The immediate result of this stock operation was a bitter quarrel between the Tracy and the anti-Tracy parties of the stockholders. The Tracy party were said to be in the minority but they had the money and the executive committee. The Des Moines, Indianola & Missouri. The Des Moines, Indianola & Missouri Railroad company incorporated April 30, 1869, the purpose being the construction of a road from Des Moines to In dianola, was originally planned by the Iowa & Minnesota Railroad Company. Its first officers were F. R. West, president; George E. Griffith, vice president; L. P. Sherman, secretary, all of Des Moines. In 1871 this company began the construction of its road from Des Moines to Indianola. It issued bonds for that purpose amounting to $300,000. The Rock Island became the owner of the bonds and began the operation of the road. The net earnings were not sufficient to pay in full the interest accruing, and proceedings for foreclosure of the mort gage were pending in 1880. During the pendency of these proceedings the com pany sold and consigned its railroad — (subject to the mortgage and to the lease to the Rock Island)— to the Iowa Southern & Missouri Northern Railroad Company. The Des Moines Winterset & Southern. In 1872, the Des Moines, Winterset & Southern Railroad company con- 2 Brindley — Taxation in Iowa, v. 2, pp. 394-5. ROCK ISLAND DEPOT UNION DEPOT CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 607 structed a railroad from Summerset station on the line of the Des Moines Indian ola and Missouri railroad to Winterset, issuing bonds to the amount of $500,000. It leased its line to the Rock Island, in perpetuity, the lessee undertaking to apply thirty per cent of the gross earnings to the payment of the interest that would accrue upon the bonded debt. Default having been made in payment of interest, foreclosure proceedings were instituted and a decree was entered ordering a fore closure at the October term in 1876. The D. M., I. F. & N. The Rock Island's latest acquisition is the Des Moines, Iowa Falls and North ern railway constructed by Ellsworth and acquired early in 191 1. The Minneapolis & St. Louis. The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad company was chartered in 1853 as the Minnesota Western Railroad company, to build a line of railway from some point on the St. Croix river to St. Paul and St. Anthony, thence across the Miss issippi river and to the western boundary of the state. Its capital stock was $2,000,000. The road was to be completed in six years. In '69 the legislature repealed the six years' clause and required the company to commence building within three years. In '70 the charter was amended giving the company the right to build to the north line of the state of Iowa. In '70 the corporation name was changed to the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway company. In '71 the company completed the line from Minneapolis to Merriam Junction 27 miles. In 'yy the line was extended from Merriam Junction to Albert Lea, there connecting with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern — now a division of the Rock Island system. In 1879 the company began a southwesterly line from Albert Lea toward Fort Dodge. This line from the north boundary of Iowa was built by arrange ment with the Minnesota & Iowa Southern Railroad company, incorporated at Forest City, Iowa, whereby that company built and equipped the road and took a permanent lease of it. A like arrangement was made with the Fort Dodge & Fort Ridgeby railroad company. This company never had any land grant and had but little local aid, except $250,000 in bonds of the city of Minneapolis. The Minnesota & Iowa Southern railroad company was incorporated in 1878, for the purpose of constructing, operating and maintaining a railroad from some point on the Minnesota line, across Winnebago county, "to the intersection of some line or lines of railroad running in a southerly direction." Its capital stock was $3,000,000. W. H. Truesdale was appointed receiver of the M. & St. L. June 28, 1888. The road was sold under foreclosure proceedings at Minneapolis, October 11, 1894, and reorganized November 1, '94, under the name of "Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad company." The Northwestern. Starting with the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River railroad company, organized in 1859, L. B. Crocker president, W. W. Walker, secretary, in 1880, a permanent lease, which was afterwards converted into a purchase, was effected with the Des Moines & Minneapolis narrow gauge road running from Des Moines to Callanan, Hamilton county. The gauge between Des Moines and Ames, 37 miles, was widened, and ever since 1880, the trains of the Northwestern have daily run into the state capital. The Burlington. The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad is a composite, made up of a number of now defunct corporations. The Albia, Knoxville & Des Moines rail road company was incorporated December 10, 1867. Construction did not begin until May, 1875. The road extended from Albia to Knoxville, 32.92 miles. The Chariton, Des Moines & Southern Railway company, was incorporated January 3, 1876. Construction began in September, 1878. 608 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The Des Moines & Knoxville railway company was incorporated July 18, 1878. Construction began in August, 1879. The road was completed from Des Moines to Knoxville, 35.02 miles, January 10, 1880. The original officers were: Samuel Merrill, president; J. S. Clarkson, vice president; J. S. Runnells, sec retary; William Christy, treasurer. The Burlington, on acquiring this branch, made J. W. Blythe, of Burlington, president, and H. E. Jarvis, of Burlington, secretary and treasurer, who speedily pushed the road on from Knoxville to Albia, thus giving the Burlington direct connection with Des Moines. The Milwaukee. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company in Iowa was originally the Ft. Madison & Northwestern and operated forty miles of road. The Iowa Eastern Railroad Company, which in its time developed high hopes in Des Moines, was incorporated February 9, 1872, with the ambitious purpose of constructing a railroad from McGregor, Clayton county, to Des Moines. It acquired the prop erty of the Milwaukee, Chicago, Cassville & Montana Railroad company and completed the road to Stults, fourteen miles, in 1872. It was sold under fore closure and purchased by William Larrabee, February 24, 1880, and conveyed by him to the Milwaukee March 30, 1882. The Milwaukee extended the road to Elkader, five miles, in 1886. The Sabula, Ackley & Dakota Railway ComiJ pany incorporated February 10, 1870, to build from Sabula, to Marion, and., thence westerly. The Des Moines Northern & Western. The Des Moines Western Railway Company was organized in the court house in Adel, Dallas county, on the 5th day of August, 1871. Delegates from Waukee, Adel, Redfield and Panora convened and adopted articles of incorporation. The purpose of the company was to build a railroad from Des Moines westward, via Waukee, Adel, Redfield and Panora, thence to the Missouri river. The road be tween Waukee and Panora was located in 1871, and during the next two years considerable grading was done between the two points. But, on or about the first day of January, 1875, the road bed was sold on execution and was bought. in by T. R. North. The Des Moines Adel & Western. On the third day of April, 1875, a new corporation was organized in Adel, styled the Des Moines, Adel and Western. Mr. North sold his interest in the road-bed of the Des Moines Western to A. J. Lyon, T. R. Foster and J. B. Bren ton, and on April 14, 1875, the Des Moines, Adel & Western purchased of these three "the road-bed, franchises, subsidies," etc. of the old company. In 1878, the new company completed the construction of a narrow-gauge railroad from Waukee to the east bank of the Raccoon at Adel, about seven miles, and began operating the road with one engine and a small equipment. Late in 1879 the narrow-gauge was extended from Adel to Panora, 22 miles. The company was now officered by T. J. Caldwell, of Adel, president, J. S. Runnells, secretary and F. M. Hubbell, treasurer, both of Des Moines. On the 27th of December, 1880, the name of the company was changed to the Des Moines Northwestern Railway Company. Des Moines Northwestern Raihvay. On the 8th of December, 1880, a contract was made with the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway company and the Narrow Gauge Construction Company for the extension of the road to Spirit Lake, Iowa. The next move on the board, February 28, 1881, was a lease of the road to the Wa bash, St. Louis & Pacific. In '81 the road was extended from Panora to Lohrville, 43^ miles. The next, was the purchase from the St. Louis-, Des Moines & Northern, of that part of the road between Waukee and Clive, CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 609 and a half-interest in the road from Clive to west 28th street, Des Moines, thus effecting an entrance into the Capital city. In '82, the road was extended from Lohrville to Fonda, 26 2-3 miles. At this time the Des Moines Northwestern owned a half-interest in the road from 28th street, Des Moines, to Clive and the road from Clive to Fonda. In 1884, the Wabash, becoming embarrassed, went into the hands of a receiver, and proceedings were commenced to foreclose the mortgage on the Des Moines-Northwestern. The foreclosure culminated in 1887, and at this point the treasurer, F. M. Hubbell, and his old-time associate in business, Jefferson S. Polk, stepped in and purchased the property. Another reorganization ensued out of which came F. M. Hubbell, president; Grenville M. Dodge, vice president; J. S. Polk, secretary and treasurer. The company name was changed to the Des Moines & Northwestern. On the ioth of January, 1888, Messrs. Polk and Hubbell transferred the property to the new, company. In January, 1890, the road between Des Moines and Clive was changed to a three- rail track to accommodate both a narrow-gauge and a standard gauge road. Late in '91 the road from Clive to Fonda was widened to standard gauge, and on De cember 14, of that year, this road was consolidated with the Des Moines & Northern, which at this time owned an undivided half of the road from Des Moines to Clive and the entire road from Clive to Boone. Des Moines Northern and Western. Again the name was changed, — this time to the Des Moines Northern & Western Railway Company. Its first officers were: F. M. Hubbell, president; F. C. Hubbell, first vice president ; E. P. Pratt, second vice president ; R. L. Chase, secretary; H. D. Thompson, treasurer. In December, 1894, the mortgage ' on the Des Moines, Northern & Western railway was foreclosed and the road sold to F. M. Hubbell, F. C. Hubbell and G. M. Dodge as a purchasing com mittee, who afterwards conveyed the property to the Des Moines Northern & Western, which on the ist of January, 1895, was again reorganized with F. M. Hubbell, president ; F. C. Hubbell, first vice president ; H. D. Thompson, second vice president; A. N. Denman, secretary, H. D. Thompson, treasurer, F. C. Hubbell, superintendent; J. N. Tittemore, general passenger and freight agent; W. J. Souder, auditor ; and A. B. Cummins, general counsel. By this time, the officers of the company were all centered in Des Moines. New bonds were issued dated January 1, 1898, to provide funds for permanent improvements. The D. M., N. & W. was acquired by the C. M. & St. P. January 1, 1899, by the purchase of stock and bonds. Its separate operation was continued until June 30, 1899, since which time the lines have been operated as "the Des Moines Division of the C. M. & St. P. Ry. Co." The Great Western. The Chicago Great Western Railway Company in Iowa is an_ evolution of a dozen or more Iowa-incorporated railroads, of which two were distinctively Des Moines roads. One was incorporated December 1, 1881, and in 1883 was built from Des Moines to Waterloo, a distance of 103.84 miles. The other, now the Kansas City division of the Great Western, was incorporated May 26, 1886, and in '87 was built to Athelstan a distance of 97.79 miles. It long ago became one of the several through lines to Chicago and is the one direct line between Des Moines and Kansas City. The Des Moines Union. On the ioth of December, 1884, a meeting was held in Des Moines for the purpose of organizing a union depot and railroad company to be operated in and around the city of Des Moines, in pursuance of a contract entered into January 2, 1882, between the Des Moines & St. Louis Railroad, the Des Moines North western Railway Company, the St. Louis, Des Moines & Northern Railway Com pany, G. M. Dodge, James F. How and James F. How, trustee. General Dodge Vol. 1—89 610 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY appeared for himself and the interests of the St. Louis, Des Moines & Northern; J. S. Polk and F. M. Hubbell represented the Des Moines Northwestern and J. S. Runnells and C. F. Meek appeared for the Des Moines & St. Louis Rail road company and for James F. How, in his individual capacity and as trustee. The company incorporated for a period of fifty years from December, 1884. G. M. Dodge was the first president ; James F. How, vice president ; F. M.- Hubbell, secretary and treasurer. The company purchased from the several parties rep resented the right of way, track and franchises from the easterly limits of the city of Des Moines to its westerly limits, a distance of four miles. Since that time the Des Moines Union has from time to time built extensions from the main tracks, — from a point near west Twelfth street south to the Rac coon river, also an extension from this branch easterly across Ninth street, thence in a northerly and southerly direction parallel with Ninth street; also extensions from the main track on the east side of the river to the starch works, the stock yards, the packing house, etc. The present officers of the company are: presi dent, F. C. Hubbell ; first vice president, H. D. Thompson ; secretary, F. M. Hub bell ; treasurer, H. D. Thompson ; attorney, N. T. Guernsey ; auditor, E. G. Mitch ell; chief engineer, A. L. Morgan; general superintendent, J. A. Wagner. CHAPTER VI. DES MOINES' EVOLUTION MEASURED BY FIGURES. Summarizing the Census Reports of the United States from 1850 to 1910, we find that the evolution of Des Moines has been remarkable, not alone in increase of population but in all other respects. The city's growth has been steady and well-rounded and wholly free from the violent reactions which have visited many another city. In 1850 the population of Fort Des Moines was 502; in i860, the city of Des Moines numbered 3,965. The ascending scale since then is as follows: in 1870, 12,035; in 1880, 22,408; in 1890, 50,093; in 1900, 62,139; in 1910, 86,368. The increase in i860 was 3,463 ; in '70, 8,070 ; in '80, 10,373 ; in '90, 27,685 ; in 1900, 12,046; in 1910, 24,229. The gain by decades may best be measured by percentages. The gain from 1850 to i860 was 689.84 per cent ; from '60 to '70, 203.33 Per cent ; from '70 to '80, 86.19 per cent; from '80 to '90, 123.55 Per cent; from '90 to 1900, 24.4 per cent; from 1900 to 1910, 32.5 per cent. The census of 1880, the first to specialize as to cities, placed the manufactur ing establishments of Des Moines — many of them mere shops — at 155; repre senting capital amounting to $1,463,250; paying wages aggregating $667,699; number of wage-earners, 1,378.- In 1880, the total valuation of property in Des Moines was placed at $4,- 361,090 — per capita, $195. Thirty years later the city auditor placed the total valuation of Des Moines property at $95,475,062, — or more than $1,000 per capita. In 1890 there were 330 manufacturing establishments in Des Moines, — of which 98 were classed as hand trades. These represented capital to the amount of $3,877,140 — of which the hand trades represented $304,367. The number of wage-earners in these manufactories was reported as 3,420; the total of wages, $1,631,107; the cost of material used, $4,408,377; the value of products, $7,931,- 272. Compare these figures with those of 1900. The manufacturing establishments had increased to 494, of which 211 were hand-trades. These represented capital amounting to $7,911,764, — of which $383,509 represented the hand trades. The number of wage-earners in these manufactories had increased to 4,557 ; the total of wages had increased to $1,942,509; the cost of material used had increased to $4,975,568; the value of the product turned out had increased to $10,488,189. The percentage of increase in the number of establishments was 49.7 ; in capital, 104.1; in number of wage-earners, 33.2; in wages paid 19.1 ; in cost of material used, 12.9; in value of products, 32.2. In 1850 there was one small church building in Des Moines — that of the M. E. church. In 1900, there were 99 church organizations in the city, with 26,905 members — male, 10,353; female, 16,118. Of these 89 were reported as protestant bodies. Following are the denominations named : Baptist, 3, members, 1,553; colored Baptist, 2, members, 600; Congregationalists, 5, members, 1,391; Disciples of Christ, 8, members, 4,926; Friends (orthodox), 1, members, 521; independent churches, 2, members, 442 ; Lutheran, general synod, 1, members, 500; general council, 1, members, 800; other Lutheran bodies, 6, members, 935 ; Metho dist Episcopal, 19, members, 4,229; other Methodist bodies, 3, members, 355; 611 612 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Presbyterian, 8, members, 2,460; United Presbyterian, 3, members, 383; Pro testant Episcopal, 3, members, 1,300; United Brethren, 3, members, 446; other Protestant bodies, 20, members, 1,688; Roman Catholic, 4, members, 3,658; Jewish congregations, 4, heads of families, 183 ; all other bodies, 2, members, 535. Taking a final account of stock, from the city auditor's report of April 1, 1910, we find that the little community, which in 1845 was huddled about old Fort Des Moines, had in sixty-five years grown to be a city of magnificent distances and of great wealth. The corporate limits of the city of Des Moines in 1910 included one hun dred million dollars worth of property ! To be exact,1 the grand total of prop erty shows $95,475,062.18. The cost of running the city to every man, woman and child was $9.71, as against $9.56 the year before. Exemptions from taxation aggregate $13,360,938.18, leaving $82,114,124 as the basis for city taxation. While the amount of exempt property had not materially increased, the taxable property of the city increased during the year about five million dollars, for the year be fore it amounted to $77,546,580. The taxable valuation is three-fourths of the real valuation, so the city's levy of 37.1 mills on the dollar was made on $21,- 028,531. The total expenditures of the city during the fiscal year closing April 1, 1910, were $994,025.61 ; those of the year before, $982,001.98, and of the year closing April 1, 1908, $778,450.91. The exemptions referred to are chiefly public buildings : the capitol, $3,500,000; the court house, $1,000,000; the public library, $420,000; the two government buildings, $775,000. The state property altogether stands for $4,282,000; the county, $1,125,000; the city exclusive of schools, $1,966,833.18. The school prop erty of the city is estimated at $1,547,900. Lodges, and charitable institutions including hospitals are placed at $3,475,955- Exemptions to the poor amount to $188,250. Of the city's exempt property $165,000 was for the city hall site, market places and hospitals; $201,833.18 was for fire station; $827,000 for parks and $300,000 for cemeteries. The taxable property inside the city limits in 1910 was classified as follows: real estate, $161,029.31 ; personal, $3,462,110; railroads, $927,020; express, $2,935; telephone and telegraph $33,535. 1 The figures here used are based upon the report of Auditor lohn W. Hawk, April 1, 1910. STATE CAPITOL POLK COUNTY COURT HOUSE CHAPTER VII. "THE DES MOINES PLAN \" ITS GENESIS AND EXODUS ITS SIGNIFICANCE ITS OPERATION. Some call it revolution; but to those who have followed the story of Des Moines from garrison town to representative city, the "Des Moines Plan" is an evolution. As in nature's evolutionary processes there is an occasional cataclysm, so in the evolution of a community there occasionally occurs an upheaval form ing the basis of a new chapter in the history of that community. In 1851, the first articles of incorporation of Fort Des Moines gave ex pression to a purpose to see to it that the humblest citizen should have his rights. The original charter of the Capital city, granted in 1858, gave evidence of a some what broader view of citizens' rights and of public duty. From time to time since the city was organized in '58, men have striven, both inside and outside the council, to check the growing evils of a caucus-governed city in which interests, private and corporate, control nominations and elections and direct policies. Every failure taught its lesson. In every contest for the interests of the many, against the in terests of the few, there has been a storing of energy for future use — a cumula tive sense of outrage which finally found voice in the slogan "We want a change ! It can't be worse !" It was a notable campaign — that of 1906. The insistence on a change had crystallized into a popular demand for — 1. An administration of the city's affairs which should be divested of party politics. 2. A business administration by a small board of directors in which each director should be individually responsible for his own department, and yet — so far as his influence and vote would go — responsible also for the other depart ments. 3. A city council made up of representatives of the city at large, in place of a body in which none were for the city and each was for his ward. 4. Efficiency, not campaign service, the basis of appointments. 5. Honest, economic expenditure of public funds, — not with a view of re ducing the aggregate cost of maintaining a fast-growing city, but with a reason able expectation of better results for moneys expended. On this basis the campaign was fought and won. It was a hard task to which certain public-spirited citizens applied themselves —that of formulating an exhaustive measure which would guaranty reasonable success in the directions indicated. No one man could have written the bill as it finally appeared with the governor's signature attached. It was the product of several astute lawyers, modified by the suggestions and objections of a commit tee of citizens chosen from every walk of life. It was necessarily a lengthy bill covering the whole range of municipal activities and the entire readjustment of the machinery of local government. Without copying the elaborated law in its entirety, it is clearly the province of this history to outline its more important provisions and to review in outline the workings of the plan so far as time has developed its strength and its weaknesses. The Plan in Outline and in Operation. Passing over the sections which prescribe methods preliminary to the practi- 613 614 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY cal application of the commission form of government, the student of the plan finds, at the outset, that a mayor and four councilmen are chosen biennially ; that the councilmen are nominated and elected, not by wards as formerly, but at large along with the mayor; that the entire council, including the mayor, terminates its existence after a two years' term of service, thus obviating the objection com monly raised against a self-perpetuating body. The probable re-election of of ficials who "make good" was thought to be sufficient guaranty that the wisdom drawn from experience would not die with the legal expiration of the term of office of any five men. The sifting process by which a council is created is a very important and orig inal feature of the plan. A primary election is held on the second Monday pre ceding the general municipal election, the judges of election serving also as judges of the primary. This primary is any man's and every man's opportunity to test the general judgment as to his personal popularity and general or special fitness for a place either at the head or at the side of the municipal table. All that is necessary to place a man in the running is a statement made under oath and filed at least ten days prior to the primary election, to the effect that the per son named is a qualified voter, and that he is a candidate for nomination either for the office of mayor or for one of the four seats in the council, and desires that his name be printed upon the official primary ballot for nomination. The one further requirement is that at, the same time he shall file therewith the peti tion of a least twenty-five qualified voters requesting his candidacy. The city clerk shall cause to be published for three successive days in all the daily newspapers of the city the names of all the candidates duly announced, as the same appear upon the primary ballot. The Australian ballot form is used in the primary as at the polls. We are now ready for the sifting process— the primary election. The votes are cast and counted by precincts, and returns are duly made to the city clerk within six hours of the closing of the polls. The next day the city clerk publicly canvasses the returns, and the result of the voting is duly published. The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for mayor are the only candi dates whose names appear on the final ballot for mayor at the succeeding election ; and the eight candidates receiving the highest number of votes for councilman are the only names placed upon the official ballot for councilmen. The brief campaign is now duly opened. Its most significant and interesting features are these: i. It is totally non-partisan. Men who for their entire adult lifetime -have not been eligible as candidates by reason of their identification with a minority party are now as available as are the members of the majority party. 2. Men who in times past have found their chief political asset to be their serviceability as rounders-up of indifferent voters and voters susceptible to in fluence, now find their occupation gone, for they are not permitted to approach the polls, except to vote ; and they have no party whip to crack, no one ward to "protect." But even here, the heelers and rounders and their would-be employers find themselves "up against" , a provision of the new law which declares that "any person who shall agree to perform any services in the interests of any candidate . . . in consideration of any money or other valuable thing . . . shall be punished by a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300), or be impris oned in the county jail not exceeding thirty (30) days." The new law makes bribery, or even the attempt to bribe an elector "either in money or other consideration," and the receiving and accepting of any bribe, a misdemeanor subjecting the offender to a fine of not less than one hundred dol lars nor more than five hundred dollars, and to be imprisoned in the county jail not less than ten nor more than ninety days. Illegal voting, or the offering of an illegal vote, is subject to the same penalties. With these provisions enforced, the campaign and the election are compara- LAFAYETTE YOUNG, JR. President of the Greater Des Sloines Committee, and a leading spirit in the new movement to "boost Des Moines " HON. JAMES R. IIANNA Mayor ; the aid head of Department new "Des Moines Plan" of Publh of c-ity ; Affairs, under coveniinert. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 615 tively free from the sordid features which have done so much to discredit popu lar government of cities. Organization after Election. A council elected, that body proceeds to organize by the assignment of the four departments, Accounts and Finance, Public Safety, Streets and Public Im provements, Parks and Public Property. By virtue of his office, the mayor is at the head of the general department of Public Affairs. It has so happened that in the two councils chosen under the commission plan there has been no friction in the assignments. But it is too much to expect that in the future men are going to be satisfied with assignments to departments for which they have no aptitude or liking. Here is an apparent weakness in the law. The council at its first regular meeting designates a city clerk, solicitor, asses sor, treasurer, auditor, police judge, civil engineer, city physician, marshal, fire chief, market master, street commissioner, three library trustees, and such other officers and assistants as in its judgment may be "necessary to the proper and efficient conduct of the affairs of the city." The council also has power to cre ate, from time to time, or to discontinue, offices and employments other than those expressly named, "according to their judgment of the needs of the city; and may by majority vote of all the members remove any such officer or employe;" and may prescribe, limit or change the compensation of such officers and em ployes. The one question not as yet definitely settled by precedents is that of the power of a councilman to name or to retain officers and employes of his de partment when such course is not approved by a majority of his associates ; and, too, the right of a majority to force upon the head of any department an officer in his department, or to prevent the head of a department from removing at will an officer in his department. Several cases involving this question have come up in the meetings of the council, and nothing else has done more to weaken popular judgment in favor of the plan than the acrimonious debates following attempts of this sort. It is a two-sided question ; but, forth from unseemly squabbles over offices has come a general judgment that, while the council should not attempt to exercise its power to force upon an unwilling departmental head an official whom he rejects, it should exercise its veto power on appointments which in its judg ment should not be made ; and should insist upon the removal of an official who in its judgment has given cause for removal. In the working out of questions of appointment and removal, publicity has thus far been a sufficient corrective. It is to be noted that while the council is not required to hold regular meet ings oftener than once a month, that body itself has arranged for regular meet ings three times a week, and special meetings at any time when called by the mayor or two councilmen. All meetings, regular or special, at which any person not a city officer is admitted, is open to the public. Special interests are heard, and questions and answers pass between the council and interested parties, with democratic directness and informality. The duties of the mayor included under the head of "Public Affairs" are to preside over the council and to "supervise all departments and report to the coun cil for its action all matters requiring attention in either." It will be seen that this measure of responsibility leaves much to the individuality of the mayor. There may come a time when, under some future mayor too aggressive, or one lacking in initiative, it. will be necessary to define more specifically the duties of the head of the Department of Public Affairs. The superintendent of the Department of Accounts and Finance is vice presi dent of the council, and in the absence of the mayor, or through the inability of the mayor to serve, becomes the acting mayor. The council cannot lawfully appropriate money for, or order, any sewer, or other street improvement, or make or authorize any contract, or grant any fran chise or right to occupy or use the streets, highways, bridges, or other public 616 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY places in the city for any purpose, until the ordinance or resolution appropriating money or ordering, or permitting, action in any of these directions shall after its final passage, have been placed on file with the city clerk for public inspection and shall have remained there open to inspection for at least a week before it can be finally adopted. No franchise or right to occupy or use the streets, highways, bridges, or pub lic places in any city can lawfully be granted, renewed or extended, except bv ordinance. Every franchise or grant "for interurban or street railways, gas or water works, electric light or power plants, heating plants, telegraph or telephone sys tems, or other public service utilities in the city, must be authorized or approved by a majority of the electors voting thereon at a general or special election." The existence of this saving clause has already, by its moral effect alone, saved the city from schemes to make the citizens of Des Moines for all time tributary to organizations of naturally monopolistic tendencies. Less than a single decade ago, it would have been easy to point out one alder man who directly, or indirectly, held a contract with the city to supply the city schools, courthouse, library and other public buildings with fuel, and at prices above those paid by other extensive buyers of coal; another who was directly or indirectly behind, or interested in, every building contract executed by the city; and there were members who, by alliance with these, were able to prevent the saloon interest, the gambling interest, and the red-light district from being se riously fined or punished. Now and then a lone reformer on the council would point to some practically obsolete ordinance which by subsequent amendment had been devitalized and insist that the public should be protected against or ganized greed ; but the "working members" of that body would coolly dismiss the subject and "proceed to business." How is it now? No officer or employe, either elected or appointed, has any right to be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract or job for work or materials, or in the profits thereof, or in any services to be performed for the city. Thus far there has been no intimation of a disregard of this section of the law. The law prohibits officers and employes from becoming directly or indirectly interested in, or accepting favors from, any work or services performed by any person, firm or corporation operating any interurban or street railway, gas works, water works, electric Hght or power plant, heating plant, telegraph line, or tele phone exchange, or any other business using or operating under a public fran chise. Nor is any officer or employe permitted to use any frank, free ticket or free service, or any service whatever on terms more favorable than is granted to the public generally. Such prohibition of free transportation does not apply to policemen and firemen in uniform. There is still another prohibition of grave significance. Any officer or em ploye of the city who "by solicitation or otherwise" exerts his influence "directly or indirectly" to induce any other officer or employe to adopt his political views or to favor any particular person or candidate for office, or who shall contribute money, labor or other valuable thing to any person for election purposes, is de clared guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than $300, or by jail imprisonment for not to exceed thirty days. One of the first duties of the first council under the new plan was to appoint three civil service commissioners, one of whom should serve for two years, a second for four years and the third for six years. Each succeeding council is required to appoint a commissioner to take the place of the one whose term expires, thus ensuring a continuous body, retaining the experience of two of its members and ensuring a desirable addition of "new blood" in the personnel of the board. The chairman of the commission is the member whose term is first to expire. The commissioners are chosen from men who have been residents of the city for at least three years. The council is empowered, on a vote of four members, to remove any commissioner and to fill the vacancy. Each com- GROUP OF COUNCILMEN AND MAYOR, DES MOINES CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 617 missioner is under oath to obey the laws and to "aim to secure and maintain an honest and efficient force, free from partisan distinction or control." These commissioners, in April and October, and oftener if necessary, hold examina tions in accordance with rules prescribed by the council, for the purpose of de termining the qualifications of applicants for positions, practically and fairly test ing the relative fitness of the applicants to discharge the duties of the positions they seek. The commissioners are to certify to the council twice the number of persons necessary to fill vacancies, and all vacancies which come under the civil service prior to the date of the next examination, are filled from this list. Such appointees are subject to removal by the council, for misconduct or inefficiency, and the chief of police, the chief of the fire department, or any foreman or superintendent in charge of municipal work, may peremptorily discharge or sus pend any such appointee for neglect of duty or insubordination, promptly report ing such action, with the reason therefor, to the head of his department, who shall affirm or revoke such action, as the facts may seem to him to warrant. Thus, in a single section, does the Des Moines plan relegate to the history of municipal misgovernment that well-nigh insurmountable obstruction to munici pal reform, that ancient foe of efficiency, — a public service made up of political hangers-on and time-servers whose innings are only so many opportunities for petty graft, alternately placated and feared by violators of the law, acknowledging no allegiance to any authority except "the boss" to whom they report and to whom they owe their appointment. The law affords to the honest and efficient a reasonable guaranty of a retention of their positions without further examina tion, "unless removed for cause." Every elective officer, within thirty days after qualifying, must publish in a daily newspaper a sworn statement of his campaign and election expenses, and by whom such funds are contributed. Publicity is written large in the Des Moines Plan. In addition to the provi sion for open meetings of the council, that body imnt every month print in pamphlet form a detailed statement of all receipts and expenditures of the city and a summary of its proceedings during the preceding month. This monthly report is on file in the city and the state library, and is sent to the daily news papers and to persons who apply for them. At the close of the year, a thorough expert examination is made of all the books and accounts of the city and the results of such examination are published and sent out, as are the monthly statements. But what guaranty have the citizens that the men they elect to the council will serve them faithfully and honestly? We are indebted to the Swiss republic for our answer to this important question. In the valleys and on the mountain- slopes of that birth-place of civil liberty originated the word "Recall," a word of wholesome dread to the unworthy office-holder. In the "good old times," the suspected, and even the known, grafter was tamely permitted to "serve out his term." Meantime he could so "fix things" that the sentiment which a few months before would have defeated his re-election was dissipated by his own shrewdness in procuring the nomination of some equally or still more objectionable candidate against him. Not so now. A councilman may be removed at any time by the electors, a majority of whom placed him in office. The mere mention of the word "Recall" has thus far been a sufficient corrective. A petition, signed by at least twenty-five per centum of the entire vote for mayor at the last preceding municipal election, demanding the election of a successor to the person whom the petitioners would remove from office may be filed with the city clerk, con taining a general statement of the grounds for which the removal is sought. Within ten days, the city clerk, having satisfied himself as to the number and quality of the signatures, must submit the petition to the council. If the council is satisfied that the clerk's finding is correct, it must order and fix a date for a special election not less than thirty nor more than forty days thereafter, and shall arrange by publication and otherwise for the holding of such election. The 618 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY offending councilman may announce himself a candidate to succeed himself and so seek a vindication at the hands of his fellow citizens, and the clerk must place his name on the official ballot. If he secures a majority of the votes cast at this "removal election," he may consider himself vindicated: if not, his seat is declared vacant and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall take his seat. We have now come to the famous "Initiative" and "Referendum" — those twin servants of Democracy, also born in freedom-loving Switzerland. With the exception of urgency ordinances, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, — ordinances requiring four votes in the council — no or dinance passed by the council goes into effect before ten days from the date of its final passage ; and if during that time a petition signed by at least twenty-five per cent of the electors last voting for mayor, protesting against the passage of such ordinance, shall be presented to the council, the ordinance in question is "help up," and nothing remains for that body but to reconsider, and if the ques tioned ordinance be not entirely repealed, the council can submit the same at a special election, or, if a general election is impending, then at a general election, and it becomes effective only when it receives a majority vote at such election. We now confront the last general question raised in connection with the plan: "How can the city rid itself of the system should its citizens become con vinced that it is a failure, or that some other device for governing a city is better?" The answer lies in Section 21 of the law: "Any city which shall have operated for more than six years under the provisions of this act may abandon such organization," "and accept the provisions of the general law of the state then applicable to cities of its population." Is a council lacking in initiative? Or, as is more likely to be the case, does it desire to "be shown?" Would it know how fast, or far, the citizens and taxpayers would go in any direction? Are the people clamorous for progress in certain directions? The recourse is easily comprehended and applied. "Any proposed ordinance may be submitted to the council by petition signed by electors of the city equal in number to twenty-five per centum of the votes cast for all candidates for mayor at the last preceding general election." It is then "up to" the council either to pass the or dinance without alteration within twenty days after the certification of the peti tion; or to call a special election, — unless a general municipal election is fixed within ninety days thereafter, and at such election, such ordinance shall be sub mitted to popular vote. But, should the demand be less imperative, — should it be only ten to twenty-five per centum of the popular vote for mayor, then the alternative of the council is either to pass the ordinance within twenty days, or to submit the same at the next general city election occurring not more than thirty days after the clerk's certificate is attached. This last provision seems lame in that an emergency might arise soon after a general election, and a peti tion signed by less than twenty-five per cent of the voters might come to nought. Any number of proposed ordinances may be voted upon at the same election; but not more than one special election can be held for such purpose in any six- months period. On the petition of not less than twenty-five per centum of the electors, a special election shall be called at which the citizens would vote on the proposition : "Shall the city of Des Moines abandon its organization . . . and become a city under the general law governing cities of like population?" It requires no prophetic vision to enable one to see that if the question of retaining or abandoning the plan should come up at this time, the vote would be overwhelming for its retention. The bill as originally drafted called for a sub mission of the question of retention or abandonment every six years; but, as it now reads, the question of the life of the plan can come up only in response to a strong current of opposition, for it is not easy to procure the signatures of 25% of the voters for or against any proposition. Judging by expressions of popular opinion after nearly four years' experience, it may safely be predicted CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 619 that there will not soon be even a test of the strength of the plan with the voters. This plan to which can be traced so much that fills a "long-felt want," so much that points the way toward the solution of America's most difficult problem, will not soon be abandoned : but, rather, will from time to time be strengthened as experience shall suggest. A concluding word as to the present council upon whom the city has placed the responsibility of the plan's enforcement. Nobody will claim that it is an ideal board of directors. There is still too much mere "politics" in its delibera tions. Its members have indulged occasionally in unseemly "scraps." Com binations and counter-combinations have been reported to exist among its mem bers. But no one will deny that the finances of the city are better handled and more easily comprehended than before. The same may be said of the streets and alleys, the parks and public buildings. Even the department of public safety, more amenable to criticism than any one other department, is far better managed than in the days of licensed vice and crime when the monthly "mulct" was in fact a license, and when the police department was a protection not to the public, but to the regu lar payers of fines. The vigor evinced by the mayor and the councilmen in their attempts to solve the long-pending problems growing out of the city's relations to public utilities inspires hope that the solution of those problems, to the reasonable satisfaction of the general public, and without injustice to the public service corporations, is not far distant. CHAPTER VIII. FORMER METHODS OF FINANCING THE CITY COMPARED WITH PRESENT METHODS. In another chapter1 the financial straits of the new Capital city were described and the necessity of issuing warrants in anticipation of future revenues was ex plained. The practice of anticipating revenues was continued on through the years. The "hawking" of city warrants was frequently indulged in to the dis credit of the city, and the "judgment fund" was too often used as a dumping ground for unpaid claims. The system of using funding bonds as a temporizing policy naturally followed. The discounting of city warrants became a profitable business. Laborers then earning from $1.00 to $1.25 a day were obliged to submit to a discount in order to get cash and the grocers were obliged to take warrants in payment for goods and submit to a discount in order to realize on them. In 1871, the council authorized a "judgment bond" issue, the bonds to be paid, on or before twenty years "at the pleasure of the city of Des Moines," at the bank ing house of Allen, Stephens & Company in the city of New York, the bonds to bear interest "at the rate of ten per cent payable semi-annually." Ordinance No. 154, passed September 4, 1871, provided for issuing bonds of the city of Des Moines, Iowa, to H. Blennerhassett, or his assigns, for the amount due on the judgment recovered by him in the U. S. Circuit court, vs. the City of Des Moines, Iowa. The judgment was for the sum of $170,680, and the bonds were to cover the balance of $119,983.44. These bonds were involved in the suits growing out of the B. F. Allen failure, the story of which failure is elsewhere related.2 On September 10, 1872, B. F. Allen, as "agent" for H. Blennerhassett, gave William Lowry, city treasurer, a receipt for nineteen one-thousand-dollar bonds in pay ment of the judgment rendered. On June 10, 1875, the council passed an ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds in the sum of $290,000 to be known as the "Consolidated Loan," and on November 21, 1888, a "Warrant Bond Fund" issue was authorized for $100,000 at 5 per cent. It would seem from the foregoing that councils were wont to issue warrants for various purposes when no funds were immediately available. Under the pres ent wholesome restraints of the new law, such an attempted procedure would be checked at the outset as in plain violation of the law. The elimination of this so- called "high-finance" is a most effective safeguard erected by the law against reckless expenditure. Having anticipated a consideration of the "plan" under which finances of the city of Des Moines are now operated, let us now consider as a whole that important measure of reform in administrative methods. The new administration in 1908-9 was confronted with matters of an extra ordinary character in the litigation between the city and all but one of the public service corporations. The city railway, water company and gas litigation severely taxed the resources of the council to provide funds to carry on the suits. The welfare of the city demanded an understanding between these corporations claiming "perpetual" franchises. While the tax levies have been reduced under the new administration, new "The City Started on Borrowed Capital," Book III, Chapter II. In a chapter on Pioneer Banks and Bankers and their Successors. 620 no 2! >»2;?9 02 «*i fa am pm1-*^ m M: ] Hi CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 621 levies have been created by legislative enactment which have been taken care of by the equalization process. Since 1908 the legislature has authorized new levies for a fireman's pension fund, a policeman's pension fund, and "park purchase." Then the new municipal building, the Locust and the Walnut street bridge bonds were issued, and the interest on these had to be met. The viaduct also necessi tated a levy not theretofore made. But all these special levies are included in the reduced rate later referred to. Under the new administration all moneys have been receiving 2% interest on daily balances and 4% on certificates, thus giving the city several thousand dollars more every year to operate with. The interest for the years 1908-9 amounted to $8,031.85 ; for 1909-10, $15,974.74; for 1910-11, $16,681.17; to Oct. 1, 191 1, $6,475.02; making a total of $47,162.78 for three and a half years' interest. The objection raised by those in opposition to the plan that the increase in salaries and wages to a living basis would bankrupt the city is met by this one item of saving. Various permanent improvements demonstrate that the taxpayers have "something to show for their money." Prominent object les sons in this direction are : the new municipal building, the Locust street bridge, the Walnut street bridge, the grade changes on Locust, Des Moines, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth streets ; the miles of new street improvements, including paving, sew ering, curbing, sidewalks, permanent concrete crossings and minor bridges, along with betterment of construction and more rigid specifications for material tests ; also the attention paid to city adornment by removing the sharp angles of inter sections and insisting on uniform construction of sidewalks. The city has paid off about $32,000 in land payments for parks, an indebtedness carried over from the old park board, and has condemned property for two blocks along the east bank of the Des Moines river between Court avenue and Locust street, for park and river improvement purposes. Children's play-grounds have been started and additional party property has been purchased. While a general review shows without doubt that citizens are getting more for their money than previously, it is evident that as the city grows and becomes more ambitious, the cost of running the city must increase. But the growth of the city with the consequent increase in the value of its real and personal prop erty should enable the council to prevent any considerable increase in the tax levy, and may ultimately result in a reduction. The Des Moines plan has been in operation less than four years. What can it show in fulfillment of the promises made by its sponsors ? Reduced expendi ture? Nobody promised reduced expenditure. Lower taxes? No one promised lower taxes; but the present rate does prove to be lower than that of 1907-8. Better general results ? Yes. More in evidence for the money expended ? Yes. Better streets ; better bridges ; better public buildings ; better fire and police ser vice ; better accounting for money received and expended ; parks and public build ings in better condition? Yes. Clearly defined responsibility? Yes. Does pub licity have a corrective tendency? Yes. Have the members of the two councils thus far chosen been fairly representative of the voters of the city? Yes. But what of the city's finances? Are the reports of municipal extravagance and waste of public money founded upon fact ? Let us see. When the old regime went out of office April 1, 1908, it left an indebtedness of $194,992.04, and cash on hand $71,886.24. The new council issued bonds to take care of most of this indebtedness, but left $16,373.86 not paid by bond issue. It left cash on hand $55,492.38 in the "working funds" clear of indebtedness. April 1, 1909, the end of the first year under the new plan, the cash on hand in the working funds exceeded the claims outstanding by $77,171.66, a net gain of $21,- 679.28, for the year; or, in other words, it received $21,679.28 more than it spent in these funds. The old council went in debt, 1007-8 $138,436.60 The new council surplus the ist year, 1908-9 21,679.28 A first-year gain of the new council over the old, amounting to. .$160,115.88 622 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY During the second and third years under the new law there was no such show ing of gain ; but there was a satisfactory showing of results. It should be noted that during the three years the city lived within its income. It also kept the tax levy down. Whereas the city's levy in 1907 was 37.9 mills, in 1909 and 1910 it was 37.1. At the close of the fiscal year April 1, 1909, there was an excess of cash over claims in the "working funds" amounting to $77,171.66. The working- fund receipts for the years 1909 and 1910 aggregated $1,786,779.02. The war rant issue in the working funds aggregated $1,687,497.68 or $99,281.34 less than the receipts. But this, however, is offset by outstanding certificates to the amount of $49,362.06 and outstanding warrants amounting to $57,908.61. The certifi cates referred to are issued only in liquidation of indebtedness for the city's per manent improvements, and are taken care of by the current tax levy. Among the items rightfully classed as permanent improvements are such as these: $172,- 400.55 toward the erection of the Municipal Building ordered by the voters of the city; $18,901.32, the sum thus far expended on the viaduct — no less a perma nent asset of the city; a bridge-fund item of $26,721.59 in 1909 and one of $29,- 191.50 in 1910; sewer fund item of $34,170.98 in 1909 and one of $23,425.23 in 1910; grading fund item of $58,617.36 in 1909, and of $24,616.58 in 1910. All this expenditure is clearly in the nature of a permanent investment, and means a better working and more attractive city. The general judgment of those who have most closely watched the operations of the new law under the present and the preceding council is that the city's executive officers are not only keeping down the levy and living within their work ing-fund income; but also are making substantial additions to the city's assets, — and that without suspicion of "graft." CHAPTER IX. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY MOVEMENT FOR THE NAVIGATION OF THE DES MOINES. The twentieth century movement for the development of the Des Moines river for navigation originated early in the season of 1907. A resolution was presented to each of the three commercial organizations of Des Moines by A. C. Miller, urging Captain Hull, member of Congress from this District, to in troduce a bill asking for an appropriation for the survey of the Des Moines river for the purpose of determining whether or not it was practical and feasi ble to improve the river for navigation, what the cost would be, and whether the cost would be justified in the results which would accrue to the state and to the city of Des Moines. A joint committee was appointed, composed of a representative from each of the three organizations, to take the matter under consideration. A. C. Miller was made chairman of that committee. At the committee's request Congress man Hull introduced a bill in the House, January 20, 1908, which was referred to the Rivers and Harbors Committee. Under the direction of the War Depart ment following this action, a preliminary examination of the river was made by Major Meggs of Keokuk, who made a trip down the river from Des Moines to its mouth in a government launch, taking soundings, making notes and secur ing all information possible pertaining to the stream. This preliminary report, which was favorable, was made to Major Riche, in charge of this department with headquarters at Rock Island. Following this preliminary report of Major Meggs, notice was given to Chairman Miller of the Committee, that before proceeding with the work of making the survey, it would be necessary that a showing be made to the Depart ment at Rock Island, covering various phases of the subject, that they might determine whether or not the results to be obtained would justify the expendi ture. It therefore became incumbent upon this committee to secure information and data showing the extent of country tributary to the river, the number of square miles drained, the annual rainfall, the high and low water discharge of the stream, the amount of tonnage produced in the Des Moines river valley, including all agricultural products, live stock, the products of its clay and shales, the products of its mines. After several months' research, the committee's re port was forwarded to Major Riche and was later embodied with his own re port to the Reviewing Board of Engineers. The matter was taken up by the Board in February, 1910. They passed favorably on the report, granted the petition to Congress and ordered the survey to proceed under Major Riche. As soon as a corps of engineers could be organized by the Major, the work began under the immediate charge of Albert O. Rowse, Assistant United States Engi neer, with headquarters in the old post-office building in Des Moines, Iowa, where they were maintained for several months. They were finally removed to Detroit. In July, 191 1, a corporation known as the Des Moines River Power Company was organized with headquarters in Chicago. Its object was to improve the Des Moines river for water power, and later it applied to the War Depart ment for permission to develop practically all the water power sites between Des Moines and the Mississippi river. 623 624 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY At this date the engineer's report has not been made public, but it will be filed with the War Department shortly and the results of this work will then become public. It is hoped by those interested in the development of Iowa and of the Des Moines river valley, rich as it is in clays and shales, as well as in agricultural products, that some harmonious plan will be reached by which both these projects can be brought to a successful conclusion. While the develop ment of water power within the state would result in cheap power and that in turn means the building of factories and the employment of labor, yet it can hardly be expected that the government would consent to a perpetual surrender of its rights. CHAPTER X. RECENT EVENTS AND OCCURRENCES I91O. The building record of 1910 showed great progress. Among the more notable new buildings of the year stands the Securities building, on Seventh between Grand and Locust, a fine representative of the office building of the period. It was erected by Richard R. Rollins. Its white-tile front, looming seven stories high, is attractive and pleasing. It is locally a pioneer in the employment of til ing for building purposes. Other buildings of prominence erected during the year are the following: On the northwest corner of Seventh and Grand stands the Cargill hotel, substan tially built and elegantly finished and furnished. Large warehouses shot up like magic during the year. The Blue Line Transfer building on Second and Elm, and the Merchants' Transfer, at Ninth and Mulberry, are the most conspicuous of this class. The Iowa Portland Cement Company erected a $75,000 building in the southwestern part of the city. Several factory buildings were erected and others were enlarged. The Des Moines Life building, a large seven story struct ure, doubled in its frontage on Grand avenue during the year. The Victoria hotel, a few years ago thought to be "too large for the town," was enlarged by an addition on Sixth avenue. The Equitable building, recently bought of the New York company by the Equitable of Iowa, received four additional stories, mak ing it twelve stories high. The Younker Brothers' extensive department store received two additional stories, which, with the recent addition on Seventh street, gives the house more than double the floor-space covered by its new building as originally occupied. The Bentley & Olmsted shoe factory, on Court and East Ninth, was one of the large building items of the year ; but, unfortunately, the new building on which so much thought and energy had been expended, was totally destroyed by fire be fore it had yielded any return in service. The Lagerquist Automobile Company, on Second and Chestnut, the Cownie Glove Company's building on Third and Vine, the Des Moines Plumbing Company on Grand between Eighth and Ninth, the Rogg & Mennig building on Locust between Ninth and Tenth, the Charles Weitz building on Mulberry between Seventh and Eighth, the Pratt-Mendsen building on Eighth and Cherry, the Racine-Sattley building on Seventh and Vine, the new power house of the Des Moines Electric Company, First and Chestnut, and the company's substation on Tenth between Grand and High — these are some of the more prominent of the many evidences of Des Moines' growth and prom ise as it entered upon the new decade of progress. The largest building in 1910 was the Municipal building — too large to be completed in a single year. Its foun dation walls were laid deep and wide and its structure is a happy combination of the substantial and the beautiful. The Frederick M. Hubbell school building at 42d and Center, was a fine addition to the modern school buildings of the city. In interior arrangement it embodies the best thought in modern school architec ture. The Bird school building at 21st and Woodland, and the Brooks school, 21st and Des Moines, are also examples of modern thought in the arrangement of interiors. The completion and occupancy of the new government postoffice, beautifying the river front at a point not far removed from the little old one- story postoffice over which P. M. Casady presided in 1847, was one of the events Vol. 1—40 625 626 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of the year. Apartment houses sprang up in all parts of the city during the year, and readily find occupants. The Ewing, on Locust above Ninth, is one of the more conspicuous of this class of structures. There was a phenomenal de gree of activity in house-building, both in the city proper and in the various sub urbs. Whole squares which were vacant a year before were at the close of the season alive with suburban residents. Something approaching a real-estate boom was surely on the city during that first year of the new decade. The Second Election Under the Des Moines Plan. The year 1910, though belonging to the relatively present, includes events too important to be omitted in a work covering, even in a general way, the history of the Des Moines "from the earliest period to the present time." The municipal campaign of 1910 opened in January, and before the close of the month the following were regarded as in the field: For mayor, A. J. Mathis, S. B. Allen, Mack Olsen, E. E. Dorr and J. R. Hanna. The candidates for seats in the council were Messrs. MacVicar, Schramm, Hamery and Ash, of the first council, and Zell G. Roe, E. D. Brigham and W '. A. Needham. The Laymen's Civic Union organized in February, for public service in the coming campaign, their principal aim being to make war on gambling, prostitu tion, immoral amusements and illicit saloonism, and to investigate and report on the character and qualifications of candidates. Later in the campaign the league addressed a set of questions to the candidates — which in the main were answered — some of them directly, some equivocally, some defiantly. The East-Side Independent League was organized in February, claiming sixty members at the outset. Its purpose was not definitely announced. A Consolidated Club was next organized, supposed to be in the interest of a somewhat more "open town" than Councilman Hamery would be likely to per mit were he to be re-elected. The club's membership at the outset was reported as 457. It endorsed Mayor Mathis, Councilman Ash and John MacVicar, also Zell G. Roe, W. A. Needham and W. H. Brereton. The endorsement of Mr. MacVicar was said to have been owing chiefly to the fact that his re-election was regarded as inevitable. The Labor League, on the other hand, was divided in support of MacVicar, bur united in support of that councilman's single market-house plan. The City Club was incorporated late in February "for the purpose of secur ing the best candidates for political offices." The immediate purpose of the club was impartial investigation and examination of the claims of candidates for city offices. Local club and ward meetings were held almost nightly, and candidates were present on invitation or by permission, and many were the questions thrashed out at these informal gatherings. Early in March, the "Laymen's Club" reported with frankness and an evident attempt at fairness on the principal candidates, presenting the strength and weak ness of their respective claims as the club saw them. As the day of the primary approached, many personalities were indulged in, and the interest became intense. Accusations and denials filled the air. The Political Equality Club made a stirring appeal to women to show their strength by voting on the issuance of $400,000 bond for a high school building — the only question on which they were permitted to vote. The result of the primary was not without its surprises. The vote for mayor was: A. J. Mathis, 4,879: James R. Hanna, 3,143; S. B. Allen, received 1,797 votes; Mack Olsen, 1,768; E. E. Dorr, 905 ; B. F. Loos, 51. For councilman, the first eight were: John MacVicar, 6,716; Wesley Ash, 6,870; Zell G. Roe, 6,346; W. H. Brereton," 5,090; Charles W. Schramm, 4,582; John L. Hamery, 3,736; W. A. Needham, 3,554 ; E. D. Brigham, 3,338. Of the remaining candidates L. J. Kasson — public ownership candidate — led with 1,946, followed by A. D. Pugh — socialist candidate — with 1,852. The eight remaining candidates received votes ranging from 507 to 102. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 627 The selection of Professor Hanna as the running mate with Mayor Mathis was the principal surprise of the day. The size of the vote for Roe and Brere ton — exceeding that of either Schramm or Hamery, was a dual surprise. Passing over the short and heated campaign which followed, the election on the 28th of March resulted in a still greater surprise to many — the defeat of Mayor Mathis by Professor Hanna, and the defeat of Councilman Hamery by Mr. Roe. The vote as first announced, stood as follows: Mathis, 7,598; Hanna, 7,531. But the official returns reversed the result, giving Hanna 7,525 and Mathis, 7,509. Mr. Mathis made haste to assure Mr. Hanna that he would not contest the election. As was expected, MacVicar led all the rest. His vote was 9,006; Ash next with 8,829; Roe, 8,167; Schramm, 7,371. The next lowest can didate, Needham, received 5,976; Hamery, 5,947; Brereton, 5,429; Brigham, 4,284. The success of Mayor Hanna at the polls, in the face of powerful opposition, was variously accounted for. But the judgment of most men who had closely watched the trend of the campaign was that Professor Hanna won the favor of the masses by his evident sincerity and boldness in openly advocating measures which were tabooed by conservatives as "too radical;" by his surprisingly large fund of information on all subjects presented and his preparedness for all ques tions raised. Instead of being "a mere theorist," the public found him prepared, by previous experiences and study of public questions, for any emergency in debate. The voting strength of Mr. MacVicar was easily accounted for. Pre pared by long experience in politics and possessed of a wide range of informa tion on all municipal questions, he was without doubt the best-equipped man in Des Moines on all questions relating to municipal government. The death of William H. Baily, former corporation counsel for the city, and one of the framers of the commission law now in operation in Des Moines and other cities of the state and country, occurred on the ioth of May, 1910, de priving the city of a conceded authority on municipal law and one of the ablest lawyers in the state. Mr. Baily had just passed his sixtieth birthday. Several thousand people gathered at the Coliseum on the evening of May 10, 1910, to greet Senators Dolliver and Cummins, who gave to an enthusiastic audience of "progressives" an account of their insurgency — their rejection of the Aldrich tariff bill because of its failure to redeem the party's pledge, and their insistence upon amendments to the Wickersham railroad bill, thus saving it from failure as a reform measure. Senator Dolliver was at his best, for he was speaking to all Iowa. Senator Cummins was at his best, for he was addressing his fellow-townsmen who "had fought, bled and died" for him ! It was a notable meeting, its speakers sounding the keynote of the progressive campaign in Iowa. The campaign for the republican nomination for congress in 1910 lay be tween the incumbent, Captain Hull, and a former aspirant for the seat, Judge S. F. Prouty. Both candidates were residents of Des Moines and each had a strong home following. The incumbent ran upon his record of achievement for the district and his regularity in the support of republican measures. The op posing candidate ran on asurances that, if elected, he would support the "prog ressive" policies of the period. Before the campaign closed it became apparent that Judge Prouty was forging ahead — that the claims of Captain Hull were not exercising the potent spell of other years. Each candidate made a vigorous cam paign: but the rising wave of "insurgency" carried the Judge safely over the primaries and into the coveted seat. In the primaries which virtually decided the question of succession, he carried every county in the district except Madison, receiving in his own county 7,240 votes, as against 5,870 votes cast for Hull — a majority of 1,370. His majority in the district was over 2,200. This was Judge Prouty's fourth campaign, and Captain Hull's ninth. By this vote the republicans 628 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of the district retired a man of large influence and national reputation ; but sub stituted therefor a man of force and ability who soon made himself heard and felt in the House. The New Municipal Building. The new era in Des Moines found emphatic expression in Municipal Day celebration, June n, 1910. On the afternoon of that day the cornerstone of Des Moines' new half-million-dollar municipal building was laid with fitting cere monies. This imposing edifice is the first local monument to the commission form of government, and this was the first official recognition of the start which had been made in Des Moines. When it was proposed to style the new building the city hall, there was a touch of sentiment in the response of many that there was too much unwelcome suggestion clinging to the name "City Hall." And so, by common consent the structure was christened "Municipal Building" — the words to be carved upon its walls that there might be no reversion to the former title. The building itself was designed to be something more than a mere commo dious city hall. Its architecture was the product of the combined skill and judg ment of a commission made up of Messrs. Proudfoot & Bird, Hallett & Rawson, Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen and Wetherell & Gage. The twenty-five-year-old structure which it was to supersede had long since been outgrown by the muni cipality. After the voters of the city committed themselves to the Des Moines plan, the necessity of more room for departmental work soon became pressing. In response to pressure from within, and to a general desire to build upon the river front a fitting monument to municipal progress, the taxpayers of the city cheerfully voted the appropriation which made possible Municipal Day. At 2 p. m. the impressive parade started from east Fifth and Walnut streets, passing over the new bridge and throug'h the business portion of Locust and Walnut streets on the West side, thence back to the site of the building, on the east bank of the river, between Locust street and Grand avenue. The parade consisted of bands of music, cavalry from the army post, state, county and city officials in carriages, the city's fire and police departments, the fraternal orders including the labor organizations. All the men employed by the city formed an industrial parade which gave to spectators new respect for the departmental work in progress. The laying of the corner stone was under the direction of F. S. Treat, grand master of the Masonic body in the state. The ceremonies were presided over by Mayor James R. Hanna. The copper casket enclosed in the corner stone con tains historical matter carefully selected by Curator Harlan, of the historical department, including Masonic records, an abstract of municipal history and a roster of all officials of the city since its incorporation, recent acts relating to Des Moines, ordinances of 1907, proceedings of council operating under the new law, photographic views of new Des Moines, copies of Des Moines dailies, a Des Moines directory, a state official register, and much other matter presumably in teresting to the New Zealander of centuries hence who shall sit upon the ruins of Locust street bridge, making notes on the ancient city of Des Moines ! The costliest fire of the year occurred near midnight on June 29, entirely destroying the extensive building of Brinsmaid & Company, wholesalers and re tailers of china, glassware, etc. The total loss on the building and stock, and on neighboring buildings, furniture, etc., was estimated at $86,000, most of which was covered with insurance. A serious set-back in the local business world was the involuntary bankruptcy of the Agar Packing Company, August 13, 1910. The assets and liabilities of the company in Chicago and Des Moines amounted to about $400,000._ The pressure of Chicago creditors occasioned the suspension. Subsequent investigation CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 629 strengthened the first impression that the course pursued by the principal cred itors was part of a preconcerted plan to close out a competitor for Iowa business. W. H. Cathcart of Des Moines was appointed receiver, and, later, the property was sold to a representative of Chicago interests who proceeded to dismantle it. The company was organized in Chicago in 1885. In 1901 it extended its business to Des Moines, occupying the old plant which had lain idle for several years. In 1902 its capital stock was increased from $200,000 to $500,000. Only a small minority of the stock was owned by Des Moines capitalists.1 The Iowa League of Commercial Clubs was organized in Des Moines August 30, 1910, with headquarters at the capital. The Des Moines Admen's Club was the inspiration of the organization, its main purpose being to increase the popula tion of Iowa, to diversify Iowa industries and to make Iowa land more produc tive. Fifty clubs united with the association, with H. E. Stout of Des Moines its secretary. Mayor Hanna and Governor Carroll welcomed the clubs to the Capital city and expressed belief that their mission would result in great benefits to Iowa. The John A. Kasson Memorial neighborhood house, adjoining St. Mark's church, East side, was dedicated on the 14th of September, 1910. The building was erected by subscription, to enable Rev. Thomas Casady to carry out his plans for the improvement and enrichment of neighborhood life. Senator Cummins delivered the dedicatory address on "Social Justice." The death of Senator Dolliver, on the 15th of October, was a deep grief to many. A special car bore state officials and intimate personal friends to Fort Dodge to attend the funeral on the 18th. Among 'the great gatherings in Des Moines was the 1910 convention of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. The numerous delegates were the guests of the city for nearly two weeks, and made a favorable impression upon Des Moines. The order represented 185,780 members. The chief contention of the united carpenters is the further extension of the eight- hour day to all the trades included in the American Federation of Labor. Mrs. Alice Cheek, the sweet singer of the war and of subsequent years, whose voice had been heard in hundreds of camp-fires, reunions and conventions, passed away on the 15th of November, leaving a delightful memory of her many gracious free-will offerings of song. xThe Des Moines Packing Company, J. Muelhaupt, president; Simon Casady, vice president; W. G. Agar, secretary, and J. T. Agar, treasurer, was incorporated November 20, 1911, with a capital of $250,000, and will own and operate the plant. CHAPTER XL RECENT EVENTS AND OCCURRENCES, 19H. On Tuesday, January 17, Frederick M. Hubbell, the foremost financier in Des Moines, and in all Iowa as well, celebrated his seventy-second birthday. A stranger to Mr. Hubbell on hearing or reading of the harrassing cares and hercu lean burdens which have been heaped upon this man as he has passed on through the years from comparative poverty to great wealth, might easily imagine him at three score and twelve a prematurely old man to whom vast possessions would be a burden. Great would be the stranger's surprise on being ushered into his presence to find — not a man with "heart bowed down with weight of woe," but rather a genial, affable, soft-voiced, smooth-faced, bright-eyed man apparently in the fifties, a man who has all the time needed for any business worth his while, and all the patience necessary to gain his point — if not today then tomorrow, or even some far-away tomorrow when new occasions will present new oppor tunities. Mr. Hubbell was the recipient of many congratulations from old friends and new. The Scottish-American Society of Des Moines seems to have for its principal mission the keeping alive the memory of the great Scottish bard, Robert Burns. Year after year, the men and women of Scottish birth have assembled in some public hall or hotel and banqueted and sung and talked of the inspired plow-boy whose verse has entered into the heart and life of every Scotchman since his time. The latest banquet of the society was in the "K. P." Hall on the East side, January 24, in honor of the I52d birthday of Burns. More than three hundred were in attendance. The issue as to Captain Peary's claim to glory for first reaching the North Pole was sharply joined by Captain Evelyn Baldwin, the Arctic explorer, and Dr. Frederick A. Cook, the contestant, at a banquet given Doctor Cook by the Press Club of Des Moines on the night of February 23. The two came on invitation of Chairman Galarno, of the club's program committee. This was said to be Cap tain Baldwin's first public stand with reference to the Cook-Peary controversy. He did not deny that Peary had reached the boreal center ; but declared Peary had lied in some of his statements discrediting Cook. Dr. Cook was given an en thusiastic audience, an audience curious to see and hear "the man of wonderful nerve." Some remained unconvinced. Many went away with the feeling that the man was honest in thinking he had reached the pole and that he must have been "very near it" long before Peary reached it. Doctor Cook, feeling he was among friends, spoke with the utmost freedom of Peary and of the strained relations be tween the two. He made no reference to his disputed claim to the ascent of Mt. McKinley. The Iowa Retail Hardware Association which held its first convention in 1898, reconvened in Des Moines February 23. At its latest convention the exhibitors had all the room they wanted in the new monster Coliseum, and booths were ar ranged for at least 120 exhibits. The pioneer merchant, C. C. Howell, came to Des Moines in 1856, and built up a wholesale hardware business in the city. For a number of years the firm name was Howell, Childs & Sanford. Later, Mr. Howell bought out his partners and founded the partnership of Howell & Seeberger, doing business at the corner of 630 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 631 Court avenue and Fifth street. Mr. Howell died in 1891, and in 1905 his widow moved to Portland, Oregon, to reside with her sons, George and Charles. The widow died February 24, and the remains were brought to Des Moines and buried in Woodland cemetery. The old Howell home on Third street was, when first occupied, one of the "show places" of Des Moines. The Des Moines Builders' Exchange was organized March 2, its avowed pur pose being to advance building in Des Moines, to encourage just building laws, to encourage improved building appliances, and to further commercial and social interests among its members. James H. Maine was elected president; Frank Perkins, vice president; and W. C. Jaeger, treasurer. Not to be outdone by other suburbs of the city, the residents of Capital Park organized a Capital Park Improvement League on the evening of March 6, with Judge F. T. Van Liew, president; George N. Frink, vice president; and R. War- gel, secretary-treasurer. The evident purpose of the club is to preserve Capital Park as a residential district, to the exclusion of warehouses and factories, and to make the suburb in other ways attractive. Sixty Des Moines manufacturers, members of the Iowa State Manufacturers' Association, lunched together at the Savery Hotel, March 7, at the first monthly meeting of the local body. Secretary Wrightman and Messrs. Waterbury, Stotts, Burch, Gunn and Shaver spoke on the desirability of projecting into the business life of the city a new force for progress, — "the force of public faith in manu facturing as an occupation and as an investment." A movement upon the city council urging acceptance of the proposition of the Harris company to sell the street railroad to the city was turned aside by the opposition of Mayor Hanna to a resolution to that effect. One of the require ments of the Harris proposition was that it should be unanimously accepted by the council. Mayor Hanna's attitude was practically at one with that of every member of a committee of twenty-five appointed by the Commercial Club to in vestigate and confer with the council as to the advisability of purchasing. The mayor's reason for his vote was that the public would not stand for the increased price put upon the property, — an advance of $218,000. The most successful automobile show thus far held in the middle west was the Des Moines event, March 7-1 1. The exhibition included fifty- four exhibitors, while the record of Omaha was forty and St. Louis, thirty-six. The immense Coliseum lent itself well to the exhibition, affording much space for display — and yet with every square foot of flooring utilized. The exhibitors in 1910 numbered only twenty-two. The attendance of the year before was a surprise, but that of 191 1 surpassed all anticipations. The show was given under the auspices of the Des Moines Automobile Dealers' Association, organized in January, 1910, and in cluding nearly all dealers in the city. The officers of the association were : W. E. Moyer, president; C. G. Van Vliet, secretary; C. R. Prouty, treasurer; R. C. Clements, W. E. Moyer, Dean Schooler, C. R. Prouty, C. G. Van Vliet, W. W. Sears and T. J. Williams, directors. These were accorded the credit for plan ning the show and making it the brilliant success it was. Visitors came from all parts of the state. One exhibitor reported thirty sales the first day. On the second day more than five thousand paying visitors passed the gates. On the night of the second day, a special band concert brought out the society people, who were received by the exhibitors in evening dress. A sale of over 7,000 tickets was reported on the third day. The total attendance during the week was re ported to have been more than three times that of the previous year. On Satur day night, following a successful week, the auto dealers banqueted the officers of the association. Representatives of all the leading motor journals of the coun try — about a dozen — united in praise of the Des Moines exhibjt. Following are the officers for 1911: W. E. Moyer, president; C. G. Van Vliet, secretary. Booker T. Washington spent Sunday, March 12, in Des Moines. In the course of the day he delivered addresses at St. Paul's Episcopal church, at Foster's opera house — on "Industrial Education," at Plymouth church and at a meeting 632 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY of the four negro congregations of the city, the A. M. E., the Corinthian Baptist, the Burns M. E. and the Union Congregational. . He was heard by large audi ences and it was reported that there were several responses to his eloquent appeal for the foundation of scholarships at Tuskegee. On the 13th of March the voters of Des Moines gave the school board a vote of confidence, re-electing by large majorities two of its members, Charles H. Martin and J. A. McKinney, on a ticket which contained five names. The board presented several minor questions — the leasing and selling of certain lots for commercial purposes, all of which were passed. The votes of women on these minor propositions were few because there was nothing of grave importance to arouse their interest. The Des Moines Credit Men, about fifty in number met at the Chamberlain, March 14, and arranged to send a large delegation to the National Convention of Credit Men at Minneapolis. Papers of a practical nature were read and dis cussed. The Thrashermen convened in the Coliseum in Des Moines, March 14-15. Jerry B. Sullivan welcomed the visitors. The convention discussed help, cus tomers, collections, bookkeeping, care of machinery, — and reciprocity! There were about four hundred present, the guests of the Des Moines Thrasher Club, R. L. Wood, president. The Iowa Millers' Club met at the Chamberlain Hotel, Des Moines, March 15, on invitation extended by E. F. Consigney and effected a closer and mutually more helpful organization. George Kibbe Turner, after a thorough study of the Des Moines plan in operation, published a paper in McClure's Magazine for May entitled "The New American City — The Des Moines Plan — a Triumph in Democracy," in which that able publicist held that "during the two years of the new plan the city of Des Moines has seen a most remarkable revival in business and growth in population. . . . The public improvements have been as remarkable. Pub lic institutions, hospitals and schools have been greatly enlarged. Millions of new investments have been brought into local business life." He described the cleaning up of the "redlight district," the ousting of the "bond sharks" and the physical renovation of the city, and the reforming effects of publicity in correct ing evils inherent in the very human natures of men elected to seats in the council. On the 6th of June, 191 1, a brave spirit went out, and friends who knew the years of suffering patiently, even cheerfully, endured, could not but feel that it was well. N. J. Miller, familiarly called "Jim Miller" by his host of friends, while employed as mail clerk on the Burlington road, on the night of April 6, 1875, became the victim of a railroad wreck which left him nearly dead and horribly burned. From that time until stricken with paralysis, just before his death, he was never free from suffering, and yet he never lost heart, but bravely held his place among the workers. Mr. Miller was superintendent of mails af Des Moines, and his efficiency was the admiration of all who came in contact with him officially. Unexpected Benefactions. The city of Des Moines was unexpectedly enriched by the will of the late Joseph S. Lewis probated on the 24th of July, 191 1. To the general surprise it was learned that a park of six acres had been donated to the city. The tract is a beautiful natural park lying north of the old Chautauqua grounds on St. Joseph avenue between Eleventh and Twelfth streets. The gift is a grove sloping northward toward the river — a tract long considered especially desirable, but not on the market. But Mr. Lewis's benefactions were not confined to the park. Property and money in excess of $75,000 otherwise placed, were given to various charitable institutions. The decedent was an old citizen of Des Moines who because of his advanced age — for he was 91 years old when he died — had not been prominent and was not known to many. He came to Des Moines soon FOSTER'S OPERA HOUSE Now only a memory — long the only high grade theatre in Des Moines AUDITORIUM CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 633 after the Civil war, and made fortunate investments in real estate. He bequeathed $1,000 to the Home for the Aged, Des Moines, and $500 for the Methodist Hospital. To the Central Presbyterian Church of Des Moines he gave his home, 928 Tenth street, to be known as "the Sarah E. Lewis Home for the Poor of the Central Presbyterian Church." His largest gift is a 440-acre farm in Dallas county for the benefit of the poor of Des Moines and of Polk and Dallas coun ties. The purpose developed in the will was that this be known as the Joseph S. Lewis farm, the proceeds from the rental of the farm to create a fund which shall be used to maintain a resting place during the summer for the poor of Des Moines and Polk and Dallas counties. It is directed that a suitable building be erected on the premises and that it be cared for and maintained. The farm was willed in trust to R. T. Wellslager and Simon Casady.1 A Market-place at Last. On Tuesday morning at 5 o'clock, July 25, 191 1, began in a small way a new epoch in Des Moines, for on that morning occurred the informal opening of a market place — affording direct communication between seller and buyer. It was a wholly out-doors affair and will be until 1912, when the city can legally enter into a contract for the erection of a market-house, the necessary funds not being available until March, 1912. Meantime plans and specifications were to be pre pared, bids received and the contract let. The ground set apart for the temporary market was manifestly inadequate, even with an overflow on Third street between Locust and Walnut. The number of market-gardeners and buyers on hand at an early hour, the numbers who con tinued to come — from five to ten o'clock — and the numbers who stayed "to see how it works" — was altogether a surprise. The on-looker accustomed to the involutions of modern business was impressed with the simplicity of the plan for bringing together those who have produce to sell and the men, women and chil dren of the city who are eager to avail themselves of the opportunity to save the middleman's profit. Every available space was filled and the good-natured, smil ing countenances of both buyer and seller told the story of mutual satisfaction in tlie new arrangement. The traffic in garden and orchard truck soon settled down to a regular system, with a steadily increasing number of buyers and sell ers, — thus, in advance of any expenditure by the city, carrying out in large meas ure the expressed desire of the voters. With a permanent market-place in pros pect for 1912 Des Moines makes another approach toward the city her citizens see in their dreams — a city in which the welfare of the poor is the predominant thought in every public purpose. A Vanishing Landmark. When the curtain rang down on the last act of "The Country Boy" Satur day night, September 2, 191 1, the locally historic Foster's Opera House passed into memory. For a third of a century this amusement center had contributed to the entertainment of the public. During the thirty-three years of its existence its stage had been traversed by most of the great actors and actresses of America and many of the great of other countries. Long antedated by Moore's Opera House, and for several years a rival of that pioneer house, it had long held first place in the affections of amusement lovers. With an average of a hundred attractions a season, and of six hundred in attendance, it was estimated that from first to last more than two million tickets had been taken at its doors. Foster's successful career as an amusement caterer began in 1878, when the Academy of Music was opened to the public. A log cabin on the corner of Wal nut and Eighth streets was pulled down to make place for it. The Register at the time referred to the event as the commencement of "the second era in the 1The heirs of Mr. Lewis are contesting the will. 634 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY metropolitan growth of Des Moines." Four or five years before, "the old- fashioned uncomfortable hall of the village life of Des Moines" had given place to "the stately opera house (Moore's) of city days." But "the march of im provement" had demanded "still greater facilities," and so the Academy of Music came into existence. It was originally an up-stairs house; but had long ago been converted into the Foster's Opera House known to a later generation with first floor entrances and exits. On the 28th of September, Mayor Hanna named seventeen members of a Social Betterment commission, who will investigate the social and moral condi tions of Des Moines. The mayor's plan is far-reaching and much is expected from the commission's reports. The third visit of William H. Taft, and the second visit of President Taft, occurred on the 29th of September, 191 1. The presidential train arrived early in the forenoon, and the president and his party breakfasted with about two hundred prominent citizens at the Grant Club. Governor Carroll, Senator Cum mins, Representative Prouty and Messrs. Cowles, Young and Hale of the three dailies formed the reception committee-in-chief. Behind these were the Greater Des Moines Committee, the Commercial Club and citizens generally. A hearty reception awaited the President at the club-breakfast. The President's frankness and geniality won for him many friends. His few informal remarks were in excellent spirit and were well received. At the Coliseum a magnificent audience of many thousand rose to greet him. His address was disappointing to those who had hoped to hear him discuss the questions on which factional lines had been drawn : but in his presentation of the subject-matter of the recent treaties with Great Britain, France and Germany, and in his argument in support of the treaties as they were written, without the proposed amendments of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, he evinced a masterly power of state ment. The discharge of a conductor in the employ of the Des Moines City Rail way Company, on information given by an inspector, which the Union on in vestigation believed to have been without foundation in fact, precipitated a strike on the 5th of August which, on the evening following was ended by a temporary injunction issued by Judge DeGraff, of the District court, commanding the strik ers to resume work and the company to restore the discharged men subject to arbitration as to the facts in the case. The legal soundness of the mandate was questioned by strict constructionists; but no one doubted the equity of it, — assuming that the public have rights which corporations and their employes are bound to respect. Late in September, Conductor Hiatt was again discharged, and with him were discharged two other men, in the company's employ, Roberts and Bruce by name. The alleged facts were again disputed by the Union and again arbitration was agreed upon. The company chose as its representative N. T. Guernsey, its legal adviser, and the Union, A. L. Urick, president of the State Federation of Labor. The two met daily, each offering lists of men from which the other was invited to select a third arbitrator. Finally on the nth of October, after it was found that the accepted choice of the Union, ex-State Treasurer Gilbertson, could not serve at once, Mr. Urick accepted John A. Guiher, an attorney of Winterset, Iowa, recommended by Mr. Guernsey, and the impending calamity of a strike was a second time averted, much to the relief of the public. The arbitration resulted, October 28, in sustaining the action of the company as to Hiatt and Roberts and restoring Bruce to his former position. The action was unanimous as to Bruce. As to the other two Mr. Urick dissented. An event of much interest locally, on the 22d of October, 191 1, was the celebration of the 81st birthday of Rev. Dr. Frisbie, the beloved pastor emeritus of Plymouth Congregational Church. Rev. J. Edward Kirbye, ex-Governor Garst, and Rev. Henry Wallace voiced the general congratulation. The Knights of Columbus, Des Moines Council, No. 644, had outgrown its modest quarters before the building long occupied by the society was pulled CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 635 down. The recent sale of the building compelled the society to rent or build. It decided to rent temporarily and build for all coming time. A directorate was created which met, October 12, 191 1, to consider details preliminary to the erection of a capacious club house. The directorate consists of John A. Hol land, E. J. Kelly, Emmet Powers, Mgr. M. Flavin, J. C. O'Donnell, John McDer- mott, Jerry B. Sullivan, John Cottrell, William McKinley, V. F. Hayden, G. B. Harriett and M. P. Halloran. The Knights of Columbus building is one of the many prospective buildings of 1912. The death of Carroll Wright, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota solicitor for the Rock Island railroad, occurred in Colorado Springs, October 28, 191 1. Mr. Wright was the second of the three surviving sons of the late Judge George G. Wright, from whom he had inherited a large measure of legal ability and of ca pacity for friendships. His sudden death was a shock and a sorrow to all who had known him from his early youth, and to many friends of later years. He came with his parents from Keosauqua to Des Moines when he was twelve years old, and had resided in the city ever since. His widow is a daughter of John A. Elliott, deceased, former auditor of state. His funeral was held in Des Moines, Novem ber 1. CHAPTER XII. THE DES MOINES OF TODAY. The phrase "Des Moines does things" is no idle boast. It has a basis in well- established facts. President Stickney, of the Great Western railroad, a few years ago styled Des Moines a "city of opportunities." Since the utterance of that felicitous phrase, so many opportunities have been improved that men who have profited by them are wont to speak of Des Moines as a "city of certainties." Measured by the census, by postoffice receipts, by bank clearances, by the vol ume of manufacturing and of trade, wholesale and retail, by real estate transfers, by front-foot prices for business property — in any way you will, the evolution is demonstrable in progress. Measured aesthetically, the city's evolution has been equally marked. The new architecture everywhere in evidence, the Municipal building, the City library, the East Des Moines high school, the new grade schools, the new churches, the new substantial and artistic bridges, the viaduct spanning the railroad tracks, the new and renewed office, department store, newspaper, bank and retail store build ings, the new and massive manufactories, jobbing houses and ware-rooms, and the hundreds of new and modern dwellings — all attest the response of Des Moines to the new spirit in architecture. The parks, public institutions and public amuse ments of the city, accessible to all, enable the humblest citizen of Des Moines to get more out of life than most cities have to offer, enabling him to feel that he is "a citizen of no mean city." All save one of the great trunk lines of railroad entering the state make con nection with Des Moines. All the great life and accident insurance companies of America and all the great fire insurance companies of the world are repre sented in Des Moines. Many more state and national conventions are annually held in Des Moines than in all the other cities of Iowa. The new Coliseum, with a seating capacity of 10,000, settles for many years all question as to the best meeting-place for large bodies of men and women. The hotels of Des Moines with more rooming capacity, many times over, than that of any other- city in the state, will soon be supplemented by another larger fireproof hotel ; and that to be followed soon by at least one other. The several colleges and schools of Des Moines, supplemented by an available city library of over 50,000 volumes and a state library of about 130,000 volumes, are steadily increasing in attendance and equipment. The electric lighting of Des Moines is unsurpassed by that of any other city in the West. Let a few comparisons further illustrate the subject. The capital invested in manufactories1 in 1905 was estimated at $9,594,000; in 1910 it had nearly doubled, having reached $17,880,000 — a gain of about 86 per cent in five years. The value of the products manufactured in the city in 1905 was estimated at $15,085,000; The same in 1910 was $23,585,000, a five years' gain of 56 per cent. The jobbing business of Des Moines is reported as having proportionately in creased, the aggregate in 1910 estimated at $103,000,000. The retail business of 1 As announced by the Greater Des Moines Committee. 636 Old Postoffice r ef*-*^^"*1 ^ -e*0* ^s *0m - - "f i | '"^1 32* 1 ll m *U* fflf %- ! v -V The First Postoffice in Des Homes erected by The Third Postoffice in Des Moines, east side Hoyt Sherman in 1852. on Second of Third, near Court Avenue Street, near Vine Vacated 1870 i Bill a a si fn — ¦« — * — * ~m ~m s~ New Postoffice CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 637 the city in 1910 was estimated at over $70,000,000. The clay industry in Des Moines is reaching large proportions. In 1908 the output of the plants in Des Moines was $560,006 ; in 1910 the output of the fourteen plants in the city amounted to $678,608. Assistant State Geologist Leas recently remarked, there is about the city an "almost limitless quantity of raw material easy of access, easily handled, and capable of a wide range of utilization." The city's bank deposits aggregate over $33,000,000, its banking capital and surplus, $4,500,000. It has 387 manu factories employing 7,361 men, jobbing houses employing 860 men; the one representing $17,880,000; the other, $7,000,000, in active capital. These illustrations of the status and promise of Des Moines gives in epitome the outcome of much striving, many individual, corporate and collective successes and many small failures which proved the bases upon which successes were after ward builded. Enormous Increase in Postal Receipts. The first postoffice in what is now Des Moines was the old Agency house. Josiah Smart, Indian agent, was appointed postmaster December 13,- 1845. Dr. Brooks, appointed March 2, '46, removed the postoffice to his home on Court avenue in the I. N. Thomas addition. P. M. Casady, who succeeded Brooks December 31, '46, removed the office 'to one of the log houses vacated by the dragoons. Later, he housed it in his law office, on Second street, south of Vine. Robert L. Tidrick was appointed October 26, '48. Hoyt Sherman was ap pointed June 26, '49. He built a small office on Second street, and there re mained undisturbed for several years. Wesley Redhead came into the position February 11, '53, and later removed the office to the Sherman block. John Teesdale came in with the Lincoln administration — or soon after — May 5, '61. George C. Tichenor succeeded him, April 18, '67, removing the office to a small building on Third street back of the Sherman block. In '70, the capacious gov ernment building, corner of Fifth and Court, was completed, and the postoffice was moved to the first floor. James S. Clarkson became postmaster July 28, '71. John Beckwith, his deputy, succeeded him, March 4, '79. William H. Merritt was appointed by Grover Cleveland, August 13, '86, — the first democrat to re ceive the appointment since Mr. Tidrick's time. Isaac Brandt, republican, was appointed June 3, 1890. Since Colonel Merritt's time the republican record has been unbroken. Following completes the list : Edward H. Hunter, July 26, 1894, to September 17, 1898; Lewis Schooler, September 18, 1898, to December 9, 1902 ; John McKay, Sr., December 10, 1902, to March 18, 1907 ; Joseph I. My- erly, March 19, 1907, to June 1, 1911 ; Louis C. Kurtz, June 1, 1911. In the spring of 1910 the postoffice was removed to its present palatial quar ters. In 1888 the total receipts were $108,966.70. The total of letters received was 4,471,527; letters sent, 6,126,435 — this exclusive of nearly a million postal cards received and more than a million sent. Now note the enormous growth of the postoffice business during the last 21 years — as measured by the total receipts to July 1, of each year: 1890 — $124,- 883.42; '91— $138,881.37; '92— $156,322.35 ; '93— $176,520.44; '94— $177,193.62; '95— $184,559.29; '96— $208,445.48; '97— $210,632.57; '98— $230,442.96; '99— $252,855.44; 1900— $295,752.36; '01— $335,126.38; '02— $386,963.35 ; '03— $441,- 754-28; '04— $463,476.19; '05— $478,106.63 ; '06— $532,416.71 ; '07— $566,311.65; 'o8-$6i6,334.53 ; '09— $688,067.49 ; '10— $764,048.83; '11— $804,943.49. Des Moines' High Standing Among the Chief Cities of the Country. To be named in a list of thirty-three cities outside the state of New York that conform in all respects to the severe requirements of the laws of New York rela tive to savings bank investments, is the highest tribute which could be paid ^ to the financial stability of the new city of Des Moines. In the Saturday Evening Post of July 22, 191 1, an expert on the value of municipal bonds, Roger W. 638 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Babson, by name, tells the story of the undoing of investors, and the consequent ruin of many a city's credit, by the issuance of bonds not adequately safeguarded. He points the moral by advising the would-be investor to buy only the duly accred ited or so-called "straight" municipal bonds — bonds that can stand the test of sav ings bank investment in states in which such investments are safeguarded. He finds the savings-bank laws of New York "most often given as a guide." The vital part of the New York law is in substance, that "the total debt of the munici pality must not be more than seven per cent of the entire valuation of the taxable property," and that "the city must not have been in default on principal or interest since 1861." Mr. Babson has before him a list of all the cities in the country which are included within the requirements of the New York law, and as a guide to small investors in municipal bonds he names "a few of the more prominent." In this limited list are included thirty-three cities outside the state of New York as follows: Portland, Me., Boston, Cambridge, Lowell, Worcester, Springfield, Mass., Providence, Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Harrisburg, Reading, Scranton, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dayton, Louis ville, Indianapolis, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Des Moines, Omaha, San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis and Kansas City. •/I 2 vi sr 1 —i i lr-f-> ¦."» an , CJF.««« mi « ' •» - i « fi| tt i * '»-** 'ml* * ».'* ' " ** W w£ W*~* *mr»i w; " l * ! . ' 1 - ma >«%¦*» Si'Stf'S I » *- 1 CHAPTER XIII. THE DES MOINES OF TOMORROW. The work of a year is done. Doubtless it could have been done more satis factorily by another ; but it could not have been done more conscientiously. Di vested of rhetorical flourish and free from mere "story" for the story's sake, it cannot fail to serve at least one useful purpose, that of presenting, within the compass of a few hundred pages, an outline history of the city of Des Moines "from the earliest period to the present time," conveying to the present genera tion a series of impressions of the lives led by the aborigines, the explorers, the dragoons, the river navigators, the pioneer farmers and merchants, the railroad promoters, the capital builders, and, at greater length, the city creators, — and, along with these successive impressions, the trend of the daily life of the people of the community during the successive stages of its evolution from garrison town to metropolis. Since first-hand material cannot last long, since men who make our local his tory are fast passing away, and even some of the pages of the newspapers from which the author draws first-hand material have already become well-nigh illegi ble and must soon crumble to dust, it is not too much to claim for this work, with all its faults and failings, a more or less useful place in future historical col lections. As the work of Turrill in '57, that of Dixon in '76, and that of Porter in '96, with all their errors, have proved invaluable to the would-be historian of 1911, so the faulty work of the present cannot fail to be of service to the better equipped historian of the future and to future students of Des Moines and of its historical river. Between the lines of the history outlined in these pages, there is another story, which the discerning reader cannot have missed. Running through the years — from the first concerted purpose of the pioneers to claim title to the land they had made valuable, down to the so-called political revolution — the actual social evolution culminating in 1906 — the men who stand for something — who do things —have been of the sturdy type of citizen — have been men who "know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintain." They have been patient and long-suffering, and at times have been gentle with their would-be betrayers : but, once aroused by sense of wrong and by a purpose to right the wrong, — they have proved as irre sistible as the rising tide. Forth from old conditions has come a new civic pride, working admirably with civic righteousness. With a steadily developing collec tive consciousness of right and of the fitness of things, is coming a sense of power, and this strong combination is a new asset which will have to be reckoned with in ¦the Des Moines of tomorrow. Fortunate in its location and in its history, having long since passed the ex perimental period, Des Moines now fronts the future with a degree of assur ance never before felt. Its public-spirited promoters dare advertise it as a "city of certainties," a city in which "prosperity is a habit." With public^ spirit and civic pride manifest in every citizen — from the humblest laborer to the richest capi talist — the Des Moines of 191 1 faces the future with a confidence measured only by her ever enlarging opportunities. 639 BOOK IV. POLK COUNTY. PART I. FROM AN INDIAN RESERVATION TO FIRST PLACE AMONG THE COUNTIES OF IOWA. 1846-1911. ALLEN— BEAVER— BLOOMFIELD— CAMP— CLAY— CROCKER- DELAWARE— DES MOINES— DOUGLAS— ELKHART— FOUR MILE— FRANKLIN— JEFFERSON— LEE —LINCOLN— MADISON— SAYLOR— VALLEY— WALNUT— WASHINGTON- WEBSTER. Vol. 1-41 A. Geological section from Capitol Hill to the mouth of Beaver Creek Cd.'nAol 'Hill B. Geological section from Capitol Hill to Walnut Creek CHAPTER I. POLK COUNTY GEOLOGICALLY. The author is under many obligations to James H. Lees, Assistant State Geologist of Iowa, for his scholarly and interesting contribution to Polk County History. Dropping, for the time, the technical style of the professional geologist, Mr. Lees presents the subject with a rare degree of clearness. His contribution, somewhat condensed, is as follows : The oldest rock known in Iowa is the Sioux quartzite, sometimes, although incorrectly, called Sioux Falls granite. This is not a granite but simply a sand stone which has been hardened by infiltration of silica between the grains. It has not been reached in Polk county but it underlies the later formations over the entire State. After a time the sea, in which this sandstone had been laid down, retreated from our area and through long ages the Sioux quartzite was exposed to the agencies of water and atmosphere which tend to wear away the solid rocks. Then in the course of time the land was again covered by water and a great series of sands and clays and limy mud were deposited over the ocean floor. The period of time during which these beds were laid down is known as the Cambrian. The sea did not invade the Mississippi valley until the later third of Cambrian time and so the deposits representing that period in Polk county are referred to as the Upper Cambrian, or Saint Croix. . They are the lowest formation reached in the Greenwood park well. Practically all the different rocks found under Polk county's surface, with the exception of some of the coals, and perhaps accompanying strata, were laid down in shallow oceans which covered the interior of North America. The Saint Croix sandstone is of interest also because it is the chief aquifer, or water-bearing horizon, from which deep wells derive their supply. While for some reason the water from this horizon in the Greenwood park well was not suitable for use, in many parts of Iowa the water from the Cambrian is of excellent quality. The rock is exposed over large areas in Wisconsin and adjoining parts of Iowa and Minnesota, and as it is very porous it absorbs large quantities of rain water and transmits it to distant parts of its extent. After a great thickness of Saint Croix sandstones and associated rocks — probably a thousand feet — had been laid down, a remarkable extension of the ocean occurred and hence the rocks formed during the next succeeding age over the area which is now Polk county, were massive limestones, deposited in clear, quiet waters, far from shore. The dolomites, or magnesian limestones, the sandstones and the shales which were now laid down on the bottom of the fluctuating Ordovician sea belong to the Prairie du Chien stage. After a period of quiet the ocean appears to have again shallowed and a very widespread stratum of sand, the Saint Peter, was laid down, not only in our immediate territory, but also over nearly the whole or parts of Iowa and several other states. The Saint Peter is another of our reliable sources of artesian waters even though it is not so thick by far as are the sandstones of the Saint Croix. It will be seen from the chart that after the deposition of the Saint Peter sands there were a few shale beds formed and then a great thickness of dolo- 613 644 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY mite, the Galena and Platteville, not separated in our area. These deposits indicate a fairly deep, quiet ocean, far from shore and receiving but little detritus from the distant, low-lying lands. But in course of time the land seems to have been elevated so that the streams were rejuvenated and their cutting and carrying powers increased. Probably the ocean shoaled at the same time and hence the sea bottom received a great load of silt and mud which later became the Maquoketa shales. It should be noted in passing that the Platteville lime stones, known also as the Trenton, are in Ohio and Indiana richly oil-bearing. While in some parts of Iowa they contain enough petroleum so that they may be burned somewhat readily, yet the oil content is too small to allow them to be exploited commercially. Note briefly the succeeding ages through which Polk county passed. The Silurian and Devonian systems tell chiefly of quiet periods when Polk county stood for the most part far from land and there were built up large deposits of limestone. There were, however, gaps in the history of rock formation when the sea receded, doubtless to the south, and left the new-formed lands exposed to all the elements which, then as now, carried on the processes of erosion and tearing down of land forms. Such a gap occurred at the close of the Ordovi- cian. A similar recession of the sea after the Niagaran epoch again brought Polk county above the surface, where it seems to have remained until the middle of the Devonian period. Another remarkable detail of Silurian history is the formation of beds of gypsum intercalated with the limestones. The presence of gypsum is generally taken to indicate an arid climate, and so we may imagine Polk county as suffering at times from conditions similar to those now prevail ing in southwestern United States, with the difference that here and there were salt water lagoons which by the evaporation of their waters gave rise to the lay ers of gypsum found in drilling the park well. The Devonian period is but slightly represented in our record, but in reality, it was a long and important period. During the Devonian the fishes underwent a tremendous development and became so important that the period is known as the age of fishes. Strange, uncouth creatures many of them were, bearing but little resemblance to modern types, but the progenitors, nevertheless, of the fishes of today. And, indeed some of our present-day types have retained many of the primitive characters of their ancestors. In our particular area the Devonian graded into the Carboniferous without any break in deposition of sediments. There are evidences of fluctuating shore lines, but for a long time the Mississippian sea rested over Polk county and most of Iowa. This sea swarmed with life and the rocks abound in re mains of crinoids, corals, brachiopods, mollusca and other forms. Before the closing stage of the Mississippian, Polk county, in common with all of Iowa, had been elevated above sea level and a period of prolonged erosion followed. The length of this period may be inferred from the fact that after the Saint Louis limestone had hardened, it was deeply dissected by streams and the various agencies which are continually attacking the land. Thus an extremely irregular surface was formed. In the Greenwood park well, for instance, the Saint Louis was reached at an altitude of 373 feet above sea level. At Valley Junc tion and near Carbondale the upper surface of the Saint Louis is about 600 feet above tide, while at Commerce it is about 300 feet above tide. At Mitchellville, on the other hand, the top of the Saint Louis is about 760 feet. In course of time this period of severe erosion came to a close, and a new series of events was inaugurated. Either the land had been reduced to a low plain by erosion, or a crustal movement took place which brought vast areas very close to sea level, so close that only a slight further depression was need ful to submerge the coast lands. On these low swampy coastal plains there formed great peat bogs and widespread forests. The plant remains accumu lated year after year and century after century, the water of the swamps pre venting decay, until in some cases scores of feet had been piled up. Then a Plate III Pit of the Flint Brick Company, Des Moines. About fifty feet of shales are exposed CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 645 slight oscillation brought in the sea, or possibly a fresh-water lake ; the trees and other plants were killed and buried under mud or sand x or occasionally limestone and this bed of peat was gradually compressed and changed to coal. After the overlying sediments had accumulated sufficiently vegetation would again take hold, another swamp or bog would form and the process would be re peated.2 In many cases in Polk county, four or five seams of coal have been penetrated in prospecting and in some parts of America the number is much greater.3 For instance in the Nova Scotia field there are seventy-six distinct seams, each of which implies the repetition of the conditions outlined above. This was the Des Moines age of the Pennsylvanian epoch, the age of coal, an age when plant life flourished in such profusion as it had never reached before. We need not think of the Des Moines as a time of tropical climate, for all the evidence points rather to moderate temperatures, moist conditions and a fairly uniform climate over great areas, shown by similarity of plant remains from the arctics to the tropics. Although the coal beds form only a very small percentage of the total thick ness of the Lower Coal Measures, or Des Moines beds, they are by far the most important. Upon them is based the great mining industry, an industry which adds three million dollars to Polk county's wealth every year and upon which largely depends much of the industrial life of the community.4 During the year 1910 the output of coal in Polk county amounted, in round numbers, to 1,778,000 tons and it is safe to predict that it will increase for many years to come.5 The first coal mined in the county was taken from a vein exposed in the river bank near the present Center Street dam at Des Moines. The soldiers stationed at Fort Des Moines are credited with being the first to use this fuel, the date being about i843.e Very little coal was used, however, until 1865. In that year Wesley Redhead began the first extensive operations and from that time the industry . really dates. The census for 1856 gives Polk county an output of 600 tons while the figures given for 1870 are 45,600 tons, the largest output of any Iowa county in that year. In 1901 the production from this county reached the million ton mark and every succeeding year has seen the growth of the industry to its pres ent proportions. There is another stage of the Pennsylvanian series, the Missouri, or Upper Coal Measures, which followed the Lower Coal Measures, or Des Moines stage. The nearest known exposures are in Dallas and Madison counties. They contain much limestone, such as that quarried at Earlham, which speaks of more truly marine conditions than prevailed in Des Moines time. Although since the close of Carboniferous times the sea has invaded Iowa twice, so far as we know Polk county has never been under the waters of the ocean from the time of the Lower Coal Measures to the present. With" the close of the Des Moines age, Polk county may be said to have en tered upon the second chapter of its history, although probably the first chapter was very much longer than the second one has been. During this second period Polk county, instead of being most of the time under water and subjected to the upbuilding processes of sedimentation, has been ex posed to those processes and agencies which tend to the cutting down and destruction and carrying away of those materials formerly deposited.7 For a long time after the end of the Des Moines age the climate was warm and equable with at least one period of aridity, when the gypsum beds of Fort Dodge 1 See Iowa Geological Survey, Vol. VII, Figure 45. P- 296. 2 See A and B. See also Op. cit, Plate VIII, op. p. 302; Vol. XIX, Plate III, p. 151. 3 See Figure 3. See also Op. cit, Vol. IT, Figure 92, p. 289, Figure 94, p. 291; Vol. VII, Figure 52, p. 313, Figure 53, p. 314; Vol. XIX, Figure 33, P- 128, Figure 32, p. 127. 4 See Figure 4. See also Op. cit, Vol. XIX, Figure 35, P- 131- 5 See Figure 5. See also Op. cit., Vol. VII, Figure 58, p. 356. See Figure 6. See also Op. cit., Vol. II, Figure 85, p. 279; Vol. XIX, Figure 29, p. no. 6 See Op. cit., Vol. II, Figure 80, p. 270; Vol. VIT, Figure 48, P- 3°3- 646 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY were laid down. We have no traces of the land life of the State during these times but we know that elsewhere it was approaching the forms which are com mon today. But, in time, the climate became cold. Vast snow fields accumulated in Canada and from them there crept southward great glaciers which over whelmed the entire Mississippi valley and buried our county beneath an unknown thickness of ice. This is known as the Nebraskan glacier of the Pleistocene epoch. How long ago it was that this glacier came down or how long it stayed we do not know, but certainly the answer to the first question must be given in hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of years and our knowledge of modern glaciers teaches us that this old-time ice sheet must have covered Polk county for many, many years. But in time the climate moderated, the ice melted away and our area again enjoyed the summer sun. But, instead of its surface being diver sified by hill and valley, a flat, monotonous plain similar to that now occupying the northern part of the county, covered the whole region for miles around. Let us see how these changes were made. As the great ice plow forced its way southward it dug up the loose material in its path, and stones, clay, sand and all the products of ages of rock weathering were ground up and shoved along or gathered into the glacier's mass. When at last the ice disappeared this loose material was left behind, spread out as a sheet of glacial drift or till, filling up the valleys and extending over the divides and hills. As soon as the ice left the county, streams began their work of cutting val leys into the beds of drift and before long the surface began to assume a condi tion not unlike that before the beginning of the Pleistocene. This is the Aftonian interglacial age. It is represented by beds of sand and gravel, peat and forest beds and in some places by remarkable fossil remains, as of the elephant, masto don, bear, camel, horse and the like. One of the best exposures of the Nebraskan and Aftonian in Polk county is in the river bluff below Hastie where the dark blue clay of the Nebraskan is overlaid by fine sands probably Aftonian.s The pleasant conditions of the Aftonian lasted a long time and then there came a recurrence of those conditions which had led to the formation of the ice sheets of the Nebraskan. Once more the climate grew colder and colder, the summers shorter and the winters longer, until finally there was no cessation of the cold. The snow, piled up from year to year, congealed to solid ice and again the ice sheets came down from the frozen north and covered our area with a great white mantle — the Kansan glacier. These conditions ruled for unknown years but finally there came a change and again the ice was melted back and springtime reigned. All the processes of erosion were once more set to work and they have made the surface of Polk county as we find it south of Des Moines today. Three times since the Kansan, have the glaciers invaded Iowa, namely those of the Illinoian, the Iowan and the Wisconsin glacial stages. Only the last of these, however, reached Polk county and this stopped at the latitude of Des Moines. A line drawn through Nobleton, South Des Moines, Valley Junction and Ashawa will very nearly give the southern limits of the Wisconsin drift sheet. The topography north of this line gives a fair idea of how ihe surface must have looked at the close of the Nebraskan or Kansan age. The accompanying illustrations will aid the imagination in restoring the world of those days.0 Spread over much of the area where the Kansan drift comes to the surface is a fine silt-like material known as the loess. It is largely a wind-blown deposit and was formed partly after the retreat of the Kansan ice and partly after the Iowan. Tlie older loess is bluish gray, while the upper is yellow. Both are free from pebbles or other coarse material except lime balls, called loess-kindchen. The main drainage lines of Polk county were developed in pre-glacial times, although they are very much younger than the Des Moines beds and have no 7 See Figures 8, 9 and 10. See also Op. cit. Vol. II, Figures 20, 21 and 22, pp. 182, 184 and 185; Vol. VII, Figure 49, p. 304; Vol. XIX, Figures 4, 5 and 6, pp. 28 and 29. s See Figure 11. See also Op. cit., Vol. VII, Figure 40, p. 274. 9 See Figures 12 and 13. See also Op. cit., Vol. VII, Figures 56 and 57, pp. 346 and 347- Fig. 3 Sandstones at the foot of Capitol Hill, Des Moines Fig. 5 Coal seams exposed in a railroad cut one mile east of Hastie Kg. 4 Section showing coal seams penetrated in a coal mine near Avon mentTo?&^ by the Geological Depart- as will be seen, are not consecutive follow the numbering on the cuts, and, rxx/yyis. jt r xx/// yv -II C II t_JL Fig. 6 Maps .-howing location of principal Polk county mines outside of the Des Moines district Fig. 9 Bluff on Des Moines river above dam at Des Moines, shows seam first mined by soldiers Shows also sandstone bands separating coal seams Fig. 10 Carboniferous erosion: sandstone occupying "cut out" in coal seam CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 647 relation to the coal seams. When the glaciers came clown they of course filled up the valleys but these seem to have been excavated again so that there have not been very great changes. However, the Wisconsin ice sheet made one change of considerable interest which is illustrated in the sketches herewith.10 The first shows the river valleys before Pleistocene times, the second as they were just before the Wisconsin age, and the third the present system. It will be seen that Beaver creek occupies part of the old Des Moines channel and that the portion east of Capitol .Hill has been abandoned and filled in. It is now repre sented by the wide flat between the Hill and the Fair grounds.11 It may be in place at this point to mention briefly the clay working industries. These make use of both the shales of the Des Moines stage and the loess and surface clays. The shales especially are well adapted to the manufacture of high grade brick, sewer pipe, drain tile and similar materials.12 The output of the kilns of the county is valued at considerably over one-half million dollars yearly, and Polk county ranks among the leading counties of the State in the output of clay wares. It is the judgment of those who are engaged in the manufactures which group about these industries that in the near future there will be great increase in the development of the beds of clay in Polk county. This brief survey will have shown how varied and wonderful has been the course of the events which have shaped Polk county and must inspire admiration for the orderly progress which has brought the county to its present form. There has been no slip or retrogression, but always advance and growth through seem ing chaos and disorder. Polk county may not present those features of grandeur and magnificence which add attractiveness to some parts of our land; but the pages here unfolded to us reveal forces as inspiring and agencies as grand as any which have built and sculptured any part of America. 10 See Figures IS and 16. See also Op. cit., Vol. VII, Figures 41, 42 and 43, pp. 278, 281 and 282. 11 Figures 17 and 18 represent the topography of parts of the county as seen in profile. See also Op. cit., Vol. VII, Figures 38 and 39, PP- 269 and 271. 12 See plate III, and Figures 19 and 20. See also Op. cit., Vol. XIV, Plates XXIII, XXIV and XXVI, and Figures 52-56, pp. 467-478. CHAPTER II. POLK COUNTY'S EVOLUTION GEOGRAPHICALLY. The county of Polk, named in honor of President Polk, was from 1837 to 1840 part of the county of Keokuk. Established by the Eighth territorial legislature, by an act which received the approval of Governor Clarke, January 13, 1846, its boundaries were de scribed as follows :1 "Beginning at the north-west corner of Jasper county ; thence west, to the north-west corner of township 81, north of range 24 west; thence south, to the south-west corner of township 78, north of range 24 west; thence east to the south-west corner of Jasper county; thence north to the place of beginning." These boundary lines included all of the present townships of Clear Creek and Washington and nearly all of Poweshiek and Des Moines townships in Jasper county; and did not include the present Polk county townships of Madi son and Webster, and the larger part of Jefferson and Valley and a part of Bloomfield. This initial act proved disappointing and a second followed which became a law January 17, four days after the first. The evident intent of the second act was to create a county four townships square. The boundaries described in the act of January 17, 1846, were as follows: 2 "Beginning at the north-east corner of township 81, north, of range 22 west; thence west, to the north-west corner of township 81, north, of range 25 west; thence south to the south-west corner of township yy, north, of range 22 west; and thence north, to the place of beginning." This act transferred range 21 to Jasper, and range 25 from Dallas to Polk; but the omission of the southeastern boundary gave the new county an indefin- iteness which called for a third attempt, which was made by the First General Assembly of the State of Iowa in 1848, to which reference will be made farther on. A bill for the organization of the newly created counties of Jasper and Polk also became a law January 17, 1 846,3 directing that the two counties be or ganized "from and after the first day of March next," said counties to consti tute a part of the second judicial district of the territory; directing also that a special election be held on the first Monday in April following, at which time county officers for each of these counties should be elected, also such number of justices of the peace, and constables for each county, as should be ordered by the clerks of the District Court for their respective counties, each clerk to act as sheriff until a sheriff should be elected; ordering also that the judicial authorities of Mahaska county should have cognizance of violations of crimi nal law within the limits of Polk county prior to the initial election. The law designated three commissioners for each county to locate and establish a seat of justice in said county. The commissioners for Polk were Thomas Hughes of Johnson, M. T. Williams of Mahaska and Giles M. Pinneo, of Scott. The com missioners named Fort Des Moines as the temporary seat of justice; and the 6th of the following April was the day fixed for the election of county officers. 1 Territorial Laws of 1846, p. 74. * Territorial Laws of 1846, p. 76. 3 Territorial Laws of 1846, p. 92. 648 Fig. 17 Pre-Wisconsin Drainage near Des Moines Fig. 18 Present Drainage near Des Moines Fig. 8 Section showing undulatory character of the coal seam in the Flint mine. No. 2 ^T ~T __ J Profile along the Ch vallevs is mue fifty 'feet Fig. 19 g the Chicago Great Western railroad crossing the Des Moines and Skunk vallevs and showino the upland ;.. exaggerated ow.ng to the directs of the section. Scale, horizontal: one space equals one mile; vertical: The width of the one space equals — 2 j, :c £ E ^„-tTT T\\ Fig. 20 Profile along the Chicago and Northwestern Railway in Polk county"' (Vale, horizontal: on equals fifty feet e space equals one-third mile; vertical: one space CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 619 Also on the 17th day of January, 1846, a bill became a law fixing the terms of district courts in tlie territory. In the Second District, to which Polk be longed, the fourth Monday after the second Monday of March and the second Monday after the second Monday of September were that county's assignments. With the machinery thus officially put in motion nothing remained to com plete the organization but the calling and holding of an election and the in stallation of the officers chosen. The incomplete boundary of the county was made complete by a bill in the First General Assembly of Iowa which became a law January 28, 1847, estab lishing the boundaries of Polk county. The boundaries as established in '47 were identical with those of January 17, 1846, except as indicated by italics in the following description.4 "Beginning at the northeast corner of township number 81 north, of range number 22 west; thence west to the northwest corner of township number 81 north, of range number 25 west; thence south to the southwest corner of town ship number yy north, of range 25 west ; thence east to the southeast corner of township number yy north, of range number 22 west, and thence north to the place of beginning." Following the history of P'olk county's varying boundaries to the point at which they became fixed — probably for all time — we now turn to a law passed by the Fourth General Assembly, and approved January 14, 1853, entitled "an act to change the boundaries of Warren county," the effect of which was to restore to Warren the northern tier of townships borrowed by Polk in '46 — "provided that all that part of township yy north, of range No. 22 west, which lies north of the Des Moines River shall remain as a part of Polk county." By the act of '53 the boundary line of Warren on the north and Polk on the south — with the one exception noted — was "the line dividing townships yy north, of range 25 west." The county of Polk was, on February 2, 1847, divided into four townships, — Des Moines, Madison, Camp and Skunk. The several sub-divisions of these townships are noted in returns made to the Secretary of State in 1882.5 The township history of the county is epitomized in these returns, of which the fol lowing is a summary : Allen township was organized January 4, 1848; its territory was taken from Des Moines and Richland townships, — the latter now in Warren county; post offices, Avon station and Levey. Beaver was organized January 9, 1850. It was taken from Camp and Skunk townships; post office, Mitchellville. Bloomfield was organized September 20, 1858. It was taken from Des Moines township; post office, Sevastopol. Camp, one of the original townships, parts taken to form Four Mile and Beaver; post offices, Runnells and Adelphi. Clay was organized in 1878 from parts of Beaver and Delaware; post office, Altoona. Crocker was organized December 26, 1870 from part of Saylor, etc. ; post offices, Trent, Crocker and Ankeny. Delaware was organized October 9, 1850, from Four Mile and Skunk town ships. Des Moines, one of the original townships. Its territory has since formed parts of Allen, Four Mile, Saylor, etc. Douglas organized September 6, 1858, from part of Des Moines township; post office, Greenwood. Elkhart organized 185 1, from Des Moines township; post office, Ottawa. Four Mile, one of the original townships, part taken from Skunk in 1848, * Laws of Iowa, 1848, p. 33. BOn file in the Department of Archives, Historical Building. 650 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY and from Delaware in 1850, and part of Camp added to Four Mile in '58; post office, Rising Sun. Franklin organized from Des Moines township, March 6, 1856. Grant organized September 7, 1870. Jefferson organized January 2, 185 1, post offices Lincoln, Clive, Ridgedale and Towner's Lake. Part of its territory was transferred to Walnut in i860. Lee was organized September 28, 1857. Part of Four Mile was attached to Lee September 21, 1858. Lincoln was organized December 26, 1870; post offices Sheldahl and Palmer. Madison, one of the four original townships. Its territory has since formed parts of Lincoln, Crocker, Saylor, etc. ; post office, Polk City. Saylor was organized from Des Moines and Madison townships, January 4, 1848 ; post office, Saylorville. Skunk, one of the four original townships, absorbed, first, in part, by Four Mile, and later, by Washington, Elkhart and Franklin. Valley was organized March 26, i860, from Des Moines and Jefferson town ships. Walnut was organized January 7, i860, from Jefferson and Des Moines townships ; post offices, Commerce and Ashewa. Washington was organized from Des Moines township March 6, 1856; post office, Peoria City. Webster was organized in 1878, from territory in Walnut township. The post offices of Polk county in 191 1 are: Adelphi, Alleman, Altoona, An keny, Avon, Berwick, Bondurant, Campbell, Carney, Clive, Commerce, Crocker, Des Moines, Elkhart, Enterprise, Farrar, Fort Des Moines, Grimes, Herrold, Johnston, Mitchellville, Norwoodville, Polk, Runnells, Sheldahl and Valley Junction. Fig. 11 Preglacial erosion: Drift occupying small goio-e Fig. 12 Postglacial erosion: gorge of Des Moines river at city of Des Moines Fig. 13 Des Moines Valley below Hastie. View shows the old wide part of the valley. The blur! at the right shows loess overlying Kansas drift. Below this are Aftonian sands and at the base is Nebraskan drift CHAPTER III. POLK COUNTY IN 1846. John H. Newhall,1 a pioneer explorer in the region now comprising the State of Iowa, in his valuable little work entitled "Sketches of Iowa," published in New York, in 1841, says of the river from which Des Moines takes its name: "So far as placid beauty is concerned, perhaps Des Moines river is without a rival. . . In fact, the striking beauty of the Des Moines has become pro verbial. ... It has but few obstructions, which a trifling appropriation from government could easily remove, and, at the present time, is susceptible of steam boat navigation (in a good stage of water) 100 miles, and for keel boats at all seasons." 2 In his second 3 edition, "A Glimpse of Iowa in 1846," Major Newhall refers to the Des Moines as "a beautiful stream, and susceptible of slackwater navigation for about 200 miles from its mouth." In this second edition, Polk county, is thus referred to : 4 "Polk county embraces that celebrated region known as the 'Raccoon Fork' ofthe Des Moines; and in many respects is one of the most interesting, as well as one of the most recently organized portions of Iowa. "When the reader reflects that Fort Des Moines was in possession of the United States troops as late as the ioth of March of the present year — then a frontier out post in the midst of the Indian hunting grounds — he cannot fail to be surprised at the unparalleled advancement it has already made in every de partment of civilized life. "Polk county contains twenty townships, and embraces 720 square miles. The principal rivers are the Des Moines, Raccoon, Checauque [Skunk], Upper, Mid dle and Lower rivers; and numerous other tributaries, uniting with the Des Moines. . "The Prairies of Polk county, generally, are remarkably fertile and produc tive, partaking more of a sandy admixture (not too light, however), than some of the eastern counties. "The most extensive prairie is the intervening scope of country, situated be tween the Des Moines and Checauque rivers. Upon the south side of the Des Moines, perhaps, no portion of Iowa is more susceptible of heavier settlements. The streams approximate to within one to three miles of each other, fringed with narrow belts of timber, and presenting that park-like appearance, so captivating to the eye of the traveller. "WATER POWER. "This county is amply supplied with water power, both for mills and ma chinery. A mill has been erected on the Middle river, owned by Capt. Allen, U. S. A., and J. D. Parmle, at a cost of about $7,000. There is also an extensive mill in progress of erection by Messrs. Ehle and Hall, immediately adjoining 1 Secretary to the commander-in-chief of the territory of Iowa, Governor Robert Lucas. 'P. 38. 'Edition of 1846, p. 16. * Second ed., p. 46. 651 652 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Fort Des Moines, the county seat — intended for sawing, grinding, and carding at a cost of $10,000. "To the enterprising capitalist, who desires to establish himself in the milling business, I know of no interior point presenting more flattering prospects. He could, at trifling expense, possess himself of all the advantages that Nature has so lavishly bestowed — water power, bituminous coal, and wood, in abundance. Likewise, the certainty of a home market, for some years to come, and when the home demand ceases, good flat boat navigation to the great 'Father of Waters.' "claims. "The prices of claims vary, according to their location, extent of improve ments, etc.; they will range from $50 to $1,000. Good claims can be purchased within five miles of the county seat, for one dollar per acre, possessing good soil, and every natural advantage. "population. "The population, at a recent census, was 1,301 ; but is believed at the present period (July) to exceed 1,600. In a country increasing so rapidly, no precise estimate can be made of the number of inhabitants. Even while the statistics are being penned, the population is continually increasing. "STATISTICS, PRICES, - ETC. "The number of persons who paid poll tax, this Spring, 354. The number of votes cast in April (the first election ever held), 180. "Prices. — Indian corn, 25 cents per bushel; corn meal, 50 cents per bushel; flour, $5 per barrel; bacon, 7 cents per pound; hogs, $1.50 per hundred; sheep, from $1 to $1.25 per head; neat cattle, $8 to $15 per head; horses, $30 to $60. "Fort Des Moines is the seat of justice in Polk county. This place was evac uated by the U. S. Dragoons on the 8th and ioth of March of the present year, 1846. After the troops left, the permanent settlers consisted of four families, embracing a population of about 20 souls. There are now, ist of July, 24 fam ilies, and 130 inhabitants. The increase would have been much greater could accommodations, of any description, have been obtained. "FORT DES ilOIXES DIRECTORY IX '46.-"' "Dry Goods and Groceries. — B. T. Hoxie, A. Mitchell. "Hotel. — Des Moines House, M. Tucker. "Lawyers. — Col. Baker, W. D. Frazer, Wm. McKay, L. D. Winchester. "Physicians. — Dr. Fagen, Dr. Kirkbride. "Churches. — Two regularly organized, viz : Methodist and Baptist ; one resi dent minister, Rev. E. Rathburn. "There are likewise two groceries, exclusively ; one carpenter's shop, one wagon maker, one cabinet maker, one plasterer, bricklayer, etc. "COUNTY DIRECTORY. "Sheriff. — Thomas Mitchell. "Clerk of the District Court. — P. L. Crossman. "Recorder. — Thomas McMullin. "Treasurer. — Wm. F. Ayers. "Coroner. — Jacob Minter. [Should be James H. Phillips.] "County Surveyor. — A. D. Jones. "County Commissioners. — W. H. Meacham, Benj. Saylor, Eri W. Fouts. "County Commissioners' Clerk. — Wm. McKay." 5 As given by Newhall in his edition of if Fig. 15 , One of the ridges common on seme parts of the Wisconsin plain. These are constructional, not erosional. Thev were built bv waters from the glacier Fig. 16 Preglacial drainage near Des Moines CHAPTER IV. THE FIRST DEED OF RECORD IN POLK COUNTY. In the first deed-book of Polk county, in the vault of the County Recorder, may be seen the first recorded transfer of real estate in the county. It is an interesting document, both in its original and decidedly phonetic spelling and in the indefi- niteness of the landmarks therein described. It must be borne in mind that no surveys had then been made and that the landmarks at the time were necessarily indefinite. Mrs. F. W. Dodson, County Recorder, recently referring to the starting point in this description, remarked that titles to the most valuable property in Des Moines today are traced from the point referred to in this deed, namely the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. Following is a verbatim copy of the transfer : "this twenty forth Day of April A. D. 1846 "Addison Mitchael, J. P., Know all men by these presents that I, Rbert A. Kinzie of the County of Polk and Territory of Iowa for and in Consideration of the some of Five hundred Dollars to me in hand paid by Perry. L. Crosman of the same Place the Re ceipt of which is 'hereby acknowledg have Bargained Sold and Delivered and do by these presents bargain Sell and Delver unto the said Perry. L. Crosman the following Described property and Claim to wit. "A certain Claim Known as the Claim made by said Kinzie between the Desmoines and Racoon Rivers and described as folows Commencing at the mouth of Racoon River thence up said River Desmoines a bout one half mile to an Oak tree marked with the nitials of said Kinsie name thence westerly about one mile to an Oak tree marked with the nitials as before mentioned thence South to Elm tree standing alone in the prarie thence South Easterly to a Elm tree on bank of Raccoon River marked with the nitials of said Kinsie name thence meandering said Raccoon River to the place of begining Containing about one half Section of land to gether with all improvements there on owned by said R. A. Kinsie to wit one Dwelling house which said Kinsie now occupies and improvements thereto belonging store hous formely occupied by said Kin zie now occupied by Addison Michall Also all the improvements made by Capt James alien in his individual name and sold to said R. A. Kinzie to have and to hold the said Claim and Described property so bargained and Sold to the Said Perry L. Crossman his Executors administrators and assigns to his and ther onley proper use and benefit forever and I the Said Robert A. Kinzie do hereby Covenant and agree to and with the said Perry L. Crosman that I and my heirs Executors and Administrators will warent and forever Defend the said Claim and Discrbed property Sold and delivered to the Said Perry L. Crosman from and against the Rightfill Claim of all person whome soever Except the Claim of the united States of all which Claim and property Described I the said Robert A Kinzie have put the Said Perry L. Crosman in full possession by Delivering to him all the said property and Claim at the time of the Sealing and delivering of these presents in witness Whereof I the Said Robert A Kinzie have here unto Set my hand and Seal this (24) th Day of april A. D. 1846, "R. A. Kinzie [seal] "Witness E. R. Clapp." 653 654 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The County Surveyor's Certificate reads as follows : "Territory of Iowa : Polk County: [SS] "I, A. D. Jones surveyor in and for said County of Polk do hereby certify that I have survey and plotted the above named toun of Fort des Moines, which is situated on the site formerly occupied as a fort, for post of the United States troops, and knoun by the appellation of Fort des Moines, being the junction and lying between the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers within said County of Polk and Territory of Iowa. "The bearing of Water, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Streets is N 15^ deg. W. and one chain in width except Water Street which extends to the River Des Moines. The bearing of Elm, Market, Vine, Cherry, Mulberry, Locust and Court Avenue is S 74^2 deg. West and are all one chain in width, except Vine and Walnut which are one chain and twenty five links in width from Water Street to Fifth Street, and from Fifth to Eighth street they are one chain in width ; and Court Avenue is one chain and a half in width. The allies all extend parallel and at right angles with the Streets as represented on the above plat and are twenty five links in width, except No. 3 which is fifty links in width. The whole number of lots in said toun is three hundred and twenty-four and are one chain in width and two chains in length, and lie as represented on the above plat. The Public Square is four chains and a half in length and four and a quarter in width and lies within the Blocks numbered nine, fifteen, twenty, twenty one, and fourteen ; and designated on the plat within enclosed lines as 'Public Square.' The Market space is four chains and twenty five links in length and one chain in width and lies between blocks numbered twenty Six and twenty Seven and designated within enclosed lines as 'Market Place.' The public ground lies between Raccoon River and block No. Thirty seven, and west of and adjoining the Des Moines River and desig nated "Public Ground." "The stone, planted by the County Commissioners of Polk County from which to make future surveys, is placed at the South East corner of lot number five in block number thirty-seven the corner of the Public Ground and marked "0." The survey of the above town was made from the extreme South West corner of said stone, which survey and plat are correct. "Given tinder my hand this Eighth clay of July, A. D. 1846, at Fort des Moines. "A D Jones, "County Surveyor in & for Polk County, I. T." Following this is a mutilated and partly destroyed copy of the acknowledg ment of Benjamin Saylor and Wm. H. Meacham, County Commissioners, in effect that they "donate all the Streets, allies and Public ground in the town of Fort Des Moines" as above represented, "to the general public," with the pro viso that the streets, alleys and public land referred to should not be considered highways, until the expiration of one year, or until the commissioners shall de clare them to be highways. The Public Square was "reserved for the purpose . a Court House thereon and such other public buildings as the County Commissioners . . for the use of the County of Polk." The Market Place was reserved for "a market house for the use of the general public," the same to be "under the control and management of such officers as may have control, management and government over the town of Fort Des Moines." This plat extended to Locust street on the north and Eighth street on the west, with Elm street on the South and Water street (facing the Des Moines on the east.) CHAPTER V. POLK COUNTY VOTES AGAINST THE CONSTITUTION OF '46. The Archives department of the State of Iowa has rescued from oblivion an invaluable wealth of data relative to the territorial and early history of Iowa by counties. An additional example of the value of this data as relating to Polk county is the original certificates of the judges and clerks of election held "in the county of Polk and Territory of Iowa on the Third day of August, 1846," show ing the number and names of voters who "voted for or against the Constitution." Those who voted for the Constitution were 87 in number ; and those who voted against it were 168, — a majority of 81 against.1 In view of all which followed the adoption of that document and the conse quent admission of the territory into the Union, it is of historic interest to note the division of public sentiment on that important question. There were four polling places, — one at the house of John Saylor, another at the house of John D. Parmelee, a third at the house of Thomas Mitchell, and a fourth in the town of Fort Des Moines. (1) The Saylor house contingent cast 19 votes, — all against the Constitu tion. The voters were2 (the original spelling is copied in all the lists which follow) : Benj. Saylor, James S. Bradley, E. H. Shipman, Westley Jones, John R. Evans, John Saylor, Henry Everly, James M. Sampson, Samuel Hayse, John F.Thornton, Cunrod Stutsman, David Miller, Eli Gilpin, James Willson, Andrew Cart, George Beebe, Aaron Daniels, Nathan Koons, Samuel Deford. The Three Rivers neighborhood, who voted at Parmelee's, cast 15 votes for and 68 votes against.3 Those voting "for" were : Matthew Spurlock, John Rose, John Ovender, Harvey Spurlock, Wm. S. Wallace, Clarkson Wallace, F. F. Chapman, Wm. Atherton, David R. Wedmore, Thomas Black, S. B. Scovel, Lewis Whiten, Thomas Mcmullin, Noa Fouts, Wm. Brown. Those voting "against" were: Daniel More, William Frasee, John Spear, Louis Laplant, Riley Driskeel, William B. Meers, Peter newcomer, Joseph Lang- don, James Latimer, John Plumer, Hiram Nidey, D. Harris, Wm. C. Stumbo, Given S. Hunt, Tally Wicker, Austin Fosdick, John De Shaser, George Rees, John Pearson, Richard Hayworth, Daniel Rees, Thomas Rees, John Hayworth, A. E. Criel, Jeremia Leming, Peter Blot, Simont Blot, Halady Wiley, Basil Downing, John Woody, George Kiser, David Stombo, Samuel Wicker, Agustus Creeckel, Thornten F. tible, John Thornbur, Dillin Hayworth, Samuel Hay worth, Wm. Lower, George B. Wording, E. W. Fouts, Wm. Freel, K. W. Kirk Bride, Joseph Mcmahan, Charles Dotson, Peter Myers, David Solenberg, Elias Compton, Charles Stark, Wm. H. Reynolds, Santford Starks, L. V. fouts, Thomas Mitchel, Allen Brooks, Wm. H. Meachen, Edward marten, Alexander Ginder, David Layr, Wm. mason, George Laetley, A. D. michal, F. M. Stumbo, Thomas H. Spelman, David Spears, James white, James mount, T. D. Pamlee, Wm. Cotinghan. 1The certificate to this document is signed by William McKay, clerk of the Board of Commissioners. The seal used is a Spanish milled dollar. 2 Judges of election— Benj. Saylor, James S. Bradley; clerks— John R. Evans, Ezra H. Shipman. 3 Judges of election— James White, James Mount, James McRobert ; clerks— William Brown, J. D. Parmelee. 655 656 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY (3) The Camp voters (then including the entire east end of the county) who voted at the Mitchell home, cast 12 votes "for' and 23 against.* Those voting for were : Alexander Stewart, William Sollers, Azariah Sollars, William Renfro, James Brown, J. C. Jones, J. M. Montgomery, William Stewart,' Elias Prunty, James Miler, John Baird, Addison Cave. Those voting against were: John Thomson, Christopher Burge, Joseph Jones, Jacob Fredrick, Elijah Canfield, William Holden, Stephen Cooper, L. H. Lathrop, H. B. Mitchell, Stephen Updike, T. C. Wellman, Adam Michael, Eli Tullinger, Henry Burge, George Krysher, John Q. Deakin, G. B. Clarke, Jacob Booker, William Linn, Charles W. Goodenough, S. H. Sivley, Edwin Loveland, Joseph Myers. (4) Of the Fort Des Moiners, 60 voted for and 59 against.5 Those voting "for" were: Perry Crawsman, Samuel Kelly, Wm. P. Mc- Kubin, I. B. Mallet, Jas. Philips, Saml Robertson, P. M. Casady, Thos Crabtree, Patrick Kelly, David Pratt, Eli smithson, Joseph Ehle, Jacob Collin, John Sharp, S. W. Watts, Henry Huntingdon, Joseph Corbett, Nathan Collin, Perry Ware, Thos. Baker, Jas. W. Guye, George W. Guye, Wm. Galleway, Jas. Hart, Wm. Robbins, J. R. Bedel, George Elwell, Solamon Janes, E. M. Perkins, Alfred Bow man, Jas. Philips, George Michael, Wm. Ware, Jas. Davis, Jas. Campbell, Benj Philips, Henderson Hart, N. Reevs, Owen E. Osborn, Jas. L. Barker, Solornan L. Perkins, Peter Haworth, Wm J. Evans, Person Tague, L. Wright, Shobal Haworth, John Wright, George Haworth, Henry Shadly, Saml Vanatta, Danl Trullinger, A. D. Jones, Phineas Newton, John M. Wallis, Isaac Miller, Martin Tucker, Lafayette McHenry, Jesse K. Miller, John Mcjemsie, John Scott. Those voting "against" were: G. W. Elliot, John Parrott, George Maggs, M. J. Post, Sam Dille, Oran Judson, Wm. McKay, John Moyer, Andrew Pauley, Preston Reeves, Camron Reeves, Alex Turrner, Georg Reeves, John Myers, Wm Hughs, Benj. F. Fredrick, Wm. Blackston, Wm. Hall, Jas. R. Smith, Thos. J. Henderson, Jas Laughry, Newton Lamb, Wm. F. Ayers, Isaac Ballard, H. Thrift, Wm Saylor, D. W. Ballard, Edwin Hall, Edward Hall, Jas H. Barrett, Joseph Compton, Samuel Crow, B. G. Hoxie, Jas Thomas, Wm Cooper, Marion McKee, Wm Rickey, P. B. Fagen, P. C. Woodard, E. Jenings [not counted — evidently inserted afterwards] Thos H. Napiar, Wm A. Stephens, Jas Wright, Aaron Coppock, John Rouss, Wm W. Hurst, Wm Brown, Danl Howard, Owen Edger- ton, John Hollandsworth, Thos K. Brooks, John Saylors, Wm. Lamb, Saml Shaffer, John S. Jourdan, Mormon Ballard, J. M. Thrift, Wm W. Clapp, L. D. Winchester, Jas Lamb. It will be noted that the leading men in town were divided on the question. The official list, now for the first time published, is of value, also, as giving the names of the first voters of Polk county who were sufficiently interested to record their votes. 1 Judges of election — Wm. Stewart, Stephen Cooper, J. B. Grinstead; clerks — J. C. Jones, H. B. Mitchell. 8 Judges of election — William Lamb, Martin Tucker, William Rickey; clerks — Thos. H. Napier, John Saylor. CHAPTER VI. POLK COUNTY S FIRST FAMILIES. The first enumeration of the citizens of Polk county, Iowa, was certified to by Lewis Whitten, clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, on the 16th day of September, 1846. It contains the names of all recorded heads of families in the county, with the number in each family. This list has never before been published and is a valuable record of the "First Families" of Polk county. Fol lowing is the list copied from the original record:1 Names of the Heads of Families. Brannon Ausbern 3 Bedwell Lettridge 5 Berger Ulyssus 4 Butler John 13 Brown William 2 Atherton Wm 1 Burnet James 8 Basil Downing 1 Buck George 1 Coppick Aaron 4 Cottingham Wm 1 Dodge Ripley 4 Dowel James W 1 Dooley Wm 1 Crow Samuel 3 Chenoweth Daniel 1 ¦Clanton Joel M 6 Clanton Isaac 9 Clanton Charles 7 Clark Cabeb [Caleb?] 8 Chapman Thornton 4 Cooper James 5 Cooper George L 5 Cooper Leonard 5 Crackal Augustus 1 Depew Tobias 1 Driskill Riley 6 Dotson Charles 1 Dotson Uriah 3 Compton Elias 9 Davis James 1 Campbell James 4 Crosman P. L 3 Edgerton Owen 5 Evens John M 2 Fergens Thomas 1 Farley James 3 Farley Thomas 2 Freel William 7 Freel Amos 10 Fouts Noah 8 Furman Joseph 4 Fouts Eri W 4 Fisher Fredrick 1 Hargas Simpson 7 Hunt Ivens S 1 Gimsey John M 8 Howard Samuel 1 Gilchrist Wm 1 Howard Daniel 1 Hurst Wm. W 2 Hill Jefferson T 8 Ginder Alexander 7 Hayworth Dillen 10 Highby Obidiah 5 Hayworth John L 7 Gilbert James 1 Hayes Alexander N 2 Johnston Shadrick 1 Jones Closberry 2 Jones Henry R 5 Jones Matthew 7 Jones A. D 1 Jones W. W * Latimer James 3 Kisor George 2 certifies, a miss^ is that of A. t>. Jones, deputy clerk. Vol. I—42 657 658 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Learning Jeremiah 3 Learning Daniel I Learning Judah 3 Leonard Thomas 4 Leonard William 1 McCray Charles 1 Mount James 4 Myrick Elias 11 Mason William 3 Niday Hiram 2 Niday John R 1 Moore Daniel 6 McMahan John 5 Miller Martin W 3 Miller Jesse K 5 Myers Peter 1 Osborn Owen 6 Phips James 1 Patton David W 1 Plumer John 6 Prescott James 1 Perry Frederick 1 Paul Isaac 2 Phillips Benjamine 6 Orender John 5 Osier Henry 5 Pile Alfred 5 Parmelee John D 4 Perkins S. D 1 Phillips James 7 Phillips James, Jun 1 Reves Lenoir 6 Reves George 6 Reeves Camron 2 Reves Preston 1 Rime James 3 Rime Joshua 6 Reynolds Mathias 6 Reynolds George 1 Rixby Uriah 3 Reynolds William H 1 Taylor Benjamine 5 Smith James 3 Simmons Daniel 6 Thornsberry Lemuel 4 Sutton John 1 Stark Sanford 9 Stark Jonathan J 5 Sample John 4 Spurlock Matthew 5 Spurlock George W 3 Spurlock Harvey 4 Spear David 4 Stumbo William 1 Stumbo David 2 Smith Anthony 2 Shelton Edward 1 Vansickle Wm r Vansickle Jackson -> Wells Richard [ 5 Woody James c Woody Andrew J t Young Joseph g Ward George 8 Walker Thomas 3 Michael George A t Ayers Wm. F 8 Wicklen Thomas 1 Cave Addison 4 Rose John (, Hart James 1 Cooper Wm 1 Hughs William 5 Mallett John B 3 Lamb William 10 McKee Marion 1 Shafer Joseph 2 Collins Archibald 1 Rowe Charles 3 Barrett James H 4 Hart Henderson 2 Guinn Martin 4 Beard John 6 Scott John B 12 Kirkpatrick S.N 7 Stark Aaron E 7 Lamb Newton 4 Bryant Benj 1 Mooyer John 1 James J. C 7 Hampton Jones 1 Brooks T. K 5 Cooney Arch 7 Beck Wm. K 4 Richey Wm 6 Tuttle J. G 5 Napier H 7 Danier Michael 6 Sailers E 6 Stewart Alex 5 Myers Joseph 7 Woodward PC 7 Ballard Simeon 7 Ballard Mormon 6 Ballard Daniel W 5 Ballard Isaac 6 Frederick Benjamine F 4 McCall Montgomery 6 Grinstead Jesse B 4 Stewart James N 7 Stewart William ° Porter William 5 Vice Isaac D 9 Canfield Elijah 8 MRS. ISAAC COOPER Mother of Mrs. V. M. Hubbell MRS. EUNICE JEWETT THRIFT Widow of John SI. Thrift CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 659 Martin Edward 3 Langdon Joseph 8 Wiley Holady 7 Wicker Tally 5 Belot Peter 4 Belot Simon 1 Phillips James 6 McCurdy Andrew 6 Freel John 4 Minter [Winter ?] Jacob 6 Miller William 7 Miller James 4 Kelly Patrick 7 Brown James 11 Myers John 5 Renfro Creath 10 Clarkson Wallace 2 Tibbies Thornton F 1 Ridgeway John 3 Renfro Wm 5 Strop John 7 Dearkin John D 9 Ray Abner 7 Prunty Elias 6 Black Thomas 7 Montgomery James M 5 McCulloch Alexander 7 Stewart Wm 7 Stewart Thomas D 3 Mitchell Thomas 10 Jiwens [ ?] Ezekial 4 Jones Joseph 9 Tullenger Darmel 5 McCune Daniel 3 Michael Lavish 4 Birdge Henry 10 Cooper Stephen 7 Sively S. H : 1° Wear Perry 3 Slyter Allen W 2 Hewet Hannah 3 Hewet Dore 2 Marts David C 2 Phillips Lewis 2 Everly Henry 4 Beebe George 3 McHenry Layfayette ~~ Daniels Aaron 2 Burt Calvin 2 Campbell A. W 2 Bowman Alfred 5 Bowman " Noris David 5 Paully 4 Evans 1 Saylor John 9 Hayes Samuel 5 Bradly James 4 Thornton James 3 Koons Nathan 1 Keeler Eli 3 Deford Samuel 4 Deford Isaac 2 Daily George 4 Thrift J. M 5 Jewet David 3 Rathburn Abner 6 Hoxie B. T 8 McKay W 1 Meacham W. H 4 Clapp W. W 3 Tucker Martin 7 Wear William 2 Wear Maddison M 2 McMullen Thomas 1 Vannatti Samuel 3 Newton Phineas 5 Fleming Asa 8 Evens William 1 Warden George 5 Roberson Samuel 1 Roberson Hamilton 1 Brown Nelson 8 Sower Wm 5 McRoberds James 7 Gilbreath John 1 Wilday John 4 Lulser Garrison 1 Henderson Thomas J 8 Newcomer Peter 4 Turner Alexander 9 Leslee George 1 Miller Wm. W..". 7 Smithson Eli 3 Perkins Brook 1 Kirk Thomas 1 Hinton James M 4 Hayworth Shabel 3 Hayworth -George 1 Corbell J. C 5 Galaway William 4 Miller Samuel 6 Sharp John 1 Miller Isaac 4 Busick Wm 5 Furrow R. J. W ~~ Black James 2 Stump Hervey 8 Stump James ~~ Staggs Noah 5 Guarner Henry 3 Staggs Jonathan 3 Hardisty Henderson 9 Wright John 8 660 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Turner Horace i Wright Levi 5 McCubbins Wm. P 3 JuvenaJl John 3 Reynolds John 3 Thomas James 3 Post Benton 6 Jordan John S 4 Jesse B. F 5 Kurtse Joseph 6 Ross John 1 Church Jerry j Whitten Lewis 1 McCall Addison 2 Laylor John 7 Clark G. B 1 Nuckles John M 3 Hobson Allen 4 Roop John 5 J. A. Nash Isaac Cooper J. C. Jordan Barlow Granger P. M. Casady Thomas Mitchell William H. Merritt Isaac Brandt GEOUP OF EEPEESENTATIVE POLK COITNTY MEN PHOTOS TAKEN IN THE '70s CHAPTER VII. THE FIRST GENERAL ELECTION HELD IN POLK COUNTY. Polk county officially antedated the State of Iowa a few months, long enough to include one territorial election. This was held October 26, 1846. The Archives of Iowa hold the original certificate of this election, bringing out not only the slender vote of the county in '46, but also the first division of the county on party lines; and, too, the well-nigh forgotten first division of the new county into elec tion precincts. The election was for territorial governor, etc., for delegate in Congress and for a senator and representatives, the legislative district including Polk, Jasper and Marion counties. Ansel Briggs, democrat, ran against Thomas McKnight, whig — defeating his opponent by 247 majority in the territory. Briggs' majority in Polk was only 4 — the vote being 78 to 74. This vote by precincts was as follows : Briggs — Desmoines, 55 : Three Rivers, 21 ; Clay, 2. McKnight — Desmoines, 54: Three Rivers, 5; Clay, 15. Democrat and Dallas townships were thrown out because of irregularities not specified. The vote of Polk for delegates (or "representatives") in Congress was: Stephen Leffler, dem., — "Desmoines," 56; Three Rivers, 21 ; Clay, 1 — total, 78. S. C. Hastings, dem., — Desmoines, 52 ; Three Rivers, 19 ; Clay, 1 — total, 72. Joseph H. Hedrick, whig — Desmoines, 57; Three Rivers, 7; Clay, 15 — total, 79- George C. R. Mitchell, whig — Desmoines, 53; Three Rivers, 4; Clay, 15 — total, 72. For senator, Thomas Baker, democrat, was pitted against T. K. Brooks, whig. Baker was elected, but Brooks, a local candidate, carried the county. For rep resentatives, John N. Kinsman and Simeon Reynolds, democrats, ran against Stanford Doud and C. H. Hamlin, whigs. The Polk county vote for senator and representatives by precincts (with Democrat and Dallas townships thrown out), was as follows : Desmoines— Baker, 51; Brooks, 56; Kinsman, 55 ; Reynolds, 54; Doud, 54; Hamlin, 53. Spurlock (Three Rivers) — Baker, 15; Brooks, 11; Kinsman, 21; Reynolds, 20; Doud, o; Hamlin, 6. Clay— Baker, o ; Brooks, 14 ; Kinsman, o ; Reynolds, o ; Doud, 14 ; Hamlin, 14. Total— Baker, 66; Brooks 81 ; Kinsman, 76; Reynolds, 74; Doud, 68; Hamlin, 73. It will thus be seen that the county of Polk, which later became strongly republican in politics, was in 1846 very evenly divided as between the two great parties. 661 CHAPTER VIII. A STUDY IN LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT THE PART TAKEN BY POLK COUNTY PIONEERS IN A SOCIALISTIC MOVEMENT IN DEFENSE OF THEIR HOMES. In 1807 an act passed Congress prohibiting any and all persons from occupy ing lands ceded to the United States. Later, Congress, in a measure, neutralized this law by granting special preemption privileges to settlers who had made im provements upon public lands. In 1833, the original law was revived "with special application to that part of Iowa known as 'the Sac and Fox Cession of 1832'. . . . Instructions for the survey of these lands were issued in 1836; and by November ist, 1837, the whole district had been surveyed as to exterior township lines. . . . But not until 1838 were any of the lands proclaimed for sale. ... . "Having gone upon the Public Domain in violation of an act of Congress, they [the settlers] occupied and cultivated lands to which they held no legal titles from the General Government. . . . "The establishment of the territorial government of Wisconsin in 1836, and the erection of the Territory of Iowa in 1838 gave the early settlers, for the first time, something more than fictitious constitutional status." ~- Commenting on this situation Dr. Shambaugh says,2 "the history of 'early land claims' goes back of all government records and is to be found in the history of the claim associations alone. "The earliest claims to land west of the Mississippi River were made by pioneer farmers (or squatters) in direct violation of an act of Congress pro hibiting settlers from trespassing on the Public Domain. These early land-holders, without titles or patents from the United States, had no legal rights to the soil they occupied and, therefore, could expect no protection from the General Gov ernment. In consequence there grew up a system of popular government peculiar to the pioneer communities of the West. It was a novel system based upon the organization known as 'Claim Association' or 'Land Club.' "Each community or township had its own distinct land association, the prin cipal object of which was the protection of the bona fide settlers in what they pleased to call their rights in making and holding claims — protection against 'speculators,' 'land sharks,' and greedy settlers. Disputes between members of an association were arbitrated by the 'Claim Court' or 'Claim Committee.' From the decisions of this court or committee there was no appeal. Intentional failure to abide by the laws of the association was punished by boycott, ostracism, public condemnation, tar-and-feathers and the lash. "The maximum amount of land allowed to any one settler varied in the dif ferent communities from one hundred and sixty to four hundred and eighty acres. Boundaries of claims were designated by section and township lines, if the public surveys had been completed, otherwise by blazed trees, streams, hills, stumps, stakes, and rocks. These claims the settlers continued to cultivate and improve until the land was offered for sale by the government. 1 Introduction to "Constitution and Records of the Claim Association of Johnson County, Iowa," pp. 11- 12. State Historical Society of Iowa, 1894. 2 Iowa City — A Contribution to the Early History of Iowa. State Historical Society of Iowa, 1893, pp. 7-9. 662 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 663 "As the time announced for the public sale approached, all claims were care fully recorded and marked off on the township map. A 'bidder' for the whole community was then appointed by the association. At the sale he held the marked township map, and as fast as the claims of the members of his association were called by the auctioneer, he would bid the minimum price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. And at this price the land was invariably bought ; for no one dared bid against an original claimant. Let an outsider be so bold as to put in a counter bid, in an instant he would be 'knocked down' and compelled to withdraw his offer, or risk his life at the hands of the members of a claim as sociation, who. were all there ready to 'do their duty.' At home as at the public sale, the members were always fully protected in their rights. And this, let it be understood, was no second rate protection. For the law of the association was the supreme rule of the community against which no man dared raise his hand." Does this "combination,'' or "boycott," — call it what you will — seem to Twentieth Century readers criminally communistic, or socialistic ? Having viewed this interesting development of local self-government from the historian's side, let us now examine it from the ethical standpoint, as a social movement full of suggestion to the student of institutional beginnings. Dr. Jesse Macy, in his valuable contribution to the Johns Hopkins University Studies in Historical and Political Science, entitled "Institutional Beginnings of a Western State," quotes Senator Calhoun as saying that if he was rightly informed "the Iowa country had already been seized on by a lawless body of armed men, who had parcelled out the whole region, and had entered into written stipulations to stand by and pro tect each other," etc.3 Professor Macy develops the fact that so strong were these organizations that there was little or no conflict down to the supreme moment—the land sale. "This is one of the many cases in our history," he says, "where 'the broad and beaten path of custom leading directly across it (the statute) had obliterated every apparent vestige of its existence.' " 4 Reviewing Judge Mason's celebrated decision in the Iowa case of Hill vs. Smith,5 Professor Macy says : "His decision may be flimsy law, but it is first-class history. It almost takes away the breath of a lawyer to declare that a custom of thirty years' standing can repeal a statute, yet it is a simple fact that the first homestead laws of Iowa were made by little bands of men in the different local ities, who had gone upon lands in violation of a United States statute. . . The laws, executions and decisions of the Claim Association, the original home stead laws of Iowa, came to be recognized as law by all the powers that be." Referring to laws relating to schools, roads, bridges, ferries, timber claims, homestead rights, etc., this student of political science finds that "the real local institutions of the early settlers of Iowa are not recorded in any statute-books, and many of the institutions recorded in statute-books never had any existence."8 More radical even than the judgment of this distinguished sociologist, is that of the jurist. Says Justice Mason in the case cited : 7 "It is notorious that when this territory was organized not one foot of its soil had ever been sold by the United States, and but a small portion of it (the half-breed tract) was individual property. Were we a community of trespassers, or were we to be regarded rather as occupying and improving the lands of the gov ernment by the invitation and for the benefit of the owner? Were we organized as a colony of malefactors, or shall we not rather absolve the federal govern ment from the charge of such stupendous folly and wanton wickedness ? "... For doing these acts which have redounded so much to the na- 8 In the U. S. Senate, January 27, 1838, in a speech in opposition to a bill granting pre emption rights to actual settlers. Macy— Institutional Beginnings in a Western State, note, bottom p. 11. * A quotation from Justice Mason's decision. Macy's Institutional Beginnings, etc., p. IS- 'Morris' Reports, p. 70. Macy— Institutional Beginnings, etc., p. 21. 8 Macy — Institutional Beginnings, etc., p. 25. 1 Morris' Reports, p. 70. Macy— Institutional Beginnings, etc., pp. 18-19. 664 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY tional advantage, done, too, in accordance with the almost express invitation of the national legislature, and when encouragements to western immigration had become a part of our settled national policy, these individuals, where they had every reason to expect rewards — nay, while on the one hand they are actually receiving such rewards, feel themselves on the other condemned to severe and even ignominious punishment." Referring to the hanging of those "supple instruments of the tyranny of Henry VII," 8 Judges Empson and Dudley, for executing too rigidly certain obsolete and forgotten laws, Justice Mason continues : "Fortified by this authority we pronounce it contrary to the spirit of that Anglo-Saxon liberty, which we in herit, to revive without notice, an obsolete statute." Speaking of the land grant in aid of the Des Moines River Improvement, Governor Clarke, in his second message,9 thus emphasizes the historical fact developed and the ethical position taken by the authorities above quoted: "It is estimated that at least two-thirds of the entire donation is occupied and claimed by settlers, many of whom, under the expectation of obtaining a title to their lands from the general government at the minimum price, have gone on to make ex tensive and valuable improvements. A change of proprietorship should not, in my opinion, be permitted to place this large and respectable portion of our fellow- citizens in a worse condition in regard to their lands than they are at present." The Governor, therefore, recommended a special preemption law which would give the claimants the privilege of entering the lands on which they had settled, at the regulation price of $1.25 an acre, — a policy at once "the most judicious for the State," and "most satisfactory to the settlers."10 The history of this general movement throughout the territory of Iowa is, in general, the history of the Claims Club of Fort Des Moines, a club which included in its membership large numbers of the best and most responsible citizens of Polk county. This vigorous local movement well illustrates the great sociological prin ciple which the world has been slow to learn, that the basis of all representative government is the Community. It should be borne in mind that lands in the fertile and beautiful valley of the Des Moines, with their rare combination of woodland and choice prairie, and with the certainty, or probability in many instances, that they included rich de posits of coal and building stone, were worth many times more than the minimum $1.25 per acre. Under these circumstances, the thought was intolerable that specu lators, or eleventh-hour newcomers who knew nothing of the burden and heat of the day, should enter upon land which actual settlers had staked out and tilled, and upon which they had builded homes. It became evident that organization was necessary for the protection of their respective claims. Fortunately, Mr. Turrill, in 1857,11 had access to Benjamin Bryant's minutes of the proceedings of the organization formed, from which we learn that on the 8th day of April, 1848, the citizens of Polk county convened in Fort Des Moines, with W. H. Meacham in the chair and L. D. Winchester, Secretary. The object of the meeting, as stated by the chair, was "to adopt measures for the security and protection of the citizens of said county, in their claims, against speculators, and all persons who may be disposed wrongfully to deprive settlers of their claims, by preemption or otherwise." Dr. T. K. Brooks and John Myers addressed the meeting giving their views on the best course to pursue. A committee composed of Messrs. Winchester, Mitch- 8 Hume's History of England, Vol. Ill, p. 80. 9 Messages and Proclamations of the Governors of Iowa. Shambaugh, State Historical Society of Iowa, Vol. I, p. 20. 10 December 2, 1846. , 11 In his Historical Reminiscences of the City of Des Moines. Redhead & Dawson, 1857. HON. FREDERICK M. HUBBELL A pioneer promoter of Des Moines, and the foremost cap italist of Iowa CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 665 ell, Scott, Sypher and Saylor, was appointed to draft resolutions. The com mittee reported the following resolutions which were unanimously adopted: ist. Resolved, That we will protect all persons who do, or may hold claims, against the interference of any person or persons, who shall attempt to deprive such claim-holders of their claims, by preemption or otherwise. 2nd. Resolved, That we will in all cases discountenance the speculator, or other person, who shall thus attempt any innovation upon the homes of the right ful settlers ; that we will not hold any fellowship with such person, and that he be regarded as a nuisance in the community. 3d. Resolved, That no person shall be allowed to pre-empt or purchase in any form from government, any land which shall be held as a claim, unless he shall first obtain the consent of the claimant. 1 4th. Resolved, That the filing of an intention to pre-empt, contrary to the rights of the settler, be regarded as an attempt wrongfully to deprive the citizen of his home and his claim. 5th. Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed; and that it shall be their duty to inquire into and adjust all difficulties, and contentions, in cases where claims are in dispute. 6th. Resolved, That it shall be the duty of said committee to notify any per son who shall pre-empt, or attempt to do so, by filing his intentions to pre-empt, the claim of any other person, to leave the vicinity and the country; and that they have authority to enforce a compliance with said notice. 7th. Resolved, That we will sustain and uphold such committee, in their decisions, and in the discharge of all their duties as defined in the foregoing resolutions. 8th. Resolz'ed, That all persons be invited to sign the foregoing resolutions, and that the signers pledge themselves to be governed by, and to aid in sustaining the same. The language of these resolutions leaves no question as to the determination of the first settlers of Polk county to protect their claims, — peaceably, if possible ; forcibly, if necessary. That was no small and insignificant gathering; no dupli cation of the oft-quoted absurdity so effectually used by Canning, — "the three tailors of Tooley street" petitioning Parliament in the name of "the people of England." Here were a hundred substantial men assembled from all parts of Polk county, men to whom the Home was a possession well worth fighting for, and to whom possession was at least nine points of the law ! These men, traced to their respective birthplaces, are found to have come to Polk county from New England, from New York, from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and the Caro- linas, from the then middle-western states of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, In diana and Illinois. That posterity may not be permitted to forget the names of the pioneers who thus unequivocally committed themselves to cooperation and, if necessary, to force, in defense of the claims established by their labors, it is well to reproduce in this connection the list of charter members of this the "Claim Club 'of Fort Des Moines," organized April 8, 1848: 12 W. H. Meacham, J. B. Scott, P. B. Fagen, T. Henderson, T. Crabtree, W. A. Scott, W. Wear, John Myers, T. McCall, J. Thompson, Wm. Bradford, N. Ball, J. Bundrum, Jos. De ford, J. M. Kirkbride, Jno. Saylor, Jno. Hayes, J. H. Finch, J. D. McGlothlin, Wm. Lower, P. Newcomer, Dayton Harris, John Bennett, D. S. Cockerham, John Miller, David S. Bowman, Charles Murrow, Robert Hopkins, Joseph Keeney, Benj. Bennet, Tas. T. Thompson, George Knoop, Asa Flemming, Thos. Gilpin, James Philips, L. D. Winchester, George Dailey, L. Garret, A. N. Hays, G. W. Lacy, T. K. Brooks, Joseph Myers, J. Tribe, J. G. Tuttle, B. Perkins, Jacob Win ter, D. Haworth, S. W. McCall, Montgomery McCall, A. W. Hobson, B. F. Frederick, Wm. Busick, Sr., E. Compton, John Wildy, N. Reeves, Wm. Cooper, Jno. McMahan, Wm. Hughes, A. S. Dean, P. Wear, E. Keeler, Jas. Anderson, J. Church, H. Everly, C. B. Myers, D. L. Jewett, David Norris, Wm. Busick, 12 Turrill's spelling of names has been followed. 666 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Jr., Charles Kurey, R. A. Harban, John Saylor, T. Mitchell, Benj. Saylor, H. D Hendricks, T. Campbell, G. Maginniss, J. C. Jones, J. Frederick, R. W. Sypher Sam'l. Kellogg, Wm. Garrett, W. F. Ayres, John S. Dean, Jacob Baycus, Solo-' mon Bales, J. Harris, H. Huntington, John Baird, W. B. Binte, B. J. Saylor George Krysher, C. Stutsman, D. S. Mearts, C. S. Evans, Eli Keeler, George Oglevie, Wm. Kuren, David Miller, James McRoberts, Franklin Nagle. Several other meetings of the club were held in the summer of 1848, but the minutes of these meetings were either lost or destroyed. The last meeting was held at the corner of Second and Market streets, Fort Des Moines, a few weeks prior to the Land Sale at Iowa City. The principal object of the meeting was the selection of an agent who should represent the Polk county claimants at the sale, and should bid in the lands respectively claimed by them. Robert L. Tid rick, long afterward prominent in Des Moines and Polk county affairs, was ap pointed agent for the association, and a corps of armed and determined men were sent with him as a body-guard. Fortunately no contest was made, and Tidrick returned, accompanied by his cohorts, with the titles in his pocket, for those who paid cash, or with the assurance to holders of land-warrants that the lands claimed by them had not been sold and would not be, until they had had their opportunity to buy. Titles to all the claims located in Polk county were ultimately perfected, and at the minimum price of $1.25 per acre. While the main object of the Claims Club of Polk county was thus attained and the club ceased to meet, the organization was not disbanded and the pledge of mutual protection remained. Two after incidents are worth relating as sequels to the present chapter. The land office had been removed from Iowa City to Fort Des Moines. "One morning, when the sale opened," says Mr. Andrews,13 "a settler's claim in Wal nut township was put up and he [a stranger named Bates] made a bid on it. Instantly he was surrounded by a group of stalwart, determined men, and two rails planted vertically in front of him, with several old shotguns and pistols out lying. He was politely invited to take a walk. He was escorted to the river bank. He sat down. A strong guard was left with him. The water in the river was cold. What might happen after night came on was uncertain. The doings of the Club Committee in such cases were never made public, as a rule. He pon dered over the subject until darkness came, when he collapsed, and made a pledge that he would offer no more interference with settlers' claims, and he was per mitted to travel." The story of the so-called "Perkins and Fleming war" 14 must not be omitted. In brief, Asa Fleming had established a claim a few miles below Fort Des Moines, and one B. Perkins, a neighbor, tried to preempt the claim, having filed his in tention to do so. His purpose was heralded and great was the excitement in the neighborhood. This was in the spring of '49. Both Perkins and Fleming were charter members of the local Claims Club, and the offender was fully acquainted with the spirit, purpose, rules and regulations of the club. His course was, there fore, without excuse. If Perkins could with impunity violate the spirit and regulations of the organization, the entire fabric of protection would fall to the ground. One day Perkins appeared on the scene. Finding his indignant neighbors armed and organized to defend Fleming in his rights, he mounted a horse and fled. Several parting shots were fired at him, but without effect. The "solitary- horseman" reached the south bank of the Raccoon, trembling with fright, his horse foaming. He induced Ferryman Scott to deliver him with all speed at Fort Des Moines, which he regarded as a veritable city of refuge. A few days 13 "Pioneers of Polk County.'' Vol. I, p. 81. 14 Turrill spells it "Flemming." CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 667 later, recovered from his fright, ignoring the advice of his friends, he swore out a warrant against Fleming, charging him with assault with intent to kill. Fleming was arrested by Constable Mitchell, and was brought before Squire Luce for examination. While the examination was in progress, a party of sympathizers surrounded the justice's office, — a log house near "the Point"— carried the prisoner away by force and escorted him to his home. Pie was again arrested and brought to the Fort. Another attempt was made to rescue him. Some eighty "embattled farmers" appeared on the river bank and demanded to be ferried over. Coroner Phillips assumed authority to proclaim martial law in the town, commanding the business men to close their stores, arm them selves and be in readiness to act under his orders. Alexander Scott, the ferry man, held the key to the situation. He refused to ferry the combatants across, so long as they retained their arms. Finally the farmers stacked arms and the Charon of the 'Coon relented. The Fleming sympathizers appeared at court — as many of them as could squeeze into the log cabin — but made no demonstration. Fleming was re-ex amined and was compelled to give bonds for his appearance at the next term of the District Court. The Grand Jury refused te find a true bill against him, and he returned to his well-earned home. Perkins found his course so universally condemned, and himself so execrated by his neighbors, that he was glad to end the matter and "save his bacon," by executing to Fleming a bond in which it was stipulated that Fleming should have a warranty deed for the claim in dispute as soon as a patent could be obtained, on paying to Perkins $1.25 per acre. The execution of the bond ended the Ferkins-Fleming war. . Several other conflicts of interest in Polk county that same year are referred to by Turrill, one of them thought to be a sequel to the Perkins-Fleming Affair. One Holland, a stranger suspected of being a land speculator, and thought to be operating with Perkins, was convicted, on suspicion, of being an "undesirable citizen," and was turned over to the tender mercies of "Judge Lynch." Holland was made aware of the "absent treatment" to which he had been subjected, but gave no evidence of good results therefrom. He was fearless, and even defiant. Some thirty men surrounded Holland's home, and the ringleader ordered him to come out and take what was coming to him. Holland, undismayed, appeared and expressed himself, "willing to submit to their will and pleasure," but asked the privilege of making a speech. Though some heard the request with impatience, the majority decided to hear what the culprit had to say. Mounting a box, and, calmly viewing his audience, he began. Averse to spoiling a "story" for truth's sake, the pioneer historian dilates on the magic eloquence of this modern Mark Antony, converting thirty bloodthirsty foes into so many would-be friends, who, after asking and generously receiving the man's pardon, adjourned to the nearest grocery, on Holland's invitation and there drowned in whisky the last vestige of the old resentment. Long before these apochryphal incidents could have occurred, the mission of the Claims Club of Polk county had been accomplished, and the club as an or ganized force had given way before the majesty of the law. CHAPTER IX. "ALL ROADS LEAD TO POLK." The important part played by the territorial legislature in the development of Polk county has already been referred to in the History of Des Moines. The road from Fairfield to Oskaloosa, and thence "to the Indian boundary in the direction of Raccoon fork," was in due time pushed to completion to "the fork," and was a much-used thoroughfare, being for years the principal land connec tion of the county with the outside world. Then came the territorial road from Iowa City to Fort Des Moines, giving another valuable outlet to the Mississippi. John Scott, prominent in county affairs was the locating commissioner named for Polk 'county. The. new State of Iowa did nothing worth mentioning for Polk county un til '53, when the Fourth General Assembly took up the matter of road extension with due regard to its importance in the development of the interior counties. In response to the demand from all parts of the new and fast-growing State, the legislature early in January passed an omnibus bill — containing sixty-six sections — which was approved by Governor Hempstead on the 22d of January, 1853.1 The roads named in this bill which directly affected Polk county and her county seat are the following: From Fort Des Moines to Wahtawah, Adair county, O. D. Small [e]y of Dallas, W. W. Jones of Polk and Wilson Miller of Dallas, commissioners. From Centerville, via Chariton, Indianola, to Fort Des Moines. From Monroe via Lafayette in Polk county to Indianola, commissioners I. Q. Doekin of Jasper, C. W. Freel of Polk and R. W. Steele of Warren. From Newton, via C. Brady's through Polk county to Marietta, commission ers, William H. McHenry of Polk, J. Hobbe of Marshall and Thomas Reese of Jasper. From the bridge on south Skunk via Webb's point, through Polk county, to Marietta, commissioners, John McLain and D. Bryant of Polk and J. M. Fergu son, of Marshall. In a resolution approved at the same time, instructing our senators and re questing our representatives to procure additional mail facilities, the following routes were mentioned : 2 From Fort Des Moines to Chariton, via Indianola. From Alexandria, Mo., via Bloomfield, Drakesville, Albia and Knoxville, to Fort Des Moines. From Fort Des Moines, via Laytonville, Polk city, Hopkins' Grove Rapids and Belle Point, tri-weekly. From Keokuk to Fort Des Moines, via Charleston, Primrose, Birmingham, Agency City, Dahlonega, Oskaloosa, Pella and Monroe, — daily, in four-horse coaches. From Fort Des Moines, via Lewis, to Council Bluffs, tri-weekly in four- horse coaches. From Delhi, Delaware county, to Fremont, thence through Poweshiek and Jasper counties to Fort Des Moines ; thence to Lewis, county seat of Cass, thence to Glenwood, the county seat of Mills. 1 Laws of Iowa, Fourth General Assembly, Chapter 106, Sees. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 2 Laws of Iowa, Fourth General Assembly, R. 13, pp. 208-10. 668 PRINCESS THEATRE 'Si CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 669 From Fort Des Moines via Saylorville, Polk county, Sweet Point, Boonsboro, and Dakotah, to Fort Dodge, — at the same time vacating "so much ofthe old State road from Fort Des Moines to Booneville as runs from David Parker's to Booneville." The Fifth General Assembly renewed its petitions to congress for better mail facilities for Iowa. In resolutions passed and approved in January, 1855, occur numerous items affecting Polk county. These are as follows : One, calling for a mail from Fort Des Moines via Boone, Adel, McKay, Panora and Bear Grove to Council Bluffs, "twice a week, in two-horse coaches;" another asking for several mail routes including one from Fort Des Moines, via Winterset, Quincy, Clarinda and Sidney, to Nebraska City, with post coaches twice a week. Still others, asking for routes from Fort Des Moines, via Leming's Point, Horn- buckle's Point, Kinney's Mill and Carson's Point, to Fort Dodge, in two-horse coaches once a week ; from Fort Des Moines, via Nevada, Minerva Grove, Henry Grove and Eldora to Cedar Falls, in two-horse coaches once a week. Another asking an increase of service to a tri-weekly mail, from Fort Des Moines, via Taylorsville, Polk city, Hopkins' Grove, Rapid, Belle Point, Boonesboro, Bridge port and Homer, to Fort Dodge; and still another, asking for additional mail facilities from Fort Des Moines to Bear grove, thence on new route to Council Bluffs. Also a memorial praying for additional mail facilities in the interior of the State, included a tri-weekly mail, in two-horse coaches, from Fort Des Moines, via Indianola, Osceola and Leon to Princeton, Mo. In an omnibus road bill which passed and was approved along with these sev eral resolutions, was an item creating a road from Fort Des Moines, by way of Frelinger's Grove, to Newton, Jasper county, — with Simon Doran, Antony Yant and L. G. Case, named as commissioners, all of whom were residents of Polk county. By an act of the Sixth General Assembly, approved January 23, 1857, com missioners Albert Ship of Jasper, John Saylor of Polk and Peter T. Russell of Jasper, were appointed commissioners to locate a state road from Newton, Jasper county, to Adel, Dallas county, via Saylorville, Polk county. This road, running north on the east and north side of the river, is still known everywhere on the line as the old Saylorville road. On the same day two other roads were located; one, from a point in Fre mont county, Iowa, on the Missouri river, opposite Nebraska City, to Sidney and thence to the city of Fort Des Moines, Polk county; another, commencing at Fort Des Moines, in Polk county, via Greenbush, Osceola, Hopeville, Mount Ayr, thence in a southwesterly direction via Hopeville and Mount Ayr to the south line of the State of Iowa, in the direction of St. Joseph, Missouri. By an omnibus road law approved January 28, 1857, State roads leading to the county seat of Polk were ordered as follows : From Keith's tavern in Polk county via Carlisle and Greenbush to "Winter- sett," Madison county. "Mr." Keith of Polk, the county surveyor of Warren, and Aaron Howell of Madison were named as commissioners. From "Ft. Desmoines," . . . "via Greenbush, St. Charles, Laport in Clarke county," to form a junction with the State road authorized to be estab lished from Fort Desmoines via Indianola, Osceola, Hopeville and "Mt. Air." From the northern terminus of Fort Des Moines and Boonesboro road in a northeasterly direction, via Webster City and Fremont to the Minnesota line. From Knoxville, to Pleasantville, thence via Wheeling to the county line between Marion and Warren near James Thornburgh's there "connecting with the State road leading to Fort Desmoines." A second omnibus road bill was approved on the same day, in which were several sections affecting Polk county, as follows : "From Ft. Desmoines to Sac City by way of Heirs Grove on to Bears Creek, to Buffalo Grove in Boone county," thence by way of "Rippley" and Jefferson, to the mouth of Cedar Creek, thence to Lake City and thence to Sac City. Thomas 670 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Cavanaugh of Polk, James H. Phillips of Dallas and J. Orr of Greene were the commissioners named. "From Ft. Desmoines to St. Charles and Peru and thence to Afton, Union county. From Desmoines city "commencing at the junction of Ninth and Desmoines streets, and running with the last named street to cor poration limits, thence on the most practicable route to the bridge across Four Mile Creek, in Delaware township, Polk county, thence to the county seat of Marshall county." The commissioners named were L. S. Case and D. Eliott of Polk and M. Barker of Marshall. "From Ft. Desmoines 'in a westerly direction on the south side of the Coon river, and on the north side of the North river, via Pennsburgh to Delmanutha, at Bear Grove, in Guthrie county, — commissioners, Aaron Coppuck, Andrew Hubbard and David Bowles, Senr.' " From Dyersville, Delaware county, via Hopkinton and Vinton to Fort. Des moines. From Fort Desmoines to Pleasant Plain, Decatur county, via Indianola, Ocola, Clark county, and Linn, Decatur county. From Ashton, Monona county, through Denison, Crawford county, to in tersect the State road from Fort Des Moines to Sioux City at Dunham's Grove, Crawford county. "Commencing at a certain hickory pole" at a point where the State road leading from Ft. Des Moines to Plattsmouth, Adair county, "to a stake near George B. Wilson's, called Wahtawah, thence west in Cass county" to the in tersection of the State road from Fort Des Moines to Council Bluffs. A third grist of State roads went through the Governor's hands on the 28th of January, 1857, included in which are the following directly affecting Des Moines and Polk county: A road from the southeast corner of Story county, thence west on the Story county line to the southwest corner of section 36, in town 82, north, of range 22 west, thence in a southwesterly direction to intersect the State road known as the Marietta and Fort Des Moines road, on the divide between Calamer's run and Skunk bottom. The commissioners named were Zenor Lame, Story, U. Wiley, Jasper, and George Hobaugh, Polk. Commencing at Clarksville, Butler county, through Butler Center, Fountain and Steamboat Rock and Nevada to Fort Des Moines. From Cedar Falls, via Steamboat Rock to Fort Des Moines, — Commissioners, S. B. Cunningham, Harden, James E. Hull, Polk, and Thomas Davis, Story. From Waterloo, through Lafayette, Marietta and Edwinville, to Fort Des Moines, — Commissioners, John H. Levitt, Blackhawk, C. B. Rhodes, Marshall, and John Lewis, Polk. With these omnibus bills the State roads movement ceased to exist as a movement. The demand for roads, had been fairly well satisfied. But the people of interior Iowa were by this time looking to the immediate future for relief from dependence on long-distance hauls by wagon, as years before they had ceased to depend altogether on the Des Moines river for the delivery of freight. CHAPTER X. SAW MILLS IN POLK IN 185O. As early as 1850 there was one grist mill, and there were several saw mills in Polk county. The Fort Des Moines Gazette of January 25, 1850, printed this list of them, which, the editor said, was complete in so far as it could be made with accuracy at the time: "Hickman's Saw Mill, on Beaver, 9 miles above Fort Des Moines, capacity about 2,000 feet per day. "Stutsman's, on Big Creek, 15 miles up the Des Moines, has a good head of water and can cut 2,500 feet. "Gilpin's, 8 miles up the Des Moines; capacity about 1,000 feet. "Thompson's, on Four Mile River; 2,000 feet. "Napier's, on same river; cuts about 2,000 feet and has a run of burrs. "There is another mill a few mills above Keeny's, on the same river, the proprietor's name we could not learn, — 2,500 feet. "Perkins & Jones' on same stream, 10 miles from town ; capacity 2,500 feet. "Parmelee's two mills, on North river, one 8 and the other 12 miles distant ; capacity 2,000 and 3,000 feet respectively, with burrs attached to each. ["Wright & Stump's 12 miles, in Dallas county, has 14 head, and cuts 2,000 feet.] * "B. F. Jesse's, on Walnut, 3 miles ; cuts 2,000 feet. "Meacham's, a circular saw, propelled by six horses, situated on the opposite side of the Des Moines; can cut 1,500 feet. "Bundrem's, another horse mill, 6 miles from town, 12 horse power, capacity 2500 feet. "Snodgrass, on Beaver, 6 miles ; capacity 2,500 feet. "A. Grosclose's, exclusively Grist Mill, 17 miles up the Des Moines; can turn out 150 bushels per day." With an estimated capacity of 30,500 feet per day, the saw mills of Polk county were certainly performing their part in the transformation of the valley of the Des Moines from wooded lowlands into farmers' homes and local trade centers. And the one grist mill in the county at the time was doing brave pioneer work in helping Des Moines valley farmers to attain to at least some slight measure of independence of Oskaloosa, Fairfield, Bonaparte and the cities on the Mississippi. These mills were reported as principally in good running order, and all of them would be running by spring. The editor reviews the list complacently and exclaims : "What county in the State can present such a list !" He further says that "these mills, and' the steam mills heretofore noticed, altogether cannot cut a foot more lumber than they will readily dispose of the coming season." As to the steam mills referred to, the Fort Des Moines Star of January 18, 1850, has a column editorial, waxing eloquent over the nearly completed steam mill of Messrs. Van & Allen, south of the 'Coon, and another soon to follow, by Messrs. Dean & Cole, near the east end of the present Locust street bridge. He eloquently writes: xNot properly in this list; but included probably because contributory to the needs of farmers in the west end of Polk county. , 671 672 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY "Then will be heard on either side the shrill whistle of the panting engine, while our streets will resound with the noise of the hammer and the saw, and broad and deep will be laid the foundation of many a stately edifice. Our town will emerge from infancy to youth, from youth to a vigorous manhood and its 'area' will be extended over the beautiful slopes that surround it. Washed on either side by the broad Des Moines and the rapid 'Coon, and girted in by a circle of crescent hills, whose summits are drawn in bold relief against the sky, it will appear to the distant traveler, a brilliant gem upon the bosom of beauty." A TYPICAL OLD HILL THE DES MOIXES RIVER BELOW THE DAM— WATER-WORKS OX THE RIGHT CHAPTER XI. THE RIVERS AND CREEKS OF POLK. The pioneer farmers who first sought homes in the country now designated as Polk county were embarrassed by the riches with which Nature had endowed this region. Cropping out along the river banks was sure promise of coal. In the bottom lands were long stretches of forest. Between rivers were vast areas of rolling prairie, the fertility of which was apparent. Winding through this region, with many a graceful curve, from the northwest to the southeast, flowed the Des Moines river, its rippling surface, above Raccoon Fork, unbroken by the white man's canoe since the adventurous Faribault, early in the last century, floated down from its far-off headwaters to the Mississippi. But this region was not alone dependent upon the Des Moines. It was rich in rivers and creeks. Next in size was the Raccoon, flowing into the Des Moines at a point familiarly called "the Fork," at which point was located the Fort Des Moines of the early Forties. The river doubtless received its name from the abundance of raccoons along its densely wooded banks. This river was a source of power for several mills in the days of saw-mills and grist-mills run by water- power. It is now, and for years has been, the source of water-supply for the city of Des Moines. The north fork of the Raccoon, in fact a continuation of the main stream, has its source nearly as far to the north as the headwaters of the Des Moines. The third river in importance is the Checaqua. The practical pioneers found it easier to call this river by its all-too-suggestive English name, "Skunk." Tho Skunk proper is formed by the junction of North and South Skunk creeks, and flows into the Mississippi about twenty miles north of the mouth of the Des Moines. The main branch, the South Fork, is that which penetrates Polk county and has its source in Hamilton county. It flows in a southeasterly direction through Elkhart, Washington and Franklin townships, in the northeastern part of Polk county, a distance of about fifteen miles, thence through Jasper county Its principal tributaries, once far more in evidence than now, were called the Swan, the Byers, and White Oak creek, all flowing in a northeasterly direction. Swan creek in old times ran through a good-sized lagoon which appeared on the map as Swan Lake. Four Mile Creek received its unromantic name from the fact that the point at which the main road between Iowa City and Fort Des Moines crossed the creek was four miles distant from the Fort. Over this historic stream was built the first bridge erected within the present limits of Polk county. The bridge was built near the point at which the Rock Island bridge now spans the creek. Four Mile Creek, in an early day more river than creek, rises beyond the Minnesota boundary, and flows in a south-southeasterly direction through Lincoln, Crocker, Douglas, Delaware and Grant townships, emptying into the Des Moines, on the western edge of Four Mile township. Beaver Creek was known to the Indians as Amaqua Creek. It is supposed to have received its name from the abundance of beavers that once practiced their clever carpentry in its bottoms. Its source is in Boone county. It flows in a wind ing way in a southeasterly direction between the 'Coon and the Des Moines and empties into the Des Moines a short distance northwest of the city. In the Vnl- ~— 4S 673 674 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY old times it ran through a heavily timbered region, and when the valley was flooded had the appearance of a great river. Walnut Creek, rising in Dallas county, enters Polk in Webster township about eight miles from the southern boundary of the county. It flows through Walnut township and empties into the Raccoon about five miles from the mouth of that river. Camp Creek and Mud Creek are small streams flowing in a south-by-south easterly direction, in nearly parallel directions in the southeastern portion of the county. Mud Creek rises in Clay township, and Camp creek in Beaver township. Both flow through Camp township, emptying into the Des Moines, the first-named in Polk, the second in Jasper county. Big creek has its rise in Boone county and flows in a south-by-south-easterly direction through Madison township, past Polk City and Corydon, emptying into the Des Moines. Indian creek flows across the northeastern corner of Polk county in Washing ton township. It rises in Boone county and flows into the Skunk river at a point in Jasper county. In the old clays a number of small creeks emptied into the creeks and rivers here named ; but the cutting away of the timber has dried up most of them, until now even the larger creeks and rivers, robbed of their many sources of supply, are not greatly in evidence except when the early and late rains overflow their banks. At such times are to be seen, in some measure, the primitive glories of this favored region. These wooded streams undoubtedly inclined many an adventurous pioneer of the Forties to locate in Polk county. Coming from the well-watered and well- wooded sections of the East, the early settlers could scarcely be induced to occupy the rich rolling prairie lands between-streams. Hence the river-bottoms were first chosen. But, as experience and observation gradually overcame their East ern prejudices, there was a gradual reaching out after tracts remote from the river bottoms — lands far more easily cultivated, and found to be abundantly supplied with water. Then, too, the incoming railroads, in the late Sixties, greatly facilitated trans portation, rendering the prairie farmer independent of the timber in the neigh boring valley and of river navigation. .-Esthetically, too, the Des Moines valley and its tributaries possessed a pecu liar fascination to the emigrant from the hill-country of the East. The prairie country over which he had passed on his westward way had made him sigh for the hills and valleys he had left behind ; but the wooded bluffs along the streams of the Des Moines valley rejoiced his heart, for here he felt he could settle down contentedly and make for his family a permanent home. CHAPTER XII. THE WATERCOURSES OF POLK SO MANY GATEWAYS TO FUTURE SETTLEMENTS. The story of old Fort Des Moines, already told, is in a general sense the story of beginnings in Polk county. In an address before the Early Settlers in 1890, "Tom" Mitchell mentioned William Lamb and Alexander Scott, of Lee township, as the pioneer farmers of Polk county. Dixon and other pioneer historians mention Lamb as having erected one of the first dwellings in the county. Mr. Scott's success — as a pioneer — in Lee township and his generous contribution of land for the location of the Capitol are part of the early history of the county and its county seat and of the State as well. In Harper's Weekly of February, 1861, appears a small picture (here re produced) of the old Indian Agency of Fort Des Moines, built in 1843 and occupied by John Beach, Indian Agent. It stood not far from the present pack ing house. It was described as a double-log house, and was for years the best of its kind in the upper Des Moines valley. After the expiration of the Indian treaty, and the ceding of the land to the government, the abandoned agency became part of the claim entered by Dr. Thomas K. Brooks. For a time, after the abandonment of the trading post, it was the Doctor's home, also the govern ment postoffice for a wide area of country east of the river. A few years ago, the only present evidence of the existence of this old trading post, in which was transacted all the business of the government with the Indians for three years, was a pile of rock on the edge of a ravine on the north side of East Court avenue and east of East Seventeenth street. Part of the development south of Fort Des Moines went to make up the history of Warren county, namely the townships obligingly loaned to Polk in 1846, to help Fort Des Moines secure the county seat — on the ground of a central location. Allen and Bloomfield townships to the south and southeast, were closely related to the Fort. Allen was well named in honor of the man who first floated the flag of the Union within the present limits of Polk county. First to settle in this region was John D. Parmelee, whose exploits in the early Forties are elsewhere related. One George Leslie assisted Parmelee in building the first mill in this region. Later came G. B. Clark, who was given a permit to stake a claim on condition that he build a bridge over North river, a Warren county tributary to the Des Moines on the trail between the Fort and Knoxville. In 1847 came "Buffalo Bill" Reynolds, the 'Whites, the Phillipses and the Freels — Hoosiers all. From the Buckeye State came the Wards, the McMahons, William Rowe, John Parkinson and Austin Howard. Riley Driscol[l] came, that year, from Burlington, Iowa. "Uncle Jerry" Church came also with his head full of schemes for the development of his region. He and Daniel Moore laid out Carlisle, the most promising town between Fort Des Moines and Knoxville. He laid out the town of Liberty; but on finding it was on school lands, abandoned it. He also laid out the town of Dudley, just over the present line in Polk county, and even boomed his town as a site for the location of the State Capital. He w^s also said to be interested, with Dr. Brooks and William Lamb, in laying out the boom-town of Brooklyn. He died in Carlisle in 1878. The arrival of John D. McGlothlin, from Indiana, in the early summer of '46 in what is now Allen township, was an event for it put a strong working 675 676 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY force into the pioneer life of that region. McGlothlin acquired the Clark claim its owner having mysteriously disappeared. He resided on the claim until his death in 1878. Following McGlothlin, in 1846-7, came McMahan, McRautin, McRoberts, Copic (or Coppoc), Osborn, Edgerton, Beach, Compton, Deaton, and others! In '49 came James Smith, from Delaware township, locating in Bloomfield township. Smith became a nurseryman and did much to develop his region from a wilderness to a fruit-bearing region. The entire Des Moines valley is deeply indebted to him for practically demonstrating the fact that fruit would actually grow in the valley! Other early settlers in Bloomfield bore the names of Phillips, Perkins, Means, Chiles, Blye, Bentley, Jones, Krysher, Hiskey, Flem ing, Gooch, Spurlock, Shelton, Myrick and Bishop. Closely related to Fort Des Moines also were the so-called North Des Moines settlements. John Saylor was undoubtedly the first white settler in the valley north of Fort Des Moines. He came in '43. Isaac Cooper soon followed, and Addison Michael made a good third. The first birth in that region was a son born to Mr. Michael, in April, 1846. James Ewing and John Witmer early established claims north of the Fort. Across the Raccoon river, in what is now Valley township, located the Mc Leans, Thomas and John, both from Virginia. Following them came the Hunts from Kentucky, Thomas Ball and Widow Fouts from Missouri. A few miles north of the Saylors was Cantrell's mill, and farther up the river was the Grosclose mill. The first wedding known to have occurred in this neighborhood was that of Filman Bondurant at the Saylor home in '47. Benja min Saylor and Elizabeth Norris were married not long afterward. One of the most prominent and active men in the county for many years was Franklin Nagle, the first justice of the peace in Saylor township. In 1848 a Methodist church was founded in the settlement with Elijah Crawford, its first class-leader. The most desirable claims along the Des Moines were soon taken up and by the close of the year, 1846, the dwellers of the settlement had become numerous. The Four-Mile settlement extended over a large area in the central portion of the county. Its beautiful groves alternating with rich prairies "looked good" in the eyes of the home-seekers of the Forties and Fifties. The pioneer bridge- builder, Peter Newcomer, having an eye to the future of Fort Des Moines, selected, as his reward for service rendered, a claim nearer the river than the creek. The lower course of the creek, first settled, became the early homes of pioneers bearing the well-known names : Barlow, Barton, Harris, Thornton, Harvey, Elliott, Tiffin, McCall, Garrett, McBroom, Frederick, Humphreys, Currans (first justice of the peace), and George Stewart. Farther up the creek William Haworth, Isaac Thornton, William James and C. Brazelton were well known pioneers. Mr. Thornton and Mrs. Brazelton were killed in a railroad accident on an excursion which about seventeen old settlers were taking to their old homes in the East. Cory's Grove was the name of a little settlement founded by Elder Cory, whose son, Rev. I. M. T. Cory, has for several years and still is, chaplain of the Early Settlers' Association. C. Van Doren and a daughter of William James were the first "newly-weds" in the neighborhood. One of the most prominent preachers of the Baptist faith in central Iowa was the widely known Demas Robinson, of Delaware. The region along the creek farther north was settled later. For years there was more or less rivalry between the dwellers in the timber and those who had settled upon the open prairie in that region. But in time the latter increased in numbers and ceased to be dependent upon their neighbors in the timber for school and road facilities and for timber supplies, and the old jealousy died a natural death. At an early date, two mills supplied the settlement — one Thomp son's sawmill, and the other, Napier's combination lumber and flour mill. Later, Harvey's sawmill supplied much of the lumber required for the community. The Camp Creek settlements exerted much influence on affairs in Polk CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 677 county. Henry B. and Thomas Mitchell were the first settlers in that region. Thomas — better known as "Tom," and later as "Uncle Tom" — was one of the strong men of the county, as these pages have in many ways attested. Co- temporary with Captain Allen of Fort Des Moines, one of the county's organizers and the county's first sheriff, a representative in the Seventh General Assembly, a county supervisor and later a State Senator, Mr. Mitchell was an important factor in the development of Polk county. His first pioneer home was in an unbroken wilderness. When immigration set in from the east, his Apple Grove Farm became a famous halting place between Iowa City and Fort Des Moines. As one of the committee of five appointed by the claimsmen of the county to adjust difficulties and enforce the claims of the settlers, Mr. Mitchell laid the basis of his popularity as a public man. Among the few 'pioneers of Camp in 1845 were Elijah Canfield, Patrick Kelley, David Ridgeway. and Edwin Martin. Squire Canfield was not only justice of the peace, but, later, township assessor and treasurer, member of the county board, organizer of the first school district in Camp township, and pro moter of the first school in Four-Mile. He helped organize the first church in the southeastern part of Camp — a Methodist church. His son, G. P. Canfield, was three years old when his father located in the county and succeeded to his father's prominence as a farmer. D. B. Oglevie located in Rising Sun in 1846, and J. F. Oglevie followed him to the neighborhood in '47. In the spring of 1846, Mr. Mitchell found himself no longer alone. Lewis M. Burk located in his neighborhood. Soon followed I. A. Vice, the Barlow brothers, Green Wheeler, the Porters, James N. Montgomery, Thomas Black (at one time a county commissioner), James Miller, Elijah Nicker. Later in the Forties came Jonathan Plauser, the Brocketts, Arch Everett, and John Warren. The union of John Warren and Rhoda Canfield was the lirst marriage recorded in the community. Samuel Harvey and his son, Lysander, settled in Camp township in '48. The Camp Creek settlement extended farther and farther west until it' crossed Mud creek and blended with the Four-Mile settlement. Growing out of the Camp settlement, but more properly belonging to that of Four Mile, was that founded by C. D. Reinking, who first stopped at Fort Des Moines, and afterward moved to a farm between Camp and Mud creek. Among the early settlers in this region are the Garretts, the McGarraughs, the Stewarts, the Deans, the Stuarts, the Simses, the Plummers, the Wood wards, the Robertsons, David Hughes, Joseph Kuntz, Patrick Kelly, William Sweeney, David Johnston, Abel Fouts, Joseph Langdon. 'Squire Fouts early officiated at the wedding of Mr. Woodward and Miss Hendricks. The settlements in the northeastern part of the county, in the Checaqua, or Skunk river valley, were founded by Eli Trulinger and Michael Lavish. In April, 1846, Mr. Trulinger took a claim in the southern part of Washington township on a belt of timber long afterward known as Trulinger's Grove. Others soon followed, attracted by the abundance of timber in that region. Farther north, in the timber in the northwestern part of Washington township, along the east bank of the river, Mr. Lavish founded the settlement known as Lavish's Grove. A son of Michael Lavish, with Joseph Jones, Nathan Webb, Ezekiel Jennings and others, soon created a flourishing settlement in this corner of the county. Christopher Birge, of Fort Des Moines, whose daughter, Elvira, and Benjamin Bryant were the first couple in the county to enter into the marriage relation, came to this region in '46. only to find there a grave during the follow ing winter. In that same year Walker Corey located another Corey's Grove farther up the river to the northwest. John- Fisher also settled still farther north in the river valley. These two led solitary lives for several years. Their only visitors were hunters, trappers and fishermen both white men and Indian. More Indians than white men penetrated these wilds in the Forties. Not a few of the Sacs and Foxes, known now as the Musquakees, who had returned from the Missouri valley reservation to which they had been banished, found in the 678 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY upper valley of the Checaqua, or Skunk, the old-time hunting and fishing they had vainly sought elsewhere. Across the far-eastern corner of the county of Polk flows in the south easterly direction a stream known as Indian creek. Not until 1852 was this region opened to settlement. The Pearsons, of Indiana, Aaron, Elkanah and Abel, then settled in the triangular corner east of the creek. The next year they were followed by John K. Hobaugh, who located on section 1, the extreme northeastern corner of the county. Hobaugh soon became a man of prominence. In 1856, when Washington township was organized, he was elected justice of the peace. He held the office for five years and then declined to serve longer. In '62 he was elected from Washington township to the Board of County Commissioners and served two years. In '63 he was elected school treasurer and served six years. G. W. Hobaugh came in '53 and the Randals, James and David, came to the Indian creek region in '54. These all together formed a small settlement of Hoosiers. The first marriage in that then remote region was performed in '53 by Elder Corey, uniting Isaac N. Alderman and Elizabeth, daughter of Aaron Pearson, and the first recorded birth was that of a daughter to' this pioneer couple. A graveyard was laid out in section 2, in 1853, and the first to find a resting place there was Zenas Pearson. Three years later, in '56, G. W. Hobaugh and Seth Pearson were buried there. J. K. Hobaugh and a number of his relatives founded Peoria City, in section 1, the farthest corner of the county. Two years later, the settlement had a population of about two hundred, giving a promise of growth which the future did not fulfill. The first religious service held in the Indian creek country was conducted by Dr. Jessup, of the Christian church, in 1853. The services were held at the home of Aaron Pearson. The pioneer of the Beaver creek settlement, a few miles northwest of Des Moines, was William H. McHenry, afterwards Judge of the District Court of Polk county. He came into the Beaver creek region in 1848. He was one of the leaders in a local Claims Club. With Thomas Baker, and one Watts, he drafted laws for the club, and he was the club's representative to attend the land sales in Iowa City. Among the early settlers of Beaver creek was one Daggett, who laid out a town in that region. A town called Lovington was laid out in the Beaver creek valley in '54 ; but it has no place on the present map of the county. A prolific family named Murray, came to the Beaver creek country in 1850, bringing with them seventeen children. The Walnut creek settlement dates from 1846, when Towne Hall entered a claim in the region, his claim including the Pressley Hall farm of a later time. Samuel Shaw followed. Then came John Jordan who settled in what was later called Hiner's Grove. One Hinton and Jacob Lyon came also. In that first year came James C. Jordan, a man destined to perform an important part in the history of the county. Mr. Jordan located a claim in section 16, township 78, range 25. For a time, his nearest neighbors were in Dallas county. A Methodist preacher named Raynor, held services in the Jordan home in '49- The Bennetts, the Crows, and the Evanses — were prominent early settlers in this region. In '48 S. H. Lewis settled to the south on a small tributary to Walnut creek. Calvin and Benjamin Bennett came in '47 and settled on land between the creek and the Raccoon, about six miles west of the Fort. Charles Murrow and his son D. B. Murrow, and R. Campbell, came in '48. Samuel Shaw, James Plenton, Leroy Lambert, Joseph Mott, Samuel Lewis and John Crow were other early settlers in this region. The Big creek region was also a favorite with the pioneers. Andrew Gros- close, one of the first to take a claim, located on the west side of the creek, about three miles north of the present site of Polk City. His mill farther down the river was one of the best in the country. He held several responsible offices in the county, and amassed a small fortune ; but the lure of pioneer life led him to migrate westward. George Beebe located near Grosclose in the spring of CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 679 '46, and was the first magistrate in northern Polk. In 1850, he laid out Polk City, opening a general store and erecting a mill. The names Piper and Barnum are associated with early merchandising in Polk City. D. C. Marts and Andrew Messersmith came into the Big creek neighborhood in '46. In the same year came C. M. Burt who located in what is now Crocker township. He then re moved to Madison township where he established a homestead. The first reported death in the neighborhood was that of Mrs. Burt, wife of Calvin Burt. Among the names prominent in the Big creek settlement in the late Forties and early Fifties are the following: Van Dorn, Harvey, Bryan, Hopkins, Bowman, Crab- tree, Hauser, Small, Spaulding, Bristow, Norris, Hayes, Bryant, Herbert, Will iams, Harvey, Wilson, Deitz, Andrews, Murray, Stanford, McClain, Hunt, Greg ory and Murray. There were three rival towns in the Big creek settlement; Montecule, founded by John Hauser; Corydon, founded by J. Skidmore, and Polk City, foimded by George Beebe, — and in the end, the greatest of these was Polk City. The Stutzman mill erected in the settlement by Conrad Stutzman, was one of the institutions of northern Polk. Mr. Stutzman resided in the county until his death in 1869. The Hammond mill was another meeting place of the settlers in early days. Alexander Swim was the pioneer miller in the neighborhood. His mill was operated by horse power. When he first came to that region he found the remains of an Indian village called Wahkonsa, and out of the material left by the first inhabitants, constructed a dwelling. Among the pioneer preachers of the settlement was the ubiquitous Thompson Bird, so closely identified with Des Moines history. Preachers Adams, Marts and De- Moss are also identified with the early history of this thriving settlement. Thus were the water-courses of Polk so many gateways of civilization, through which the pioneer settlers of the Forties and Fifties entered into the promised land. CHAPTER XIII. POLK COUNTY FAIRS AND THE STATE FAIR. Polk county early responded to the healthful impulse of farming communities to get together and compare notes. An unknown contributor to the local press, signing himself "Poor Farmer, Log Cabin, Polk County," was credited with the honor of first publicly suggesting an agricultural society in Polk county. The first county fair was a small affair, held in the old courthouse yard in October, 1852. May 28, '53, the Polk County Agricultural Society was organized, with Dr. T. K. Brooks, chairman, and A. J. Stevens secretary. The meeting was ad dressed by Drs. J. C. Bennett, J. W. Morris, Madison Young, Hoyt Sherman and D. O. Finch. The first fair held by the society was in September of that year. The Star of July 28, '53, announces with much satisfaction "the following liberal premium list offered by the Polk County Agricultural Society for the best exhibits at the First Annual Fair of the Society:" Class A — Cattle, 24 premiums, total premiums $47 Class B — Horses, 26 premiums, total premiums 71 Class C — Sheep, 5 premiums, total premiums 13 Class D — Swine, 14 premiums, total premiums 25 Class E — Poultry, 18 premiums, total premiums 41 Class F — Farm Implements, 20 premiums, total premiums 50 Class G — Farm Products, 1 1 premiums, total premiums 19 Class H— Fabrics, 9 premiums, total premiums 16 Grand total $282 The first annual was held in the valley of the 'Coon, near what was then known as Horse-shoe Lake, not far from town. Dr. J. C. Bennett, of Polk City, developed much interest by an exhibition of blooded stock in a pen built by Tom Mitchell and J. D. McGlothlin; Mitchell himself exhibited a fine Durham bull. Jacob Frederick and son made a showing of fine-wooled sheep. Dr. Brooks had an exhibit of horses. The farm and garden exhibits were numerous. The women of '53 had not yet reached the fancy-work stage. Dr. Brooks was president of the society, and Thomas Mitchell, B. F Allen and F. R. West were directors. For several years the fairs were annually held on the banks of the 'Coon and with a moderate degree of success. That of 1857 was especially successful. The equestrianism of Mrs. Savery and Mrs. Hanley was a popular feature of that year. The Art Hall was a circular tent, in which Joseph P. Sharman of Des Moines, exhibited a collection of photographic views — a novelty of the period. A team of forty-two yoke of oxen on exhibition suggested the resourcefulness of pioneer farmers collectively in overcoming the difficulty of transportation over muddy roads. Several returned Californians gave an exhibition of skill with the lariat. A meeting was held in the House of Representatives, Des Moines, Decem- 680 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 681 ber 15, 1858, for the purpose of organizing a District Agricultural Society in or near Des Moines, to include with Polk the counties of Marion, Warren, Madison, Dallas, Boone, Story and Jasper. Polk county's delegates were : Alex ander Shaw of Lee township; J. C. Bennett, Madison; Samuel Reed, Camp; J. Smith and Samuel Bell, Bloomfield; S. M. Dyer, Delaware; H. Torrey, Lee; Ira Curtis, Des Moines; Samuel Chambers, Beaver. Their alternates were: Daniel Justice, Beaver; j. M. Walker, Madison; A. B. Pearson, Camp; H. C. Hargis and A. B. Lyman, Bloomfield ; Demas Robertson, Delaware ; Peter New comer, Lee; H. Fagen, Des Moines; T. Mitchell, Beaver; R. L. Tidrick, Des Moines. Polk county Agricultural and Horticultural societies, undeterred by the war and the bad business of the previous year, early arranged for holding a fair in the fall of '62. The president, A. B. Lyman, and the secretary, J. M. St. John, were instructed to confer with the District society, including several counties and arrange if possible for a district fair at the county seat. The district fair was held and for several years was measurably successful. In May, 1870, the Polk County Agricultural and Industrial Association was formed. Prior thereto, Polk County and her neighbors had held Central Iowa District fairs on the banks of the 'Coon; but from this time on, the new asso ciation held its fairs without help from other counties. The company was stocked for $50,000 — individual members not liable for debts of the association. Its incorporators were : S. D. Welling, Alexander Shaw, C. P. Holmes, W. C. Kent, C. S. Johnson, Thomas Hatton, H. H. Robinson, L. M. Sanford, O. W. Munsell, S. F. Spofford, Harry West, M. W. Robinson, A. P. Ayres, William Patrick, F. R. West and George W. Savery. Mr. Robinson was president; Mr. Munsell, vice-president; Dr. Shaw, secretary; and John A. Elliott, treasurer. Its first fair was held in September, 1872, on the grounds of a Driving Park Association — covering about seventy acres between Horse-shoe Lake and the Raccoon river. It was sufficiently successful to warrant a second fair in September of the fol lowing year. The association was thoroughly organized, with M. W. Robinson of Walnut township, president, Dr. Alexander Shaw of Lee township, secre tary, and a long list of township directors, with their post-office addresses as reported : Allen township — John McLaughlin, (John D. McGlothlin) , Avon ; J. T. Wright, Carlisle. Beaver — Lindsey Carr, Altoona; Thomas Mitchell, Mitchellville. Bloomfield — John Hays, John Smith. Camp — Erastus E. Smith, Adelphi; Calvin Brockett, Vandalia. Crocker — Franklin Nagle, Saylorville; David Martz, Polk City. Delaware — C. A. Johnson, James Porter. Douglas- — William Madden, Greenwood; W. Justice, Greenwood. Elkhart — Joseph Hutton, Elkhart; Kinney, Elkhart. Franklin — A. C. Bondurant, Altoona; Wm. Thompson, Altoona. Four Mile — James A. Dunnigan, Rising Sun ; Elia Hawkins, Des Moines. Grant — F. Prentice, Wm. Bennett. Jefferson — John White, Ridgedale; John Lawson, Ridgedale. Lee — Isaac Brandt, Des Moines; Wesley Redhead, Des Moines. Lincoln — Thomas Kelsell, Palmer; Hector Mason, Polk City. Madison— N. R. Kuntz, Polk City; J. M. Walker, Polk City. Saylor — William Patrick, Newton Harris. Valley — Warren Sovereign, W. H. H. Myers. Walnut — David Beatty, H. Robinson. Washington — Not represented. Financial difficulties followed and it was with much effort that the associa tion was kept alive. The Central District Association refusing to disband, there was antagonism between the two bodies. Attempts at consolidation were finally successful and 682 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY in 1875 the two societies united to hold one fair, adding somewhat to the total of premiums. The officers of the consolidated association were: William Pat rick, president; Daniel Flynn, vice-president; P. H. Bristow, secretary; H. H. Robinson, treasurer. On the date of the fair, late in September, the grounds were ten feet under water! The fair was postponed about three weeks, and was able to pay only fifty cents on the dollar in premiums. In 1876, O. W. Munsell was president, H. H. Robinson vice-president, P. H. Bristow secretary and Simon Casady treasurer. Heavy rains repeated and emphasized the failure of the previous year, and the society disbanded. The State Fair. Polk county's exhibit in the first State Fair held in Fairfield in 1854 would hardly be termed representative ! The only local feature noted by Negus in his "Early History of Iowa" was the following: "Mr. Moore, of Ft. Des Moines had a large variety of stuffed birds, presented in such a way that they presented a life-like appearance." The first State Fair held in Brown's Grove, West Des Moines, was in 1880. In 1886 the General Assembly purchased 266 acres in Lee township, about two miles east of the Capitol and there permanently located the fair as a State in stitution. The grounds cost the State $50,000, citizens of Des Moines contrib uting a like sum to complete the purchase. In 1890 the General Assembly dis banded the State Agricultural Society and organized a State Board of Agricul ture, which now has the Fair in charge. Since the original purchase the State has acquired, altogether, 300 acres, and on the grounds has erected buildings valued at not less than $800,000. The number of exhibitors and the number of entries at the State Fair of 191 1, in the several departments, were largely in excess of those of other years, and were as follows : (the row of figures on the left representing the exhibitors, those on the right the number of exhibits) — Horses 101 1 ,958 Cattle 72 1,203 Swine 161 1,973 Sheep 33 75i Poultry 99. 1,297 Agricultural products 141 939 Implements 320 .... Pantry and apiary 118 1,640 Dairy 74 74 Horticulture 19 357 Floriculture 13 245 Fine arts 216 2,917 Educational 106 650 Total 1,473 14,004 The growth of the fair during the last few years has been phenomenal. The attendance in 1910 was 231,233 — which was greater by nearly 40,000 than that of any previous year. But this record-breaking attendance was surpassed by that of 191 1 by nearly 40,000, the official report of Secretary Corey showing 270,682. The largest single-day attendance was 64,699 — on Tuesday. The gate receipts in 1910 were $76,947.75. In 191 1 the total gate receipts were $87,355 — a gain of more than $10,000. CHAPTER XIV. POLK COUNTY'S REPRESENTATION IN IOWA LEGISLATURE 1846-I912. Reviewing Polk county's representation in the Iowa legislature, the student of local history will find that though republics are traditionally ungrateful, one portion of the American republic has in the main been mindful of the services rendered by her representative citizens. In the First General Assembly convened in 1846, the county of Polk, along with Marion, Dallas and Jasper, was represented in the Senate by Thomas Baker, a democrat of Polk, who at the organization was honored with the presidency of the Senate. During the fierce contest of '46 for the United States senatorship, he presided with such fairness that on adjournment, the Senate by unanimous vote commended him for his service. Mr. Baker removed to California in 1850, where he was signally honored in various ways. He died in 1872. In the House, at that session, the same counties were represented by John N. Kinsman and Simeon Reynolds. In the Second General Assembly, 1848, the four counties of the district were represented in the Senate by Phineas M. Casady, of Polk, a man whose biogra phy is so interwoven with the history of this county that it is impossible to separate one from the other. The district was at the same time represented in the lower house by Lysander W. Babbitt, and Manly Gifford, both democrats. To Mr. Babbitt, Des Moines is indebted for fathering the first measure for the removal of the Capitol from Iowa City to the Des Moines valley. Mr. Babbitt was one of the first men to see the strategic importance of the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines. In 1842, while camping at the mouth of "the Coon," he in dulged in the prediction that the future Capitol of the State would be located in that vicinity. In 1867, he returned to Des Moines as a representative from Pottawattamie county. He removed to Arkansas in '81 and died there in '85. In the Third General Assembly, in 1850, Senator Casady was a holdover; and Mr. Babbitt and Edwin R. Guiberson were the district's representatives. The district was by this time enlarged by the inclusion of Marshall, Story, Boone, Warren and Madison counties. In the Fourth General Assembly, in 1852, the district was still further en larged by the inclusion of Guthrie, Greene, Hardin, Pocahontas, Wright, Frank lin, Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Emmet, Winnebago and Worth counties — in fact, all northwestern Iowa, including several counties not on the map at the present time, namely: Risley, Yell, Fox, Humboldt and Bancroft. This enormous area of sparsely inhabited outlying counties, before unrepre sented, was now represented in the Senate by Andrew Y. Hull. In the House the district was represented by J. F. Rice, Joseph C. Goodson and Benjamin Green. In the Fifth General Assembly, convened in 1854, James C. Jordan of Polk, was the senator from the district — the second senator and the first whig senator elected from Polk county. Polk county was doubly represented in this legisla ture; by Alfred M. Lyon as representative from the 36th district, the county of Polk, and by Ezra Vanfossen as representative of the 37th district, including Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, etc.1 1 Journal of H. of R., Fifth G. A., p. 5. 683 684 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Charles C. Nourse, of Polk, afterwards attorney-general of Iowa, was in '54 elected chief clerk of the House, and two years later was elected secretary of the Senate. The representative district at this session included only Polk, Dallas and Guthrie counties, and was represented by Ezra Vanfossen. In the Sixth General Assembly, of 1856, the last to convene in Iowa City, Polk, Dallas and Guthrie were represented by Senator Jordan, a hold-over, and Polk, now a representative district by itself was represented by William P. Davis. In the third Constitutional Convention, convened in Iowa City, January 27, 1857, Polk, Dallas and Guthrie were represented by Thomas Seeley. In the Seventh General Assembly, that of 1858, the first legislature held under the new Constitution, and the first convened in Des Moines — William P. Davis represented the three counties above named in the Senate, and in the lower house Thomas Mitchell of Beaver township represented Polk. In the Eighth General Assembly, of i860, Polk county constituted a district by itself, with William P. Davis its representative in the Senate, and Stewart Goodrell, in the House. In the Ninth, 1862, Josiah H. Hatch was the county's senator and John Mitchell, its representative. In the Tenth, 1864, Polk was represented by Senator Hatch and Represen tative Nicholas Baylies. In the Eleventh, 1866, Jonathan W. Cattell, ex-auditor of State, was Polk county's senator, and Hoyt Sherman and G. L. Godfrey were the county's rep resentatives. In the Twelfth, 1868, Senator Cattell sat as a hold-over and John A. Kasson and ex-Senator Hatch were Polk county's representatives. In the Thirteenth, 1870, appeared the pioneer merchant and banker of Des Moines ; B. F. Allen, as senator, and John A. Kasson and George W. Jones, as representatives. In the Fourteenth, 1872, sat Senator Allen and Representatives John A. Kasson and James M. Tuttle, of Polk. In the Fifteenth, 1874, ex-Representative Thomas Mitchell took his seat as Polk county's senator, and William G. Madden and Isaac Brandt were the county's representatives. In the Sixteenth, 1876, sat Senator Mitchell and Representatives W. G. Mad den and Josiah Given. In the Seventeenth, 1878, Robert C. Webb was Polk's senator and Jerry B. Tiffin and Clarence S. Wilson were its representatives. In the Eighteenth, 1880, along with Senator Webb, were Representatives Josiah A. Harvey and James C. Jordan, both experienced legislators. In the Nineteenth, 1882, Hiram Y. Smith was Polk's senator, and Thomas W. Havens and Thomas E. Haines, were her representatives. In the Twentieth, 1884, along with Senator Smith were Representatives James M. Tuttle and Charles L. Watrous. In the Twenty-first, 1886, Col. C. PI. Gatch was senator from Polk, and Wesley Redhead and James G. Berryhill were representatives. In the Twenty-second, 1888, with Senator Gatch were Representatives James G. Berryhill and Albert B. Cummins. In the Twenty-third, 1890, Colonel Gatch still sat as senator, and B. B. Lane and William J. Stewart were Polk's representatives. In the Twenty-fourth, 1892, with Senator Gatch were Representatives N. E. Coffin and B. B. Lane. In the Twenty-fifth, 1894, T. A. Cheshire took his seat as Polk's senator and O. E. Doubleday and Cassius C. Dowell as representatives. In the Twenty-sixth, 1896, with Senator Cheshire were Representatives Doubleday and Dowell. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 685 In the Twenty-seventh, 1898, with Senator Cheshire were Representatives Charles W. Stewart and George H. Carr. In the Twenty-eighth, 1900, with Senator Cheshire were Representatives Stewart and Carr. In the Twenty-ninth, 1902, ex-Representative C. C. Dowell appeared as senator and Emory H. English, H. E. Teachout were representatives. In the Thirtieth, 1904, and Thirty-first, 1906, sat Senator Dowell and Rep resentatives English and Teachout. In the Thirty-second, 1907, at the time of the change in the constitution, the membership was same as the Thirty-first. In the Thirty-third, 1908, Senator Dowell and Representatives John B. Sul livan and Fred H. Hunter were the county's representatives. In the Thirty-fourth, 1910, were John B. Sullivan, senator, and Wilbert S. Fraley and Frank S. Shankland, representatives. CHAPTER XV. POLK COUNTY'S PROMINENCE IN STATE AND CONGRESSIONAL POLITICS. The first Polk county man to receive recognition from the State of Iowa was Lewis J. Whitten, who was appointed clerk of the Supreme court of Iowa, at the organization of the court in 1846. The first formal identification of Polk county with State politics was in 1852. It came about through the nomination of Martin L. Morris, for the office of state treasurer on the democratic ticket. Mr. Morris was elected, and in 1854 was re-elected, and again in 1856, — this time on the republican ticket. When, in '54, the democratic party placed at the head of its ticket Curtis Bates,' there was great joy in and around "the forks," for, with a friend and neighbor once seated in the governor's chair, the county seat of Polk must soon become the Capital of the State and the center of a joint railroad and river- navigation system, all combining to make the upper Des Moines valley prosper ous beyond the fondest dreams of the pioneers of the Forties ! But destiny, in the person of the young whig orator and political prophet, James W. Grimes, decreed that Polk county must wait ! The aggressive whig policy of internal improvements and the clear, ringing challenge of Grimes, overcame the small democratic majority in the State, and Judge Bates went back to his Polk county constituents a generous sharer in their disappointment. On the whig ticket with Grimes was Andrew Jackson Stevens, of Polk, candidate for auditor of state. Mr. Stevens was elected, but in 1855 resigned. In 1855, Polk county was given a second chance in the "great game." At the head of the whig ticket for commissioner of the Des Moines River Improve ment was the name of William McKay, of Polk. Judge McKay defeated his opponent by a majority of 4,737, in a total vote of over forty-seven thousand. The year 1856 was the birth-year of the republican party in Iowa. On the successful republican ticket was Martin L. Morris, of Polk. In 1858, the democrats nominated James W Elwood, of Polk, for the office of attorney general, but he was defeated. In 1859, Chester C. Cole, of Polk, was nominated for the Supreme court on the democratic ticket, but was defeated by a small majority. In i860, the republicans nominated Charles C. Nourse, of Polk, for attorney general. Mr. Nourse was elected by the then unprecedented republican ma jority of 13,661. From i860 to 1867, Thomas F. Withrow, of Polk, served as Supreme court reporter. Polk county was fast acquiring the habit of expecting recognition on one or the other State ticket. In 1861, James M. Elwood of Polk, was nominated by the democrats for judge of the Supreme court, against Ralph P. Lowe, of Lee. Judge Lowe was elected by a large majority. In 1862, John Browne, of Polk, ran on the democratic ticket for auditor of state, and was defeated by Jonathan W. Cattell, of Cedar. That same year, Attorney General Nourse, of Polk, was re-elected by a majority of 15,247. In 1864, Chester C. Cole ran again, this time on the republican ticket, for the Supreme court judgeship, beating the running record of Polk county candi dates with a majority of 40,759. 686 CITY OF DES MOINES AND. POLK COUNTY 687 In 1866, Capt. R. W. Cross, of Polk, was the democratic candidate for audi tor of state, and Lewis Kinsey, of Polk, ran on the same ticket for Supreme court clerk ; but they were both defeated, the first named by John A. Elliott, of Mitchell, who afterwards became a resident of Des Moines. James S. Carter, of Polk, was elected state binder in 1866, and was re-elected. Frank M. Mills, of Polk, was appointed by the governor to the office of state printer, in March, 1869. His appointment was soon followed by his elec tion to that office. He served one term, and in 1878 he was again elected. Judge Cole was a candidate for renomination to the Supreme bench in 1870, beating his own record-breaking majority, in 1864, by 2,325 votes! — also run ning ahead of his ticket by more than a thousand votes. In 1871, Alonzo Abernethy, formerly of Fayette, but at the time a resident of Polk, was the republican nominee for superintendent of public instruction, and was elected by over forty thousand majority. Two years later Colonel Abernethy, then credited to Crawford county, was re-elected by a still larger majority. In 1873, Richard P. Clarkson, of Polk, was elected state printer, and later was twice re-elected to that office. In 1874, John S. Runnells, of Polk, candidate for Supreme court reporter, was elected by a majority of over thirty thousand. Mr. Runnells retained the office until 1882. In 1875, Colonel Abernethy, again registered as from Polk, was elected a third time for the state superintendency. In 1901, a citizen of Polk county was chosen governor of the State. Albert B. Cummins, of Des Moines, was the republican nominee and Thomas J. Phillips, of Ottumwa, the democratic. The prohibitionists, the socialists and "the people," also had tickets in the field. Of the total vote of 390,591, Mr. Cummins re ceived 226,902, a majority of 63,591 over all the votes cast for the other candi dates. Two years later, Governor Cummins ran against Jerry B. Sullivan, a much stronger candidate than Phillips, receiving a majority of 59,689 over the four opposition candidates. In 1906, Governor Cummins, having served an additional, year, in conformity with the provisions of the amended constitution, broke all records by an election for a third time. The precedent of two terms and the popularity of the democratic nominee, Claude R. Porter, ran his ma jority of all the votes cast down to 1,585. His majority over Porter was however, 20,872. Polk county has from the first been the chief factor in the politics of its congressional district. Its first direct representation in the house of representa tives was in the thirty-eighth congress. Polk county was then in the fifth congressional district. In 1863, at the age of forty, John A. Kasson, already an experienced politician and publicist, was put forward by Polk county as its choice for the lower house of congress. Mr. Kasson was nominated and elected For two successive terms he served his district with consummate ability, laying broad and deep the foundations for his later fame as a statesman and diplomat. In 1867, Mr. Kasson was succeeded by Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, of Pottawat tamie. In '68, Frank W. Palmer, of Polk, succeeded General Dodge. Mr. Palmer was reelected in '70. Polk county then became part of the seventh district. In 1872, Mr. Kasson was again presented as Polk county's candidate for congress, and was elected. Two years later he was re-elected. In 1872, John A. T. Hull, a young editor from Bloomfield, who had seen and felt something of the war, was made secretary of the Iowa senate. He held this position for four terms. In '78, he became a candidate for secretary of state. This position he also held for three terms. In 1885 he was elected lieutenant-governor, and two years later he was re-elected. He next, in 1889, aspired to be governor, but was defeated for the nomination. He had long been recognized as a citizen of Des Moines, and in 1890 was elected to congress CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY from the Des Moines district. He continued to serve the district without in termission for twenty years, until, in 1910, he was defeated by Solomon F. Prouty. "Captain" Hull, as he is generally called, served the interests of Des Moines and the district with marked ability and success. The new postoffice building, and the army post of Fort Des Moines are the most conspicuous monu ments to his effective service to the county that so long honored him by pre senting him as her candidate for congress. In 1876, Col. H. J. B. Cummings of Madison county, was sent to congress; but in 1879 he was succeeded by Edward H. Gillette, of Polk, the greenback nominee for congress, — the first, and only candidate to break the record of republican ascendancy in the district. In 1884, Hiram Y. Smith, of Polk, ex-district attorney for the fifth judicial district, and at the time Polk county's member of the Iowa senate, was elected to congress from the seventh district, to fill the vacancy caused by the resigna tion of Kasson. Solomon F. Prouty, present representative of the seventh district in congress, began his career of defeats, terminating in victory, in 1902. Four years later, he made the contest and was again defeated. The experience was repeated two years later, and his defeat was so close to victory that his friends conceded to him the right to try it again. In 1910, the tide turned toward the progressive faction of his party, and he was triumphantly elected, carrying every county in the district. The supremacy of Polk county in the congressional district is evident from the fact that since the admission of Iowa into the Union, in 1846, the so-called "Des Moines district" has had only ten representatives, six of whom were from Polk county. Of these six, one, Mr. Kasson, held the office for eleven years; and another, Captain Hull, held it for twenty years. THE XEW SIXTH AVEXEE BRIDGE. DES MOIXES WALNUT STREET AT XIGHT, LOOKIXG WEST ¦''( "B, CHAPTER XVI. THE EARLY SETTLERS'" ASSOCIATION OF POLK COUNTY 1868-I9II. "Be it remembered that on the twenty-fifth day of February, A.D., 1868, some of the 'old settlers' of Polk county in the State of Iowa, having a consul tation in regard to the propriety of forming an old settlers' society, for the pur pose of preserving of record the names of the first settlers, and some of the incidents connected with the early settlement of the city and county." Thus formally commences the record of one of the most interesting and mutually profitable associations ever formed in Polk county. About twenty-five pioneers assembled in the old city council rooms in Des Moines on the day following this announcement, with Isaac Cooper chairman and Peter Myers secretary. A committee on constitution was named consisting of Demas Robinson, J. A. Nash, Joseph M. Griffiths, G. W. Cleveland and Hoyt Sherman. The recent death of Thomas K. Brooks was the first of the many pioneers to claim the homage of friendship from the association. The name first chosen for the organization was "the Association of Early Settlers of Polk County." A pre-requisite of membership was a . residence in Polk county prior to 1856, or marriage with one who had resided in the county prior to that year. The annual meeting was placed on the day and month of the extinction of the Indian title in Polk count}', namely, October 12. The charter members of the association were : W. W. Williamson, Isaac Cooper, J. M. Grif- fifths, J. A. Nash, H. H. Griffiths, P. M. Casady, David Norris, Franklin Nagle, Thomas Boyd, J. S. Cook, John Hays, R. L. Tidrick, C. S. Spofford, S. F. Spofford, Madison Young, R. W. Sypher, Ezra Rathbun, William Baker, Thomas McMullin, W. A. Galbraith, G. W. Cleveland, William Deford, Hoyt Sherman, Mrs. M. K. Sypher, J. B. Bausman, P. Myers, H. H. Saylor, R. P. Peters, Mrs. S. F. Spofford, Thomas Mitchell, Thompson Bird and James C. Jordan. Its first officers were: president, Thomas Mitchell; vice-presidents, Isaac Cooper, John Hays, John D. McGlothlin, Peter Newcomer, James C. Jordan, Thompson Bird, Franklin Nagle, H. H. Saylor, Thomas McMullin and Benjamin F. Fred erick; recording secretary, R. L. Tidrick; corresponding secretary, Hoyt Sher man; treasurer, B. F. Allen. The following committee on deceased and re moved old settlers was appointed : Saylor township, F. Nagle ; Madison, George Beebe; Jefferson, John D. McLain; Valley, W. R. Close; Walnut, J. C. Jordan; Des Moines, Ezra Rathbun ; Bloomfield, James Smith ; Allen, John D. McGloth lin; Camp, M. McCall; Beaver, Eli Trullinger; Four Mile, B. F. Frederick; Delaware, S. M. Dyer; Douglas, William Justice; Washington, J. K. Hobaugh; Elkhart, J. H. Gray; Franklin, B. F. Burge; Lee, J. M. Griffiths. The first anniversary of the association was held in Capitol square, October 12, 1868. President Mitchell was in the chair. Rev. J. A. Nash delivered an address including reminiscences of the early settlement of the county. J. M. Thrift read a paper on the manner of taking possession of land before the organization of the county. Around the dinner table gathered about four hun- dren early settlers and their families and friends. The occasion marked the beginning of an era of good-fellowship among those who had much in common. The roll of membership was extended to include one hundred and fifty-six names. Vol J— 44 689 690 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY January 6, 1869, the association was represented at the funeral of Rev. Thompson Bird. The second annual festival, October 2, 1869, was far from being a failure despite the rain, the muddy roads, the impassable streams, both Court avenue and Walnut street bridges "gone out," and the river navigable by ferry boats only when hauled by a tug-boat. The pioneers from the East side met at the depot of the Rock Island road, and were hauled across the river where they joined in a delightful re-union, with after-dinner toasts and responses. The annual meetings now well established, there were several in succession without report of any especial incident, and yet each accompanied by wider acquaintanceship and closer fellowship. The death of Rev. Sanford T. Haines on the 12th of January, 1871, was formally recognized by the association. Among the speakers at the 1871 annual, September 16, were Mrs. James C. Savery and Miss Pauline Given. Their responses "were very well received." "One hundred and two in the shade" was the record on August 30, 1873; but the heat did not deter the early settlers from sitting down "as one family" to a substantial feast, over which "Tom" Mitchell presided. The record here jumps from 1873 to 1880. The 1880 annual was celebrated September 22, at the home of "Uncle Davy" Norris, then two miles southwest of Des Moines. The occasion was the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Norris, and several anniversary presents were made. P. M. Casady succeeded to the presidency. L. H. Bush was elected secretary. The annual re-union in 1881 was held August 24, at the home of Barlow Granger, about two miles south of the Capital. The occasion was a silver wed ding anniversary. The association tendered Mr. and Mrs. Granger a handsome souvenir, and many individual presents were made. Judge Wright was the principal speaker, and Frank Posegate, of St. Joseph, formerly of Fort Des Moines, gave interesting reminiscences. "Tom" and Mrs. Mitchell were the entertainers at the 1882 meeting, August 24. The beautiful country home of the Mitchells, near Mitchellville, swarmed with old and new friends. The presence of H. M. Hoxie, the railroad manager, added much to the interest of the occasion. "Hub" Hoxie when a boy had worked for "Uncle Tom," and still cherished a profound love for his old friend. Happy impromptu speeches were made by Judge McHenry, John A. Kasson and E. H. Gillette. Senator George G. Wright, on behalf of the association, presented the host a gold-headed cane and the hostess a pair of gold-framed spectacles. The guests then formed a great circle and, hand in hand, sang "Auld Lang Syne." Barlow Granger was elected president of the association. Brown's Park, Des Moines, was the scene of the festival of 1884. After dinner, the pioneers gave themselves up to reminiscences, music and impromptu speeches, by T. C. McCall, N. Baylies, Charles M. Sherman and others. The next entry in the minutes is dated July 19, 1888, when the early settlers and their friends assembled about a half-mile southwest of Bondurant, in a beautiful grove near the residence of A. C. Bondurant, the president of the association. The attendance broke the records. It was estimated that about two thousand persons were present. A novel feature of the occasion was the reproduction of the old Mitchellville tavern, a 10x30 log cabin. A sign, nailed to a tree near by, read "18 miles to Tool's Point." An old-fashioned well-sweep and many other items of interest recalled the early days when Tom Mitchell's hospitable entertainment for man and beast was famous, from Tool's Point to Polk City and beyond. Twelve Rock Island coaches arrived at Mitchellville on the 18th of Septem ber, 1889. Wagons and carriages brought families across-country from all parts of the county, to participate in the annual picnic. Over two thousand were assembled in the city's beautiful park. Judge Casady made the principal address of the day. E. R. Clapp was elected president, Franklin Nagle vice CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 691 president, L. H. Bush secretary and L. P. Sherman, treasurer. Tacitus Hussey entertained the audience with reminiscences, humorous and pathetic. Mrs. A. E. Thomas made a pleasing address and Judge Wright, who had become a feature of these annuals, responded to the usual demand for stories of old times. The annual picnic for 1890 was held on the State Fair grounds, September 18. A welcome song was sung by Mrs. Cheek, Miss Carrie Laird, Mr. Keeler and Mr. Conger. Group, family and neighborhood picnic dinners followed. President Clapp made a brief address closing with a tribute to Iowa, his home for fifty-three years. He counseled the young man who would succeed to be "honest, truthful, industrious and keep away, from 'original package' houses" and his success was certain. Mr. Clapp then introduced "Uncle Thomas Mitch ell," jokingly adding "although he's not my uncle." "He's everybody's uncle," responded Barlow Granger, and everybody applauded the compliment. Mr. Mitchell read a valuable paper, replete with first hand information concerning the old settlers of 1846 and before. Among these mentioned were the three pioneer farmers of Polk county, William Lamb, Alexander Scott and John B. Scott, who raised enough from their first crops to supply the whole garrison with corn. When the Scotts came to Polk county, in 1843, "there was not a settler within a hundred miles of Fort Des Moines." He spoke of Lewis M. Burk, who, in 1846, located on section 33, Beaver township, only to find after he had improved his farm that it was on land which had been given to the "river improvement," — thus losing most of his hard earnings. He mentioned Robert Warren and James and William Stewart, of Camp township. He told of Jacob Frederick's pioneer sheep-raising, having imported several hun dred sheep into the county ; his farm west of Rising Sun. He mentioned Edward Martin, pioneer ferryman and farmer; William Wallace and Seth Renfro, of Wallace Prairie ; Daniel Justice, of Justice's Grove, a pioneer stock-raiser ; John D. McGlothlin, of Allen township, farmer and county commissioner; Thomas Henderson, about a mile east of the packing house; John Saylor, farmer and man of affairs, and Benjamin, his father, who was one of the first county com missioners ; Elijah Canfield, of Altoona, who "could take his axe and go two miles to the timber and make a hundred rails and haul home a load at night;" James N. Montgomery, of Camp township and his neighbor, Thomas Black, a pioneer county commissioner, and other contributors to the evolution of Polk county. Resolutions of respect to the memory of Rev. J. A. Nash were unani mously adopted. President Clapp called the early settlers together again at the same meeting place, September 16, 1891. The name of the association was changed to "The Early Pioneers of Polk County," — though by common consent — if not by official action, it is now called "The Early Settlers' Association." The residence limit of eligibility to membership was changed from 1856 to i860. C. D. Reinking was elected president; L. H. Bush was promoted from secretary to first vice president; G. Whitaker, second vice president; historian, Tacitus Hussey; cor responding secretary, Hoyt Sherman ; treasurer, L. P. Sherman ; chaplain, A. L. Frisbie. Mr. Kasson eulogized the life-work of the late Father Brazill and that of the late Father Nash. He paid a feeling tribute to his friend, the late James C. Jordan. Mr. Kasson said he had stood in the presence of emperors and had faced the glitter of their courts, — all of which he could forget without a pang. But never could he forget the more than royal friends of his early life. In September, 1892, the association met at the Fair Ground. President Rein king delivered an address, followed by an interesting paper on "Pioneer Life and Farming" by H. C. Hargis. Conrad Youngerman drew on his experience in a pleasing talk on "How we used to Work." Major Sherman gave an illuminating talk on "Trade and Commerce in the Early Days of Fort Des Moines." Judge Wright's address was on "The First Courts in Polk County." Mr. Hussey followed with rhyming "Reminiscences." Lampson P. Sherman 692 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY was present, but too feeble to read his able address, on pioneer journalism in the county, and his son, Alderman John Sherman, read the paper in his stead. Dr. A. Y. Hull favored the association with an address at the fair ground, August 1 8, 1893. He recited his experiences in Fort Des Moines in the Forties' and in his boom-town of Lafayette which the flood of '51 washed away. As Daniel Webster had said of Massachusetts, so Dr. Hull remarked of Des Moines : "There she is and she speaks for herself." He had seen her development from a hamlet to a magnificent city. Judge William Phillips followed with a picture of Fort Des Moines in '54. The road by which he entered the city ran through the ground now occupied by the race track on these grounds. Then there were only two shanties and a mill on the East side. He spoke feelingly of the ravages of death among the pioneers. In 1870 there were 455 members of this associa tion ; but death had reduced the number to 220. George F. Henry of Des Moines presented the early history of railroads in Polk county, and the vast importance of the roads to the city and county. Mr. Hussey 's humorous poem, "When you Live in Glass Houses," was followed by remarks from the venerable Isaac Cooper, then eighty-one years old. William T. Smith presented an optimistic picture of the future of Polk's ambitious county seat. The officers elected were Thomas Mitchell, president; A. C. Bondurant and H. C. Hargis, vice presidents; Tacitus Hussey, secretary; Simon Casady, treasurer ; Isaac Brandt. The retiring president, Mr. Reinking, called his suc cessor to the chair. Mr. Mitchell, a prime favorite of the association, responded to the hearty welcome given him with a few remarks on pioneer days. His friends then little thought they were hearing his kindly voice for the last time. The annual meeting of 1894 was held in the Commercial Exchange room on the 25th of October. Judge Wright read a beautiful memorial to the late President Mitchell. Judge Casady followed with a feeling tribute to his "first friend in Polk county." Tacitus Hussey was chosen president ; Ed. Dicks and Barlow Granger, vice presidents; Simon Casady, treasurer; F A. Sherman, secretary ; A . L. Frisbie, chaplain. The 1895 meeting was held June 13, in Crocker Woods, a famous picnic and amusement resort in the Nineties. The attendance was unexpectedly large — about fifteen hundred in all. President Hussey and Colonel Godfrey made brief and interesting addresses. Mrs. Isaac L. Hillis read a strong paper entitled, "Is the New Woman an Old Settler?" Thomas E. Haines, of Altoona, gave reminiscences of pioneer life in Ohio and Iowa. Mrs. J. K. Macomber spoke eloquently on "'What constitutes a State." Major Hoyt Sherman reported that Thomas J. Saylor, of Saylorville, who came to Fort Des Moines, February 25, 1844, was then the oldest living settler of Polk county. Judge Wright made one of his unreportably enjoyable speeches. Mr. Polk, of the park management, closed the exercises with an acrobatic exhibition by a Japanese troupe then play ing on the grounds — a novel feature at an old settlers' picnic. Then came the Semi-Centennial Jubilee Celebration in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the county and the State. The memorable 8th clay of July, 1896, was made a general holiday in city and county. Among the many thousands assembled in Des Moines on that day, none were more enthusiastic than the men and women who had done their part in developing from humble beginnings the rich and populous countv of Polk and its social, commercial and political center, the capital and metropolis of the State. The regular annual meeting of the association was omitted — or, rather, was merged into the .greater event. In 1897, tne association returned to the State Fair Ground, holding its meeting June 24. President Hussey introduced Pleasant J. Mills as "a young man who was raised here and had tramped the muddv streets of Des Moines before pavements were thought of." Mr. Mills responded with a series of the inimitable stories for which he has since become famous. Harry H. Griffiths, son of Colonel Griffiths, and a native of Des Moines, gave interesting reminis- CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 693 cences of his early life, closing with an enthusiastic tribute to Polk county and Iowa. J. E. Fagen presented a lively picture of the amusements of the boys of the early Fifties. Isaac Brandt in his necrology, presented a long list of the dead of the past twelve months, remarking on the longevity of the pioneers. Of the number he had reported, forty-three had died between seventy and eighty years of age; eighteen between eighty and ninety; and six had passed the ninetieth birthday — namely: Mrs. May Smith, ninety; Adam Seid, ninety- two; Thomas Brun, ninety-five; David Norris, ninety-five; Harriet Ankeny, ninety-six. L. H. Bush was chosen president; Fred Elliott, vice president. The 4th of July was selected as the date, and Union Park the place, of the annual picnic in 1898. To the association was given the honor of dedicating the new pagoda at the west end of the park. The victory of Sampson's fleet before Santiago added much enthusiasm to the celebration. When President Bush read the latest dispatch from Santiago concluding with "not one Spaniard escaped," the vast audience rose and applauded with tremendous enthusiasm. Judge William Phillips delivered an address, and Mrs. Isaac L. Hillis read a paper on "the Daughters of the American Revolution." At a special meeting at the office of President Bush, September 23, 1898, Major Hoyt Sherman presented the association with a handsomely made gavel, from the walnut lumber of the balustrade in the stairway of the Old Capitol building. P. M. Casady, Barlow Granger, E. R. Clapp, William Phillips and Isaac Brandt followed, in turn, each making interesting personal contributions to the history of the Old Capitol. August 10 at Union Park was held the annual meeting of 1899. In the absence of the president, Judge Cole presided. Simon Casady was elected president; Mrs. Bina M. W'yman, vice president; Pleasant J. Mills, secretary and treasurer. Addresses were delivered by Isaac Brandt, Mrs. Wyman, D. M. Fox, and Judge Nourse. Mrs. A. C. McQuiston, in an address on "Early Settlers seen from a Woman's Standpoint," gave an interesting picture of her early life in Des Moines. In 1844, her father, J. B. Saylor, sent her brothers, Thomas and John P., the older only fourteen years old, with Shan Hackney from Van Buren county to Fort Des Moines to fill a contract to supply the garrison with meat. They drove the cattle overland. In '45, her father located in, and founded Saylorville. For about two years the Saylors were the only white family residing north of the fort. Later came families bearing the well- known names: Newcomer, Lamb, Henderson, Bates, Keeler, Bradley, Norris, Nagle, Deitz, Coons, Thrift, Bush, Lyon, Deford, Howard. Mrs. McQuiston read a list of pioneer mothers who came to Polk county prior to 1850, including the following names: Rosanna Newcomer, widow of Peter Newcomer; Eunice A. Thrift, widow of John M. Thrift; Mary D. Rathburn Reese, widow of Samuel E. Reese; Elizabeth Rathburn Cady, widow of Calvin Cady; Phoebe Barnes Brooks, widow of T. K. Brooks; Catherine Hilderman Norris, widow of David Norris; Eliza Henderson, widow of Thomas J. Henderson; Susan Miller Deitz, widow of Conrad Deitz; Martina Brazelton Elliott, widow of Frederick E. Elliott; Anna P. Bird, widow of Thompson Bird; Annie Dean, widow of Abram S. Dean; Sarah Ashford Fagen, widow of Hezekiah Fagen: Elizabeth Mills Hawkins, widow of William L. Plawkins ; Mrs. Mary S. Spotts-. widow of John Spotts; Mrs. Phoebe Justice, widow of Daniel Justice; Mrs. Mary Harley, widow of D. L. Harley; Mrs. Diana Bowers, widow of Alexander Rowers. It was at the 1899 meeting that Mr. Hussey's popular "Iowa, Beaut«' ful Land," 1 was first sung at any public assemblage. The record here makes another jump from 1899 to 1903, when, on the 12th of August, the settlers convened in Greenwood Park. A feature of the meeting was the presence of three women who had lived in Des Moines more than a half-century, namely: Mrs. Phoebe Justice, aged ninety-four; Mrs. Elizabeth 1 Music by ludge Horace M. Towner, now representative from the Eighth District in Congress. 694 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Halderman Norris, aged ninety; and Mrs. Diana Bowers, aged eighty-nine. Three others had anticipated attending, but were deterred by inclement weather, namely: Mrs. Dorothy Tungate, ninety-six; Mrs. Mary E. Spotts, aged ninety- two; and Mrs. Elizabeth Moore Hanger, mother of B. O. Hanger, aged ninety- one. Judge Nourse, president of the association, after recalling several amusing incidents of pioneer life, introduced Representative John A. T. Hull. Captain PIull referred to the experiences of his father, Dr. A. Y. Hull, who had recently passed away, and of his own birthplace in the boom-town of Lafayette which lost out in '51. Isaac Brandt, Barlow Granger, P. M. Casady, J. H. Robinson of Dallas, and others made brief addresses. Mr. Brandt referred to the pioneer preachers and their good work, mentioning Father Brazill, Dr. Summerville, William Peet, J. A. Nash, Sanford Haines, Ezra Rathburn, George B. Jocelyn and others. The officers elected were William Mowry, president; Cyrus Mosier, vice president ; Walter McCain, secretary ; Simon Casady, treasurer ; A. L. Frisbie, chaplain. The next annual meeting reported was that of September 7, 1905 — place, Union Park, near the birthplace of Adjutant-General Thrift, son of John M. Thrift, the garrison tailor of 1843. Among the dead of the year whose memory was vivid in the minds of many were James C. Savery and Barlow Granger. Judge Casady paid high tribute to Mr. Savery's integrity, great energy, devotion to his city and county, and loyalty to friends. Isaac Brandt presented the rugged character and picturseque career of Barlow Granger. J. J. Williams was elected president; Isaac Brandt, vice president; Arthur Sherman, secretary; John M. Davis, treasurer; G. M. Settlemeyer, chaplain. In the list of deaths since the last meeting were : Angie Louisa Beaumont, aged one hundred and two and Dorothy Tungate, aged ninety-eight. Twenty-five died between eighty and ninety, and forty between seventy and eighty. Mahala Miller Mathis, aged eighty-five, had lived in Iowa seventy-two years. Eli Trullinger and B. F. Elbert had lived in Iowa sixty-two years. Among the aged pioneers still living was Elizabeth Green West, of Saylor township, one hundred and one years old; also Ruth McPherson Morris, East Des Moines, aged ninety-nine. Eleven women then living in Polk county were ninety years old. The next record is Union Park, August 15, 1907, with Isaac Brandt, presi dent, and William B. Keffer, secretary. About 1,500 were present. A special table profusely decorated with flowers was spread for couples who had celebrated their golden wedding, and about twenty happy couples sat down together to live over again "the days that are no more." A song, "The Early Settlers' Picnic," composed by C. C. Nourse, and led by C. H. Brown, was a feature of the day. The president's address was one which did honor to that preeminent pioneer, the late Isaac Brandt. Jefferson S. Polk gave an address entitled "Then and Now," — one of several addresses delivered before this association which should be printed in book-form for preservation. Gen. Cyrus Bussey gave a brief address reminiscent of the Civil war. Mrs. Mabelle Wagner-Shank and Mr. C. H. Brown sang Major Byers' "Iowa" and "the Old Oaken Bucket." Judge William H. McHenry fitly closed the day with an informal address of a humorously reminiscent character. Resolutions were passed requesting the presi dent to appoint a committee to raise funds for a monument to the memory of Wilson Alexander Scott. On the 12th of August, 1909, the association was called together by J. H. Dean, vice president. Rev. I. M. T. Cory, who came into Polk county in 1846, talked interestingly of Tom Mitchell, who was wont to come all the way from "Mud Creek" to Cory's Grove to help the Corys and other neighbors whenever there was a log house or a barn to raise. The motto then was, "One for all and all for one." Settlers living on timber land were wont to invite their prairie neighbors to come into the woods and help themselves to fence-timber. He told of coopera tion and neighborly accommodation in going to mill at Oskaloosa, sixty miles CORXER SEVEXTH AXD LOCUST STREETS. SIIOWIXG CHAMBERLAIN HOTEL THE XEW LOCUST STREET BRIDGE Lookmg west— The new city library on the left— The new Coliseum on the right The Observatorv hniMine: anrl the Saverv hotel in the distance. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 695 distant,' and of the "big eats" on the return. He paid high tribute to P. M. Casady who was wont to advance money to settlers without security. He con cluded with a vivid picture of the transition from the day of the ox-cart to the day of the automobile. General Bussey related his experiences in raising a regiment during the war. Judges Cole, Nourse and McHenry gave interesting reminiscent talks. Judge McHenry, a native of Polk county, described "the old fair grounds down by the 'Coon." A pleasurable feature of the day was the impromptu talk of Mrs. Al. Swaim, the Pauline Given of other days and an accomplished speaker and writer. Mrs. Swaim told of the great uprising in England in favor of Equal Suffrage. Samuel Sa'ucerman spoke briefly — and for the last time before the association, for his death was soon to follow. The officers elected were: president, W. H. McHenry; vice presidents, G. L. Dob son and Nat. N. McLelland; secretary-treasurer, William B. Keffer; chaplain, I. N. T. Cory. The Early Settlers united with the Polk County Buckeye-Hawkeye Associa tion in a picnic in the grove at Mitchellville on the 8th of September, 1910. Several thousand were present. Many came from Des Moines by the interurban line. The music for the occasion was supplied by Mrs. C. C. Keister and Misses Emeline Starks and Hazel Rooker, and the Mitchellville band. Chaplain Cory led in prayer. Dr. G. B. Hibbs delivered the address of welcome. Judge W. H. McHenry delivered the president's address. Governor Carroll told of the vicissitudes and pleasures of his own boy-life in Davis county, and vividly pic tured the greatness of Iowa. Asa Turner talked interestingly of his early experiences in Polk county. W. B. Keffer, D. R. Ellis, Asa Plummer and J. J. Williams were on the program for short talks. Amos W. Brandt gave an excellent biographical sketch of his father, Isaac Brandt. Prizes were given to the oldest settler, to the oldest man and woman, and to the couple who had been married the longest. CHAPTER XVII. MINOR CIVIC CENTERS OF POLK COUNTY. While many counties in Iowa have two or more nearly equally balanced centers of social life and business activities, Polk county has but the one chief city from which influence radiates and toward which activities tend. It hap pens, therefore, that there can be no clear-cut line between county-seat and county, between chief city and the townships of the county. There are, how ever, several important civic centers in Polk, the influence of which is felt in the trade, the politics and the social life of the county, at the center of popula tion and even beyond the county's boundary lines. Let us look in upon these, considering them in the order of their population as given in the census of 1910. Valley Junction — Valley Township. Valley Junction, the second city in size in Polk county, lies just west of the corporate limits of the city of Des Moines, on the main line of the Rock Island railway system, and at the junction of the Des Moines division, and the Sibley, Winterset and Indianola branches of the Rock Island. The Minneapolis & St. Louis also crosses the Rock Island at this point. In 1892 the Rock. Island made this the division station of its line in the State, and built extensive round houses, machine and car shops, and Valley Junction grew' rapidly from a mere cross road station to a city of 3,000 inhabitants, with electric lights, waterworks, gas, telephones, street cars, and practically all the conveniences of a modern city. On October 9, 1893, the first election was held for the selection of town officers, and it continued as an incorporated town until March, 1906, when it was or ganized as a city of the second class. In October, 1898, the Interurban railway company began operating street cars between Des Moines and Valley Junction. The city has three excellent school buildings, with' twenty teachers. In May, 1905, the high school was placed on the fully accredited list. A network of gas mains has been laid over the city, which connects with the plant of the Des Moines Gas company and in August, 1906, gas was supplied to Valley Junction. There are four churches in the city: Catholic, Christian, Congregational and Methodist, with commodious church edifices. Valley Junction is located in the edge of a rich coal field and the coal industry is being rapidly developed with several extensive mines already in operation. Several hundred men are em ployed in the various departments of the Rock Island road, and thousands of dollars are paid to its employes every month. The Valley Express, of this city, is ably edited and published by Homer Thompson. The city's population in 1910 was 2,573. Mitchclhillc — Beaver Township. Next in population is the incorporated town of Mitchellville, — in no sense a suburb of Des Moines, but a well defined social and trade center in eastern Polk. It is located about seventeen miles northeast of Des Moines, on the Rock Island road. Its name is a permanent monument to one of the relatively great men of the county — a man whose influence was felt in every local move ment for the betterment of social conditions, from the early Forties down to the day of his death, in 1894. The city was organized in 1866. Among the 696 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 697 many and varied activities of Thomas Mitchell was the founding of a Univer salis! church, also a seminary of learning, the distinguishing feature of which was its liberal tendencies. He was also active with other pioneers, in planting a public school in the community. The seminary was not successful and several years ago, the property was acquired by the State. It is now the State Industrial School for Girls. In addition to the Universalist church, the city now has well housed congregations of the Congregational, the Christian and the Methodist church. The pioneer school has grown until a twelve-thousand dollar public- school building has taken the place of the first schoolhouse Mitch ellville has a well-conducted local paper, the Index, founded in 1882, and still edited and published by its founder, Enos P. Marmon. The town's modern store buildings bespeak prosperity, and the many buyers and shippers doing business at this point explain the local prosperity. The city had a $25,000 fire in December, 1904; but quickly rallied from the loss. In 1910, Mitchellville had a population of 1,363 and a school enrollment of 224. Grimes — Jefferson and Webster Townships. Grimes, named in honor of Governor and Senator Grimes, is fourteen miles northwest of Des Moines. It is an incorporated town and has a newspaper, the Advocate, two banks, a good school, three churches, the Presbyterian, the Chris tian and the Lutheran. It has an electric light plant, a commercial exchange, a farmers' mutual telephone company, and its citizens are in all other respects progressive in spirit. It has two general stores and other places of business. It is on the Milwaukee road, and is a favorite halting place for automobile tourists from the Capital city. It makes extensive shipments of grain and live stock. The first house erected in Grimes was in 1881. The town's population in 1910 was 733. Ankeny — Crocker Township. Ankeny is a prosperous and well-built town of about 500 population, located in Crocker township, on the Northwestern railroad, eleven miles from Des Moines. It has a good school, and two churches, the Congregational and Metho dist. Its name perpetuates that of Col. J. F. Ankeny, who platted the town. It has a newspaper, the Times, two general stores, two banks, and is an active live-stock market. Ankeny was, in 1895, a new station on the then new narrow- gauge road. It then celebrated its new year with a new postoffice — Henry Hutton, postmaster. The population of Ankeny in 1910 was 445. Altoona — Clay Toztmship. Altoona is a growing town on the Rock Island railroad and on the Colfax and Des Moines interurban line, eleven miles northeast of Des Moines. The townsite was located by W. H. Davis in 1868. In 1870, the Methodists of that vicinity erected a $22,000 church. At that early date the town had retail stores, a hotel and other local institutions. It now has substantial business blocks, several well-stocked stores, a bank, an opera house and a newspaper — the Herald. It is a shipping point for grain, live stock and produce. Altoona's population in 1910 was 438 and is now reported as having 550. Runnells — Camp Tozvnship. Runnells is an incorporated town of 428 population in 1910; but now re ported as having about 600 inhabitants. It is on the Des Moines river, and is a station on the Wabash railroad, seventeen miles southeast of Des Moines. It has a good school, two churches, two banks and a newspaper, the Telegram. The town was platted in 1881 and named in honor of John S. Runnells, then a prominent citizen of Des Moines and a promoter of the Wabash extension to Des Moines. The town is underlaid with coal, and coal mining is a leading industry. 698 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Polk City — Madison Township. Polk City, the storm-center of patriotism in northern Polk during the War of the Rebellion, and of railroad activities in northern Polk during the railroad- building period, was laid out by George Beebe in 1850. It is one of the oldest towns in the county, the survivor of a fierce rivalry with Montecule and Cory don. It is on a spur of the Des Moines branch of the North- Western railroad, fifteen miles northwest of Des Moines. It is well supplied with stores, has one bank, a good school system and three churches, the Methodist, Congregational and Free Methodist. The principal secret societies have always been strong in Polk City, and many have been the occasions which have brought their mem bers and those of Des Moines into pleasant relations. Polk City had in 1910 a population of 310; but is reported as now having about 400. Bondurant — Franklin and Douglas Tozenships. Bondurant had a population of 287 in 1910. It is on the Great Western road thirteen and one-half miles northeast of Des Moines. It has an excellent school, two churches, the Congregational and the Christian, a bank, and a weekly newspaper, the Journal. It was named after its founder, A. C. Bon durant, a public-spirited citizen and one of the extensive farmers and land owners of the county. The town has a tile factory, a farmers' cooperative creamery and other business interests. Bondurant's present population is esti mated at 300. Sheldahl — Lincoln and Madison Townships. Sheldahl is an incorporated town on the North- Western road, twenty-five miles north of Des Moines. It lies in four townships, two in Polk, one in Story and another in Boone. Its population is largely Scandinavian. It has a Swedish Methodist and a Lutheran church, a graded school, a bank and a newspaper and well-stocked stores. The town was platted in 1874 by J. S. Polk, and from the first has been an excellent shipping point. Its population in 1910 was 202. It has latterly been quoted as having 300 population. Elkhart — Elkhart Township. Elkhart, the center of population for Elkhart township, is eighteen miles north of Des Moines on the St. Paul & Des Moines railroad. It has two churches, Christian and Dunkard, and a local bank. The town was first settled by Indianians and was named after the city of Elkhart, Indiana. Its population in 1910 was 132. , Besides the two incorporated cities and nine incorporated towns of Polk county, there are a number of smaller civic centers, each with its church or churches, its school, or schools, and its group of stores and- shops, its active professional and business men, its social, political and educational activities, and all contributory to the evolution of the county from good to better, and from better to best. Among these are the following: The largest is one of the latest to come into being. Enterprise, Douglas township, on the St. Paul & Des Moines railroad, is preeminently a coal mining town. It is fourteen miles north of Des Moines and five miles from Ankeny. It is a lively trade center. Earlier gazetteers make no mention of the town; but the State Gazetteer for iqto-ii, gives its population as 1,750. Saylorville is six miles north of Des Moines, and in an early day was closely identified with the development of the country about Fort Des Moines. _ The Saylors, from whom the town takes its name, are no small part of the history of the county. The town was laid out in 1850 by John Saylor, on the farm entered by him four years before. Saylor station is two miles east of the town on the North-Western road. The development of interurban and automobile CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 699 travel has brought the town into close touch with the chief center of population in the county and has revived interest in the locality as a suburban home. Berwick, Delaware township, on the Great Western, is eight and a half miles northeast of Des Moines. It has two churches, the Congregational and Methodist. It is in the heart of a rich farming community, and is credited with a population of 250. Commerce, Walnut township, is on the Rock Island road, eight and one-half miles southwest of Des Moines, and four miles from Valley Junction. Its population is reported at 150. Clive, Walnut township, on the Milwaukee road, seven miles west of Des Moines, is a small shipping point, with a scattered population of 150. Adelphi, Camp township, is a Wabash station — the railroad name of which is Tamworth. It is eleven miles southeast of Des Moines and four and one- half miles from Runnells. It was platted in 1856 by Valerine Young. It is on the Des Moines .river and one of the oldest towns in the county. Its popula tion is quoted at 75. Farrar, Madison township, is on a branch of the North-Western railway, twenty-five miles northeast of the county seat. It has a bank, a flourishing church and does a good local business. It is the home of Asa Turner, one of the foremost scientific farmers in the State. Its population is quoted at ,50. Avon is one of the older towns in the county and is the center of trade in Allen township. Avon station is the new town, a mile distant, on the Rock Island line. Avon is eight miles southeast of Des Moines. Its population is given -as 25. Campbell, Walnut township, is a small station on the Milwaukee road, ten miles west of Des Moines, credited with a population of 25. Ashawa, in Walnut township, is a station on the Rock Island and the Minne apolis & St. Louis railway. It is seven and one-half miles west of Des Moines. It has a rural delivery from Valley Junction. Grain and live stock are handled at this point. Chesterfield, Lee township, once a separate postoffice, is now a suburb of Des Moines, two miles out. It has mail delivery from Des Moines. It has its own school and several stores. Its male population is mainly employed in neighboring industries. Crocker, named in honor of Polk county's foremost soldier, is a small trade center in Crocker township, sixteen miles north of Des Moines. It is the heart of a prosperous farming community. Farragut, Washington township, is a small station on the North-Western. Loring, in the same township, is also a station on the North-Western. Rising Sun is seven miles east of Des Moines. It has rural delivery from Altoona. Other local centers in the county are: Alleman, Carney, Fort Des Moines, Herrold, Johnston, Norwoodville and Aulman. BOOK IV. POLK COUNTY. PART II. THE COUNTY'S WAR RECORD. CHAPTER I. POLK COUNTY'S WAR RECORD. As was said, in substance, in one of the earlier chapters of this work, the relations existing between the county and its county seat are so close and inti mate that the history of one is the history of the other. The remark is absolutely true of Book I, and, in a general sense, it is true of Books II and III. The re mark applies with much force to the heroic period of the county's history — 1861- 65. When the war-spirit swept over the county, there was an obliteration of township lines and all patriotic activities centered at the general headquarters in Des Moines. The story begins with the spring and summer of 1861 when the drum and fife called men, and youths — scarcely more than boys — from the farm and village workshop, from the store and office and factory, to risk their lives in vindication of the flag dishonored at Sumter, and in defense of the Union which state after state had threatened with destruction. The bugle-call which echoed through the valley of the Des Moines, from Camp to Madison, found ready response in many hearts. They who could easiest break home ties went first. Others heeded the call, but quieted the war-spirit within by saying to themselves, "Since it is not necessary, why should I leave my loved ones to possible want?" or "Why should I leave my fields for others to till?" or "turn over my business to other hands?" Then came the time when the men representing this splendid reserve looked one another in the face and said, "The call comes home to us !" One by one the heads of families, and of farms and shops and stores, put their affairs in order as best they could and bidding good-bye — for many it proved a last good-bye — to loved ones dearer than life, took their places in ranks made vacant by death and discharge, or in the ranks of regiments newly organized in response to their state's call for men to fill its quota. And thus it happened that the patriotic citizens of Polk county are found in the roster of most of the Iowa regiments. Where every name has a history, even a list of names becomes eloquent. It is eminently fitting that the names of those who constitute the county's contri bution to the Union cause should be published in a history of Des Moines and Polk county. — The names of such, now gathered,1 and verified for the first time, are therefore given in the following pages, duly classified by regiment and com pany. Following is a list of the men who enlisted from Polk county in the several Iowa regiments during the war of the Rebellion. FIRST INFANTRY. Company B. Brooks, McHenry ; Goodrell, W. H. H. SECOND INFANTRY. Field and Staff. Mills, Noah W., colonel ; Crocker, Marcellus M., lieutenant colonel ; Godfrey, George L., second lieutenant ; Marsh, Edward L., second lieutenant ; Lunt, Samuel 1 From the Reports of the Adjutant General of Iowa for 1862-3 and 1864-5. 703 704 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY H., first lieutenant : Warner, Jared, commissary sergeant ; Lynde, John, first lieu tenant ; Davis, Ephraim P., hospital steward ; Lyon, George W., hospital steward. Company D. Crocker, Marcellus M., Capt. Mills, Noah W., Capt. Ensign, Edgar T., Capt. Dykeman, Norton L., First Lieut. Lunt, Samuel H., First Lieut. Ensign, Edgar T., First Lieut. Godfrey, George L., First Lieut. Marsh, Edward L., First Lieut. Mills, Noah W., Second Lieut. Ensign, Edgar T., Second Lieut. Godfrey, George L., Second Lieut. Marsh, Edward L., Second Lieut. Lynde, John, Second Lieut. Lunt, Samuel H., First Sergt, Cook, Hiram C, First Sergt, Ensign, Edgar T., Second Sergt. Cook, Hiram C, Second Sergt. Mitchell, Edwin, Second Sergt. Doty, Nathan W., Second Sergt. Cook, Hiram C, Third Sergt. Mitchell, Edwin, Third Sergt. Gillette, Philip D., Third Sergt. Mitchell, Edwin, Fourth Sergt. Godfrey, George L., Fourth Sergt. Marsh, Edward L., Fourth Sergt. Davis, William L., Fourth Sergt. Godfrey, George. L., Fifth Sergt. Marsh, Edward L., Fourth Sergt. Ragan, William, Fifth Sergt. Warner, Jared A., First Corp. Dickerson, John A., First Corp. Sells, David M., Second Corp. Phales, Philetus, Second Corp. Gordnier, John, Second Corp. Marsh, Edward L., Third Corp. Ragan, William, Third Corp. Gillette, Philip D., Third Corp. Allen, Robert, Jr., Fourth Corp. Houston, William E., Fourth Corp. Ayres, Henry O., Fourth Corp. Doty, Nathan W., Fifth Corp. Lynde, John, Fifth Corp. Whitmer, Samuel, Fifth Corp. Moles, Jacob M., Sixth Corp. Houston, Leonard B., Seventh Corp. Slatten, Andrew, Eighth Corp. Davis, William L., Eighth Corp. Case, Philo L., Musician Ayers, Samuel A. Ayers, Henry O. Barnett, John Bitting, William H. Bird, William K. Browne, John H. Brown, Harvey Banie, William W. Burbridge, James W. Callender, William Childs, George H. Christy, William Cooper, Joseph Davis, Ephraim P. Davis, William L. Davis, James Dickerson, John A. Doty, Nathan W. Dreher, Peter Estle, William Fales, Philetus Fenn, E. Dwight Ferguson, John N. Fleming, John A. Gillette, Philip D. Goodrich, Arthur Gordnier, John Greene, George W. Hayden, Joseph S. Haskell, Joseph Houghton, Douglass S Houston, Leonard B. Hoxie, William H. Jones, Asbury C. Jones, Tarpley T. Kinsey, William A. Lamoreaux, Chas. H. Lowe, Carleton Looby, John H. Lyon, George W. Lynde, John Mattern, Jacob H. McKelvogue, John McCollam, Isaac Moles, Jacob M. Morehead, Jacob Nagle, John Nims, Albert H. Painter, Joshua C. Price, John Ragan, William Rush, Austin B. Robbins, James Riddle, William Scott, Erastus Sells, David M. Slatten, Andrew Smith, Philander w^ CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 705 Stewart, Calvin C. Swem, William A. Warnock, Newton Watson, John H. Warner, Jared A. Wheeler, John Company K. Clark, David H., Private. Additional Enlistments. Brubaker, John C. Brady, Casper S. Birch, Thomas S. Cree, Theodore G. Chrystal, Benjamin F. Chrystal, James A. Greene, William Bradley Houston, William L. Company H. Draper, Martin, V. B., Private. Whitmer, Samuel Wylie, William D. Yant, David Young, Armin Zelle, Godfrey Hunt, Zaccheus W., Private Lott, John W. Lasell, William J. Nagle, Thomas Reed, Andrew W. Sharp, John Williams, John Z. Weeks, Theodore G. THIRD INFANTRY. Field and Staff. Williamson, James A., Colonel. Williamson, James A., Lieut. Colonel. Williamson, James A., Adjutant Company C — Additional Enlistment. Donivan, Dennis. Private. Company E. Griffiths, Henry H., Captain. Simmons, Wilmer S., Captain. Simmons, Wilmer S., First Lieut. Sells, John E., First Lieut. Wicher, Isaac, Second Lieut. Treat, Sheldon C, Second Lieut. Sells, John E., First Sergt. Treat, Sheldon C, First Sergt. Stark, Charles S., Second Sergt. Treat, Sheldon C, Second Sergt. Barnum, Edward W., Third Sergt. Wilson, James M., Third Sergt. Bramhall, Emerson S., Third Sergt. Treat, Sheldon C, Fourth Sergt. Bramhall, Emerson S., Fourth Sergt. Gandy, Felix T., Fourth Sergt. Moore, James A., Fifth Sergt. Gandy, Felix T., Fifth Sergt. Ross, Richard W., Fifth Sergt. Dunan, Washington G., First Corp. Wilson, James M., Second Corp. Phillippie, Christopher, Second Corp. Phillippie, Christopher, Third Corp. FOURTH INFANTRY. Shaw, Alexander, Assistant Surgeon. Dunan, Wash. G., Commissary Sergt. Jameson, John C, Third Corp. Ross, Richard W., Third Corp. Spence, Abraham L., Third Corp. Jameson, John C, Fourth Corp. Ross, Richard W., Fourth Corp. Spence, Abraham L., Fourth Corp. Billings, William, Fourth Corp. Ross, Richard W., Fifth Corp. Hunt, William A., Sixth Corp. Bloom, Lemuel D., Sixth Corp. Bonnie, John M., Seventh Corp. Rhoads, Daniel, Seventh Corp. Robinson, Aug. R., Eighth Corp. Aldeman, Joseph P., Private. Barcus, Ira. Barlow, Stephen C. Beck, James. Bell, Jeptha W. Case, Girard M. C. Clary, Isaac. Clary, Vachiel. Carter. John A. Cornish, Hiram D. 706 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Castellin, Thomas. Crow, Benjamin. Danforth, Andrew J. Davis, Andrew S. Dixon, John. Doughty, Lucien B. Fisher, Jefferson K. Foster, Martin. Gandy, Felix T. Gentle, George. Greene, Charles W. Guthrie, Michael. Heart, Daniel B. Houser, George L. Kelley, Oliver P. Additional Enlistments. Bonine, John M. Barrett, Henry A. Billsland, Reuben P. Brisbane, Edward T. Hinman, Jeremiah. Unassigned as to Company. Allmay, Benjamin. Brinson, William. Brinson, Thomas. Bruce, John R. Brinson, David A. Cason, John J. Clary, Henry C. Crone, Theodore F. Dorence, Alexander. Jessup, Isaac. Field and Staff. Charles H. Rawson, Surgeon. Company C. McCrady, William L., Private. King, Michael. Kesler, Jacob V. Lacy, Henry D. Lewis, John. McNulty, Robert. Mott, James A. Needham, James M. Plummer, Asa L. Pritchard, William. Robinson, Augustus R. Smith, William. Stumbach, Abraham. West, Edwin R. Woodruff, Joseph H. Y^okoner, Francis P. McKean, Cornelius. McFee, John H. Newell, Andrew J. Van Horn, Wm. Simms, George. Kinkenman, Nathan. Lewis, James, Private. Lawrence, Perry. Moore, Anderson. Osborn, Philip. Ray, Isaac. Scott, John W. Stafford, Oliver P. Widener, James. FIFTH INFANTRY. TENTH INFANTRY. Field and Staff. McCalla, Nathaniel, Major. Skinner, J. O., Asst. Surgeon. Hanger, William J., Drum Major. Smith, John E., F. Major. Purdy, William H., C. Musician. Company A. McCalla, Nathaniel, Captain. Clark, Charles J., First Lieut. Planna, John G., First Lieut. Van Dorn, Plezekiah, First Lieut. Plopkins, Josiah, Second Lieut. Meekins, William P., Second Lieut. Van Dorn, Plezekiah, First Sergt. P\}x, Charles, First Musician. Noble, Samuel, Second Musician Bausman, Adam C, Third Musician. AVarner, John W., Third Musician. Estabrook, Frank, Third Musician. Harney, William J., Second Sergt. Sullivan, John O., Third Sergt. Planna, John G., Fourth Sergt. Meekins, William P., Fourth Sergt. Howe, Ebenezer E., Fifth Sergt. Kellison, John D., First Corp. Burley, Edward W., Second Corp. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 707 Wright, Jonathan J., Third Corp. Spencer, Thomas A., Fourth Corp. Mishler, Peter B., Fifth Corp. Rutherford, John, Sixth Corp. Bader, George, Eighth Corp. Hanger, William J., Musician. Smith, Theodore V., Musician. Baker, John. Bard, George W. Bean, Stephen S. Byram, Adam. Courtney, George W. Corey, Cassius M. Cox, Clark. Crabtree, Matthew. Dinwiddie, Simon E. Downs, Frederick. Elliott, Abraham. English, Arthur. Fletcher, Gideon. Hawkins, Andrew J. Hader, Henry. Hammond, John R. Hammond, Amos F. Heliums, Frank M. Henderson, Joshua. Horner, William. Ingersoll, Daniel W. Jones, David. Lewis, James. McDowel, Elliott. Additional Enlistments. McDowell, Palmer. Murray, William. Cockeral, Frank. Mosier, Cross O. Curl, Hiram F. Hanna, Simon B. Fletcher, Isaac. Mercer, Edward W. Company B. Bentley, George M., First Lieut. McClure, John O., Third Corp. Wright, John W., Fourth Corp. Peirson, Ephraim, Fifth Corp. Reed, Thomas H., Corporal. Boyd, Robert H. Case, William. Davis, Jacob K. Fink, John F. Hargis, Stephen M. Kenworthy, Steel. Additional Enlistments. Cunningham, John. Meekins, William P. Miller, Jonathan R. Morgan, William. Murray, Caswell. Murray, Andrew. Nussbaum, Martin V. Nussbaum, Isaac Z. Nussbaum, John L. Palmer, Lewis H. Patterson, Thomas. Pierce, Thomas J. Pierce, Elijah L. Pollock, Robert R. Richardson, Edwin. Richards, Davis. Reed, Simon. Roe, John. Rohr, Robert H. Rohr, Silas. Rule, John T. Russell, John. Smith, John E. Stevens, John. Spencer, William. Swim, William J. Sexton, Isaac. Terrill, Lemuel. Townsend, Cabel. Wheeler, Thomas. Wright, John. Hanman, William W. Bunyan, William T. Rohr, Jacob. Bard, John. Murray, Larkin. Edwards, Edward. Hoy, Thomas. Fosdick, Leroy. Kennedy, John. Manbeck, Isaiah. Reed, Thomas H. Spence, Absalom. Stanton, William H. Shepherd, Robert H. Steele, William. Swayne, Oscar. Taylor, John C. Updegraph, Jerome. Edgarton, Samuel. 708 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Fisher, Isaac. Kenworthy, Bruce. Lang, Daniel R. Means, James M. Company D. Hanger, Benjamin F., Musician. Additional Enlistments. Fuller, John J. Whitted, Elijah M. Gossard, William. McKinney, William B. Company F — Additional Enlistments. Freel, John. Lynch, Andrew. Moore, Thomas R. Company G — Additional Enlistments. Reed, Donivan. Miles, Josiah. Thomas, Charles M. Blankenship, James. Fox, Jacob. Ranny, Franklin E. Company H. Johnson, Drury. Additional Enlistments. Corey, William. Gilroy, George. Tibberghin, James W. Company K. Lusby, Robert, Captain. Bausman, Julian, First Lieut. Bausman, Julian, First Sergt. Dunkle, Wm. H. H., First Corp. Rahm, Wm., Second Corp. Plornor, Jacob, Wagoner. Afenson, Ole, Private. Brand, Martin Van. Bruner, William R. Baylies, William C. Additional Enlistments. Stallsworth, Andrew J. Iglan, Henry. Solon, Charles. Ivers, Joseph. Adams, Allington. Dillman, David B. Unassigned as to Company. Horvey, George W. Skidmore, George, Private. Watts, John. Moore, Daniel. Stone, Noah F. Rhodes, Hiram. Pike, Andrew R. Wiley, Robert. Williams, Albin. Renuff, Benjamin. Price, Henry M. Miller, Henry A. Bean, Michael C. Drake, Oliver. Kavanaugh, Ira. Reed, William. Johnson, Josiah. Wilson, W. Wright. William P. Bell, William A. Brown, William C, or Fr Byram, Andrew P. Dinwiddie, Lewis F. Gill, John W. Kenworthy, Bruce. Lang, Daniel R. Rommol, Henry A. Scudder, John M. Watts, John. McRoberts, John. Stephenson, Reuben B. Van Brunt, Henry M. Whittaker, Burt M. Weekley, Merritt. Surber, Christopher C. Williams, Jonathan. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 709 THIRTEENTH INFANTRY Field and Staff. Crocker, Marcellus M., Colonel. Company D — Additional Enlistments. Watson, John H., Private. Company E. Randall, David J., Second Lieut. Randall, David J., Third Sergt. Baird, Stephen B., Private. Hoss, Jacob V. Hill, Samuel F. Company F. Watson, John H., Second Lieut. Watson, John H, Quartermaster Sergt. Lamb, James H. Lamb, John H. Penor, William H. Stewart, John. FOURTEENTH INFANTRY. Company E. McGeary, Joseph D., Private. McGeary, John T. Milton, John L. Company I — Additional Enlistment. Miller, Richard K, Private. Rutherford, James W. Van Horn, Phineas. Williams, John. FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. Field and Staff. Flynt, James H., Quartermaster Sergt. Boudinot, Lucius, Hospital Sergt. Cross, Robert W., Commissary Sergt. Company B. Smith, Wilson T., Captain. Studer, Adolphus G., Captain. Studer, Adolphus G., First Lieut. Lanstrum, Christian E., First Lieut. Lanstrum, Christian E., Second Lieut. Wilkins, Rees, Second Lieut. Moreland, Henry, First Sergt. Green, John S., First Sergt. Wilkins, Rees, Second Sergt. Green, John S., Second Sergt. Green, John S., Fourth Sergt. Goodrell, Wm. H., Fourth Sergt. Rees, George L., Fourth Sergt. Stanberry, Wm., Fifth Sergt. Kelsey, Jacob L., Second Corp. Kelsey, Jacob L., Third Corp. Morgan, Anson D., Third Corp. Almore, Elijah W., Third Corp. Wilkins, Rees, Fourth Corp. Goodrell, Wm. H., Fourth Corp. Goodrell, Mancil C., Fourth Corp. Harvy, Charles E., Fifth Corp. Overmier, Amos, Fifth Corp. Flynt, James H., Sixth Corp. Rees, George L., Seventh Corp. Williams, Lewis H., Seventh Corp. Fleming, Samuel, Musician. Lyon, Robert, Musician. Post, Ethan, Musician. Atmore, Elijah W., Private. Beekman, Charles. Brazelton, Oliver P. Berge, Andrew J. Cannon, William P. Cross, Robert W. Curran, Robert. Conner, Leroy S. Campbell, Milton. Close, William L. Dickey, William A. Edmundson, Henry. Elliott, Milton B. Fox, Columbus. Fisher, John. Fennesty, Thomas. Fredregill, Christian. Fisher, John S. Fleming, Samuel. Foster, Joel. Fessler, Tohn. Foster, Samuel. Green, Luther T. 710 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Guthrie, John W. Goodrell, Mancil C. Goodrell, William H. Ganus, John. Glenn, Franklin. Hanan, John. Hudson, Charles H. Hazen, Edward. Hardin, James. Johnson, Jonathan. Lester, George W. Lloyd, Colvin. Lunt, Edward D. Lyon, Robert. Lenehan, Thomas. Lyon, Thomas W. Long, Charles. Mathis, James H. McCauley, James. Morgan, Anson D. Additional Enlistments. Benedict, Jason. Hahnen, John. Company C. Hague, Edward, Private. SIXTEENTH Company D. Harbor, James C, Musician. Gilkey, William T., Private. Hester, Levi R. Company F. Laird, Madison R., Second Sergt. Kessler, William H., Musician. Alaway, Thomas J., Private. Company K. Emery, A., Fifth Sergt. Ashley, James, Private. Elliott, Chester. Gulick, John. Additional Enlistments. Adkerson, W., Private. Chrisman, Lorenzo D. Pierce, Lazarus. Mardis, Samuel. Meek, Reuben. Newland, Jasper N. Payne, John. Pursley, William H. Rayger, Thomas. Roper, George W. Skinner, Daniel J. Teal, Cornelius. Thompson, Amos. Thomas, Loren S. Thornton, Thomas J. Taylor, Henry P. Werzel, Conrad. Wilson, Thomas H. Williams, Lewis H. Winters, David K. Stram, David W. Stoughton, Benj. F, Jones, Robert B. Parker, James M. INFANTRY. Hester, Stephen. Hurber, James S. Wright, George W. Devault, James C. Dewey, John W. Kessler, William H. Pierce, Andrew. Redman, J. F. Woods, J. H. Pierce, Thomas G. Shear, John R. Weese, Charles. SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY. Field and Staff. McGorrisk, Edw. J., Asst. Surgeon. Company B. Ploxie, William H., Captain. Smith, Charles P., Third Sergt. Freeman, Rial, Second Corp. Freeman, Rial, Third Corp. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Fll Cassida, Thomas H., Third Corp. Cassida, Thomas H., Fourth Corp. Freeman, Malon, Fifth Corp. Freeman, Rial, Sixth Corp. Pursley, William H, Sixth Corp. Cassida, Thomas H., Eighth Corp. Alward, Benjamin P. Cassida, James R. Davis, A. S. Freeman, Malon. Hastings, Thomas. Highland, Henry H. Hardsaw, Daniel. Additional Enlistment. Gipson, AA'illiam AL, Private. Company F. Browne, John H., Second Lieut. Company K. Y'oung, J. AA'. AL, First Corp. Fullerton, John, Fifth Corp. Kesler, Jacob, Eighth Corp. Frank (e), William. Fullerton, Tohn. Griffith, Selby S. Gibson, AVilliam. Keslar, Jacob. Hanks, Jarvis. Planks, Dewitt. Johnson, John. Kiser, Amos. McCulloch, C. H. Merrill, William. Phelps, Franklin P. Pursley, William H. Rickabaugh, Willson. Ragan, David S. Smith, Charles P. Smith, Thomas H. Wakefield, Francis M. McCready, William. Mull, Adam J. McCready, Martin F. Mercer, William. Sanford, Abraham. Sherman, Samuel. Thomson, Charles. Wilson, Samuel W. Company G. Looby, John H., Second Lieut. Kinsman, Oram, Musician. Company I. Ragan, William, First Lieut. Condon, Charles M., Fourth Serg. Green, William B., Fifth Serg. Ellis, Jason L., Private. Fredrick, Benjamin G. Brazelton, Jacob. Gifford, Isaac. EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY. Estele, William, Private. McCoy, William J. Garrett, John C. Glenn, Charles C. Lawson, Jacob. Sharp, David. Thornton, Nathan. AAroodrow, Charles B. Field and Staff. Clark, Charles J., Major. Dewey, Chas. Orville, Adjutant. Cross, Robert W., Quartermaster. Barton, Arthur J., Chaplain. Merrill, William, Sec. Major. Company A. Houston, Leonard B., Capt. Cree, Theodore G., Second Lieut. Belknap, Orin, Jr., Third Sergt. Belknap, Orin, Jr., Fourth Sergt. TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY. Belknap, Orin, Sec. Major. Dewey, Robert H., Commissary Sergt. Hepburn, Chas. S., Hospital Steward. Cranshaw, James R., First Major. Saylor, William A., Fourth Sergt. Saylor, William A., Fifth Sergt. Houston, Lyman P., Third Corp. Smith, Mervin, Fourth Corp. 712 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Ashford, Elderkin P., Private. Fagan, Joseph. Hepburn, Charles S. Jones, Albert. Jordan, Henry C. Lucas, Francis M. Company B. Clark, Charles J., Captain. Walker, Joel M., Captain. AA'alker, Joel M., First Lieut. Waterbury, Stephen, First Lieut. Waterbury, Stephen, Second Lieut. AA'illiams, Chauncey A., Second Lieut. Williams, Chauncey A., First Sergt. Crabtree, Henry, Second Sergt. AA'right, Amos, Third Sergt. Burt, Calvin M., Fourth Sergt. Rhinehart, Oliver P., Fifth Sergt. Derickson, Erastus S., First Corp. Benell, AA'illiam, Second Corp. Brown, Mathew C, Third Corp. Swim, Daniel A., Fourth Corp. Baker, George C, Fifth Corp. Beals, Sereno C, Sixth Corp. Y'oung, Emanuel, Seventh Corp. Halladay, Edward L., Eighth Corp. Derickson, Dwight, Musician. Levalley, Joseph, Musician. Beighler, Harrison. Beighler, Enoch. Bullard, John. Beeson, Henry H. Carr, William H. Carr, Henry. Condit, Daniel M. Covey, William. Derickson, William W. Dennis, John M. Entwistle, George W. Filmer, John. Grimes, David S. Grigsby, George W. Hughes, Eusebius. Henkel, John S. Henkel, Benjamin W. Herbert, William. PTanna, Cyrus G. Howland, Charles A. Harlow, Lloyd. Harber, Randolph F. Jones, Andrew J. Tohnson, AA'illiam P. Kratzer, Howard. Kirsher, John. Kirsher, Jasper. Koons, Elijah. Lyon, AVilliam D. Lucas, Daniel. McCain, William S. McKinney, Peter. Saylor, James A. Stevens, John A. Thompson, Andre. Lyon, James H. Leonard, Lawrence. Little, Lewis. Madison, Andrew J. Millard, Homer A. Millard, Henry J. Mosgrove, William. Miller, Jonathan G. Miller, Ezra AV. Mclntire, AA'illiam K. McDowell, Thomas. Macauley, Charles H. A ley, Julius L. Murphy, John. Nuesbaum, Benjamin F Nelson, Thor. Nicholas, George M. Napper, Renard. Pritchard, John. Riley, George. Stover, Henderson. Shaw, James E. Summy, Henry B. Sharp, Donald C. Shellhart, George. Shellhart, Samuel. Stevens, George C. Schoonover. Randolph Story, William C. Swope, Henry H. Sibbette. Benjamin F. Spence, Thomas. Vestal, Solomon A. Virtue, John. Waterman, Andrew J. Waterman, Henry. Warden, George. Wilson, Clark. Wiley, James. Wood, Hartford. Wacker, Tohn. AA'alker. Augustus D. AA'alker. John S. Weitman, Francis. Y^azel, David. Young, Daniel. Young. Henry B. Young, Benjamin F. Young, Henry. Young, Isaac. VILLA ERANOA"— NOME OE OEOROE II. FRANCK ON OAKLAND AVKNUK. NORTH DES MOINES CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 713 Company C. Gregg, James C, Captain. John A. T. Hull, Captain. John A. T. Hull, First Lieut. Jennings, Benjamin, First Lieut. Jennings, Benjamin, Second Lieut. Downs, AA'illiam H., Second Lieut. Downs, AA'illiam H., First Sergt. Kysar, AA'illiam, Second Sergt. Johnson, David W., Third Sergt. Kysar, William, Fourth Sergt. Howard, Francis M., Fourth Sergt. Howard, Francis M., Fifth Sergt. Butler, AA'illiam B., Fifth Sergt. O'Blenis, James, First Corp. Spotts, Henry, Second Corp. Williams, Jeremiah D., Third Corp. Warnich, Austin, Fourth Corp. Howard, Robert, Fifth Corp. Lasall, Joseph W., Sixth Corp. Tuthill, Euphrates, Sixth Corp. Tuthill, Euphrates, Seventh Corp. AA'est, Benjamin P., Seventh Corp. Stuart, John W., Seventh Corp. AA'est, Benjamin P., Eighth Corp. Stuart, John W., Eighth Corp. Cranshaw, James R., Musician. Angelo, Samuel H., Private. Bull, John T. Bull, William. Bird, Empson. Butler, William B. Birch, Francis A. Betts, Shepherd W. Brown, Joy P. Bailey, Quary. Brown, John. Butler, Charles A. Bright, James W. Christy, William. Conison, Lemuel M. Crystal, John. Cahal, James H. Collins, Elisha. Collins, Hiram. Campbell, Frederick T. Couch, AA'illiam S. Dewey, Robert H. Deaton. James K. Dean, Wm. M. Dean, James H. Darling, Porter N. Company E. Houston, William E.. First Lieut. Houston, William E., Second Lieut. Merrill, Wm., Second Lieut. Evans, William M. Frederick, Corwin B. Ganett, Lyle A. Gregory, William. Howard, Francis A. Huggins, David. Harvey, William. Halterman, Jackson. Howard, William H. Juvenall, Jas. M. Jones, Charles L. Leonard, Newton G. Little, John S. Laughlin, Robert. Lang, Lewis. McDowell, Michael. Miller, John L. Mattern, William H. Meison, David. Owns, Henry. Pricer, William. Ramsey, Alartin K. Robinson, Hubert S. Robinson, Smith C. Rison, Bailey. Stuart, Bazil. Stuart, John W. Smith, Hardin. Sherrill, John W. Sherrill, Elisha C. Sherrill, William H. Stark, Benjamin P. Swift, Jeremiah. Scarbgh, James. Stockdale, Richmond. Saylor, John Q. A. Shirts, Roscius. Taft, Joel. Thrailkill, Joseph. Vice, Henry. AA'est, Samuel V West, Henry C. AA'itmer, George W. Webb, John G. AVebb, James R. Walsh, Thomas. AA'ilcox, James R. Woodroe, William H. Wheeler, James T. Wilcox, Gilbert. Saylor, Thomas J., Fourth Sergt. Fink, Robert H., Fifth Sergt. Martin, Vincent S., Third Corp. 714 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Martin, Vincent S., Fourth Corp. Rosencrants, John M., Fifth Corp. Rosencrants, John M., Sixth Corp Wilson, William, Seventh Corp. Wilson, William, Eighth Corp. McQuiston, David S., Musician. Ashworth, Abraham, Private. Betts, Mathias. Betts, James W. Buzick, William C. Cottle, Elias. Craig, Alexander. Fink, William W. Company F. Pallock, John N., Musician. Company G. Ross, John, Second Sergt. Cowgill, Gustavus V., Private. Forbes, Francis H. Fox, George W. Company H. Barker, William B., Private. Derrickson, Charles W. Hewitt, Franklin E. Jameson, John D. Kees, Thomas. Moore, John W. McQuiston, David S. Merrill, William. Pearson, John W. Porter, John. Sunday, William. Springer, Jacob L. Swallow, William Z. Sutton, Aquiller. Stanhope, Luther W. Woodward, William H. Gillay, George C. Hammer, Richard. Hayes, James (K. P.) Smith, John R. Huston, Zachary T. Haines, Jonathan C. Myers, Asahel W. THIRTY-SECOND INFANTRY. Company K. Modlin, Elias, Third Corp. Modlin, Elias, Sixth Corp. Alderman, Isaac N., Eighth Corp. Company G. Sharman, Charles H., Fifth Sergt. Luellen, Francis, Private. Pearson, Nathan H. Pearson, Samuel. THIRTY-THIRD INFANTRY. Company A — Additional Enlistment. Roan, Nathaniel C, Private. THIRTY-FOURTH INFANTRY. Field and Staff. Davis, John S., Hospital Steward. Company B. Lane, William W., Private. Company D. Davis, John S., Private. .Company H. Herring, Milton, Sixth Corp. Company Unknown. Allen, AA'illiam, Private. Chinn, James S. Chinn, Richard S. Clevenyer, Jasper N. Herrin, Thomas, Private. Ramsey, James W. Smith, Elias. Snook, Thomas B. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY '15 THIRTY-SIXTH INFANTRY. Company K — Additional Enlistment. Pike, Jordan, Private. THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY Field and Staff. Griffiths, Joseph M., Major. Company B. Dykeman, John H., Captain. Blodgett, Andrew T., First Lieut. Patterson, William A., Second Lieut. Kenworthy, F. D., Second Sergt. Russel, Elisha F., Third Sergt. Thurber, Franklin R., Fourth Sergt. AVard, Robert F., Fifth Sergt. Keeney, Thomas J., First Corp. Gifford, Joseph, Third Corp. Harrison, Alanson, Fourth Corp. McClure, George M., Fifth Corp. Cave, Cyrus, Seventh Corp. . Harr, William B., Musician. Russel, Edwin C, Musician. Williams, Harry, Wagoner. Armstrong, Samuel. Baber, AVilliam J. Bates, Oliver D. Brown, Zachariah A. Bunce, James E. Barrett, Andrew J. Barnes, Owen. Case, Isaac. Carder, Frederick. Cefley, Andrew. Coffey, William G. Coffey, George A. Chamberlin, William H. Crandall, Caleb. Daily, Patrick Elliott, Henry H. Gaddis, Cornelius S. Groom, A. S. R. Harrison, Hudson. Company E. Adamson, William, Musician. Preston, John C, Musician. Ewing, DeWilton M. Additional Enlistments. Cole, Charles J. Company F. Brooks, James F. Tichenor, George C, Adjutant. Hendricks, S. D. Holbrook, Carlisle D. Holcombe, Jacob. Holcombe, Asher W. Hoover, Henry I. Hurd, William P. Jessup, Byron. Johnson, John W. Johnson, Benjamin T. Keeney, John W. Keeney, Joseph M. Keeney, Daniel T. Kuplin, Wilson. Krewson, Amos. Lickingteller, Jonathan. Love, William. Low, Francis. Manbeck, Henry. Manbeck, Elijah. Markahan, Simon. Mills, James W. Mills, John E. Rush, Wm. D. Scott, John M. Simmons, Amos. Simmons, Nicholas W. Starkey, Marion B. Sullivan, James O. Taylor, Henry. Taylor, Thomas O. Vennamon, William J. Warren, Henry F. Wheaton, Jeremiah S. Wright, Thomas. Morgan, Thomas. Smith, Richard. 716 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Company I. Yerger, Augustus, Captain. Yerger, Augustus, First Lieut. Hunter, Robert C, First Lieut. Hunter, Robert C, Second Lieut. Finan, John, First Sergt. Kaggy, William L., Second Sergt. Shanly, John, Third Sergt. Jones, Palestine, Fifth Sergt. Liftwick, Charles, First Corp. McQueen, Wm. A., Second Corp. Farrington, Sireno S., Third Corp. Scott, Erastus, Fourth Corp. Melvin, Andrew J., Fifth Corp. Leonard, Thomas R., Sixth Corp. Holladay, Elias, Seventh Corp. AVilder, Andrew J., Eighth Corp. Nichols, Thomas R., Musician. Edwards, David, Wagoner. Admonson, Joshua. Adair, Joseph. Boatright, Daniel. Bragford, Richard T. Bowles, John. Bowles, Joseph. Cole, Samuel D. Clark, Tally. Eckhart, Lewis C. Edmondson, Henry. Fenwick, William A. Foster, John. Additional Enlistments. Ball, Aaron, Private. Jones, Palestine. Mills, John E. Dutton, Charles A. Unassiqned as to Company. Burdan, Alfred, Private. Freel, Charles. Foster, George W. Green, Luther T. Johnson, ¦ George. Leonard, James G. Lee, John N. Lewis, James. Miller, Isaac. Myers, Isaac. Myers, Andrew J. Morris, Perry. Morris, John. Martin, James. Perry, John. Runyan, Charles F. Runyan, John E. Runyan, Orison J. Sharp, William. Smith, Lawson A. Smith, Eli. Smith, Joseph. Sanford, William B. Sanford, George A. Sumter, Bluford. Teesdale, Benjamin. Turner, Parmenas. Warren, Alfred. Wicker, Samuel. William, Jacob J. Wallace, David S. Wallace, George W. Laporte. Thomas C. Norton, Daniel D. Whitcraft, John. Watson, Charles A. B. Kennedy, Thomas J. FORTY-FIRST INFANTRY. Company A — Additional Enlistment. Wood, Amos, Private. Company B — Additional Enlistment. Stevens, Ed J. M.,- Private. FIRST CAVALRY. Company G — Additional Enlistment. Ranslow, George P., Private. Unassigncd as to Company. McClelland, John B., Private. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 717 SECOND CAVALRY. Company B. Wilson, Isaiah W., Private. Company D. Graves, George C, Captain. Washburn, Gustavus, First Lieut. Jewett, Joseph E., Second Lieut. Noel, Samuel, Second Lieut. Hall, Daniel, Second Lieut. Noel, Samuel, First Sergt. Hall, Daniel, First Sergt. Dangler, Samuel J., First Sergt. Dangler, Sam'l J., Quartermaster Sergt. Townsend, Thomas H., Q. M. Sergt. Duncan, William, Com. Sergt. Helton, Henry H., Second Sergt. Griffith, Francis M., Second Sergt. Griffith, Francis M., Third Sergt. Wharton, Junius E., Third Sergt. Edwards, William, Third Sergt. Townse"nd, Thomas H., Fourth Sergt. Wharton, Junius E., Fourth Sergt. Wharton, Junius E., Fifth Sergt. Townsend, Thomas H, Fifth Sergt. Butler, John V., Fifth Sergt. Edwards, William, First Corp. Lum, George, First Corp. Hall, Daniel, Second Corp. Duncan, William, Second Corp. Duncan, William, Third Corp. Lum, George, First Corp. Rankin, Robert, Third Corp. Lum, George, Fourth Corp. Lewis, Thos. C, Fourth Corp. Tipton, John J., Fifth Corp. Butler, John N., Sixth Corp. Canfield, G. B., Sixth Corp. Butler, John N., Seventh Corp. Polk, Ira L., Seventh Corp. Cattern, A. S., Eighth Corp. Burk, Doctor F., Eighth Corp. Hume, William W., Farrier. Jones, Daniel W., Bugler. Additional Enlistments. Cathern, Arthur S., Private. Dippert, William. Rankin, Robert. Douthit, Henry H., Saddler. Dippert, William, Saddler. Hall, Orin M., Saddler. Chaffee, Jesse M., Saddler. Barnett, Moses F., Private. Barlow, Bird K. , Burk, Doctor F. Barrickman, Robert E. Cotterell, Benj. F. Canfield, Jeremiah Canfield, Gilford B. Chaffee, Jesse M. ¦ Crockerham, David M. Duncan, Chapin. Early, William. Hayes, Martin V. Humphreys, William T. Howard, Israel. Hathaway, Perry. Johnson, Delanah. Kemp, Thos. G. J. Lee, Thomas. Lewis, Thomas C. Nosier, James M. Nosier, William H. Polk, Ira L. Ring, Edward. Rickerbaugh, Perry. Rooker, William. Rooker, James. Swift, Mathew F. Smith, Hardin. Sisley, Simon S. Slawter, James. Stewart, George W. Thinnis, Augustus J. Tipton, John J. Thatcher. Henry. Walker, Ephraim. Needham, Melvin I. Tobert, Brison. THIRD CAVALRY. Company K. Van Slyck, Peter H., Q'rt'm'ster Sergt. Van Slyck, Peter H., Sec. Sergt. Van Slyck, Peter H, Third Sergt. A^an Slyck, Peter H., Fourth Corp. 718 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY FOURTH CAVALRY. Field and Staff. Jewett, Joseph E., Major. Company A. Warr, William, Private. Additional Enlistment. Graham, Charles, Private. Company F. Ashworth, Richard, Private. Company G. Graham, Charles, Private. Company L. Sells, William Henry, First Lieut. FIFTH CAVALRY. Field and Staff. Kerlin, P. M., Assistant Surgeon. SIXTH CAVALRY. Company B. Garritt, James M., Private. Company M. Wright, Thomas, Private. FIRST BATTERY IOWA LIGHT ARTILLERY. Griffith, Plenry H., Captain. SECOND BATTERY IOWA LIGHT ARTILLERY. Graham, Charles, Sec. Bat. Sad. Sergt. Raynolds, Lewis, First Sergt. Davis, Oliver P., Second Corp. Burke, John, Third Corp. Foley, Thomas, Artificer. Alderman, John V., Private. Buttolph, John R. Buttolph, Romulus. Additional Enlistments. Wilson, James, Private. Doak, William. Plughes, David. Dazey, Charles P. B. Cline, Squire G. Davis, Oliver P. Ingraham, Joseph. Phillips, Lewis F. Sumstein, William. Stobaugh, Lemuel. Whitaker, Deacon J. Harris, George N. Crowe, John F. Roberts, Abel W. Bliler, Franklin F. Curl, Edmund N., Musician. Company A. Deford, Franklin, Private. DODGE S BRIGADE BAND. SEVENTH CAVALRY. Michael, Addison. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 719 Company D. Sutton, Charles S., Trumpeter. Anderson, David L., Private. Biggs, Amos. Ball, John W. Barkenhalntz, Peter. Colburn, Dexter B. Craig, Lewis. Forbes, William B. Company E. Hartson, James M., Fifth Sergt. Houston, James M., Sixth Sergt. Bradford, AA'illiam R., Second Corp. AVhite, James, Trumpeter. Company L. Stevens, E. J. M., Private. Hoagland, Theodore. Jones, Andrew J. Jones, Benjamin S. Mclntire, James. Porter, Rezin. Roper, John E. Sanford, Abraham. Cochran, John C, Private. Cassady, James. Kesler, Jacob. Sprague, James. EIGHTH CAVALRY. Field and Staff. Mitchell, Orren F., Commissary Sergt. Company M. Hoxie, Wm. H., Captain. Moreland, Henry, First Lieut. Eldridge, James R., Second Lieut. Keeler, Eli, Quartermaster Sergt. Phelps, Frank P., Commissary Sergt. Metcalf, Warren, Second Sergt. Bishard, Daniel G., Fourth Sergt. Strange, Thomas O., Sixth Sergt. Yount, Enoch J., Third Corp. Pugh, Aaron, Fourth Corp. Leonard, George B., Fifth Corp. Miller, James H., Sixth Corp. Cleland, Thomas M., Seventh Corp. Derickson, William W., Eighth Corp. Boone, Scott, Trumpeter. Thompson, James D., Farrier. A'anscoyoc, James AL, Farrier. Bradley, Francis, Wagoner. Adamson, Samuel, Private. Acres, Nathaniel. Ashley, James W. Allred, Anderson. Boone, Pinknet. Barkhurst, George W. Berry, George. Callahan, Thomas W. Crosthwait, Thos. P. Cleavinger, AA'illiam. Chambers, Samuel. Davis, James W. Doran, George W. Elliott, Benjamin. Foust, Plenry. Goss, Swinford. Garrett, Cyrus W. Hick, Alfred. Houk, James. Hudson, William T. Heady, William J. Hughart, Young A. Hughart, John B. Horton, James H. Johnson, Jonathan. Johnson, Iven. Jones, Jacob H. Jones, George W. Krowser, Moses W. Kelley, John B. Knight, James T. Lee, Marshall. Martin, William. Mountain, AA'esley. McCall, Thomas H. Mattern, Winfield S. Nicholson, William. Newell, Isaiah. Parker, William. Rhoades, John W. Robinson, Thomas T. Shelhart, Valentine. Stiles, George AV. Stephens, Itharman. Tilton, William B. Train, Francis M. 720 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY A'anscoyoc, Silas. West, Sumner. Wilfong, David. Wooten, Jonathan. Williams, Joseph W. NINTH CAVALRY. Cooley, George W., Private. Owens, Thomas J. Field and Staff. Ensign, Edgar T., Major. Company A. Haskell, Joseph W., Private. Company H. Tryan, Robert, Fifth Sergt. Salisbury, James O., Fourth Corp. Groves, David, Trumpeter. Company L. West, Isaac J., Private. FIRST IOWA INFANTRY (AFRICAN DESCENT). Company D. Clifton, John W., Fifth Sergt. Callahan, Peter, First Corp. Saylor, James, Second Corp. Robison, Gabriel, Sixth Corp. Newbern, William, Drummer. Arnold, Wilford, Private. Bell, Washington. Bell, John. Company I. Key, William R., First Sergt. Beverly, Robert. Blue, Oscar. Clay, William. Douglass, Frederick. Holmes, Solomon. Key, William R. Pratt, Alfred. White, Walter. Richardson, Charles, Private. SECOND CAVALRY. Company M — Additional Enlistment. Solms, Frederick W., Private. Unassigned as to Company. Bennett, Joshua S. Campbell, John. Hurst, Anderson. Additional Enlistments. Allen, Charles, Private. Allen, Fletcher. Crabtree, George W. Callender, John D. Coffeen, Henry. Callender, William PI. Cockerham, Jos. F. Cramer, George. Dyer, John. Elliott, Thomas. Fox, Franklin. Fenwick, James E. Monroe, Samuel. Preston, Alonzo C. FIRST BATTERY. Gregg, James C. Hoake, Hermon C. Hyatt, Elmer. Hammon, William W. Howard, George. Johnson, John. lames, Elisha R. Kurtz, Gotlieb. Kirby, Charles. Kesler, William. Loughram, Edmond. Leggett, John W. RESIDENCE OF SIMOX CASADY J. H. C'OWXIE RESIDENCE KIXGCROFT, THE HOME OF GEORGE M. KTXG CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 721 Marrs, John W. Payne, James P. Mack, Talbert S. Stutsman, Solomon. McMichael, William. Simmonds, William V. Myerhoff, Hermann T. Titus, Selah H. McKelorge, Hugh. Thacker, Fielding T. Murphy, James. West, Thomas C. Nagle, Webster. Wright, William. Barker, Madison J. FIELD AND LINE OFFICERS FROM POLK COUNTY. SECOND CAVALRY. Graves, George C, Company D, Captain, Des Moines; Hall, Daniel, Com pany D, Sec. Lieut., Des Moines. EIGHTH CAVALRY. Hoxie, William H., Company M, Captain, Des Moines; Moreland, Henry, Company M, First Lieut., Des Moines; Eldridge, James R., Company M, Sec. Lieut., Des Moines. NINTH CAVALRY, Ensign, Edgar T., Field and Staff, Major, Des Moines. ARTILLERY. Griffiths, Henry H., First Battery, Captain, Des Moines. SECOND INFANTRY. Marsh, Edward L., Company D, Captain, Des Moines; Tunis, Edward C, Company D, First Lieut., Des Moines; Lynde, John, Company D, Sec. Lieut., Des Moines. FOURTH INFANTRY. Williamson,. James A., Field and Staff, Colonel, Des Moines; Beach, David, Field and Staff, Assistant Surgeon, Des Moines ; Sells, John E., Field and Staff, Adjutant, Des Moines ; Simmons, Wilmer S., Company E, Captain, Des Moines ; Treat, Sheldon C, Company E., First Lieut., Des Moines; Ross, Richard W., Company E, Sec. Lieut., Des Moines. NINTH INFANTRY. McGorrisk, Edward J., Field and Staff, Surgeon, Des Moines. TENTH INFANTRY. McCalla, Nathaniel, Field and Staff, Lieut-Colonel, Polk City; Lusby, Rob ert, Field and Staff, Major, Des Moines; Skinner, J. O., Field and Staff, Ass't Surgeon, Des Moines; Van Dorn, Hezekiah, Company A, First Lieut., Polk City; Meekins, William P., Company A, Sec. Lieut., Polk City; Wright, John W., Company B, Sec. Lieut., Des Moines; Bausman, Julien, Company K, First' Lieut., Des Moines. FIFTEENTH INFANTRY. Lanstrum, Christian E., Company B, Captain, Des Moines; Goodrell, Will iam H., Company F, First Lieut., Des Moines. 722 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY SIXTEENTH INFANTRY. Laird, Madison M., Company F, Sec. Lieut., Des Moines. SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY. Browne, John PL, Company F, Captain, Des Moines. EIGHTEENTH INFANTRY. Looby, John PL, Company G, Captain, Des Moines; Ragan, William, Com pany I, First Lieut., Des Moines. TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY. Clark, Charles J., Field and Staff, Lieut. -Colonel, Polk City; Houston, Leon ard B., Field and Staff, Major, Des Moines; Ward, W. H., Field and Staff, Ass't Surgeon, Des Moines; Barton, Arthur J., Field and Staff, Chaplain, Ris ing Sun; Merrill, William, Field. and Staff, Quartermaster, Des Moines; Cree, Theodore G., Company A, Captain, Des Moines; Walker, Joel M., Company B, Captain, Des Moines; Brown, Matthew C, Company B, First Lieut., Des Moines ; Whitman, Francis, Company B, Second Lieut., Des Moines ; Jennings, Benjamin, Company C, Captain, Des Moines; Garrett, Lyle A., Company C, First Lieut., Des Moines ; Houston, William E., Company E, First Lieut., Des Moines; Cross, Robert W., Company H, Captain, Des Moines. TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY. Shaw, Alexander, Field and Staff, Surgeon, Des Moines. THIRTY-THIRD INFANTRY. Sharman, Charles H., Company G, Sec. Lieut., Des Moines. THIRTY-NINTH INFANTRY. Griffiths, Joseph M., Field and Staff, Major, Des Moines; Tichenor, George C, Field and Staff, Adjutant, Des Moines; Dykeman, John H., Company B, Captain, Des Moines; Blodgett, Andrew T., Company B, First Lieut., Des Moines; Patterson, William A., Company B, Second Lieut., Des Moines; Yer ger, Augustus, Company I, Captain, Des Moines ; Hunter, Robert C, Company I, First Lieut., Des Moines. Note.— The author is indebted to Captain AV. D. Christy for the following carefully prepared list of the survivors of the pioneer Polk county company — Company D, Second Iowa — as made by him as a result of extended correspondence carried on during the spring of iqii : Ayers, Henry O., Nevada, Iowa. Ayers, Samuel, California. Barnett, John M., Oklahoma. Beeker, Philip J., Iowa. Brown, Harvey, Iowa. Callender, William, Soldiers' Hbme, Iowa. Case, Philo L., Los Angeles, Calif. Christy, William D., Des Moines, Iowa. Davis, William L., Des Moines, Iowa. Ensign, Edgar T., Colorado Springs, Colo. Godfrey, George L., Des Moines, Iowa. Goodrich, Arthur, Soldiers' Home, Iowa. Gordnier, John, . Jones, Asbury C, . Kinsey, William A., Des Moines, Iowa. Lamoreaux, Charles H., St. Louis, Mo. Lyon, George W., Des Moines, Iowa. Painter, Joshua C, Des Moines, Iowa. Riddle, William, Des Moines, Iowa. Smith, Philander, Des Moines, Iowa. Tunis, Edward C, . CHAPTER II. POLK COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION TO IOWA's ROLL OF HONOR IN THE SPANISH- AMERICAN WAR. The annals of 1898-99 in Book III, tell the story of the part taken by Des Moines and Polk county in the Spanish-American war. Though the sons of their fathers saw less of service and suffered less of hardship and loss than their fathers, they none the less unreservedly risked all in response to the call for service, and are therefore none the less entitled to place in the permanent war record of their county. The list which follows, carefully made from the adjutant-general's report for 1898-99, includes all who are of record as having enlisted from Polk county.1 FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT. Field and Staff. Ernest S. Olmsted, battalion adjutant. Regimental Band. Blair, Victor S., musician. Company C. — Gordan, Thomas, (Valley Junction). Company D. — Mills, William T., Peirce, Israel L. Company E. — Jesse H. Montgomery, corporal ; Martinsen, Nels, Montgomery, Jesse H. Company G. — Campbell, Roy J., corporal ; Campbell, Roy J., Vail, George M. Company H. — Watrous, Edward L., corporal. Company I. — Chrisman, Roy; additional enlistments, Blair, Victor S. Company K. — Lendrum, George. Company M. — Pratt, Burton A., corporal; Long, Edward S., corporal; Dip- pert, Louis E., Long, Edward S., Wilson, Clarence W. FIFTIETH REGIMENT. Company B. — Attwater, Frank. Company C. — Garver, Carlton M., corporal; additional enlistment, Garver, Carlton 'M. Company D. — Marsau, Leon A. ; additional enlistment, Messenger, Connie A. Company E. — Ham, Otis. Company G. — Welles, Edmund L., Jr. ; additional enlistment, Williams, Will iam W. Company K. — Clow, George. Company L. — Frazey, Harry ; Groves, Orren A. ; Lynch, Thomas. FIFTY-FIRST IOWA INFANTRY. The formal muster-out of the Fifty-first occurred November 2, 1899, at San Francisco, California. The Des Moines contingent in the regiment from first to last was as follows: 1 Adjutant General's Report, 1898-99, pp. 58-386. 723 724 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Staff and Field. Loper, John C, colonel; Hume, J. T., major; Reed, George A., battalion adjutant; Cady, John D., quartermaster; Matthews, W. S. H., surgeon; Conk ling, W. S., assistant surgeon; Baker, Claude M., sergeant-major; Godfrey, Charles A., sergeant-major; Garton, L., quartermaster-sergeant; Conkling, AV. S., hospital steward; Seager, Howard AV., hospital steward. Regimental Band. Jones, Frank E., band sergeant; Christy, Frank P., band sergeant; Burroughs, Clyde W., Dinwiddie, Horace W., Johnson, Herbert E. Company A. Gibson, William R., captain ; Kihlbom, Frank W., captain and first lieutenant ; Findley, Park A., first and second lieutenant ; Parvin, William E., second lieu tenant; Graham, John A., first sergeant; Parvin, William E., first sergeant; Boylen, Sylvester S., quartermaster-sergeant; Graham, John A., quartermaster- sergeant; Penn, Harry W., quartermaster-sergeant; St. George, Charles G, sergeant; Siebert, Chas F., sergeant; Parvin, William E., sergeant; Graham, John A., sergeant ; Boylen, Sylvester S., sergeant ; Guinan, Frederick, sergeant ; Smith, Emery B., sergeant; Cheshire, Carey A., sergeant; Dresser, Ira J., cor poral ; Scholes, Jay W., corporal ; Hutchins, Jr., Edward R., corporal ; Seibert, Charles F., corporal; Brown, Arthur G., corporal; Penn, Harry W., corporal; Thomas, Andrew H., corporal; Kimmey, Earl R., corporal; McCarthy, Rich ard, corporal; Earle, Samuel K, corporal; Cheshire, Carey A., corporal; Guinan, Frederick, corporal ; Hinsey, Clarence W., corporal ; Price, Waldon B., corporal ; Henderson, Clarence M., corporal ; McCallister, Charles L., corporal ; Paschal, Henry T., corporal ; Swanson, John L., corporal ; Findley, John B., musician ; Schramm, Craig J., musician; Spensley, Monsford B., musician; Henderson, Charles M., artificer; Edwards, Joseph A., artificer; Beck, Charles AL, wagoner; Thompson, Charles W., wagoner. Privates. — Cheshire, Carey A. ; Clark, George R. ; Earle, Samuel K. ; Edwards, Joseph A. ; George, Marray M. ; Guinan, Frederick ; Guthrie, Arthur J. ; Hart, Lyman A. ; Harvey, Rufus H. ; Haug, Askel H. ; Heindorff, Barney ; Hickey, Allen ; Holmes, Ralph T. ; Hutchins, Edward R., Jr. ; Kimmey, Earl R. ; Mc Carthy, Richard ; Lanterman, Harry M. ; McKeon, John F. ; Marsh, Walter E. ; Mather, Benjamin C. ; Melosh, Edward; Merrill, Will J.; Paschal, Henry T. ; Patterson, Blaine H. ; Price, Alfred S. ; Scholes, Jay W. ; Sharp, George F. ; Slatten, Amon M. ; Spensley, Monsford B. ; Swanson, John L. ; Thomas, Andrew H. ; Thompson, Charles W. ; Toulouse, Joseph H. ; Wall, John E. (Ankeny); Whitman, George A. ; Williams, Mark AV. ; Brown, Arthur G. ; Crosby, Joseph C. ; Hibbs, Fred V. (Mitchellville) ; Hinsey, Clarence W. ; Jones, John J. ; Montis, James C. ; Markham, Martin ; McCallister, Charles L. ; Ness, Bernhart J. ; Price, Harry W. ; Price, Waldon B. ; Olson, Jacob ; Quigley, Edward J. ; Raffensparger, Jacob B. ; Steele, Edward M. ; Seager, Howard W. ; Smith, Otto H. ; Shuey, Charles H. ; Taft, Silas ; Wood, Harry N. ; Wagner, Walter ; Ranous, Jesse A. ; Burroughs, Clyde W. ; McCarthy, Richard ; Beck, Charles M. Company B. Moore, Wilber E., sergeant and corporal; Land, Charles AI., corporal; Ahern, Patrick, corporal; Pierce, John II., corporal. Privates. — Ahern, Patrick; Land, Charles M. ; Moore, Wilber E. ; Pierce, John B. ; Ranous, Jesse A. ; Sanders, Charles H. Company C. Meyer, David PI. CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 725 Company D. Newsome, Dan S., corporal; Shade, Myron L., corporal; Ayers, Ranson M., corporal. Privates.— Anthony, Ardys A. ; Ayers, Ranson M. ; Barber, Owen E. ; Mills, Frederick ; Newsome, Dan S. ; Shade, Myron L. Company E. Privates.— Fry, Harry M. ; Gay, George ; George, John L. ; McMillen, John W. ; Rice, George E. ; Dinwiddie, Horace W. Company F Godfrey, Charles A., corporal; Hubbell, Harvey H., corporal; Bruner, Roy J., corporal; Martin, Frank H., musician; Carter, Joseph, wagoner. Privates.— Bruner, Roy J. ; Evans, Mark H. ; Godfrey, Charles A. ; Hubbell, Harvey H. ; Lambert, Clarence C. ; Roarck, Otto (Valley Junction) ; Stiles, Her bert G. ; Evans, Daniel W. ; Stephenson, Harry G. ; Carter, Joseph. Company G. Walker, John F., corporal. Privates.-^ Gates, Harry T. ; Walker, John F. Company H. AVorthington, Emory C, captain; Bennett, Ernest R., first lieutenant; Baker, Fred L., second lieutenant; Pray, Alfred B., first sergeant; Robinson, Fred, quartermaster-sergeant; Jones, Frank E., sergeant; Painter, Ernest W., ser geant; Suddoth, Frank E., sergeant; Fickel, Hiram L., sergeant; Garton, George L., sergeant ; Christy, Frank P., sergeant ; Heaivilin, John W., corporal ; Brewer, Guy S., corporal; Maricle, Delmer J., corporal; Doran, James W., corporal; Painter, Ernest W., corporal; Gregg, Fred P., corporal; Newquist, Daniel C, corporal; Hedge, Jr., James B., corporal; Ernst, Daniel, corporal; Watson, William AA'., corporal ; Bronson, Mark H., corporal ; Christy, Frank P., corporal ; Merrill, corporal; Linton, Charles M., corporal; Stitzel, Charles E., corporal; Fleur, Edward O., corporal; Snure, John, corporal; Porter, Ernst T., corporal; Fleur, Edward O., musician; Bronson, Mark H., musician; Grace, Bertram H, musician; Wharff, Albert E., musician; Turbett, Charles H., musician; Jones, Rufus M., artificer; Robinson, Marion W. (Mitchellville), artificer; Newquist, Daniel C, wagoner; Staves, Fred D., wagoner; Cox, James H., corporal cook.. Privates. — Amend, George H. ; Bates, Lorenzo D. ; Borduwine, Alfred J. ; Brewer, Guy S. ; Brewer, Jas. W. ; Brown, Charles W. ; Dorfler, Leonard ; De Jarnette, Henry ; Doran, Jas. W. ; Drake, Almarin T. ; Dunker, Harry J. ; Grace, Bertram H. ; Gregg, Fred P. ; Hanson, George O. ; Hollis, Alfred B. ; Jensen, Otto ; Kinney, Charles J. ; Koppe, Charles H. ; Larson, Lars A. ; Lee, Robert H. ; Linton, Charles M. ; Long, Claude A. ; Meline, Levi T. ; Moershell, Fred C. ; Mc Clelland, Alexander W. ; Nygaard, Chas. C. ; Pahre, Edward R. ; Ruecker, John H. ; Russell, Herbert D. ; Snure, John ; Spry, Berthel F. ; Suit, Frank P. ; Tillot- son, Leroy R. ; Twining, Granville H. ; Turner, John ; Turbett, Charles H. ; Wil lis, Benj. S. ; Bircher, Bert R. ; Bauder, Charles L. ; Bronson, Mark H. ; Cavanaugh, Frank P.; Corner, George S. ; Cox, James Ii. ; Caldwell, Lowry A.' (Runnells); Castro, John W. ; Doran, Elisha L. ; Deford, Edward M. (Valley Junction): Dwyer, Patrick H. ; Ernst, Daniel; Fraley, Edward L. ; Fraley, Mark C. ; Hansen, Martin C. ; Innis, Robert J. ; Kidd, James A. ; Kraemer, Karl ; Larsen, Gus ; Merrill, Frank E. ; Myers, Levi A. ; O'Callaghan, James ; Pease, Milan A.; Porter, Ernst T. ; Robinson, Marion W. (Mitchellville) ; Say lor, Wm. S. ; Staves, Fred D. ; Stevenson, Clifford P. ; Waldron, Edwin D. ; Wright, Chas. M. ; Watson, Wm. W. ; Linton, Charles M. ; Wharff, Albert E. -r Fleur, Edward O. 726 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY Company I. Privates. — Moore, John ; Neely, Chas. R. ; Johnson, Herbert E. Company K. Jones, Fred K, corporal ; Sheets, Lon D., corporal. Privates. — Jones, Fred K. ; Sheets, Lon D. ; Villemain, Clay H. (Altoona). Company L. Privates. — Wegener, Louie; Weakley, Raymond D. FIFTY-SECOND IOWA INFANTRY. Field, Staff and Band. Company A. — Frederic M. Jones, quartermaster; Ferdinand F. Thorns musician; Guy M. Wilson, musician. Company B. — Philip S. Billings, corporal; privates: Baird, Clarence E. ; Bil lings, Philip S. ; Creighton, Arthur H.; Hangerford, Claude M.; Jones, Grant R. ; Saylor, Harry M. ; Sours, Curtis (Runnells) ; Vermenlen, Jacob B.; Young, Geo. M. Company C. — Crumpholz, Carl; Ray, Charles O. Company D. — Adams, Frederic N. Company E. — Smith, John E. Company F. — Hulsizer, J. Harry, corporal. Company G. — Edwards, Newton O. ; Eves, Samuel W. Company H. — Moss, James A. ; Reddish, James L. Company /.—Meekins, Frank W. (Polk City) ; Phillips, Harry (Sheldahl). Company K. — Guy M. Wilson, musician. Company L. — Burton, Clyde L. ; Sager, Charles A. Company M. — Michael Sorensen, artificer ; Edwards, Benjamin S. ; Soren- sen, Michael; Marion, Walter (Mitchellville). FIFTH BATTERY IOWA LIGHT ARTILLERY. Conrad, John F. SIXTFI BATTERY IOWA LIGHT ARTILLERY. Christenson, John ; Tracy, Charles A. VOLUNTEER U. S. SIGNAL CORPS. Captain Frank E. Lyman, of the signal corps, organized the Twelfth com pany, U. S. Volunteer Signal Corps. The company was finally organized with Frank E. Lyman, Jr., captain; Lucas B. Adams, first color sergeant; Raymond' J. Barnes, first color sergeant; George AV. Peters, Jr., first color sergeant; Rolla D. Welch, first color sergeant; Alvord L. Bishop, sergeant; Ralph W. Wells, sergeant; Joseph Harris, corporal; Budair M. Hartung, corporal; Samuel H. Lowe, corporal ; Ainsworth, Leon W. ; Allen, Melvine G. ; Eberhart, Adolph E. ; Gregg, David T. ; Haworth, William H. ; Houston, George W. ; Montour, George O. ; Rankin, Elbert ; Turbett, Leonard W. ; Twell, Joseph F. ; Van Der Myden, Philip ; Waiters, Samuel A. SEVENTH U. S. INFANTRY VOLUNTEER IMMUNES. Coin pan v M. The original organization of a company of "Immunes" for the Seventh U. S. Infantry Volunteer Immunes, is elsewhere noted. It was finally made up as follows : CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 727 Amos W. Brandt, captain; Edward G. McAfee, first lieutenant; Robert A. Wilburn, second lieutenant; George S. Taylor, first sergeant; William P. Lewis, quartermaster-sergeant; John W. Railey, sergeant; Benjamin F. Hall, sergeant; Eugene R. Brown, sergeant; Talt E. Ashford, sergeant; Arthur Hamilton, cor poral ; George Parks, corporal ; John W. Davie, corporal ; Robert Webster, cor poral; John Cole, corporal; Elmer C. Webb, corporal; James H. Burrell, corporal; Andrew Early, corporal; Francisco F. Jeffers, musician; William PL Shafus, musician; James H. Hudspeth, artificer; Richard Stallings, wagoner. Ander son, Thomas ; Baker, John ; Ballinger, Charles ; Battles, AVilliam E. ; Brown, Thomas ; Burley, Sheridan ; Burroughs, Henry ; Burrell, Fred ; Carter, Edwin H. ; Churchai, William ; Crider, Champ ; Crockett, Abe ; Crosby, Robert ; Dickens, Harry H. ; Dowdell, Dock B. ; Drenshaw, Charles ; Early, Quincy D. ; Early, Wirt B. ; Edwards, Adolphus E. ; Evans, Robert ; Gillenwater, Ames ; Grey, Alexander ; Holland, William ; Hopkins, Clarence ; Hunter, Thomas J. ; Jackson, Daniel ; Johnson, Charles A. ; Johnson, John J. ; Johnson, Samuel M. ; Johnson, William A. ; Johnson, William H. ; Jones, Ernest ; Jones, Robert H. ; Langford, Homer ; Lee, Benjamin ; Lobbins, Albert ; Lucher, Robert ; Miller, Robert M. ; Mullens, Thomas J. ; Patterson, Arthur ; Powell, George E. ; Robinson, Robert ; Scurlock, Henry ; Samuels, Robert ; Shaw, Lee ; Stewart, Andrew J. ; Strawthers, Moses K. ; Swann, Henry A. ; Tolliver, Charles A. ; Todd, James E. ; Ward, Pleas ; Will iams, John ; Woods, Hudson D. ; Wood, William M. ; Woolridge, Lewis W. BOOK IV. POLK COUNTY. PART III. THE COUNTY'S EVOLUTION. 1850-1910. CHAPTER I. POLK COUNTY'S EVOLUTION 1850 TO I9IO. The growth of Polk county within six decades — from 1850 to 1910 — is a tale well-nigh as marvelous as that of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp, or of Jason and the Search for the Golden Fleece. The difference between the fanci ful and the real lies in the fact that our pioneer Aladdins were guided by the lamp of experience and the golden fleece for which our pioneer Jasons toiled and struggled was the golden harvest. No study of the history of this region from data supplied by the Census Bureau of the United States has ever been published. Assured of the value of such a study, the author here embodies the results of research in this field, confident that the array of figures, which at first sight may seem formidable, will be found, especially by future students of history and sociology, not only instructive but highly suggestive. The census, from decade to decade, is the substantial framework upon which the biological and industrial history of our country is builded. As the student of anatomy has frequent recourse to the framework of the human body, so the student of history must have frequent recourse to the framework underneath the surface of present conditions — the facts and figures which constitute the bases of present conclusions. As preliminary to the study of the first decennial census of the United States in which Polk county appears, it should be stated that when the sixth federal census was taken — in 1840 — there was no vestige of civilization in the region now set apart as Polk county; and that as late as 1847, the entire population of the county — including the northern tier of townships in Warren, then part of Polk county — was only 1,792. Polk County in 1850. The first Census of the United States in which the State of Iowa has place is that of 1850. Though lacking in the fulness of detail which marks the census of 1880 and that of later decades, it throws much light upon population and conditions four years after the creation of Polk county and the admission of Iowa as a state. Though the population of Polk is not given in the table of Iowa's population by counties, another table brings out the fact that it was placed at 4,513. This was an increase of 2,721 over the population in 1847.. The new county of Polk was, as one might expect to find, chiefly populated by young men and women and their children, — the men considerably outnum bering the women. There were 152 children one year old or under, — yy males and 75 females; 695 between one and five years of age, — 366 males and 329 females; 764 between five and ten, — 395 males and 369 females; 588 between ten and fifteen, — 322 males and 266 females; 486 between fifteen and twenty years, — 239 males and 247 females; 827 between twenty and thirty, — 457 males, 370" females; 532 between thirty and forty, — 310 males and 222 females; 251 between forty and fifty, — 140 males and in females; 148 between fifty and sixty, — 86 males and 62 females; 62 between sixty and seventy,— 37 males and 25 females. Of those between seventy and eighty, there were only six — all women. There were but two octogenarians in the county, — one male 731 732 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY and one female. From the number of infants reported, it becomes evident that the timeliness of the scriptural injunction, "Be fruitful and multiply," was not lost on the new comers of the late Forties ! From the number of young children reported, it is equally evident that many of the pioneers did not hesi tate to bring their families with them, notwithstanding the dearth of educational advantages, — doubtless reasoning that the practical education their children would obtain by direct contact with the forces of nature would give them a strong foundation of practical experience, and mental and bodily vigor, upon which to build the superstructure later, on the arrival of the schoolmaster. In the year 1850, there were fifty-four persons in the county who entered the mar riage state. The births of the year numbered 152; the deaths, 70. The number of families in the county was 782 ; the number of dwellings, 756. The census of 1850 does not include the population of the county by towns , but the larger portion of the meager population is known to have been centered in and about the county seat. Educationally Polk county was in its infancy. It had sixteen public schools and sixteen teachers. The taxation for school purposes was $140. The public funds aggregated $238. Other sources of income totaled $816 — altogether mak ing $1,194. Those attending school during the year were 542, of whom 306 were males and 236 females. These were all classed as native-born. The illiteracy which, in 1850, prevailed in a county that, three decades later, began to boast of its freedom from illiteracy, will be a surprise to those not familiar with frontier conditions. Within the limits -of Polk county there were 477 who could neither read nor write. Of these, 153 were males, and 324 were females. In 1850, the county had 15,958 acres of improved land in farms, and 60,223 acres unimproved. The cash value of its farms was $399,476. The value of all the farming implements and machinery in the county was $30,016. The county's live stock included 775 horses, nine mules and asses, 872 milch cows, 625 working oxen and 1,309 other cattle; 3,442 sheep and 7,637 swine. Tbe total value of its stock was $81,086; of the animals slaughtered, $17,885. The produce in the county during the year, in bushels, was: Wheat, 13,455; r.Ve. J35; Indian corn, 211,677; oats, 11,139. The wool was 9,054 pounds. Given in bushels, the peas and beans were 176, Irish potatoes, 7,131 ; sweet po tatoes, 383 ; buckwheat, 1,888. There was no report on the value of the county's orchard products. The produce of market gardens in the county was reported as $510. The county's production of butter was 41,058 pounds, cheese 1,293 pounds, hay 2,091 tons, grass seeds 36 bushels, hops 36 pounds; flax 5,067 pounds, flax seed 64 bushels, maple sugar 11,173 pounds, molasses 527 gallons, beeswax and honey 19,717 pounds. The value of home-made products was estimated at $4,999. The only church property in the county reported in 1850 is that of the M. E. church of Fort Des Moines, with a seating capacity of 150, and valued at $500. NASH PARK BRIDGE IX INGERSOLL PARK CHAPTER II. POLK COUNTY IN i860. In the ten years, from 1850 to i860, the population of Polk county increased from 4,513 to 11,625. The white population was still unbalanced as between the sexes, — the males numbering 6,058, the females, 5,554. It was still the Eldorado of young ambition, as the following figures show: The white population one year old and under was 511; between one and five, 1,717; between five and ten, 1,695; between ten and fifteen, 1,343; between fifteen and twenty, 1,184; between twenty and thirty, 2,133; between thirty and forty, 1,507; between forty and fifty, 824; between fifty and sixty, 462; between sixty and seventy, 180; between seventy and eighty, 45; between eighty and ninety, 11. The population of the county was distributed among the townships as follows : Allen, 485; Beaver, 300; Bloomfield, 320; Camp, 1,251; Delaware, 465; Des Moines, 3,953; Douglas, 146; Elkhart, 156; Four Mile, 462; Franklin, 174; Jefferson, 553; Lee, 407; Aladison, 1,308; Saylor, 768; Washington, 152. ~- Of the 11,625 men, women and children in the county, only 1,127 were for eign born and 13 "free colored." The number of families reported in i860 was 2,097. The number of churches in Polk county in i860 was fourteen. Of these the Baptist, the Christian church and the Congregationalists had one each. There were two Episcopal churches. The Methodist Episcopal church had four, the Presbyterians had two, the United Presbyterians had one, the Roman Catholics had one, and there was one "Union" congregation. Polk county had already made a start — only a start — in manufactures. The census of i860 reports : One shop for the manufacture of agricultural imple ments, with a capital of $5,000. One was labeled blacksmithing, with $1,000 in vested. There was one bindery, capital, $5,000 ; boots and shoes, two shops, cap ital, $5,000; carriages, two factories, capital, $800; coal, bituminous, two mines, capital, $1,000; flour and meal, two mills, capital, $38,000; furniture, cabinet fac tories, two, capital, $4,000; liquors, malt, two, capital, $10,000; lumber, planed, one mill, capital $6,000; lumber, sawed, five mills, capital invested, $19,200; machinery, steam engines, &c, two shops, capital, $9,500; marble and stone work, one shop, capital, $5,500; printing, newspaper and job printing establishments, three, capital, $14,500; saddlery and harness shop, one, capital, $1,800. The twenty-eight mills and shops in Polk county classified as manufactures represented capital invested to the amount of $126,300; cost of raw material, $146,951; number of hands employed, 133; annual cost of labor, $48,240; an nual value of products, $310,945. The status of Polk county in agriculture in i860 reveals promise for the com ing years. While the county still had 73,473 acres of unimproved land, it had 45,040 acres under cultivation. The cash value of Polk county farms was- placed 1 These figures are from the Iowa Hist, and Comp. Census (1S36-80). AVhile the real total is 11,625, the items aggregate only 10,912. 733 734 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY at $1,892,316. Already the farmers of Polk county had invested the sum of $62,274 in farm implements and machinery. The start made in live stock was considerable, as the following figures show: Horses 2,559, milles and asses 42, milch cows 2,558, working oxen 584, other cattle 3,742, sheep 4,067, swine 11,686; value of live stock, $283,756; value of animals slaughtered, $47,395. The direct products of the soil are placed at follows, mainly in bushels : Wheat 75,210, rye 343, Indian corn 1,553,000, oats 47,772, tobacco 20 pounds, wool 10,682 pounds, peas and beans 76 bushels, Irish potatoes 29,218, sweet potatoes 752, barley 1,985 bushels, buckwheat 197 bushels, value of orchard products $81, wine two gallons, value of market-garden products $155, pounds of butter 146,- 907, pounds of cheese 6,077, tons °f haY 10,247, bushels of clover seed 277, bush els of grass seed 45, pounds of hops 3, pounds of flax 400, pounds of maple sugar 2,808, gallons of maple molasses 139, gallons of sorghum molasses 24,038, pounds of beeswax 649, pounds of honey 20,701, value of home-made manufactures 5,041. The material wealth of Polk county in i860 was as follows: Real, $5,- 233,490; personal, $1,685,369; aggregated, $6,918,859. CHAPTER III. POLK COUNTY IN 187O. In 1870, the population of Polk county had grown from 11,625 in i860, to 27>&57' by townships as follows: Allen — 732, a gain of 247 in ten years. Beaver — 1,213, a Sa^n °f QI3- Bloomfield — 1,132, a gain of 812. Camp— 1,558, a gain of 307. Delaware — 865, a gain of 200. Des Moines (including wards 5th, 6th and 7th, which were in Lee township) — a gain of 11,533 since 1850. Douglas — 613, a gain of 467. Elkhart — 744, a gain of 588. Four Mile — 513, a gain of 69. Franklin — 654, a gain of 480. Jefferson — 832. Lee (exclusive of the 5th, 6th and 7th wards of Des Moines) — 729, a gain of 322. Madison — 2,626, a gain of 1,318. Saylor — 1,007, a gain oi 239. Valley — 715, organized in i860. AA'alnut — (reorganized in i860) 1,231. Washington — 640, a gain of 488. Following the antecedents of Polk county's 27,857 men, women and children in 1870, we find that while only 3,913 were foreign-born, 7,396 had foreign- born parents; 8,341 had foreign-born fathers only and 7,723 had foreign-born mothers only. Ten years before, in the total population of 11,625, only 1,127 were foreign-born. Of the 3,913 who were born abroad, 246 came from British America, 565 from England and Wales, 1,090 from Ireland, 113 from Scot land, 840 from Germany, 30 from France, 759 from Sweden and Norway, 34 from Bohemia, 21 from Holland, 119 from Switzerland, 44 from Denmark and from Great Britain, 1 (unidentified) : Tracing the antecedents of the native- born, it is found that 9,489 were born in Iowa, 3,547 in Ohio, 1,534 in New York, 1,689 in Pennsylvania, T431 in Illinois and 2,656 in Indiana. In 1870 there were 5,714 children in attendance at the schools of the county. Of these, 5,582 were native-born, 132 foreign-born; 2,923 were males, 2,791 females. Of the native-born but 39 were colored. Of the 5,714, there were 526, ten years old and upward, who could not read and 927 who could not write. Of these last 505 were natives and 422 foreigners. In 1870 Polk county began to loom as a county of church-people and churches. Seventy church organizations were reported, with 32 church edifices; with 10,515 sittings, with church property valued at $259,110. Of these, there were six Baptist churches, five Christian,' two Congregational, two Friends, twenty-nine Methodist, three Presbyterian, four Roman Catholic, seven United Brethren, etc. 735 736 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The assessed valuation of real estate in Polk county in 1870 was $5,767,335 ; of personal property, $1,809,977; total of assessed value, $7,577,312; total, true valuation, real and personal, $18,943,280. The county's share of the state tax was $15,155. Her county tax was $104,881. Her town and city tax $460,552. Total taxes $580,588. The county's indebtedness for which bonds had been issued was $9,000. Its total debt was $69,764. Its town and city indebtedness for which bonds had been issued was $204,000. In 1870 the county aggregated 151,014 acres of improved land; 34,218 acres of woodland; 41,506 acres of other unimproved land. The cash value of its farms was $6,667,664; farming implements and machinery was $310,167; wages paid during the year, including value of board, $163,683; total value of all farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, was $2,113,188. Polk county's orchard products in 1870 were valued at $27,041; produce of market gardens, $7,403 ; forest products, $5,838. The value of animals slaughtered, or sold for slaughter, $567,702; live stock, $1,421,866; horses 6,726; mules and asses, 492; milch cows, 5,818; working oxen, 96; other cattle, 9,599; sheep, 9,032 ; swine, 28,626. The bushels of spring wheat produced in the county aggregated 28,626; winter wheat, 260; rye, 1,410; Indian corn, 1,779,875; oats, 176,399; barley, 17,253; buckwheat, 683. In the "Selected Statistics of Agriculture" for 1870 the following Polk county townships were exploited: Allen — Improved land, 6,583 acres ; value of farms and farm implements, $305,370; value of stock, $55,616; values of all productions, $116,225; bushels of corn, 99,275. Beaver — Acres, 18,638; farms and farm implements, $664,350; live stock, $133,362; all productions, $168,619; corn, bushels, 134,665. Bloomfield — Acres, 11,446; farms and farm implements, $734,821 ; live stock, $127,981; all productions, $202,384; corn, bushels, 154,375. Camp — Acres, 14,439; farms and farm implements, $543,830; live stock, 144,460; all productions, $242,066; corn, bushels, 198,930. Delaware — Acres, 9,008; farms and farm implements, $460,840; live stock, $93,850; all productions, $144,725; corn, bushels, 137,090. Jefferson — Acres, 5,686; farms and farm implements, $289,776; live stock, $70,319; all productions, $105,740; corn, bushels, 79,025. Madison — Acres, 25,711; farms and farm implements, $802,924; live stock, $183,503; all productions, $241,280; corn, bushels, 209,255. Saylor — Acres, 9,158; farms and farm implements, $384,315; live stock, $85,840; all productions, $125,485; corn, bushels, 127,765. Walnut — Acres, 11,354; farms and farm implements, $884,874; live stock, $139,923; all productions, $265,740; corn, bushels, 221,125. In 1870, Polk county had 1,794 farms. These were divided along the fol lowing general lines: Over three and under ten acres, 24; ten to twenty, 86; twenty to fifty, 585 ; fifty to one hundred, 651 ;. one hundred to five hundred, 432 ; five hundred to one thousand, 13; one thousand and over, 3. Polk's "infant industries" in 1870 numbered 178. Her steam engines num bered 38, with an aggregate horse-power of 851. Her water-wheels numbered 2, with a total horse-power of 140; hands employed in the county, 961, of whom 27 were females and 20 were youths; capital employed, $1,107,675; wages paid, $362,465; material used, $362,465; products, $1,961,956. The county's infant industries were distributed as follows: Agricultural im plements — 3, capital $32,000; baking powders — 1, capital, $7,500; book-binding — 2, capital, $29,000; boots and shoes — 5, capital, $17,200; bread and other baking products — 5, capital, $3,300; brooms — 2, capital, $450; brick — 2, capital $3,100; carriages and wagons — 12, capital, $30,900; chromos and lithographs — 1, capital, $7,000; flouring mill products — 6, capital, $128,000; furniture — 7, capital, $44r 500; gas — 1, capital, $100,000; iron, castings — 3, capital, $21,000; lumber, sawed — 4, capital, $8,500; machinery -(not specified) — 3, capital, $11,500; engines and HISTORICAL BUILDING FROM THE DOME OF THE CAPITOL, DES MOINES KINGMAN BOULEVARD CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 737 boilers — 2, capital, $5,200; marble and stone work — 4, capital, $3,700; meat, packed, pork — 1, capital, $250,000; printing book — 2, capital, $8,500; newspaper — 2, capital, $69,000; saddlery and harness — 11, capital, $19,050; sash, doors and blinds — 2, capital, $46,000; soap and candles — 2, capital, $3,500; stone and earthen ware — 2, capital, $12,200; tin, copper and sheet — iron ware — 7, capital, $7,400; tobacco, cigars — 4, capital, $8,500; woolen goods — 2, capital, $55,000. In 1870, Polk county began to assume high place among the coal mining counties of Iowa. There were six bituminous coal mines in operation in the county. These, altogether, employed 174 men, 106 underground, 68 above ground. No boys are reported as employed either above-ground or under-ground. The six mining establishments represented aggregated capital of $45,000, wages ag gregating $86,000, materials aggregating $22,100, products in tons 45,600, in dollars — $150,000. Under the head of mining is placed stone-quarrying. There was one quarry in operation, employing 23 men, and representing a capital of $40,000, wages $11,050, materials $2,300, products $22,000. CHAPTER IV. POLK COUNTY IN l88o. Polk county's growth in population increased from 27,857 in 1870 to 42,395 in 1880. Several townships show a loss in population, and several, notably the county seat, showing great gains. Studying figures then by townships, we find, as follows : Allen — in 1880, 573; a loss of 159. Beaver — (including Mitchellville, 745) — 1,372; a gain of 159. Bloomfield — (including Sevastopol, 354) — 1,606; a gain of 474. Camp — 1,397; a l°ss °f x6i- Clay — (including Altoona, 400) — 1,065; organized in 1878 from part of Beaver. Crocker — 790; organized in '70 from parts of Madison and Saylor. Delaware— 687 ; a loss of 178. Des Moines — (coextensive with wards 1, 2, 3 of city) — 14,005; a gain of 6,200. Douglas — 1,038; a gain of 425. Elkhart — 961 ; a gain of 217. Four Mile — 522 ; a gain of 9. Franklin — 775; a gain of 121. Grant — 465. In 1870 part of Lee. Jefferson — 1,092; a gain of 260. Lee (coextensive with wards 5, 6, 7 of city) — In 1870 parts transferred to Grant and Saylor. — In '80, 8,403 ; a gain of 3,444. Lincoln — 1,218; in 1 870, part of Madison. Madison — (including Polk City, 443) — In 1880, 1,892; in 1870, 2^626. In 1870 parts were transferred to Crocker and Lincoln. Saylor — 1,181 ; a gain of 174. Walnut — 905; in '70, 1,231. In 1878, part transferred to Webster. Washington — 979 ; a gain of 339. Webster — In '80, 591. — Organized in 1878 from part of AValnut. In 1880 Polk county's assessed valuation was: Real estate, $7,719,330; per sonal property, $2,555,310; total valuation, $10,274,640 — for the first time the highest valuation in the state, Scott county being second, Dubuque third. Polk's total taxation was $352,712. This was divided as follows: State, $21,- 241; county, $101,927; city, town, village and school district, $229,544. In total of taxation, Polk was below Dubuque ; but much higher than any other county in the state. Polk county's total indebtedness was $725,595. This represented bonded debt alone, there being no floating debt. This indebtedness was divided as follows: county, $45,000; school district, $102,595; city of Des Moines, $578,000. In 1880, Polk county harl 2,681 farms — 2 under 3 acres; 63 — 3 and under 10 acres ; 104 — 10 and under 20 acres ; 495 — 20 and under 50 acres ; 856 — 50 and under 100 acres ; 1,121 — 100 and under 500 acres ; 34 — 500 and under 1,000 acres ; 6 — 1,000 and over, — average size 122 acres. Classified as to tenure, these are analyzed as follows: Cultivated by the owner — 1,968, — 1 under 3 acres; 52 — 3 738 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 739 and under io acres; 74 — 10 and under 20 acres; 324 — 20 and under fifty acres; 594 — 50 and under 100 acres ; 892 — 100 and under 500 acres ; 26 — 500 and under 1,000 acres; 5 — 1,000 and over. Rented for fixed money rental — 182, as follows: 1 under 3 acres; 4 — 3 and under 10; 9 — 10 and under 20; 38—20 and under 50; 63 — 50 and under 100; 64 — 100 and under 500; 3 — 500 and under 1,000. Rented for shares of products — 531, — as follows: 7 — 3 and under 10; 21 — 10 and under 20; 133 — 20 and under 50; 199 — 50 and under 100; 165^100 and under 500; 5 — 500 and under 1,000; 1 — over 1,000. The 2,681 farms in Polk in 1880 represented 326,709 acres. Of this acreage, 285,297 were improved, and 41,412 unimproved. Of the improved, 221,904 acres were tilled — including fallow and grass in rotation, whether pasture or meadow ; 63,393, were permanent meadows, pastures, orchards and vineyards. Of the 41,412 unimproved, 35,010 were woodland and forest, 6,402 covered the remain der, including "old fields" not growing wood. The value of Polk county farms, including land, fences, and buildings, was $10,235,751; farming implements and machinery, $442,284; live stock on farms, $1,797,725; cost of building and repairing fences, 1879, $57,947; cost of fer tilizers purchased, 1879, $736; estimated value of all farm productions — sold, consumed, or on hand for 1879, $2,076,978. The cereal production of Polk county in 1879 was as follows: Barley, 259 acres, 5,162 bushels; buckwheat, acres 71, bushels, 624; Indian corn, acres, 106,932, bushels, 4,860,898; oats, acres, 18- 459, bushels, 709,603 ; rye, acres, 948, bushels, 19,679 ; wheat, acres 28,888, bushels, 350,729. The production of flax seed in the county in 1879 was 75,455 bushels; flax straw, 1,246 tons; flax fiber, 12 pounds. The production of sor ghum molasses in 1879 was 37,730 gallons; maple sugar, 537 pounds, and of maple molasses 390 gallons. The grass lands of Polk in 1879 represented 35,698 acres of mown hay and a hay crop of 50,393 tons; also 267 bushels of clover seed and 1,779 bushels of grass seed. In poultry on hand June 1, 1880, — exclusive of spring hatching, there were in the barnyard 119,457, elsewhere 10,304. Eggs produced in '79, 346,485 dozen. The apiarian product in '79 was 8,347 pounds of honey, and 332 pounds of beeswax. The potato crop of '79 aggregated 176,096 bushels, to which should be added 6,800 bushels of sweet potatoes — raised on sixty acres. The value of the orchard product in '79 was $79,067. The value of market garden products in '79 was $31,805. The forest products in '79 were: amount of wood cut, $15,340; value of all products sold or consumed, $41,051. The spring clip of wool in '80 was 2,280 fleeces; weight, 14,193 pounds. Polk county's live stock and its productions in '80 make a showing as follows: horses, 11,273; mules and asses, 773; working oxen, 2; milch cows, 11,178; other cattle, 20,791; sheep, exclusive of spring lambs, 2,280 ; swine, 87,040. Her dairy products — milk sold, or sent to butter and cheese factories, in '79, 102,833 gallons ; butter made on farms, 772,609 pounds ; cheese made on farms, 7,928 pounds. The- yield of broom-corn in '79 was 600 pounds. The total production of bituminous coal in Polk county in 1880 was as follows : 10 establishments, maximum yearly capacity of production, 302,500 tons; pro duct of the ten establishments, 129,062 tons; total product, census year, 131,362 tons; value of total product, $262,615; total capital, real and personal, invested, $292,225 ; men employed below ground, 427 ; boys employed below ground, 29 ; men employed above ground, 94 ; boys above ground, 2 ; total number employes, 552; total wages paid, $160,061 ; number of horses, 14; value of horses, $1,215; number of mules, 44; value of mules, $3,525 ; number of engines, 5 ; horse-power of engines. 165 ; number of boilers, 7 ; horse-power of boilers, 245. The bitu minous coal mines of Polk county reported in 1880 were: The Watson Coal and Mining Companv, The Sevastopol Coal Company, sec ond seam, Sevastopol, John Weber, The Eureka mine, Des Moines, Eureka Coal and Mining Company, The Eclipse mine, Eclipse Coal and Mining Company; 740 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY The South Park mine, Des Moines, operated by the Pioneer Coal Company; The Union mine, Sevastopol, Caleb Johns ; The Pleasant Hill mine, Des Moines, Pleasant Hill Coal Company ; The Polk County mine, Des Moines, Polk County Coal Company ; The Enterprise mine, East Des Moines, C. J. and A. W. Carlson ; Vandalia, Mrs. McKinney. HERNDON HALL Home of the late Jefferson S. Polk TERRACE HILL Former home of B. F. Allen— Present home of Frederick M. Hubbell CHAPTER V. POLK COUNTY IN 189O. Polk county's rapid growth in population from 1880 to 1890 is shown by the following figures: In 1880, 42,395; in 1890, 65,410. The population of the county in 1890, as compared with that of 1880 with the location of both growth and loss is indicated by the following returns : Allen, 1890, 498; 1880, 573. Loss, 75. Beaver, 1890, 1,236; 1880, 1.372. Loss. 136. (Mitchellville, 1890, 704; 1880, 745. Loss 41.) Bloomfield (part given to Des Moines since 1880) 1890, 701 ; 1880, 1,606. Ap parent decrease, 905. Beaver, 1890, 1,236; 1880, 1,372. Loss, 136. (Runnells, 1890, 296.) Clay, 1890, 925; 1880, 1,065. Loss, 140. (Altoona, 1890, 326; 1880, 400.) Loss, 74. Crocker, 1890, 850; 1880, 790. Gain, 60. Delaware (including Easton Place) 1890, 495; 1880, 687. Loss, 192. Des Moines township comprising city wards 1-4 — 1890, 29,334; 1880, 14,005. Gain, 15,329. Douglas, 1890, 733; 1880, 1,038. Loss, 305. Elkhart, 1890, 795; 1880, 961. Loss, 166. Four Mile (part of Grant annexed since 1880), 1890, 697; 1880, 522. Appa rent gain, 175. Franklin, 1890, 749; 1880, 775. Loss, 26. Jefferson, 1890, 732; 1880, 1,092. Loss, 360. Lee (comprising wards 5-7 Des Moines city), 1890, 20,759; 1880, 8,403. Apparent gain, 12,356. Lincoln, 1890, 904; 1880, 1,218. Loss, 314. Madison, 1890, 1,501 ; 1880, 1,892. Loss 391. (Polk city, 1890, 446; 1880, 443. Gain. 3.) Saylor,1 1890, 518; 1880, 878. Apparent loss, 360. Walnut (part given to D. M. city since 1888), 1890, 761; 1880, 905. Appa rent loss, 144. Washington, 1890, 818; 1880, 979. Loss, 161. Webster (including Grimes), 1890, 868; 1880, 591. Gain, 277. Polk's population in 1880 was: 36,162 native born;. 6,233 foreign born; 41,714 white, 672 colored. In 1890 it was: 56,032 native-born, 9,378 foreign- born; 64,211 white, 1,194 colored. Polk's Chinese population in 1880 was 9; in 1890, it had dwindled to 2; its civilized Indians numbered only 3. Polk county's public common school enrollment in 1890 was: Teachers, 522; male 93; female 429; pupils, 13,914; white 13,837, colored yy. Of the white 6,749 were male, 7,088 female ; of the colored, 40 were male, 37 female. The total dwellings in Polk county in 1890 were 12,965; total families 13,581; persons to a dwelling, 5.05 ; persons to a family, 4.82. In 1890 the only municipal debt carried by any municipality outside Des Moines was that of $500 carried by Altoona. 1 Parts annexed to Des Moines. 741 CHAPTER VI. POLK COUNTY IN IOOO. Polk county increased in population 26.3 per cent from 1890 to 1900 — or from 65,410 to 82,624. The gains and losses by townships were as follows: Allen in 1900, 641 ; in 1890, 498. A gain of 143. Beaver, (including Mitchellville, 768), in 1900, 1,352; in 1890, 1,236. A gain of 116. Bloomfield, in 1900, 907; in 1890, 701; a gain of 206. Camp, in 1900, 1,570; in 1890, 1,536; a gain of 34. Clay, (including Altoona, 328) in 1900, 1,014; in 1890, 925; a gain of 89. Crocker, in 1900, 1,010; in 1890, 850; a gain of 160. Delaware, in 1900, 791 ; in 1890, 495 ; a gain of 296. Des Moines, (comprising wards, 1, 2, 3, and 4 of city) in 1900, 38,398; in 1890, 29,334; a gain of 9,064. Douglas, (including part of Bondurant) — in 1900, 775; in 1890, 733; a gain of 42. Elkhart, in 1900, 938; in 1890, 795; a gain of 143. Four Mile, in 1900, 1,534; in 1890, 697; a gain ol 837, Franklin, (including part of Bondurant), in 1900, 957; in 1890, 749; a gain of 208. Jefferson, in 1900, 964 ; in 1890, 732 ; a gain of 232. Lee (comprising wards 5, 6, and 7 of Des Moines) in 1900, 23,741 ; in 1890, 20,759; a §Tam °f 2,982. Lincoln (including part of Sheldahl), in 1900, 827; in 1890, 904; a loss of 77. Madison, (including Polk City), in 1900, 1,554; in 1890, 1,501; a gain of 53. Saylor, in 1900, 1,303; in 1890, 518; a gain of 785. Walnut (including Valley Junction), in 1900, 2,500; in 1890, 761 ; a gain of C739- Washington, in 1900, 829; in 1890, 818; a gain of 11. Webster (including Grimes), in 1900, 1,019; in 1890, 868; a gain of 151. Studying the population further, the aggregates of population distributed as to nativity, literacy, etc., bring out the following interesting statistics. As to nativity — Males, 41,853; females, 40,771; native born, 72,897; foreign born, 9,727. The cosmopoliton quality of Polk county's population is in evi dence in the following statistics of alien population, according to country of birth — Asia, 54; Australia, 12; Austria, 88; Belgium, 8; Bohemia, 32; Canada (English), 576; Canada (French), 51; China, 3; Denmark, 272; England, 1,204; Finland, 9; France, 43; Germany, 1,724; Llolland, 92: Hungary, 7; Ireland, 1,229; Italy, 223; Luxemburg, 2; Norway, 471; Poland (Russia), 295; Poland (other), 27; Roumania, 47; Russia, 3qo; Scotland, 312; Sweden, 2,192; Switz erland, 120; Turkey, 16; AA'alcs, 188; AA'est Indies, 16; other countries, 16; born at sea, 8. School population in 1900 between 5 and 20 years ; native white, males, 11,999; females, 12,172; foreign white, males 367; females, 455; negro males, 271 ; females, 313. 742 .1. F. KRATZER RESIDENCE E. T. MEREDITH RESIDENCE CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY 743 Illiteracy. — The illiterate population in Polk ten years of age and over in 1900: Native white, 1,476; . native parents, 453; foreign parents, 89; foreign white, 710; negro, 224. School Population in 1900. — Between 5 and 20 years: native white, males, 11,- 999; females, 12,172; foreign white, males, 367; females, 455; negro males, 271; females, 313. Of Militia and Voting Age in 1900. — Native white, 15,803; foreign white, 2,- 757; negro, 602; other colored, 4. Men of Voting Age in 1900. — Native white, ,19,420 ; foreign white, 4,805 ; negro, 746; other colored, 4. Illiteracy.— Illiterate population 10 years of age and over in 1900: native white, 1,476; native parents, 453; foreign parents, 89; foreign white, 710; ne gro, 224. Total Males of 21 years of age and over, 24,875. Native white, literate, 19,- 166; illiterate, 254; native negro, literate, 632; illiterate, no. Naturalized. — Literate, 3,319; illiterate, 206. Had taken out first papers, literate, 184; illiterate, 14; aliens, literate, 264; illiterate, 65; unknown, literate, 737 ; illiterate, 24. . The membership in the several religious bodies in the county in 1900 was reported as follows: Total Protestants, 27,404; Baptists, 2,212; Congregation-. alists, 2,196; Disciples of Christ, 6,376; Evangelical Association, 264; United Evangelical church, 145; Friends (Orthodox), 638; Lutheran (General Synod), 500; Lutheran (General Council), 800; Lutheran (Synodical Conference), 17; Lutheran (United Norwegian), 216; Lutheran (Synod of Iowa, etc.), 340; Methodist Episcopal, 5,436; Presbyterian, 2,624; United Presbyterian, 383; Prot estant Episcopal, 1,300; United Brethren in Christ, 682; other Protestant bodies, 3,275; Roman Catholic, 4,247; Jewish Congregations, 183; Lat- ter-Day Saints, 388; all other bodies, 250. The number of Polk county dwellings, and of families, in 1900 was: Total dwellings, 17,001 ; total families, 18,517. The farm homes in Polk in 1900 were: 3,083; owned — free, 1,048; encum bered, 755; unknown, 39; hired, 1,199; unknown, 42. Other homes were, 15,198. Owned: free, 3,326; encumbered, 2,269; un known, 68; hired, 8,917; unknown, 618. In 19CO the number of manufacturing establishments in the county was 547; the capital, $8,050,689; proprietors and firm members, 569; salaried officials, clerks, etc., 742; salaries, $606,010; average number of wage earners, 4,780; wages, $2,058,095. Number and size of farms in Polk in 1900. — Number of farms in 1900, 3,171 ; average size in acres, 116.8; under three acres, 23; 3 and under 10 acres, 136; 10 and under 20 acres, 149; 20 and under 50 acres, 559; 50 and under 100 acres, 852; 100 and under 175 acres, 897; 175 and under 260 acres, 359; 260 and under 500 acres, 164; 500 and under 1,000 acres, 28; 1,000 acres and over 4. These were classified by tenure, as follows: Owners, 1,345; part owners, 420; owners and tenants, 52; managers, 36; cash tenants, 751 ; share tenants, 567. Farms of colored farmers, 14. Per cent of farms operated by owners, 42.4; part owners 13.3; owners and tenants 1.6; managers 1.1 ; cash tenants 23.7; share tenants 17.9. Number of farms with buildings, 3,023; total number of acres in farms, 370,252 ; number of acres improved, 326,789. Land and improvement (except buildings) , $i8,7997°o : buildings, $3,272,560 ; implements and machinery, $689,040; live stock, $3,135,246; value of products not fed to live stock, $3,556,235; expenditures, labor, $186,360; fertilizers, $6,390. The report on domestic animals was as follows: Number of farms re porting, 3,096 ; total value of domestic animals, $3,034,324 ; number of cattle- calves under one year, 12,242; steers one and under two years, 7,405; steers 744 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY two and under three years, 4,892; steers three years and over, 1,869; bulls one year and over, 783; heifers, one and under two years, 5,823; dairy cows two years and over, 14,930; other cows two years and over, 3,637. Number of horses — Colts under one year, 1,465; colts one and under two years, 1,707; two years and over, 14,370; colts under 1 year, 174; colts one and under 2 years, 130; two years and over, 708; asses and burros, all ages, 43. Sheep — Lambs under one year, 1,865; ewes one year and over, 2,481; rams and wethers one year and over, 340. Swine — All ages, 94,986. Goats — All ages, 2,374. Receipts in 1899 from sale of live animals, $1,037,511. A^alue of animals slaughtered, $104,969. Number of domestic animals in barns and inclosures, not on farms, or ranges: Cattle, 1,972; horses. 6,816; mules, 169; asses and burros, n; sheep, 20; swine, 2,147; goats, 69. The acreage and production in 1899 reported in 1900 were as follows: Barley, 250 acres, 5,890 bushels; buckwheat, 29 acres, 320 bushels; corn, 126,572 acres, 5,702,440 bushels ; oats, 46,358 acres, 1,944,380 bushels; rye, 392 acres, 6,610 bushels; wheat, 17,491 acres, 289,280 bushels. The statistics of hay and forage were: Wild prairie grasses, 18,543 acres; 26,051 tons; millet and hungarian grasses, 2,558 acres; 6,032 tons; alfalfa, or lucern, 8 acres, 29 tons ; clover, 3,244 acres ; 4,529 tons ; other tame and cul tivated grasses, 22,188 acres; 30,815 tons; grains cut green for hay, 1,084; l>72& tons; forage crops, 1,911, 5,589 tons; forage crops (corn stalks), 518 tons. The vegetables to July 1, 1900, were reported as follows: Potatoes, 5,032 acres; 470,290 bushels; sweet potatoes, 102 acres; 9,132 bushels; onions, 57 acres; 9,730 bushels; miscellaneous vegetables, 1,999; value $107,046; square feet of land under glass, 190,300. Here are a few miscellaneous figures : Flaxseed in 1899, 14 acres, no bushels ; tobacco, 1 acre, 610 pounds; beans, 47 acres, 475 bushels; peas, 4 acres, 67 bushels. The orchard products were reported as follows : Value of all orchard prod ucts, $58,118; apple, 144,488 trees, 77,323 bushels; apricot, 503 trees; 76 bushels; cherry, 45,767 trees, 5,163 bushels; peach and nectarine, 909 trees, 15 bushels; pear, 1,613 trees, 62 bushels; plum, 43,990 trees, 4,202 bushels; grapevines, 106,043 vines, 481,200 pounds. The value of forest products was placed at $34,590; small fruits, $51,713; nursery products, $38,835. Dairy products in 1900 — Value of all dairy products $380,354; value of dairy products consumed on farms, $128,276; milk, 5,637,040 gallons produced; 1,739,- 737 gallons sold ; cream, 1,045 gallons sold ; butter, 928,947 pounds made, 465,- 144 pounds sold; cheese, 927 pounds made, 761 pounds sold. Poultry and eggs in 1900 — Number of fowls 3 months old and over June 1. iqoo, chickens, 233,566; turkeys, 5,479; geese, 1,762; ducks, 6,719. Value of poultry, June 1, 1900, $93,257; value of all poultry raised in 1899, $152,664; doz ens of eggs produced in 1899, 1,311,580. Bees and honey — Swarms of bees June 1, 1900, 1,524; value of bees June i, 1900, $5,040; pounds of honey produced in 1899, 25,820; pounds of wax, 910. Wool — Shorn in fall of 1899 ancl spring of 1900-; fleeces shorn, 3,860; weight in pounds of fleeces unwashed, 27,020. RESIDENCE OF THE LATE JUDGE GEORGE G. WRIGHT CHAPTER VII. POLK COUNTY IN I9IO. Polk county's population increased from 82,624 in 1900 to 110,438 in 1910. The increase and decrease in ten years by townships were as follows: Allen township in 1910, 548, — a loss of 93. Beaver township, including Mitchellville, 1,363, — a gain of n. Mitchellville town, 869, — a gain of 101. Bloomfield township, 2,441, — a gain of 1,534. Camp township, including Runnells, 1,465, — a loss of 105. Runnells town, 428. Clay township, including Altoona, 1,126, — a gain of 112. Altoona town, 438, — a gain of no. Crocker township, including Ankeny, 2,055, — a £ain of 1,045. Ankeny town, 445. Delaware township, 1,254, — a gain of 463. Des Moines township, comprising wards 1 to 4 of Des Moines city, 54,433, — a gain of 16,035. Total for Des Moines city, coextensive with Des Moines and Lee townships, 86,368, — a gain of 24,229. Douglas township, including part of Bondurant, 1,666, — a gain of 891. Bondurant town (part of), 26, — a gain of 10. Total for Bondurant town in Douglas and Franklin townships, 287, — a loss of 10.Elkhart township, including Elkhart town, 923, — a loss of 15. Elkhart town, 132. Four Mile township, 954, — a loss of 580. Franklin township, including part of Bondurant, 894, — a loss of 63. Bondurant town (part of), 261, — a loss of 20. Jefferson township, including part of Grimes, 843, — a loss of 121. Grimes town (part of), 487. Total for Grimes town in Jefferson and Webster townships, 733, — a gain of 547-Lee township, comprising wards 5 to 7 of Des Moines city, 31,935, — a gain of 8,194. Lincoln township, including part of Sheldahl, 752, — a loss of 75. Sheldahl town (part of), 70, — a loss of 28. Madison township, including Polk city and part of Sheldahl, 1,220, — a loss of 334- Polk city town, 310, — a loss of 128. Sheldahl town (part of), 23. Saylor township, 1,100, — a loss of 203. Valley township, coextensive with Valley Junction city, 2,573, — a Sa^n °* 873. Walnut township, 1,069, a loss of 1,431. Washington township, 750, — a loss of 79. Webster township, including part of Grimes, 1,074, — a gain of 55. Grimes town (part of), 246, — a gain of 60. Per cent of increase, 1900 to 1910, 33.7; 1890 to 1900, 26.3. 745 746 CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY At the date of the issuance of this work, no other returns from the census of 1910 thon those of population had been received, hence the data of the last census cannot touch the several other fields of inquiry covered in preceding chapters. Of the twenty-eight counties in Iowa that increased in population from 1900 to 1910, Polk's increase of 27,814 was the largest. In 1910 Polk county showed greater density in population than • any other county in the state, its population being 189.8 to the square mile. The large population of Des Moines, of course, materially affects the ratio. Looking backward over the years covered by this study of statistics, the marvel of development grows. It hardly seems possible that within a single life-time this evolution from wilderness to metropolis could have occurred. In 1850, a population of 4,513; in 1910 a population of 110,438. In 1850, 15,958 acres of improved farm land in the county; in 1900 — a half-century later — 326,789 acres. In 1850, 782 families and 756 dwellings in the county; a half, century later, 18,517 families and 17,001 dwellings. In 1850, 16 public schools and 16 teachers ; in 1900, 192 public schools and 713 teachers. In 1850, the cash value of all Polk county farms was $399,476. A half-century later, the land and improvements — except buildings — were valued at $18,799,700; the buildings on the land were valued at $3,272,560. The farm implements and ma chinery then were valued at $30,016; these in 1900 were valued at $689,040. The live stock then was valued at $81,086; this item fifty years later was placed at $3,135,246. The value of all home-made products — butter, cheese, etc., then was $4,999. The dairy products alone in 1900 were $380,354. Nor has the progress been all material. There was one lone church edifice in the county in 1850, valued at $500. In 1905 the State Census shows there were 103 churches in the county, the church property aggregating in value, $1,634,669. While there are nineteen counties in the State of Iowa larger in area than Polk — with its 585 square miles, the county of Polk — with its population of 110,438 — leads all the other counties in the State. It leads Woodbury by 42,822; Scott by 50,438; Dubuque by 52,988, and Pottawattomie by 54,606. 1 Hfl+H WH ^ ^