Centennial history of Polk County, Iowa

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY

POLK COUNTY,

IOWA,

BY J. M. DIXON, BLIND EDITOR.

Authorized by the Board of Supervisors of Polk County.

MRS, J. M. DIXON AND J. W. DOUGHTY, AMANUENSES.

DES MOINES:

STATE REGISTEH, PRINT.

1876.

r'llr,,

COPYRIGHT SECURED.

DEDICATIOi^.

To the citizens of Polk county, among whom the Author

has been living during the past twenty years, enjoying the

benefit and personal acquaintance with many of them, this

unpretended volume is affectionately dedicated.

J. M. DIXON.
Des Moines, October, 1876.

NEW STATE CAPITOL BUILDIING OF IOWA.

PREFACE.

Three persons, coDsisting of my wife, my wife's brother,
J. W. Doughty, and myself, have devoted more than three
months of unremitting toil, to the compilation of this his-
tory. From the day in which we began the work, the ma-
terial of which it is composed has grown and expanded on
our hands beyond all previous conception or anticipation.
The limits to which this volume has been of necessity
restricted, have compelled us to throw away many pages of
manuscript, which ought to be preserved and embodied in
book form.

The critical reader will doubtless think of many subjects
which should have been incorporated into this history, but
which are absent. Let him remember, however, that these
subjects would have been presented here, if space had been
found for them. One department alone of this work — The
Incidents of History — would of itself, if properly ampli-
fied, have formed a work very much larger than this vol-
ume. In the progress of our labor, we have reverted in
thought to scores of events, which, though passing into
utter oblivion, we have not been able for want of room, to
introduce.

In writing up the Townships, the only facility we pos-
sessed in obtaining material, was afforded by correspon-
dents, and not by conversation with pioneers. In the city
here, we had the pleasure of talking up these subjects with
many gentlemen Avhose names are published in their proper
connection; but with the exception of Thomas Mitchell,
John D. McGlothlen, A. S. Rice, and one or two others, we
have not had the benefit of a conversation with a solitarv

CENTENNIAL HISTORY

citizen from the country. We have written repeatedly to
parties in all the country townships, urging them to meet
us at some point in Des Moines, or to respond by letter to
such interrogations as we thought proper to propound.
The result was, that the information we sought was not ob-
tained, except in a few desultory cases. In this contin-
gency, the only thing we could do was to subsidize the pub-
lished histories of others, or such floating paragraphs in
the local journals as might render us assistance. The his-
tory, therefore, of the townships, which we have prepared
for this volume, is not as accurate, nor as complete as we
could wish; but our readers are assured that we have se-
cured to ourselves every possible help in the compilation
of this branch of our history.

We avail ourselve's of this opportunity to return our
thanks to P. M. Casady, Dr. D. V. Cole, Byron Rice, S. F.
Spofford, W. H. McHenry, R. W. Sypher, Barlow Granger,
J B. Bausman, C. A. Mosier, and other pioneers, who have
given us substantial information. The City and County
officers have generously responded to the many demands
we have made upon them. The County Auditor, George
C. Baker, contributed hours of his time in helping us to
decipher and utilize the old records. The labor of two days
was expended in looking up the dates of township organi-
zations.

A person inexperienced in that class of work involved
in the preparation of a history like this, can form no ade-
quate conception of the toil and responsibility which have
been assumed by the author. In search of one little date
alone, we have gone twenty times to the individual from
whom it was to be obtained, before a satisfactory result was
reached; and as history and biography are composed of
names, dates, and events, it may well be imagined that un-
told labor has been expended in the production of this vol-
ume. The Author.

OF POLK COUi^TY.

OFFICIAL HISTOEY.

In the latter part of June last, the Board of Supervisors,
in deference to the following Proclamation of Governor
Kirkwood, employed me to write an official Centennial
History of Polk County. The contract to write the work
has been faithfully executed, and the result is now before
the reader.

THE CENTENNIAL.

BY THE governor:

A I^ROCLAMATIO:iSr.

To the People of the State of loioa:

The Congress of the United States having in view a com-
memoration of the approaching Anniversary of National
Independence that shall fitly and worthily close the first
century of American history, has adopted a resolution,
which has been brought to my notice by the Secretary of
State of the United States in the following communication :

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, \
Washington, April 15th, 1876. I

To His Excellency, the Governor of the State of Iowa :
Sir: — I have the honor to inclose herewith, for your in-
formation, a copy of the Joint Resolution of the Senate and
House of Representatives, approved by the President on
the 13th of March last, recommending to the people of the
United States the adoption of measures to obtain record of

g CENTENNIAL HISTORY

the progress of our institutions during the first century of
their existence.

It has been deemed proper to bring the joint resolution
in question to the notice of the Governors of the several
States.

I have the honor to be,

Your Excellency's obedient servant,
JOHN L. CADWALADER,

Acting Secretctry.

JOINT RESOLUTION on the celebration of the Centennial in
the several counties or towns.

^e it resolved by the Seriate and House of Represen-
tatives of the United States in Congress Assembled,
That it be, and is hereby, recommended by the Senate and
House of Representatives to the people of the several States
that they assemble in their several counties or towns on the
approaching Centennial Anniversary of our National Inde-
pendence, and that they cause to have delivered on such
day an historical sketch of said county or town from its
formation, and that a copy of said sketch may be filed, in
print or manuscript, in the Clerk's office of said county,
and an additional copy, in print or manuscript, be filed in
the office of the Librarian of Congress, to the intent that a
complete record may thus be obtained of the progress of
our institutions during the First Centennial of their exist-
ence.

Approved, March 13, 1876.

I take pleasure in calling the attention of the people to
this Congressional recommendation, and in bespeaking for
it responsive action. We are very happily situated to carry
out its object. Our history, eventful as it has been, can be
told by men who have witnessed it all, and indeed helped to
make it. The desired sketches of many of our counties,
towns, and townships, can be made by such persons, while
they can furnish material for all of them.

OF POLK COUNTY.

It is suggested that narratives be prepared and read on
the day designated —

1. Of the several counties.

2. Of the several townships.

3. Of the several cities and towns.

And that one copy of each be transmitted to the Con-
gressional Library, one to the State Library at Des Moines,
and one to the State Historical Society at Iowa City, and
one filed with the Auditor of the county.

The value of the information thus amassed would be ma-
terially augmented could it be supplemented with other
sketches, such, for instance, as

4. Of school-districts under both present and former or-
ganizations.

5. Of colleges, academies, and other private institutions
of learning.

6. Of the various church organizations of the State.

v. Of the missionary, benevolent, literary, scientific, and
fraternal associations.

8. Of agricultural progress, including histories of State
and County societies.

9. Of manufactnring interests, including notices of or-
ganizations for furthering the same.

10. Of the mining interests.

11. Of the mercantile interests.

12. Of the several professions.

And, in short, of all enterprises or occupations whose his-
tory may in any manner illustrate the development of the
resources of the State, its past progress, and its present con-
dition.

It is suggested that the last named sketches be presented
to the associations or bodies interested for their information
at such times as may suit their convenience, and copies sent
to the State Library, and the State Historical Society, and
also to the central authority of the association, denomina-

IQ CENTENNIAL HISTORY

tion, or order, in cases where individual societies are thus
connected.

It is recommended that appointments be made at an early-
day of proper persons to prepare the sketches, so as to afford
all the time practicable for such preparation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and
caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of
Iowa.
[l. s.] Done at Des Moines, this 11th day of May, in
the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred
and seventy-six, of the Republic the one hundredth,
and of the State the thirtieth.

SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD.
JBy the Governor :

JosiAH T. Young, Secretary of State.

DISCOVERY OF lOW^A.

On the 18th day of June, 1673 — more than two hundred
years ago — those two historic explorers of the olden time,
James Marquette and Louis Joliet, glided with their canoe
into the current of the Upper Mississippi, on a voyage of
discovery. On their way southward to the mouth of the
river Arkansas — still on the bosom of the Father of Waters
— they noted the bold, abrupt bluffs which are now seen
overlooking the city of McGregor, in Clayton County.
Their eyes also rested on many other wonderful scenes of
nature on the western bank of the river, which, nearly two
centuries later, were intimately associated with populous
cities, and with the stirring march of a purer and loftier
civilization. At the remote period to which we refer, all
that vast territory, stretching away westward from the river
Mississippi, under the name of Louisiana, belonged to
France by the right of discovery; and this right was main-
tained for ninety years. It was then ceded by the stipula-

OF POLK COUNTY. 1 1

tions of treaty to Spain; and in the year 1800, it was retro-
ceded to France, where the ownership rested until 1803,
when the whole magnificent territory, with all its sublime
possibilities, became the property of the United States Gov-
ernment. The amount paid for it was $15,000,000.

STATE AND COUNTY.

The Territory of Iowa was admitted into the Union in
1846, constituting the twenty-ninth State in the order of
admission. Polk County was organized under a law of the
Territorial Legislature, passed January, 1846. It is bounded
on the north by Boone and Story counties; on the south by
Warren; on the east by Jasper, and on the west by Dallas.
It embraces an area of about 350,000 acres of land. It is
finely watered by the river Des Moines, and numerous trib-
utaries, among which our own classic 'Coon occupies a
prominent place.

DES MOINES EIVER.

The Des Moines River^ or "River of the Monks," from
which early title its present name is derived, is one of the
natural beauties of the County and of the State. Entering
the County near its northwest corner, it takes its departure
at the exti'eme southeast. Its principal change of direction
in the County is at Des Moines, where it receives an im-
pulse eastward by the discharge of the Raccoon River.
Following these two directions of the stream, by two cor-
responding right lines, we find that the river waters a stretch
of country in Polk County, of thirty-five miles in length,
while the meanderings of the stream increase^this distance
to about fifty-five miles. For a distance of about ten miles,
however, by the w^ater measurement, the river forms the
line between the Counties of Polk and Warren.

Being the largest river of the interior of Iowa, the at-
tention of navigators was drawn towards it in an early day.

12 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

The lower Des Moines river was visited by steamers as
early as 1836. It was not until the year 1843, that the banks
of the river as high up as the locality then known as "Coon
Fork," were washed by the waves of a vessel propelled by
steam.

The year 1839 gave birth to the first legi!?lative enact-
ment, relating to the construction of dams on the Des
Moines in Van Buren County, which was the beginning of
public works of that nature on that stream. The rise, pro-
gress, and final result of the great scheme that promised to
make this justly termed "grandest of Iowa rivers," a navi-
gable water route, form many pages of our legal and legis-
lative histories; but our limited space forbids any extended
reference to the subject.

Since 1843, and before the days of railroads, up to the
year 1859, an occasional steamer managed to pass over the
dams, making a hurried excursion to Des Moines. In those
days. Central Iowa had no list of exports; there were no re-
turn freights, and but few passengers to reward the labors
of the adventurous navigators.

Numerous experiments have been made in the navigation
of the river above Des Moines, but generally with craft
badly adapted to the service. The most notable attempt in
this line was made by Henry Scribner about the year 1869.
Several frail vessels were constructed from time to time,
which were allowed to go to decay. The nearest approach
to successful navigation, was the attempt made during the
present year by William Beazley, in the construction and
operation of a little side-wheel steamer, which bore no
name and but little freight, — her chief duty being that of
towing scows or barges, loaded with lumber and fire-wood,
on the downward trips.

Those best acquainted T^ith the river, hold to the opinion
that a comparatively small expenditure of money would
render the stream useful in the transportation of timber in

OF POLK COUNTY. 13

all the various shapes and conditions needed in the building
up of a large city, and accommodate as well, the agricultural
district accessible to its double coast line of about fifty-
seven miles of thickly wooded shores. The fall of the
river is sufficiently rapid to afford excellent water power;
and in time, the combined advantages of power and im-
proved navigation will be attained by the construction of
permanent dams at several points within the limits of the
County.

RACCOON RIVER.

The Raccoon river, which takes its rise near the Ijtnds
drained by the Little Sioux, brings the overflow of waters
of Swan Lake in Pocahontas county, and Storm Lake in
Buena Vista county, down through the counties of Calhoun,
Sac, Carroll, Greene, Guthrie, and Dallas. It first strikes
Polk County near the southwest corner, and flows to its
confluence with the Des Moines at the Capital City, a dis-
tance, measuring directly, of nine and three-fourths miles;
but such is the curvature of this flow of waters, that its
actual length in the County is but little short of twenty-one
miles. The fall is rapid; and with the exception of the dam
at Commerce, its currents are unchecked by any obstacle,
save the resistance offered by the numerous bends.

Pagan's mill, situated near the mouth of Walnut Creek,
was the chief point of interest connected with the stream in
the earlier days of the County. The river's wide and wooded
bottom lands, are annually visited by the little remnant of
the tribe of Indians who once claimed them as a part of
their happy hunting grounds. Still faithful to its name, and
the traditions of those early non-settlers of the country, it
furnishes to their skillful hunters numerous specimens of
the animal from which it takes its name. The prairie lands
of its valley proper, are unsurpassed in fertility; and many

l^ CENTENNIAL HISTORY

of our best Polk County farms lie within sight and sound of
its rushing waters.

The thrifty village of Commerce is as yet the only point
of commercial importance on its banks west of Des Moines.
Another well known land-mark is the extensive and well im-
proved farm of James 0. Jordan, whose enterprise and hos-
pitality have long made him conspicuous among the early
settlers of the vicinity. A mile east of thislocality is the
point of divergence of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
and the Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroads. The demands
of shippers call for the location of another village at this
point, which, we understand, is about to be accomplished.

SKUNK, OR CHICAQUA RIVER

The good taste which has been displayed in the retention
of this name. Skunk, bestowed by the Indians, may fairly
be questioned. It is, however, our province to deal with
the physical features of this most singular of Iowa streams.
Its mission seems to be to water a certain area of Iowa's
fertile soil, which duty has, up to this present writing, been
faithfully discharged, as all who have been connected with
the service of transportation of freight or passengers across
its still but muddy waters, can freely testify. It gathers up
the surplus waters of Hamilton county, and flowing through
parts of Boone and Story, passes through Polk, and thence
on a line nearly parallel with the Des Moines river, empties
into the Mississippi at a point some ten miles below the city
of Burlington. It crosses the northeast corner of the
County, describing a distance, geographically speaking, of
thirteen miles; but its many bends give it a water-line of
twenty-two miles in length in the County.

The fall of the stream is in marked contrast with that of
the Raccoon river; and the drainage of the large area of
country through which it passes, flows off slowly, widening
out over its wide, rich bottom-lands, and presenting formid-

OF POLK COUNTY. 15

able difficulties to all means of transportation. For some
years the project of cutting a direct channel for the entire
distance of thirteen miles, has been agitated, with a view of
promoting more rapid drainage and reclamation of the val-
uable lands in its vicinity. The usually gentle slopes of
the uplands contiguous to the stream, are rich in agricultural
wealth, and they are rapidly becoming occupied with im-
provements of a good class. It is confidently predicted
that the talked of change in the condition of the stream,
will furnish to the citizens of the County several thousand
acres of tillable bottom lands, as valuable in point of pro-
ductiveness as any in the world.

ANCIENT MOUNDS.

Fifteen mounds, the work of a pre-historic race, dotted
the surface on the original site of Fort Des Moines. One
of these ancient relics stood near where Moore's Opera
House now stands, on the summit of which was erected the
old residence of W. W. Moore. Another one stood on the
site of the Court House, and others were scattered about in
different localities. They are supposed to be the places
where the dead of antiquity were buried, as bones have fre-
quently been exhumed from them. At what age of the
world's history, or by what race of men these tumuli found
all over the continent were created, no one can tell. The
curious reader in search of more minute particulars, is re-
ferred to a very interesting treatise on the Pre-Historic
Races, written by J. W. Foster. The work to which we
refer proves very conclusively, that the Mound-Builders of
the Mississippi Yalley constituted a populous and powerful
nation, divided into stationary communities. They
worshiped the elements, and their form of government sub-
ordinated the masses to hereditary power. They were at
least semi-civilized, as many of their inventions and ap-
pliances for the uses of society, plainly testify. It is be-

IQ CENTENNIAL HISTORY

lieved, that this old race of men were driven from their
home in the great Valley by an irruption of enemies; and
they afterward established their home in Central America,
where the ruins of their magnificent cities and temples are
still visible.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The surface of the County is not a dead and monotonous
level, like many of the counties of Northern Illinois, and
other sections of the West, but it is gently undulating,
forming an agreeable picture to the eye. Although the pre-
vailing feature of the surface is prairie, there are, neverthe-
less, many fine bodies of timber decorating the valleys of
the Des Moines and other streams, and giving beauty and
diversity to the scenery. The County lies a little South of
the centre of the State; but in respect to the other cardinal
points of the compass, it is centrally located, lying midway
between the two great rivers of the continent, and indeed
of the globe — the Missouri and Mississippi.

ABORIGINAL POPULATION.

Polk County was included within the Sac and Fox reser-
vation until the 11th day of October, 1842, at which time
the title was transferred by treaty to the United States
Government. It was stipulated, however, that the Indians
should remain undisturbed within their reservation for
three years after the date of the treaty — that is, until the
11th day of October, 1845. In this connection, Hon, C. C.
Nourse remarks in his admirable Centennial Address, de-
livered at Philadelphia, September Yth, 1876:

"In obedience to our progressive and aggressive spirit, the
government of the United States made another treaty with
the Sac and Fox Indians on the 11th day of August, 1842,
for the remaining portion of their lands in Iowa. The
treaty provided that the Indians should retain possession of

OF POLK COUNTY. I7

all the lands thus ceded until May 1, 1843, and should oc-
cupy that portion of the ceded territory West of a line run-
ning North and South through Red Rock until October 11,
1845. These tribes at this time had left their principal
village at Ottumwah-no, now called Ottumwa. As soon as
it became known that the treaty had been concluded, there
was a rush of immigration to Iowa, and a great number of
temporary settlements were made near the Indian boundary,
waiting for the first day of May. As the day approached,
hundreds of families encamped along the line, and their
tents and wagons gave the scene the appearance of a mili-
tary expedition. The country beyond had been thoroughly
explored, but the United States military authorities had
prevented any settlement, or even the marking out of claims
by any monuments whatever. To aid them in marking out
their claims, when the hour should arrive, the settlers had
placed piles of dry wood on the rising ground at convenient
distances, and a short time before 12 o'clock of the night of
the 80th of April, these were lighted, and when the mid-
night hour arrived it was announced by the discharge of
fire-arms. The night was dark, but this army of occupation
pressed forward, torch in hand, with axe and hatchet
blazing lines with all manner of corners and angles. When
daylight came and revealed the confusion of these wonder-
ful surveys, numerous disputes arose, settled generally by
compromise, but sometimes by violence. Between mid-
night of the 30th of April, and sundown of the first of May,
over one thousand families had settled in this new pur-
chase. While this scene was transpiring, the retreating
Indian was enacting one more impressive and melancholy.
The winter of 1842 3 was one of unusual severity, and the
Indian prophet, who had disapproved of the treaty, at-
tributed the severity of the winter to the anger of the Great
Spirit because they had sold their country. Many religious
rites were performed to atone for the crime. When the

CENTENNIAL HISTORY

lime for leaving Ottumwah-no arrived, a solemn silence per-
vaded the camp, and the faces of their stoutest men were
bathed in tears; and when their cavalcade was put in
motion, toward the setting sun, there was a spontaneous-
outburst of frantic grief from the entire procession. The
Indians remained the appointed time beyond the line run-
aing North and South through Red Rock. The government
established a trading post and military encampment at the
Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines river, then and for many
years known as Fort Des Moines. Here the red man lin-
gered until the 11th of October,, 1845, when the same scene
that we have before described was re-enacted, and the wave
of immigration swept over the remainder of the "'New Fur-
chase."

Soon after the treaty, there were three Indian villages
situated not far from the site of Des Moines. The one of
which Keokuk, the successor of the celebrated Black Hawk,
was Chief, was located on Keokuk prairie. The one of
which Poweshiek was Chief, was situated near the present
village of Colfax. The third village, whereof but few his-
toric traces are left, was ruled by the war-club of Hard-
Fish, of whom a meagre and unsatisfactory record remains.

The Sacs were an inoffensive tribe, so far as their history
in Polk county is concerned. Their wigwams, or houses,
were of the most barbaric structure, formed of poles and
bark, and their internal accommodations were of the rudest
character. Their Chief, Keokuk, was a brawny, stalwart
savage, of commanding presence, weighing 250 pounds. He
distributed the government annuity among his people, and
presided over them with much dignity, despite the fact that
he would frequently, like the multitudes of his race in mod-
ern times, give himself up to paroxysms of intemperance.
In military prowess, he was deficient, yet he sustained him-
self as a popular Chief After his removal with his tribe to
Kansas, or, rather, to the Territory of Missouri, he died of

OF POLK COUNTY. |C^

a wound received from a member of Hard-Fish's band, the
fatal result of a quarrel.

Poweshiek was not tall, but heavy in person^ possessing
•great popularity among the whites. The grave of this
chieftain, who belonged to a race which, amid the vicissi-
tudes of nations, conquered, ruled, and passed away, cannot
now be identified. Nineveh and Babylon left their ruins
as monuments of their ancient splendor, but the villages, or
rude cities^ as they may be styled, of Keokuk and his cotem-
porary chieftains, have scarcely left a vestige or ruin to in-
dicate the influence which they once exercised among the
red dwellers in the great wilderness of the West

U. S. SOLDIERS,

The Indians inhabiting the reservation were in constant
danger of forays and incursions from the Sioux, a cunning,
warlike, and merciless tribe, whose prowess in war has been
recognized throughout the Northwest. As a measure of
protection, the Government, early in 1843, sent a detach-
ment of soldiers, under command of Captain James Allen,
to a point on the Upper Des Moines which was then known
in border language as the Raccoon Forks, but which was
subsequently designated as Fort Des Moines. The little
steamer lone, whose prow was the first to penetrate by steam
the waters of our river so far up, landed at the foot of what
is now known as Court Avenue, on the 9th day of May, 1843,
and there disembarked her cargo of live troopers, after hav-
ing made the woods re echo with her resonant whistle.
The detachment, consisting of 120 men, including officers,
was divided into infantry and cavalry, as the service seemed
to demand.

Work was immediately commenced on the fortification.
The buildings, constructed for military purposes, composed
of logs, were about forty in number, a portion of them ex-
tending from the confluence of the rivers Des Moines and

20 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

Raccoon, northward along the bank of the Des Moine&y
and another portion extending westward parallel with the
other, forming a triangle opening out bn the West and
North.

Among the officers and attaches of the two companies^
one of which was cavalry and the other infantry, were Cap-
tains James Allen and Gardiner^ Lieutenants Grier, Potter,
and King; Surgeon Griffin, and Sergeant Haley. James
Drake was gunsmith and blacksmith, and J. M. Thrift was
tailor. Major Beach was Indian Agent, occupying his
quarters on Agency prairie, with Joseph Smart as interpreter.
Messrs. Baker and Charles Worthington were blacksmiths.

Among the arrivals of 1843 were those of Robert KinziCy
Benjamin Bryant, Charles Weatherford, and John Sturte-
vant. Among the settlers who arrived the same and the
following year, were William Lamb, Alexander Turner,
John B. and W. A. Scott, (Indian traders,) Peter New-
comer, and James Campbell.

ITSTDIAN TRADERS, ETC.

During the period last mentioned, Phelps & Co., from
Fulton, Illinois, traders in furs, were permitted to establish
a depot on the East Side, near the place where General
Tuttle's packing-house now stands. Two traders, with
transposed initials, viz: G. W. and W. G. Ewing, landed a
keel-boat, at the Fort, East Side, on the 3d of May, 1843, as
we understand from a jubilant memorandum jotted down
by our late fellow-citizen, Benjamin Bryant, Esq. The
Ewings were men of rare energy, shrewdness, and courage;
and in their respective capacities of sutler and Indian trader,
they were eminently successful. Aside from the barracks,
Robert Kinzie, pioneer merchant, erected a building on the
site of the Sherman block, in which he kept a lot of mer-
chandise for the benefit of the garrison and other parties.

OF POLK COUNTY. 21

This trade, however, was engrossed to a great extent by the
regular sutler.

The first building for residence purposes, wa,8 constructed
of logs by theEwings, forming a stupendous contrast, were
it still in existence, with the palatial mansion, worth a quar-
ter of a million, erected on Terrace Hill in these later
times by the banker, B F. Allen.

CLAIMS AND PIONEERS.

No claims, as a rule, were permitted to be made by .the
immigrants until the Indians should vacate the lands ac-
cording to treatj^; but exceptions were made by the agents
of the government in favor of Benjamin Bryant, Peter
Newcomer, and several others, whose names have already
been mentioned. ])r. T. K. Brooks, one of the grand old
pioneers of those times, settled originally at the old agency
east of the river Des Moines. He afterwards bought the
Phelps claim, and blended farming with the practice of
medicine. The house to which he first removed, was built
in part by a brother of Senator Wright, of this city.

FIRST WEDDINGS.

Benjamin Bryant, the first white man wedded within the
limits of our County, after its organization, filled for many
years after his arrival here, many important ofl^ices to the
general acceptance of the people. In the summer of 1846,
while Treasurer of the new County, Mr. Bryant led to the
altar Miss Elvira Birge; and the festivities which followed,
including the infair and a genial supper at the Mitchell
Tavern, were of the most lively and suggestive description.
Christopher Birge, father of the bride, died a few months
after this event. The parties to the first marriage within
our borders in Territorial times, were John Baird and
Nancy Jane Wellman, Rev. Mr. Post ofliciating. The mar-
riage of Mr. Bryant was solemnized by Addison Michael,

22 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Justice of the Peace, a gentleman who figured largely m
those primeval days,

FIRST BIRTHS AND DEATHS.

Early in 1845, an infant daughter born to Lieut. Grierand
his lady, signalized the first event of this kind at Fort De&
Moines; but a little while afterward, this child of promise
as well as of history, was transplanted by death from its
western home to its native skies. Rev, Ezra Rathburn, a
gifted and exemplary minister of the M. E. Church, who
still remains with us in the grace and excellence of a strong
and unblemished character, preached the funeral discourse.
A few weeks before the birth of this child, J. M. Thrift,
the company's tailor, living East of the river, experienced
an unusual elation of spirits, on account of the gift of an
infant son, graciously conferred by the wife of his bosom.

COUNTY SEAT LOCATION.

In 1846, four townships in the northern part of what was
afterwards Warren county, were attached to Polk, through
the intervention of Thomas Mitchell, Dr. Fagan, and two
other gentlemen, who were solicitous that Fort Des Moines
should become the county seat. With the four townships
annexed, the Fort would become more central in the County.
An ambitious village by the name of Brooklyn, now known
in history only, was inaugurated on paper by Dr. Brooks,
Jerry Church, and William Lamb, who intended it to orna-
ment the soil two miles east of the Fort, as a competitor of
Fort Des Moines. The result was, however, that the latter
place secured the ascendancy, and Brooklyn went houseless
to its solitary grave. The object having been achieved in the
location of the county seat at the Fort, the four disputed
townships were returned in 1853 to the county from which
they had been taken. The commissioners of location, ap-
pointed by the Legislature, were Thomas Hughes, of John-

OF POLK COUNTY. 23

son, M. L. Williams, of Mahaska, and Giles M. Pinneo, of
Scott county. In this county seat contest a gentleman
named A. D. Jones, who from that time became conspicu-
ous in our local annals, was an earnest champion of the
Fort. He arrived February 13th, 1846, and was the first
County Surveyor, although a rival candidate by the name
of Woodward, nominated by the Brooklyn party, appeared
to have a majority of the votes.

FIRST ELECTION.

The first election in the county occurred on the 6th day
of April, 1846, one of the old dragoon buildings being used
for that purpose. The number of votes polled on that occa-
sion was 175, the population of the county being at that
time about 500. John Saylor was elected Probate Judge;
Thomas Mitchell, Sheriff; James Phillips, Coroner; A. D.
Jones, Surveyor; Thomas McMuUen, now at Denver, Re-
corder; Wra. F. Ayers, Treasurer; G. B. Clark, Assessor;
Addison Michael, Collector; and Benjamin Saylor, Wm. H.
Meacham, and E. W. Fonts, Commissioners. The officers
were elected to serve until the next election, which took
place the following August.

There is no existing record, as far as we have been able to
ascertain, of several elections which occurred after the 6th
day of April, 1846. Hours, and even days, have been em-
ployed in a patient and persistent search for such records,
but without success. The only evidence we have been able
to obtain on this subject will b«^ found as incidental matter,
under the heads of " County Government," " District
Court," and " Election Record." It is to be regretted that
the pioneers of our county, or at least the ofiScers of those
times, were so remiss and negligent in regard to the public
records

At the following August election, Addison Michael, and

24 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

Sanford Starr were chosen Justices of the Peace, the first
elected in the County.

PRIMITIVE JUSTICE.

Prior to this time all disputes or matters of litigation were
decided by the military code. April 28th, 1846, the first
civil case wherein the United States was plaintiff, and
Campbell Reeves, defendant, was tried before Addison
Michael. It was a complaint for a search warrant. The
Sheriff made return that neither goods nor defendant were
to be found.

FORT DES MOINES.

Fort Des Moines as a town, was laid out June 4th, 1846,
by A. D. Jones, surveyor, assisted by Dr. Fagan. A rope,
instead of a chain, was employed for the purpose.

After the Dragoons had vacated the military post, which
occurred not long after the expiration of the time stipulated
by treaty, the barracks which they had tenanted were occu-
pied by the settlers who came pouring in from the East and
South. In this way, accommodations were supplied to many
families which otherwise would have suffered, for a time at
least, for the comforts of a home. As late even as 1853,
when the population of the town was about 500, a portion
of the people inhabited the garrison buildings. There were
cabins, however, which had been hastily constructed for the
exigencies of the occasion. There was but one church
building in the place, and this belonged to the Methodists.

THE OUTLOOK FROM 1846, TO 1850.

p. M. Casady, one of the most prominent pioneers of the
County, has by request, given us certain historic informa-
tion which we take pleasure in transferring to these pages.
Judge Casady, in company with Dr. P. B. Fagan, and W.

OF POLK COUNTY. 25

D. Frazee, an attorney, entered the County, June 11th, 1846j
on which day they took dinner at the residence of Thomas
Mitchell, at Apple Grove. Two events worthy of note oc-
curred on that day, one of which was the marriage of Ben-
jamin Bryant and Miss Elvira Birge, and the other was the
infliction of a snake bite on the person of Orrin F. Mitchell,
son of the landlord at Apple Grove.

It was soon ascertained that one of the three gentlemen
stopping for dinner was a physician, whereupon Dr. Fagan
on invitation, made up a prescription for the boy, consisting
of tobacco and whiskey. The bite was cured; and the boy
on whom it was inflicted, lost his life afterwards in the mili.
tary service of his country.

The brothers Ewing — George Washington, and Washing-
ton George — established their trading post at a place not far
distant from the site of Sbepard & Perrier's Mill. J B. &
W. A. Scott had their trading post* near the place where
now stands the eastern extremity of the Keokuk & Des
Moines railroad bridge. The trading post of Phelps & Co.
stood at a point near the site of Tuttle's Packing House
At this last post, after its vacation by the Traders, R. W.
Sypher sold goods; and at the same place, too, the original
Pdst Office of Raccoon River was kept. The reader is
referred here to the article under the head of Post Masters
of Des Moines. The several Trading Posts, or Agencies,
which have just been reported, were established in 1842-3.

In the Spring of 1846, the garrison buildings were vacated
by the soldiers, at which time Col. Tom Baker was made the
accredited agent of the Government in leasing the Federal
buildings. The immigrants who had settled on the East
side of the river, and at other available points, waiting for
the auspicious time to come, were now permitted, by paying
for it, to occupy the deserted houses. But little time elapsed
before all the Government, cabins were filled to their utmost

capacity by the on-coming volume of immigration.

4

26 CENTENNfAL HISTORY

B. T. Hoxie, in 1845, kept store at the Ewing Agency.
In the Spring of 1846, when the prohibition in regard to
settling on the west side was removed, he transferred his
goods and business to the sutler's cabin on the other side
of the river. R. W. Sypher, and other business men, fol-
lowed his example. In the Fall of 1843, the first Govern-
ment Annuity in what was afterward called Polk County,
was paid to the Indians. Every year thereafter, until the
Indians were removed from their reservation, the annuity
was paid, bringing to the Fort a large number of visitors
to witness the festivities of such an occasion. To the In-
dians, these were grand gala days, in which their distinctive
traits of character were fully exemplified; and the white
spectators either looked on, or participated in the varied
and fantastic amusements.

It is worthy of historic mention here, as one event in a
very eventful year, that. in 1846, as a response to local peti.
tions, the Congress of the United States passed a special
act, authorizing the agents of Polk County to pre-empt 160
acres of land in legal subdivisions, for the plat of the County
Seat. If Fort Des Moines had failed to secure the County
Seat, this special act would have been inoperative and void,
po far at least as it applied to Fort Des Moines. About
140 of the 160 acres thus pre-empted, were secured for the
County Seat.

Among the business men of Fort Des Moines between
1846, and 1850, were the following: W. W. Clapp, Pro-
vision Grocer near the junction of the Des Moines and
'Coon rivers; L. D. Winchester & Co., Grocery and Dry.
goods, near foot of Second street; A. J. Davis, Drygoods,
Second and Market; Jamee Campbell, Grocery and Dry-
goods, corner Second and Vine; Joseph Crews, Liquor
Saloon, Second and Market; R. W. Sypher, Drygoods and
Grocery, Second street; Lyon & Allen, Drygoods, Second
street; C. Good, Drugs, Second and Elm; Benjamin Cof-

OF POLK COUNTY. 27

feen, Drygoods, Second and Market; Wm. Kraus, Clothing,
Second street; B. T. Hoxie, Drygoods, Second and Market.

Cole and Winchester commenced business in 1847, on
Second street; and later in the season James Sherman was
included among the business men of that locality. Chap-
lin & Thompson and Campbell & McMullen were also on
Second street.

William Lamb has the reputation of building one of the
first dwelling houses in the county, near Allen's old packing
house; and history gives B. T. Hoxie the credit of keeping
the first regular citizens' store. Mr. Hoxie was a good and
true man, and was summoned to his reward many years since.
His son, H. M. Hoxie, was the popular Clerk of the District
Court twenty years ago, and was, during the war, U. S.
Marshal for the State. He is now a railroad officer in
Texas

The first frame house was built by Addison Michael in
1847, and the Hrst brick by L. D. Winchester. This latter
gentleman, who afterward removed to California, was a
relative by marriage of Dr. D. Y. Cole, now of this place,
and for thirty years closely identified with our progress.
To him we have been largely indebted for many of these
reminiscences of early times. His cousin, I. J. Cole, who
also went to California, was engaged in business on Second
street in 1848. The same year, 1848, Alfred M. Lyon and
B. F. Allen sold goods in one of the barracks buildings;
Allen afterwards built on the corner of Second and Vine
and continued to sell goods until he ultimately went into
the banking business. For more than a score of years, B.
F. Allen maintained a financial reputation of which any
man ought to be proud. He grew from year to year in
wealth and prosperity, until he was recognized as the rich-
est and most influential banker in Iowa. During the mone-
tary crisis of 1857, when men everywhere in the West who
had achieved high business reputations, were swept into

CEISTTENNIAL HISTORY

forlorn and hopeless bankruptcy, he stood unshaken amid the
storm, not only preserving his own great credit, but furnish-
ing a currency for our local business when all other helps
had failed, and at the same time stretching out a strong
hand to save men from sinking, who to-day, because of this
timely assistance in their hour of peril and threatened ruin
are riding on the topmost wave of commercial prosperity^.

Alfred M., Jonathan, and Harrison Lyon, were associated
in those days with the growth of our city. Two of them
are still living among us; but the third, Alfred M. Lyon, as
noble a patriot as ever gave his life to his country, went into
the battle at Black River Bridge, when his position as
sutler demanded no such service, and lost his life while
fighting gallantly for the Union. J. M. Griffiths & Co.
started a store on Second street, in 1848. One of the first
bouses in town was built by David Solenberger, July, 1846.
The dimensions were 18x20, one story high. A man by the
name of Yanatta, had a turning lathe in those times em-
ployed in manufacturing chairs and other articles. There
was an Apothecary's shop also, dispensing medicines to the
public.

Hoyt and L. P. Sherman, Isaac Cooper, and R. L. Tidrick,
were at an early period embraced among the business men
of Ft. Des Moines.

W. W. Jones came to this county, April 27th, 1847, from
Jefferson County, Indiana. He bought a lot on the corner
of Third and Vine streets, Fort Des Moines; and he claims
that he erected on it the first frame dwelling house in the
town. This old building forms a part of the present Mon-
itor House, and the lot on which Mr. Jones' house was built
was a part of the original plat of the town, purchased by
iiim of the County authorities.

W. W. Jones states that, in 1848, he gathered blackberries
in the vicinity of the site of the Jones House, in East Des
Moines.

OF POLK COUNTY. 29

It is claimed by James Holcomb, that Lewis Whitton
built in 1846, in the rear of the barracks on Coon River, the
first frame house in Fort Des Moines.

The following list embraces the attorneys of the same
period: P. M. Casady, J. M. Perry, Wm. McKay, R. L.
Tidrick, Col. Tom Baker, C. Ben. Darwin, W. W. William-
son, A. T. Reynolds, A. D. Jones, Barlow Granger, W. D.
Frazee, John Howe, W. H. McHenry, and O. R. Jones.

The physicians were: Drs. F. C. Grimmel, P. B. Fagan,
H. H. Saylor, Wesley Kirkbride, D. V. Cole, T. K. Brooks,
Henry Grimmel, and Wm. Baker.

The garrison buildings were supplied with brick chim-
neys, and were whitewashed inside and out. A spectator
standing on Capitol Hill, and looking westward over the
face of the country, would, in 1847, have estimated the ap-
pareiitpopulation of Fort Des Moines at 300 or 400. The two
rows of cabins, stretching along the rivers, and the strag-
gling buildings in the vicinity, had a picturesque appear-
ance to the beholder.

OUTLOOK FROM 1846 TO 1850 — CONTINUED.

Reuben W. Sypher came to Fort Des Moines from Indiana,
in September, 1846. His first employment was to sell goods
at the trading post of Phelps & Co. The cabin occupied
by the sutler while the soldiers were here, was located near
where the Rock Island passenger depot now stands. B. T.
Hoxie sold goods at this cabin in 1847. He sold out to Ben-
jamin Coffeen; and but a short time afterwards, Mr. Sypher
sold goods at the same place.

The old Government Agency, as distinguished from the
trading posts of Phelps & Co., J. B. and W. A. Scott, and
the E wings, was situated on Agency Prairie, as mentioned
in another place. Here from the year 1842, to the year
1845, Major Beach acted as Indian Agent, recognizing the
services of Joseph Smart as Interpreter.

In the Fall of 1847, Mr. Sypher transferred his business

30 CENTENNIAL HISTORY:

to his new store building on the northeast corner of Second
and Vine streets. It will be remembered that at the time
specified, the business of the new town was confined almost
exclusively to the Barracks, and to the southern part of Sec-
ond street. When, therefore, Mr. Sypher proposed to build
a buRiness house as far north as Vine srreet, which, by the
way, was but one square from Market street, the citizens
laughed at him for his supposed folly; but time proved the
wisdom of his new enterprise.

The oflice of the Regimental Surgeon was on the East
side of Second street, between Market and Elm. After the
removal of the Surgeon, the cabin was occupied by Dr. P.
B. Fagan. Near this office was the shop of J. M. Thrift, the
company's tailor. The barns in which the horses of the
dragoons were kept, were built of frame, and located a
little west of what is known as Fifth street. One of these
barns was subsequently removed to the rear of the Marvin
House on Third street, and was used there as a stable. In
1846, W. A. Scott, a whole souled and public spirited man,
cultivated a large farm on the prairies south of the Railroad
lines, east of the river, within the present city limits.

Between the dates given at the head of this article, the
different settlements in the County were popularly known
as follows: Apple Grove, in Beaver township; Wallace's
Prairie, in Camp township, where Lafayette stands; Trul-
linger's Grove, in Franklin township; Four Mile Settlement,
Mud Creek, Saylor's Grove, and Hopkins' Grove; the last
of which is in the Northern part of the County. These
settlements were all East of the Des Moines river. On the
West were Ayers' Grove, Walnut Creek and McClain's Set-
tlements, Keokuk Prairie, and Linn Grove; the last, though
now in Warren, was formerly in Polk County.

There is a little indefiniteness in regard to the recognized
boundaries of Keokuk Prairie. From all the information
we have received on this subject, we would say that this

OF POLK COUNTY. gx

noted Prairie, which wan the former abode of the dusky-
warrior and chieftain, Keokuk, embraces all the bottom
lands between the Des Moines and North rivers.

Mr. Sypher bought where he now lives, on Fourth street,
between Walnut and Court Avenue, in 1847, paying for two
lots the enormous sum of thirty dollars — just fifteen dollars
a lot !

THE SITTTATIOlSr IN 1849.

In a conversation with Judge Byron Rice, who came
from New York to Fort Des Moines, September, 1849, we
obtained some valuable information, which will help the
reader to form a more accurate conception of the town and
county in the year specified. The Judge informed us that
the Government Agency was located on Agency Prairie, a
region of country lying between the timber of Capitol Hill
and that of Four Mile Creek. The Post indicated was but
a short distance from the present residence of Wesley Red-
head. By way of distinction, we have called it the Old
Agency.

The Trading Posts were all composed of logs, and were
still visible in 1849. An old building, just south of the
Keokuk & Des Moines railroad bridge over the Des Moines
river, comes down to these times as a relic, in part at least,
of the old Trading Posts, the log part having been con-
structed at a very early period.

In 1849, W. A. Scott was living in a one- story double log
cabin, just south of Capitol Hill. The hill itself, and in
fact nearly the whole face of the country between the hill
and the Des Moines river, were covered with forest trees,
with but here and there any signs of habitation.

In the same year, a small island, embracing an area of
about two acres, was one of the distinctive features of the
Des Moines river, extending from where Court Avenue
bridge stands, to a point just below the confluence of the

32 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

two rivers. Another island, somewhat larger than this^
was to be seen about a quarter of a mile further down.
Both of these islands were covered by a dense growth of
trees, principally cottonwood and elm. On the upper island,
a large cottonwood tree, the growth perhaps of a century^
was repeatedly struck by lightning during the series of ter-
rific storms in 1851; but shattered though it was, it did not
go down with the current for two or three years afterwards.
The two islands, being constantly washed by the river, be-
came less and less as time passed away; and after the great
freshet of 1851, there was but little left to show that they
had ever existed.

Most of the garrison buildings were still remaining in
1849. It has been stated elsewhere that the barracks ex-
tended from a point near the confluence of the two rivers
— one row of cabins reaching westward to what is now
called Fifth street, and the other row extending to a point
near the western extremity of what is now called Court
Avenue bridge. The two rows lay at right angles with
each other, one of which, because of its proximity to Rac-
coon river, was called 'Coon Row, and the other, on ac-
count of its nearness to the Des Moines river, was called
the Des Moines Row.

The statement of Mrs Sanford in her history, that Cap-
tain Allen had his headquarters in 'Coon Row, near the
old Tucker or Collins House, seems to be incorrect. Ac-
cording to Judge Rice, the officers of the two companies
had their quarters in Des Moines Row, and the private
soldiers, therefore, must have occupied the other. The
blacksmith shop was situated just in the rear of the place
where the two rows joined. The brick structure which
was erected in 1855, by James Campbell, occupies a place
just inside of the point of junction to which we have re-
ferred.

The area of land lying between the two rows, was occu-

OF POLK COUNTY. 33

pied by several Government buildings, among which were
a hospital, a bouse for hospital stJores, a sutler's establish
meut, &G. In the rear of the building now known as the
Farmers' Home, and formerly as the American House, the
old flag staff, a hundred feet high, erected by the soldiers,
was yet standing in 1849. For the benefit of the soldiers,
a farm of a few acres South of 'Coon, afterward included
in a larger farm owned by 0. C. Van, was made by order of
Captain Allen to produce corn, garden vegetables, &g.

The soldiers' cemetery, still visible at the time indicated,
extended from the Northeast corner of Third and Locust
street, to a place just east of where the Engine House is
located. There were but four or five graves in it. The
little daughter of Lieutenant Grier, of whom mention is
made in another place, was buried here; and the bereaved
father came to Des Moines in 1862, had the remains ex
humed, and conveyed them to his Eastern home.

The residence of Judge Burbridge, corner of Walnut
and Seventh, was a large, two-story log house, part of
which may yet be seen in 1876. The Judge died in office,
October 23d, 1851. The F. C. Grimmel house, corner of
Sixth and High, is now, though very considerably changed
rnd improved, the abode of bin widow. A log house, cor-
ner of Ninth and High, was occupied in 1849, by Mr. Hol-
comb, Sen. L. D. Winchester, the same year, built the one
story brick house on the corner of Fourth street and Court
Avenue, in which Captain West formerly lived — the site
of which is now covered by the Valley City Bank building.
At the same time. Judge McKay erected a small brick
house on what is now called the Fred Getchell property;
also P. M. Cassady built a small frame house on the site of
Clapp's Block, corner Fifth and Walnut. Henry Everly
erected a frame building on the site of Moore's Opera
House, corner of Fourth and Walnut. The site of the pres-
ent residence of Judge Rice, near Plymouth Church, was as

154 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

late as 1856, ornamented with a dense growth of hazel
bushes. In fact these bushes constituted the prevailing
feature ol the landscape on the West side of the Des
Moines river, the monotony of which was broken on the
surrounding hills by forest trees. Many of these trees had
been converted into a Garrison building by the industry of
the soldiers.

The principal settlements in the County were as follows:
One in Jefferson Township on Beaver Creek, where the
McClain's, W. H. McHenry, Walter Oyler, Nathan Andrews,
and others resided; another in Walnut Township, and oth
ers respectively, in the Northern pari of the County, on
Skunk and in Madison Township; and others still in Saylor
Bottom, on Four Mile Creek, at Apple Grove, on Camp
Creek and in Allen Township. The little pocket which lies
between the Des Moines river and the Warren County
boundary, was in early times the abode of Thomas, alias
Cumquick, the Ridgeways, and the Parkinsons, all families
of bad repute. In 185Y, Cumquick was hanged by a mob
at Motnezuma, Poweshiek County; and it was not long
after this demonstration, before the other ruffians of whom
mention is made, were driven away from our County by the
advancing tide of a better civilization.

During the administration of Byron Rice, as County
Judge, he organized Hardin and Story Counties, the former
into two Townships, Kossuth and Washington, and the
latter into the Townships of Pierce and Scott, the names
of the rival candidates for President in 1852. At that time,
1852, Polk County had jurisdiction, for election and rev-
enue purposes, over all Northern and Western Iowa, except
Dallas and Boone Counties.

What was called the new Code at the time, went into
effect in 1851, the year in which the first County Judge
proper, Burbridge, was elected.

OF POLK COUNTY. 35

EXTIl!«^CTIOX OF TITLE.

At midnight, October 11th, 1845, the loud report of a
gun, which was answered by many others, announced the
fact thn the rule of barbarism had ceased in this part of
the country, and that the reign of civilization had really
commenced. At that profound hour of the night when
the moon was about to set in the West, leaving the land-
scapes of primeval nature obscured by darkness, the title
which the Red Man had held for untold centuries in the
fertile lands of our County, was suddenly and forever ex-
tinguished. Scores of torches, improvised for the occasion,
blazed through the gloom, and hundreds of settlers, eager
to secure the results of their industry, vigilance, and per-
sonal daring, wandered hither and thither over the vast
prairies, taking active measures the while to establish the
rights of property in the unbroken wilderness of the West !

The sharp clang of axes, as they struck into the trees
skirting the streams, was heard on many sides; and where
these heavy implements were not accessible, the tom-
ahawk of the savage, or the scarcely less civilized knife of
the hunter, was employed in carving rude characters on the
trunks of trees to indicate the metes and bounds of original
claims. It was in this way, using their knives for the pur-
pose, that Jacob Frederic, and Jeremiah Church, assisted
by the light of a blazing wigwam, whose tenants had de-
parted, established the landmarks which identified their
property. Although half the night had passed away before
the introduction of this wierd and extraordinary scene,
thousands of acres of choice lands, distributed here and
there, were transferred before the morning light to the own-
ership of men, who were destined in a few years to trans-
form this wild region from its state of nature, to the high-
est condition of improvement of which it is susceptible.

3(5 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

CLAIM ASSOCIATION.

The early settlers of Polk County, like those of other
counties in the State, held the lands which they occupied
and improved by what is termed a claim right — a tenure
just in itself, and the only one available at the time, but in
the sequel, it was often found to be precarious, giving rise
to sharp controversies, expensive litigations, and in some
instances, even to murder! Prior to the year 1848, the lands
here, all of which belonged to theGovernment, were owned
by this right so far as they were occupied. During that and
previous years, speculators from the East, anticipating the
time when the lands would come into market, had thor-
oughly explored the country, and made such selections of
real estate as would suit them, regardless of the rights of
settlers.

In time, the rapacity of speculators, and the selfishness of
other men, in regard to claim rights, became so alarming
and aggressive, that on the 8th day of April, 1848, a meet-
ing of citizens was held at Fort Des Moines, to take some
conclusive action for the defense of the settlers. William
H. Meachara was called to the Chair, and L. D.Winchester
was chosen Secretary. Dr. T. K. Brooks, and Josiah Myers
addressed the meeting in an appropriate manner on the
rights of claim-holders; and a committee, composed of
Messrs. Winchester, Mitchell, Scott, Sypher, and Baylor,
was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the popular
sense on that occasion. We here present them:

1st. Mesolvecl,, That we will protect all persons, who do
or may hold claims, against the interference of any persons
who shall attempt to deprive such claim holders of tht-ir
claims and improvements by pre-emption or otherwise.

2d. JResolved^ That we will in all cases discountenance
the speculator or other persons, who shall thus attempt any
innovations on the homes of the rightful settlers; that we
will not hold fellowship with such persons, and, they be re-
garded as a nuisance in the community.

OF POLK COUNTY. ;-j7

3d. Resolved^ That no person shall be allowed to pre-
empt or purchase from Government any land which shall be
held as a claim, unless he obtain the consent of the owner
or claimant.

'' 4th. Resolved^ That the filing of an intention to pre-
empt any claim, contrary to the rights of the settler, shall
be regarded as an attempt wrongfully to deprive the citizen
of his home and claim.

5th. Resolved^ That a committee of five be appointed.
It shall be their duty to inquire into, and adjust all difficul-
ties and contentions in claim disputes.

6th. Resolved, That it be the duty of said committee to
notify any person who shall pre empt (or attempt to do so,
by filing his intention) to leave the vicinity and county,
and that they have authority to enforce a compliance with
said notice.

7th. Resolved, That we will sustain and uphold said
committee in their decisions, and in the discharge of all
their duties as defined in the foregoing resolutions.

8th. Resolved, That all persons be invited to sign the
foregoing resolutions, and that the signers pledge them-
selves to be governed by the same, and to aid in sustaining
the same.

The above resolutions were unanimously adopted, and the
following gentlemen were appointed a committee, as or-
dered by the meeting: Messrs. J. B, Scott, Thomas Mitch,
ell, of Apple Grove; John Saylor, of Saylorville; Dr. P. B"
Fagan, and Thomas Henderson.

The following signatures were obtained: Wm. Lower,
John Harris, Peter Newcomer, Henry Huntington, Dayton
Harris, W. H. Meacham, J. B. Scott, P. B. Fagan, Thomas
Mitchell, T. Henderson, T. Crabtree, W. A. Scott, W. Wear,
John Myers, T. McCall, J. Thompson, Wm. Bradford, N.
Ball, J. Bundrum, Joseph Deford, J. M. Kirkbride, John
Saylor, John Hayes, J. H. Finch, N. Reeves, Wm. Cooper,
John McMahon, Wm. Hughes, A. S. Dean, P. Wear, E.
Keeler, James Anderson, Jerry Church, H. Everly, C. B.
Myers, D. L. Jewett, David Norris, Wm. Busick, Jr., Chas.
Kurey, R. A. Harban, J. D. McGlothlen, John Bennett, D. S.
Cockerham, Benj. Bennett, Jas. T. Thompson, Geo. Kuoop,

38 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Asa Fleming, ThomaB Gilpin, John Miller, David S. Bow-
man, Charles Murrow, Robert Hopkins, Joseph Keeney, Jas.
Phillips, L. D. Winchester, Benj. Saylor, H. D. Hendricks,
T. Campbell, G. Maginnis, J. C. Jones, J. Frederic, R. W,
Sypher, Samuel Kellogg, William Garrett, W. F. Ayres,
John S. Dean, Jacob Baycus, Solomon Bales, Geo. Dailey,
L. Garrett, A. N. Hayes, G. W. Lucy, T. K. Brooks, Jos.
Myers, J. Tridle, J. G. Tuttle, B. Perkins, Jacob Winters,
D. Haworth, S. W. McCall, Montgomery McCall, A. W.
Hobson, B. F. Frederick, Wm. Busick, Sr., E. Compton,
John Wildy, J. Harris, H. John Baird, W. B. Binte, George
Krysher, C. Stutsman, D. S. Marts, C. S. Evans, Eli Keeler,
Geo. Ogilvie, Wm. Kuren, David Miller, James McRoberts,
Franklin Nagle.

In the summer of the same year, a meeting, with the same
object, was held in Camp Township. A committee was ap-
pointed, consisting of C. Leftwicha E. Canfield, L. M. Burk,
Thomas Mitchell, Creth Renfrew, and M. McCall. Just
before the September land sales, 1848, R. L. Tidrick was
appointed claim agent at a meeting of our citizens. In the
performance of his duties, he was to represent claim-holders
at the land sales in Iowa City. A number of men were
placed at his command; and he was instructed to employ
all honorable means to secure the rights of the people, whose
interests he was serving. A portion of the Centennial ad-
dress of Hon. C. C. Nourse of this city, is here appended:

" The 'claim laws' were unknown to the statutes of the
United States. They originated in the 'eternal fitness of
things,' and were enforced, probably, as belonging to that
class of natural rights not enumerated in the Constitution,
and not impaired or disparaged by its enumeration. * *
As far as practicable the Territorial legislature recognized
the validity of these 'claims, upon the public lands, and in
1839 passed an act legalizing their sale and making the trans-
fer a valid consideration to support a promise to pay for the

OF POLK COUNTY. 39

same. (Acts of 1843, p. 456.) The Supreme Territorial
Court held this law to be valid. (See Hill v. Smith, Ist
Morris Rep. 70.) The opinion not only contains a decision
of the question involved, but also contains much valuable
erudition upon that 'spirit of Anglo-Saxon liberty' which
the Iowa settlers unquestionably inherited in a direct line of
descent from the said 'Anglo Saxon.' "

W. H. McHenry, who came here in 1848, just in the
midst of the great claim excitement, states that the people
were at that time "a law unto themselves." The machinery
of the Courts had been imperfectly introduced; and Lynch
Law often took the place of a more civilized Code. The
people enacted what were styled Club laws for the govern-
ment of society. These laws had special jurisdiction in all
cases concerning the rights of claim holders. Each man
staked out his claim, and went to work on it, building his
cabin and making other improvements.

The Club laws, as Mr. McHenry states, were drafted by
Thomas Baker, Mr. Watts, and himself They provided
for the appointment of a committee to settle all disputes as
to the ownership of claims and the boundary lines thereof.
They also provided for the appointment of a Secretary,
"whose duty it should be to make a record of the numbers
of the lands belonging to members of the Club." It was
further made his duty "to attend the land sales to be held at
Iowa City, and bid off the lands for, and in the name of the
settlers. The settlers were to attend the sales, as far as
practicable, and knock down, and drag out, any person who
should attempt to interfere with their Secretary in the pur-
chase of any of their lands."

Mr. Tidrick, as Secretary, and the people faithfully per-
formed their duty in the enforcement of the Club laws.
No continuances were allowed; no dilatory pleas were
heard; no appeals were granted by Judge Lynch ! His
judgments were swift and certain !

40 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

FLEMING WAR.

As a matter of course, many difficulties of extraordinary
character, grew out of those conflicts of interest between
the speculator and the settler. In the spring of '49, Asa
Fleming held a claim South of Fort Des Moines. B. Per-
kins, a neighbor, filed an intention to pre-empt the prop-
erty. It happened in this case, that both of these men
were members of the Claim Club; and for this reason, the
act of Mr. Perkins was denounced as an atrocious infraction
of the principles to which the Club was committed. Mr.
Fleming, incensed at this injustice, informed the Claim
members of his wrongs, and a crowd soon gathered around
him, eager to vindicate his imperiled rights.

Meantime, Mr. Perkins was apprized of his danger, and
taking horse, he fled with all possible speed toward the
Raccoon Ferry, on which he designed to cross the river to
a more healthy latitude. He was followed by a multitude
of exasperated citizens, armed with guns and other imple-
ments of warfare. He managed to efi'ect his escape,
although he was repeatedly shot at; and when lie reached
the ferry, he was hatless and coatless, and his horse was
reeking with perspiration.

Not hearing from his enemies for a few days, Mr. Per-
kins emerged from his retreat, and had a warrant issued for
the arrest of Mr. Fleming, on the charge of assault with in-
tent to kill. The friends of the latter, who were quite
numerous, combined together, and proceeding in force to
the office of Benjamin Luce, Justice of the Peace, in one of
the Dragoon buildings, they rescued their friend who was
in custody, and giving him a horse, they escorted him in
triumph to his home.

Undismayed by this repulse, Mr. Perkins had his enemy
again arrested; but nearly a hundred friends of Mr. Flem-
ing massed together for resistance, and coming to the Rac-

OF POLK COUNTY. 4^

<;oon Ferry, armed and equipped in military style, they or-
dered Mr. Scott to take them across. This he refused to do,
■except on condition that they stacked their arms, and be-
came peaceable subjects of law and order. With this con-
dition they at last reluctantly complied, and they were taken
over, entering the town unarmed. Fleming v/as examined
in due form, the charges of Perkins found true, and the
prisoner gave bonds for his appearance at the next term of
the District Court. The Grand Jury, however, by that
time failed to find a bill against Fleming, and Perkins,
much against his inclination, had to give Fleming a bond.
Thus ended what is called the Fleming War.

In connection with this circumstance, we deem it proper
to present another of like character. A man named Hol-
land, temporarily stopping at the Fort, was, by some means,
suspected of complicity with Mr, Perkins in his invasion of
the rights of Mr. Fleming. The Claim Club, already ex
cited by the late irritating events, banded together with
hostile purpose, and proposed to execute vengeance on the
culprit, by hanging him immediately. Before the rope was
adjusted, Mr. Holland besought his enemies to give him
time to make some farewell remarks. This favor being
granted, he mounted a box, and made a speech which was
so replete with strong reason and moving eloquence, that
he at once disarmed his foes, and made them his fast friends.
Never was the magnetism of human speech more potent
than on this occasion.

EARLY settlers' ASSOCIATION.

This Society was organized February 26, 1868. Its first
officers were: President, Thomas Mitchell; Recording Sec-
retary, R. L. Tidrick; Corresponding Secretary, Hoyt Sher-
man; Treasurer, B. F. Allen. The first meeting was held in
the Council Rooms, and twenty-five persons were present.
Isaac Cooper was temporary Chairman, and Peter Myers
6

42 CEKTEl^NIAL HISTORY

was temporary Secretary. The Committee to draft Consti-
tution and By-Laws was composed ot Demas Robinson, J.
A. Nash, J. M. Griffiths, G. W. Cleveland, and Hoyt Sher-
man. Persons qualified to be Early Settlers at this meeting,
dated their residence back to 1856, or prior to that time.

One of the first acts of this Society, at this meeting, was
to pass suitable resolutions in memory of Dr. T. K. Brooks,
whose death was then a recent occurrence. Hon. G. G.
Wright, and Rev. J. A. Nash, were appointed a committee
to report a biographical sketch of the Doctor at the next
meeting, March 2d, 1868.

DK. T. K. BROOKS.

This gentleman, whose name figures so prominently in
our annals, was born in Montpelier, Vermont, May 4, 1811.
At the age of 24, he removed to New Lisbon, Columbiana
county, Ohio, and became a student of medicine in the office
of Dr. George McCook. He graduated at Starling Medical
College, Columbus, and afterwards received a Diploma from
the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He practiced
medicine five years at Terre Haute, Indiana, where he mar-
ried Miss Phcebe Barnes, Nov. 2d, 1843.

He removed to Iowa in September, 1845, and pursued his
profession for five years, during which time he frequently
manifested the kindness and benevolence of his nature, and
his eminent skill as a physician. From 1845 until the pe-
riod of his death, in 1868, he was often called, by appoint-
ment, or by the suffrages of his fellow-citizens, to fill posi-
tions of trust and importance; and he always acquitted him-
self in these capacities in a manner which reflected honor
on himself, and substantial good on his fellow-men. He
was a Presbyterian, and a Mason. No pioneer who has
passed from us through the gates of death, has left the fra-
grance of a better or brighter memory as a legacy to sor-
rowing friends.

OF POLK COUNTY, 43

FIRST MEMBERS OF E. 6. A.

At the second meeting of the Early Settlers' Association,
March 2d, 1868, the following persons gave in their names
as members: W. W. Williamson, Isaac Cooper, J. M,
Griffiths, J. A. Nash, H. H. Griffiths, P. M. Casady, David
Norris, Frank Nagle, Thomas Boyd, J. S. Cook, John Hays,
R. L. Tidrick, C. S. Spotford, S. F. Spofford, Madison
Young, R. W. Sypher, Ezra Rathburn, Wm. Baker, Thomas
McMuUen, W. A. Galbraith, G. W. Cleveland, Wm. De-
Ford, Hoyt Sherman, Mrs. M. R. Sypher, J. B. Bausman,
Peter Myers, H. H. Saylor, R. P. Peters, Mrs. S. F. Spofford,
Thomas Mitchell, Thompson Bird, and J. C. Jordan.

THE DEAD OF E. S. A.

The following list includes the names of Early Settlers,
so far as the records of the Association give information on
this subject: T. K. Brooks, Walter Oyler, Thompson Bird,
John Barlow, J. W. Laird, Benjamin Bryant, E. Sanford,
Stewart Goodrell, Rev. Sanford Haines, J. W. Jones, C.
Stutzman, Lewis Jones, Harr}' Stephenson, Madison Young,
J. S. Cook (killed by falling from a stage in Colorado),
Charles S. Spofford, Maria J. Hardin, M. E. Nordyke, John
S. Dean, E. M. Bolton, John L. Smith, John McClain, T.
W. Carpenter, H. H. Saylor, Jesse S. Dicks, and Alexander
Bowers.

It was our good fortune to become personally acquainted
with a large majority of the settlers whose names have just
been given, and who have gone from among us to the
silence and repose of the grave. No citizen of Des Moines
was more widely known in his time than Benjamin Bryant,
to whom reference is made in other places. We have had
occasion elsewhere to speak of Rev. Thompson Bird, in con-
nection with the rise and progress of the Presbyterian
Church, and in reference, also, to many subjects of historic

44 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

interest, with which his name has become identified. He-
died January 4th, 1869, having obtained recognition among
us as a gentleman of pleasing and genial manners, and as a
Christian minister of fine attainments and great usefulness.

Rev. Sanford Haines, who died January 11th, 1871, was
extensively known through all this region of country, as-
a talented and popular Presiding Elder in theM. E. Church.
Lewis Jones, who died April 18th, 1875, once taught school
in Brown county, Ohio, and one of his pupils was Hiram S.
Grant, afterward the celebrated Ulyses S. Grant, now Pres-
ident of the United States. The writer of this history was
attending the same school at the time.

Madison Young, a gentleman of unafiected goodness and
purity of character, died October 2 1st, 1873, at Cincinnati.

J. W. Jones died December 2d, 1873. Charles S. Spof-
ford, son of Ex-Mayor S. F. Spofibrd, and a young man
well known and greatly esteemed by a large number of
friends, died January 6th, 1872. James Sherman, brother
of Hoyt and L. P. Sherman of this place, and a gentleman
of great popularity, died at Cincinnati during the war. He
was a brother also of Gen. W. T. Sherman. John S. Dean,
a fine old patriarch, full of years and honors, died Decem-
ber 2l8t, 1872, •

FIRST FESTIVAL.

The first festival of the Early Settlers Association was
held in Capitol Square, October 12, 1868, Hon.Thos. Mitch-
ell in the chair. Prayer was offered by Rev. De Forest;
music by Collard's Brass Band, and an oration by Rev. J.
A. Nash.

J. M. Thrift, one of the first fathers of the county, if not
the first, read a paper full of interesting reminiscences of the
olden times. Four hundred early settlers were present on
the occasion ; and refreshments in abundance, improvised
in pic-nic style, were spread before the waiting crowd.

OF POLK COUNTY. 45

On the 6th of January, 1869, the ceremonies connected
with the burial of Rev. Thompson Bird, were directed by
the early settlers. Rev. J. A. Nash delivered the funeral
discourse.

The last recorded festival of the E. S. Association, oc-
curred August 30, 1873, on the grounds of the Driving
Park Association. The day was excessively warm, the mer-
cury standing at 102 degrees in the shade. The attendance
was larger than usual, and the exercises were very interest-
ing.

At this meeting the following officers were chosen: Pres-
ident, Thomas Mitchell ; Vice President^, Isaac Cooper,
John Hays, Frank Nagle, H. H. Saylor, D. Y. Cole, John
D. McGlothlen, J. C. Jordan, Benjamin F. Frederick, New-
ton Lamb, and John McClain ; -Recording Secretary, R L.
Tidrick; Corresponding Secretary, Hoyt Sherman ; Treas-
urer, B. F. Allen,

HISTORIC ITEMS.

We find in the records of the E. S. Association that A.
B. Fuller and P. H. Buzzard, made the first plow and wagon
in the county. This occurred in 184Y. We find also that
the first drayman in Fort Des Moines was Micha3l Kennedy,
who came here in 1855. The first steam power was em-
ployed by C. C. Van, who came here in 1848. The first
steaji power applied in journalism, was by John Teesdale,
on The Register ^ in 1859.

The first stove store in the town was kept by Jesse S.
Dicks, who came in 1849. Gen. N. B. Baker, writing in
the records of the E. S. A., in his own characteristic style,
remarks that he has looked over ten States, and finds Iowa
the best of all.

Hoyt Sherman, jr., born in 1851, and C. W. Garrett, born
in 1848, are both natives of Polk county.

The first power press in printing a newspaper, was used

4g CENTENNIAL HISTORY

by T. H. Sypherd on the Citizen^ in 1856. This press was
of the Guernsey style, run by hand.

The first piano in Fort Des Moines was owned by Cap-
tain F. R. West. It was made to discourse sweet music on
the occasion of the marriage of B. F. Allen, in 1854, and
Miss Thusa West, daughter of the Captain.

The first ice dealer in town was E. R. Clapp ; and the
second, George K. Cranston, who, with his brother Charles,
came from Rhode Island. The building near the river,
which they used as an ice house in 1856, is now used for the
same purpose by Grefe & Sons.

OLD SETTLERS DEATH.

[From the loica State Megister.)

Died, in Franklin township, Polk county, September 23d,
Sarah Ann TruUinger, wife of Eli Trullinger, aged 58 years.
Mrs. Trullinger was born in Hamilton county, Ohio; re-
moved to Indiana, and was married to Eli Trullinger in
September, 1837. They came to Iowa in the year 1843, and
have resided in Franklin township since 1845. Mrs. T. has
been a member of the Christian Church about fifteen years,
and has ever exemplified her profession by a consistent life.
Her sickness was of a very short duration, and thus sud
denly, family and friends are bereft of her society and neigh-
borly companionship.

ANOTHER DEATH.

Died — September 9, 18V6, A. Fonts, who came to Camp
township. Folk county, in the year 1849, and lived there a
good and quiet citizen until the year 1870, when he moved
to Richardson county, IsTebraska, where he died in his 78th
year. He leaves a wife and children and many warm
friends to mourn his death.

OF POLK COUJSITY. 47

THE UNRECORDED DEAD.

Among the dead of early settlers, of whom no mention
is made in the records, are Mrs. C. M. Burt, Wm. Rickey,
Wm. Barnes, Geo. M. Swan, formerly an editor in Columbus,
Ohio; Safford Savery, John Bender, Jacob Krysher, Thos.
Baber, William Butler, Lambert Sternberg, Jas, McRoberts,
Conrad Youngerman, Frank Butler, D. B. Spaulding, W.
Wheelhouse, George and Jacob Hauser, Mrs. Richard Crys-
tal; Jacob, George and William Van Dorn ; Judge John
H. Gray, George and Jacob Marts, Adolphus and Josiah
Hopkins, John Messersmith, George Currans, Father Crab-
tree, Jeremiah Barlow, Benjamin Hunt, P. G. Miller, Sam-
uel Hays, Dr. J. C. Bennett, Hiram Smith, Judge Burbridge,
John Kellison, J. M. Montgomery, Lewis Barlow, Edward
Martin, Mrs. Kunckols, Drs. F. C. and Henry Grimmel, Mrs.
Jonathan Lyon.

The last list given was not designed to include the dead
of the war, whose names are found elsewhere. In present-
ing these names, we have nothing to assist us but our own
memory.

Alexander Bowers came to Fort Des Moines from Ross
county, Ohio, in 1848. He was Deputy U. S. Marshal du-
ring the war. He was a gentleman of great probity and
usefulness, leaving at his death an independent property to
his widow and adopted daughter.

Frank Butler, an exemplary and excellent citizen, fell
dead in the streets of Des Moines nearly two years ago,
from disease of the heart.

John L. Smith, a good old pioneer, was killed near Stuart
by falling from a carriage when the horses were running
away. He lingered in great agony several hours after the
accident.

G. M. Swan, an eccentric genius, well known in the
county, died in Des Moines, December, 1868.

4g CENTENNIAL HISTORY

John Mc Williams, a good, genial soul as ever lived, died
in Detroit, Michigan.

Of early settlers, none were better known than Drs.
Frank C. and Henry Grimmel. They were both learned in
their profession, and enjoyed a merited popularity. Dr.
Henry established on Walnut street, a drug store in a little
brick building, which in 1857 fell into ruins.

John H. Gray, Judge of the District Court from 1858
until 1865, died October 8th, in the latter year. He was an
unaffected Christian, a talented man, and a good Judge.
He was a leading member of the M. E. Church; and was
succeeded in office by Hon. C. C. Nourse, appointed by Gov.
Stone.

ANCIENT DOCUMEXTS.

To gratify the antiquarian in history, we take pleasure in
subjoining exact copies of several old documents which
have been received from the Old Settlers' Association, as
follows:

TEERITORY OF IOWA, 1
Polk County. /

I hereby certify that at an election held on the 8d day of
August, 1846, in the county aforesaid, Thomas Mitchell was
duly elected Sheriff in and for Polk county aforesaid, for
two years from the first Monday in August, 1846.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, with
the Seal of the Board of Commissioners hereto affixed, at
Fort Des Moines, this 8th day of August, 1846.

WILLIAM McKAY,
Clerk of the Board of C ommissio ners.

TERRITORY OF IOWA, \
Polk County. j

I, Thomas Mitchell, of said County, do solemnly swear,
that I ^v ill support the Constitution of the United States,

OF POIK COUNTY, 49

and that I will faithfully execute the office of Sheriff, in and
for the County of Polk in said Territory.

THOMAS MITCHELL.

I, Perry L. Grossman do testify the oath aforesaid was
taken and subscribed before me this seventh day of April,
A. D. 1846.

P. L. CROSSMAN,
Clerk of the District Court in and for said County.

TERRITORY OF IOWA, \
Polk Cijunty, j

Be it remembered that Perry L. Crossman, Clerk of the
District Court, and ex-officio Clerk of the Board of County
Commissioners of the County of Polk in said Territory, do
hereby certify that Thomas Mitchell of said County has
been duly (on the first Monday in the month of April, A.
D, 1846,) elected and qualified as Sheriff in and for said
County, until the first Monday in the month of August next
and until his >successor is elected and qualified

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and af-
fixed the temporary seal of said Court at Fort Des
Moines in said County, this Seventh day of April,

A. D. 1846.

P. L. CRv)^SMAlS,C'Zer/fe.

TERRITORY OK IOWA, 1
Polk County. /

To the Sheriff of said County: — The following is a
statement of the proportion of jurors to which each precinct
or place of voting is entitled to in said County. To-wit:
The number of jurors apportioned to the precinct or place
of voting at the house of Thomas Mitchell, on Camp Creek
it said County, is thirty-six-. The number of jurors, appor-
tioned to the precmct or place of voting, at the house of
John D Parmalee, in the neighborhood of the Three Rivers,
in said County, is fifty-six; and the number of jurors, appor-
7

50 CEJSTTENNIAL HISrORY

tioned to the precinct or place of voting at Fort Des Moiue&
in said County, is fifty-eight.

Done at Fort Des Moines, this fifteenth day of April, A.
D. 1846.

AVILLIAM McKAY.
Clerk of the Board o^ Commissioners.

In the matter of the joint purchase of the East half of
the North-west fourth of 9, T. 78, R. 24, on which is laid
out the Fagan addition to the town of Fort Des Moines, in
Polk County, Iowa, the purchase money of which was eight
hundred and twenty-five dollars, ($825) — the parties thereto,
Robertson & Holland of the one part, and Peirce B. Fagan,
of the other part, have this day settled up all matters and
find that Robertson & Holland have paid four hundred and
twelve dollars and fifty cents, the one half of the purchase
money; and the said Peirce B. Fagan, four hundred and
twelve dollars and fifty cents, the other half, to Mrs. Ayres
for whom the same had been purchased.
Fort Des Moines, January 18th, 1849.

ROBERTSO>^ & HOLLA :^D.

PEIRCE B. FAGAN.

FoET Des Moines, March 16, 184'7.
Henry Burge, Esq.

Sir : — There will be elected at our next election — A State
Officer, styled Superintendent of Public Instruction, a Dis-
trict Officer, styled District Judge; and such County and
Township Officers as are mentioned in the advertisement.

Each Township requires three sets of Poll Books. Two
Poll Books make a set. When a person votes for. State,
District, and County and Township Officers, hit name
should be written in all the Poll Books. But if he votes
for only one or the other, that is, for State, or District, or
County and Township Officers, his name should be written
on only one set of the Poll Books.

OF POLK COUNTY. 5 \

Three Poll Books must be returned to the Clerk of the
Board of Commissioners, and three kept by one of the
Judges or Clerks of election.

Take care to return one Poll Book, containing the votes
for Superintendent of Public Instruction.

One containing the votes for Judge; and one containing
the votes for County and Township Officers.

We hope the Democrats will play the Whigs a strong
game, and show that we have a clear majority in this county.
It is said, that the Democratic candidate for Judge is the
best lawyer in the State.

LEWIS WRITTEN,

THE TOWNSHIPS.

The reader will observe that the previous pages of this
work are devoted more especially to a consideration of Fort
Des Moines and its immediate surroundings. Here were
the first settlements made, and to this point, therefore, the
attention of the historian has been first directed.

The Townships of Des Moines, Lee, and Valley, have
been considered together for historical purposes, while the
other Townships, except those most recently created, which
have no distinctive history of themselves, are arranged
alphabetically.

TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS.

The County was originally divided — February 2d, 1847 —
into four Townships, viz: Des Moines, Madison, Camp,
and Skunk. Allen, Four Mile, and Saylor, were organized
January 4th, 1848. Jackson Township was organized June
16th, 1859; but it was vacated, and restored to Madison
Township, July 12th, same year. A portion of Saylor was
attached to Des Moines Township, October 3d, 1849. Bea-
ver was organized from parts of Skunk and Camp Town-
ships, January 9th, 1850; Delaware, October 9th, 1850; Jef-

52 CENTENNIAL FISTOHY

fersoD, January 2d, 1851; E'khart,- 1851. Wash-
ington and Franklin were organized Maroh 6th, 1856; Lee.
September 28th, 1857; Douglas, September 6th, 1858. A
portion of Camp was added to Four Mile, September 2l8t,
1858; and the same date a part of Four Mile was attached
to Lee. Bloomfield was organized September 20th, 1858.
Walnut Township was- organized from portions of Je€erson
and Des Moines, January Vth, 1860. It was reorganized,
with certain changes, March 26th, 1860; and October Ist,
1860, a portion of this Township was added to Jefferson,
leaving the boundaries of both Townships as they now
exist. Valley Township was organized March 26th, 1860;
and Grant, from a portion of Lee, September Yth, 1870.
Saylor reorganized, Crocker and Lincoln were constituted
of parts of Madison, Lee, and olie original Saylor Town-
ship, December 2".th, 1870. SkuLk, one of the original
Townships, was absorbed by Washington, Elkhart, and
Franklin.

We had intended to present here the boundaries of the
different Townships, as they now exist, but this would re-
quire more space than we have to spare.

ALLEN TO W'NSHIP.

This Township is lcc.*,te<l in the iouthwest^rn part of the
County, and is a ps t of TowiJiship 78, Range 23. The
surface is mostly prdi'ie, ar d unduh irng. The greater part
of the land is Undei in.prov irant. ';nal is found here in
large quantities. Tbib Tovvnship, which was divided in
1853, by the bf^uniar^ "iiio which separates Polk County
from Warren, vva^- fifbt .-eiled in 1 844, by U. B. Clark, on
the north, < r Pu)k County side. As a considerativ a for
building a bridge over North River, on the line of the old
trail, which WhS r.ftoiwaiie con voiced into what was called
the Fort Dts M ui .^s and Kiioxviile State Ro^id, Jdi. Clark
was permitted by Captain Allen, for whom the Townslnp

OF POLK COUNTY. 5.^

was named, to make the claim on which he settled. Elias
ComptoL, Mr. Kunckolp, and Joseph Williams, in 1845 took
up their residence on Keokuk Prairie. James Davis con-
structed his cabin, and split the first rails in that part of the
country.

The village of Avon was laid out by Charles Keeney,
August 1st, 1856, and for a time it had quite arapid growth,
situated, as it was, on the line of the State Road, to which
we have referred. In 1859, it had an accession of twenty
houses, ai!u appeared to be on the full tide of prosperity.
A 'arge hotel, several stores, and a church building, belong-
ing to the United Brethren, were among the improvements
of that year. Of the early villagers, we mention Stephen
Shelton, Dr. Myrick, and Dr. J. W. Bishop. Jonathan
Kdtney kept store, and Eliza Kenwcrthy, afterwards Mrs.
Gacldis, laug 't the firt^t school in towL. The nearness of
Avon to Des Moines, and its remoteness from the station or,
the I. & W. R. R., together with other causes, have pre-
vented it from growing wiih much rapidity in these later
times. Still, as the only village in Allen Township, sup-
ported by a fertile country, abounding in many resources, it
has strong attractions.

It will be remembered that the south half of the original
Township, belonging no\ ) Warren, * s for a time ^he
property of Polk County; and as suc:i, its early history is
identified with our?. Besides the settlers already mentioi: ed .
it is proper to lOte the name of Jehu Bander, a hospitable
farmer, one of whose daugjterii was v^edded to Jonn D
MoGlothlen, another to Levi Kryshe?, Esq., and still another
to Daniel Hiskey, a mercbai;.t of Monroe, Jasper county.
Rev. James Fleming ami his sons, Asa, a school teacher
William and Elijah, lived in this part of the County.
Thomas G^oi-h, Benjami>i, Icftac. Solomon, and Daniel Per-
kins, Daniel Moore, and Matthew Spuriock, Esq., settled
heie in 184Y.

54 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Near Avon station, William Buzick laid out the town of
Circleville, in 1848, but it is now known only in tradition.
In 1846, Jeremiah Church, a peripatetic city builder, impro-
vised the village of Dudley, on the Des Moines, one mile
below the mouth of North river. At first it grew rapidly,
and bade fair to give an honorable immortality, to its foun-
der, but during the great freshet of 1851, when it rained,
according to the testimony of Mr. Church, forty days and
forty nights, the village with all its present and prospective
importance went down the river on a voyage to the Gulf.
Mr. Church greatly disgusted, retired two miles to the inte
rior, and started the town of Carlisle, which is to-day one
of the flourishing villages of Warren County.

There were three villages started by Mr. Church, viz.:
Jericho, Dudley, and Carlisle, the last of which proved to
be a success. The others went down to their graves, " un-
wept, unhonored, and unsung."

The death of Mrs. Kunckola in 1846, was the first event
of the kind in the Township. The Kunckols family had
been living on the claim afterward owned by Mr. McGloth-
len. Their cabin was constructed of poles; and the earth
itself constituted the greater part of the floor. Here, with
these cheerless surroundings, the wife and mother died,
leaving several children to realize the bitterness of their
bereavement.

The marriage of Jackson Shoemaker to Miss Compton,
was the first incident of this nature in this part of the coun-
ty-

Rev. C. B. Jones, of the United Brethren Church, was
one of the pioneer preachers; and among the worshipers of
his congregation, were William McMahan and family, who
settled here in 1846.

The Avon Cemetery was handsomely laid out in 1856,
displaying tine taste on the part of those who had the super-
vision of it.

OF POLK COUNTY. 55

John D. McGlothlen, member of the Board of Commis-
sioners in 1848, came to the County, July, 1846. The farm
on which he settled had been owned by G. B. Clark, a
pioneer who peceived a permit from the Government in 1844,
to make a claim on Keokuk Prairie. The settlers cotem-
porary with Mr. McGlothlen, in Allen Township, were G.
B. Scott, Elias and William Compton. G. B. Clark and
Jam€8 Davis preceded Mr. M. Avon Station is included
within the limits of Mr. McGlothlen's farm.

The first school teacher in Allen Township was Thomas
McClelland, who employed, for school purposes, an old log
building belonging to Mr. McGlothlen, This was in
1849. The first school house was a frame building, one half
mile east of what is now Avon Station, erected in 1854. A
Methodist society was organized in 1847, meeting at differ-
ent houses in the neighborhood. Revs. Ezra Rathburn and
James Fleming were among the earliest Methodist preach-
ers. The Baptists organized in 1848, with Revs. Keeney
and J. A. Nash as occasional preachers, the latter, however,
not until 1851.

Keokuk, the Chief, had two residences, a short distance
north of what is now Avon Station, one of which, in the
timber, was his winter, and the other, on the prairie, was
his summer residence. The tepes, or wigwams, of his en-
campment, were visible in 1846.

Lewis Powell built, in 1849, a log house on the site of
the village plat laid out by William Buzick, and named
Circleville.

Jeremiah Church, after building half a hundred towns iai
different parts of the country, died two years ago, at the res-
idence of his son-in-law, Dr. Hull, at Carlisle, Warren
county. He was about eighty years of age at the time of
his death.

Since writing the above, we have acquired some addi-
tional information in regard to this Township. We subjoin

56 CENTENSJIAL HISTORY

the followiQg names of settlers who came to this region be-
tween 1846 and 1850, and who have not hitherto been men-
tioned: Jacob Krysher, and his sons George and Levi;
John Watts, John Watson, J. T. Wright, James P. Deaton,
Jacob Bender, Thomas Baber, Wm. Butler, Robert Gaddis,
William LDwry, Jonathan Keeney, and James McRoberts.
Mr. McRoberts had been one of Capt. Allen's soldiers, be-
fore making his claim on Keokuk Prairie. Robert Gaddis
was the first teacher in the school house erected near Avon
Station. George Krysher built a steam saw-mill in Avon.
A. S. Rice and Austin Warnock came here in 1852. J. P.
Hendrix and Nelson Ball were early settlers near Des
Moines, probably in this Township.

John D. McGlothlen paid four hundred dollars for bis
claim. His farm consists of 873 acres, and is in a fine
state of improvement. Keokuk Prairie, once the abode of
the red man, is ornamented from one end to the other by
orchards, fields, well stored barns, and splendid residences.

BEAVER TOWNSHIP.

(Township 79, Range 22.) Camp Creek is in the eastern
part, and Mud Creek in the western. The surface is rolling,
and extensive improvements are visible in every part.

This township has a very interesting history. One of the
first, as well as one of the most prominent, settlers of the
county was Thomas Mitchell, who came from Fairfield,
Iowa, in 1844, and settled at Apple Grove. His house,
composed of green logs in the ancient style of double cab-
ins, and ornamented with a puncheon floor, was built in
the.grove near Camp Creek, north of the Iowa City road.
Wild apples were so plentiful in the vicinity, as to suggest
a name for this primitive residence. Mr. Mitchell was
permitted by the government to make his claim as a com-
pensation for the erection of a bridge over C;imp Creek, on
the road to Keokuk. The supplies for the garrison were
i

OF POLK COUNTY. 57

brought from that place, and this improvement, therefore,
was a prime necessity. For the benefit of travelers, many
of whom were seeking homes in the West, the cabin of Mr.
Mitchell was converted into a public house. The property
was ultimately sold to Mr. Keith, and subsequently it went
into the hands of Lambert Sternberg.

In 1846, L. M. Burke settled here, as also did Jos. Slaugh-
ter, the latter about a mile from Skunk, or Chicaqua river.
Northward, on Clear river, Joseph Kintz became a settler.
These families, along with the residents at Tool's Point,
were for a long time the only neighbors of Mr. Mitchell.
Rev. Mr. Pardoe, an itinerant minister, preached at Apple
Grove the first sermon in the county, to a small company
of hearers. In 1857, Mr. Mitchell laid out the village of
Mitchelltown, on the road leading from Newton to Des
Moines. At one time it had twelve houses, two hotels, and
a high school building; but the hard times, combined with
other causes, retarded its development, and it died a prema-
ture death.

Ten years later, June 2d, ISGY, the same energetic propri-
etor started the village of Mitchellville, on the line of the
Rock Island Railroad. The improvements here have been
rapid and permanent; and Mitchellville, with its thousand
inhabitants, and its popular institution of learning, is a
credit to the county, as well as to the enterprising gentle-
man who founded it.

Among the early settlers of Mitchellville were E. J. Val-
entine, merchant; A. J. Grismer, hotel; Mayor Cram, Geo.
D. Moore, and Jones Brothers, who erected a brick block.

South of Mitchellville, three-quarters of a mile, is the
station of Nobleton, on the K. & D. M. R. R. Here some
improvements have been made, and a grain trade is carried
on quite extensively.

In 1856, P. H. Humphreys bought the farm of Mr. Mitch-
ell about a mile west of the old stand, on the stage road.

5g CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Here the former gentleman kept the Stage Station, and the
Postoffice, the latter of which was employed as a distribu-
ting office in a circumscribed way. The old Apple Grove
P. O. was extinguished by the new Mitchellville, and to
this place Mr. Humphreys retired, establishing there a pop-
iilar hotel,

MITCHELL SEMINARY.

This is the name of a thriving young academic institu-
tion, located in the incorporated town of Mitchellville. It
was named in honor of Hon. Thomas Mitchell, whose lib-
eral donation of lots and lands formed the inception of the
enterprise. It is controlled by a Board of Trustees, ap-
pointed by the Iowa Universalist Convention, but the
school is non-sectarian in its management. The corner
stone of the very fine edifice was laid on the 4th day of
July, 1872, and the building was completed, and the school
opened, in September, 1873. The building is of the com-
posite order of architecture, and presents a very imposing
appearance. It is situated on a slight elevation between
the Rock Island and Keokuk & Des Moines Railroads^
which at this point are about three quarters of a mile apart.
The building is three stories high, with mansard tower, and
it cost the moderate sum of $21,500. The present value of
the school property is about $40,000. It has been, for the
past two years, entirely self-sustaining, without income from
endowment.

The following constitute the present Board of Trustees:
Hon. Thomas Mitchell, President ; Rev. J. R. Sage, Secre-
tary; Hon. B. F. Gue, Des Moines, Treasurer; Edwin Con-
ger, Dexter ; R. A. Sankey, Newton ; Hon. M. L. Ed-
wards and Edwin Van Cise, Mt. Pleasant; F. J. Upton,
Cedar Rapids; and Rev. B. F. Snook, Webster City. The
school is under the charge of Rev. J. R. Sage as Principal,

OF POLK COUNTY, 59

and Mrs. E. C. Sage, Preceptress, assisted by an efficient

corps of teachers.

The institution is an ornament to the town and county in

which it is located, and deserving of the liberal patronage
of our citizens.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP

Contains all of Township 78, Range 24, Township 78,
Range 25, south of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, ex-
cept the south limits of the city. In 1847, Owen Edgarton
erected his cabin on the Indianola road; at an early day,
1849, James Smith, the celebrated nurseryman, left Dela-
ware Township, and settled in Bloomfield. Among old res-
idents, it is proper to name Messrs. Chiles, H. C. Hargis
Smith Means, who lived in Hargis' barn one winter, Phil-
lips, Blye, George Bentley, Elijah Jones, and Miss Fore-
man, who taught the first school. Mr. Bentley was the
first Magistrate. Rev. V. P. Fink, of the M. E. Church,
now of this city, preached here in early times.

This Township occupies an important place in the County,
and abounds in natural resources. Its proximity to the
city, together with its other advantages, make it a very de-
sirable place of residence. Coal is abundant, and measures
have been instituted, some of which have already been very
successful, to brirg up from the bosom of the earth its vast
mineral treasures.

The village of Sevastopol, about one mile from the Court
House, was laid out by James Sherman, May dth, 1862. It
is situated in the midst of an extensive coal mining region;
and it has steadily improved until at this time it contains a
population of about three hundred, with all the adjuncts of
a flourishing village. The Soap and Candle Factory of R.
F. Young, controlling a large business, is located here; and
the brewery of Mr. Munzenmeier, which occupies a position
of prominence in this department of business, is situated
within the limits of the same town.

^Q CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

One of the first weddings in the Township was that of
Rev. Diltz and Miss Hargis. This happy event was fol-
lowed in a year or two by the death of the bride. A little
child, Ferry Davis, died in 1854. The Blye school house
was one of the first erected in the Township. In the same
neighborhood the Methodists erected a frame church build-
ing, called Bloomfield Chapel, to accommodate a class which
had been organized some time before.

In 1854, McCormick's reapers, and newly modeled thresh"
ing machines, began to be introduced here, as well as in
other parts of the County, taking the place of the ancient
order of things.

M. L. Devin, a resident of Des Moines twenty years ago,
has a large, well cultivated farm in this Township. He
pays much attention to the raising of thoroughbred stock.
Many wealthy farmers besides him, are living here, who, in
a few years, have made a wonderful change in the face of
the landscape.

Samuel Gray, and Samuel Bell, the former of whom was
once County Treasurer, and the latter our first Superintend-
ent of Schools, were both early settlers of Bloomfield. Mrs.
M. A. Brefchbill, who once had a store in an old Govern-
ment building on the site now occupied by Keyes, Thomp-
son & Reeves' wholesale establishment, has been a resident
of this Township several years. Her farm, containing a
section of land, was a bare prairie in 1861. It is now all
under cultivation, and includes within its limits, a fine or-
chard of 2,000 bearing apple trees.

CAMP TOWNSHIP.

Contains Township 78, Range 22, and northeast part of
77, 22. This is a densely settled township, with a gen-
erous distribution of timber and rolling prairie. Camp and
Mud creeks, and the Des Moines river, are its principal
streams. Coal is found along its water courses.

OF POLK COUNTY. g|

Patrick Kelly came here in 1848, and the Garrets, for
whom an entire community is named, settled in 1850.
About the same time, Wm. Sweeney established his home.
The Plummers also found homes in the Garret neighbor-
hood. James Stewart, George N. Stewart, and Elijah Can-
field came in 1846, the latter Stewart starting a store some-
time afterward; and in 184Y, J. M. Montgomery, Rev. Mr.
Russell, David Johnson, Mr. Woodward, Montgomery Mc-
Call, Abel Fonts, Joseph Langdon, L. M. Burke, Mr. Rob-
inson, and Miss Lavinia Hendricks belonged to the list of
arrivals. Miss Hendricks was united in marriage to Mr.
Woodward, at James Stewart's residence, Esq. Abel Fouts
officiating. J. B. Hempstead, Creth Renfrow, and a Mr.
Fleming, were accessions to the Stewart settlement in 1847.

In 1849, Dr. A. Y. Hull advertised lots for sale in the
village of Lafayette. This place had some notoriety in
1848, and the energy of its new proprietor. Dr. Hull, an em-
inent physician by the way, and a good lawyer, stimulated
its growth wonderfully. The Doctor's father, John Hull,
also settled here.

On the 4th day of July, 1850, an important celebration
occurred in this village, in which many of the people par-
ticipated.

Adelphi is remembered also as one of the villages of
Camp Township, laid out April 6th, 1857; but this place, as
well as Lafayette, has had no railroad line to give strength
and efficiency to its growth.

One of the first Justices of the Peace in this part of the
country, was James N. Stewart, elected in 1847. Elijah
Canfield erected, south of Burk's Grove, a log cabin, six-
teen feet square, with a stick chimney and a fireplace com-
posed of a few stones. In the winter of 1846-7 a log school
house was built in the neighborhood. One day, when the
children of Mr. Canfield were proceeding to school, they
were badly frightened by a huge timber wolf, two feet and

Q2 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

a half in height, which had been for some time a pest and a
terror to the community. The children escaped unharmed;
and a few nights later, when the brute made his appearance
in the vicinity of Mr. Canfield's pigpen, the old pioneer
grasped his shot-gun, and fired at the bold intruder. The
wolf fell dead. Rattlesnakes infested this region in those
times; and skunks, rabbits, and prairie wolves abounded. In
the fall of 1846, fever and ague prevailed most alarmingly,
and the family of Mr. Canfield became victims of this dis-
ease. His little daughter Angeline, and a boarder in the
family named Lathrop, died. In the midst of this general
sickness, Mr. Canfield was compelled from necessity to go
sixty miles to mill. While absent, he was himself prostra-
ted for a time by the epidemic. His protracted absence
greatly alarmed the family, who, on account of their own
sickness, were unable to care for the cows and other stock
on the farm. After a time, however, Mr. Canfield returned,
showing the result of his sharp experiences in his bilious
face and wasted figure.

The Lower Des Moines Trail, as it was called in those
days, led through Red Rock, and through Stewart Settle-
ment in Camp Township, to Fort Des Moines. A Chris-
tian Church was organized in Stewart Settlement, by Rev.
Russell. This gentleman preached the funeral sermon of
the pioneer, J. M. Montgomery. The first death at the Set-
tlement occurred in the family of Mr. Woodward, his little
child being the victim. Edward Martin, the Des Moines
River ferryman, noticed elsewhere, died in 1850.

Dances were frequent at the residence of Mr. Robinson,
at which Jerry Church, the city builder, was wont to exer-
cise the virtues of his violin, while the young people, and
sometimes the old ones, tripped the light fantastic toe! Per
Gontrayin the spring of 1848, a class of Methodists, eight in
number, was organized in Mr. CanSeld's neighborhood, of
which that gentleman was chosen leader. Rev. Ezra Rath-

OF POLK COUNTY. ^3

burn preached occasionally, and much good was accom-
plished in the interest of Christianity.

The pioneer, L. M. Burke, was a poet and a genius. The
diary which he kept in 1848, was a lively commentary on
the scarcity of money in those times, and the general pov-
erty and destitution of the people. Teaming was a com-
mon occupation, but it was not fruitful of fiaancial results.
J. J. McCall contracted with Mr. Ballard, in 1846, to haul
his corn to Fort Des Moines, agreeing to take each alter-
nate load as a compensation.

The residences of John Q. Deacon, and other families,
now living in Jasper County, were in former times, although
there has been no removal by these persons, citizens of
Camp township. The change of the townships on the
southern line of the County in 1853, produced this result.
Calvin Brockett, William Wallace, and a man named Linn,
were settlers here in 1846.

Lafayette was a lively village in 1849 and 1850, stimu-
lated as it was by the arrival of Dr. Hull and his relatives.
Parties were frequent; and the singing school taught by a
Mr. Hatch from Warren County, was a distinguishing fea-
ture. In the latter year, the approach of a steamer to that
place, on its way up to Fort Des Moines, caused quite a
sensation, the villagers hurrying in crowds, to the river to
witness the wonderful spectacle.

The first wedding in the village was that of Peter
Kidgeway and Miss Hamlin. The first birth was in the
family of Jonathan Hammer. The babe was named Maggie
Hull. The first death occurred in the family of Peter
Ridgeway. His child expired when still in its babyhood.

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP

Contains Township 79, Range 23. This is a good town-
ship, well watered and timbered, the limber being found in

54 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

the vicinty of Four Mile Creek, which is the principal
stream.

Riley Thornton came to this section in 1846, settling on
a branch of the Four Mile, followed soon after by William
Haworth, Isaac Thornton, William James, and C. Brazel-
ton. Rev. Mr. Corey, the pioneer of Corey's Grove, preached
here in 1849. The first death was that of a little child of
Mr. Haworth. The first wedding united Clay Van Doren
to a daughter of Mr. James. Stephen Harvey came here
in 1851. Anthony, and his son Levi Yant, came soon after,
living in a cabin of Mr. Harvey. Among those who came
here as pioneers at this time and subsequently, were Rev.
Demas Robinson, John Harlen, I. Hand, B. H. Woodrow,
John H. and Benjamin Robison, and Mr. Florey, a Dunkard
minister.

The first school in the Yant and Woodrow neighborhood
was taught by Mr. Phenicia. Rev. Mr. Summerbell, well
known to our citizens, was one of the first preachers Ste-
phen Harvey erected a saw mill in 1854, resulting in great
advantage to the infant settlement.

It was to this township that James Smith, the veteran
orchard grower, first immigrated. He afterwards moved to
Bloomfield township, where for many years he has been
widely and popularly known in his department of enter-
prise. Isaac Cooper came here in October, 1845, and sub
sequently became a resident of Fort Des Moines.

Altoona, partly in Beaver, but principally in Delaware
township, a few miles west of Mitchellville, at the junction
of the Rock Island and Keokuk & Des Moines railroads,
was started in 1867, by a Mr. Cook, who called it Peters-
burg. The next year, August 3d, 1868, when it contained
but two houses, it was oflicially laid out by H. G. Davis and
J. B. Bausman, of Des Moines. When the Rock Island
Railroad reached this place, in 1867, it was called Yant's

OF POLK COUNTY. ^5

Station, and was afterwards rechristened Altoona, by sug-
gestion of Mr. Bausman.

Among the early residents of Altoona, were W, Cbam-
berlain and N. W. Wheeler, merchants; and J. W. Seller,
blacksmith. H. C. Ensign laid out eighty acres in Dela-
ware township as the first addition to th« original town plat
of ten acres. Dr. Morgan opened his office for the practice
of medicine, and in 1871, T. E. Harris opened a grain ware-
bouse and sold farming implements. In 1873, the K. & D.
M. depot was built, and D, A. Cheney erected an elevator.
A large and commodious school house was built in 1874.

A society of Methodists was formed in the Harvey neigh-
borhood, meeting at the residence of that gentleman. Ja-
<job Butts, an exhorter, often addressed the class. He also
taught a singing school.

Calvin Thornton and Larned Case were among the first
magistrates of Delaware township. Mr. Case came to the
county in 1847, and Mr. Thornton a little earlier. A destruc-
tive prairie fire occurred in this township in 1868.

DOFGLAS TOWNSHIP

Contains Township 80, range 23. The greater part of this
township is settled, and dotted over with thrifty farms.
The largest farm in the County, embracing a thousand acres,
is owned here by A. C. Bondurant. Delaware Precinct,
from which Douglas $vas taken, was originally ten miles
square. The new Township was created in 1858. Among
the first settlers was Calvin Thornton, who was the first
Justice of the Peace. Daniel Justice, and other members
of his family, located here at an early date.

Hon. William G. Madden, a farmer and extensive stock
grower, and also one of the members of the Legislature,
has since 1854, been a resident of this part of the County.
The Thorntons and Brazeltons, forming a large group of
relatives, came here in early times. Seventeen of these

(J(5 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

relatives were on the cars, which were recently wrecked
near Columbus, Ohio, and two of them, Mrs. C. Biazelton,
and Isaac Thornton, were killed. A large party of our
citizens in town and county, among whom was the unfor-
tunate company from Douglas Township, started from
Des Moines, September 12th, to be participants in the grand
Indianapolis excursion to Philadelphia. Mrs. Brazleton was
a sister of Hon. W. G. Madden.

Isaac Thornton, one of <he killed in the late disaster,
came to what is now Douglas Township in 1846, settling
on the farm now owned by William Justice. He after-
wards moved to Van Meter, Iowa. The remains of Mrs.
Brazleton were buried in the Friends' Cemetery at Green-
wood in this township.

The Greenwood post office was established many years
ago.

ELKHAKT TOWNSHIP.

Township 81, range 23. The Chicaqua river runs through
the Northeast part. The prairie is rolling and fertile, pos-
sessing many genuine attractions. The Elkhart post office
was established in the Southeast part, April 7th, 1853.
More than half the land has been improved. In 1846, a
trio of enterprising men, Messrs. Byers, Elliott, and Fowler,
made the initial improvements in this township. Charles
W. Gurnea, for several years a member of the Board of
Supervisors, made his home here at an early date. In the
central part of Lavish Grove, Walter Corey, an old settler,
who gave the name to Corey's Grove, laid out the town of
Ottawa, October 6th, 1856, which attracted considerable at-
tention. It contained a hotel, post office, blacksmith shop,
and McClary's mill. It was on the line of the mail route
leading through Peoria City.

OF POLK COUNTY. ^7

FOUR MILE TOWNSHIP.

The pfreater part of this township is undergoing improve-
ment; and as a farming section, it is rapidly increasing in
wealth, population and importance. Coal exists in quan-
tities. Among the early settlers were Lewis Barlow, Mr.
Ellison, Joshua and his son. Rev. A. J. Barton. The wife
of the elder Barton was a physician of good repute; and
the son was a popular local preacher, who became Chap-
lain of one of our Regiments during the war.

In 1851 Lewis Barlow laid out the village of Rising Sun,
the plat of which was filed for record July 8th, 1854. For
years thereafter, it steadily increased in population and bus-
iness. But the railroads which introduced sad reverses to
many enterprising communities, brought practical ruin to
this place. Two railroads pass near enough to kill it. J.
B. Tiffin, for eight years our County Treasurer, sold mer-
chandise here more than twenty years ago. Among other
pioneers, we are able to mention Lewis Barlow and Thomas
McCall, who kept store, Ross Garrett, who started another
store; Benjamin Pearson; Jacob Fisher, hotel; Dr. Burnett,
Mr. Birk, Mr. McBroom, a farmer, and Benjamin F. Fred-
erick, son of Jacob Frederick, one of the oldest settlers in
the County. Besides these, some of whom belong to the
town, and others to the country, were James Rooker, and
Emory Barlow. Thomas Humphreys taught the first school
just south of town. George Currans was the first magis-
trate. The parties to the first wedding w^ere George Stew-
art and Miss Rogers. Isaac Barton was married a few
weeks afterward.

It was in this and Camp townships that the great oil ex-
citment of 1865 originated. The earth in the latter town-
ship was penetrated to the depth of several hundred feet;
but as no oil was developed the work was abruptly aban
doned. The whole thing was a gigantic swindle, designed

,gg CENTENNIAL HISTORY

to impose on the credulity of the people, and to transfer an;
untold amount of gold or greenbacks to the pockets of pro-
fessional sharpers. We have a certificate of one hundred
shares in the Spring Creek Oil Company, which we will sell
Tery cheap for cash, or credit on good time.

Rising Sun is situated on the north line of the township,,
between Spring and Four Mile Creeks. Two ohurch build-
ings, one belonging to the Methodists, and the other to the
Christians, were built here in 1860. Rev. J. B. Hardy, Pre-
siding Elder in the M. E. Church, resided here in 1857.
The Methodist parsonage for the circuit has long been loca-
ted in the village. In 1860 the population of Rising Sun
was not less than 300.

A Methodist Society, of which Benjamin Pearson and
others were members, was organized at Rising Sun in 1851.
Revs. A. J. Barton, Ezra Rathburn, and Moses Shinn were
the ministers. Willam Dawson and John Hawkins bought
their merchandise at this village. A Mr. Smith lost a child
here, which was the first death in town. The death of
Lewis Barlow, the village proprietor, took place shortly
afterward. Dr. Jessup, of Ottawa, preached the funeral dis-
course, standing in the door of the cabin, with an attentive
and mourning audience outside.

The first sorghum in the County was raised by J. F. A. H.
Roberts and B. F. Frederick, in 1857. In the winter of 1856-
57, Jeremiah Barlow died. The ground was so hard that
fire was applied to soften it, before a grave could be dug to
receive the body of the pioneer. Walter Ellis came to the
township in 1855, settling ten years later in the village. He
erected the first house in Dexter, Dallas county, in 1868.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

Nearly half of the land is improved, the vacant land being
in the northeast. The Chicaqua river runs through the
northeast corner; and along its margin timber is found. In

OF POLK COUNTY. gg

the neighborhood of this stream is Trullinger'e Grove,
named for the pioneer, Eli Trullinger, who made here a set-
tlement, April, 1846. Another grove, situated in the north-
west part, goes by the name of Lavish, in honor of the gen-
tleman who established himself in that vicinity.

Our data in reference to the colonization of this township
are very imperfect, giving us much trouble, w4th but little
profit in the investigation. Mrs. Sanford, whose history of
Polk county is full of interesting details, states, while wri-
ting of Beaver and Franklin townships, without a clear dis-
crimination as to boundary lines, that A. C. Yandoren set-
tled in the northwest corner in 1856; and that I. H. Wood-
row, whose name is mentioned elsewhere, came originally
to Trullinger's Grove; and in the same connection she no-
tices the names of B. H. Woodrow, John H. and Benjamin
Robison.

Franklin was originally a part of Skunk township. Mi-
chael Lavish, Nathan Webb, Ezekiel Jennings, and Joseph
Jones settled here in 1846, as the advance guard of a large
and flourishing colony. Deer and wolves were numerous.
The Indians were often saucy and impertinent to the settlers,
but not hostile. Christopher Birge, father-in-law of Ben-
jamin Bryant, came to this region in 1846.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.

Beaver Creek flows through the central part, and Ayers'
Grove is in the Southwest. Pleasant Lake is situated here.
April 2Sd, 185*7, a man named Doggett, laid out a town on
the plateau between South Beaver and Des Moines river,
which was at first called Andrews, but which at a later day
was generally known as Dogtown. The Lincoln post office
is established here. The village has not made much im-
provement.

Nearly cotemporary with this enterprise, another village,
Lovington, was started December 2d, 1854, at the mouth of

70 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Beaver Creek. This village has now no existence, except
in our border annals. Among the early denizens of this
township, were Abraham Elliott, and the two brothers Mc-
Clain. . These gentlemen took a leading part in making up
the civil and political history of their section.

Before leaving this township, we must not omit an excel-
lent family by the name of Murray, consisting of the parents
and seventeen children. They came here more than twenty
years ago. Two of the sons lost their lives in the service
of their country, and a third one suffered the loss of his
property by fire sometime since.

It was in this township that a most atrocious murder was
committed, August 9th, 1854. Pleasant Fonts deliberately
killed his wife, and finally escaped hanging by a commuta-
tion of his sentence to imprisonment for life. The elder
Mr. Murray was present at the scene of the murder shortly
after its accomplishment, and was, therefore, an important
witness at the trial.

The school house in the McClain neighborhood was the
first in the township. It was used not only for schools, but
for religious and political purposes, especially the latter.

The site of the village of Lovington, to which we have
referred, is now within the limits of Valley Township.
Another town named Huntsville was laid out February 2l8t,
1854. Like most of the other villages of this part of the
country, which were started on paper in speculative times,
Huntsville does not now exist.

W, H. McHenry, one of the early Mayors of Des Moines,
lived originally in a cabin in this township. He is now one
of the solid lawyers of the city.

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

This is one of the most important Townships in the
County, celebrated alike for its population and wealth, as
well as for the abundance of its natural resources, and for

OF POLK COUNTY. 7^

the interestiDg nature of its local history. Polk City, one
of our principal towns, was laid out by George Beehe, No-
vember 8th, 1850. Mr. Beebe, the first magistrate in this
section, erected a mill, brought on a stock of goods, and
sold lots The new village was attractively located. Dr.
Mather was the first physician. Piper and Barnum were
merchants. John De Moss, Thompson Bird, and Mr.
Martz, preached here in those da}s, the last named divid-
ing his time between preaching and running a small chair
factory. Andrew Messersmith, w^ho took a claim four
miles from town, and John Saylor supplied the soldiers of
Fort Dodge with hay, meat, and other necessaries.

In time, the village was enlarged by the arrival of Dr.
Armstrong, N. R. Kuntz, Warren Pickard, Dr. J. C. Ben-
nett, Philip Harter, and many others. Messrs. Pickard and
Kuntz were merchants, and Mr. Harter kept hotel. Dr.
Bennett, who has been dead several years, was an eccentric
and talented man. He first distinguished himself among
the Mormons; and after his immigration to Polk City, he
was appointed Major of the Tenth Infantry during the first
year of the war.

Two other towns, Montacute, (or Springfield) and Cory-
don, were started as rivals of Polk City; the former by John
Hauser, on Big Creek, southeast of Polk City, May 23d,
and the latter in 1853, by J. H. Skidmore. New Cory don
was laid out August 2l8t, 1855. Polk City maintained the
lead from the start; and two years ago it was made a sta-
tion on the Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad, constitu-
ting the most important place on the line of that road between
Ames and Des Moines.

To make the early history of this township more suc-
cinct and complete, we subjoin the following items: George
Beebe settled here in May, 1846, succeeded soon after by
Rev. D. C. Marts, Andrew Grosclose, J. M. Marts, John

72 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Hays, William Hurbert, Andrew Messersmith, the Van
Dorn's, D. B. Spaulding, and the Byrom's.

Polk City lies partly on the site of an old Indian village,
Waukonsee by name, the remnants whereof were employed
by Alexander Swim and others, in the construction of their
cabins. William Herbert, and Calvin M. Burt are embraced
among old settlers, the latter of whom married a Miss
Thornton a year after his arrival. The death of the young
wife of Mr. Burt, which occurred a few months later, was
the first event of the kind in Madison Township. One of
the first justices was 'Squire Deford.

Polk City was incorporated in 1875; and the following
ofllcers were chosen to rule the destinies of the young city:
Mayor, A. D. Hickman; Recorder, J. A. Kuntz; Treasurer
A. L. Clinghan; Assessor, T. L. Dyer; and the Aldermen
were, N. R. Kuntz, O N. Rogers, Wm. G. Swim, W. J.
Wilson, and Dr. R. B. Armstrong.

Coal and stone are found in large quantities in Madison
Township; and Big Creek, Des Moines River, and other
streams furnish abundant water for all purposes. Every-
thing considered, this Township occupies a good position;
and Polk City, with its railroad and other advantages, is
destined to grow year by year in importance and prosperity.

Cantrell's flouring mill was erected in 1847, three miles
North of John Saylor's residence.

A log school house was one of the early structures in
Polk City, in which for a long time a Sabbath School was
kept in addition to the common school. Church services
were held in it by Rev. D. C. Marts, and other ministers.
Revs. John De Moss, and Thompson Bird preached at the
residence of George Beebe, through the Fall and Winter
of 1850.

Montacute, one of the rivals of Polk City, had in it a
store-house and one or two other buildings. Its proprietor.

OF POLK COUNTY. 73

John Hauser, was Post Master for a brief term. The mail
was brought from Des Moines on horseback.

Corydon had a school house, blacksmith shop, saw-mill,
and several dwelling houses.

The following poem, written by the Polk county poet,
Leonard Brown, in the rhythm of Longfellow's Hiawatha, is
not only meritorious in a literary sense, but, historically
considered, it is very valuable, containing as it does the
familiar names belonging to other times:

OLD LANG SYNE.

BIG CREEK, POLK COUNTY, IOWA. CENTENNIAL POEM.

Thirty years ago, an ox-team

Wended, browsing, up the river.

Forded Big Creek — traveled westward,

Following up an Indian pathway

To the village of Wauconsa —

Indian village of Wauconsa —

Deserted village of Wauconsa—

Then moved onward up the river.

On until it struck the prairie

Right where Beighler has his farm house ;

There it was the ox-team halted,

And the mover built his cabin.

'Twas the house of Andrew Grosclose —

Of the first white man that settled

West of Big Creek, in Polk county.

But soon other movers followed —

Calvin Burt with his companion,

Anchored here and built their cabin —

But, alas! it soon was lonely :

The companion of his bosom

Soon was carried in her coffin

From the door of that lone cabin —
10

74 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

The first funeral attended —
The first grave dug of the pale-face
In the neighborhood of Big Creek —
Buried on the farm of Grossclose —
On the farm of Andrew Grossclose.
No man held a better title
To his land than Andrew Grossclose;
And he set apart an acre —
Gave it for a public grave yard.
Let me give a panorama
Of the funeral procession,
Moving forward to the graveyard.
Several wagons I have counted,
Drawn by oxen and by horses —
For the people then were friendly —
For they then were truly neighbors —
Felt the sympathy of children
For the griefs of one another.
There were Uncle Jacob Van Dorn,
William, Abner, George and Isaac —
The Martses — David, George and Jacob-
Stephen Harvey, and George Beebe —
Adam, John, and Andrew Byron —
Adolphus and Josiah Hopkins —
The Messersmiths and both the Bowmans,
John and James, and Henry Crabtree —
Uncle George and Jacob Hauser —
Leonard Small and D. B. Spaulding,
Bristow, Norris, Kasher, Pro volt.
Hays, and Bryant, Hunt, and Hinman —
Alexander Pierce and Richard —
Herbert, HoUiday, Swim, and Williams.
These and all the generation —
Fathers, mothers, wives and children —
Others, too, that I've forgotten —

OF POLK COUNTY. 75

Through bad memory omitted.

'Fifty-ODe, it should be written,

Brought the mighty flood of waters —

Flood of waters and of movers — •

Mormons traveling to Utah —

Emigrants to California —

Hurrying to the Eldorado.

Then poured down the floods from heaven,

Till the river was a mammoth.

Swallowing all the vegetation,

Trees and everything before it —

Reaching over all the bottoms —

Climbing higher up the hill-sides

Thau it ever had before climbed —

Moving with tremendous fury —

Irresistible and vengeful.

And the movers came by hundreds —

Staked their claims and built their cabins.

Andrew Grossclose built his mill then;

Conrad Stutzman built his mill then;

And George Hammond built his mill then-

These were water mills on Big Creek —

Some were saw-mills — others grist-mills;

But before this Swim's grand horse-mill

Ground the corn for all this region —

The first grist-mill west of Big Creek —

West of Big Creek in Polk county.

And Polk City, too, was founded

(In the previous year of '50,)

Knocking Montacute to flinders,

And discomfiting the merchants

Who had opened there their store house —

Uncle George and Jacob Hauser —

And Polk City rose in splendor,

And the square was cleared of timber.

7g CENTENNIAL HISTORY

It was soon an active village
With the store of Justice Beebe —
(The first Justice upon Big Creek;)
And the mill of Conrad Stutzman,
And Ives Marks' great chair factory —
And his hotel on the corner,
And his twenty-five-cent dinners,
With " corn bread and common doin's " —
And his half a dollar dinners
With "wheat bread and chicken fixen's,"
Giving to the hungry traveler
Bill of fare and choice of dishes.
And due notice as to prices —
With the wagon shop of Crabtree,
And with Nubro's anvil ringing.
And the school taught by Miss Mather, —
By the maid Desire Mather.
Pupils, too, like Henry Crabtree,
Henry Summy and the Derixons —
Dwight, Erastus, Charles and William;
The Van Dorns — Issac, Hez, and Abner—
And the Miller's, Swim's, and Hauser's —
Full of fight and fun and frolic —
Brilliant boys and earnest teacher!
With the spelling schools of those days.
And such spellers as Ab. Van Dorn^
With the singing schools of those days.
Taught by Herbert — singing master —
With the rosy girls of those days,
In their handsome linsey dresses;
With the quilting bees of those days —
And the kissing bees of those days —
And the sparking and the hoe-downs.
And the rousing big camp-meetings.
And the pentecostal shouting.

OF POLK COUNTY. 7j

Lively times they had in those days —
Better than the times of these days,
When the cry of all is "money,
Money, money, give us money!" —
Yes, Polk City then was active:
Then you might have heard McCalla
Talking politics with Ally,
In the store of William Hopkins,
Of William and Adolphus Hopkins.
Even then did father Beighler
Foot it often to Polk City-
Foot it six miles to Polk City,
Rather than fatigue his old horse
Feeding idle in the pasture —
Standing idle in the stable.
"'Twas about the year of '50
That the stalwart youth, John Byrom,
Went to Raccoon Forks, a deck hand
On a raft, and caught the small-pox.
He had put up at the tavern
Kept at Raccoon Forks by Tucker —
By the noted Martin Tucker —
The distinguished Martin Tucker —
Him — the educated landlord —
Master of the English language —
Student of old Noah Webster —
Stood in Tucker's grand " pizarro " —
Stood beneath his "portirico" —
Slept, perhaps, in the "condition"
He had added to his tavern —
And had walked along the "revenue"
Made by Tucker through his garden —
Here John Byrom caught the small-pox.
'Twas about this time that Grossclose,
(I should say a little later)

7g CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Notified and warned Polk City
Of the danger that did threaten,
From the mighty flood of waters
That the ditch that he was disrging
To the monster slough at Hat Grove
To supply his dried up mill pond,
Would bring pouring down upon her^
And demolish the huge mill-dam,
Built by Stutsman across Big Creek^
At the feet of fair Polk City—
And demolish the chair factory —
Sweep the town into the river;
Sweep it into Des Moines river.
In those days old father Buzick
Preached the gospel at Polk City —
And to-day though four score winters
Whiten with their frosts his temples.
Yet he preaches to the people.
Often passing through Polk City.
Of the pioneer apostles
Is the veteran, Ezra Rathburn —
Ezra Rathburn, father Buzick —
Let their names be writ together —
They two were the earliest preachers
To the people of Polk County —
And their names are cherished fondly
By the people of Polk County —
The old settlers of Polk County.
Those men never preached for money —
If they did they never got it —
All they got let no man grudge them —
Feasted not on savr'y viands —
Not on yellow-legged chickens —
But on pumpkin sauce and liominy,
And "corn dodgers" baked in ovens

OF POLK COUNTY. 79

Od the coals before the fire
Blazing up the big sod chimney,
Shining on the chink and daubing —
On the loom and on the big wheel,
And upon the rustic bedsteads,
And the quilts of patched linsey —
Pieces of the children's dresses —
Of the big girls and the little —
Of the wife's and good grandmothers —
Pieces of the father's trowsers —
Scraps of blue jeans and tow-linen —
Shining on the gun and shot-pouch,
Hanging just before the door- way
And dried pumpkins and yarn skeins —
Hanging 'neath the clapboard ceiling
'Gainst the white-washed joists of linden.
Other names I here must mention —
Names deserving high encomium —
Wood's and Coger, Brooks and Adams —
Earnest preachers and hard workers —
Hopkins, Peirce and father Wilson —
Friends of God and man and freedom
(But cold shoulder for Free Masons)
And Ives Marks, detesting fiddles,
Looking on them as of Satan —
Carnal, sinful, very wicked.
He had faults and many virtues —
Conscientious and devoted,
Persevering and determined:
Long his name will be remembered —
And of all those early preachers.
I have slighted the school masters;
They deserve no less than preachers
To be mentioned here with honor. —
John De Moss the first, then Groom came,

80 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

And then Hall, and Butt and Williams —

C. J. Clarke and Greene and Mosier,

And the veteran Robert Wilson —

Practiced teacher — honored father —

Through a long life he had labored

As a kind and loved instructor,

Doing good to all, as Christ did,

He has gone to meet the Master —

Meet the Master whom he followed,

Doing good to all as Christ did.

Mrs. Bristow, Mrs. Nutting,

Miss Beech and Rebecca Hauser,

And the good Desire Mather

Were the early lady teachers

In the region upon Big Creek,

Upon Big Creek in Polk County —

Teachers that are not forgotten

By their pupils and the people.

Many names have I passed over

Of the pioneers that battled

With their hardships and privations —

Baker, Hanna, P. G. Miller,

Weiss and Wheelhouse, Smutz andSkidmore^

Doctor Herford and MilhoUen —

Leighsty, Eslick and the Murrays —

Isaac Nussbaum, Henry Beeson,

Father Kellison, Robert Hopkins,

Peter Suter, Amos Stevens,

Myers, Hiram Smith and Davis,

Mercer, Rodney, Eli Mosier,

David Reuser and Neuswander —

Blain and Burley and the Griggsbys —

Doctor Mather — first physician

To wade through the sloughs of Big Creek.

But soon followed John C. Bennett —

OF POLK COUNTY.

From Des Moines came Doctor Bennett,

Champion of Shanghai chickens —

Importer of fancy chickens —

Writing volumes about chickens,

Chickens, chickens, chickens, chickens,

Wrote of nothing else but chickens —

Talked of nothing else but chickens —

Dreamed of nothing else but chickens —

And the nation now is debtor

To the Doctor for big chickens;

And the preachers all are debtor

To the Doctor for good chickens —

For the yellow-legged chickens.

But my sketch is growing lengthy —

I must try to hasten forward. —

Here I pause to name old settlers

That are gathered to their fathers:

Wheelhouse, George and Jacob Hauser —

Jacob, George and William Van Dorn;

And the Martses, George and Jacob;

Adolphus and Josiah Hopkins;

Schiedler, Hammond, Swim and Baker —

D. B. Spaulding and John Messersmith —

Conrad Stutzman, Father Crabtree —

Benjamin Hunt and P. G. Miller —

Samuel Hays and J. C. Bennett,

Hiram Smith and brave John Kellison.

These are gathered to their fathers.

Men that lived to do their duty —

Men that battled against hardships

For the rising generation —

And the world was made the better

By their toils and sufferings in it;

And the coming generations

Will be grateful for their labors —
11

82

CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Holding them in fond remembrance.

But I now go to politics —

To the Presidential conflict

When Abe Lincoln was elected —

To the year of 1860.

What increase of population

On the classic banks of Big Creek !

Who were active in this canvass !

I see Kuntz and Clark and Packard

Working for the tall Rail Splitter —

I see Walker, Peter Suter,

Armstrong, Ally and George Beebe,

Working for the Little Giant.

The excitement of that canvass

Was a ripple on the water —

But a ripple on the water.

Soon the storm poured down upon us —

Soon the waves piled up like mountains —

Waves of Big Creek rose like mountains.

Much the town had changed since '50.

And Polk City gave big promise

To become indeed a city.

Kuntz and Pickard thought they saw here

Promise of a rising city —

Thought this must become a centre

For a vast and fertile region

And a thriving population.

When these prairies all were settled —

And they pulled up stakes and came here,

Buying out the firm of Hopkins.

Kuntz sold all his lands and came here —

Fertile lands in Story county —

Changed his plan of life and came here,

And has diligently labored,

Standing true in every trial

OF POLK COUNTY. gg

To his country and this people,

And is recognized a leader.

And a promising young fellow,

A school master and law student,

Full of hope of wealth and glory,

Got his eye upon Polk City

And upon an old man's daughter —

Even Kellison's fair daughter.

Charles J. Clark — school master, lawyer,

Colonel in the Union army;

President on the occasion

Of this Centennial celebration.

Anchored in this little village —

In this village full of promise.

Smutz sold out his farm and came here —

Came to educate his children.

Jacob Crum moved to this village —

Dr. Armstrong bought out Mather,

Coming from far off Ohio —

From a land of boundless beauty —

From a happy land of plenty,

Looking far into the future

With an eagle eye to business.

Calculating well and wisely —

Drove his stakes here in this village —

DrovQ them down deep and abiding.

Henry Summy built a shoe shop —

Collins Baker studied medicine,

And George Beebe built a steam mill —

And all this prior to 1860.

But the placid flowing Big Creek

Soon was greatly agitated:

Yes, this limpid, joyous Big Creek,

By the firing upon Sumpter.

See it rising into fury —

84

CENTENNIAL HISTORY

See it boiling like Niagara!

'Twas the spring when singing locusts

Filled the air with notes of warning —

Warning of approaching blood-shed —

Of the bloody war to follow.

Then it was prognosticated

That a bloody war must follow;

For old people plainly read it

On the wings of singing locusts

« W " printed, plainly printed

On the wings of all the locusts,

Warning us of war approaching.

And the war came grim and vengeful;

Mothers saw their sons departing —

Wives clung weeping to their husbands —

Brave men buckled on their armor;

Brave men shouldered then their muskets,

Kissed their babes and hurried southward.

Where are Bean, and Caswell Murry —

Gideon and Isaac Fletcher —

Derixon, Dunwiddie and Spencer —

Courtney, Lewis, Bard and Baker —

Benjamin and Isaac Nussbaum —

Thomas Murry, Andrew Murry —

Skidmore, Williams, Peter Michler —

Donald Sharp and George C. Stevens,

O. O. Mosier and H. Millard?

Where are Musgrove and John Virtue —

Henry Beeson and John Filmer —

Randolph Harber and John Mercer —

Enoch Beighler and McDowell,

And George Griggsby and Clark Wilson?

Where are these, I pray you tell me?

Are they with us, or afar oiF?

They fell fighting for their country

OF POLK COUNTY. §5

On the banks of the great river —
Or by accident and sickness,
Far from home and wife and mother;
But their history is written,
And their names will be remembered.
Thanks, friends, for your kind attention
To this long and dry narration.
I had many things to tell you —
There is much I have o uitted —
There were many names to mention —
Every man that stands before me —
Every woman, child and baby —
Everybody and their neighbors
Should be mentioned in this story —
, In the history of Big-Creek.
Let this history be continued
By the writers that shall follow
By the readier, abler writers
That shall follow in the future !

SAYLOR TOWXSHIP.

John Saylor, afterwards so prominent in the county, set-
tled here in 1845, and gave the name to the township. He
laid out Saylorville, May Ist, 1851, James Ewing built the
first frame house, and Mr. Case from Four Mile Township
taught the first school. The mills of Messrs. Tidrick and
Bales were heavily patronized. The Methodists built a church
in 1858. John Whitmer was one of the first settlers in the
vicinity of Saylorville. The village having been left out
in the cold by our railroads has degenerated from year to
year, until it has lost in a great measure its prestige of the
olden time. New Saylorville was laid out September 8th,
1855.

The County Farm, containing two hundred and eighty

gg CENTENNIAL HISTORY

acres is in this township, the history of which I present
elsewhere.

Franklin Nagle, the first Justice of the Peace in the
township, made his claim in 1847, nearly two miles North
of Saylorville, at which place he still resides. He is one of
our solid and prominent citizens. A log school house was
erected in 1847. The first birth occurred in the cabin of
Addison Michael, in April, 1846. The father, Mr. Michael,
removed afterward to Des Moines. The first wedding took
place in John Saylor's cabin, the parties to which were,
Tilman Bondurant and Sis Kooney, the latter being but
fifteen years old. Mrs. Alfred M. Lyon, Mrs. Bradley, and
Mrs. Young were guests, as also was Addison Case, dressed
in homespun garb. The parties to the next wedding were
Benjamin Saylor and Miss Elizabeth Norris. John Bradley
lived in a cabin made of cornstalks, with a pole roof. Mr.
Bee son aind Robert Howard were settlers here.

A Methodist class was organized in 1848, of which Elijah
Crawford was leader. Prayer meetings were held for years
in the cabin of John Saylor. Benjamin Saylor, an earnest
and good man of that period, assisted greatly in promoting
the interests of religion and education.

A Fourth of July celebration was held in this township
in 1847, in which the early settlers of that vicinity generally
participated. An excellent dinner was served.

The village of Mount Auburn, the site of which is now
in Crocker Township, was laid out June 7th, 1851, and va-
cated April, 1873.

WALNUT TOWNSHIP.

J. C. Jordan, whose name is a household word in all this
region of country, built his cabin six miles west of Des
Moines, in 1848. He bought his lumber atParmalee's mill,
on Middle River. His neighbors, over in Dallas county,
were Joshua Boon, and D. M. Flynn. Several brothers,

OF POLK COUN'TY.

named Bennett, settled here in 1848. Rev. Raynor, a Meth-
odist minister, preached in Mr. Jordan's cabin in 1849. Le-
roy Lambert, now a banker at Adel, had a claim here.
John Evans, a family by the name of Crow, and others,
date back more than twenty years in their settlement. The
old village of Hanover was laid out October 12th, 1859.

The two modern villages of Commerce and Ashewa, the
former, on the Rock Island, was laid out April 22d. 1871,
and the latter, on the Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad,
April 8th, 1876, have a healthy existence. Near these
points is Valley Junction, once a station on the Des Moines
Valley Road, changed afterward to Ashewa. Jordan's
Chapel, a neat little structure, belonging to the M. E.
Church, was built several years ago. The greater part of
Walnut Township has been progressively improved, until
now, in the Centennial year, it teems with solid improve-
ments and an energetic population. Walnut Creek, and
Raccoon River, on both of which Messrs. Fitzsimmons
and Hezekiah Fagan operated mills a quarter of a century
ago, are the important streams. Mr. Fagan, an honest and
good man, died some years since; and his old partner in
milling, Mr. F., is now living near Casey, on a farm.

The town of Commerce, situated in the Northwest quar-
ter of Section 29, Township 78, Range 25, wag laid
out by Messrs. A. J. and J. A. Jack, brothers, long
known as residents of Des Moines. It lies on high
but easy slopes, overlooking the Raccoon River, and is a
station of considerable importance on the line of the C, R.
I. & P. R. R. The dam and flouring mill erected at this
point, by the above named proprietors, at the time the town
was laid out, is the initial industry which has led to its de.
velopment as an important point in the county.

Valley Junction, like Commerce, is situated near the
Southern line of Walnut Township, in the opening of the
two railroads which pass that point. It once had a history

33 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

as a railroad station, but the stations of Commerce, on the
line of the C, R. I. & P. R. R., and of Waukee, in Dallas
county, on the line of the Des Moines & Fort Dodge Rail-
road, interfered with its success in the earlier days of our
railroads, and the business of the station was transferred to
Waukee in 1871. It is a point of importance as a shipping
station for live stock and produce, and the proprietor of
lands in the vicinity, J. C. Jordan, proposes to revive the
place, as a business point, by laying out a town immedi-
ately, at the Junction.

Ashewa, situated in the Southeast quarter of Section 8,
Township 78, Range 25, and also in Walnut Township, has
had an existence as a station on the Des Moines & Fort
Dodge Railroad for some years.

Ed. Clapp, an early and prominent resident of Fort Des
Moines, has a fine farm in this Township, in addition to his
large property in the city.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

The surface of this township is principally prairie, wa-
tered by Indian Creek and Chicaqua, or Skunk river. Peoria
City, located a short distance from the Story county line,
and but a few miles from Iowa Center, came into being
June 28th, 1856; and two years later it had a population of
two hundred, with all the appointments of a flourishing
village.

J. K. Hobaugh, and a number of his relatives, came to
the village in the first year of its existence. This township
was at onetime, as the records show, apart of Skunk Town-
ship, the latter having been merged into Washington,
Franklin, and Elkhart.

REMARKS ON TOWNSHIPS.

It will be seen that in writing up the townships in order,
we have omitted several, for the reason, in part, that three

OF POLK COUNTY. ^9

of them, Grant, Crocker, and Lincoln, are new creations,
having had no independent history until a very late date,
and for the additional reason that two others, Valley and
Lee, have been so closely allied to Dee Moines in a geo-
graphical ajid historic sense, it would have been difficult,
and indeed almost impossible, to consider them separately.
It is noticed, as a rule, that the townships received their
first colonies, between the years 1845 and 1850. Of the
rural section, Beaver township, represented by Thos. Mitch-
ell, was the first in 1844, to recognize a white inhabitant;
and Jefferson, it is believed was the last.

12

90 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

OOUE"TY GOYERIilMENT.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.

The first mode in which the County Government was ad-
ministered, was called the Commissioners system. The
Board of Commissioners was elected for the first time,
April 6th, 1846, before the Territory had become a State.
The first meeting of the Board took place April 13th, of
that year. The three Commissioners were Wm. H. Mea-
cham, Benjamin Saylor, and E. W. Fonts; with Wm. Mc-
Kay, Clerk of the Board. To exhibit the range of their
authority, as well as to record early events, we will here de
tail some of their proceedings.

One of the first acts of the Board was to employ the
eagle side of a half-dollar, as a temporary seal with which
to authenticate their business. April 18th, W. Clapp and
Addison Michael were licensed to keep grocery, a business
which at that time included the sale of ardent spirits. April
14th, A. D. Jones was ordered to proceed as as soon as prac-
ticable to lay off a town at the site selected for the County
Seat of Polk county. July 1st, sale of lots ordered for the
15th of July in Fort Des Moines.

JUDGES OI ELECTION APPOINTED.

July 6th, 1846, judges were appointed for the ensuing
August election, viz: James Stewart, William Stewart, and
Stephen Cooper, for Apple Grove, or Thomas Mitchell's res-
idence on Camp Creek; James Mount, James White, Sen.,

OF POLK COUNTY. 9 |

and James McRoberts, for J. D. Parmalee's precinct, on
Middle River; William Lamb, Thomas Morris, and Wm.
Rickey, for Fort Des Moines; John Savior, James Bradley,
and James Thornton, for John Saylor's precinct.

July 7th, a poll tax of fifty cents on each male over twen-
ty-one years of age, was ordered.

July 8th, A. D. Jones was ordered to make a plat of Fort
Des Moines, for the use of Polk County.

July, 18, Peter Myers was auctioneer at the sale of town
lots.

August I'Zth, 1846, the Board of Commissioners consisted
of Thomas Black, Edward Martin, and James Mount, with
Lewis Whitten as Clerk.

COUNTY PRECINCTS ORGANIZED.

September 22d, Dallas Precinct, including Dallas County
proper, and all the country North and West of it, was or-
ganized, and the place of election was at the house of Mr.
Stump.

Skunk Precinct was bounded North by a line indefinite.
East by East line of County, and South by a line running
South of the house of Thomas Mitchell, and West by Four
Mile Creek, and a line running due North of said creek,
with voting place at Ely TruUinger's residence.

Democrat Precinct was bounded North by a line running
South of Thos, Mitchell's; East, by East line of Polk
County; South, by South line of said county, and West by
a line running North and South from the house of Wm.
Lower.

Three River Precinct was bounded North by a line run-
ning West from the house of Wm. Lower; East, by a line
running south from house of said Lower; South, by South
line of Polk County, and West by a line indefinite, with
place of election at Matthew Spurlock's.

Fort Des Moines Precinct was bounded North by a line

92 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

indefinite, and a line running due West from the house of
Thos. Mitchell; West to Des Moines River; East by Des
Moines River, and a line running due North from the house
of Wm. Lower, to line running West from house of Thos.
Mitchell; South by line running due West from said
Lower's; and West by West line of Polk County, with place
of election at Fort Des Moines.

Clay Precinct was bounded North by a line indefinite;
East, by Four Mile Creek, and a line running due North
from source of said creek; South by a line running due
West from the house of Thomas Mitchell, and West by
Des Moines River, with voting place at John Saylor's resi-
dence.

ELECTION JUDGES, &C.

The Judges of election for the Dallas Precinct were Mr.
Stump, Thos. Corbell and Samuel Miller; for Democrat
Precinct, Wm. S. Wallace, Creth Renfro, and J. Q. Deacon;
for Three River, Matthew Spurlock, James McRoberts, and
D. K. Harris; for Skunk Precinct, Henry Birge, Jennings,
and Eli TruUinger.

October Vth, 1846. At this session of the Board, Lewis
Whitten was appointed County Agent to sell lands, rent
buildings, and perform various other duties.

JANUARY SESSION, 1847.

January term, 1847, Samuel Dilley and Thaddeus Wil-
liams, were appointed Constables for Fort Des Moines Pre-
cinct, and G. B Clark was appointed to take the census for
1847. P. M. Casady was paid $5.00 for professional services
in a case before Esq. Meacham.

FEBRUARY TERM, 1847.

During the February term, John B. Scott was authorized
to keep ferries across both rivers, with rates of toll as fol-

OF POLK COUNTY. 93

lows: Footman, 5 cents; horseman, 12^ cents; wagon and
span of horses, 31^ cents. These rates apply to both
rivers. The Townships of Richland, Camp, Linn, Skunk,
Madison and Des Moines, were organized at this time.
During this term, Peter Myers gave bonds as Clerk of the
District Court, and L. D. Winchester as Prosecuting At-
torney.

APRIL AND MAT TERMS.

The first entry of the Board of Commissioners under the
State organization, is dated April 12th 1847. The mem-
bers of the Board were the same as last given. During
this term, Edward Martin was allowed to keep a ferry at
his residence. The Township of Four Mile was organized.

During the May term Lewis Whitten's name appears
again as Clerk of the Board.

JULY TERM.

At the July meeting, 1847, the County was divided into
three Commissioner Districts, and the county of Buone was
set off from Polk, and called Boone Precinct. At the same
term, Peter Myers was paid 18f cents for swearing nineteen
jurors. August 10th, John M. Wallace filed his bond as
Clerk of the District Court, and Thomas Baker, as Prosecu-
ting Attorney. August 14th, 1847, James Campbell filed
bonds as County Recorder and Treasurer.

COURT HOUSE.

At the October meeting, the names of Thomas Black,
James Mount, and Andrew Groseclose, appear as members
of the Board. October 7th, the Board bought of Thomas
McMuUen a lot on which to build the Court House, for
which they paid twenty-five dollars. The Court House was
originally designed to be of frame material, but it was af-
terward changed to brick, with stone foundation, the entire

^4 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

structure to be two stories high. John C. Jones was the
architect.

COtJNTY DIVIDED, ETC.

January 3d, 1848, the County was divided into the fol-
lowing Townships : Camp, Richland, Allen, Saylor, Mad-
ison, Des Moines, Linn, and Four Mile. January 5th, 1848,
Thomas Mitchell was paid six dollars for arresting one Da-
vis for passing counterfeit money, and for crossing river,
supper, breakfast, horse-feed, horse-hire, traveling forty
miles, and serving writ! At the same term, it was ordered
that a lot be given to the M. E. Church, provided that a
house of worship, either frame or brick, not less than 24 by
30, should be erected thereon within two years. The com-
petitors for building the Court House were: W. A. Scott,
Wm. W. Jones, Wm. R. Close, and John Saylor. The
contract was given to John Saylor for $2,050.

APRIL AND JULY TEBMS, 1848.

April 10th, W. A. and J. B. Scott were allowed to keep
ferries over both rivers. Same date, Greenfield township,
now in Warren county, was organized. July 6th, 1848,
George A. Michael appears as Sheriff and Assessor.

OCTOBER TERM, 1848.

October 4th, B. F. Allen was allowed to build a dam
across the Des Moines River. Henry Everly filed his bond,
November 16th, 1848, as Clerk of the District Court. The
Board of Commissioners was composed of Thomas Black,
Andrew Groseclose, and John D. McGlothlen.

THE ELECTIONS OF 1849, ETC.

January 4th, 1849, Edward and Edwin Hall were allowed
to build a dam at the site where they afterward erected a
mill, on the Des Moines. April 2d, Lewis Whitten was

OF POLK COUNTY, -95

•elected Prosecuting Attorney. July 12th, L. D. Winches-
ter appears as Justice of the Peace for Fort Des Moines
Township. October 21st, 1849, John McClain appears as
County Surveyor; and in August of the same year, 6th day,
Hoyt Sherman was elected Clerk of the District Court;
James Lafferty, County Surveyor; Benjamin Bryant, Col-
lector, Treasurer, and Recorder; J. M. Perry, Prosecuting
Attorney; and Lewis Whitten, Clerk of the Board of Com-
missioners,

COURT HOUSE AND JAIL.

November 20th, 1849, R. W. Sypher was allowed by the
Board to finish the jail, which had been commenced by Jas.
Currant and George Shell, the latter dying before the com-
pletion of the work. At the same time, John Saylor was
released from the Court House contract, after having been
paid $225; and John C. Jones and Samuel Gray were au-
thorized to finish the structure, the former doing the carpen-
ter, and the latter the mason work.

JULY, AUGUST, AND OCTOBER TEEMS.

July, 1850, Thomas H. Napier served as Sheriff and As-
sessor.

July 24th, 1850, Granville Holland was allowed $200 for
painting the Court House.

Byron Rice was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and Ame-
lius T. Reynolds Clerk of the District Court, August 5th,
1850.

Josiah Hopkins appears as a member of the Board of
Commissioners, October 7th, 1850.

October 9th, 1850, Delaware Township was organized
from parts of Four Mile, on the petition of Lewis F. Ran-
dolph, Stephen Harvey and others.

96 CENTE?^NIAL HISTORY

APRIL AND AUGUST TERMS.

April 10th, 1851, the name of Skunk Township was
changed to Elkhart.

The last entry made by the Board of Commissioners, da-
ted August 2d, 1851, was an order to pay Benjamin Bryant
$3.72 for collecting $74.45. The members of the Board
who were present on this occasion were Thomas Black and
Josiah Hopkins; the third one, John D. McGlothlen, being
absent.

PROBATE JUDGES.

The first Probate Judge was William Rickey, who went
into office September, 1846 ; the second was A. C. Jones,
October 4th, 1847.

The first entry of Judge Rickey is dated September 12th,
1846; and the last entry of Judge Jones is dated August 8th,
1851.

COUNTY JUDGES.

The first County Judge was F. G. Burbridge, who was
elected at the August election, 1851.

The first entry made by Judge Burbridge, dated August
11th, 1851, in vaoation of the Court, was an order to adopt
the seal of the Probate Judge in probate business, and of
the Board of Commissioners for all other matters requiring
a seal, until a new one could be procured.

The first marriage license issued by the County Court,
dated August 11th, 1851, authorized the union of Avery
Hoskins and Amanda Michael.

The second County Judge was Byron Rice. Judge Bur-
bridge died October 23d, 1851; and as Judge Rice was Pros-
ecuting Attorney at the time, he became County Judge ex
officio. At the following August election, 1852, he was

OP POLK COUNTY. 97

chosen County Judge. His last entry was dated June 4th,
1855.

Barlow Granger was the third County Judge, succeeding
to the office July 2d, 1855, He served until August 29ths
1855.

Thomas H. Napier, the last of the County Judges to
whom the Code of 1850 had given such large grants of offi-
cial power, was elected to this office August 6th, 1855. Hi
first official entry is dated August 30th, of the same year.
He was re-elected August 3d, 1857, and served until the
new order of things, following the adoption of the present
Constitution, in 1857, legislated the office, as it was, out of
existence. The date connected with his last official signa-
ture in the record, is January 12th, 1859.

Ti:e Judges elected after the adoptic n of the Constitu-
tion, were styled County Judges, although their powers
were greatly abridged on the introduction of the Board of
Supervisors in January 1861.

The fifth County Judge was J. H. McClelland, who went
into office January 1st, 1860. He served three terms, or six
years, and was succeeded in 1866, by Col. W. G. Bently,
who resigned in September of the same year, giving place
to M. W. Folsom.

Dr. John G. Weeks took the office October 17th, 1866, re-
taining it until January 6th, 1868, when John B. Miller suo
ceeded.

Judge Miller's last entry is dated January 2d, 1869, when
he became Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, and the office
was virtually abolished.

The first Judges of the County had jurisdiction simply in
probate cases; but afterward, as in the times of Judges Rice
and Napier, they had executive control, acquiring by law a
tenure of power which was indeed formidable. Subsequent-
ly, however, during the terms of Judge McClelland, and

his successors, the office was modified by the introduction
13

98 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

of the Board of Supervisors, and its duties reverted to their
original status. Before we continue the election record,
already commenced, we propose to refer to some miscella-
neous matters which seem to be appropriate in this place:

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

In July, 1847, Boone county was set off from Polk for
political, judicial, and revenue purposes. It was called
Boone Precinct.

December 5th, 1851, Hardin county was attached to Polk
for political and other purposes.

At the April election, 1852, the whole number of votes
cast in the county, were 727.

In September, 1852, there were thirty justices of the peace,
and seven constables in the county, showing quite a dis-
parity in numbers between the magistrates and their minis-
ters.

The year 1857 was distinguished for the number of elec-
tions which occurred in it. First came the April election;
and second, the August election, at which the present Con-
stitution of the State was adopted. After these came the
Fall election.

Sometime prior to the year 1857, the five townships which
are now known as Des Moines, Lee, Crocker, Valley, and
Bloomfield were joined together for civil and judicial pur-
poses under the name of Des Moines township. In April,
1856, Will Porter and Benjamin Bryant were elected justices
of the peace of this township. One of the competing can-
didates was Madison Young. The number of votes cast at
this election in the townships named, was about 1,100 em-
bracing a great preponderance of the votes in the county.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NAMES OF MEMBERS, ETC.

Since our organization as a county, we have had three
distinct systems of county government. The executive

OF POLK COUNTY. 99

management was first vested in a Board of Commissioners.
This occcrred in 1846. Next came the County Judges, the
last of whom was re elected in August 1857, and retired in
1860.

On the 7th day of January, 1861, the Supervisor system
went into operation, assuming complete control of County
matters. At that time each township, as a rule, was repre-
sented in the County Court by one Supervisor ; but subse-
sequently, as the system was cumbrous and difficult to man-
age, it was found convenient to divide the County into Su-
pervisor districts; and at the present time we have but five
Supervisors, instead of a score or more, as under the former
regime.

Tlie first members of the Board were elected November
6th, 1860. Their names are here appended:

Allen Township, A. Kenworthy; Bloomfield, Sam'l Gray;
Beaver, Thomas Mitchell; Camp, Abraham Foutch; Des
Moines, John Mitchell; Delaware, James O. Mason; Doug-
las, James H. Mathis; Elkhart, Charles W. Gurnea; Frank-
lin, James Barrett; Four Mile, Bryan Hawley ; Jefferson,
John McClain; Lee, H. H. Griffiths; Madison, Geo. Beebe;
Saylor, AY. S. Fisher; Valley, W. W. Jones; Washington,
S. J. Bachelder; Walnut, D. Wright.

John Mitchell, now Judge of the Circuit Court, was the
first Chairman of the Board, and J. M. Laird was the
first Clerk.

NEW COURT HOXJSB.

One of the first acts of the Board was to secure control
of the work on the new Court House. Judge Napier, in
1857, had given to Isaac Cooper the contract for building
this edifice. Dyer H. Young was Architect and Superin-
tendent. After repeated efforts had been made to compro-
mise the matter, Mr. Cooper finally resigned his contract,
and the Board went to work to finish the structure. For a

95200

XOO CENTENNIAL HISTORY

time the Supervisors met in the old Court House; and then.,
having fluctuated between Sherman Block and Exchange
Block for awhile, they at lasty on the 5th day of January^
1863, took up their final quarters in the new Court House.
Thfc contract price for building this structure was sixty-four
thousand three hundred dollars.

COUNTY OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES IN 1876.

Auditor — George C, Baker; Deputy, Geo. W. Bristow.

Clerk of Courts — J. H. McClelland ; Deputies, J. W.
Muffly, J. L. Keyes.

Treasurer — Wm. Lowry ; Deputy, E. B. Hunt.

Recorder — J. C. Read.

Superintendent of Schools — Robert S. Hughes.

Sheriff — George Lendrum; Duputies, M. K. McFadden^
Ed Smith.

Board of Supervisors — Nat. Parmenter, James Porter, T,
T. Morris, H. L. Youtz, and Wm. Christy.

Jailor — A. Pearson.

County Physician — J. F. Kennedy.

Attorney— L. G. Bannister.

JUDICIAL OFFICERS IN 1876.

Judge of District Court — John Leonard.
Judge of Circuit Court — John Mitchell.

ELECTION RECORD.

At the April election of 1846, the following officers were
chosen: Probate Judge, John Saylor ; Sheriff, Thomas
Mitchell;. Coroner, James Phillips; Surveyor, A. D. Jones;
Recorder, Thomas McMullen; Treasurer, William F. Ayers;
Assessor, G.B. Clark; Collector, Addison Michael; Board of
County Commissioners, Benjamin Saylor, William H.
Meacham, E. W. Fouts.

OF POLK COUNTY. I9X

From the date of this election in 1846, until the Spring
election of 1819, extending through a period of three years,
there is no official evidence that any elections took place in
the County. By reference to the article under the general
head of County Government, which reports the proceedings
of the Board of Commissioners, it will be seen that certain
officers were acting during this period. This of course is
an incomplete and irregular record, but it is the best we can
olttain. During the time specified, the following officers are
mentioned: Commissioners elected in August, 1846, Thos.
Black, Edward Martin, and James Mount, with Lewis
Whitten as Clerk of the Board. Mr. Whitten was appointed
County Agent to sell lands, rent buildings, &c., September
22, 1846. Samuel Dilley was appointed Constable of Fort
Des Moines Precinct, and G. B. Clark was appointed to
take Census, January, 1847.

Peter Meyers, gave bonds as Sheriff, and L. D. Winches-
ter, as Prosecuting Attorney, February, 1847. John M.
Wallace was elected Clerk of the District Court, and Thos.
Baker, Prosecuting Attorney, August, 1847. It appears
also that at the same time, Andrew Groseclose was elected
member of the Board of Commissioners, taking the place
of Edward Martin. At the same time, likewise, James
Campbell was elected Collector and Treasurer.

In July, 1848, the records of the Board show that George
A. Michael was acting as Sheriff. Henry Everly was elected
Clerk of District Court, and John D. McGlothlen a member
of the Board of Commissioners, August, 1848. Lewis
Whitten was elected Prosecuting Attorney,. April 12th,
1849; and at the August election following, Hoyt Sherman
was elected Clerk of the District Court; Lewis Whitten,
Clerk of the Board of Commissioners; J. M. Perry, Prose-
cuting Attorney; Benjamin Bryant, Collector, Treasurer,
and Recorder; and James Lafferty, County Surveyor.

At the August election, 1850, Byron Rice was elected

IQ2 CENTENNIAL HIS TORY

Prosecuting Attorney; Josiah Hopkins, County Commis-
sioner; Amelius T. Reynolds, Clerk of the District Court;
Thomas McMullen, School Fund Commissioner.

There is no record whatever, except as an incidental
matter, of the elections which occurred in 1851. It is
known, however, that F. G. Burbridge was elected County
Judge in that year; Hoyt Sherman was Clerk of the (>ounty
Court; A. M. Lyon was Sheriff; H. H. Saylor, Deputy Sheriff;
O. D. Smalley appears as Surveyor; John Hays acted as
Bailiff.

Up to the year 1852, the County records were kept in
such a confused and disorderly condition, that we have
found it impossible, in some cases, to give the names of the
officers who were elected before that time. We have
searched carefully among the archives preserved in the Au-
ditor and Clerk's offices for what we have needed; and the
results, up to the date indicated, have already been given.
The first regular record of elections, which could be found,
begins with the April election, in 1852, at which time we
resume this subject:

April 5th, 1852. — Byron Rice, elected County Judge;
Wm. T. Marvin, Clerk of the District Court; R. W. Sy-
pher, School Fund Commissioner; J. M. Perry, Prosecuting
Attorney.

August 2d, 1852.— Wm. T. Marvin, Clerk of the District
Court; J. M. Perry, Prosecuting Attorney; A. Y. Hull,
State Senator; J. F. Rice, Representative.

April 4, 1853. — W. W. Williamson, elected Prosecuting
Attorney; J. M. Montgomery, Drainage Commissioner.

August 1, 1853. — Samuel Gray, elected Treasurer and Re-
corder; Wm. H. McHenry, Sheriff; John McClain, Sur-
veyor; Walter Oyler, Coroner; John M. Montgomery,
Drainage Commissioner.

April 4, 1854.— R. W. Sypher, elected School Fund Com-
missioner.

OF POLK COUNTY. 193

August — , 1854. — Richard L. Chrystal, elected Clerk;
Barlow Granger, Prosecuting Attorney; Alfred M. Lyon,
and Ezra Van Hozen, Representatives; J. C. Jordan, Sen-
ator.

August 6, 1855. — S. M. Dyer, Treasurer and Recorder;
Walter Oyler, Coroner; John H. Miller, Surveyor; Thomas
H. Napier, County Judge; D. B. Spaulding, Sheriff.

April 1, 1856. — Wni L. Montgomery, School Fund Com-
missioner; Wm. H. McHenry, Drainage Commissioner.

August — , 1856 (first Monday, — Wm. P. Davis, and
Benjamin Greene, Representatives; H. M. Hoxie, County
Clerk; J. H. Gray, Prosecuting Attorney.

April 6, 1857. — J. D. McClain, elected County Assessor;
Chas. Rogers, Drainage Commissioner; Wra.M. Stone, Judge
Eleventh Judicial District.

August 3, 1857. — Thos. H. Napier, elected County Judge;
Samuel M. Dyer, Treasurer and Recorder; D. B. Spauld-
ing, Sheriff; J. C. Booth, County Surveyor; G. W Conner,
Coroner; For New Constitution, 1,892— against, 106. For
striking "White" out of the Constitution, 65 — against, 557.

October 13, 1857. — Ralph P. Lowe, elected Governor;
Oran Faville, Lieutenant Governor; Wm. P. Davis, State
Senator; Thos. Mitchell, Representative.

April 5, 1858. — Samuel Bell, elected first County Super-
intendent. For State Bank, 1,330 — against, 48. For gen-
eral Banking Law, 1,170 — against, 77.

October 12. 1858. — John H. Gray, elected Judge District
Court; C. E. Millard, District Attorney; Dan Mills, Board of
Education; H. M. Hoxie, Clerk of District Court.

October 11, 1859. — S. J. Kirkwood, elected Governor; N.
J. Rusch, Lieutenant Governor; Stewart Goodrell, Represent-
ative; .John H. McClelland, County Judge; J. B. Tiffin,
Treasurer and Recorder; John Hays, Sheriff; C. C. Dawson,
County Superintentendent; N. R. Kuntz, County Surveyor;

1Q4 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

James Stanton, Coroner; John Hartraan, Drainage Commis-
sioner.

November 6, I860.— J. M. Laird, County Clerk. County
Supervisors elected.

October 8, 1861. — S. J. Kirkwood, elected Governor; J. R.
Needham, Lieutenant Governor; J. H. Hatch, State Senator;
John Mitchell, Representative; I. W. Griffith, Sheriff; J. B.
Tiffin, Treasurer and Recorder; J. H. McClelland, County
Judge; E D. Hawes, County Superintendent; G. VY. Hall
County Surveyor; A. C. Bondurant, Drainage Commissioner;
Thomas Elliott, Coroner.

October 14, 1862. — J. M. Laird, elected Clerk of District
Court; John A. Kasson, to Congress; J. H. Gray, Judge;
John Leonard, District Attorney.

October 13, 1863. — W.M. Stone, elected Governor; Enoch
W. Eastman, Lieutenant Governor; J. H. McClelland,
County Judge; Nicholas Bayliss, Representative; H. M.
Bush, Sheriff; J. B. Tiffin, Treasurer and Recorder; S. Bar-
rows, County Superintendent; J. P. Foster, County Sur-
veyor.

November 8, 1864. — John A. Kasson, re-elected to Con-
gres; H. H. Griffiths, Clerk District Court; John Jack Jr.,
Recorder.

October 10, 1865. — W. M. Stone, elected Governor; B.
F. Gue, Lieutenant Governor; George G. Wright, Judge
Supreme Court; Hoyt Sherman, and G. L. Godfrey, Repre.
sentatives; Jonathan Cattell, Senator; W. G. Bentley, Coun-
ty Judge; Nathaniel McCalla, Sheriff; Leonard Brown,
Superintendent of Schools; J. B. Tiffin, Treasurer; J. B.
Bausman, Surveyor.

October 9, 1866. — J. G. Weeks, elected County Judge;
H. H. Griffiths, Clerk District Court; I. N. Thomas, Recorder.

Octobers, 1867. — Samuel Merrill, elected Governor; John
Scott, Lieutenant Governor; J. II. Hatch, and John A. Kas-
son, Representatives; J. B. Miller, County Judge; Charles

OF POLK COU.XTY. 105

G. Lewis, Treasurer; P. 11. Van Slyck, Sheriff; C. A. Mosier,
Superintendent of Schools; Jule Bausman, Surveyor; Madi-
son Young, Coroner.

October 3, 1868. — F. W. Palmer, elected to Congress; H.
H. Griffiths, Clerk District Court; I. N. Thomas, County
Recorder; John A. Nash, Superintendent of Schools.

October 12, 1869.— Samuel Merrill, Governor; M. M. Wal-
den. Lieutenant Governor; B. F. Allen, Senator; John A.
Kasson, and G. W. Jones, Representatives; John B. Miller,
County Auditor; Chas. G. Lewis, Treasurer; P. H. Van-
Slyck, Sheriff; P. B. Reed, County Surveyor; J. A. Nash,
County Superintendent.

October 11, 1870. — F. W. Palmer, elected to Congress;

C. C. Cole, Judge of the Supreme Court; C. H. Gatch, Dis-
trict Attorney; H. H. Griffiths, Clerk District Court; L N.
Thomas, County Recorder; P. D. Ankeny, Bryan Hawley,
and Edwin Oaks, County Supervisors.

October 10, 1871. — C, C. Carpenter, elected Governor;
H. C. Bulls, Lieutenant Governor; John A. Kasson, and
J. M Tuttle, Representatives; J. B.Miller, County Auditor;
F. R. Laird, County Treasurer; D. M. Bringolf, Sheriff; J.
A. Nash, County Superintendent; G. W. Baldwin, County
Supervisor; Frank Pelton, County Surveyor; A. M. Over-
man, Coroner.

November — , 1872. — John A. Kasson, elected to Congress;
John Mitchell, Circuit Judge; John H. McClelland, Clerk;
J. C. Read, Recorder; W. H. Davis, Supervisor.

October — , 1873. — C. C. Carpenter, Governor; Joseph
Dysart, Lieutenant Governor; Thomas Mitchell, State Sen-
ator; Wm. G. Madden, and Isaac Brandt, Representatives;
George C. Baker, County Auditor; Wm. Lowry, Treasurer;

D. M. Bringolf, Sheriff; Frank Pelton, Surveyor; D. G.
Perkins, County Superintendent of Public Schools; A. M.
Overman, Coroner; Nathan Parmenter, Supervisor. For

14

106 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

increasing the number of Supervisors to Five, 2,180 votes
for, and 1,715 against.

October 13, 1874. — J. A. Kasson, Congress; H. Y.Smith,
District Attorney; J. H. McClelland, Clerk of the Courts;
J. C. Read, County Recorder; T. T. Morris, Wm. Christy,
Wm. B. Butler, and H. L. Youtz, County Supervisors.

October 12, 1875. — S. J. Kirkwood, Governor; J. G.
Newbold, Lieutenant Governor; Josiah Given, and Wm.
G. Madden, Representatives; George C. Baker, Auditor;
Wm. Lowry, Treasurer; George Lendrum, Sheriff; Frank
Pelton, Surveyor; Robert S. Hughes, Superintendent of
Schools; Isaac W. Griffith, Coroner; James Porter, Super-
visor.

COUNTY FARM.

Early in May, 1865, Messrs. S. F. Spoflbrd, J. C. Jordan,
and T. K. Brooks, acting as the accredited agents of the
County, purchased 120 acres of land in Saylor Township,
giving for the same $4,000. The land had been owned and
occupied as a farm by John Yost, and considerable improve-
ment had been made on it. Subsequently, in the same year,
September 7th, the same parties negotiated for the purchase
of an adjoining tract of land, containg 160 acres, making in
all a farm of 280 acres, pleasantly located, and admirably
adapted to the benevolent purposes for which the County
became its owner.

The first Superintendent was J. B. Chad wick, who was
followed in succession by Lewis Jones, P. D. Ankeny, G.
W. Baldwin, and Nat. Parmenter. The first Directors were
Lewis Jones, John McClain, and J. M. Moody, followed by
J. H. McClelland, J. M. Walker, and Riley Thornton; who
in their turn were followed by J. C. Jordan, and James A.
Dunagan, These were succeeded by Samuel Bell, and John
Youngerman; who were followed by M. W. Robinson, Wm.
G. Madden, and J. C. Plummer.

OF POLK COUNTY. iq^

The County physicians have been, A. G. Field, D. Beach,
D. V. Cole for three years, ending in 1875, and J. F. Ken-
nedy, the present one.

The following condensed history of the county farm, we
have carefully gleaned from the volumes containing the
records of the Board of Supervisors:

Early in 1865, the poor of the county had so multiplied,
as an effect in great part of the war, the authorities deemed
it imperative to institute some means by which the evil
could be remedied. On the fourth day of April 1865, the
Board appointed T. K. Brooks, H. Hall, John McClain, J.
C.Jordan, and D. C. Martz, as a committee to select and
purchase a suitable farm. At one time, it was almost de-
cided to buy the property of P. H. Humphrey, of Beaver
township; but ultimately the farm of Mr. Yost, five miles
North of the city, was selected.

For the purposes contemplated in the purchase and initial
improvement of the farm, the sum of $6,000 was appropri-
ated out of the Swamp Land Fund. On the 16th day of
May, the voters of Polk County decided by a large major-
ity to employ this amount for the purposes indicated. Dr.
Brooks was appointed to consummate the purchase of the
farm, and S. F. Spofford, and J. C. Jordan became the agents
of the County to buy stock and implements, employ Stew-
ard, and do all other things necessary to start the entcr-
prize. To this last committee was entrusted a sum of $2000,
which was prudently and judiciously expended.

May 22d, 1865, Messrs. Spofford and Jordan employed J.
B. Chadwick and wife, on a salary of $750 per annum, to
take supervision of the Farm; and during the same season,
as the premises were in a state of dilapidation, many im-
provements were made.

Fences were repaired, a well was dug, 50 acres of land
were cultivated, and a frame house, two stories high, with
a brick walled cellar, the entire structure containing twenty-

108

CENTENNIAL HISTOUY

seven rooms, was speedily erected. The old story and a
half residence of Mr. Yost, was put into immediate use;
and before the close of the year, twenty persons had com-
fortable quarters as subjects of County benevolence. Since
then, improvements have been progressively made on the
farm, adapting it to the necessities of the times; and in ad-
dition to all these, we are informed that a substantial and
commodious barn is now in procesw of erection.

For several years, W. S. Fisher and wife have been very
efficient in the respective capacities of Steward and Stew-
ardess. The reports of the County Auditor for the past
few years, indicate the fact that the affairs of the farm have
been well managed. The unfortunate inmates of the
County House, of whom there have been many, have been
made comfortable; and it is gratifying to add, too, that this
benevolent enterprise to give relief to the poor, is, in a
financial sense, nearly self-supporting.

The County building proper, as it now standi, with all
the repairs and additions which have been made to it, is
three stories high, and its numerous rooms r re well adapted
to the comfort and convenience of inmates. The reports of
officers show, that on an average, thirty persons per year
have been admitted.

DISTRICT COURT.

The first term of the District Court for Polk County
commenced April 6th, 1846, at Fort Des Moines, in a room
occupied by Miss Davis, for school purposes. The records
of this Court exhibit a singular combination of the elements
belonging to County and Federal Government. This sin-
gularity was caused, doubtless, by the fact that the ma-
chinery of Government in those days was operated, to a
great extent, by agents of the United States. The officers
on this occasion were: Joseph Williams, of Muscatine,
Judge; Thomas Baker, U. S. District Attorney; John B.

OF POLK COUNT V. ^09

Lash, U. S Marshal; Perry L. Grossman, tirst District Court
Clerk; Thomas Mitchell, Sheriff.

Odc of the first duties to perform was to secure a tempo-
rary seal, with which to give official sanction to the business
of the Court. Elsewhere it has been stated that the County
Court selected for its seal the eagle side of a half dollar,
American coin; and after due deliberation, the District
Court adopted, by way of distinction, the eagle side of a
quarter of a dollar.

It was found that there was no legal Grand Jury, and no
legal Sheriff, as Mr. Mitchell was not qualified until next
day. Some one acting as Sheriff, whose name does not ap-
pear in the minutes, returned, by order of Court, the fol-
lowing names, from which to constitute a Grand Jury:
William Lamb, Samuel Dille, Newton Lamb, Benjamin
Saylor, Peter Newcomer, John Baird, Thomas McMuUen,
George B. Warden, J. B. Scott, Jeremiah Church, J. M.
Thrift, Thaddeus Milman, Samuel Deford, A. Brannon,
Samuel Shaffer, G. B. Clark, W. W. Clapp, Wm. F. Ayres,
J. D. Parmalee, James Davis, J. J. Meldrum, Thos. Leon-
ard, and Lewis Whitten, Bailiff. The Jury having been
thus organized, by selecting the legal number from the ve-
nire, they were set to work; but as no bills of indictment
were found, and as no business of importance was pre-
sented, the Court, on the second day, adjourned to the Sep-
tember term.

The District Court convened again on the 28th day of
September, 1846, with the same officrs present. The Sher-
iff and U. S. Marshal returned the appended names, with
which to form the jury: J. B. Mallett, John Thompson,
George Maggs, John Q. Deacon, James Campbell, Alexan
der Sumner, Mormon Ballard, Stephen K. Scoville, Thomas
H.Napier, William H. Meacham, Samuel Vanatta, William
Lamb, Benjamin Saylor, T. K. Brooks, Samuel Shaffer,
Samuel Kellogg, John Rose ; and Lewis Whitten, Bailiff.

IIQ CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

During this term, Perry L. Grossman resigned the Clerk-
ship, and Alfred D. Jones was appointed to the vacancy.
The following gentlemen were admitted to the bar:
Wm D. Frazee, R. L. Tidrick, A. D Jones, and P. M.
Casady; the last of whom was admitted on motion of Thos.
Baker, Prosecuting Attorney. Lewis Whitten was ap-
pointed Deputy Clerk.

JUDGES AND OTHER OFFICERS.

During the May term, 1847, Jas. P. Carleton was Judge;
and for the May term, 1848, Cyrus Olney is reported on the
Bench. Thomas Baker was still Prosecuting Attorney, and
Jacob Frederick, at the latter term, was foreman of the
Grand Jury. There is no record of the other officers.

During May term, 1849, the name of Wm. McKay ap-
pears for the first time in connection with the Judgeship of
the District Court. At the same term the follow ing gentle-
men were admitted to the bar: Lewis Whitten, Amelius
Reynolds, Barlow Granger, J. E. Jewett, Hoyt Sherman,
and John Barnard.

At the October term, 1849, the same Judge presided. L.
P. Sherman was Deputy Clerk; and O. R. Jones, W. W.
Williamson, and Curtis Bates appear as attorneys.

OFFICERS AND ATTORNEYS.

During the May term, 1850, Judge McKay presiding,
Madison Young, J. M. Perry, and Byron Rice were admit-
ted to the Bar. It is proper to say here of Judge Rice, that
the county is largely indebted to him for the important im-
provements he made in our local records when he was in
office. He literally brought order out of confusion, making
it easy for the historian to follow his entries.

During the September term, the same Judge presiding,
John W. Rush wad appointed Deputy wlerk.

At the April term, 1851, Judge McKay still on the Bench,

OF POLK COUNTY. 1 1 1

Charles McKay was admitted to the Bar; Samuel Bell was
appointed Deputy Clerk, and Benj. Bryant, Bailiff.

At the September term, 1851, still the same Judge, Alfred
M. Lyon is reported as Sheriff, Byron Rice as Prosecuting
Attorney, and Samuel W. McCall as Foreman of the Granrl
Juay. C. Ben. Darwin, and Lewis Kinsey were admitted to
the Bar.

During the March term, 1853, D. O. Finch and A. Y.
Hull make their first appearance as attorneys ; and Peter
Myers is reported to have been admitted at the same time.

FIRST MURDER, ETC.

At the September terra, 1854, Judge McKay, after having
served on the Bench neveral years, was succeeded by C. J.
McP'arlar.d, who had been the successful Democratic candi-
date at the previous election; his Whig opponent having
been W W. Williamson. At this term, T. E. Brown, Will
Tomlinson, and Hezekiah Beecher were admitted to prac-
tice law. It was at this term, also, that Pleasant Fouts was
indicted for the murder of his wife. Messrs. Bates, Parish
and Finch were counsel for defendant. A change of venue
was taken to Jasper county, and Judge Wm. McKay was
appointed to assist in the prosecution. This was the first
murder case in our judicial record.

ATTORNEYS ADMITTED.

J. H. Gray, B. D Thomas, W. J. Gatlin, Will Porter,
and Thomas Kavanaugh, were admitted to the Bar. The
name also, of M. M. Crocker, of the firm of Finch &
Crocker, appears for the first time.

T. A. Walker was admitted to practice law at the
March term, 1856; and at the ensuing August term, Dr. J.
G. Weeks, and John Mitchell, were admitted.

In June, 1857, S. V. White, J. S. Polk, M. B. Hoxie, M.
D. McHenry, J. M. Dixon, and J. M. Elwood were admitted

][12 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

to the Polk County Bar, and during the same year T. F.
Withrow, and S. Sibley were numbered among the
attorneys.

Judge Gray was re-elected in 1862, and died in office in
1865. He was succeeded by C. C. Nourse, appointed by
Governor Stone. The reader is referred to the Election
Record in another place, for information in regard to the
other officers of the Court.

U. S. LANJj OFFICE

The U. S. Land Office was opened at Fort Des Moines,
January 28th, 1853. The first Register was Geo. S Night-
ingale, who served from the date above given, until June 7th,

1853. The first Receiver was Eliphalet Price. R. L Tid-
rick was the second Register, discharging the duties of his
office from June 7th, 1853, until May 3l8t, 1854. For the
same period. Col. T. A. Walker was Receiver.

Col. Walker held the office of Register from June 15th,

1854, until September, 1857, during which time P. M. Cas-
ady was Receiver. Robert Brown was Register from Sep-
tember, 1857, to May 15th, 1858; and during this time Isaac
Cooper was Receiver.

Isaac W. Griffith occupied the Register's Office from May
15th, 1858, to July 31st, 1861. For the same time, Isaac
Cooper was Receiver. Stewart Goodrell was Register from
July, 1861, until February 1st, 1864, during which time J.
G. Weeks was Receiver.

Thomas Seeley, of Guthrie County, was Register from
March 1st, 1864, to April 1st, 1868, during which time
Stewart Goodrell was Receiver.

F. G. Clarke, the present incumbent of the Register's
Office, commenced his term of service April Ist, 1868; and
G. L. Godfrey, the present Receiver, came into office May
5th, 1869. Col. Godfrey recently resigned his office, and
was succeeded by Capt. H. H. Griffiths.

The land sales in early times, were simply enormous, fre-

OF POLK COUNTY. i ] g

•quently amouDting in one day, to twenty-five thousand dol-
lars in gold. The offices of Register and Receiver are lo-
oated in the P. O. builiding on Court Avenue,

POLK COTTWTY SOLDIERS SBOOND AND THIRD INFANTRY,

The confined limits of this volume will not permit us to
give anything like a full history of the companies organ-
ized in Polk County during the war for the Union. In the
synoptical report which we propose to give of our soldiers,
we are aided materially by an interesting volume entitled
^' American Patriotism," written by our fellow-citizea,
Leonard Brown,

Company D, Second Iowa Infantry, was enrolled in May,
1861, and discharged in July, 1865. The commanding offi-
•cers were: M. M. Crocker, N. L. Dykeman, N W. Mills,
and Edgar Ensign. This Company was really in existence
in 1860, befor the war, at which time it was known as the
Capital Guards. The old flag of this organization, now at
the State Arsenal, was the first of Iowa banners to wave
over a rebel fortification, which it did at Ft. Donelson,

The following members received commissions during the
war: M. M. Crocker, K W. Mills, E, T. Ensign, E. L.
Marsh, K L. Dykeman, S. H. Lunt, G. L. Godfrey, E. C.
Tunis, John Lynde, W. L. Davis, P. D. Gillette, W. E.
Houston, L. B. Houston, D. M. Sells, J. H. Browne, Robert
Allen, jr., T. G. Cree, William Ragan, W. H. Hoxie, J. H.
Looby, and John Watson. The Second Infantry was gal-
lantly led into the fight at Donelson by Colonel, afterward
General J. M. Tuttle. Nathan W. Doty and Theodore G.
Weeks, of Company D, were among the slain. The re-
mains of these brave soldiers, who faced death and died as
heroes die, were brought to Des Moines for interment,
March 11th, 1862. They formed the vanguard of that
ghastly train of stricken and dead soldiers, whose bodies

are reposing in every burial place in the County! The
15

|j4 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

solemnities attending the funeral ceremonies in this city-
will never be forgotten by those who witnessed them.

Major General M. M. Crocker was born in Johnson coun-
ty, Indiana, February, 6, 1830. He was educated at the
Military Academy at West Point, after which he studied
jaw. He came to Des Moines in the spring of 1855, and
practiced his profession until he went into the army in 1861.
His brilliant military qualities made his promotion rapid.
He died at Washington City, in the summer of 1865, and
his body was brought home for burial. In his younger
days, he provided for his widowed mother, sisters, and
brothers in their indigence. As a citizen, he was honorable
and exemplary; as a lawyer, he was accomplished and pop-
ular; as a son, husband, and father, he was aifectionate and
devoted; as a soldier, he was brave even to rashness; as an
officer, he was capable and chivalrous; and as a sufferer
from disease, he was always hopeful and patient.

Colonel Noah W. Mills, brother of Frank and Jacob
Mills of Des Moines, was born in Montgomery county,
Indiana, June 21, 1834. He defrayed his own expenses
while attending Wabash College. Becoming a printer, he
associated himself in business with his brother in this city
in 1856. He went to the army as Lieutenant of Company
D, and had just succeeded the lamented Colonel Baker in
command of the Regiment at the battle of Corinth, when
a wound received in the foot terminated his life, Sunday
afternoon at sundown, October 12, 1862. He was truly a
christian soldier and patriot, the fragrance of whose precious
memory remains with those who knew him, and knew him
but to love him.

Captain S. H. Lunt, a true soldier and gallant officer, died
of disease at Mobile, Alabama, July 28, 1865. He enlisted
as a private very, early in the war.

Lieutenant John Watson, an Englishman by birth, once
Marshal of Des Moines, became Second Lieutenant of

OF POLK COUNTY. 115

Company F, Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, and died April
9, 1862, from a wound received at the battle of Shiloh. He
was a brick-layer, and helped to build Sherman Block, and
the Court House in Des Moines. His devotion to General
Crocker as a friend, was unbounded. Just before his death,
he desired that his dog, which had followed him affection-
ately through all the perils of his military experience, should,
along with his gun, be sent to Alexander Bowers of this
city, as the only testimonial of his friendship which he was
able to offer. From some cause, the presents were not for-
warded.

Lieutenant Robert Allen, Jun., nephew of B. F. Allen,
and son of Gen. Robert Allen of the Regular Army, enlist-
ed as a private in Company D, at the age of twenty. He
was soon promoted to a Firet Lieutenancy in the First U.
S. Cavalry, Army of the Potomac. He was wounded at the
battle of Fair Oaks, was captured, and taken to Libby Pris'
on, Richmond, where his wounded limb was amputated.
He was then exchanged, and died shortly afterward in New
York, from the effects of the wound and a second amputa-
tion. He was a scholarly young man, and beloved by all
who knew him.

Orderly George F. Bachelder, a brave and faithful soldier,
detailed to serve with the First Alabama Cavalry, was killed
by ambushed enemies, near Rome, Ga., Sunday, July 17,
1864.

James Edwin Robbins, a splendid fighter in a dozen bat"
ties, was killed by foes in ambush on the Tennessee river
in 1864.

Thomas Stewart Birch, of Saylor Grove, a pious and ad-
mirable young soldier, who read the Bible through while
in the army, died suddenly of disease of the heart, after hav-
ing stood guard all the previous night at Corinth, August
8, 1862.

J. M. Moles, formerly well known in Des Moines, was

11^ CENTENNIAL HISTORY

killed instantly by a ball in the temple, at the battle of Cor-
inth, Saturday, October 4, 186^. He left a young wife, tc
whom he had been married but a short time.

In addition to the above names are the following^ Ser-
geant Bradley Greene^ a young man of fine character, died
at Newtonia, Mo,, October 8, 1862, of a wound received
near that place from concealed enemies. Casper S. Bradyy
of Saylor Grove, a childlike, innocent drummer-boy, and
a native of Iowa, died of erysipelas, caused by a wound
in the knee, received at the battle of Donelson. Hand-
same marble stones were placed at the head and foot of
his grave by his parents, in Saylor Grove Cemetery.
Andrew Slatten, an eccentric young lawyer of East Des
Moines, and at one time Justice of the Peace in Lee Town-
ship, died of wounds received at Donelson, during the latter
part of April, 1862. His remains lie beside those of Weeks
and Doty in Woodland Cemetery. Sergeant Hiram Calvin
Cook, a young man of great personal worth, died of ab-
scess of the lungs, at New Hartford, Conn., March 28, 1862.
Armin Young died of consumption, February 12, 1862.
Austin B. Rush, who learned the printing trade with Will
Porter in Des Moines in 1857, died at Yicksburg in 1862,
He was Hospital Steward at the time of his death. He is
very well remembered by the old citizens of the county.
Adjutant Joel Tuttle, of Company F, Second Infantry,
died at St. Louis, May 13, 1862. He was a brother of Gen.
J. M. Tuttle, and his remains were interred in Woodland
Cemetery, where a fine monument was erected to his mem-
ory.

James H. Ewing, of the Third Iowa Infantry, was killed
in the battle of Shiloh, April 6th, 1862. He had just been
chosen Second Lieutenant, but his commission failed to
reach him before his death. John Harrison Smith, Sergeant
of the same Regiment, was killed in the same battle. He
had been in the Mexican war, and served his country faith-

OF POLK COUNTY. ||7

fully and well. John Lewis Woods, Third Iowa, was mor-
tally wounded at Shiloh on the 6th of April, 1862, and died
on the 9th of the same month.

COMPANY "E," fourth INFAXTRY, &C.

This company was mustered into service at Council
Bluffs, August 8th, 1861. Its commanding officers were
Capt. H. H. Griffiths, and Lieutenants W. S. Simmons and
Isaac Which er. The Adjutant of the Regiment was James
A. Williamson, who came to East Des Moines in May, 1855.
He was associated for a time, in the practice of law, with M.
M. Crocker, and afterward went to merchandising in the
city. He became Colonel of the Fourth Infantry, by virtue
of meritorious services. In the charge at Chicasaw bayou,
which was a perfect death-storm to our soldiers, he dis-
played, as he did on all other occasions of a like character,
the utmost coolness and gallantry, leading his men amid a
shower of hostile bullets. He is now Commissioner of the
General Land Office at Washington City, and enjoys the
rank of Brigadier-General, which he worthily won in his
country's defense.

Captain H. H. Griffiths was transferred to the First Iowa
Battery, May 15th, 1862. He was, after the war closed,
elected Clerk of the District Court of Polk County, as our
Election Record shows. He was a practical and accom-
plished officer in military times, and was an efficient clerk.
He is still a resident of Des Moines. Captain W. S. Sim"
mons, who succeeded Capt. Griffiths in command of Com-
pany E, was a private, at one time connected with the pub-
lication of the Homestead newspaper. He is now living
in Ohio.

The other officers of this Company were, John E. Sell,
Seldon C. Treat, Emerson Bramhall, Richard Ross, Felix T.
Gandy; Assistant Surgeons, Alex Shaw andD. Beach. Ser-
geant Jas. A. Moore, a law) er by profession, well known in

2jg CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

Des Moines, was drowned while attempting to step from
the steamer Hannibal City, into a barge, August 12th, 1861.
He was clerk in the United States Land Office in 1857.
Francis P. Yokoner, a printer by trade, a Germnn, and a
young man of rare accomplishments, died of disease at
RoUa, Missouri, October 12th, 1861. He left a wife at Des
Moines, to whom he had been married a very brief time.

James N. Needham, of Saylor Township, died of pneu-
monia at Rolla, January 4th, 1862. Serge-^nt Edwin Wes-
ley Barnum and Hiram Cornish, the former of whom left a
young wife at Des Moines, were killed at Pea Ridge, March
7th, 1862. Oliver Perry Kelley, James Alfred Mott, and
Hiram D. Cornish, all started to war from under the same
roof in Walnut Township, the first of whom was killed on
Ihe 28th of June, 1864, at Kenesaw Mountain. Mott was
killed at the siege of Vicksburg, by a sharpshooter ; and
Cornish, as stated, at Pea Ridge. Jeptha W. Bell was
wounded at Pea Ridge, and died Sunday, March 9th, 1862.
For some time he had been acting Adjutant's Clerk. He
was buried in the same grave with Barnum and Cornish.
Samuel H. James and John C. James, brothers, gave their
lives to their country. The former was mortally wounded
at Pea Ridge, and the latter died of disease at Des Moines
in 1864. Henry A. Barrett was wounded at Pea Ridge, and
died when but fifteen years of age, at Cassville, Mo., April
12th, 1862. Gerard M. C. Case, a drummer boy, fifteen
years of age, was killed by the accidental discharge of a
pistol. May 24th, 1862. His father. Earned Case, came to
Polk County in 1847, settling on Agency Prairie. Reuben
P.Billsland died of disease on the hospital boat, Die Vernon,
near Helena, Ark., January 19th, 1863. His brothers, Isaac
and James, were also soldiers in the Union army, the latter
dying after his return from the war. Wm. Prichard died
of disease at Helena, Ark., Dec. 1st, 1862.

George Gentle died a prisoner at Anderson ville, August

OF POLK COUNTY. Ug

8th, 1864. Benjamin Crow and John Lewis Crow, two of
four brothers in th^i army, all of Walnut Towship, died in
the service, the former in Andersonville prison, and the lat-
ter at Nashville, Tennessee, February 26th, 1865, of disease,
when but fifteen years old. Robert S. Yount, brother-in-
law of Dr. W. H. Ward of this city, died at home Septem-
ber 29th, 1864. Cornelius M'Kean died November 26th,
1864, at Louisville, Kentucky. Thomas Costello, an Irish-
man by birth, died in Texas, while trying to rejoin his reg-
iment. Lawrence A. Gregg, Seventh Ii>wa, died at Bel-
mont, Mo., November 7th, 1861. Joseph B. Evans, same
regiment, was killed at Belmont the same date. He was a
brother-in-law of Newton Lamb, one of the pioneers of
Agency Prairie.

TENTH IOWA INFANTRY, ETC.

The officers. Chaplains, and Surgeons belonging to the
regiment from Polk County, areas follows: Nathaniel Mc
Cally, Dr. J. C. Bennett, Robert Lusby, Wm. P Davis, Jno
O. Skinner, Ebenezer E. Howe, C J. Clark, Jno. G. Hanna
Hezekiah Van Dorn, William G. Swim, Josiah Hopkins
William P. Meekins, Jonathan J. Wright, Geo. M. Bentley
Steele Kenworthy, John W. Wright, Julian Bausman, Wm
Rahm, and William C. Baylies. Dr. W. P. Davis, Regi
mental Surgeon, was for many years a resident of Des
Moines. He was a large, portly man, finely educated and
accomplished. He served his county in both branches of
the General Assembly. He was a prominent member of
Fifth Street M. E. Church, and died in 1866, lamented by
all who knew him. His son, John S. Davis, member of
Company A, (34th) and Hospital Steward, a genial and
pleasant young man, died at Chicago, February 11th, 1863
Captain Robert Lusby, clerk for many years in the employ
of Mills & Co., died at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, from
poison accidentally taken, February 20th, 1865. At the

220 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

time of his death he was on General Crocker's staiF. He
was a brave, good man, and a capable officer.

Dr. J. C. Bennett, first Major of the Tenth, was a Mor-
mon General at one time, belonging to the Nauvoo Legion.
He was one of the early inhabitants of Polk City. We re-
fer to him elsewhere. Josiah Hopkins, of Hopkins' Grove,
was an efficient soldier and a devoted Chaplain. He was
one of the first to respond to his government's call for
troops.

The privates of Company A, reported dead, are William
Spencer, Caswell Murray, Gideon and Isaac Fletcher, Ed-
ward S. Dinwiddle, George W. Courtney, Stephen S. Bean,
John Baker, John Bard, James Lewis, Isaac Nussbaum,
Thomas and Andrew Murray, Lemuel Terrill, John T. Rule,
Sergeant Peter B. Mishler, Jonathan Williams, and George
Skidmore. Want of space forbids farther amplification in
reference to these dead heroes.

The dead of Company B, same regiment, are, George M.
Bentley, John F. Fink, William F. Stanton, Robert Over-
ton, Thomas H. Reed, John Keeney, Jacob K. Davis, Jerome
Updergraph, and Ephraim Pierson.

The dead of Company G, are Joseph Miles and John
Lafayette Replogle. The dead of Company H, is Sergeant
Oliver O. Mosier, brother of the talented and genial short-
hand Reporter, C. A. Mosier. The dead of Company E,
Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, are Robert Lindsley, Robert
Woodward, and John L. Milton.

COMPANY B, FIFTEENTH IOWA INFANTRY, ETC.

This Company was organized in July, 1861, with Wilson
T. Smith and A. G. Studer, of Des Moines, commanding
officers. Captain Smith has been a resident of Des Moines,
a score of years. He is a gentleman of fine address, and
he was a competent officer. A. G. Studer was a brave and
fine officer, having been educated at a military school in his

OF POLK COUNTY. \ 2 1

native country, Switzerland. He is now on a Federal Em-
bassy in that country. The commissioned officers of the
Company, were, W. T, Smith, Adolphus G, Studer, Chris,
E. Lanstrum, William H. Goodrell, David King, Rees
Wilkins, John S. Green, and Robert Lyon,

The list of the dead is as follows: Sergeants William
Stanberry and George L. Reese; Corporal Jacob R. Kelsey,
Charles Beekman, Henry P. Taylor, Conrad Wertzel, Ben-
jamin F. Stoughton, John W. Guthrie, William L. Close,
Andrew J. Burge, Samuel Mardis, Jasper N. Newland,
LeRoy S. Conner, James H. Mathias, Anson D. Morgan,
David R. Winters, John S. Green, Samuel and Joel Foster,
Calvin Lloyd, Levi Wells, M. J. H. Parker, and Franklin
Spotts. All these soldiers, or nearly all of them, were from
townships outside of the city.

Levi R. Hester, Sixteenth Iowa, died of wounds received
at luka.

COMPANY F, SIXTEENTH IOWA, ETC.

Madison R. Laird, youngest brother of Frank and Jacob
M. Laird of this city, was eight months in a rebel prison
from which he escaped. He died December 4, 1866. John
W. Dewey, Q. M. Sergeant, and Thomas J. Allaway, are also
numbered among the dead of this Company; also J. F.
Redman of Company K.

COMPANY B, SEVENTEENTH, ETC.

The list of dead is as foUow^s: William M. Gipson,
Amos Riser, Francis M. Wakefield, Wilson Rickbaugh,
Mahlon Freeman, and Daniel Hardsaw; also, John W. M.
Young, of Company K; also, William J. McCoy, Nathan
Thornton, and Jason L. Ellis, of the Eighteenth Regiment.

Of the Twenty-Second Regiment, the list is: Isaac W.
Winterhalter, Samuel Story, and James P. McCullough.
16

7 22 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

TWENTY-THIKD EEGIMENT.

This Regiment rendezvoused at Des Moines, and was
mustered into United States service September 19th, 1862.
The following citizens of Polk County received commiss-
ions in this Regiment: Charles J. Clark, Leonard B.
Houston, William H. Ward, Matthew C. Brown, Joel M.
Walker, Robert W. Cross, William Merrill, Arthur J. Bar-
ton, Theodore G. Cree, Stephen Waterbury, Henry Crab-
tree, Chancey A. Williams, Francis Weitman, James C.
Gregg, J. A. T. Hull, Benjamin Jennings, Lyle A. Garrett,
William H. Downs and William E. Houston. This list
embraces officers whose names are as familiar as household
words to our people. They were men who did their whole
duty on the tented field, and in the battle storm; and in the
walks of civil life they are known and honored of their
fellow men.

The names of the dead are: Alfred M Lyon, Charles S.
Hepburn, Francis M. Burgett, Andre Thompson, John B.
and James A. Say lor, Donald C. Sharp, George C. Stevens,
William Mosgrove, John Virtue, John Filmer, Henry H.
Beeson, William P. Johnson, Benj. F. Nussbaum, Geo. M.
Nicholas, Randolph Foster Harber, Geo. W. Grigsby, Lau-
rence Leonard, Enoch Beighler, Daniel Condit, Elijah
Koons, Henry J. Millard, Thomas McDowell, Benjamin W.
Henkle, Clark Wilson, Lorenzo D. Dunwoody, John Mer
cer. Sergeant William Benell, John Milton Juvenall, Benj.
P. West, Smith C. Robison, William K. Harvey, John
Brown, David Melson, John Gardner Webb, Lepauel M.
Carison, Sergeant James O'Bleness, Lieut. Wm. H. Downs,
William and John T. Bull, Samuel Enfield, Sergeant Wm.
Kysar, James Scarbrough, Wm. H. Vice, Lewis M. Daily,
Henry C. West, Corwin Brown Frederick, Porter N. Dar-
ling, David and William Henry Mattern, John W. and
Elisha C. Sherrill, John H. Journey, William Sunday, John

OF POLK COUNTY. 123

Q. JaraesoD, Corporal Wm. Wilson, Jacob L. Springer, Lu-
ther W. Stanhope, Robert H. Fink, Jno. M. Rosecrana, Jno.
N. Pollock, Sergeant Daniel J. and Archibald Sturgeon,
George W. Fox, Enoch Harlan, Sergeant Jacob B. Moon,
Jonathan W. Powers, Jacob Boyer, Richard Hammer, Gu8-
tavus V. Cowgill, and Thomas J. Hudson.

The names also of Emery Jones and John Wilson Trent,
of the Twenty-ninth Regiment, we report in this connex-
ion.

The dead of the Thirty-Second are: Elias Modlin, Fran-
cis Luellen, and George H. Dunlap. Of the Thirty-Third,
Hance Ferguson.

THIRTY-FOtTRTH.

Colonel G. W. Clark, breveted Brigadier General at the
close of the war, was a lawyer at Indianola at the time he
went into the service. Subsequently he was appointed U.
S. Marshal for the District of Iowa. He is a gentleman of
fine legal and military ability. The dead of his Regiment
are John S. Davis and James M. Elliott.

THIRTY-NINTH.

Company B and I, of this regiment, were organized in
Polk County, and were mustered into the service Novem-
ber 24th, 1862. The Regiment rendezvoused at Des
Moines. Its commissioned officers belonging to our County
were. Col. Joseph M. Griffiths, Adjutant George C. Tiche-
nor. Captains John H. Dykeman, Andrew T. Blodgett,
Augustus Yerger and Robert C. Hunter; Lieutenants Frank-
lin R. Thurbur, William A Patterson and Erastus Scott.

The dead of this Regiment, are Capt. A. T. Blodgett,
killed with Lieut. Col. Redfield at Altoona, Oct. 5th, 1864,
Sergeant Robert Francis Ward, William H. Chamberlain;
Nicholas W. Simmons, Hudson Harrison, Thomas O. Tay-
lor, Samuel E. Thornton, Francis Marion Lowe, Daniel T.

]^4 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Keeney, Henry H. Elliott, Andrew Cefley, John E. Mills,
Cornelius S. Gaddis, James G. Leonard, Isaac Miller, Cor-
poral William B. Sanford, Joshua Adamson, Lawson A,
Smith; of the Forty-Fourth, John Henry Rittgers.

FORTY-SEVENTH.

Company F of this Regiment was organized in 1864,
under the direction of Major George J. North, Military and
Private Secretary of Governor Stone. He died about the
close of the war. The names of commissioned officers of
Company F. belonging to our County, are Maj. George J.
North, Capt. David J. Fattee, Lieutenants Weldon Eng-
land and Josiah M. Yale.

The dead of this Company, are William B. Herring,
Millard F. Rollins, John L. McClelland, Miles D. Mattern,
Simon M. Chenowith, Edward W. Peet, William C. Samp-
son, Lorenzo L. Robinson, Benjamin A. Brooks, Theodore
F. Vestal, Thor Fatland, and Felix McCarty.

FIKST INFANTRY COLORED.

The names of the dead, are Peter Callahan, G. Robinson,
W. Arnold, W. Bell, W. Clay, Fred Douglass and A. Pratt.

SECOND CAVALRY, ETC.

Company D of this Regiment was organized in Des
Moines, and was mustered into service August ;30th, 1861.
Its commanding officers were Capt. G. C. Graves, and Lieu-
tenants Gustavus Washburn and J. E. Jewett. The last
two mentioned are dead, the former dying at Des Moines,
and the latter at Iowa City.

The other commissioned officers were Capt Francis M.
Griffith, Lieut. Samuel J. Dangler, Samuel Noel and Daniel
Hall.

The names of the dead are: Augustus J. Thinis, Ephriam
Walker, David M. Cockerham, Chapin Duncan, Israel Har-

OF POLK COUNTY. 125

den Howard, Henry H. Douthit, H. H. Helton, Simon S.
Sisley, Perry Rickabaugh, Delanah Johnson, Jos. H. Moon,
Lieut. Gustavus Washburn. Of Third Cavalry, Scott
Thrailkill. Of Fourth Cavalry, Richard Ashworth and
John Q, Jevvett. Of Fifth Cavalry, Dr. P. M. Kerlin, who
had been a physician at Rising Sun. Of the Seventh Cav-
alry, Jacob Kesler. Of Ninth, James Q. Salisbury.

EIGHTH CAVALRY.

The officers belonging to Polk County were: Capts. W.
H. Hoxie and Henry Moreland, and Lieut. Eli Keeler.

The names of the dead are: Orrin Mitchell, Corp. Thos.
McClelland, James H. Horton, Francis Bradley, Thomas
McCall, John B. Huzhart, Moses Krowzer, and William W.
Derickson.

FIRST BATTERY.

This was commanded by Captain H. H. Griffiths, of Des
Moines The names of the dead are: Lieutenant Selah M.
Titus, William Seldon, George Howard, Wm. H. Callen-
der, Wm. McMichael, Harmon T. Myerhoff, John Johnson,
Jon D. Callender, and Robert F. Reeder.

SECOND BATTERY, ETC.

The names of the dead are : Romulus BuUotph, John
.Jones, John Kuntz, and Peter H. Lee; of the Eighty -Ninth
Illinois Volunteers, James Nicholas ; of the Twenty-First
Missouri, Geo. R. Spencer; of the Second Nebraska, Wm.
A. McClain; of the Ninety-Seventh Ohio, Lieutenant Geo.
F. Jack, drowned in Raccoon river, with Asher Holcomb,
April 19th, 1867 ; of First Pennsylvania Light i^rtillery,
Benjamin M. Orwig; of the Ninety-Seventh Ohio, George
Corwin Goodrell.

126 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

OUR SOLDIERS.

According to the Census Report of 1862 — the second year
of the war — the population of Polk County was 12,925, of
whom 2,601 were voters. The uumber of volunteers, or
enlisted men, credited to the county, as appears from the
Adjutant General's Report, was 1,500, or considerably more
than half the entire voting population in 1862.

In addition to the soldiers regularly credited to the county,
there were the drafted men, and quite a number of our citi-
zens besides who while absent from home, enlisted in other
places, and who were, therefore, credited to other localities.
Comparatively speaking, there were but few drafted men;
for a large majority of our communities were so patriotic
in their enlistments, that a draft was usually rendered un-
necessary.

From the best data, however, to which we have had ac-
cess, we deem it safe, as an approximate result, to place the
number of oar soldiers, during the few years of the war, at
two thousand. If we have made a misstatement, it has been
we think, in under-estimating the number. Of the 2,000
soldiers who went out from us to the front, periling their
lives for the salvation of the Republic, two hundred and
eighty lost their lives, either from wounds or disease.
Without entering into an elaborate comparison on the sub-
ject, we feel safe in the statement here, that no other county
in Iowa, can give a better showing than ours, of its earnest
and practical patriotism.

RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

The citizens of this county displayed extraordinary kind-
ness and liberality, not only to the soldiers themselves, but
to their families, during the war for the Union. Several
times, the County and City, in their corporate capacities,
voted generous sums for these purposes; but it was reserved

OF POLK COUNTY. \27

to the people as individuals, to show what can be occom-
plished by spontaneous action in the interest of suffering
humanity. Besides donations in money, scores of loads of
wood were brought in by the farmers, and deposited at the
doors of needy families.

So great was the munificence displayed towards the sol-
diers at the front, that they sent back word to stop the sup-
plies, stating at the same time, that if their friends at home
would continue to be cared for, it was all they asked. They
thanked our people, again and again, for the great kindness
of which their parents, wives, and children, had been con-
stant recipients. The ladies established different nssocia-
tions, the great object of which was to relieve those distres-
ses which had been caused by war. Many concerts and
festivals were given, especially during the winter seasons.
The Old Folks, in their quaint, antique costumes, gave a
series of humorous entertainments at the Court House and
other places, the financial results of which were religiously
devoted to the relief of soldiers' families.

The first regular meeting for the relief of soldiers' fam-
ilies, was held at the Savery House, December 15th, 1864,
with Mayor W. H. Leas in the chair, and H. L. Whitman
as Secretary. The committees representing the different
wards, were. Dr. H. L. Whitman, G. W. Cleveland, Major
Hoyt Sherman, Lieutenant G. Washburn, Rev. J. M. Cham-
berlain, Mrs. Frank Butler, Dr. M. P. Turner, and Mrs.
Wm. Galbraith Gen. W.D. Wilson, C. C. Howell and H.
Stephenson, were appointed to confer with the committee
appointed on the 13th inst. Rev. J. M. Chamberlain, Gen.
Wilson, Dr. Whitman, and C. C. Howell were appointed a
committee to report some systematic plan of action, by
which the objects of the meeting could be attained.

The first business meeting for the election of oflScers, was
held at the residence of Lieut. Washburn, December 17th,
1864, with Mayor Leas in the chair. All the wards but one

12^ CENTENNIAL HISTOKY

were represented. The following officers were elected:
President, Mayor Leas; Vice Presidents, Dr. T. K. Brooks
and A. B. Woodbury; Secretary, Wm. Duane Wilson. The
Ladies' Aid Societies, and the Womans' League were under-
stood as co-operating with the Soldiers' Relief Association.
The following committee was appointed to secure donations
&c, for a festival in aid of the soldiers, to be held at Des
Moines December 31st, 1864: G. W. Cleveland, W. D.
Wilson, Dr. Jas. Wright, Mrs. Col. Mills, Mrs. Lieut. Wash-
burn and Mrs. W. H. Holmes. The permanent officers of
the Association were as follows: President, W. H. Leas;
Vice Presidents, Dr. Brooks and A. B. Woodbury; Treas-
urer, F. R. West; Secretary, W. D. Wilson; Ward Com-
mittees, Mrs. F. R. West, Mayor Leas, Dr. H. L. Whitman,
Mrs. Frank Laird, Mrs. Col. Mills, H. Stephenson, Mrs. Cai'-
penter, Mrs. W. D. Wilson, Rev. Chamberlain, Mrs. Tid-
rick, Mrs. W. Galbraith, Dr. Turner, Mrs. J. A. Harvey,
Mrs. Lows, Dr. Wright, Mrs. A. A. D. Jones, Mrs. Holmes,
Dr. Shaw, Mrs. J. W. Cattell, Mrs. W. F. Burgett and J.
M. Moody.

The net proceeds of the great festival for the benefit of
the soldiers' families, given on the 31st day of December,
1864, were $4,245.28. The final exhibit made out by the
Secretary, and published in the State Register, December
1st, 1865, shows that the Association obtained from all
sources, $7,261.35. It is a subject of regret with us, that
our limited space does not permit us to give a more ex-
tended report of the beneficent deeds of this Association.
Suffice it to say that individuals, local organizations and
churches, were stimulated to an activity in behalf of the
destitute, which carried cheer and comfort to many a deso-
late heart, and mitigated as far as human agency could ac-
complish such a result, the miseries which the great civil
war had produced in the families of our County.

OF POLK COUNTY, 129

U. S. PENSION OFFICE.

The State is divided into three Pension districts, the
headquarters of which are located respectively at Des
Moines, Dubuque, and Fairfield. The Des Moines District
•embraces the following counties: Adair, Audubon, Boone,
Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Cherokee, Clay,
Crawford, Dallas, Dickinson, Emmet, Green, Guthrie, Har-
din, Harrison, Humboldt, Ida, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Kos-
suth, Lyon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Monona, O'Brien,
Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawat-
tamie, Poweshiek, Sac, Scott, Shelby, Story, Warren, Web-
ster, Winnebago, Woodbury, and Wright — in all forty-
nine counties.

The Des Moines Pension Office was established in I860,
at which time Peter Myers was appointed agent. He served
until 1866, when Maj. J. D. Thompson, of Hardin county,
succeeded by appointment of President Johnson. In 1869,
he was superceded by Stewart Goodrell, of Des Moines, who
died in office Nov. 1 Uh, 1872.

The present incumbent, Hon. 8. F. Gue, became Pension
Agent in November, 1872. Thisgentlemai', who succeeded
in office the popular and lamented Stewart Goodrell, had
represented Scoit county in both branches of the General
Assembly, and had occupied the position of Lt. Governor.
He is faithfully and efficiently discharging the duties of the
office to which he has been called.

The records of the office give no report of the disburse-
ments which were made during the administrations of
Messrs. Myers and Thompson. During the fiscal year end-
ing June 30th, 1871, Mr. Goodrell paid out to pensioners,
$287,260.75. The total amount for the same year, paid out
in the entire State, was $788,855.00. The number of
pensioners in the State at that time was: Invalids, 3,258;
17

If^O CEKTENNIAL HISTOEY

widows and orphans, 3,725; soldiers of the war of 1812, 9;
total, 6,992.

Mr. Goodrell paid out duricg the year 1872, $370,533.2&.
The number of pensioners at the end of this fiscal year in
Iowa, had increased to 7,726, of whom 350 were soldiers
and widows of the war of 1812; all of whom were placed
on the pension roll, by act of February 14thy 1871, without
reference to disability.

During the remainder of 1872, up to the time of Mr.
GoodrelFs death, on the 11th of November, he paid out to
pensioners, |89,61 1.90. For the balance of that year, Mr
Gue paid out $219,017.30; total for the year, $308,629.20.

The number of pensioners in the State, June 30th, 1873.
was 8,043; of whom 3,669 were invalids, 3,972 were widows
and dependent relatives, and 402 were of the war of 1812,
The number in this District was 2,419.

Mr. Gue paid out in 1874, ending June 30th, $321,049.65.
The number of pensioners that year was 8,046 ; of whom
3,872 were invalids, 3,796 were widows and dependent rela-
tives, and 378 were of the war of 1812, There were in
this District 2,215 pensioners.

Mr. Gue paid out for the fiscal year, 1875, $326,647.85, to
2,300 pensioners. The whole number in the State was
8,061, of whom 4,024 were invalids, 3,701 widows and de-
pendent relatives, and 336 of the war of 1812.

The amount paid for 1876, ending June 30th, was $317^-
953.57, to 2,433 pensioners.

In the future there will be a rapid decrease in the number
of pensioners, as a great number of children now receiving
pensions, will reach the age of sixteen, at which time this
aid will cease.

Eliza Scarritt, of Iowa Falls, Hardin county, aged 86,
widow of a private in the Revolutionary War, is the only
pensioner of the kind in this District,

OF POLK COUNTY. l^l

GRAND MILITARY REUNION,

The most magnificent military reunion in peace times,
occurred at Des Moines in 1870, commencing on the 30th
■day of August, and lasting several days. It was made an
extraordinary success by the executive genius of Adjutant
Oeneral N. B. Baker. It was estimated that 75,000 people,
including 30,000 soldiers, participated in the festivities of
the great occasion. General W. T. Sherman was the recog-
nized hero of the reunion, whose presence at any point in
the vast multitude, was the signaf for the display of true-
hearted enthusiasm from the boys, and from thousands of
civic spectators. The different Iowa Regiments, though
worn and wasted by time and the desolations of war, were
reorganized under their respective commanders, and marched
through the streets, forming a magnificent exhibition.

The church buildings, and other available structures, were
chartered for the accommodation of the vast multitude.
The packing house of Murphy & Co., was converted into a
great eating establishment run by steam, at which twelve
Iowa beeves were cooked at once, and sixty-four barrels of
coffee were served up at one dinner! In all, one hundred
and seven beeves gave up the ghost, and four hundred and
ninety-eight barrels of coffee, or 28,424 gallons, were im-
bibed! The tonnage of coffee taken from this place to
camp, amounted to 189,362 pounds.

The soldiers camped by companies and regiments, as they
did in the war; and all the vacant grounds East of the Cap-
itol, extending to the residence of Wesley Redhead, were
occupied as a great encampment. The State Register,
from which we have obtained the materials of this article,
characterizes this meeting of soldiers and citizens as the
grandest demonstration ever known in modern times!

132 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

BOABD OF ENROLLMENT.

The Board of Enrollment of this District had its hea(J
quarters, during the war, at Den Moines. The Provost Mar-
shal was Captain S. C. Brownell, whose residence is now at
Elmira, New York. Surgeon Ficley of Decatur county,
and J. N. Cornish of Fremont county, were the other mem-
bers of the Board. Mr. Cornish resigned, and was suc-
ceeded by Col. Hedges of Sidney. Mr. Strow. now of
Fort Dodge, was the Clerk of the Board.

ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE.

The reunion of the Army of the Tennessee took place at
Des Moines September 29th and 30th, 1875. Among the
dignitaries who were present were President Grant and
suit. Secretary Belknap, and General W. T. Sherman and
daughter. General Sherman, the old veteran of the army of
the Tennessee, and the President, as well as the other dis-
tinguished gentlemen in attendance were received with a
warm welcome. Elaborate preparations had been made to
render the occasion one of rare local interest.

Arches trimmed with flags and evergreens, were con-
atructed in triumphal order, across Walnut and Fourth
Streets, and Court Avenue. The public buildings, business
houses, and many private residences, were festooned with
flags, and illuminated in the evening in honor of the occa-
sion. The residence of Hoyt Sherman and the surrounding
grounds, were grandly illuminated; and at this place, Gen-
eral Sherman and his daughter, who were the guests of their
relative, were serenaded by the city bands

Next day the children of the public schools convened by
invitation at the Opera House, to listen to a discourse from
the President.

MILITARY COMPANIES.

There are in the county five Companies and one Battery

OF POLK COUNTY. | 33

of the Third Iowa State Militia, of which F. Olmsted is
Colonel; N. Townsend, Lieutenant Colonel; N. H. Ball,
Major; M. Mahon, x\djutant; J. M. Walker, Quartermaster;
Dr. G. P. Hannawalt, Surgeon; Philo Case, Drum Major;
and A. We-.sel, Fife Major. This regiment was organized
September 1, 1875.

Company A, organized December 8, 1868, is called Olm-
sted State Guards. Its first commissiooed officers were
F. Olmsted, Captain; N. H. Williams, First Lieutenant;
Frank Clark, Second Lieutenant. The non-commissioned
officers were: W. C. Story, 1st Sergeant; D. K. Jones, 2d
Sergeant; James Tunice, 3d Sergeant; F. A. Shepard, 4th
Sergeant; L. H. Bradshaw, 5th Seigeant; William Fenwick,
1st Corporal; C. A. Ferguson, 2d Corporal; Ed Pettitt, 3d
Corporal; and John Spellman, 4th Corporal. There were
thirteen charter members on the roll, of whom two still be-
long to the company. Of this company, which is the oldest
in the Slate under the law organizing it, there are about
seventy members. Since the organization, seven hundred
persons have at different times belonged to it. Only two
deaths have occurred, those of Lieutenant John Spellman,
and 1st Sergeant M. C. Story, the former dying of a cold
contracted at Council Bluffs while on duty, and the latter
of a wound received at the Des Moines celebration on the
Fourth of July, 1874, while engaged in a sham battle. The
company is in a prosperous condition. It has made a fine
record as to discipline and effectiveness; and it has won
several prize banners, which are always ready to go to any
rival company which may surpass it in the perfection of
drill.

The present officers are: E. J. Ulrich, Captain; W. B.
Keffer, 1st Lieutenant; Warren M. Walker, 2d Lieutenant;
S. E. Gate, Ist Serg't; W. Wightman, 2d Serg't; Harry Ir-
win 3d Serg't; Wm. B. Carson, 4th Serg't; Harry Morris,
5th Serg't; James Olmsted, 1st Corporal; C. E. Vaughr, 2d

134 CENTENNIA.L HISTORY

Corporal; John B. Loughlan, 3d Corporal; Harry Porter,
4th Corporal.

Sarsfield Guards, Co. B, was organized March 18th, 1875,
with James Murphy as Captain; M. Mahon, let Lieutenant,
and John Shanly as 2d Lieutenant. A majority of the
members of this company belonged originally to the Crocker
Veteran Guards, organized November, 1871, of which J. H.
Smith was Captain; W. L. Davis, 1st Lieutenant; and A.
E. Puffer, 2d Lieutenant. Captain Smith resigned Febru-
ary 2d, 1872, and was succeeded by W. L. Davis.

The Olmsted Guards, and the Crocker Veteran Guards,
numbering in all about sixty men, were ordered by Gov-
ernor Carpenter, November 17th, 1872, to proceed to Coun-
cil Bluffs to assist the local authorities in preserving the
peace, at the time when there was a prize ring exhibition
between Tom Allen, of St. Louis, and Hogan, of Omaha
The presence of the Des Moines companies drove the pu-
gilists fifteen miles from the place at which they had in-
tended to fight, and finally to the Nebraska side of the river,
before they had time to complete their entire programme.
The companies did their duty effectually.

The Belknap Guards, Company E, Grant township, was
organized October 20th, 1873. The officers are: J. K. Dean,
Captain; George Curran, 1st Lieutenant; and John K. Tay-
lor, 2d Lieutenant.

The Scandanavian State Guards, Company D, was organ-
ized February 24th, 1876, of which Albert Peterson is Cap-
tain; George Barquist, 1st Lieutenant; and Henry Bakman,
2d Lieutenant. This company has a membership of forty,
and is in a prosperous condition.

The Valley State Guards, Valley township, Company F,
was organized August 8th, 1874. Its first officers were:
Wm. A, Fenwick, (Captain; Jacob B. Lawson, Ist Lieuten-
ant; and Macy Carter, 2d Lieutenant. Its present officers
are: Jacob B. Lawson, Captain; Henry Snodgrass, Ist Lieut.

OF POLK COUNTY. 135

Baker Battery consists of a detail from the Olmsted
State Guards, and is commanded by 1st Lieutenant John
D. Rowan, who was commissioned January 3d, 1876.

The Railroad Volunteers were organized November 22d,
leYS. H. F. Royce, Captain; Wm. H. Quick, 1st Lieuten-
ant; and C. D. Sprague, 2d Lieutenant.

STATE ARSENAL.

The State Arsenal, built of iron, brick, and red rock stone
two stories high, with marble floor and iron stairway, was
erected on First street in 186V. It contains many interesting
relics of the war, and all the military archives of the State.
N. B. Baker was made Adjutant General of Iowa in 1861,
and has held this office ever since. It is a well understood
fact that the records of his office have been kept from first
to last in a style which challenges admiration. His superior
executive ability has been displayed here, as well as in all
other positions to which his fellow citizens have called him
The affection with which our soldiers regard him is indeed
extraordinary; but he well deserves it all.

Gen. N. B. Baker is a native of New Hampshire, having
been born in 1819. At one time he was Governor of that
State; and in 1856 he removed to Clinton, Iowa. In the
fall of 1860, he was chosen to represent Clinton County in
the Legislature. From that time his name has been inti-
mately and honorably associated with our County and our
State.

CENTENNIAL FOURTH.

The celebration at Des Moines, on the Fourth of July
last, of the hundredth anniversary of American Indepen-
dence, eclipsed all previous demonstrations of the kind.
The procession which traversed the streets, and marched to
the Fair Grounds, was of the most ingenious and impressive
character, made up of all trades and professions, distributed

136 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

in proper order under efficient marshals. The number in
attendance was very large, variously estimated -at from 20,-
000 to 30,000. Except the military reunion in 1870, it was
the grandest demonstration we have ever had in Polk
County.

The immense concourse at the Fair Urounds listened
with rapt attention to an eloquent oration from Col. Mont-
gomery, of Council Bluifs, followed by a classic address
from Prof. Hutchins. The exercises were interspersed in a
spirited way ,with martial music and appropriate melody
from the band. Gov. Kirk wood was president of the day;
Capt. Collins was Chief Marshal, and Rev. A. L. Frisbie, of
the Congregational Church, offered the introductory prayer.

The day was very sultry. In the evening an attempt was
made to give a grand pyrotechnic display; but a terrific
thunder-storm obstructed this branch of the celebration,
and made it a failure. On that memorable night. Bird's
Run, in the city, became furious, sweeping nearly all its
bridges away within the corporation, and destroying prop-
erty to the value of thousands of dollars. The same storm,
developing itself in the shape of a tornado or whirlwind,
demolished scores of houses, and destroyed many lives, in
Warren and Madison counties. It was a sad termination of
the Centennial Fourth!

THE COUNTY.

From the period at which the plow first penetrated the
soil, inverting the rich loam of this region, our county has
gone on in a career of improvement, almost unparalleled in
the history of civilization. At this point, let us take a ret-
rospective glance, for the parpose of instituting a brief,
but very suggestive, comparison between the past and pres-
ent of our experience.

Thirty-three years ago, the Federal soldiers, under Capt.
Allen, arrived at this place. This constitutes the first im-

OF POLK COUNTY. 137

portant epoch in our local history. What pioneer of those
times, looking from his standpoint of observation over the
broad range of possibilities, ever dreamed in his most san-
guine mood, that in less than an average gensration of our
race, all the townships would be crowded with multitudes
of workingmen, changing the face of nature as by a spell of
enchantment; and that here too, at the confluence of our two
rivers, in the great Centennial year, a city of twenty thou-
sand inhabitants, with its railroads, its manufactories, its
populous avenues of trade, and with all the appointments
of a great State Capital, would lift its spires and steeples
in the bright light of day?

By reference to the Census Reports, for which we are in-
debted to the politeness of our good Secretary of State,
Mr. Young, we find that in the year 1847, one year from the
date of organization, the county had a population of 1,792,
showing an increase in one year, of 1,492. In 1849 the pop-
ulation was 4,214; in 1850, 4,444; in 1851, 6,000; in 1852,
0,939. The decrease indicated by the last figures had two
specific causes, one of which was the depression occasioned
by the unprecedented flood of 1851, and the other was the
large emigration from Iowa to the new gold fields of Cali-
fornia. The fear, loo, of liostile invasion from the border
tribes of Indians, had, perhaps, something to do in the pro-
duction of this result.

In 1854, the same and other causes operating to retard
growth, our population was 5,368; but in 1856, at which
time the spirit of immigration to the West was peculiarly
active, we had increased to 9,417, revealing the splendid
gain in two years of 4,049. In 1859, right in the midst of
the disastrous monetary troubles, our population amounted
to 11,238. In, 1863 the inhabitants were augmented to
12,956, notwithstanding the fact that the great Civil War
was devastating the country, and decimating the ranks of
the people. In 1867, our population had increased to 22,630,

33S CENTEJSTNIAL HISTOEY

diaplaying wonderful gain in four years. In 186{>, we had
21,768, twotbirds of whom were included in that part of
the county lying east of the I>es Moines river.

In 1874, the population was 30,8^2; in 187&, it was 31,558^
and noWy taking the same ratio of increase whioh prevailed
from 1874 to 1875^ we have to-day in Polk county, a popu-
lation in round numbers of 33,000! When we take into
consideration from first to last, the causes which have greatly
obstructed our growth, including the fiood of '51, the finan-
cial pressure of '57^ and the late desolating war, it is a sub-
ject alike of wonder and congratulation, that our advance-
3nent has been so rapid and so enduring. The thought that
from the little nucleus of three hundred citizens, distributed
over our prairies thirty years ago, grappling with the harsh
and rough experiences of pioneer life, our city and county
have grown into their present commanding proportions, con-
strains our hearts, to throb in thankfulness toward those men
and women of early daySy who through toil and peril,, and
even [through blood, gave to us the vast heritage of pros-
perity which we now possess acd enjoy I

STATE CAPITOL,

At an early period, the question of relocating the State
Capitol began to agitate the people. Iowa City, then the
seat of government^ was situated within a short distance of
the eastern boundary; and it became evident that sn time^
the removal of the State Capitol to a more central pointy
would be recognized as a popular necessity. In 1849, the
Legislature appointed commissioners of relocation, who, in
the execution of their trust, overlooking the advantages of
Des Moines, selected a verdant site in Jasper county. Not
long afterward, the wisdom of their choice was bitterly
questioned; and the result was, that, after the new location
had been surveyed, and before any improvement was made,
it was abandoned to the wildness of primeval nature!

o:f polk county, 13^

In 1851, bills were introduced into the Legislature, one of
which relocated the Capitol at Pella, and another at Fort
Des Moines. These bills were lost. In 1853, another bill
was introduced into the Senate, fixing the location at Fort
Des Moines. It seemed for a time, that this bill would pass,
but it was lost on the final vote.

In 1855, a bill fixing the State Capitol within two miles
ot the Raccoon Fork, passed by a decided majority; and the
following Commissioners of Relocation were appointed:
Messrs. Pegram of Council Blufi^s, J. H. D. Street of Wapel-
lo, Stewart Goodreli of Washington, J. A. L. Crookham of
Mahaska, and Guy Wells of Lee county.

The bill to which we refer, was approved by Governor
Grimes, January 15, 1855. The citizens of the place mani-
fested much liberality and public spirit, in donations of land,
etc., for the Capitol,

The present Constitution of the State, which was adopted
by popular vote at the August election in 1857, contained a
clause which fixed the State Government at our city. Oc-
tober 19th, 1857, Governor Grimes issued his proclamation,
announcing that Des Moines was the State Capital, and
ordering the ari-.hives of the Commonwealth to be removed
hither from Iowa City. In December of the same year, the
removal was partially accomplished. The State safe, the
last to come, was drawn one hundred and twenty miles on
two bob-sleds, by ten yoke of oxen, arriving at its destina-
tion January 11th, 1858, just in time to be present at the
opening o^ the first session of the General Assembly which
convened that month at Des Moines.

A private association, composed of Messrs. W. A. Scott,
J. A. Williamson, J. M. Griffith, A, Shaw, T. K. Brooks, and
others, was organized in 1855, for the purpose of erecting
a State House. The building when completed, was trans-
ferred to the State, and it has been occupied ever since as
the Capitol. Its site, as well as that of the new edifice, is

240 CENTENNIAL HISrORT

situated conspicuously on Capitol Hill in East Des Moines -
Some years since, the State took the oH Capitol from its-
owner?, releasing them, at the same time, as compensation
for the structure, from a certain indebtedness to the SchooE
Fund o-f th« Commonwealth, which they had incurred.

NEW CAPITOL.

The bill which made the first appropriation for the erec-
tion of the new Capitol was approved by Governor Merrilly
April 1 3th, 1870. Polk County was at that time represent-
ed by B. F. Allen in the Senate, and by J. A. Kasson and?
George W. Jones in the House. The following Commis-
sioners were chosen: Gov. Samuel Merrill, President ear
officio; G. M. Dodge, James F. Wilson, James Dawson^
Simon G. Stein, James O. Crosby, Charles Dudley, Jno. N.
Dewey, and Wm. L. Joy. Besides these, there were A. IL
Fulton, Secretary; Cochrane & Piquenard, Architects; Jas,
Appleyard, Local Superintendent ', Frank Pelton, Engi-
neer.

The ceremonies connected with laying the corner stone
of the new edifice occurred November 23d, 1871. A large
and imposing procession, embracing many of the high dig-
nitaries of the State,, was farmed under the direction of the
Chief Marshal, N. B Baker. Addresses were made by Hon,
J. F. Wilson, Governor Merrill, Hon. John A. Kasson, and
others. Among the articles deposited in the corner stone
were, a copy of the Bible, rosters of lo-wa Regiments, many
books and newspapers, a large variety of gold, silver, and
copper coins, and many other interesting memorials.

The work of excavation commenced in the fall of 1870,
and the first stone on the foundation was put in its place,
on a bed of concrete masonry, two feet in thickness, Au-
gust 17th, 1871. The greater portion of the foundation
walls was erected ten feet above the concrete in Novem-
ber, 1871.

OF POLK COUNTY, 141

Up to June 6tb, 1876, the State had expended on the new
Capitol $850,243.87. It will require more than two millions
of dollars to complete this grand structure; but wheti com-
pleted it vvill rank among the most magnificent State Cap-
itols in ihe Uijion

The Board of Capitol Commissioners are: President, Gov,
Kirkwood; Maturin L. Fisher, Jno. G. Foote, Peter A. Dey,
R. S. Finkbine; Ed Wright, Secretary. Mr. Finkbine is
Superintendent of Construction, and Ed Wright, Assistant
Superintendent of Construction ; and John G. Foote, Su-
perintendent of Finance.

ROADS AND BKIDGES.

In 1843 a rodd was laid out from Des Moines to Tool's
Point, now Monroe, Jasper county; and the following year,
Peter Newcomer built a bridge o\er Four Mile Creek, for
which Captain Allen gave him permission to make a claim
out on the prairie, four miles east of town. In 1845, the
first mail route established communication between Ft. Des
Moines and Keokuk, via Tool's Point, Oskaioosa, Eddyville,
Ottumwa, and Agency City. The mail was weekly, arriving
Wednesdays and departing Thursdays,

In 1846, a horse ferry, operated by Edward Martin, crossed
the Des Moines at Adelphi, over which the Mormon tide of
immigration in 1847, en route for Kanesville, or Council
Bluffs, was very heavy.

It will be seen by reference to the article on County Gov-
ernment, that for several years after the organization of the
County, ferries were employed as the only means to trans-
port persons and vehicles across both rivers. In 1856, the
Des Moines river was spanned on Sycamore street by a pon-
toon bridge. This was followed in the winter of 1857 by a
trestle bridge over the same river on Market street, con-
structed under the direction of Alex. Scott, who died at
Pike's Peak a few years since. This structure was unfor-

-[42 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

tunate, being destroyed by the freshet of 1859. It was af-
terwards reconstructed by J. C. Warner, but in the Spring
of 1861, it was finally washed away. No attempts have
since been made to construct a similar bridge at that place.

The piers for Court Avenue bridge were erected in 1856;
and the superstructure, under the direction of U. B. White,
architect, was built in the winter of 1857-8. In time, this
bridge began to give evidence of decay, and it was rebuilt
by Messrs. White & Turner in 1866. In 1869 this bridge
was washed away; and in 1870 new piers were constructed,
and the present fine bridge, of the Post Truss model, was
erected. It is one of the best structures of the kind in the
West, and is under the control of the City Government.

On the 23d day of March, 1866, S. F. Spofford and Frank
Laird, Bridge Committee, contracted with T. H. Napier, for
$26,000, to construct a bridge of the Howe Truss pattern,
across the Des Moines river on Walnut Street, to be finished
in six months from that date. On the 3d day of September,
in the same year, the bridge was formally accepted by the
committee, and Mr. SpoflTord was the first to cross it with
his buggy and span of horses. October 22, 1866, it was
open to public travel as a toll bridge.

By the way, Mr. Spofibrd has in his possession the first
twenty cents, and the last twenty cents, fractional currrency ,
which were taken as toll on that bridge, the last being taken
November 3, 1867, at which time the structure was made
free to the public. It was then placed under the control of
the city government.

The first Walnut street bridge was broken down in 1866,
by a drove of horses crossing it; and in 1871, it was followed
by the present Iron Bow^ String Girder, which spans the
river at that place. Like the other bridges of Des Moines
of the same character, it is controlled by the city, and rates
of toll, except for foot passengers, are exacted. The rates,
however, are extremely low; and the time is not distant when

OF POLK COUNTY. 143

all these structures on both rivers, will be made free to the
glad public.

About fifteen years ago, the Board of Supervisors for
Polk county, ga.\ e to Dr. M. P. Turner a permit, with cer-
tain stipulations, to build a bridge across Raccon river, near
its mouth. In 1862, XJ. B. White and Dr. Turner erected
the first bridge at this place; and in February, 1865, it was
swept away by a pressure of ice against it during a freshet.
It was rebuilt in July of the same year, by the same parties.
This structure did service until it was superceded in 1872
by the present bridge.

The Seventh Street combined railroad and wagon bridge
across 'Cuon, was erected in 1871.

The bridge for the Rock Island railroad, across the Des
Moines river, was built in 1868; and the one for the D. Y.
R. R., in 1869.

Few counties in the West, if any, have been more liberal
in their appropriations for bridges and other internal im-
provements. Every stream, small and great, which demands
improvements of this character, is spanned by durable and
economical structures; and although thousands of dollars
have been expended in this way, the popular expression is
that these investments have been wise and judicious.

The toll collectors for Court Avenue and Walnut street
bridges, are I. W. Griflith for the former, who has held the
post from the beginning, and Wm. Hallet, for the latter.
The collectors for the 'Coon bridges are, William Hall, for
Second street bridge, and Matthies Winters, for Seventh
street.

MINERAL RESOUKCES.

Some of the soldiers stationed at the garrison, are report,
ed to have been the first discoverers of coal in the vicinity
of the river Des Moines. It was soon ascertained by prac
tical investigation, that all this region of country belongs

244 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

to the great coal measure of the State, and is underlaid by
an inexhaustible supply of this mineral, easy of access by
the hand of skill and enterprise, and waiting the processes
of development in the future. It was certainly a gi*and act
of compensation in nature, to counterbalance our deficiency
in timber, by placing just beneath our feet countless tons of
coal, to be used as a protection against cold, and as a means
of promoting our varied systems of manufactures, all through
our coming civilization.

The first coal shaft and stone quarry, were opened by A.
N. Hays, and Captain Allen, on the banks of the Des Moines,
in 1843. The coal products in this case were but little used,
as timber was plentiful.

The coal which existed in such abundance here, and in
many other parts of the county, is of the bituminous quali-
ty; and for all the purposes to which it is devoted, it is
fully equal to the average class of this kind of mineral,
found in other parts of the country. It is demonstrated by
analysis, that ninety parts out of one hundred of this coal
are pure combustible matter.

Our coal companies have greatly multipled in number
and importance during the past few years, as statistics will
show hereafter; and men of brains and capital, controlling
the labor of an army of operatives from the mining dis-
tricts of Europe and the United States, are busily engaged
in sinking shafts, and in bringing up the stores of wealth
which are imbedded in such exhaustless profusion beneath
the surface. As the years advance, and as the country be-
comes more populous, and more appreciative of its abun-
dant manufacturing facilities, this department of industry,
already so extensive in supplying the popular wants, both
at home and abroad, will expand its proportions, until it
shall become the marvel and the wonder of the world!

OF POLK COUNTY. 145

FIRST SYSTEMATIC MINING.

Prior to the year 18*70, quantities of coal were developed
in this vicinity, principally for home consumption. The
coal which was obtained, lay generally a short distance be-
low the surface, and in some instances, it was visibly crop-
ping out, and, therefore, easy of access. In time, however,
the fact was recognized, that if Des Moines were destined
to become a great manufacturing center, some more system-
atic means must be devised by which our vast mineral re-
sources would become available. The State Geologist had
reported that the great coal measures of Iowa cropped out
here; and it was well understood that, in order to meet the
coming demand for coal, the miscellaneous and superficial
system of mining which had been adopted, must be aban-
doned, and some surer and more comprehensive plan must
be substituted.

In 1870, our fellow citizen, Wesley Redhead, whose name
has become familiar to our people, commenced prospecting
for mineral. At several points, he made persistent efforts
to reach success, calling to his aid, at the same time, all the
well known pluck and energy of his personal character.
He expended much time in fruitless toil; and in addition
to this, drew on his financial resources to the extent of
#8,000. Many men under such circumstances of discourage-
ment, would have become disheartened, and vacated to other
more fortunate persons the whole rich field of discovery
and fruition. Instead of this, however, Mr. Redhead made
another more signal attempt to acquire success, and this
time he did not fail.

Meantime, he had secured the services of John Gibson,
of Derbyshire, England, a gentleman whose large experi-
ence in this department of labor, made him a very useful
auxiliary in the new enterprise. A few rods south of 'Coon

railroad bridge, on land belonging to Mr. R., west of South
19

246 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

Parky a drill was introduced in 1873, under the direction
of Mr. Gibson, foreman. In the descent, seventy feet
were attained, the drill passing through three inferior veins-
of coal, and reaching at the depth indicated, a flint rock, so-
stubborn and invincible as to bring discouragement, even tO'
the old Derbyshire miner, who advised Mr. R. at this point
to abandon the work. Even the Geologist had stated that
if success were not realized within that distance of the sur-
face it would be useless to proceed farther.

Mr. Redhead did not participate in the gloomy view of
the subject. He quietly enquired of the foreman how many
feet of rod were left, and being answered that there were
twenty^ he urged the employment of every surplus inch,
declaring that if this did not bring the anticipated triumph
of human enterprise over stubborn nature, he would furnish
a hundred feet more, and work these up before he would
abandon his long-cherished plans. They went to work
again, consuming all of four weeks, at the slow rate of
three inches per day, in perforating this massive rock, three
feet in thickness. When the drill finally passed through the
resisting mass, it quickly descended through a vein five feet
thick of Black Diamond Coal, signalizing in its passage, the
superiority of genius over inanimate matter.

It was late in the evening when this great triumph wa»
achieved; but late as it was, James Clark, an employee of
Mr. Redhead, who had been a witness to the thrilling scene
just enacted, hurried away to report to that gentleman the
auspicious result. To Mr, Redhead, this report must have
been intensely gratifying. He had spent years, and was
down to the last dollar of his resources, in these baffling
discoveries. He had penetrated the earth, in this enterprise
alone, to the depth of one hundred and fifty feet, overcom"
ing the most stupendous obstructions which nature could
throw in his way; and to have failed after all this, would
have been a sore and terrible humiliation. He immediately

DF POLK COUNTY, ^47

went to B. F. Allen, and on communicating his grand dis-
•covery, secured from the banker an .investment in the Black
Diamond Coal Mine, of $35,000.00. A shaft was sunk to the
required depth; and in a short time, all the appliances be-
longing to a first class mine, were visible to the spectator,
and scores of operatives, down deep in the earth, were busily
engaged in bringing out from this vast store house of nature
its exhaustless treasures^ To add to the general triumph,
a pure vein of Cannel coal, fifteen inches thick, was discov-
ered beneath the bed of the river. This, with four hundred
acres of mineral lands, including the site of the Black
Diamond mine, and the rich vein of Cannel coal overlying
an affluent vein of bituminous coal, was a treasure indeed;
and Mr. Redhead might well pause in his labors for a brief
spell, to give himself time to rejoice over the victory which
he had gained.

It was not long before two miles of T rail traversed the
passages of this mine, and forty men were employed in
working the rich lead. A large building surmounted the
shaft, in which were placed a boiler manufactured by Mc~
Donald & Meara, and two horizontal engines of thirty-five
horse power, from the shops of Waldron Brothers of this
city.

DKS MOINES COAL COMPANIES.

We have taken the trouble to call, either in person or by
proxy, at the different coal offices in the city, in search of
such statistical exhibits as we needed in making up this
article. In the statements which are appended, we have in
every instance, so far as we had the ability, accepted and
adopted the language and the figures employed by the re-
spective representatives of the companies, in making out
their reports for our use. We have no interest under Heaven,
and no motive indeed, in speaking more flatteringly or ap-
provingly of one company than another. We have simply

248 CENTENNIAL HISTOKY

tised the material as we have obtained it from the officers'
of these organizations; and if mistakes are made, or if any-
thing which seems to be invidious is published in this con-
nection, we desire the public to understand that the respon-
sibility for such mistakes, or partial statement of facts, be-
longs not to the author. With these introductory remarks^,
which we trust will be wisely heeded, we shall proceed now
to the consideration as proposed of our numerous Coal'
Companies: —

DE& MOINES COAL COMPANY.

This Company was organized August iVth, 1865, by Wes-
ley Redhead, James M. Starr, William Vincent, B. F. Allen,,
Wm. Phillips, Hoyt Sherman, J. Teesdale, Jas. W. Davis,
L. W. Dennis, Franklin Butler, and E. Sanford. The mine&
were at that time located in the north part of the city. They
were worked successfully until the basin of coal was es-
hausted. At this period, Wesley Redhead, having bought
up the interest of the other members of the Company, com-
menced prospecting for mineral on the south side of De»
Moines.

He selected the place for experiment, to which we have
referred under the head of "First Systematic Mining." The
reader has already been made familiar with his discovery
of an extensive mine, south of 'Coon, containing Cannel
and Bituminous Coal. This is the lowest vein of coal yet
discovered in the County, developed as it is from a depth
of one hundred and fifty feet from the surface. As a con-
sequence of this great depth, the mineral is harder, stronger,
and therefore more economical for service than coal which
is superficially obtained. It is extensively used on account
of its great popularity. It is called the Black Diamond
Coal.

This was the firsfCoal Company organized in Central Iowa.
To show the increase of its business, from the infancy of

OF POLK COUNTY.

U9

the organization until the present time, its books report that
in 1867, when the Rock Island Railroad was completed to
Des Moines, one or two car loads per day were sufficient to
meet the demand. This Company now supplies twenty car
loads per day in the busy season, and it gives employment
to 150 miners and laborers.

B. W. SYPHEE.

The mines which this gentleman works, are located on the
line of the Indianola Railroad, one and a half miles from
the Court House, According to the tabular statement ap-
pended, reported to us by Mr. Sypher, it will be seen that
it was opened in 1874:

S -c .

"a? 1 'S

%"^

>

a'^

^ \ ^*6

-^V-,

©

c

2 '^

QD ' CO^

02 <V

YEAR.

1— t

o

S • 1 S -»J

^ a

I

OS «

o ^

«^ C 1 «^ P^

«*-, X j^

.t^tJ

a

0.5 1 ot<

05-?

o3

aii

6 ^

6^ \ dW 1 6«0

0

O

\^

^ ^ 1 t25

H

1874

$10,0001 15 154,000

100,000

54,000

$15,400

1875

12,000 30 265,000

177,000

88,000

26,500

1876

15,000! 30 250,000

170,000

80,000

25,000

EXCELSIOR COAL COMPANY.

This Company, composed of John Lumsden and Joseph
Beck, was organized in the fall of 1874. The mines are
located south of 'Coon, near Munzenmaier's Brewery. The
number of hands ordinarily employed is twenty. The ag-
gregate number of bushels mined per year is 169,896, one-
third of which are shipped at ten cents per bushel, and the
remaining two-thirds are sold at home for fourteen cents
per bushel.

WATSON COAL COMPANY.

This Company was organized December Slst, 1867, with
the following officers: President, Rufus Ford; Secretary,

1 50 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

J. Henry Brooks, Boston; Treasurer, Jno. L. Lathrop, Han-
nibal, Mo. ; Superintendent, Samuel Stansbury ; Cashier,
A. W. DeForest. Board of Directors: Rufus Ford, Buda,
Ills.; and J. W. Brooks, George B. Chase, W. S. Hough-
ton, and J. N. Denison, of Boston. Capital stock, $200,000.
The mines are at Centerville, Iowa, and Des Moines.

From June 1, 1875, to June 1, 1876, this Company mined
1,113,967 bushels, of which 382,915 bushels were sold in
Des Moines, and 731,052 bushels were exported. Multiply-
ing the aggregate number of bushels mined during the last
year by nine, the product at that price per bushel reaches
the magnificent proportions of $100,257.03.

Average number of men employed per month, ninety.

PLEASANT HILL COMPANY.

This Company, of which Hoyt Sherman jr., is principal,
was organized September 1, 1875. The mines are situated
on the line of the Indianola Railroad, one and a half miles
from the city. Capital invested, $5,000.00. The vein of
coal is four and a half feet thick.

The number of bushels mined from September 1, 1875 to
July 1, 1876, was 75,000, of which 50,000 bushels were sold
in the city, and 25,000 were exported. Receipts to July 1,
1876, $9,000.00. Average number of men employed, fifteen.

EUREKA COAL COMPANY.

The officers of this Company are: President, Norman
Haskins; Secretary, James Cormack. Authorized capital,
$50,000.00. The mines are located South of 'Coon, near the
First Ward school house. The Company are engaged in
putting in new works, which, when completed, will greatly
promote their mining interests.

During that portion of last year in which the mines were
worked under the present management, 122,607 bushels of

OF POLK COUNTY. 151

coal were developed. Number of men employed, from ten
to thirty.

KCLIPSE COAL COMPANY.

The present Company was organized October 1, 1873. Its
officers are: General Manager, T. D. Yeomans; Secretary,
J, Lee Englebert; Mine Superintendent, T. Beck. Mines
located South of 'Coon, just outside city limits.

There were mined in 1875, 725,947 bushels, of which
seven-tenths were exported at ten cents per bushel, and
three-tenths were sold in the city at an average of thirteen
and a half cents per bushel. Average number of hands,
seventy-five.

IOWA CENTRAL COAL COMPANY.

This Company, of which A. Y. Rawson, C. H. Rawson,
and Henry Wightman are principals, was organized in 1867.
Its business has been confined almost exclusively, to the
city retail trade. The mines are located at the corner of
Sixth and School streets. We have received no figures,
showing the amount of business done by this Company; but
enough is known to indicate the fact that the Iowa Central
has been ranked among the most enterprising of our coal
Companies.

HAWKEYE COAL COMPANY.

This Company was organized in 1872, by W. W. Fink?
and A. G. Smith. In 1 876, Mr. Fink became sole proprietor.
The banks are one-third of a mile North of the city limits.
During the business season, about six hundred bushels per
day are elevated, which are sold to consumers at home.

The average number of hands is twenty.

152 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

This Company, consisting of N. B. and William Cooley,
was organized in 1875. The banks are in East Des Moines;
and during the business season, from two hundred and fifty
to three hundred bushels of coal per day are handled. The
sales are exclusively in the city

lindsey's bank.

David Lindsey's mine is situated just outside the city
limits, on the Saylorville road. He has been working it for
two years, employing from six, to ten hands, who take out
from two to three hundred bushels per day — all for city
trade.

Peterson's bank.

Messrs. Peterson & Isaac commenced mining in 1872, in
East Des Moines. They employ from ten to twenty hands,
and handle from three to five hundred bushels per day, half
of which is exported.

BECAPITULATION.

Thus, by the employment of much time and labor, we
have been able to compile a report of the most prominent
Coal Companies of the county. There are a few others of
minor importance, of which we have received no special
information. The objective point, however, at which we
have been aiming, has been reached; that is, to give the
reader some adequate conception of the real magnitude of
this department of our local business.

MANWFACTURBS.

In the infancy of our City, public attention was directed
to the fact that the water power here was as abundant, and

OF POLK COUNTY. 1 53

available for propelling all kiuds of machinery, as any other
site in the West could furnish. In 1857, the following man-
ufactories were in successful operation: A large planing
and turning establishment, sash and door factory; a foundry
on the East Side; a carding machine by steam; and a num-
ber of saw and grist mills. This comprehended all the im-
provements at the time of this character.

Since then, important accessions have been made to this
department; and it is gratifying in this Centennial year, to
report that we have already in existence a very large num-
ber of manufacturing establishments, enjoying a measure
of prosperity, of which older communities might well be
proud. The following pages will demonstrate the truthful-
ness of this statement.

Taking into consideration, therefore, the variety and im-
portance of our home manufacturing system, giving work
as it does to multiplied thousands of busy hands; and su-
peradding to this the thought that the very ground on which
these manufactories stand, and the streets on which we
tread with a feeling of conscious pride and security, were,
little more than a quarter of a century ago, the abode of the
wolf and the savage, and the home of original nature, our
minds are profoundly impressed by the change w^hich has
been wrought in so short a time, by the magic touch of
Saxon enterprise. And to day, as we reflect on these fea-
tures of improvement, and contemplate the large number
of structures, including residences, churches, business
blocks, and our own Exposition Building, now completed,
the spirit of genuine prophecy impels us to look forward
from this mount of observation, to the period, not by any
means distant, when Des Moines will become the recog-
nized metropolis of Iowa, distinguished alike for the suc-
cess of its literary and industrial systems, and for the great-
ness and grandeur of its destiny.

20

254 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

PLOW SHOPS.

The first plow factory in the town was built by Stantoji
& Given, in 1851, on the grounds now occupied by the
Given House and Given's Plow Shop. In 1856, Stanton &
Skinner sold to Skinner & Given, and in 1859 the establish-
ment was merged into the firm of Skinner Brothers, and
moved to Front Street, to the house now occupied by Piatt
& Speith. The old house was continued by Given & Co.

In the Fall of 1858, Skinner Bros, erected a large brick
building, for the accommodation of their increasing business,
on the corner of Second and Elm Streets, on the site occu-
pied by the first Drug Store and Printing Office in Ft. Des
Moines. They manufacture annually about 1,500 plows and
cultivators, principally for the Western States. Many car
loads, however, have been shipped to different foreign coun-
tries. They consume about $20,000 worth of raw material
per annum, and average a working force of fifteen hands.

J. H. Given, proprietor of the Given House, and other
city property, started his plow factory in 1851, turning out
at that time about two hundred plows per year. His busi-
ness increased so rapidly, that in order to accommodate
himself to the situation, he erected his present large estab-
lishment, 133 feet in depth and 40 feet front. He now
turns out more than one thousand five hundred plows per
year.

The firm of Piatt & Speith, 204 First Street, has been in
existence several years, growing in importance with increas-
ing prosperity of the City. Their shop was established in
1865. The average number of hands they employ is eight;
and the plows they turn out annually, number one hundred.
The plows are mostly sold at wholesale, and find a market
in different States.

The Des Moines Plow Company was organized October
9th, 1876, with the following officers: President, H. C.

OF POLK COUNTY. 155

Hargis; Vice-President, Samuel Green; Secretary, R. W.
Cross; Treasurer, George C. Baker; General Superinten-
dent, George Garver; Executive Committee, Taylor Peirce,
John H. Given, Jacob Cox, John Lawson, and Wm. G.
Madden. It is the design of the Company to manufacture
all kinds of agricultural implements as well as plows.

FOUNDRIES AND MACHINE SHOPS.

The first foundry in the County was established by H. N.
Hemingway, in East Fort Des Moines, in the Fall of 1856.
In the Winter of 1856-7, the second foundry was started by
S. J. Loughran, and was located on the West side of the
river. The firm is now Loughran & Hillis.

The American Foundry and Machine Works were estab-
lished by A. W. Otis & Rollins, in 1863. In the Spring of
1864, Joseph Heimer purchased the interest of Mr. Rollins,
and in the Fall of 1866, Otis & Heimer sold the establish-
ment to Messrs. Brooks, Strawbridge & Wilson. In the
Fall of 1867, George Lendrum, the present Sheriff of Polk
County, bought the interest of Mr. Strawbridge; and Sep-
tember 23d, 1873, William Stein bought Mr. Lendrum out,
since which the style of the firm has been Brooks, Wilson
& Stein. They consume about 150 tons of metal annually,
and average a working force of ten hands.

The Iowa Boiler Works were established in 1871, by
Messrs. Grupe & Turner.

The Foundry and Machine Shop operated by J. B. Flint
& Co., is one of the oldest in the city, having been about
twenty years in existence.

Eagle Iron Works. This Company was incorporated in
November, 1872, with the following officers: President, H.
Creswell; Superintendent, Geo. Lendrum; Secretary and
Treasurer, D. E. Perkins. Capital stock, $30,000.

The Des Moines Steam Boiler Works were established in
1861, by N. S. McDonald. In 1866, James Meara became

J r-,g CENTEJ^NIAL HISTORY

a partner in the establishment. At first, the business was so
limited that the services of but one workman were required,
and these only for a short time. The first boiler made in
the (dty was made manufactured by Mr. McDonald for
Hemingway & Brother's foundry; and in 1862, he manufac-
tured a boiler for the ^tate Register (newspaper) office, be-
ing the first one made in the city for printing purposes.
Last year, (1875) they consumed 185 tons of wrought iron,
and 28 tons of cast iron. They ship boilers to several dif-
ferent States, and manufacture, in addition to boilers, lard
and water tanks, vault doors and shutters, iron jails, and
all kinds of sheet iron woiks. The firm have in their em-
ploy, on an average, eighteen regular hands.

The Northwestern Brass Woiks were established by J. S.
Hill and J. E. Tetley, in May, 1874. They make all kinds
of brass work, engines, experimental machinery, sodafoun-
tains, etc., and consume annually a large amount of metal.

The Brass Foundry and Machine Shop of E. C. Ross,
East Des Moines, was established, January, 1872. A large
amount of raw material is consumed, and twelve engines,
averaging 12-horse power each, are manufactured annuallj'.

Besides the establishments just noted, we have the Hawk-'
eye Foundries and Stove Works, S. Green, proprietor; Nov-
elty Iron Works, Parsons & Dear; and the Foundry and
Machine Works of Waldron Brothers. The old Des Moines
Foundry, East Side, was operated before the war by R. L.
Tidrick and G. M. Hippee.

OIL MILLS.

The Central Oil Works, for the manufacture of linseed
oil, were established in East Des Moines, September, 1866,
by W. R. and J. A. Ankeney. They consume annually about
75,000 bushels of flax seed; and the works have a capacity
of 600 gallons of oil and 6 tons of oil cake, per day. The
oil is principally exported to Eastern and Southern markets,

OF POLK COUNTY. I57

in the United States, and the cake to foreign markets. The
building is 51 by 127 feet in dimensions, three stories high
above cellar, and is composed of brick.

The Des Moines Oil Works, also in East Des Moines, G.
W. Werum, proprietor, commenced business, August, 1875.
They consume annually about 30,000 bushels of seed, and
have a capacity of 300 gallons of oil, and 3^ tons of cake,
per day. The products are mostly exported to Eastern
markets. The building is a large and commodious struc-
ture, composed of brick.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

In 1866, there were in this business Brown & Spofford,
Miller & Wills, and N. T. Vorse. We have now Ainsworth
& Bonbright, Dryden & Berry, Elliott & Sibley, J. M. Otis,
Hoberger & Matten, E. Penn, and the Grange Store, Spencer
Day, Agent.

FURNITURE.

The furniture dealers and manufacturers of Des Moines
are: C. & L. Harbach, wholesale; Clarke Bros., William
Lotz, Gustavus Newton, and Merrill, Keeney & Co. Of
these, the Harbach's, Merrill, Keeney & Co., and Lotz, were
in the business in 1866. In that year, James Simington, and
Tuttle & Lyon, and C. M. McDaniels, were also engaged in
this branch of trade. The Harbach's commenced business
many years ago, and pushed it so successfully, that during
the present summer, they erected, on Third street, for a fur.
niture emporium, one of the largest and finest edifices of
this character in the country.

PLANING MILLS.

Messrs. Gilchrist started a planing mill in East Des Moines
in 1856, which was subsequently burned down. The mills
of this kind, which have since been established, are those

158 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

of Carver & Young, H. R. Heath, and A. J. Jack & Co. In
1866, there were four planing mills, which appear in this
connection. In 1869, Foster & Bros, were added to the list.
During the present summer Capital Planing Mills, Carver
& Young, were destroyed by fire; but an immense new
building, for the same purpose, erected by the same parties,
is occupying the old site.

IOWA SCHOOL FUKNITURE COMPANY.

This Company was organized, March 1st, 1867, by Ran-
kin & Roberts. John A. Elliott was at one time connected
with this enterprise. The present managers, who bought
the establishment of the State of Iowa, January 1st, 1874,
are: President and Secretary, F. A. Percival ; Treasurer,
Taylor Scoville. The authorized capital is fifty thousand
dollars. The sales, mostly in the Western States amount
to twenty-five thousand dollars per annum.

A. S. Vorse, for many years a resident of Des Moines,
commenced the manufacture of school furniture in 1866.
His business became extensive, the products of his la-
bor and skill being distributed over Iowa, and other West-
ern States.

DES MOINES SCALE COMPANY.

This Company was established July 15th, 1872, with the
following stockholders: F. R. West, President; S. F. Spof-
ford, Vice-President; George A. Jewett, Secretary; Wesley
Redhead, Treasurer; S. S. Hitchcock, H. F. Getchell &
Sons, Marcus Cavanaugh, Wm. Dickerson, Waldron Bros.,
Geo. D. Barklow, G. P. Livensberger, McDonald & Meara,
and Howell & Seeberger. The establishment continued
under the above management till February 5th, 1874, when
it was leased to Wm. Dickerson, L. D. Berry, and George
M. Sargent. One year later, Wm. Dickerson, who became

OF POLK COUNTY. I59

the principal stockholder, leased the factory and continued
the management alone, till March Ist, 1876.

The present officers and stockholders are: President and
Treasurer, H. S. Butler; Vice-President, W. H. Hatch; Sec-
retary, T. Braden; S. F. Spofford, E.R.Butler, Mills &
Co., and Clarkson Brothers. An average of one hundred
and twenty-five hay and stock scales are manufactured an-
nually, and sold principally to Western States. Capital
stock, $50,000.

POTTERIES, ETC.

S. A. Kelsey was one of the earliest potters. We have
now Eagle Pottery, Cantril & Bush; East Des Moines Pot-
tery, J. M. Cochran. Besides these, are: Iowa Carbonated
Stone Pipe Works, Street & Tuttle; and Des Moines Stone-
sawing Co., Martin Tuttle, manager.

WOOLEN MILLS.

The City Woolen Mills of Shephard & Perrior, East Des
Moines, date back to 1856. Besides these there are the Iowa
Woolen Mills of W. W. Carpenter.

MAEBLE WORKS.

The pioneers in marble works were Monroe & Kinsey on
Fourth street, and Fox & Boydston on Second street. In
1866 the marble works were those of Fox Bros., H. B. Gray,
and Stimson & Co., three establishments in all. In 1869,
J. B. Davis; Greenland, Howe & Co., and Totten & Settle.
In 18*73, East Side Marble Works, Robert Scott, are record-
ed in this connection.

The Manhattan and Natural Marble Company, organized
in September, 1875, consists of J. A. Harvey, President; R.
W. Cross, Secretary; Dr. Jam'es Wright, Treasurer; W. M.
Greenland, Superintendent. The Board of Directors con-
sists of the above named and A. S. Yorse, and C. C. Howell.

IgQ CENTENNIAL HISTORY

The Natural Marble Company, with which the Manhattan
was consolidated, March 6, 1876, was established ten years
ago by W. M. Greenland. A fine variety of marble, styled
Manhattan, is manufactured here. It is susceptible of a
high finish, nnd is used for mantels, table tops, shelves, sink
tops, etc. They consume about seven carloads of marble
in the rough, annually. Sales amount to $15,000 per annum.
Average number of hands employed, ten. All kinds of
statuary are also manufactured here.

The Des Moines City Marble Works were established in
October, 1873, by I. N. Webster. The work manufactured
here, consisting of grates, mantels, and monuments, are made
from the bc'^t foreign and American marble and granite.
Of this material, half American and half Italian, from six
to eight car loads are used annually. Large quantities of
Scotch granite are imported. Mantels are made of slate and
iron, as well as marble. Ten hands are usually 'employed,
and four traveling agents. Sales amount to about $20,000
per annum.

ORGAN PACTOEY.

The Hawkeye State Organ is manufactured in Des Moines
by C. H. Kremling & Son. These gentlemen started in
business here in 1870; and it is due them to say that they
are the only manufacturers of organs in the State. We
mean to say that all the details of their work are done by
themselves, and there is nothing imported except material.

SPICE MILLS.

The extensive Spice Mills of Tone Brothers, were estab-
lished in 1874.

SEWING MACHINES.

Allen & Co., Manufacturers of the Iowa Sewing Machine,
commenced business in 1875.

OF POLK COUNTY. IQI

BRICKS.

The making of brick has been for several years, a promi-
nent feature in our manufacturing system. The large num-
ber of brick buildings, which are constantly going up, both
in the city and country, demand an immense amount of
material with which to erect them. The Capitol building
alone requires enough brick to build a common Western
city All the villages have their respective kilns; and North
of the city limits, the number of brick kilns which have
been in full blast during the present and former seasons, is
indeed incredible.

The Des Moines brick makers in 1873, were N. B. Cooley,
Francis Geneser, and E. D. Janes; in 1876, they are Francis
Geneser, Lewis Hyland, Robertson & Willoughby, and
Conrad Youngerman.

Brick to the number of 25,000,000, have been used this
season in our city improvements; and the prospect is, that
as many more will be used next year. This branch of busi-
ness has indeed become formidable.

CARRIAGE FACTORIES.

A. W. & F. Voodry's Carriage Factory was established
in Des Moines, in November, 1865. In June, 1871, the bu-
siness passed into the hands of A. W. Voodry, who has
continued it ever since. The number of vehicles of all
kinds manufactured annually, is fifty. The average num-
ber of hands employed is ten The sales are confined prin-
cipally to Central Iowa.

Harbison, Wilson & Williams commenced the business
March 10th, 1871. June 6th, 1873, Harbison & Wilson as-
sumed the business, the other partner retiring. October
18th, 1874, Mr. Wilson became sole proprietor, and contin-
ued so till the present year, when he became associated with

J. J. McDill. In 1871, ten vehicles were manufactured,
21

1(32 ' CENTEI^NIAL HISTOEY /

and during the last year, eighty. The average number of
hands employed since beginning, ten. Sales are mostly in
Central and "Western Iowa.

O. W. Munsell, formerly of Albany, New York, estab-
lished himself in the business in Des Moine^!, in 1867. He
states that he manufactured the first carriage made in the
city, and sold it to Capt. F. R. West. He averages about
fifty vehicles per annum, and employs twelve hands usually,
but sometimes many more. Sales are largely in Central
and Western Iowa. Some of his carriages were recently
exported to East Indies. This establishment, also manu-
factures hose carriages, hook and ladder trucks, and London
coaches.

M£8CKLLA.NBOUS MANUFACTORIES.

Up to this point, we have noticed the tnanufacturers from
whom we have received special reports for this history. Our
object has been to report manufactures only, in this connec-
tion. The establishments which have not made special re-
ports are as follows, so far as we have been able to obtain
information on the subject:

Baking Powders, by Tone Bros.; Blank Books, by Car-
ter, Hussey & Curl, Mills & Co., and State Bindery; Brooms,
by S. B. Brott, George Hanson, and Hobert & Sons; Car-
riages, by J. A. Wilson ; Cigar boxes, by Arnold Wengeler.

The manufacturers of Cigars are: F. Harbach & Bros.,
commenced business March, 1862; Huttenlocher & Young-
erman, commenced 1867; Conradi & Smythe, 1870; Har-
ritt, Beall & Co., 1871; Louis Marks, 1871; Phillip Klumb,
1874; Frank Kuehner, 1874; Henry Pockenburg, 1876 ;
Charles H. Gamp, 1876.

The Confectioners are: Chapin, Merritt & Co., and Vin-
nedge & Thornley; Crackers, by Garton & Robesky, and
W. F. Vincent; Files, by National Company, C. C. Cole,
President; J. W. Vincent, Secretary and General Manager.

OF POLK COUNTY. ]g3

Furs, by Phillip Gantz, and Kraetsch Bros; Galvanized
Iron Cornice, by Comparet & Stark. Mineral Water, by
Frederick Stehm. Shirts, by Allen & Co., and W. S. Ver-
non; Soap and Candles, by L. Fisher, and Young & Dieck-
man; Asbestine Stone, by C. Youngerman; Leather, by
David Bush, and Butler & Stratton; Tinware, by Carpen-
ter & Brother, Mason & Co., A. F. Dix, Mathews & Ledlie,
C. Newman, Kurtz & Bro., George W. Sheldon, S. F. Ens-
minger, Bolton Bros., A. H. Walker, L. G. Beeks, S. L.
McKisson & Co., Entwistle & O'Dea, George Diramet, and
Comparet & Stark; Trunks, by H. Becker; Vinegar, by C.
W. Menning, and W. T. Painter.

The following breweries are in the County: City Brew-
ery, established in 1855, by George and Joseph Hierb, and
owned since 1866 by Alves Mattes. Mattes Brothers are
building a brewery in East Des Moines. The National, in
South Des Moines, established in 1858, by Kappes & Rei-
nig, and owned since 1863 by GotliebMunzenmeier, Union,
commenced in 1865, by Adam Aulmann, and recently came
into the hands of Aulmann & Schuster. The fifth estab-
lishment of this class is the Des Moines Ale Brewery, es-
tablished in 1866, by Joseph Kinsley.

Wagons are manufactured by W. K. Dedman, Rackem
& Girton, C. H. Hu-iibert, T. M. Knight, J. W. McGlew,
Smith Bros., C. F. Zch, and Samuel Rudd.

Watches, etc., by Eason & Rogg, Goodwin & Douglas,
S. Joseph, Pierre Leidecka, P. Lindell, W. H. McCoy, J.
Parmelee, Plumb Bros., H. P. Hobbs, and C. Mauthe; Guns
and Pistols, by C. L. Smith, E. W. Smith, and Chas. Roys-
don; Harness and Saddlery, by P. Boudewyns, William
Dippert, Jno. Harley, H. P. Johnston, John Kcenigsberger,
and W. B. Mitchell; Window Shades, by John Mueller;
Wooden Boxes, by H. A. Clom; Wooden and Willow Ware,
by S. L. Fuller & Co.

154 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

SAW AND GRIST MILLS.

The first mill within the limits of the county, as it was
before the townships taken from Warren were restored, was
erected in the Fall of 1843, by Captain Allen, who was as"
sociated in the enterprise with J. D. Parmalee. This mill
was on Middle river, and was popularly known as Parma-
lee's mill. It was first operated for sawnng lumber; and the
following year facilities were added for grinding wheat.

The first mill in the Northern part of the county, was
erected on Big Creek, Madison Township, by George Beebe
in 1849.

William H. Meacham erected in 1847, the first mill in the
county proper. It w^as built in what is called East Des
Moines, and was operated as a saw mill by horse power
On the same site, the steam mill of J. S. Dean was after-
wards erected; and the fine mill of Shepard & Perrior now
occupies the same place. At the time Mr, Meacham was
running his horse mill, a little saw mill was in existence at
the place on Walnut Creek where the railroads now cross
that stream. Edward and Edwin Hall built a water flour
ing mill on the same site on which the mill formerly run by
Mr. Williams, now known as the Empire Mills of Jack &
Toner, is standing,

B. F. Allen constructed a dam in 1848, two miles above
the town on the Des Moines river It was washed away in
1849.

Kezekiah Fagan erected a mill on Walnut Creek in 1849.
Subsequently he was associated with Mr. Fitzsimmons, in
opetating this mill and another one wliich they built on
Rgccoon river.

In 1849, B. F. Allen and C C. Van built a steam saw-mill
South of 'Coon; and the same year Cole, Winchester, and
Dean erected the first steam flouring mill on the East side,
now known as Shepard & Pernor's mill.

OF POLK COUNTY. Ig5

Previous to the building of mills in the county, it was
necessary at times, to take grists overland nearly two hund-
red miles to the mills in Southeastern Iowa. During these
protracted trips for bread, much suffering was often endured,
not only by the persons who executed the long journey in
bad weather; but by the families who were waiting at home
for the needed sustenance.

The property known as the Farmer's Mills, East Des
Moines, was first built by Daniel Stutzman for a woolen
mill. It was transferred to Skinner Brothers for a plow
factory; thence to Wheeler, Henry & Depew, for Hominy
mills; thence to Joseph Williams, and Ed. Keeler, who
changed it to a flouring mill, with two run of ^^ feet burs,
giving it a (japacity of two hundred bushels per day. The
hominy and corn departments, operated by J. D. Williams
have the same capacity.

Eagle Flouring Mills, operated by steam, were estab-
lished in the city by D. A. Tyrrell in 1873. The building
is a three story brick. The establishment grinds from forty
to fifty thousand bushels of wheat per annum.

Capital Mills, B. C. White proprietor, commenced run-
ning in 1865. The building is a three story brick; and the
capacity of the mill is one hundred bushels per day.

The Flouring Mills of Gulick & Dye, East Fifth street,
have been in successful operation for some time

Ayres' steam mills, built in early times, in the town, were
consumed by fire.

PORK BUSINESS.

In 1858, prior to the establishment of regular Slaughter-
ing and Packing Houses, Messrs. Rollins & Winters were
engaged in the packing business in a limited way, packing,
perhaps, about one thousand head per annum. In 1860,
Albert Grefe constructed a slaughter and rendering house.

IQ^ CENTENNIAL HISTORY

just opposite the present residence of T. E. Brown, on a
site which is now a part of that gentleman's grounds.

About the same time, J. Tuttle & Son commenced the
business of packing, in a comparativ^ely small way, in con-
nection with their wholesale and retail grocery house, hand-
ling about one thousand head the first year, which were
principally sold for home consumption, or for the country
and city trade. The cutting and packing were done in a
cellar of the Sherman Block. In the winter of 1861-2,
they became associated with Martin Winters, James Miller,
and Dr. M. P. Turner, in the packing business. They then
rented and fitted up the brick livery stable on Third street,
north of Exchange Block, for cutting and curing. During
that season they packed about three thousand head, at an
average cost of $1.91 per hundred pounds, net — an average
hog costing less than $4.00, the same to-day being worth
over $12.00. The same season, good dressed pork was
bought at $1.2-5, and at no time did the price exceed $2.50
for best net pork. The products of that winter were mostly
shipped to New York and Denver; boxed cured shoulders
selling in New York at $2.25, sides at $4.00, and lard at
$6.00. When these low prices are taken into consideration,
the reader may not be surprised that the partners, on strik-
ing a dividend, after donating their labor and their time
through the season to the business, realized a profit in the
aggregate of $56.00, giving to each partner just $11.20!
Such profits as these cured a lot of pork packers as effectu-
ally as they cured their meat!

The next year Tuttle & Son built the first house ever
erected in Des Moines, exclusively for packing purposes, on
the site now occupied by Tuttle's stone front, on Fifth St.
That season, 1862-3, the price was also very low, averaging
about two cents net, until the latter part of the winter, when
it advanced to three and one-half cents per pound. The
number of hogs packed was about 3,500, of which two-

OF POLK COUNTY. 1^7

thirds were hauled to Ottumwa, Victor, and Marshalltown,
the western termini respectively of three railroads.

The same season, Messrs. Getchell & J. B. Millar packed
about 1,000 head in one of the Savery House cellars; also,
Messrs. Rawson & Harmon packed about 2,500 in a house
on the site now occupied by Osgood, Wyman & Harris as
a dry goods store; and Rollins & Winters packed about the
same amount at their store building on Second street, since
destroyed by fire.

In the Winter of 1863-4, Tuttle & Son packed at their
establishment about four thousand head at prices ranging
from $3.50 to $7.00 per hundred. A large amount of this
was sold on the premises at figures varying from three cents
to eighteen cents per pound, for smoked meats. The houses
of Andrew Rollins & Harmon, and John Rollins & Winters,
also packed about three thousand head each that season.

The first regular packing house in the county was built
by B. F. Murphy of Chicago, in 1863, on the ground now
occupied by Gen. J. M. Tuttle's packing establishment in
this city. It was not extensive, and was intended only for
slaughtering and dressing, preparatory to hauling to the
railroads, the points for exportation by shipment on railroad,
being Grinnell on the Rock Island Railroad, and Marshall-
town on the Northwestern. The house had no cellar, and
was not in a condition to cure meats at that time. In 1867,
Gen. J. M. and his brother Martin Tuttle, under the name
of Tuttle Brothers, purchased the building of Mr. Murphy,
enlarged it, and put a cellar under it, adding tanks and all
other appurtenances belonging to a regular packing house.

In 1870, General Tuttle became the sole proprietor, and
continued the business alone till January, 1873, when he be-
came associated with Lewis Igo of Warren county. In 1874,
the old building was torn down, and the present large and
commodious stone structure was erected, with all the mod-
ern improvements of a first class establishment, having a

][gg CENTENNIAL HISTORY

capacity for handling 1,500 hogs per day. In the Spring of
1875, the General purchased the interest of Mr. Ig(», and
again became the sole proprietor. The number of hogs
packed at this house in the winter of 1867-8, was 15,846; in
1868-9, 15,876; in 1869-70, 10,788; in 1870-1, 6,703; in
1871-2, 18,255; in 1872-3, 31,282; in 1878-4, 20,044; in
1874-5, 32,037; in 1875-6, 15,096.

Messrs. Murphy & Co., composed of M. M Murphy, T.
E. Johnson, and Joseph Shissler, established a packing
house in 1869. In 1872, Mr. Shissler purchased the interest
of the other members of the firm, and has since been the
sole proprietor. In the Spring of the same year, an addition
was made to the house, giving it a capacity of six hundred
head per day. This house is also supplied with all the
modern improvements pertaining to the business. The
books show that in the Winter of 1869-70, 1,600 hogs were
packed; in 1870-71, 3,600; in 1871-2, 10,526; in 1872-3,
7,686; in 1873-4, 2,000; in 1874-5, 12,703. The lowest price
paid for hogs by this house was $2.50 per hundred in 1871,
and highest was $9.50 in 1869.

This establishment did all the cooking for the great
soldiers reunion at Des Moines in 1870, as mentioned else-
where.

The packing house now owned by J. H. Windsor & Co.,
East of the Des Moines river, was built by Stower's Pork
Packing and Provision Company, of Seranton, Pa., March
29th, 1871. During the two seasons of 1871-2 and 1872-3,
in which it was operated by this Company, no report has
reached us of the business done. It was bought by J. H.
Windsor & Co., in the Fall of 1873; and it is still owned by
them.

During the season of 1873-4, this house packed 23,600
hogs. In the season of 1874-5, 22,500 were packed. In
the Fall of 1875, large additions were made to the estab-
lishment, giving it a Summer Packing House, at a cost of

OF POLK COUNTY. IgQ

$25,000. The Winter capacity of the house is 1,200 hogs
per day, and the Summer capacity, 600. In the Winter of
1875-6, 28,000 hogs were killed; and in the Summer of
1876, 24,000 were killed.

The Summer meats are cut for foreign markets, and are
shipped direct across the water. The house is now putting
up a large box factory, to save bringing boxes from abroad,
for the English market. The ice-house, for the storage of
ice for Summer use, has a capacity of 12,000 tons.

James W. Davis, in 1861, packed 200 sugar-cured hams
for the city retail trade. In 1863, Davis & Dennis took the
business, which increased from 1,000 to 2,000 annually,
until 1868. In 1869, Dennis & Keyes bought out Davis &
Dennis, and until 1874, packed annually an average of 8,000
hams, 2,000 sugar-cured shoulders, and 100,000 pounds of
clear sides, mostly for this market.

In 1874, Dennis & Keyes sold out to Keyes, Thompson
& Reeves. The latter firm have put up 25,000 sugar cured
hams, 10,000 sugar-cured shoulders, 300,000 pounds of clear
sides, and 300 barrels and tiercej* of lard and pickled pork.
Half of these products were sold in Central Iowa, and the
other half in Boston, New York, Baltimore, and San Fran-
cisco.

We had hoped to obtain statistics on this subject from
the old house of Murphy & Co.; but this hope has not been
realized. It is well known, however, that an immense bu-
siness was done by this house. B. F. Allen was connected
with it; and his abundant means gave to it a great degree of
efficiency and prosperity.

KATLKOADS.

An election was held at Fort Des Moines, September 19,

1853, on the proposition of issuing the bonds of the county,

to the amount of $150,000, to aid in the construction of the

second section of the Lyons & Iowa Central Railroad. The
22

1 70 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

vote stood 366 for the proposition, and 162 against. The
adoption of the proposition was ordered by Judge Rice to
be published in the loioa Star.

On the 20th day of September, 1856, a proposition to
issue bonds to the amount of $300,000, to aid in the con-
struction of the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad from Iowa
City to Fort Des Moines, was adopted by a majority of 229
votes. Both of the above propositions resulted in disap-
pointment.

It will be seen, therefore, that more than twenty years
ago our citizens began to anticipate the near coming of the
Iron Horse; but we regret to say that their anticipations
were for a long time illusory and vain. As time pro-
gressed, one hope after another was crushed out by the mer-
ciless heel of disappointment, until public confidence in
this class of enterprise, gave place to distrust and discour-
agement. At last, the Des Moiaes Valley Company, anima-
ted by local subsidies and a magnificent land grant, and
controlling in a great measure the franchises of the old Des
Moines Navigation and Railroad Company, began to push
its line northward and westward up the valley. Reaching
Eddyville in 1861, it remained there several years, com-
pelling our people to travel in coaches nearly a hundred
miles; and after an exasperating delay, which would have
tried the patience of the old martyrs, the cars on this road
reached the Capital on the 29th day of August, 1866, a day
memorable in our history. Not long after, this line was
completed to Ft. Dodge.

In 1859, the M. & M, Railroad Company, a feeble corpo-
ration from the start, but from which important results were
expected, ran its engines into Iowa City, where it tarried for
time to take breath; after which it proceeded leisurely to
Marengo. The Company at length became hopelessly bank-
rupt, and by a specific negotiation, its franchises were trans-
ferred bodily to the C, R. L & P. Railroad Company, one

OF POLK COUNTY. 17 1

of the most vigorous and reliable corporations in the coun-
try. The cars on this road made their triumphant entry
into Des Moines in September, 1867, pushing on westward
to Council Bluffs not long afterward.

Four years since, the C, R. I. & P. Railroad Company
opened up railroad communication with Indianola and
Winterset, establishing lines from the Capital to these
places.

NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD.

This road requires something more than the brief histor-
ical notice which we have given it, in connection with
the other railroads of Des Moines. It is specifically a Polk
County enterprise, owing its existence, and its present pros-
perous condition, to the intelligence and liberality of our
citizens. Fred, M. Hubbell, Esq., of this city, has furnished
us a concise, well written, and very interesting history of
this road, which we take pleasure in transferring, without
alteration, to this place, as follows:

Thursday evening, February 8, 1866, there assembled at
the Court House, in Des Moines, a number of its citizens to
attend a railroad meeting. Hon. George G. Wright was
called to the Chair, and George C. Tichenor was elected
Secretary.

At this meeting the Iowa & Minnesota Railway Company
was organized. Articles of incorporation were adopted,
and seventeen gentlemen were selected as Directors for the
ensuing year, to-wit: B. F. Allen, P. M. Casady, J. M.
Tuttle, Hoyt Sherman, T. K. Brooks, J. B. Stewart, Wesley
Redhead, George G. Wright, B. F. Roberts, S. F. Spofford,
C. G. Bridges, John Scott, L. Q. Hoggatt, John Porter,
John Cheshire, T. B. Knapp, and M. D. McHenry.

The Board of Directors immediately organized by elect-
ing the following officers:

President — P. M. Casady.

172 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

Vice President — B. F. Roberts.

Treasurer — B. F. Allen.

Secretary — Hoyt Sherman.

The object of this Company, as stated in its Articles of
Incorporation, was to construct a railroad to the North and
South lines of the State of Iowa. On the 18th of July, of
that year, the road was located from Des Moines North to
Ames, and South to Indianola; and ten days later, the con-
tract for grading and bridging the road was awarded to S.
W. Collins and B. F. Roberts, Contractors.

These gentlemen graded a part of the Road North of
Polk City, and a portion in Warren county; but owing to
some financial troubles, they did not complete their work.
The Company struggled along, frequently changing officers,
until November 20th, 1868, when work was stopped, and
the enterprise seemed a failure. About this time, the cred-
itors began to sue and obtain judgments against the Com-
pany in such large amounts, that it was found impossible to
go on under the old organization; so on the 30th day of
April, 1869, the Road was divided, and that portion South
of the track of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway,
was transferred to the Des Moines, Indianola &> Missouri
Railroad Company; and a few months later that portion of
the road between Des Moines and Ames, passed into the
hands of Polk & Hubbell, by purchase at Sheriff's sale.

DES MOINES AND MINNESOTA RAILROAD COMPANY.

This Company was organized on the 1st day of August
1870, by the following gentlemen who signed the Articles
of Incorporation, viz: J. S. Polk, F. M. Hubbell, J. B.
Stewart, R. L. Tidrick, J. M. Walker, A. S. Welch, L. Q.
Hoggatt, B. F. Allen, C. J. Clark, N. R. Kuntz. The Direc-
tors selected to serve for the first year, were B. F. Allen, J.
S. Polk, J. B. Stewart, J. M. Walker, A. S. Welch.

OF POLK COUNTY, 273

At a meeting of the Directors held the same day, the
following officers were elected:
President— B. F. Allen.
Vice-President — J. M. Walker.

Secretary — J. S. Polk.

On the 2d day of September, 1870, Washington township,
Story county, voted a tax of 5 per cent to this Company.

On the 5th of October, of the same year, Madison town-
ship, Polk county, voted a three per cent, tax; and on the
11th of the same month, Polk county voted to donate its
swamp lands to this company.

On the 24th of August, 1871, Des Moines township voted
a one per cent, tax, and Lee township, on the 23d of Sep-
tember following, voted a fifteen mill tax.
The subsidies now voted were as follows:

Washington township tax 8 12,000

Madison township tax 16,000

Des Moines township tax 34,000

Lee township tax 1 6,000

Polk county swamp lands, 8,300 acres, es-
timated at 40,000

Total subsidies $118,000

It was believed that this amount if offered to the Chicago
& Northwestern Railway Co., would be sufficient to induce
it to construct its road from Ames to Des Moines. This
offer was accordingly made by letter and in person, through
F. M. Hubbell, Secretary, at different times during the years
1871 and 1872, but was as often declined; so, early in 1873,
the company determined to wait no longer for outside help,
but to solicit subscriptions to its stock, and when enough
had been pledged, to commence the construction.

The citizens of Ames subscribed to the stock. .$10,000

Citizens of Madison township 5,000

Citizens of Des Moines 22,000

174 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

The largest subscription was by Capt. F. R. West, who
gave $1,000.

The Directors had a meeting on the 6th day of September

1873, and amended the Articles of Incorporation, increasing
the capital stock to $300,000; and on the 9th of the same
month, Polk & Hubbell conveyed to the company so much
of the righ^of-way and road bed of the old Iowa & Minne-
sota Railway as was situated in Polk and Story counties.
The Directors then elected the following officers under
whose management the road was constructed:

Samuel Merrill, President.

J. B. Stewart, Vice-President.

F. M. Hubbell, Secretary.

James Callanan, Treasurer.

Frank Pelton, Chief Engineer.

The laying of track began on the 12th day of January,

1874, Gov. C. C. Carpenter driving the first spike. The
first locomotive, "7%e Granger,^^ was purchased March 5,
1874, at a cost of 17,500.00. But little track was laid until
the month of May; and about the first of August, 1874, the
road was completed to Ames, a distance of thirty-seven
miles. There have been expended in building and equipping
this road, $300,000.00. It owns 4 locomotives, 3 passenger
cars, 1 combined passenger and baggage, 3 baggage cars,
23 box cars, 18 flat cars, and 10 stock cars.

Its officers at present are:

James Callanan, President.

J. J. Smart, Vice-President and Superintendent.

J. B. Stewart, Secretary.

C. H. Getchell, Treasurer.

This road, during the time of its construction, was greatly
harassed by litigation. Not less than two hundred citizens
of Des Moines, Lee and Madison townships, instituted chan-
cery suits against it, to enjoin the collection of taxes voted.
By reason of these suits, the subsidy which otherwise would

OF POLK COUNTY. ] 75

be considered liberal, was largely reduced, and great ex-
pense incurred by the company to defend suits, at a time
when all its funds were needed for construction.

The company has always enjoyed the best of credit, and
is prosperous financially.

OUR PRESENT RAILROADS.

Polk County has at this time the benefit of six railroads,
all of which communicate with Des Moines. They are
named as follows: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Indi-
anola & Missouri; Winterset & Southwestern; Des Moines
& Fort Dodge; Keokuk & Des Moines; and Des Moines &
Minnesota (Narrow Gauge.) Two other roads are in pro-
gress, one connecting us with Oskaloosa via Indianola R.
R., and the other with Albia via Knoxville, both roads
leading into Des Moines.

The Des Moines & Fort Dodge; Des Moines & Minne-
sota; and one or two other Des Moines roads, propose a
speedy extension of their lines.

In the summer of 1875, the Rock Island Company erected
a fine depot building in Des Moines, in place of the rather
shabby structure which had previously been used for depot
purposes.

Several other lines of railway, communicating with the
Capital, have been projected, some of which are in process
of completion. We have not space to speak of these roads
in detail; but enough has been said on this point, to indi-
cate the significant fact, that Des Moines is destined in time
to become a great railroad center, with its lines of commu-
nication reaching out ambitiously toward all points of the
compass, and bringing back to us the tribute which the
world owes to a city under the guardianship of manifest
destiny.

176 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

COUNTY RAILROAD STATIONS.

On the line of the Rock Island Railroad, west of Des
Moines, are Valley Junction, and Commerce. On this road,
east of the City, are Altoona and Mitchellville. On the
^Narrow Gauge Railroad, are Saylor Station, Ankeny, Pel-
ton, Polk City, Ulra, and Sheldahl. On the line of the Des
Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad, west of the City, are Val-
ley Junction and Ashewa. On this road, east of Des
Moines, are Oakwood Station, Altoona, and Mitchellville
Station. On the Indian ola & Winterset Railroad, is Avon
Station.

Of all these stations, Mitchellville, Polk City, and Al-
toona are the largest. The stations on the Narrow Gauge
Railroad have all, with the exception of Polk City, grown
up since the completion of that road to Ames.

OF POLK COUNTY. I77

AGKICULTURE.

FARMING STATISTICS, ETC.

From the last Census Report, we learn that by far the
greater part of the lands of the County are under improve-
ment; many thousand acres displaying the highest condi-
tion of cultivation. Of Spring wheat, in 1875, 37,686 acres
were sown, and 563,389 bushels were harvested. Of corn,
77,497 acres were planted, and 3,272,040 bushels were har-
vested. Of oats, 12,188 acres were sown, and 431,841 bush-
els were harvested. Of horses, there were 10,927; of cat-
tle, 22,240; of hogs, 62,318; of sheep, 8,830; of butter,
606,965 pounds. The value of farm products was $2,140,023;
of garden products. $22,887; of orchard products, $18,926;
of small fruits, $17,081; of herd products, $674,011; of the
dairy, $109,603; of forest products, $51,134. The number
of bearing apple trees in the County, in 1874, was 51,182;
of cherry trees, 7,077. The equalized valuation cf the lands
is $15 per acre, the aggregate value of which, as per as-
sessment, is $5,000,000. In every rural township, there are
farms which will not suffer by comparison with the most
flourishing sections of the country. The lands are proverb-
ially rich, composed of black alluvion, expressly adapted to
the production of corn, wheat, and other great staples, which
constitute the real sustenance of the world. As a farming
region, Polk County is not surpassed; and, indeed, it has
but few peers, or rivals, in the great Northwest.
23

l>jg CENTENNIAL HISTORY

CENTRAL IOWA DISTRICT ASSOCIATION.

This organization came into being in 1860, and was com-
posed of the following counties: Polk, Boone, Dallas,
Hamilton, Hardin, Jasper, Marion, Madison, Marshall,
Story, Warren, and Webster. Besides the ordinary officers
chosen for such a body, there was a Board of Directors,
composed of two from each county.

The specific object was to build up Agricultural Fairs, or
Exhibitions, in Central Iowa; and this was to be accom-
plished by judiciously changing the places for holding such
Fairs, from one county to another, stimulating, in this way,
a general interest among the people, and leading, as a re-
sult, to the establishment of a Society in each one of the
counties. The principal place for the transaction of busi-
ness, was Des Moines. There were fifteen exhibitions in
all; and in 1874, after having fully accomplished its mis-
sion, the Association was discontinued. During its exist-
ence, it was instrumental in doing much good, especially in
our own County, in which a large majority of the Fairs
were held, and in which, too, it received very liberal sup-
port and encouragement.

Its Fairs were held as follows: In 1861, at Newton; in
1862-3, at Des Moines; 1864-5, at Knoxville; from 1866 to
1871, at Des Moines; 1872; Council Bluffs; 1873-4, at Des
Moines.

From time to time, after the original organization, the
following counties were annexed: Adair, Audubon, Cass,
Greene, Guthrie, Lucas, Mahaska, Poweshiek, and Potta-
wattamie.

In 1863, P. F. Bartle, of this city, was elected Secretary,
and he retained this position by successive elections, until
1873. S. F. Spoftord was, from first to last, an efficient
friend and officer of the Association. In 1871, Horace
Greeley, through the agency of Mr. Bartle, delivered an

OF POLK COUNTY. I79

Agricultural Address before the Association, on the Driving
Park grounds. Under the same auspices, the famous pe-
destrian, Edward Payson AYeston, achieved one of his great
walking exploits on the Fair Grounds, in September, 1871.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

The first Fair, or Agricultural Exhibition in the county,
was held in October, 1852, in the old court house yard. It
is recorded of this fair, that the attendance was small, and
the exhibitions meagre. In September, 1853, another Fair
was held on the grounds afterwards occupied by the Dis-
trict Association, in the valley of the Raccoon River, near
Horse Shoe Lake, and within a short distance of the town.
A large rail pen was constructed on the grounds by John
D. McGlaughlin and Thomas Mitchell, which was employed
in exhibiting a number of animals of blooded stock, owned
by Dr. J. C. Bennett of Polk City.

Mr. Mitchell showed a fine Durham Bull; and Jacob
Fredrick and Son exhibited fine wooled sheep. Dr. Brooks,
the President of the Society, showed good horses. Good
specimens of wheat and corn, as well as potatoes and im-
mense squashes, were on exhibition. The Directors were:
Thomas Mitchell, B. F. Allen and F. R. West.

There were no specimens of fancy work, and no female
equestrianism on the grounds. These w^ere reserved for
fairs of a later date.

After this period, exhibitions were kept up at the same
place with much regularity, and frequently with great suc-
cess. It is well remembered, that the fair held in the Au-
tumn of 1857, was very largely attended, reflecting much
credit on the managers, and on our citizens generally. For
a new country, it was one of thfe most successful on record.
Fine specimens of fancy work were introduced; and the
splendid equestrianism of Mrs. Hanley, Mrs. J. C. Savery,
and other ladies, excited general admiration. The Fine

130 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Art Hall was a circular tent, in which, among other things,
were some excellent photographic views by J. P. Sharman
of this city. A singular feature was the introduction of a
team of forty-two yoke of oxen. Several Californians made
sport for the multitude, by imitating the exploit of lassoing
wild horses in Spanish style.

The Polk County Agricultural and Industrial Association
was organized May 14th, 1870. The Central Iowa District
Association, of which we have written in preceding para-
graphs, had conducted most of the Fairs previous to 1870.
Many of our agricultural citizens came to the conclusion at
this time, that Polk County alone, without any extraneous
assistance, was able now to run its own Fairs successfully.
This Association was incorporated under the laws of the
State, with a franchise which extended from May 14th, 1870,
to May 14th, 1890, a period of twenty years. The capital
stock was $50,000. The private property of members was
not held liable for the debts of the corporation. The object
of the organization was to promote the farming, and other
industrial interests, of the county. The payment of llOO
gave to the member all the privileges of the Society.

The original incorporators were: S. D. Welling, Alexan-
der Shaw, C. P. Holmes, W. C. Kent, C. S. Johnson, Thos.
Hatton, H. H. Robinson, L. M. Sanford, O. W. Mansell, S.
F. Spofford, Harry West, M. W. Robinson, A. P. Ayers,
Wm. Patrick, F. R. West, and Geo. W. Savery. The first
officers were: M. W. Robinson, President; O. W. Munsell,
Vice-President; Alexander Shaw. Secretary; Jno. A. Elliott,
Treasurer.

The first Fair under this organization, was held on the
grounds of the Driving Park Association, commencing
Tuesday, September 3d, and ending Friday, September 6th,
1872. It was very successful in all departments.

The next Fair was held at the same place, from Septem-
ber 3d to September 6th, 1873. The Society by this time

OF POLK COUNTY. ][§]

had incurred large debts; and it was with much difficulty,
and much devotion on the part of its officers, that it was
kept on its feet. On the 27th of September the following
officers were chosen: President, M. W. Robinson; Vice-
President, David Beatty; Secretary, Alex. Shaw; Treas-
urer, John A. Elliott; Chief Marshal, Col. R. V. Ankeny.

At this time a strife sprung up between this Society, and
the Central District Association. Efforts were made to
consolidate, so as to hold but one Fair; but this result was
not accomplished. The District Fair was partially success-
ful; but the County exhibition was badly demoralized by
heavy rains ; so much so indeed, that no premiums were
paid.

In January, 1875, the two Societies effected an agreement,
resolving to hold but one Fair. The officers of the consol-
idation were: President, William Patrick ; Vice-President,
Daniel Flynn; Secretary, P. H. Bristow; Treasurer, II. H.
Robinson; Chief Marshal, N. J. Miller. The time fixed for
the Fair, was from September 21st to September 24th, 1875;
but, one week before the date indicated, the grounds were
ten feet under water! The exhibition was, threfore, post-
poned until October 14th, at which time it was held; but
owing to adverse circumstances, it was not a great success.
It paid, however, all expenses, and fifty cents on the dollar
in premiums.

The present officers are: President, O. W. Munsell; Vice
President, H. H. Robinson; Secretary, P. H. Bristow; Treas-
urer, Simon Cassady; Chief Marshal, Geo. W. Bristow.
At this writing, August 15th, 1876, the prospect, for a fine
Fair in Autumn, are very good.

For the history of this Association, we are principally in-
debted to P. II. Bristow, Esq., of this City.

Since writing the above, the Fair indicated, which was to
come off in September of the present year, was made a fail-
ure by excessive rains.

132 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

DES MOINES DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION.

This Association was organized for the purpose of se-
curing, laying out, and fitting up a " Driving and Skating
Park," to be located within the limits of the City of Des
Moines. Its articles of incorporation, which were filed
Sept. 28th, 1866, date its commencement August 1st, 1866,
and limit its continuance to twenty years. The capital stock
of the corporation was fixed at $10,000, divided into shares
of $100 each. At its organization there were thirty-one
stockholders and members, all of whom were prominent
citizens and business men in Des Moines. The first otticers
of the Association were as follows: S. F. Spofford, Presi-
dent; John McWilliams, Vice-President; F. R. West, Treas-
urer; P. F. Bartle, Secretary ; Board of Directors, Geo. W.
Savery, Geo. Crawford, Jno. H. Bacon,and Thos. Kavanaugh.

The association purchased about seventy acres of land,
lying around Horse Shoe Lake, and between the lake and
the Raccoon river, and fitted them up with a fine half mile
track, amphitheater. Floral, Fine- Art, and Agricultural
Halls, skating park buildings, stands, stalls, dwellings,
barns, etc., and made the grounds a favorite resort for fairs,
horse and cattle shows, picknicks, and other amusements.

The afi"airs of the Association were wound up in 1870;
and the grounds which had been enlarged, so as to com-
prise about one hundred acres, became rightfully the prop-
erty of S. F. Spoflbrd and F. R. West, by purchase.

The grounds are now used and known as Park Grounds,
and are by nature adapted to the very purpose to which
they are devoted. They occupy a place on* which fairs have
usually been held in the county. S. F. Spofl'ord recently
(June 28th) sold his share in the Park to W'^^l^^^ ''^'i^dhead,
for $12,000.00; and the grounds now belong to Messrs. F.
R. West, and Wesley Redhead.

For the above brief but comprehensive report, we are in-
debted to P. F. Bartle, Esq., Secretary of the Association.

OF POLK COUNTY. 183

JOURNALISM.

THE STATE LEADER.

In conversation with Barlow Granger, Esq., we elicited
the following facts in connection with the early journalism
of our county: A gentleman named Blair, issued in the
the Fall of 1848, a prospectus which contemplated the es-
tablishment at Fort Des Moines, of a democratic journal,
styled The Star. The following Spring Mr. Blair went to
California, without having started the paper, according to
promise, leaving Mr. Granger to receive the office material
which was expected to come from Iowa City. This expec-
tation, however, was not realized; and finally Mr. Granger,
who passed the greater part of the Winter of 1848-9 at
Iowa City, negotiated at that place for the purchase of office
fixtures. Judge Curtis Bates furnishing the means. During
the following summer, Charles Winkley and Jonathan
Rathburn were sent with wagons and teams, to bring back
to the Fort the material with which the first newspaper in
Central Iowa was to be printed. On returning with the
coveted prize, Skunk river bottom presented such ob-
stacles to progress, that Mr. Rathburn and his companion
were compelled to relieve the load temporarilv. by hauling as
much of it as was possible up the steep acclivity this side
of that river, and then returning tor the balance. Such were
the beginnings of the present State Leader. It is worthy
of mention in this connection, that the first copy of the

184 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

Iowa Star which went out of the office, was taken by our
lamented fellow citizen, Lewis Jones, and the first money
received on subscription, came from the purse and hands of
Thomas Mitchell.

In June, 1849, Barlow Granger & Co., commenced the
publication of the loiva Star in one of the garrison buil-
dings. In a short time it reached the healthy circulation
of eight hundred. Curtis Bates, and Luther Johnson, suc-
ceeded to the control of the paper in 1850, the latter gen-
tleman dying eight months afterward. In August, 1851,
Dr. A. Hull, now of Sedalia, Mo., a fluent and forcible writer,
assumed the editorial management of The Star. He re-
tired in 1852, Judge Bates remaining with the paper. In
1854, The Star changed its name to the Argus, and as
Judge Bates was the Democratic candidate for Governor,
he associated D. O. Finch with himself in the management.
Subequently, the name was again changed by a formal re-
baptism, and the Argus was known as the Statesman, pass-
ing into the hands of Tomlinson and Earner, the former of
whom was killed during the war, in the streets of Ripley,
Ohio, by William Mitchell, a citizen of Kentucky. In Feb-
ruary, 1857, having changed its name to lotoa^ State Jour-
nal, Will Porter, now of this city, and a correspondent of
the Chicago Times, became joint proprietor with Robert
Hedge, H. C. Rippey assisting in the editorial department.
They were succeeded in 1858, by Stilson Hutchins, now of
the St. Louis Times, and one of the most trenchant writers
in the West. He was associated with G. M. Todd.

Early in 1860, A. J. Stevens and Wm. H. Hoxie started
the Commonwealth, a Republican paper, assuming to be
the organ of the young Republicans of Iowa. This journal,
possessing ability in its editorial department, had, neverthe-
less, an ephemeral existence; and in 1861, it was merged
into the Des 3Ioines Times, J. B. Bausman, editor. Sub-
sequently, Col. W. H. Merritt bought the Times, changing

OF POLK COUNTY. 185

its name to the Statesman. In 1865, Col. Merritt sold the
paper to Staub & Jenkins, after having controlled it about
three years. These gentlemen were succeeded by G. W.
Snow, who died in Chicago, much lamented, September 21st,
1870. In 1870, Barnhart Bros., and W. W. Witmer, bought
the materials, and changed the name of the paper to its
present title. The Leader Company was composed of W.
W. and J. W. Witmer, and W. E. Andrews. They com-
menced the management, March, 1873. In 1871, Dr. D. V.
Cole was connected with this paper. The Leader is the ac-
credited State organ of the Democratic party, displaying
much talent in its editorial columns, and extending to all
competing journals a dignified courtesy and amenity, which
are worthy of universal imitation.

Since writing the above, a change has t^ken place in the
ownership of the Leader. On the loth of August, 1876,
Geo. F. Parker, of the Indianola Tribune^ purchased Mr,
Andrews' and a portion of J. W. Witmer's stock. W. W.
Witmer also purchased a portion of J. W. Witmer's stock,
and the management, and the editorial duties of the paper,
will hereafter be conducted by these gentlemen.

IOWA STATE REGISTER.

The inauguration of the Star in 1849, as a Democratic
journal, stimulated the Whigs, in the same year, to start a
competiug paper. Accordingly, the Fort Des Moines Ga-
zette was issued by L. P. Sherman & Co. Mr. Sherman had
been several years foreman of the Gazette office, Cincin-
nati. He, therefore, brought to the new enterprise a large
amount of ripe experience; but at the time of which we
write, the Democratic party in Central Iowa, and, indeed,
in the entire State, had acquired such complete and undis-
puted sway, that Whig journals, for want of local and gen-
eral patronage, had nothing but their naked subscription

lists to give them vitality and permanence. For this cause,
24

1§(5 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

the career of the Gazette was comparatively brief. It was
followed by the State Journal^ published by Peter Myers
& Co.

It was during the administration of Mr. Myers, that the
vigorous pens of W. W. Williamson and C. Ben Darwin,
were employed on the paper. Both of them are accom-
plished attorneys. Tradition affirms that Mr. Darwin oc-
casionally relieved the tedium of editorial duties by chop-
ping wood, washing dishes, and tending baby, displaying
in this excellent way, his affection for his sick wife.

Fo^ orvrno time after the suspension of the Gazette^ the
party opposed to the Democratic faith, were left without an
organ. In February, 1856, Thomas H. Sypherd, now a
clerk in the Treasury Department, Washington City, started
the lovKi Citizen^ in Exchange Block. His partner in the
enterprise was A. J. Stevens, a banker in the town. In
February, 1857, Mr. Sypherd retired from the paper, leaving
it to Mr. Stevens. Immediately after this change, W. H.
Farner and J. M. Dixon were installed as editors and pub-
lishers. Meantime, the paper had identified itself with the
new Republican party.

In August, 1857, the Citizen passed into the hands of J.
C. Savery, and at the same time. Dr. Farner retired from
the editorial chair, resigning it, under the direction of Mr.
Savery, to J. M. Dixon. In December, 1857, John Tees-
dale, who had been elected State Printer, assumed the pro-
prietorship, with Mr, Dixon as his Associate Editor. Dur-
ing the Winter of 1859-60, the paper was invested with its
present title: Iowa State Register.

In May, 1861, F. W. Palmer, who had been chosen State
Printer, became the owner, with Mr. Dixon as his assor-iate
in editorial duty. January 13, 1862, the first number of the
Daily State Register was issued, depending for news by
telegraph on the line extending from Chicago to California,
which had recently commenced operation. December 4th,

OF POLK COUNTY. X87

1866, Frank and Jacob Mills, and J. M. Ross, under the
title of Mills tfc Co., assumed ownership, with Messrs.
Palmer and Dixon in the editorial department; but as the
latter was becoming hopelessly blind, he was compelled, at
this point, to vacate the place which he had occupied nearly
eleven years.

During the proprietorship of Mills & Co., the editorial
conduct of the Hegister devolved, for a part of the time,
on Mr. Palmer, assisted by J. S. Clarkson. The latter gen-
tleman remained with the paper, until December 4th, 1870,
when J. S. r»,nd R. P. Clarkson, under the name of Clarkson
Brothers, purchased the establishment.

C. S. Wilson, formerly of Pella and Winterset, at which
places he published newspapers, has been the City Editor
several years. The editorial talent invested in this paper
is of a high order. From the date of the establishment of
the Register in 1856, until the present time, it has been the
recognized State organ of the Republican party.

The Editor-in-Chief is J. S. Clarkson; business manager,
R. P. Clarkson ; Agricultural Editor, C. F. Clarkson. Carroll
Wright, son of Senator Geo. G. Wright, is also on the ed-
itorial staff of this paper, in the local department. Ellis
Pattee, foreman of the book and job department, has been
an attachee of the office during the past twenty years.

HOMESTEAD.

In 1859, Wm. Duane Wilson transferred the Iowa
Farmer from Mt. Pleasant and Fairfield to Des Moines,
changing it from a monthly to a weekly; Mills Brothers,
publishers. The same year it became the property of
Hiram Torrey, who styled it the Pioneer Farmer, The
next owner was W. S. Simmons, who sold to Mark Miller,
under whose control it became the loioa Homestead. It
next, in 1864, passed into the hands of H. W. Petitt, who
died in the spring of 1866, and the Homestead then re-

188 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

verted to Mark Miller, after which it returned to its original
proprietor. Wm. Duane Wilson.

The present management, Dr. Sprague, editor and proprie-
tor, commenced, September, 1873. The paper is now called
the Homestead and 'Western Farm Journal.

Gen. William Duane Wilson, whose name has been men-
tioned as one of the former editors of the Homestead^ was
the first Secretary of the State Agricultural College, elected
by the Board of Trustees of that institution. He served in
that capacity seven years with great acceptability, and then
resigned, going into other departments of labor. He has
been intimately connected with the Grange movement in
Iowa, from its inception. He is now associated with the
Helper newspaper, and also with the Agricultural Depart-
ment of the Iowa Industrial Exposition.

Mark Miller, one of the editors of the Homestead, and
the conductor of the Pomologist., came to Des Moines in
]860, trom Dubuque. He was an engraver by profession,
and quite a genius. He died April 9th, 1874, while residing
on his farm near the city.

George E. Wilson, son of General Wilson, sold in 1866,
the first ticket, and checked the first baggage, on the Union
Pacific Railroad.

STATE JOURNAL.

Stewart, Waterman & Speed started the State Journal
under the name of i^evie«^, December 31st, 1870. May 18,
1872, it was bought by the Republican Printing Company,
of which G. W. Edwards was President, and G. A. Stewart,
Secretary. These gentlemen were respectively Editor and
Associate Editor. At the last date, the Daily Mepublican
was started, which was continued until October, 1873, when
it was purchased by the State Printing Company, and its
name changed to the State Jouryial. It was continued un-
der this management until April, 1874, when it passed into

OF POLK COUNTY. Igg

the hands of G. W. Edwards. It was bought by Williams,
Blair & Pearson, October 25th, 1874, with Williams as Ed-
itor, Blair as Business Manager, and Pearson as Book
Keeper. The Daily Journal was discontinued October
23d, 1875, but the Weekly is still in existence, never having
missed an issue. J. G. Blair succeeded, as conductor of the
paper, August lOtb, 1875. The engine of the Journal Office
was manufactured in this city, by Loughran & Hillis. The
Journal has always been Republican in politics.

IOWA PROGRESS.

In July, 1872, 11. S. Hyatt issued the first number of the
loica Progress^ a monthly 16 page journal, devoted to the
resources, industries, and interests of the State, with an Im-
migration Department, edited by A. R. Fulton, then Secre-
tary of the State Board of Immigration. It had an aggre-
gate circulation of over 5,000 copies, but at the end of one
year, Mr. Hyatt removed the publication to St. Louis, where
it was continued as the Jlississlpj^i Yalley Progress.

IOWA STATE GAZETTE.

In 1873, J. P. Bushnell commenced the publication of the
Iowa State G-azette^'^ Monthly quarto, devoted to the gen-
eral interest of Iowa and the Northwest. Its publication
was continued up to 1876.

THE PEOPLE.

This journal, a Weekly, advocating the election of Peter
Cooper for President, commenced its existence in Des
Moines, September 21st, 1876. George William Jones, pub-
lisher.

DAILY BULLETIN.

The Des Moines Bulletin^ Daily and Weekly, was
established January 1st, 1868, by R. G. Orwig, Editor and

19Q CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Proprietor. At the close of the first year it had a circula-
tion of 2,400 Daily, and 4,200 Weekly copies. Early in
1870, after enjoying a large degree of prosperity, it was
merged into the State Register, While conducting this
paper, which was Republican in politics, Mr. Orwig mani-
fested signal ability as a writer; and although the Bulle-
tin was discontinued, as an independent publication, several
years since, it is still vividly remembered for the pungency
and vivacity of its editorial paragraphs.

patrons' helper.

This journal was established by W. W. Garretson, July
16th, 1874. In November, 1874, it was purchased by Geo.
William Jones, the present editor and proprietor. It is a
Weekly publication, and is the accredited State organ of the
Grangers. William Duane Wilson is its Associate Editor.

WESTERN JURIST.

The Western Jurist was established in 1866, with W. G.
Hammond as its Editor. It is now managed by Hon. C. C.
Cole, General Editor; A. N. Porter, Associate Editor. Be-
sides these, the following gentlemen are connected with the
Jurist: J. S. Runnells, E. H. Stiles, O. M. Conover, Nor-
man L. Freeman, and Guy A. Brown.

TEMPERANCE PLATFORM.

The Temperance Flat'orm was transferred from Du-
buque to Des Moines by W. S. Peterson, Jan., 1866. Mr. P.
published the paper until the latter part of the year 1868,
when the Grand Lodge of Good Templars bought the sub-
scription list and material, and changed the name to Tem-
perance titandard^ appointing at the same time, L. M. Holt
as Publisher, and W. H. Fleming and J. M. Dixon as Ed-
itors. In Arpil, 1869, the paper was sold to L. M. Holt, and
taken to Marshalltown, Mr. Dixon still continuing with it.

OF POLK COUNTY. 19j[

PLAIX TALK.

Plain Talk, a. weekly newspaper of eight pages, published
in East Des Moines, was established in 1870, by M. H. Bish-
ard, the present editor and proprietor. It is independent in
politics, and is a very readable and interesting journal. It
is printed by steam.

Since the above was written, we have received intelli-
gence of the death of Mr. Bishard. He died at his residence
in East Des Moines, October 22d, 1876, after a lingering
and painful illness. The paper which was conducted by
him so faithfully, and so successfully, will hereafter be under
the management of his sons.

BArXIST BKACOX.

The Bajytist Beacon^ published in East Des Moines, and
edited by A. Robbins and J. B. Hawk, is now in its third
volume. It was recently moved from Pella to this city.

ANALYST.

The Analyst, a purely mathematical journal, was started
by J. E. Hendricks, in 1874.

AXZEIGER.

The Anzeiger, a German paper of the Democratic faith,
was established by Messrs. Beck & Yoigt in 1869. In Feb-
ruary, 1874, it became the property of Col. J. Eibeck, its
present talented proprietor.

HERALD OF LIBERTY.

The Herald of Liberty, Col. J. Eibeck, editor and pro-
prietor, discusses the temperance question generally, on the
license side. It was started May 1, 1875. It is also of the
Democratic faith. The Colonel edited and published the
Clayton County Journal at Elkader, during a period of

192 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

fourteen years, fie also started in 1867, at the same place,
the North Iowa Herald^ a German paper.

SCHOOL JOURNAL.

The loioa School Journal was established in 1859,
under the auspices of Mills Brothers, publishers. Its first
editors were A. J. Stevens, and Oran Faville. In January,
1872, it passed into the hands of C. M. Greene, proprietor.
In June, 1875, Mr. Greene sold it to W. E. Crosby, who re-
moved it to Davenport and changed its name to the Com-
moii School.

THE MOTOR.

The Industrial Motor was established in January, 1872,
by T. G. Orwig. In March, 1876, J. Alvah Smith became
joint proprietor with Mr. Orwig. Circulation about 1,500.

Appropos to journalism, it may be noted that in the same
building in which the Motor is conducted, C. A. Johnson,
engraver and delineator, makes all kinds of cuts, illustra-
tions of stock, buildings, machinery, etc.

NEW BROOM.

This is the unique and piquant name of a sprightly journal,
which was started by Carter, Hussey & Curl, November 25,
1869. Its merits should have given it a long lease of exist-
ence, but it was discontinued November 4, 1871. It was
edited by Tac. Hussey.

POMOLOGIST.

This journal was established by Mark Miller in Des
Moines, January, 1870. It was consolidated with the Hor-
ticulturist^ Albany, N. Y., in July, 1872.

moxroe's special train.

The only temperance paper published in Iowa at this time,

OF POLK COUNTY. I93

is Monroes Special Trahi^ and Trade Reform^ Walnut
street, Des Moines. It was established in 1870, for gratu-
itous distribution, and was issued semi occasionally, for some
time, as the necessities of the case seemed to demand.
Hereafter, it will be published monthly. Circulation about
two thousand.

DES MOIXKS DIRECTORY.

The first regular city directory was published by Mills <fc
Co., for the years 1866-7. It embraced a historical intro-
duction of much interest. The same enterprising Company
published the Directory of 1869. The succeeding four
volumes, running from 1871, to 1876, were compiled by J.
P. Bushnell, of this city. In the preparation of this history,
we have been greatly assisted by these volumes.

IOWA PRINTING COMPANY.

In January, 1873, a Joint Stock Company, under the
name of State Printing Co., commenced the business of
auxiliary or co-operative newspaper printing. The limit of
capital stock was fixed at $40,000. The original stock-
holders were: S. F. Spofford, J. M. Coggeshall, Samuel
Merrill, J. H. Brooks, B. F. Gue, John A. Elliott, Wesley
Redhead, Ezekiel Clark, James Callanan, and A. R. Fulton.

The following oflacers were elected: Directors, S. F.
Spofford, J. H. Brooks, Wesley Redhead, Samuel Merrill,
and B. F. Gue; President, S. F. Spofford; Vice President,
Wesley Redhead; Secretary, A. R. Fulton; Treasurer, John
A. Elliott; Superintendent, B. F. Gue. At the commence-
ment of its business, about thirty Iowa papers were furn-
ished.

In 1873, this Company consolidated with the Republican

Printing Company, and for some time published the Dally

and Weekly State Journal. At the expiration of about

six months, this arrangement was dissolved, and the State
25

194 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Printing Company again restricted its business to auxiliary-
newspaper printing. In April 1876, the State Printing
Company was succeeded by the Iowa Printing Company,
the stock-holders of the new Company being mainly those
of the old one. The Company is now furnishing about
seventy -five papers, mostly for publishers in Iowa and Ne-
braska. The present officers are, J. H. Brooks, President;
James Callanan, Jr., Vice President; Samuel Merrill, Treas-
urer; A. R. Fulton, Secretary; E. T. Cressey, Manager. H.
B. Speed, now of XJleveland, Ohio, preceded Mr. Cressey
as manager. The Company has presses, material, and all
the facilities for competing with the best houses in the same
line of business. This is the only house of the kind in the
State; there are but few, indeed, in the United States. This
Company alone uses a car load of print paper every five
weeks, and in its supplies to publishers, and its advertising
patronage, transacts a business amounting to over fifty
thousand dollars annually.

PUBLISHING HOUSES.

The oldest Publishing House in Des Moines, is that of
Mills & Co., having been established in 1856. This house
has grown up from comparatively small proportions, until
it now embraces stereotyping, lithographing, and all other
improvements which are found in first-class establishments
of this character. A large number of books have been
issued from this house, besides an immense amount of
miscellaneous printing and binding. The Supreme Court
reports are printed here.

The Publishing House of Carter, Hussey & Curl, was es-
tablished February 20th, 1864. The firm first started in a
small 12x16 room; and their business increased so rapidly,
that a few years since, they erected a large brick building
on Walnut street, three stories high, with basement, in
which are now carried on the various departments of their

OF POLK COUNTY. I95

extensive business. The members of the firm are all prac-
tical workmen, having been associated with this branch of
business from boyhood; and the building which they occupy
was erected expressly to fill the requirements of a Publish-
ing House.

There are several establishments in Des Moines, which
would properly come under the head of publishing houses,
but as all these publish newspapers, we have specially re-
ferred to them under the head of journalism.

19f? CENTENNIAL HISTORY

EDUCATIONAL.

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.

Like many other matters connected with the early colo-
nization of the County, it has been very difficult, and in
some cases utterly impossible, to obtain reliable data in ref-
erence to our educational system. Much that would have
been useful to the historian, and interesting to the public,
has gone down to oblivion; and much that remains is in a
condition so confused and chaotic, that it defies all arrange-
ment and classification. In writing of the Townships, we
have mentioned the first schools, and the first teachers,
whenever the materials in our possession gave us opportu-
nity. By reference to these Townships, the reader will dis-
co\er that the pioneers who settled them, were not remits in
caring for the education of their children.

The report for 1876, of Col. Abernethy, late State Super-
intendent of Public Instruction, contains an article from the
pen of our fellow-citizen. Rev. J. A. Nash, which we take
pleasure in presenting here, on account of the information
which it gives in regard to the early schools of Des Moines:

"The first school in Des Moines, (then Fort Des Moines,)
was taught by Lewis Whitten, Clerk of the District Court,
in the Winter of 1846-7, in one of the rooms in "'Coon
Row," built by the United States for soldiers' barracks.

In the Summer of 1847, a three months' school was taught
by R. L. Tidrick, still of Des Moines. This, also, was kept
la one of the Government buildings.

SECOND WARD SCHOOL BUILDING, DBS MOINES.

OF POLK COUNTY. J 97

In the ^Ymter of 1847-8, a school was taught by a Mr.
Davis, and during the next Summer, a three months' school
was taught by Andrew J. Stevens.

All the above were subscription schools.

The first organization of public schools was effected Sep-
ter 8th, 1849, Byron Rice being the first teacher. The pub-
lic school fund was supposed to amount, for that school
year, to about $60.00. This amount was appropriated for a
six months' school, with an additional allowance of $2.50
for each scholar, per term of twelve weeks. The school was
commenced in the Methodist Church; but about the first of
•January, was removed to the new Court House, which was
then without outside doors; with inside doors of rough
boards; the room being unplastered; the warming apparatus
consisting of one box stove and one old cook stove. The
school was, by request of the teacher, suspended at the end
of three months.

The following year, Charles L. Anderson was employed
as teacher, and during the winter of 1850-51, Miss Arizona
Perkins, sent out by Gov. Slade, kept school in the Metho-
dist Church.

In the Spring of 1851, $100 were paid for one-half acre of
ground for a school-house site on the corner of Ninth and
Locust streets, now occupied by Mr. Getchell's residence.

Mrs. Karns taught the school the two succeeding Win-
ters, a term of some three months each.

In November, 1854, a tax of two and one-half mills on
the dollar was voted for the erection of a school building,
amounting in the aggregate to over $5,000. During the
next year, a brick school-house was commenced, which,
when completed, cost about $11,000, and was occupied dur-
ing the Winter of 1856-7 by a corps of four teachers, J. A.
Stickney being principal.

With the occupancy of this building, the common-school
system was fully inaugurated in Des Moines,

198 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

In the Autumn of 1853, a select school was opened by-
Rev. J. A. Nash, assisted by Mrs. Nash, which was contin-
ued as Forest Home Seminary until 1862."

The election record, given in another place, presents the
names, in succession, of all the County Superintendents
who have been elected, commencing with Samuel Bell, in
1858, and terminating with R. S. Hughes, elected in 18*75.

From the State Superintendent's Report for IBYS, we
glean the following facts, illustrative of our present condi-
tion in regard to schools: Polk county contains fifteen
district townships. There are 133 ungraded, and il graded
schools. Of teachers, 113 are males, and 187 females, mak-
ing an aggregate of 300. The average monthly compensa-
tion of teachers is, for males, 841.19, and females, 131.79.

The number of pupils in the county between the ages of
five and twenty-one is, males, 6,279, females, 5,993, in all,
12,272. The number enrolled in the public schools is, 8,424.
Total average attendance is, 4,769. The average cost of
tuition per month, per each pupil, is $1.72.

The number of school houses in Polk county made of
frame, is 134; of brick 10; in all, 144. The estimated value
of these buildings, is $342,095. The brick structures, some
of which are very large and commodious as well as costly,
are generally confined to the city. The value of the school
apparatus, is |1,037. Number of volumes in the library,
one hundred and twenty-six.

In addition to the above statement, we take pleasure in
presenting at this point the subjoined exhibit of Polk county
schools, from the pen of R. S. Hughes, County Superin-
tendent;

Des Moines, July 20, 1876.

In the townships of Allen, Beaver, Camp, Delaware,
Douglas, Elkhart, Four Mile, Franklin, Jeflerson, Walnut,
and Washington, there are forty-five sub-districts; in all of

OF POLK COUisTY. I99

which, there were schools taught during last winter, and
in nearly all this summer. In the remaining townshiphi
are eighty-eight independent districts, including one in
Mitchellville, and one in Altoona.

In the city of Des Moines, including both divisions. East
and West, about thirty-five teachers have been employed
this year. Nearly one hundred and seventy teachers have
thus been employed the present year. I am not prepared to
state the number of school houses built during the year, or
since the last report; but a number have been built, and
more are under contract. The schools generally are in fine
condition; and teachers, I trust, are to a good degree awake
to the interests of their vocation.

Our city schools would not suffer in comparison with the
schools of any sister city.

R. S. HUGHES, Co.Supt.

The City of Des Moines is divided into two Independent
School Districts, one on the east and the other on the west
side of the Des Moines River. We learn from the report
of ex President C. A. Dudley, dated September 15, 1875,
that there are four fine and costly school houses in West
Des Moines, and that the value of school property in the
same District, including sites, buildings, furnitue, and ap-
paratus, is $217,000. The number of rooms in the build-
ings is thirty-four, seating 1,855 pupils. The school sys-
tem embraces three departments, the High, Grammar, and
Primary.

The High School, of which A. N. Ozias is Principal, had
in 1873, 135 pupils; in 1874, 143; in 1875, 107. During
the last mentioned year, there were ten graduates. In 1$75,
the First Ward School, with two teachers, had 106 pupils;
the Second Ward, with nine teachers, had 694 ; the Third
Ward, with nine teachers, 630; the Fourth, with four teach-
ers, had 284; making a total of twenty- four teachers, and

200 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

1,714 pupils. The number of pupils in this District, ac-
cording to the report of 1875, was 2,848.

The present Superintendent of the Des Moines Schools,
West Side, is J. H. Thompson. The School Board is con-
stituted as follows: President, C. H. Gatch; Secretary, J.
M. St. John; Treasurer, J. J. Town; Directors, C. A. Dud-
ley, G. M. Hippie, George H. Maish, P. M. Cassady, a^d H.
L. Skinner.

The Second Ward School House, built in 1867, cost
$75,000. Third Ward was built in 1870, at a cost of $60,-
000. The Fourth Ward structure, erected in 1875, cost a
little more than $20,000. The First Ward School House
was built in 1874. All of these structures are in Des
Moines, West Side. The High School building in East
Des Moines cost $30,000.

East Des Moines Independent School District contains
four school edifices, with twenty-two rooms, twenty-four
teachers, 1,100 enrolled pupils. The entire school property
of the District, including sites, buildings, and apparatus, is
estimated at $125,000. There are four departments, viz:
High, Grammar, Intermediate, and Primary. The Principal
of the High School is Isaac Hillis; of the 7th Ward School,
Prof. Dixon; of Sixteenth Street School, Captain A. H.
Bodkins.

The present School Board is constituted as follows: Su-
perintendent, T. H. Smith; President, H. C. Paige; Secre-
tary, Charles M. Larsh; Treasurer, Captain I. N. Thomas;
Directors, George Lendrum, Jeremiah Williams, Jos. Wil-
liams, W. H. Fleming, and Jackson Wisehart.

Thus, from the small beginnings thirty years ago, when
educational facilities were few and far between in this new
country, our benevolent school system, encouraged and fos-
tered by earnestness and intelligent enterprise, has grown
and flourished, until in this Centennial year, the County is
filled to the full measure of the popular demand with school

OF POLK COUNTY. 201

buildings; and the City is ornamented with eight structures
of Ihis kind, some of which rank among the finest school
edifices in the West. The value of school property has in-
creased during the same period, from a sum too insignificant
to mention, to the full and rounded proportions, in the City
alone, of $342,000; and as a year has expired since the re-
ports were made out by the ofiicers of the respective Dis-
tricts, it is proper to infer that the value of this property has
increased during this time in a ratio corresponding with
other city property. It would be right, therefore, to assume
that, in 1876, we have an investment, as a City, in school
property, worth not much less, if any, than hilf a million
of dollars.

ST. AMBROSE SCHOOLS, (CATHOLIC.)

These schools were organized in 1865, under the princi-
palship of Sister Mary Michael. Sister Mary Bassil is the
present principal, assisted by a corps of six Sisters. The
present number of pupils is between 300 and 400.

The old Church frame building was first employed for
this purpose; but in November, 1872, the schools were trans-
ferred to the fine and commodious building which is now
occupied. This edifice, composed of brick, three stories
high, contains eight large school rooms in the first and
second stories. The third story contains two fine halls,
running the entire length of the building, which are ad-
mirably fitted up for exhibitions and other public exercises.

The cost of the entire structure was about $30,000.

These schools were established in 1871, by Father A. N.
Sassel, under the management of three Sisters of St. Francis,
from the St. Rosa's a Viterbo Convent of La Crosse, Wis-
consin. This is a mixed school in which are taught all the
26

202 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

branches of our public schools, in the German and English
languages. The number of pupils is 125.

KINDERGAKTEN.

The school with the above title commenced August 21st,
1876, on the corner of Ninth and Sycamore, under the man-
agement of Mrs. Lucy A. Collins.

This institution was established by Rev. 'J. Saunders
Reed, Kector of St. Paul's Church, January 18, 1874. The
following were the first ofiicers: President, the Rector;
Vice-President, Y. J. Luin; Secretary and Superintendent,
I. S. Morse; Treasurer, C. Seeberger; Matron, Mrs. Esther
Porter.

In connection with the Guild, there were established two
months later, a reading room, free library, Seabury School,
twenty- three lodging rooms, free night school, and Holly
Tree Coffee rooms. These diiFerent enterprises, all under
the comprehensive management of the Guild, have accom-
plished much good.

SEABURY SCHOOL.

This institution, to which reference is made elsewhere in
this history, is now under the management of Rev. J. B.
Clark, Rector of St. PauFs Parish, Des Moines. It was not
established as a competitor of the Public Schools, but as a
supplement thereto, as the highest branches of science are
taught in it, together with the art of Drawing, Painting in
Oil and Water colors, and Vocal and Instrumental Music.
It is exclusively for young ladies; and in its special charac-
teristics, it is the only school of the kind in the State. The
Trinity term of this school commenced the 11th of Septem-
ber, 1876.

OF POLK COUNTY. 20 S

SELECT SCHOOL.

In 1868, Mrs. Winkley, of Pleasant street, Des Moines,
established a select school, the principal feature of which
is instruction in Instrumental and Vocal Music. The school
is well patronized, and is in a prosperous condition.

NORitAL SCHOOL.

The first Teachers' Institute in Polk County, was held in
Fifth Street M. E. Church, in 1862. At that time, E. D.
Hawes was County Superintendent; and that gentleman, in
conjunction with J. W. Doughty, led the exercises. Every
year thereafter, until the Institutes were superceded by the
County Normal School, in 18*75, they met regularly in the
city, accomplishing much good in the proper culture of
teachers. The Normal School, under the direction of the
County Superintendent, R. S. Hughes, met, August 21st,
1876, in Des Moines, at which time the following persons
led in the different exercises: Miss Carrie Bassett, late of
Sioux City, but now of Des Moines; J. W. King, T. H.
Smith, and J. H. Thompson, all of Des Moines.

The State Normal School convened in Des Moines during
the past Summer.

IXDEPEXDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATIOX.

The German-American Independent School Association
was organized Sept. 1st, 1868. The object of this school
is to teach the elementary branches of science in the Ger-
man and English languages. The first meeting was held in
the room of a young Architect, named Hugo Wildt, a strong
friend of the enterprise. Charles Weitz was called to the
Chair, and Mr. Wildt was Secretary. Messrs. Stehm, F.
Harbach, John Tobien, and Charles Braum, were appointed
a committee to canvass the City for pupils, and procure
needed funds to start the school.

204 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

The old Baptist Church building, on Mul])erry street, was
selected as the school house.

A permanent organization was effected September 8. 1868,
by the election of the following officers: President, C.
Youngerman; Vice-President, Andrew \aun; Sec, Louis
Stutz; Treasurer, C. Heil; Directors, C, Beck, Louis Voigt,
Phillip Nau, and H. Wildt. The Association was incorpo-
rated September loth, 1868. The first teacher was Jas. I.
Weighe, who was followed by C. Beck, under whose man-
agement the school made such fine progress, that an assist-
ant teacher, Katie Lynch, was employed. The two teachers
were very successful; and in time, through the agency of
fairs, festivals, and private subscriptions, a lot was pur-
chased of A. Morris, on Eighth street, for $1,200, on which
a fine brick structure, two and one-half stories high, was
erected. The entire cost of property is $7,000.

At the time the building was completed, the school av-
eraged seventy-five pupils, and the Association had a mem-
bership of forty.

The present officers are: President, A. Mattes; Vice-Pres-
ident, C. Reinig; Secretary, L. Stutz; Treasurer, C. Kurtz;
Directors, F. Harbach, F. Iblher, J. F. Hahnen, and Wm.
Lotz. Mr. Stutz has held the office of Secretary since the
date of organization. The school is non-sectarian.

BUSINESS COLLEGE.

The Iowa Business College of Des Moines was established
by Capt. J. W. Muffley, and Prof. C. B. Worthington, No-
vember 7, 1865. For about two years, it was connected with
the chain of Worthington & Warners' Commercial School;
afterward it became the property of Captain Muffly, who
continued in charge until December 21, 1872, when he sold
the College to Professor J. Shrock. During the seven years
preceding the change of proprietors, more than seven hund-
red students were enrolled, and its graduates compose a

OF POLK COUKTY. 205

majority of the first class book keepers of the city, while
many others are employed at other places in and out of the
State. The following gentlemen were connected with the
Faculty of the College, at various dates: Hon C. C. Nourse,
Commercial Law; W. D. Ellsworth, J. G. Thompson, W.
H. Cummins, Writing Department; C. A. Hosier, Phonog-
raphy.

• The College passed May 1, 1874, into the hands of Jen-
nings & Ward, assisted by V. F. Noel, as principal of the
Writing Department. In July, 1875, A. C. Jennings be-
came sole proprietor, and it has since been continued under
his management. Average number of pupils, one hundred
per annum.

LAW COLLEGE.

Iowa Law College, the Law Department of Simpson Cen-
tenary College, was established in Des Moines in 1875. This
enterprise, though recent, has been crowned with great
success. During the past year, thirty students were in at-
tendance. We append here the names of the Faculty: Rev.
Alexander Bums, D. D., President; Hon. C. C. Cole, LL.D.,
(Late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), Dean of the
Faculty and Professor of Commercial Law; Hon. Wm. E.
Miller, (late of the Supreme Court of Iowa), Professor of
the Law of Agency, Partnerships, etc.; J. B. Bissell, Pro-
fessor of Pleading and Practice, Equity Law, etc.; J. S.
Runnells, M. A., (Supreme Court Reporter), Professor of
Criminal Law, Torts, etc.; Hon. Galusha Parsons, M. A.,
Professor of the Law of Bailment, Insurance, etc.; P. N.
Bowman, Professor of the Law of Real Property, Corpora-
tions, etc.

DES MOINES UNIVERSITY.

The large building in Des Moines, which is now used for
the University, has the following history: In May, 1855,

206 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

a Conference of Lutheran Ministers, held in Iowa, decided
to inaugurate an institution of learning, which was to be lo-
cated either at Fort Des Moines, or at some other point
within forty miles of this city. It was to be called the
Iowa Central College; and the Town or City, within the
specified area, which should exercise the greatest liberality
in donations of lands and money, was to secure within its
limits the location of the institution. It was to be con-
trolled by twenty-one Trustees, elected by the Conference or
Synod of Iowa.

The following officers were chosen: President of the
College, Rev. R. Weiser: Trustees, F. R. West, P. M. Cas-
ady, F. C. and H. C. Grimmel, Rev. T. Bird, R. W. Sypher,

F. A. Trisdell, T. K. Brooks, G. W. Shaffer, G. Schramm,
A. Garber, Wm. L. Allison, B. Lehman, J. A. Koop, J. W.
Walters, Judge Townsend, J. B. Zeigler, T. N. Sherer, J.

G. Schaeffer, and S. Kirts.

F, R. West was chosen President of the Board ; J. G.
Shaffer, Secretary, and R. W. Sypher, Treasurer. There
was a meeting of the board in Des Moines, December 5th,
1855, at which time the site of the proposed edifice was
purchased for $1,600. A committee was appointed to su-
pervise the erection of the building, consisting of Messrs.
Weiser, West, Casady, F. C. Grimmel, and Sypher. A
school in connection with the College, was commenced in
a small building in town, March 19th, 1856; but it was not
self-sustaining. It was, after a protracted struggle, discon-
tinued.

During the Summer of 1856, the corner-stone of the Col-
lege building was laid with appropriate services, conducted
by Prof. Cornell, of Ohio. The building contract was given
to Prof. Weiser, for 112,500.

During the same season the walls were erected. For
want of available means with which to finish the structure,
the committee deemed it advisable to secure, through Hoyt

OF POLK COUNTY. 207

Sherman, a loan of $5,000, at thirty per cent, interest. In
addition to the security given for this loan by the property
itself, P. M. Casady, Thompson Bird, R. W. Sypher, F. R.
West, F. C. Grimmell, and Madison Young, gave their indi-
vidual notes. The following season, 1857, the roof was put
on; but at this point there was a complete exhaustion of
funds, and the enterprise was abandoned. It appears from
papers to which we have had access, that $15,278.00 were
expended in the purchase of the lot, and work done on the
building. Toward liquidating this expense, there were sub-
scriptions to the amount of $6,029.00. At a festival in Des
Moines, during the winter of 1856-7, $307.00 were collected.
These items exhibit in a strong light the liberality of our
citizens, and the interest which they took in the cause of
education.

The incorporators of Central College were: Messrs.
Weiser, Sherer, Schaeffer, Ritz, Bird, G. W. Shaffer, D.
Garner, F. C. and H. C. Grimmel, T. K. Brooks, F. R. West,
P. M. Casady, F. A. Trittle, R. W. Sypher, J. B. Zeigler,
G. Schramm, W. L. Allison, B. Lehman, J. A. Koop, J. W.
Walters, and Judge Townsend.

From 1857, when work on the building was suspended,
until 1864, the structure was left exposed to all the inroads
which are invited by a deserted building. In November,-
1864, a negotiation was made, although not consummated
until the following year, by which for the payment of $8,000,
the building became the property of the Baptist Church.
At a meeting held in Oskaloosa, January, 1865, the follow-
ing persons were appointed incorporators: J. T. Westover,
J. O. Wilson, J. F. Childs, J. A. Nash, S. H. Mitchell, John
Williams, O. Wells, and R. M Tracy.

In due time, the property was transferred to the trustees;
and a subscription of $12,000.00, in aid of the newly pro-
posed institution, was raised in Des Moines. Work was
immediately recommenced on the building, and it was

208 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

pushed forward so rapidly, that a school was established in
it April, 1866. It was in this way that the University of
Des Moines was inaugurated. The manner in which this
institution has been conducted, reflects credit upon those
who have had its management.

We append the names of the present Faculty of the Uni-
versity: Hon. Frederick Mott, A. M., President and Pro-
fessor of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy; Rev. J. A.
Nash, A. M., Professor of Greek and Natural Science; I. H.
DeWolf, A. B., Professor of Latin; E. W. Craven, A. B.,
Professor of Mathematics; Mrs. J. N. Page, Assistant
Teacher and Teacher of Music; W. H. Dickinson, M. D.,
Lecturer on Physiology; Rev. O. T. Conger, Financial
Agent.

COLLEGE LITERARY ASSOCIATION.

As an appendage of Central College, a Literary Associa-
tion was formed in December, 1856, which gave to the pub-
lic a series of lectures, some of which were indeed brilliant.
In the winter of 1856-7, Will Porter lectured on " Types of
Mankind;" Dr. A. Y. Hull, on "Do the Signs of the Times
Indicate the Subversion of the Government?" Judge Gray
lectured on "Ben. Franklin, and Young America;" and T.
•H. Sypherd, on " Who Reads an American Book?" These
lectures were delivered in Sherman Hall.

OF POLK COUNTY. 209

RELIGIOUS OKGAZSTIZATIOJS^S,

FIFTH STEEET M. E. CHURCH.

In the Fall of 1845, the M. E. Church effected an initial
organization in Fort Des Moines, the members whereof
were Rev. Abner Rathburn, Jonathan Rathburn, Rev. Ezra
Rathburn, Betsey Rathburn, Benjamin T. Hoxie, Joseph
Solenbarger, and W. H. Meacham and wife. Mr. Solen-
barger was chosen leader of the class. In time the society
erected a frame building in which to worship, occupying
the site of the present massive brick structure belonging to
the Methodist Church on Fifth street.

During the January session, 1848, of the Board of Com-
missioners, it was ordered that a lot designated by the
parties should be donated to the M. E. Church, provided
that a suitable building, either frame or brick, not less in
dimensions than 2-1 by 30. be erected thereon within two
years from the date of the gift. This building, when com-
pleted, as it was, in 1848, was occupied several years as a
place of worship; but the growing church found it neces-
sary in time to build another edifice. Work was commenced
on the present large structure in 1856, and in September
following, Conference was held in it, Bishop Ames pre-
siding.

The Presiding Elders who have officiated in this Church,

are reported in another place under the head of Weeley

Chapel. The list of Conference appointments to this charge,

which is now, perhaps, the most important station within

27

210 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

the bounds of the Des Moines Conference, is too lengthy
for insertion. Rev. G. B. Jocelyn, a talented minister and
a fine lecturer, was the pastor in 1857; and since then, the
pulpit has been filled in part by Revs. Williams, S. M. Ver-
non, P. P. Ingalls, and T. S. Berry, the present efficient
minister.

The agents of Fifth Street M. E. Church, West Side,
bought on the 2d day of September, 1876, two lots on the
corner of Seventh and High streets, for which they paid
$6,250 cash. The object of the Church is, to erect at an
early day, on these lots, a religious edifice which will not
suflTer in comparison with any other structure of the kind
in the city.

WESLEY CHAPEL (m. E. C.)

November 4th, 1855, Rev. E. M. H. Fleming, then of
Monroe Circuit, preached at Harrison Lyon's school house,
East Des Moines. At that time, the wife of Dr. A. Y. Hull
was the only recognized Methodist in that part of the city.
At a meeting which took place on the first Saturday and
Sunday of December, 1855, a class of fourteen persons was
organized, with L. Case, leader. The names follow: G. C.
Jeffi-ies, Mary J. Jeffries, Thomas, Maria, and \quilla Hoff-
man, Sarah N. Lyon, Samuel Kell}/, Jacob and Lavina
Butts, B. Christman, Allen and Martha Spitzer, and Mrs.
A. Y. Hull.

The Presiding Elders for Wesley Chapel, as well as for
all other existing M. E. Societies in the city, here follow in
order: J. B. Hardy, Sanford Haines, F. W. Cowles, E. H.
Winan, J. F. Goolman, J. G. Dimmitt, C. C. Mabee, J. H.
Swope, and M. B. Collins. The pastors are as follows: E.
M. H. Fleming, A. C. McDonald, J. P. Teter, C. W. Shaw,
Henry Turner, P. F. Brazee, J. W. Todd, H. B. Heacock,
J. C. Read, H. R. Layton, P. F. Brazee, Amos Wilson, J.
H. Swope, J. A. Stayt, H. M. Sexton, J. C. Read, and H. H.

OF POLK COUNTY. 211

OneaL Kevs. J. G. Dimmett, and J. H. Swope, died in Des
Moines.

Wesley Chapel was finished in 185 7, Mr. Fleming preach-
ing the first sermon in it. The Trustees were, A. M. Lyon,
D. Gear, H. Hoffman, L. Case, and Jacob Butts. Harrison
Lyon donated a lot which was afterward sold for the benefit
of the Church. The parsonage was built in 1866. Sunday
School was organized in 1857, the present Superintendent
of which is Doctor J. F. Kennedy, to whom we are indebt-
ed for this Church record. The school is very prosperous.

ASBUEY CHAPEL, (m. E. C.)

Asbury Chapel, an outgrowth of Wesley Chapel, was
erected in 1869, to accommodate the eastern part of the
city. J. W. Matheny was the first pastor. The present
pastor is Rev. W. H. Manary.

FIFTH STREET, EAST SIDE, (m. E. C.)

This is a neat frame church on the corner of East Fifth
and Allen streets, erected in 1874, through the efforts of
Rev. J. A. Stayt and F. A. Blasher. It is located south of
the railroad, and is designed to serve, as a mission, the
neglected portion of the city. It was dedicated early in
1874 by Rev. J. A. Stayt, assisted by Revs. Dr. Hill, Mur-
phy, and others. The pulpit is supplied from Asbury Chapel.

CENTENARY CHURCH, M. E. C.

This church, located on Seventh street. West Side, was
dedicated in 1868. The building and the adjacent par-
sonage, are estimated to be worth $10,000. The first pastor
was J. M. Bly, who was followed by R Pomeroy, L. M.
Walters, A. J. Andres, and W. H. W. Rees. Mr. Walters,
a minister of fine talents and very popular, remained on the
charge three years, the longest period allowed by the Con-
stitution of the Church.

212 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

BURNS CHAPEL, EAST DES MOINES.

This church, designed to serve the colored element of
the city, was built in 1873, many white persons contribut-
ing substantial aid. The first pastor was the Rev. Mr.
Wells. Rev. W. H. Manary, present pastor.

PEESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

The N. S. Presbyterian Church, under the strong and
successful leadership of Rev. Thompson Bird, was planted
in 1848 at the Fort, one of the garrison buildings being em-
ployed as a place of worship. The members, consisting of
one man and six women at the start, transferred their
religious services from the barracks to the residence of the
minister; and in time, as the church expanded into benefi-
cent proportions, a neat frame building, suitable for the
times, was erected on the west side of Fourth street, a
little south of where the Savery Block now stands. The
building committee was composed as follows: R. W.
Sypher, Barlow Granger, J. E. Jewett, J. D. Davis and Mr.
Bird, the pastor. The bell for this structure — being the
first in the county — was sent by Dr. Sprague, of Albany,
New York, as a practical donation, to whom Mr. Bird had
forwarded a number of autographs of distinguished per-
sons, appreciating as he did the high estimation in which
the Dr. held this class of signatures.

Mr. Bird was engaged six years in procuring the means
to erect this church building; and after all this time had
been expended, he found that but half the work was com-
pleted. The edifice, half finished, was still on his hands;
but, unfinished as it was, it was used for church purposes,
beginning in the Fall of 1853. The stoves for it were a
donation from a sister church in Illinois. During this time,
Mr. Bir.d superintended in person the hauling of native
lumber from Beaver, of which material the house was con-

OF POLK COUNTY. 213

structed. He and his sons served the church as sextons
eight years. As a matter of course, the salary which the
minister was drawing, was very limited; and Mrs. Bird,
zealously co-operating with her husband in his efforts for
the general good, taught school as opportunity offered.
She is still living among us, in the maturity 'of her Chris-
tian graces, enjoyinsr the sweet consciousness of a life well
spent in the Master's cause. Eternity alone will reveal the
amount of good which she and her lamented husband ac-
complished iu other times, in the interests of Christianity,
here in Des Moines, and all Central Iowa.

The church building on Fourth street, which we have
just mentioned, and which required so many years of labor
to erect, was consumed by fire, along with the bell, in 1867,
but a short time before the venerated minister who served
its pulpit so faithfully and so well, passed from his sphere
of labor to the beatitudes of Heaven.

The First Presbyterian Church, O. S., under the pastorate
of Rev. Salmon Cowles, was organized in East Des Moines
in 1848, June 4th, with thirteen members, of whom John
S. Dean, now gone to his reward, was one of the principal
members.

The O. S. Presbyterians built their Church, for $8000, on
Locust street. West Side, in 1858, on a lot which cost
$1,200; and after having occupied it for many years, before
and since the consolidation of the two wings of the church,
it was sold in 18*75 to the Church of Christ. The last
Presbyterian minister who officiated in its pulpit was Rev.
W. J. Gill, now pastor of Central Church.

The Trustees were: Wm. Henry Leas, Moses Sheetz,
and Abraham Dean, elected in 1854.

The Third Presbyterian Church of Des Moines, (N. S.)
was organized January 30th, 1864, with twenty members.
Rev. J. M. Phillips was the first pastor. The house of
worship was on the corner of Eighth and Sycamore.

214 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

CENTEAL PEESBYTEEIAN CBUECH.

The structure known by this name, on the corner of
Eighth and High streets, which, up to this time, has been
recognized as the largest and finest Church edifice in Des
Moines, was erected in 1867, under the auspices of B. Fc
Allen, and other wealthy citizens. Rev. M. L. P. Hill
served this Church, as Pastor, several years. Having re-
signed, Rev. William J. Gill succeeded to the place. A
union of the Presbyterian Churches has been effected, by
which the Central has now become the only place of wor-
ship in the city for Presbyterians of this order,

FIRST BAPTIST CHUECH.

November 19th, 1850, a meeting was held at the resi-
dence of J. M. Reinecker, on Walnut street, to consult in
reference to the employment of a Baptist minister for thi&
place. Judge W. McKay, G. Berkley, and Mr. Reichenecker,
were appointed a committee of correspondence on this sub-
ject. Meantime, unknown to these parties, Rev. J. A. Nash
was preparing to leave his home in New York, to come
Westward, for the purpose of engaging in Mission work.

On the 3d day of January, 1851, Mr. Nash reached Fort
Des Moines; and at the house immediately west of the site
03 which Exchange Block now stands, he and his wife were
warmly welcomed by the few Baptists in town. On the
Sunday following. Rev. Thompson Bird preached, and in
the evening, Mr. Nash, by invitation, preached in Mr. Bird's
place. At that time, the only Church building at the Fort
belonged to the Methodists. One of the old garrison build-
ings had been used occasionally by the different denomina-
tions; but at the period to which we refer, the Methodist
Church, and the old brick Court House, were the ordinary
places of worship.

On the 18th day of February, 1851, a covenant meeting

OF POLK COUNTY. 21 5

was held at the Court House, at which Rev. B. F. Babcock,
of Davenport, and Rev. Samuel Johnson, of Muscatine,
were present. At this meeting, the First Baptist Church of
this city was organized, with the following members: J.
A.Nash, Christiana J. Nash, J. M. and Harriet Reichenecker,
John Hays, Wm. McKay, Henry and Huldah Everly, Aro-
zina Perkins, Margaret Luce, Mary Marvin, Sarah Saylor,
Granville Berkley, Thomas Roberts, and Charles McKay.

In 1851, steps were taken to build a house of worship;
but by a series of most extraordinary delays and disap-
pointments, the building on Mulberry street was not form-
ally dedicated until the 16th day of March, 1856. The
County Board of Commissioners proposed to donate a lot
to the Church, provided a suitable building was erected
within a given time. This chance was forfeited; but the lot
which had been designated by the Board, was paid for by
Judge McKay, and thus secured to the Church. As this lot
was not desirable, an offer was made to sell two lots to the
Church, on which the Savery House stands, for S500. This
price was considered unreasonably high; and as they were
afterwards sold to other parties for $300, this was probably
the case.

Finally, an eligible lot was secured by exchanging for it
the one already possessed, along with sixty dollars addi-
tional. At the covenant meeting in 1851, Mr. Nash was
called to the pastorate, on a salary of ^450, of which the
Church paid |50. The Deacons chosen at the organization
were: W. McKay, G. Berkley, and H. Everly, with Mr.
Reichenecker as Clerk.

The Church grew from year to year; and during the first
fourteen years of its existence, 236 members were received.
A proportional increase since then has been maintained.

The present Church building, on the corner of Eighth
and Locust, was erected in 1866. It is composed of brick,
and is a very large and commanding structure. The pres-

216 CENTENNIAL HISTOKY

ent Clerk and Treasurer are respectively Prof. J. H. DeWolf
and E. T. Cressey.

The present pastor is J. R. Murphy. Mr. Nash was suc-
ceeded by L. W. Hayhurst. A large and prosperous Sun-
day School is connected with the Church.

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.

The East Side Baptist Church was organized in 1871, with
twenty members. For a year and a half after the organi-
zation, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. J. A. Nash, after
which Rev. Granger B. Smith was called to the pastorate.
In 1875, a neat Church edifice, costing $5,000, was erected
on the corner of Des Moines street and Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. The Church now numbers a membership of 100.
The present pastor is Rev. Wm. Hildreth. The Deacons
are Messrs. Perrior and Thomas O'Dea.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

St. Paul's Church was organized in 1855, with Rev. Dr.
E. W. Peet as Rector; and in 1857, it had twenty-five com-
municants. In 1866, F. Brooks was Rector. In 1869, the
membership was 112, and the value of Church property was
$6,000. In 1873, P. B. Morgan was Rector. The Church
is located on Seventh, between Walnut and Locust. Rev.
J. S. Reed recently resigned the Rectorship; and the pulpit
is at present supplied by Rev. J. B. Clark, principal also of
Seabury School.

PLYMOUTH CHURCH.

The Congregational Church was organized December 6,
1857, with ten members Rev. J. T. Cook, was the first
pastor. The Society was incorporated January 11, 1859,
the following persons being incorporators: Oliver H. Baker,
George S. Green, Henry A. Bigelow, John Teesdale, J. T.
Cook, F. Woodrufi", Galena F. Kilburn, Stacy Johns, J. A.

OF POLK COUNTY. 217

Stickney, E. W. Barnum, Daniel Carr, C. C. Dawson, and
Levi Richardson.

Mr. Cook retired February 23, 1859, and was succeeded
by J. M. Chamberlain, since Secretary of Iowa College at
Grinnell. He was installed as pastor of Plymouth Church
December 19, 1860, and resigned in 1866. H. S. DeForest
became pastor in the latter part of that year. He was ulti-
mately followed by Rev. A. L. Frisbie, the present incum-
bent.

Shortly after the Church organization, a neat but small
building was erected on Court Avenue, and afterward re-
moved to Locust Street, between Sixth and Seventh. From
time to time, as the necessities of the enlarging audience
demanded, repairs and additions were made to this edifice;
but finally the Church multiplied so rapidly in numbers,
that measures were taken to build a new house. During
this present season, a large and commanding brick struc-
ture, [the cost of which approximates 840,000, is in due
course of construction, on the corner of Locust and Seventh
streets. West Side. When finished, it will be an ornament
to the city, and will reflect great credit on the religious
enterprise, taste and liberality of Plymouth Church.

The following description of this fine Church edifice was
furnished by J. P. Foster, of this city: The length, north
and south, is 102 feet, and the extreme width, east and west,
is 72 feet. The size of the auditorium is 80 by 65 feet, ca-
pable of seating 600 persons. The organ loft and choir are
back of the pulpit. The pastor's study, 10 by 15, is situated
in the northwest corner of the Church, and adjacent to the
pulpit. The floor has an elevation of two feet at the end
of the auditorium opposite the pulpit, forming an inclined
plane hardly visible to the eye. There are two main en-
trances on Locust street, and two others at the north end.
The main entrances lead by easy flights of stairs to the au-
dience room. There will be great ease of ingress and
28

218 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

egress, there being a door at each corner of the auditorium.
In the basement is the main lecture room. There are six
side and class rooms. The main entrances to the basement
are on the west side, and southwest corner. The tower is
sixteen feet square, at the southwest corner, and supports a
spire 150 feet high. The whole is of gothic architecture,
finished in fine style. The windows are of stained glass,
and of A'arious patterns; those in the basement are of a
neat diamond pattern.

The old Tabernacle of the Plymouth Church, erected in
1S58, was sold to Mr. Getchell on the 11th day of Septem-
ber, 1876. Two men, George S. Green and Samuel Stacy,
are reported in the State Leader^ as the originators, in
1855, of the Congregational Church in Des Moines. The
organization of the Church, however, did not take place
until 1857, as will be seen by the former part of this article.

THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

As a result of the ministration of Elder N. SummerbelL

this Church was organized in 1856. The Church building
was located oji Sycamore street. West Side, bstween Sev-
enth and Eighth. Horace M. Wade was pastor in 1869.

CHURCH OF CHRIST.

This body of people had friends among the early settlers
of Des Moines; but no organization was effected until the
Summer of 1858, when, under the ministration of B. F.
Snook, the Church was organized with the following mem-
bers: Charles Nicholas and wife, J. L. Scott and wife,
amuel Bell and wife, Samuel Van Cleve and wife, David
Skinner and wife, Thomas Hendryx and wife, B. F. Jones
and wife, and David Hunter. All these are now members
of this Church ,except Hunter and Hendryx. It is proper
to state that P. T. Russell, and others, preached here before
the organization.

OF POLK COUNTY. 219

The first place of worship was a little room over the brick
pork-house, at the east end of Market street bridge. The
next plac-e was in Savery Block, and the next in Griffith's
Block, East Side. From 1858 to 1863, the following
preachers served: P. T. Russell, Washington Short, G. T.
Carpenter, John Kimmons, James P. Roach, and others.

In 1863, James E. Gaston became pastor; and during his
three years of service, a commodious chapel was erected on
the old Court House ground. This building was occupied
until 1875, when it was sold, and the First Presbyterian
Church building, on Locust street, was purchased, and em-
ployed as a house of worship. Mr. Gaston was succeeded
by the following preachers: A. I. Plobbs, from 1867 to
1871; D. H. Gary, John C. Hay, J. W. Monser, and D. R.
Lucas. Value of Church property, $6,000. Present mem-
bership, 290.

Present officers: D. R. Lucas, Pastor; C. E. Fuller, Ed-
win Oaks, Jas. Ferguson, Elders; J. M. Owens, D. R. Ew-
ing, Geo. A. Jewett, W. N. Sanders, Samuel Van Cleve,
Wm. Huff, Chas. Nicholas, Jas. L. Scott, and Samuel Bel],
Deacons.

Total number of members since organization, 748.

ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHUEOH.

In 1856, Professor R. Weiser, President of the old Luth-
eran College, preached here occasionally; but no permanent
organization of the Church was effected until 1865. In
May of that year, Rev. Morris Officer, General Superinten-
dent of Home Missions, visited Des Moines, and finding
about a dozen members, it was decided to reorganize. In
August following. Rev. A. M. Geiger was called to the pas-
torate; and November 26th, he took charge of the work.
In that month, the English Evangelical Church was organ-
ized, with twenty two members.

March 8, 1867, the lot on the corner of Seventh and Syc-

220 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

amore, was bought for $1,600; and on the third day of Jan-
uary, 1869, the present Church building which had been
erected for $6,000, was dedicated. Rev. Dr. Sternburg
preached on the occasion. Rev. A. M. Geiger served six
years, and was succeeded by Rev. A. I. Origler, and after-
ward by Rev. C. A. Gel wick, the present pastor, who began
his labors January 1, 1875.

In 1873, a neat brick parsonage, costing $2,000 was built
on the east end of the Church lot. The Church is in a
flourishing condition, and entirely out of debt.

GERMAX LUTHERA-N.

This Church was organized November 16, 1859, by Rev.
John List, who remained with the charge until 1863, when
Rev. J. Laetz succeeded, beginning his labors November
22, 1863. There were then about one hundred members.
Mr. Laetz was followed by Franz Mather, the present pastor.
In 1864, a Church building, thirty by forty in size, was erect-
ed on Locust street. West Side, between First and Second.

ST. AMBROSE CHURCH. (CATHOLIC.)

In 1855, Bishop Loras of Dubuque, bought of Thomas
G. Given two lots in the original town of FortDes 3Ioines,
for $700. At that time. Rev. Louis De Cailly was tempo-
rarily located here, serving the Catholics at various points.
There were but few members here at that period. In March,
1856, Rev. George A. Plathe became pastor; and during
that year, a frame Church building was erec-tei on Sixth
street.

In 1858, important additions were made to the building,
so as to accommodate it to the rapidly increasing audience.
Mr. Plathe died in the Spring of 1860, and was succeeded
in that year by J. F. Brazill, the present incumbent.

On the last day of March, 1862, ^-vork was commenced
on the large brick edifice on the corner of Sixth and Locust.

OF POLK COUNTY. 221

It was completed in the fall of 1S64. The old building
was occupied for a time for school purposes, by the Sisters
of Mercy.

Father Brazill has recently purchased two lots on the
corner of Seventh and Court Avenue, East Side, for Church
and school purposes.

ST. mart's catholic church.

The corner stone of the two story basement of this fine
edifice was laid in 1871; and the corner stone of the main
building which surmounts the basement, was laid with ap-
propriate exercises, in the presence of thousands of specta-
tors, Sunday, July 2, 1876. The main building is 125 feet
long, and 46 wide, with main tower 130 feet high. The
entire structure will cost $25,000, and when furnished,
$40,000. Rev. A. X. Sassel is pastor.

HEBREW CHURCH.

The organization of this Church, styled, in the Hebrew
language Be Nai Ya Shuron, was effected September 28tb,
1873, being Youm Kippen, or Day of Atonement. It was
instituted under the German- American Reform plan. The
first officers were: President, Joseph Kuhn; Yice-President,
J. Mandelbaum; Secretary, S. Redstone; Ti-easurer, L. Hirch.
The first Rabbi, Rev. L. Samish, died August 28, 1874.

The present officers are: President, M. Riegleman; Vice-
President, D. Goldman; Secretary, Louis M. Doctor; Treas-
urer, S. Joseph. There are sixty members of this organiza-
tion; and there are 300 Jews of different branches, in this
city. The present Rabbi is Rev. F. Shaur.

Joseph and Isaac Kuhn, well known merchants, were the
pioneer Jews of Des Moines. Their business house on
Court Avenue was extensively patronized in the earlier days
of the city. The latter is still in business.

222 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

CHILDREN OF ISRAELITES.

The church of this name was organized in East Des
Moines, May 1, 1876, with the following officers: President,
S. Sigle; Vice President, Joseph Blotcky; Secretary, M.
Levin; Treasurer, B. Cohen; Trustees, M. Cohen, B. Block,
and David Sigle. David Cohen, Rabbi. Membership, 25.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.

This Church was organized, Oct. loth, 1858. Not long
afterward, a frame church building was erected in East
Des Moines; and Rev. J. H. Young supplied the pulpit from
August 7th, 1858, to November 16th, 1863. He was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Thomas McCague. The present pastor is
J. P. Cowan.

METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH.

In 1856, 2 2d of May, this Church was organized with
sixteen members. Rev. W. Remsburg, pastor.

AFRICAN METHODIST CHURCH.

This church was formed in Des Moines in 1872. The
place of worship was on Sycamore, between Seventh and
Eighth. The first pastor was Rev. George Benson. In
1873, Rev. Frederick Myres was pastor, and the present
one is Rev. Alexander. Membership, 30.

UNITED BRETHREN,

This Church was organized in East Des Mc'nos, 1869.
Rev. C^. B. Davis was pastor in 1873. The church building
is located on Williamson street, between 10th and 11th.
They have recently bought lots on Third street, on which
t'ley expect to erect a new edifice.

OF POLK COUNTY. 223

GERMAN METHODIST.

This church had its origin in Des Moines in 1856. The
house of worship is on Locust street, between Second and
Third. Rev. Phillip Hehner was pastor in 1873, and four
years previously, that is in 1869, J. P. Welheliui filled the
pulpit. The present pastor is Rev. Merkill.

UNIVEESALIST CHURCH.

This society met in Moore's Hall in 1869, with W. W.
King as pastor. The church property is located on the
corner of Sixth and Cherry. Mr. King was succeeded by
Rev. J. E. Sanford.

SWEDISH CHURCHES.

The Swedish Lutheran Mission w^as established in East
Des Moines in 18*70. The same year, a church edifice was
erected, and Rev. John Peterson, the present incumbent,
was called to the pastorate. Membership, 87.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church was organ-
ized in East Des Moines in 1871, under the pastorate of
Rev. John Telleen. A commodious church building has
been erected, and the membei'ship now numbers several
hundred.

The Swedish M. E. Church was organized November 29,
1874, by Rev. J. Linn, P. E. of this district. The present
pastor is Rev. P. J. Berg. Membership, 25.

FIRST SPIRITUAL ASSOCIATION.

This body was organized in Des Moines, October 15th,

5868.

EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION.

This Church was organized in 1865. The church build-
ing is located on Sixth street, between Sycamore and Des

224 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Moines, East Side. In 1811, Rev. C. W. Anthony, and in
1873, D. H. Kooker filled the pulpit. Present pastor, Rev.
E. E. Condo.

Y. M. C. A.

The Young Men's Christian Association of Des Moines,
was organized during the winter of 1856-7. It is not now
in existence.

PEIENDS.

The Des Moines Preparative Meeting of Friends was or-
ganized in January 1868. Before the regular organization,
Enos Grandy preached occasionally to a number of hearers.

COUNTY BENOMlISrATIONS.

A society of the M. E. Church was organized in Polk
City in 1853; and a fine Church building, for the times,
was erected in 1856. In 1857, the Christians organized, and
built a Church edifice. The Congregational Church of
Polk City, organized in 1858, has a fine Church building,
in which the Rev. Mr. Rand ofticiates as minister.

The Christian Church, of Mitchellville, was organized in
1873; and the following year, a Church building was
erected, at a cost of 82,500. The M. E. Church has had an
organization there for some time; but the prevailing denom-
ination is Universalists, the organization of which dates
back to the infancy of the place. It controls the Seminary
which is located here.

In 1871, a neat house of worship was built in Altoona,by
the Methodists, and Rev. Mr. Plolmes was sent there to of-
ficiate as pastor. In 1872, the Christians erected their
Church building, and Rev. T. F. Brown was called to the
pastorate.

The reader is referred to the history of the different
Townships for further information in reference to the form-
ation of religious societies in country communities.

OF POLK COUNTY. 225

THE DIFFEREZS^T ORDERS.

FORT DES MOINES LODGE, I. O. O. F.

The first Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows in the County, was instituted April 26, 1850, by Dis-
trict Deputy Gardner. Its title was, Fort Des Moines
Lodge, No. 25, I. O. O. F. The charter members were:
Madison Young, Granville Holland, I. J. Cole, B. F. Allen,
C. C. Van, and Marshall Townley. As there was no suita-
ble place to hold the meetings of this body, the Clerk's of-
fice, in the old brick Court House, was used for this pur-
pose. The oflicers of this Lodge, installed by D. D. G. M.
Gardner, were as follows: Madison Young, N. G. ; C. C.
Van, V. G.; M. Townley, R. S.; Granville Holland, Treas-
urer; B. F. Allen, P. S.; J. E. Jewett, O. G.; B. F. Allen, L
G.; G. Holland, Conductor; Wm. McKay, Warden; A. M.
Lyon, R. S. S.; Wm. Krause, L. S. S.; P. M. Casady, R. S. to
N. G.; V. W. Kern, L. S. to K G.; A. M. Lyon, R. S. to V.
G.; ^Ym. Krum, L. S. to V. G.

Mr. Rice was the first representative to the Grand Lodge
of Iowa.

The funds to build and furnish the second story of Gran-
ville Holland's store-house, on Second street, were contrib-
uted by the Odd Fellows; and to these new quarters, Lodge
No. 25 was removed. There was but a small band at the
start, but the numbers increased so rapidly, that in a short

time, they counted forty-three, embracing the finest possible
29

226 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

material. In 1856, they removed to tlie third story of Ex-
change Block, corner of Third and Walnut.

W. W. Moore, better known as 15illy M^ore, was the first
presiding officer in this Block. This gentleman, so favora-
bly known in our community, has held, from first to last,
all the offices in the Subordinate Lodge, and the higher
offices in the State Lodge; and for six years, has been Rep-
resentative in the Grand Lodge of the United States.

In 1862, this Lodge removed to more commodious quar-
ters on Court Avenue, from which in 1870, it was transferred
to finely furnished rooms in Vincent's Block, corner Wal-
nut and Seventh.

In 1853, a lot was purchased on Court Avenue, and a
brick block, containing three store rooms, has been erected
thereon, all belonging to this Lodge. It now numbers 107
members in good standing.

JONATHAN LODGE.

Jonathan Lodge No. 137, I. O. O. F., was instituted in
Des Moines in 1865, by D. D. G. M., W. W. Moore. It now
numbers 78 members in good standing.

CAPITAL LODGE.

Capital Lodge No. 106, I. O. O. F., was instituted June
5th, 1857, by dispensation of the G. M. of the Grand Lodge,
dated May 16, 1857, with the following as charter members:
H. H. Griffiths, Will Tomlinson, M. L. Devin, P. Van Horn,
John P. Haskins and Wm. Remsburg. The first officers of
the Lodge were: H. H. Griffiths, N. G.; Will Tomlinson,
V. G.; J. P. Haskins, R. S ; Wm. Remsburg, Treasurer.

The above officers were installed by Dept. G. M., Samuel
Noel, assisted by Dept. Grand Marshal, Samuel Noble.

This Lodge was regularly incorporated under the State
laws, January 1st, 1868. The names of the Trustees for

OF POLK COUNTY. 227

the first year, commencing with the last named date, were,
M. W. Miller, Robert Lyon?, and S. Green.

The officers for the first half of the Centennial year are
as follows: W. S. Grimes, K G ; S. B. Roberts, V. G.; R.
W. Russell, R. S.; J. W. Dye, P. S., and S. Green, Treas-
urer. For the last half of the year, S. B. Roberts, N. G.;
R. W. Russell, y. G.; Jas. H. Stevenson, R. S.; Wm. Hal-
lett, P. S., and S. Green, Treasurer. The present Board of
Trustees are, Wm. H. Kessler, F. A. Shepard, and Robert
McNulty. The above officers were installed by D. D. G.
]M., J. 0. Read. Total membership at this date, 107. This
Lodge has recently built a fine hall on the corner of East
Sixth and Sycamore.

REBECCA LODGE, I. O. O. F.

The Iowa Rebecca Degree Lodge, was granted a charter
November 26, 1871, by John Gundaker, G. M., of the State
of Iowa, with the following Brothers and Sisters as charter
members: W. W. Moore and Mary R. Moore, S. H. Has-
kell and 3Iary Haskell, W. F. Thomason and Mary M.
Thomason, Lamoine Mott and Gertrude C. Mott, George
Sneer and Pauline E. Sneer, Geo. C. JeflJ'iies and Mary J.
Jefifries, D. V. Cole and Henrietta N. Cole. This Lodge
started wdth fourteen members, and now numbers 86.

The present officers are, AYm. H. Kessler, N. G.; Julia
Russell, V. G.; Meda Kessler, R. S.; Wm. Musson, P. S.;
and Rachel McNulty, Treasurer.

EBENEZER ENCAMPMENT.

Ebenezer Encampment, No. 10, I. O. O. F., was insti-
tuted March 15, 1853, by dispensation. The date of ^^^'^ner
was October 20, 1869, showing the following charter mem-
bers: C. C. Van, P. M. Cassdy, W. W. Moore, Peter Myers,
R. L. Tidrick, D. Y. Cole, Alexander Bowers. The present
officers are, James Watson, C. P.; Ed Anderson, S. W.;

228 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

William Musson, H. P.; J. H. Stevenson, Scribe; Peter
Lambert, Treasurer. The present number of members is
ninety-eight.

CAPITAL COUXCIL.

Capital Council, No. 9, Royal and Select Masters, was
instituted June 17, 1867, with the following charter mem-
bers: Lewis Kinsey, Absalom Morris, J. H. Dykeman, J.
M. Griffiths, H. H. Griffiths, S. M. Good, J. B. Miller, J. E.
Fleischman, R. C. Hunter, R. W. Sypher, and Charles Lin-
derman. The present officers are, J. C. Macy, T. I. M.;
Hiram Robinson, R. I. M.; M. T. V. Bowman, W. P. C. W.;
Seth Graham, Tr.; D. F. Calender, Recorder; John C. Par-
rish, Captain of Guards; P. H. Skinner, Conductor; John
W. Lewis, Steward; R. C. McMillan, Sentinel. Member-
ship numbers ninety.

HOME LODGE.

Home Lodge, No. 370, A. F. and A. M., was instituted
under Dispensation, January 12, 1876, with a membership
of 26. This Lodge was instituted under charter, June 11,
1876, by M. W., Deputy G. M. S. D. Welling, of Pioneer
Lodge, No. 22.

The officers elected for one year, under charter, are: Wm.
Brunton, W. M.; J. R. Crawshaw, S. W.; C. S. Binklej^, J.
W.; D. Tisdale, Treasurer; L. E. Ayres, Secretary; D. E.
Perkins, S. D.; H. Cunningham, J. D.; James Allen, S.
Steward; Wm. Langley, J. Steward; D. W. Johnson, Tyler.
Present membership, thirty-six.

CAPITAL LODGE.

Capital Lodge, No. 110, A. F. and A. M., was instituted
by dispensation, June 15, 1857. Date of Charter, June 2,
1858, The charter members were J. M. Griffiths, W. M.;
J. A. Williamson, S. W.; J. W. Stanton, J. W.; H. H. Grif-

OF POLK COUNTY. 229

fiths, Stewart Goodrell, and T. K. Brooks. The present
officers are, Crom Bo wen, M. W.; John C. Macy, S. W.; R.
D. Bennett, J. W.; C. Youngerman, Treasurer; Enos B.
Hunt, Secretary; R. A. Patchin, S. D.; Henry Fleming, J.
D.; James Laing, and L. G. Krull, Stewards; R. C. McMil-
len, Tyler. Present membership 154.

COKINTHIAN CHAPTER.

Corinthian Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., was instituted by
a dispensation, June 14, 185G. The charter members were:
Lovell White, J. E. Jewett, John Youngerman, C. P. Luse,

A. Y. Hull, J. M. Griffiths, A. Morris, W. T. Smith, and J.
H. Given.

The present officers are M. T. V. Bowman, M. E. H,
P.; W. W. Moore, E. K.; J. W. Cheek, E. G.; George H.
Maish, Treasurer; J. H. Kennedy, Secretary; Geo. H. Maish,
Trustee; H. Robinson, P. G.; A. R. Townsend, C. H.; P.
H. Skinner, R. A. C; G. W. Fuller, G. M., 3d Veil; Ed.
Gotwal, T. G. M., 2d Veil; Henry Sessions, G. M., 1st Veil;
K. C. McMillan, Tyler. Number of members liO.

EMANUEL CONSISTORY.

Emanuel Consistory, No. 2, A.*. A.*. R.-., was organized
in 1867. The charter members were: Joseph M. Griffiths,
H. H. Griffiths, John A. Elliott, Wesley Redhead, I. N.
Thomas, W. Calberts, S. M. Good, Charles Linderman, J.

B. Tiffin, Cyrus A, Mosier, Thomas Boyd. The first officers
were: John A. Elliott, C. in Chief; Wesley Redhead, Sen-
eschal; I. N. Thomas, Preceptor; C. C. Carpenter, Chancellor;
J. M. Griffiths, M. of State; William Alberts, Almoner;
Charles J. McKay, Registras; S. M. Good, Treasurer; H. H.
Griffiths, Prelate. The present officers are John C. Parrish,
Commander in Chief; C. A. Weaver, Seneschal; E. N. Klip-
tine, Preceptor; Geo. H. Maish, Chancellor; C. C. Carpenter,
M. of State; William Alberts, Almoner; Hiram Robinson,

230 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Registras; S. M. Good, Treasurer; H. H. Griffiths, Prelate;
E. E. Ainsworth, M. of Ceremonies; K. C. McMillan, Capt.
of the G.

PIONEER LODGE.

Pioneer Lodge, Xo. 22, A. F. & A. M., was instituted by
dispensation, January 16th, 1850, and chartered June Yth,
1850. The charter members were: J. E. Jewett, W. M.;
Benjamin Coffeen, S. W.; W. T. Marvin, J. W.; John W.
Rush, Secretary; T. G. Burbridge, Treasurer; J. D. Davis,
S. D.; J. S. Dicks, Tyler. The first person initiated was
Madison Young, who became a member, February 23d,
1850. The present officers are: S. D. Welling, W. M.; C.
B. Worthington, S. W.; George Walker, J. W.; Seth Gra-
ham, Treasurer; J. J. Payne, Secretary; Henry W. Sessions,
S. D.; H. R. Heath, J. D.; K. C. McMillan, Tyler. Present
number of members, 190.

TEMPLE COMMA XDERY.

Des Moines Commandery was organized in 1857. Its
name was changed to Temple Commandery K. T. No. 4, in
1866, with Sir John Scott, E. C; Solomon McCain, A.
Morris, E. F. Hooker, J. Y. Hopkins, and Thomas Thomp-
son, as charter members. The present officers are: Sir E.
E. Ainsworth, Eminent Commander; Sir J. C. Macy, Gen-
eralissimo; Sir Hiram Robinson, Captain-General; Sir Seth
Graham, Treasurer; Sir N. R. Townsend, Recorder; Sir
Geo. H. Maish, Trustee. Officers appointed: Sir J. C.
Parish, Prelate; Sir J. H. Kennedy, Senior Warden; Sir
Phil. H. Skinner, Junior Warden; Sir Jesse W. Cheek,
Warden; Sir Geo. Sneer, Sword Bearer; Sir Chas. Brims-
don, Standard Bearer; Sir Henry Shepherd, Ist Guard; Sir
M. T. y. Bowman, 2d Guard; Sir W. W. Moore, 3d Guard;
Sir K. C. McMillan, Sentinel.

The above named officers were elected, September 8th,

OF POLK COUNTY. 231

1876. Membership 104. The present high position of this
Commandery is owing to the active efforts, daring the past
eight years, of John C. Parrish, past E. C.

EASTERIS' STAR. *

Eastern Star Lodge, Adopted Masonry, received its
charter December 12th, 1871. The charter members were:
Sarah E. B. Todd, Y. C. Worthington, C. M. Lewis, Lizzie
Robinson, E. E. Burdick, H. A. Cole, E. C. Long, T. L.
Allen, M. E. McElroy, C. C. Welling, K E. Webber, E.
Moore, H. M. Bentley, S. A. Brinkley, Josephine Bowman,
M. V. Murphy, S. A. Watts, Mrs. S. M. Good, Mrs. W. J.
Stevens. The first officers were, E. H. Carter, W. P.; H. A.
Cole, M.; Mrs. W. J. Stevens, A. M.

NORTH STAR.

The North Star Lodge, (colored) No. 31, F. A. & Y. M.,
was in working order in 1872. The first officers were: J.
S. Carter, W. M.; S. B. Smith, L. W.; E. Morton, J. W.;
J. Long, T.; and A. W. Birney, S. It was reorganized,
January 6th, 1875, w^ith the following officers: John Page,
W. M.; A. Brown, S. W.; J. Logan, J. W.; J. Lewis, S.; J.
Allen, T. The present officers are: J. Page, W. M.; A.
Brown, S. W.; J. Johnson, J. W.; J. Lewis, S.; and M. Bell,
T. Present membership, 40.

BENEFIT ASSOCIATION.

The Masonic Mutual Benefit Association of Iowa, was
organized, August 1st, 1872, and incorporated under the
laws of the State of Iowa. The first officers were: Wm.
Merrill, President; Wm. Lowry, Yice President; George A.
McYicker, Secretary; W. A. Colton, Treasurer. Directors:
G. H. Maish, E. B. Hunt, and C. B. Worthington. The of-
ficers and trustees for 1876 are: President, Wm. Lowry,
Capital Lodge, No. 110; Vice President, Gen. N. B. Baker,

232 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Capital Lodge, iSTo. 110; Secretary, George A. McYicker,
Pioneer Lodge, No. 22; Treasurer, W. A. Colton, Pioneer
Lodge, No. 22; George C. Baker, Operative Lodge, No. 308;
Moses §trau8s, Pioneer Lodge, No. 22; Geo. II. Maish, Cap-
ital Lodge, No. 110. Present membership, 130.

IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEX.

The following interesting history of the Improved Order
of Red Men, has been kindly furnished for our use by Past
Sachem Knight, of this city:

Of American origin, this is the oldest Order in the LTnited
States, having been estabJished, originally, at Annapolis,
Maryland, in 1771. In 1812, when party strife was running
high, and working mischief, a Society of Red Men was or-
ganized among the garrison at Fort Mifflin, on the Dela-
ware river; and the result, in promoting harmony and good
fellowship, where hatred had previously existed, was ob-
servable by all.

This Order is devoted to freedom in its broadest sense,
and its motto is. Freedom, Friendship, and Charity.

The Saux Tribe, or Sacs Tribe, as we think it ought to
be called, was organized in Des Moines, in October, 1871.
Its first officers were: Sachem, S. S. Davis; Senior Saga-
more, J. H. Gilbert; Junior Sagamore, Wm. Johnson; Chief
of Records, J. P. Crosson; Keeper of Wampum, G. B.
Wicks; Prophet, P. D.James. Present officers: Sachem,
C.L. Smith; Senior Sagamore, E. D. Wiley; Junior Saga-
more, II. J. Childress; Chief of Records, W. E. Davis;
Keeper of Wampum, C. C. Porter; Prophet, T. M. Knight;
Trustees, T. M. Knight, Wm. Brunsdon, and E. D. Wiley.

This Order numbers, in the LTnited States, between sixty-
five and seventy thousand members, and is most numerously
represented on the Atlantic and Pacific slopes.

OF POLK COUJ^TY. 233

UNITED WORKMEX.

Des Moines Lodge, Xo. 18, Ancient Order of United
Workmen, was organized, March 15th, 1865. The object of
this Order is to harmonize Capital and Labor, so as to abol-
ish all invidious distinctions which may attach to the rela-
tion between the employer and employe. At the start, this
Lodge had fifteen members; it now numbers forty. Its
present officers are: Past Master Workman, P. F. Bartle;
Master Workman, Geo. W. Bristow; General Foreman, W.
H. W. Rees; Overseer, George W. Smith; Recorder, J. J.
Stuckey; Guide, J. W. King; Financier, Curtis Wells; Re-
ceiver, Geo. W. Walker; Inside Watchman, R. E. Gick;
Outside Watchman, James Allen; Deputy Grand Master
Workman, J. W. Muffly.

CAPITAL LODGE, NO. 14.

Capital Lodge of the Ancient Order of L^nited Work-
men, was organized, February 2d, 1875. The charter mem-
bers were: S. M. Good, J. O. Skinner, George F. Walker,
John A. Bryan, Charles H. Ward, William Hadgely, W^m.
H. Shaw, Samuel Green, J. F. Kennedy, Clarence B. Jones,
G. B. Hammer, Isaac Brandt, George Garver, Samuel M,
Elliott, W. H. Fleming, George Lendrum, Homer C. Paige.
Walker B. Mayer, and D. M. Haverly.

The first officers were: J. F. Kennedy, P. M. W.;
Isaac Brandt, M. AV.;G. B. Hammer, G. F.; H. C. Paige,
O.; G. F. Walker, Recorder; W. H. Shaw, F.; Samuel
Green, R.; J. A. Bryan, G.

The present officers are: W. H. Fleming, P. M. W.; W.

A. Haskell, M. W.; James Hunter, G. F.; J. S. Burnett, O.;

W. N. Heaton, Recorder; Samuel Green, R.; W. H. Shaw,

F.; Fred Matter, J. W.; John Koenigsberger, O. W.; J. M.

Ferree, G. The Trustees are: Walker B. Mayer, Wm. W.

Moore, and W. W. Phillips.
30

234 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.

Myrtle Lodge, No. 9, Kuights of Pythias, was organized
in this city, February 22d, 1871, with the following officers:
M. T. V. Bowman, P. C; W. W. Moore, Y. P.; S. M. Good,
W. C; L. Yoight, W. v. C; C. T. Hewitt, R. S.; W. A. Ab-
bett, F. S.; G. B. Wicks, W. B.; C. Bathman, G.; Charles
"Weitz, I. S.; C. Youngerraan, V. S. The following named
persons, with the above, were also charter members: A.
Stollberg, L. M. G. Barnett, L. Harbach, W. L. White, G.
Vincent and George A. McVicker.

This Lodge was reorganized, March 22d, 1875, with the
following officers: G B. Wicks, D. G. C; C. Weitz, P. C.;
S. M. Good, C. C; L. Stutz, Y. C; L. Harbach, P.; Charles
Hewett, K. of R. and S.; F. Harbach, M. of E.; A. Stollberg,
M. of F.; Geo. A. Warner, M. A.; Charles Harbach, L G.;
and L. Hirsch, O. G.

The present officers are, Chas. Hewitt, P. C; Chas. Weitz,
C. C; Samuel Stansbury, Y. C; E. Jaynes, P.; A. Simpson,
K. of R. & S.; A. W. DeForest, M. F.; F. Harback, M. E.;
W. W. Cole, M. A.; J. H. Dumont, L G., and F. Schroeder,
O. G.

The Lodge is in good condition, in every particular,
numbers at this date, fifty members and is rapidly increasing.

This Order originated in this country, about thirteen
years ago. Its founder was Justus H. Rathbone, and its five
original members were, Robert Allen Champion, David L.
Burnett, Edward S. Kimball, M. D., and Wm. Henry Bur-
nett. The Order is founded on the old historic incident of
Damon and Pythias, and Dionysius of Cyracuse.

KNIGHTS OF PITHIAS.

The Capital City Lodge, No. 29, was instituted, March
22, 1876. The Charter members were: W. P. Bently, J.
C. Savery, J. S. Clarkson, George H. Bugbee, C. S. Wilson,

OF POLK COUNTY. 285

S. M. Elliott, W. S. Grimes, J. L. Keyes, Galusha Parsons
H. L. Skinner, J. S. Runnells, and William Foster.

The officers elected for first term were: W. P. Bentley,
P. C; J. C. Savery, C. C; J. S. Runnells, V. C; G. Parsons,
P.; J. L. Keyes, K. of R. and S.; S. M. Elliott, M. of F.; W.
Foster, M. of E.; C. S. Wilson, M. of A.; W. S. Grimes, I.
G.; H. L. Skinner, O. G.; Trustees, J. L. Keyes, W. Foster,
and J. C. Savery.

Present ofiicers: J. C. Savery, C. C; George W. Savery,
P. C; J. S. Rannells, V. C; Galusha Parsons, Prelate; J.
L. Keyes, K. of R. and S.; William Foster, M. of E.; C.
S. Wilson, M. of A.; N. B. Lichty, N. of F.; L. A. Crane, I.
G.; and Andrew Madole, O. G.

Membership at this date, thirty-six. This Lodge is in a
prosperous condition, and occupies one of the finest appoint-
ed rooms in the State.

TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION.

The Union was organized September 2, 1868. The first
President was Col. W. L. Yestal, now of the Storm Lake
Pilot. It was re-chartered in 1873, with the following
members: Frank Bradley, Frank Knapp, S. W. Russell,
George Palmer, John H. Fitzgerald, Alexander McCauUy,
and O. H. Mathews.

The present officers are: President, P. L. Cook; Vice-
President, Julius Ward; Financial Secretary, G. O. Wheeler;
Recording and Corresponding Secretary, W. D. Ferree;
Treasurer, S. W. Russell; Sergeant-at-Arms, W. H. Humes.

CALEDONIAN CLUB.

The Des Moines Caledonian Club was organized, Sep-
tember 10, 1872, and incorporated the following year. It
was placed under the management of the appended offi-
cers: President, G. R. Mackintosh; Vice President, Geo.

236 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

E. Lillie; Treasurer, John Sneddon; Secretary, L. M. Squair;
Janitor, John Burnside.

The present officers are: Chief, L. M. Squair; let Chief-
tain, Alex. Tulley; 2d Chieftain, G. R. Mackintosh; 3d
Chieftain, J. D. Ogelvie; 4th Chieftain, G. E. Lillie; 5th
Chieftain, John Sneddon; Janitor, Andrew Sneddon.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.

The Des Moines Library Association was organized De-
cember I7th, 1866, with the following officers: President,
H. S. DeForest; Vice President, J. M. El wood; Treasurer,
W. S. Pritchard; Recording Secretary, S. A. Ay res; Corre-
sponding Secretary, J. R. Carey; Librarian, C. A. Dudley;
Directors, John Mc Williams, C. H. Gatch, F. M. Mills, W.
W. Williamson, W. S. Peterson, and Geo. W. Jones.

During the years of its existence, the Association has had
for its Presidents the following persons: C. H. Gettihell,
Hoyt Sherman, Jr., John Mitchell, John A. Elliott, and J.
B. Miller.

The Library was transferred to the management of the
ladies, May 2d, 1876, when the following officers were
chosen: President, Mrs. Sarah M. Dickinson; Vice Presi-
dent, Mrs. L. D. Ankeney; Secretary, Mrs. Sarah D. Goode;
Treasurer, Mrs. Martha C. Callanan; Directors, Mrs. Bina
M. Lunt, Mrs. Rachel E. Getchell, Mrs. Dora M. Stewart.
Library Committee, Mrs. Ada North, Mrs. Belle Choate,
Mrs. Towne, Mrs. Turner, Mrs. L. Stark. Lecture and En-
tertainmeni Committee, Mrs J. S. Runnells, Mrs. Frank
Butler, Mrs. Galusha Parsons, Mrs. J. S. Ciarkson, Mrs.
Thos. Hatton; on Art Relics, Miss S. J. Porter, Mr^. See-
berger, Mrs. Hoyt Sherman, Mrs. C. H. Gatch.

Under the management of these ladies, new life has been
infused into the old Library. They have removed the
cases, books and all, into the elegant rooms in Mr. Young-
erman's new building, on Fourth street.

OF POLK COUNTY. 237

Volumes in Library, 4,000. Librarian, Miss E. L. Grif-
fiths.

GERMAN TUKXERS' ASSOCIATIOX.

This Asso(;iation was organized August 19, 1866, with 30
members. The officers were: President, Adam Baughman;
Secretary, F. Harbach; Turn wart, John Schwelky; Cashier,
F. Young.

The body now numbers seventy-five members, and occu-
pies a rented Hall; but two lots have been purchased in the
city, on which suitable buildings will be erected. The
present officers are: President, Louis Fritz; Vice-President,
M. Newman; Secretary, H. Hanson; Corresponding Secre-
tary, Philip Conradi; First Turn wart, L. Dippel; Second
Turuwart, G. Oeltjendier; Cashier, Philip Klumb; Singwart
Franz Jlbher; Ziegwart, John Kruger; Trustees: President,
William Lutz; Secretary, Philip Ganz; Treasurer, F. Har-
bach.

This Society inaugurated in this city by Thomas Brooke,
was organized January 5, 1874, with the following officers:
President, T. M. Knight; Vice-president, T. D. Hulme;
Treasurer, J. Fellows; Trustees, J. Dixon, and S. Lowe;
Secretary, Thomas Brooke. The present officers are: Pres-
ident, S. Lowe; Vice-President, T. M. Knight; Treasurer,
A. Lewis; Trustees, H. Davis, and J. Storey; Auditors, T.
Kemp, and T. Andrews; Recording Secretary, W. Bruns-
don; Financial Secretary, Thomas Brooke. Number of
members, seventy-five. The Society meets at the Red Men's
Hall.

In the great procession on the last Fourth of July, in Des
Moines, the Car of this Society attracted much attention.
Brittannia and Columbia, respectively represented by Miss
Josephine Lemmons and Miss Alma Lowe, were seated at

238 " CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

opposite extremities of the car, Columbia in front, in a chair
representing a shield with the Stars and Stripes, with a
wreath of Peace in her hand. The chair in which Brittan
nia sat, was made in the shape of an English Shield, dis-
playing the Union Jack. Midway between these two ladies,
with an arm outstretched toward each, was a sailor, (Alex.
Lewis,) from the Ship of Liberty, supporting the British
flag in one hand, and the American in the other. The forty
counties of England, and the thirty-eight States of the
American Union, were appropriately represented by young
ladies, the former with head dresses of oak leaves and roses,
and the latter with flags displaying the Stars and Stripes.
As the car passed under the archway, its inmates sang "My
Country, 'Tis of Thee," with thrilling effect.

conductors' brotherhood.

The Des Moiues Division, Xo. 38, of the Conductors'
Brotherhood, was organized December 21st, 1875, with the
following officers: C. E. Smith, C. C; J. C. Hewitt, A. C.
C; O. S. Ward, Treasurer; C. W. Curtis, Secretary; A. Mc-
Bride, Sr. G. of C; G. W. Bull, Jr. C. of C; D. Bowers,
I. S.; T. Crouch, O. S. The charter members, besides those
named, were, J. A. Taylor, J. A. Piatt, C. M. Burnet,
Charles Morse, Wils Edmundson, G. W. Donaldson.

The present officers are, G. W. Bull, C. C; A. McBride,
A. C. C; D. Bowers, Sr. C. of C; L. R. Carver, Jr. C. of C;
J. A. Taylor, Secretary; O. S. Ward, Treasurer; J. W.
Robinson, O. S.; Thos. Crouch, L S.

engineers' brotherhood.

The Des Moines Division, Xo. 113, of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, was organized February 12th,
1870. The first officers elected were, C. S. Binkley, C. E.;
W. W. Slade, F. E.; J. J. Goodwin, S. E.; M. S. Barney, F.

OF POLK COUNTY. 2;^ 9

A. E.; G. W. Warren, S. A. E.; William Sprague, Guide,
and Henry Marvin, Chaplain.

The present officers are, A. W. Springer, C. E.; Ben.
Reese, F. E.; J. E. Binkley, F. A. E.; Thomas Gibney, S.
E.; G. W. Russell, T. E.; J. L. Baueler, F. A. E.; A. C.
Knight, Guide, and G. W. Clark, Chaplain.

John Rafferty,a member of this Division, was killed. July,
1873, at the time when a train west of Des Moines was at-
tacked by robbers, and the engine thrown from the track.
His death occurred almost instantly, as the engine fell over
on its side.

ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS.

This Society was organized June 25th, 1876. Its officers
are David Bulger, President; James McNeeney, Vice Pres-
ident; Peter Heeney, Recording Secretary; Thomas Kil-
leen, Financial Secretary; Nicholas Walsh, Treasurer.
This organization has 45 members, and its numbers are
steadily increasing. Its main object' is, Irish benevolence.

WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION.

The Polk County Woman's Suffrage Association was or-
ganized in Des Moines, October 24th, 1870. The second
meeting of the Society was held, November 25th, 1870, in
the rooms of the Yomig Men's Christian Association, Mr.
C. E. Fuller in the chair. The first permanent officers
were: President, Mrs. S. Sharman; Vice Presidents, Mr.
C E. Fuller, and Dr. James Wright; Recording Secretary,
Mrs. J. Wi throw; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. M. B. Ha-
ven; Treasurer, Mrs. M. C. Callanan; Executive Committee,
Mrs. M. Gray Pitman, Mrs. C. C. Nourse, Mrs. Mary A.
Work, Mrs. Deborah Cattell, and Mrs. M. J. Coggeshall.
A Constitution was duly adopted.

At the same meeting, arrangements were made to secure
the following speakers: Miss Lucy Stone, Rev. C. R. Pom-

240 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

eroy, Susan B. Anthony, Mr. C. E. Fuller, and others. Ar-
rangements were made to address a memorial to Congress
in behalf of Woman Suffrage. Mesdames Haven and
Brown were appointed to organize Societies at Hanover,
Polk City, Mitch ell ville, and other places.

At a meeting of the Association, held July, 1871, it was
reported that the services of the following speakers had
been secured: C. C. Cole, Rev. W. J. Gill, Judge Maxwell,
J. P. Davis, Mrs. Harbert, Mrs. Callanan, and Mrs. Savery.

Bishop Haven, of the M. E. Church, delivered a fine ad-
dress, on this subject, at the Christian Church, in Des
Moines. The Methodist Annual Conference, then in ses-
sion, was waited od, by a committee of Woman Suffragists,
consisting of Lizzie B. Reed, Maria Gray Pitman, Mrs. M.
W. Porter, and Rev. J. H. Lozier. A paper was read to the
Conference, followed by remarks from Mrs. Reed, to which
Bishop Haveji made an appropriate response, endorsing
Woman's Rights. The paper was referred to a committee
of one from each district, whose report was adopted by a
vote of 32 for, and 13 against. The report referred to, dis-
tinctly favored the enfranchisement of wo iia».

July 6th, 1871, the Association passed resolutions deny-
ing all affiliation with those leaders who teach that liberty
is license, and who throw discredit on the sacred bond of
marriage. May 6th, 1875, resolutions were passed, compli-
mentary of Governor Carpenter, for his appointment of
Mrs. Cattell to a responsible position, as one of the Com-
mittee of Investigation in reference to the condition of the
Reform School, and for his words of approval of the cause,
in his last message. August, 1876, resolutions furnished by
Mrs. Maria S. Orwig, demanding the ballot for woman, and
declaring her right to emancipation from the prejudice and
ignorance which keep her in a subordinate position, indus-
trially, socially, and politically, were reaffirmed. At this
raeeting. Gen. Given was thanked for the eloquent speech

OF POLK COUNTY. 241

he delivered in the House last winter, in favor of Woman
Suffrage. Messrs. Mitchell, Tuttle, Kasson, Brandt, Mad-
den, and Given, members of the General Assembly, during
the past few years, were especially thanked for the interest
they have taken on this subject.

This Society, which is in a prosperous condition, has
never failed to hold its regular meetings, and has never
failed, also, in its mission, to vindicate woman, and to eman-
cipate her from the disabiliiies under which she is laboring.

The following officers were chosen in May last: Presi-
dent, Mrs. E. H. Hunter; Vice Presidents, Mrs. D. Cattell,
Mrs. L. M. Scott, and Mrs. C. A. AYarner; Recording Sec-
retary, Miss Martha Angle; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs.
M. S. Orwig; Treasurer, Mrs. M. Gray Pitman; Executive
Committee, Mis. M. J. Coggeshall, Mrs. Mary A. Work,
Mrs. Lydia G. Aldrich, Mrs. L. M. Davis, and Mrs. A. R.
Ankeny.

The* Legislature, in its election of officers, last winter,
chose Miss Hallett and Miss Rayburn, as Enrolling and
Engrossing Clerks; and Mrs. J. M. Dixon and Miss Annie
Christy, Paper-Folders, all of the Senate; and Miss Evans
and Mrs. Berry, Enrolling and Engrossing Clerks, and
Misees Baker, Whedon, and Griffiths, Paper-Folders, all of
the House. Misses Johnston and Smith were appointed
Legislative Postmistresses.

JEWISH ORDER.

Lazarus Samich Lodge of the order of K. S. B. was or-
ganized in this city, November 17, ISYG, with the following
officers: President, M. Riegelman; Vice-President, M.
Strauss; Treasurer, J. Mandelbaum; Secretary, L. M. Doctor;
Monitor, H. Riegelman; Asst. M., H. Youukers; Achieser,
M. Schloss; Aliezur, L Riegelman; Guardian, H. Hiller; As-
sistant, L. Orilieb; L. Hirsch, Grand Saar, State of Iowa;

Rev. F. Shaur, Lecturer.
31

245^ CENTENKIAL HISTORY

TEMPERAI^OE.

The following very interesting account of the Independ-
ent Order of Good Templars in Polk county, was compiled
by W. H. Fleming, Piivate Secretary of Governor Kirk-
wood:

The order of Good Templars, which was founded, as it
at present exists, in the year 1852, in the State of New York,
was introduced into Iowa in 1853; and on the 24th day of
November, 1854, the Grand Lodge was organized at Iowa
City; twelve representatives being present from eight lodges.
Among those in attendance who have since become more
or less prominent, are George D. Woodin, Isaac Whittan,
of Cedar Rapids; and General N. P. Chipman. About the
same time. Star Lodge was formed in Fort Des Moines.
Among its leading members were Hon. William McKay.
About a year later, Fiiendship Lodge was organized at Fort
Des Moines. Shortly afterward, Saylorville Lodge was
formed.

On the 29th day of January, 1857, Demoine Lodge was
instituted in East Des Moines; and it commenced a career
of incalculable influence, which has been extended to the
present time. In all this period, that lodge has never missed
a meeting. During the same year, both lodges in Des
Moines, (West Side) ceased working. J. M. Cree was the
first representative to the Grand Lodge from Polk county.
He represented both Des Moines and Saylorville lodges.
In the fall of 1857, Polk City lodge was instituted, and was

OF POLK COUNTY. 243

represented at the session of the Grand Lodge in 1859, by
Dr. (afterward Major) J. C. Bennett. Rev. William Rems-
burgh was delegate to the Grand Lodge from Des Moines
lodge in 1858; and George E. Chambers and William H.
Hoxie in 1859. Both Saylorville and Polk City lodges
ceased working in 1858 or 1859. The sixth session of the
Grand Lodge was held at Des Moines in 1859. About the
same time, another lodge was organized in Des Moines,
West side, known as Capital Lodge, No. 195. In 1860,
Hon. Jonathan W. Cattell and Hon Elijah Sells, represent-
ed Des Moines Lodge in the Grand Lodge at Indepciiaei.ce.
Just before this time, Peoria City Lodge, No. 53, was started,
and Polk City revived. The former was short lived.

In 1861, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Cattell and Major Bennett
represented the county in the Grand Lodge at Iowa City.
In this year, (1861,) four new lodges were instituted in Polk
county, viz: Mitchell, No. 250, at Mitchelltown; Elm Grove,
No. 253, in Bloomfield township; Avon, No. 254; and Camp,
No. 256, in Camp township; Saylorville was reorganized as
No. 252. At the same time, the war drawing so heavily on
its membership, Capital Lodge surrendered its charter.

The following year was one of great depression in the
history of the order; and Polk City, Saylorville. and Elm
Grove lodges, gave up their feeble hold on life. Of eight
lodges reported by the Grand Secretary as organized duriug
the year, one was in Des Moines, West side, where three
lodges had previously gone down.

On the 7th day of May, 1862, Union lodge w^as instituted
as No. 263. Among its charter members were George A
McTicker, Thomas S. Keeney, M. S. Dickerson, Alonzo W
Rollins, and others. At the session of the Grand Ln/l<re
held at Dubuque, Isaac Brandt and Mrs. Remsburg repre
sented all the existing lodges in the county except Avon
Mr. Brandt was placed at the head of the order, and Mrs
Cattell, next.

t; 4 4 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

On the 3l8t day of January, 1863, Avon loclg9 was sus-
pended. On the 5th of August, in the same year, Fidelity
lodge, No. V, was instituted at Rising Sun, by Rev. William
Remsburgh. The Grand Lodge met at Des Moines in Sep-
tember. Mr. and Mrs. Remsburgh, Hon. James Wright,
and Mrs. Samuel Green, represented Des Moines lodge;
Jonathan Blyler, Mitchell lodge; and John K. Lyon and
Miss Mary Jones, Union lodge. Mr. Brandt was re elect-
ed Grand Worthy Chief Templar. At this session, a report
was made of the number of members of the several lodges,
who were in the army. Des Moines Lodg^. reported sixty-
eight more than any other in the State, except one at Keokuk,
which had seventy; Union lodge had ten.

In 1864, Camp lodge ceased to work. George A. Mc-
Vicker, and Miss Anna Raling, represented the three lodges
at the Grand Lodge, held at Mt. Pleasant. At this session,
Samuel A. Ayres was commissioned Deputy Grand Worthy
Chief Templar for Des Moines lodge; Thomas Mitchell, for
Mitchell lodge; George A. McYicker, for Union; and A. J.
Barton, for Fidelity, Rising Sun.

The following year was one of great activity in the tem-
perance cause. On the 17th of February, 1865, Mr, Barton
instituted Adelphi Lodge, 156, and on the 10th of March,
Mud Cr^ek Lodge, No. 159; and on the last day of the same
month, Rev. Wm. M. Calfee organized a new lodge at Say-
lorville. Friendship, No. 167. Messrs. Brandt, McVicker,
Ed. 13. Stillman, Frank Mix, and Mrs. Cattell, represented
the lodges of the county at Waterloo. The deputies ap-
pointed were Samuel Green, for Des Moines; Frank Mix,
for Union; L. B. Houston, for Saylorville; and Mr. Mitchell
was re-appointed.

On the 6th of March following, Peterson Lodge, No. 278,
was organized in Delaware township; and on the 13th of
April, Brandt Lodge, No. 295, was organized in Franklin
Township. The same year witnessed the death of the two

OF POLK COU.NTY. 245

new lodges of the previous year, Adelphi and Mud Creek.
The lodges were represented at the session of the Grand
Lodge, held at Newton, by Mrs. Cattell, Mrs. Remsburgh,
Mrs. H. N. Hemenway, Mrs. W. E. Peterson, and Messrs.
W. S. Peterson, J. M. Dixon, N. Ball, F. F. Bly ler, T, E. Bar-
low, and J. A. Saylor. Rev. Wm. Remsburgh, of Des
Moines Lodge; Jonathan Blyler, of Mitchell; A. J. Barton,
of Fidelity, and Henry Owens, of Friendship, were respect-
ively appointed deputies.

DES MOIXES LODGE, I. O. G. T., XO. 133.

This Lodge was instituted in East Des Moines, January
29, 1857, by Hon. G. W. McCrary, with the following char-
ter members: Samuel A. Ayres, J. C. Taylor, X. B. Coo-
ley, Freeman Tisdale, J. H. Armstrong, William Riddle,
Martha A. Cooley, Ann Tisdale, Rowena Foster, John Da-
vis, Jos. C. Cooper, William Osborn, John B. Hardin, E.
A. Snyder, E. E. Kimball.

The first officers were: J. C. Taylor, W. C. T.; Rowena
Foster, W. Y. T.; J. LI. Armstrong, W. C; N. B. Cooley,
W. S.; W. Osborn, A. S.; F. Tisdale, W. F. S.; John Davis,
W. F.; William Riddle, W. M.; E.E. Kimball, D.M.; John
Hardin, I. G.; James Cooper, O. G.; Ann Tisdale, R. H. S.;
and Nathan Cooley, L. H S.

The present officers are: P. B. Tolls, W. C. T.; Mary
Miller, W. v. T.; Rev. Condo, W. C; Samuel Henry, W.
S.; Mrs. Samuel Henry, W. A. S.; Reese Gabriel, W. F. S.;
Mrs. Samuel Green, W. T.; Harry Lefler, W. M.; Miss Ella
Johnson, D. W.; Miss Laura Overman, W. G.; Edward
Hartzell, W. S.; Prof. A. Condo, Organist. Membership,
140.

This Lodge has been in constant working order ever since
its organization. Martin D. McHenry, Jr., delivered the
19th annual address, in January last.

246 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

UNION LODGE.

Union Lodge, No. 263, I. O. G. T., was organized. May 7,
1862. The charter members were: Alonzo W. Rollins, M.
S. DickersoD, D. D. Skinner, Ed. B. Stillman, George D.
Ingersoll, Thomas S. Keeney, George A. Sells, George A.
McViiker, W. H. M. Smith, W. A. Saylor, C. W. Rhoades,
Mrs. C. E. Lanstrum, Mrs. Mary Smith, Mrs. Sue Rogg, Ed.
C. Russell, Mrs. M. A. Peters, Mrs. R. Leyner, Mrs. Kate
L. Turk, and Frank Mix.

The present officers are: Dr. Hinshaw, W. C. T,; Miss
C. Conipston, W. Y. T.; J. D. Ogilvie, Sec; Mrs. M. Gray
Pitman, F. S.; Mrs. Oella McVicker, Treas.

EUREKA TEMPLE.

Eureka Degree Temple, No. 4, I. O. G. T., was organized
October 18, 1858. The charter members were: . Isaac
Brandt, William Remsburgh, M. E. Remsburgh, Sarah A.
Remsburgh, George O. Chambers, T. W. Gill, J. H. Looby,
Isabella Francis, and Jennie Owens [Green.]

JOCELYN TEMPLE.

Jocelyn Temple of Honor, No. 5, was organized, March
16, 1870, in Des Moines, with the following charter mem-
bers: Nathan W. Hunt, George A. McVicker, W. H. Flem-
ing, David D. Fleming, John B. Miller, William E. W.
Johnson, Isaac Brandt, S. M. Good, Charles G. Lewis, H.
Monroe, Thomas Maloney, Wm. Duane Wilson, John W.
Ealy, George H. Swan, Augustus Smith, George P. Maon,
Henry Banks, W^illiam Mathews, Nathan E. Barnes, and
Edward P. Parshall.

SONS OF TEMPERANCE.

A Division of the Sons of Temperance was organized, in
Exchange Block, in the Winter of 1856-7. Among the

OF POLK COUNTY. 247

first officers were: Worthy Patriarch, Judge M. D. Mc-
Henry; Associate, J. M. Dixon.

The Patron of the Sons of Temperance, in Central Iowa,
was Judge McHenry, who brought a clearance card, in
1856, from Golden Rule Division, No. 81, Shelby ville, Ky.
The same name and number, " Golden Rule, No. 81," were
given to the first Division in Des Moines. Judge McHenry
was frequently consulted by Legislative committees, in ref-
erence to temperance legislation, and luuch that is g(;od in
our laws on this subject, is owing to the active interest he
has taken, as well as his ability to give good counsel.

people's temperance association.

This body was organized, October r2th, 1871, with seven
members. The tirst officers were: President, G. H. Tur-
ner; Vice President, D. Donovan; Secretary, Seward Smith;
Treasurer, James F, Kemp; Sergeant-at-Arms, W. A. Hunt.
The Executive Committee were: G. H. Turner, E. J. Mc-
Gorrisk, and S. B. Kefi*er. Book keeper, John R. Peed.

In November, 1871, the Association numbered lOU mem-
bers.

POLK COUNTY GRANGES.

Capital Grange, No. 5, organized September 20, 1870.
Charter officers, Isaac Brandt, Master; G. Sprague, Secre-
tary. Present officers, A. R. Fulton, Master; Miss C. E.
Raybourne, Secretary.

Bloorafield Grange, No. 15, organized February 1, 1871.
Charter officers, M. L. Devin, Master; W. R. S. Claik, Sec-
etary. Present officers, M. L. Devin, Master; E. Hjwell,
Secretary.

Enterprise Grange, No. 16, organized February 5, 1871.
Charter officers, A. S. Rice, Master; Isaac Case, Secretary.
Present officers, Joseph R. Warwick, Master; W. F. Rice,
Secretary.

248 CENTE.NNIAL HISTORY

Delaware Grange, No. 28, organized March 18, 1871.
Charter officers, M. W. Miller, Master; A. E. Garrison, Sec-
retary. Present officers, P. T>. Ankeny, Master; N. F. Case,
Secretary.

Walnut Grange, No, 56, organized July 1, 1871. Charter
officers, H. S. Sovereign, Master; Nancy McDevitt, Secre-
tary. Present officers, H. H. Robinson, Master; E. A. Tripp,
Secretary.

Ridgedale Grange, No. 102, organized January 1, 1872.
Charter officers, Walter Ogler, Master; Samuel D. Devery,
Secretary. Present officers, John Lawson, Master; Wm.
Andrews, Secretary.

Highland Grange, No. 130, organized January 20, 1872.
Charter officers, M. McCall, Master; A. L. McWhorten, Sec-
retary. Present officers, M. McCall, Master; A. P. Bod-
well, Secretary.

Elkhart Grange, No. 199, organized February 21, 1872.
Charter officers, H. J. Williamson, Master; J. M Johnston,
Secretary. Disbanded.

Altoona Grange, No. 216, organized March, 1872. Char-
ter offiers, K. P. Shivers, Master; N. Henstreet, Secretary.
Disbanded.

Ashewa Grange, No. 243, organized March 11, 1872.
Charter officers, Jno. Youngerman, Master; L. D. Whit-
marsh, Secretary. Present officers, J. Fisher, Master; W.
Osborne, Secretary.

White Oak Grange, No. 321, organized April 5, 1872.
Charter officers, Joseph Landon, Master; J. H. Shackelford,
Secretary. Present officers, J. H. Woods, Master; Thos.
Woods, Secretary.

Camp Center Grange, No, 888, organized May 17, 1872.
Charter officers, M. E. Town, Master; A. McKinney, Secre-
tary. Present officers, J. D. Reese, Master; E. H. Brown,
Secretary.

Douglass Grange, No. 457, organized June 26, 1872.

OF POLK COUNTY. 249

Charter officers, A. J. Mathis, Master; O. E. Doubleday,
Secretary. Present officers, A. J. Mathis, Master; O. E.
Doubleday, Secretary,

Independent Grange, No. 519, organized August 7, 1872.
Charter officers, J. M. Walker, Master; H. J. McDonald,
Secretary. Disbanded.

Crocker Grange, No. 663, organized November 7, 1872.
Charter officers, R. K. Miller, Master; N. J. Harris, Secre-
tary. Present officers, N. J. Harris, Master; G. W. Black-
man, Secretary.

Polk Grange, No. 735, organized December 7, 1872.
Charter officers, Wm. Frazier, Master; N. Frazier, Secretary,
Present officers, Wm. A. Polk, Master; Wm. Hedge, Secre-
tary.

Mitchelville Grange, No. 770, organized January 4, 1873.
Charter officers, Wm. Grimstead, Master; Chas. Seiberling,
Secretary. Present officers, J. W. Grimstead, Master;
James L. Hibbs, Secretary.

Franklin Grange, No. 815, organized January 20, 1873.
Charter officers, S. H. Walker, Master; B. F. Prunty, Secre-
tary. Present officers, S. H. Walker, Master; B. F. Prunty,
Secretary.

Four Mile Grange, No. 821, organized January 25, 1873.
Charter officers, W. S. Mills, Master; W. S. Hawkins, Sec-
retary. Present officers, James A. Dunagan, Master; W. L.
Hawkins, Secretary.

Excelsior Grange, No. 795, organized January 18, 1873.
Charter officers, Elmira Rothrock, Master; Wm. H. Dailey,
Secretary. Present officers, David Burget, Master; Henry
Heald, Secretary.

Grant Township Grange, No. 861, organized February 13,
1873. Charter officers, C. Thornton, Master; James Lamb,
Secretary. Present officers, James Lamb, Master, C. Thorn-
ton, Secretary.

Salem Grange, No. 879, organized February 14, 1873.
32

250 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Charter officers, M. F. Norris, Master; T. J. Cowman, Sec-
retary. Disbanded.

Union Grange, No. 892, organized February 12, 1873.
Charter officers, A. McCracken, Master; R. S. Turner, Sec-
retary. Present officers, O. Miller, Master; J. S. Foster,
Secretary.

Valley Grange, No. 1036, organized March 11, 1873.
Hharter officers, E. L. Burnham, Master; W. H. Myers, Sec-
retary. Present officers, J. Y. Horning, Master; Mrs. M, L.
Corning, Secretary.

Economy Grange, No. 1147, organized March 21, 1873.
Charter officers, J. D. Davis, Master; E. P. Corbit, Secre-
tary. Disbanded.

Woodland Grange, No. 1234, organized March 25, 1872.
Charter officers, J. K Taylor, Master; F. Bunker, Secretary.
Present officers, J. T. Grimstead, Master; William Mills,
Secretary.

Highland Grange, No, 1297, organized April 5, 1872.
Charter officers, W. B. Turner, Master; R. S. Turner, Sec-
retary. Present officers, A. Turner, Jr., Master; Mrs. F.
Turner, Secretary.

Harmony Grange, No. 1466, organized April 24, 1873.
Present officers, W. P. Delong, Master; Martin Hoxie, Sec-
retary.

Yailey View Grange, No. 1473, organized May 3, 1873.
Charter officers, C. Packet, Master; William Pine, Secre-
tary. Disbanded.

Elm Grove Grange, No. 1474, organized May 3, 1873.
Charter officers, P. M. Van Slack, Master; E. Blackman,
Secretary. Present officers, H. C. Hargis, Master; E.
Blackman, Secretary.

LIST OF CHARTEK MEMBERS OF CAPITAL GRANGE.

G. Sprague, A. R. Fulton, Isaac Brandt, Samuel E. Ran-
kin, Ed Wright, A. L. F. Mower, L. J. Brown, Wesley Red-

OF POLK COUNTY. 25 I

head, Samuel Merrill, John B. Miller, William Duane Wil-
son, James Bernard Wilson, Mrs. G. Sprague, Mrs. A. R.
Fulton, Mrs. Isaac Brandt, Miss Allie Brandt, Mrs. Ed
Wright, Mrs. A. L. F. Mower, Celia Wright, Mrs. Wesley
Redhead, Mrs. Samuel Merrill, Mrs. John B. Miller, Miss
A. L. Libby, Ella Campbell, Elizabeth E. Wilson.

COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

In May, 1858, a primary meeting of physicians was held
in Des Moines, of which Henry Courtney, M. D., was Char-
man, Charles H. Rawson, M. D., Secretary. The object of
the meeting was to adopt such measures as would facilitate
the organization of a County Medical Society. The organ-
ization was accomplished May 26th, 1858, with the follow-
ing officers: President, H. L. Whitman, M. D.; Vice-Pres-
idents, J. O. Skinner, M. D., and J B. O. Lancton, M. D.;
Recording Secretary, C. H. Rawson, M. D,; Corresponding
Secretary, Henry Courtney, M. D.; Treasurer, A. J. Fox,
M. D.; Censors, H. Courtney, W. P. Davis, and H. L. Whit-
man.

The present officers are: President, J. A. Blanchard, M.
D,; Vice-Presidents, George F. Hubbard, M. D., and J. F.
Kennedy, M. D.; Recording Secretary, I. Windle, M. D.;
Corresponding Secretary, G. P. Hanawalt, M. D.; Treas-
urer, Henry Cox, M. D.; Censors, A. G. Field, M. D.; J.
Bowman, M. D. and C. H. Rawson, M. D.

No early citizen of Des Moines is better remembered
than Dr. Courtney, one of the first officers of the Society.
He was a gentleman of pleasing and popular address, and
an accomplished physician. His death, which occurred
several years ago, was universally lamented. We have re-
ferred to Dr. W. P. Davis under another head. Dr. Lancton
was a Canadian Frenchman ; his office was in a little frame
building on Walnut street. He left Des Moines for the
South before the war, since which time we have had no ti-
dings in reference to him.

252 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

POLK CITY LODGES.

The Polk City Lodge, No. 300, 1. O. O. F., was instituted,
November 10th, 1874, by Grand Representative of G. L. U.
S., W. W. Moore, of Des Moines. The charter members
were: John McLean, William Garton, L. N. Clingman,
Joseph Shrader, Daniel Ingersoll, N. R. Harrington, Alfred
Holcraft, and C. F. Wright.

The first officers were: Alfred Holcraft, N. G.; John
McLean, V. G.; R. N. Harrington, Secretary; N. L. Cling-
man, Treasurer; Daniel Ingersoll, W.; C. J. Clark, C; C.
F. Wright, O. G.; B. A. Little, L G.; W. J. Wilson, R. S.
to K G.; George Drury, L. S. to N. G.; A. C. Truesdell, R.
S. to V. G.; R. W. Stubbs, L. S. to V. G.

The present officers are: B. A. Little, N. G.; C. J. Clark,
V. G.; W. J. Wilson^ Recording Secretary; J. A. Kuntz,
Secretary; William Garton, Treasurer; W. D. Ingersoll,
Marshal; H. Eggieston, Conductor; Rev. J. R. Osborn,
Chaplain; R. W. Stubbs and J. C. Lights, R. and L. Sup-
porters to N. G.; H. Crab tree, O G.; H. B. Summerly, I. G.;
H. Robinson and L. T. White, Sen. Supporters. Present
number of members, 49.

The Masonic Lodge, at Polk City, of which we have a
brief report from Col. C. J. Clark, was organized, October,
1871, with 11 members. It now numbers 58.

OF POLK COUNTY. 253

TOWX AISTD CITY.

OEIGINAL PLATS AND ADDITIONS.

Fort Des Moines, as originally platted, July 8, 1846, was
bounded on the east by Water street, on the west by Eighth,
on the north by Locust, and on the south by Elm. Scott
and Dean's Addition to Fort Des Moines, East Side, was
made Nov. 19, 1849; East Fort Des Moines plat, filed June
9th, 1854; Stewart's Addition to City of Des Moines, Sep-
tember 8th, 1857 ; H. Lyon's Addition to Town of Fort
"Demoine," May 22d, 1856 ; Scott's Addition to Town of
"Demoine," June 3d, 1856; Young's Addition, August 28th,
1856; Smith's Addition, September Ist, 1856; Holcomb's
Addition, September 6th, 1856; Day's Addition, October
22d, 1856; West Fort Des Moines, west of original Town
of Fort Des Moines, North of Fagan's Addition, April 10th,
1852; H. M. Hoxie's Addition to Town of Fort Des Moines,
November 19th, 1856; Hall's Addition (West Side) Febru-
ary 18th, 1856; South Fort Des Moines, August 25th, 1855;
Van's Addition to South Des Moines, May 22d, 1866; Bird's
Addition, August 19th, 1857; Grimmel's Addition June 7th,
1857; Lyon's Addition, December 3d, 1858 ; Sevastopol,
Bloomfield Township, May 5th, 1862; Mumma and Jacob's
Hydraulic Addition to Fort Des Moines, August 27th, 1855;
Town of "Demoine," January 30th, 1856; and Cottage
Grove Addition to City, May 3d, 1873.

254 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

CEMETEKIES.

We have followed up the plats and Additions to the
Town and City as far as the requirements of history de-
mand, and as far as our space would permit. We append
here a brief history of the different Cemeteries of belong-
ing to the city and organizations : Woodland Cemetery,
embracing forty acres, was laid out November 1st, 1859 ;
Odd Fellows', within the limits of Woodland, March 30th,
1858; Jewish, or Emanuel Cemetery, just outside of Wood-
land, two acres, January 21st, 1871. The Association lay-
ing it out was incorporated July 22d, 18*70, and the deed to
land dated August 6th, 1870. The first Catholic Cemetery,
embracing ten acres, the deed of which was made to Father
Loras, first Bishop of Iowa, was laid out two and a half
miles South of the City, February Ist, 1858 ; it was aban-
doned about ten years ago. The present Catholic Cemetery,
purchased through Father Brazil, and deeded to him, em-
bracing twelve acres, just outside of Woodland, was laid
out July 23d, 1866. The bodies in the old burial place were
exhumed, and taken to the new one.

FOUT DES MOINES.

The original plat of Fort Des Moines was made under
the direction of Benj. Saylor and Wm. H. Meacham, County
Commissioners, July 8th, 1846, The Town was located on
the West bank of the Des Moines river. Several years
later, the Town of "Demoine" was laid out on the East
side of the river. The reader will notice that the name
Des Moines, as used by many of our early Eettlers, was
spelled " Demoine." From the best authority, the river
Des Moines means the river of the monks, resulting, mani-
festly, from the fact that the agents of the Catholic Church
had much to do in the realm of discovery, and in the es-
tablishment of missions on the lower Des Moines.

OF POLK COUNTY. i255

In the Summer of 1846, several lots in Fort Des Moines,
which are now immensely valuable, sold for prices ranging
from eighteen to thiny-five dollars! In another place we
have described the contest which resulted, in 1846, in the
permanent location of the County Seat at the Fort.

On the 2 2d day of September, 1851, an election occurred
in Fort Des Moines, on the question of incorporating the
town. In favor of incorporation forty-two votes were cast,
and against, but one.

Notice of this election was given, September 6th, 1851,
at which time C. C. Van, and Thomas McMullen were ap-
pointed Judges, and L. P. Sherman, Clerk, of election.
Another election was held, September 27th, 1851, at which
the following gentlemen were selected to draft a charter for
the town: P. M. Casady, L P. Sherman, and Rev. Thomp-
son Bird The vote stood as follows: Byron Rice received
5 ballots; R. W. Sypher, 4; C. Bates, 4; (J. C. Van, 2; J. E.
Jewett, 2; P. M. Casady, 16; L. P. Sherman, 9; and Rev.
T. Bird, 6.

October lUli, 1851, the committee so elected made their
report, at the same time designating three different bounda-
ries for said incorporation. On the same day, it was or-
dered that an election be held, October 18th, 1851, to de-
cide which of the three boundaries suggested should be se-
lected, and also to vote for or against the charter, as re-
ported by said Commissioners. Of this last election, C.
C. Van, W. T. Marvin, and J. M. Griffiths were appointed
Judges, and Byron Rice and L. P. Sherman were chosen
Clerks. The charter was adopted by a vote of 25 for, and
none against.

October 26th, 1851, the first Town Council, consisting of
Hoyt Sherman, P. M. Casady, L. P. Sherman, C. D. Rein-
king, R. W. Sypher, and Jesse S. Dicks, met at the old
Court House, and organized by the election of Thompson
Bird, President, and Charles McKay, Recorder. The

256 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

term for which they were elected, was one year. In Octo-
ber, 1852, John W. Jones was chosen President.

The Legislature, during the January session of 1853,
passed the act of incorporation. Meantime, that portion of
the town now called East Des Moines, was growing in pop-
ular favor, and many men of sterling enterprise labored to
expand and beautify that part of the embryo city. In time,
those appalling vacancies on both sides of the river, which
occurred so frequently between buildings, giving us the
title of " the City of Magnificent Distances," were filled, in
a great measure, with costly structures of approved archi-
tecture, crowded, from roof to basement, with the evidences
of prosperous business.

CITY OF DES MOINES.

The Legislature, which convened in the Winter of 1856
and '57, incorporated the two towns of Demoine, on the
east side of the Des Moines river, and Fort Des Moines, as
a city. The prefix, "Fort," was discontinued.

The city extends four miles from East to "West, and two
miles from North to South, embracing eight square miles.
It is divided into seven Wards, four of which are on the
West side of the Des Moines river, and three on the East
side. South Des Moines is that part of the city lying South
of the Raccoon river.

The Census, taken in April, 1857, gave to the city a pop-
ulation of less than 3,000. In 1863, we had increased to
4,500; in 1867, to 10,296; showing a lively increase, in four
years, of about 4,700. In 1869, we had 12,180; in 1873, we
numbered 15,061; in 1875, it was 16,130, and in 1876, our
population may be placed, in round numbers, at 20,000

In another place we have reported, in order, our pioneer
improvements, dating back to the building of military
quarters, m 1843. Of the brick buildings erected between
1854 and 1856, Exchange and Sherman Blocks, and Iowa

OF POLK COUNTY. 257

Central College, on the West Side, and Griffiths' Block and
the old Capitol, on the East Side, are the most prominent.
Sherman Block was built by Hoyt Sherman, R. L. Tidrick,
and P. M. Casady. Savery Block, corner of Walnut and
FourtBi streets, was commenced in 1856, but two or three
years passed away before it was completed.

Originally, the great thoroughfare of Fort Des Moines
was all that part of Second street. West Side, which lies
between Elm and Walnut. For a long time the buildings
were exclusively frame, maintaining this character until G.
M. Hippee built on the corner of Court Avenue and Sec-
ond, and Hoyt Sherman on the opposite side of the latter
street. Finally, however, Second sti^eet began to lose its
ancient prestige, as a commercial center, and Granville Hol-
land, Harry Stephenson, G. M. Hippee, John McWilliams,
C. Corning & Bro., the Lairds, B. F. Allen, H. M. and L. H.
Bush, and many others who have been mentioned hitherto,
began to make Court Avenue, Third, and Walnut streets,
resound with the hum of business.

Among the business men who vacated Second street for
other parts of the town, were W. W. Moore, who kept the
old Hoosier Store, and G. W. and A. J. Dunkle, who came
here in 1855, and established the old Buckeye Store. The
latter gentlemen bought out W. D. Trowbridge. The Hoo-
sier Store occupied the site of W. R. Stewart & Sons'
Wholesale Glassware establishment. The building before
which the sign of the Buckeye Store was once conspicuous,
is now used as* a blacksmith shop.

The Mound property, near the corner of Fourth and Wal-
nut streets, was bought by W. W. Moore, for $650. Some
years before this purchase, that is, in 1848, J. D. Davis, a
brother of Hon. W. P. Davis, deceased, erected a residence,
afterward occupied by Mr. Moore.

The first Aldermen elected under the city organization

which occurred in 1857, were: W. A. Hunt, J. F. Kemp,
33

258 CENTENNrAL HISTORY

F. R. West, Lovell White, Isaac Cooper, W. C. Burton, R.
L. Tidrick, M. Lawrence, J. W. Stanton, G. W. Conner, H.
H. Griffiths, J. A. Williamson, W. A. Scott, and John Hyde.

Of the fourteen Aldermen elected, ten were democrats,
and four were republicans.

The present Aldermen are: Ist Ward, M. Drady, Michael
McTigh; 2d Ward, H. B. Hatch, W. H. McHenry; 3d Ward,
George Sneer, T. T. Morris; 4th Ward, S. M. Nelson, H. S.
Skinner; 5th Ward, Archie Christy, Duane Devotie; 6th
Ward, M. H. King, J. C. Painter; Vth Ward, Daniel Rees,
Marcus Kavanagh. M. H. King, President pro tern.

Present City officers are: Mayor, Giles H. Turner; Auditor,
Taylor Pierce; Treasurer, George M. Walker; Solicitor,
Seward Smith ; Police Judge, G. B. IJanimer; Clerk of Police
Court, M. W. Sauerbrunn; Street Commissioner, George
Githens; Market Master, Philip Nau.

The present Police force is. Marshal, George Christ; As-
sistant Marshal, T. J. Hoopes; Chief of Police, Colonel F.
Olmstead; 1st Ward, Hugh Brennen; 2d Ward, Charles
Shafer; 3d Ward, Daniel Stickles; 5th Ward, Albert Jarvis;
6th Ward, W. C. Smith; Vth Ward, Anderson Bryan.

OF POLK COUNTY. 259

MAYOEALTT,

In October, 1853,BenjaminLuce was elected mayor under
the first charter.

On the fir8t Monday of November, 1854, Barlow Granger
and Samuel Noel were rival candidates for mayor, the for-
mer being chosen by a majority of one. November 5, 1855,
William Deford was elected mayor. Charles W. Nash was
chosen to the office in 1856; and the records show that he
served until the extinction of the old charter in 1857.

In April, 1857, the city charter of Des Moines, went into
practical operation, by the election of W. H. McHenry to
the Mayoralty. Mr. McHenry was succeeded by H. E. Lem-
oreaux in 1858; R. L. Tidrick was mayor in 1859; P. W.
Latshaw in 1860; Ira Cook in 1861; Thomas Kavanaugh in
1862; William H. Leas in 1863, and in 1864; George W.
Cleveland in 1865-6, and again in 1867; Sumner F. Spofford
in 1862; J. H. Hatch in 1869-70; Martin Tuttle in 1871; J.
P. Foster in ]872; Giles H. Turner in 1873.

In March, 1873, Des Moines was advanced to a city of the
first class. Prior to this time, our chief magistrates were
chosed for one year; afterward, however, they were elected
for two years.

In March, 1874, A. Newton was chosen mayor; and in
March, 1876, Giles H. Turner was elected again to the office.

From the commencement of our municipal history in 185 1,
until the present time, 1876, we have had two Presidents
and four Mayors under the old town organization, and four-
teen different Mayors under the city charter, the last two of
whom were chosen after the city took rank as first class.

260 CENTENNIAL. HISTORY

CITY OFFICERS.

From the inauguration of the Town Charter, Des Moines
has had the following Treasurers: Benjamin Bryant, L. P»
Sherman, M. S. Dickerson, J. N. Dewey, R. K. McMaster,
J. E. Hull, T. E. Settle, Thomas Hatton, Jr., George A. Mc-
Yicker, Wm. Lowry, and G. M. Walker.

There were two Town Marshals, viz: John Youngerman^
and John Harter. We have had fourteen City Marshals,
viz: William Defonl, 1857; J. T. Moore, 1858; Robert
Hedge, 1859; Lewis Jones, 1860; John Watson, 1861 ; A. N.
Marsh, 1862; Samuel Noel served three years; S. H. Carson,
elected in 1866, and served three years; F. M. Smith, elected
in 1869, resigned during the year, and S. H. Carson filled
out the unexpired term; S. H. Carson, 1870; M. T. Russell,
served two years; W. M. Patchen, 1873; Adam Hafner,
served two years; John S. Davis, died one month after his
election in 1876, and was succeeded by George Christ, the

present incumbent.

The following Recorders have served during the same

time: B. D. Thomas, Warren Curtis, M. H. King, John

Jack, Jr., JohQ K. Lyon, J. C. Benedict, M. H. King, George

Sneer, J. W. Cattell, and Taylor Pierce.

We have had the following solicitors: C. C. Cole, G. H.

Turner, S. Sibley, Seward Smith, W. H. McHenrj-, C. P.

Holmes, and Seward Smith. The Police Judges have been,

L. A. Crane, and G. B. Hammer.

The Street Commissioners for the West Side have been>

John McNamara, T. E. Mitchell, J. C. Bailey, G. Wash-
burn, W. Milligan, S. Farr, B. T. Jones, W. C. Burton, J. J.

Fox, and Silas McGready. For the East Side for the same.

time, William Tomlinson, G W. Comer, Isaac Whicher, C.

Stutsman, A. Murray, D. Rees, G. C. Jeffries, A. L. F,

Mower.

OF POLK COUNTY. 261

Since ISYl, the city has had the following Street Com-
missioners: George Sneer, A. L. F. Mower, Evan Rees,
and George Githens.

The City Engineers have been, B. Callan, J. C. Booth,
D A. Poorman, J. B. Bausman, and Frank Pelton.

The City Assesssors have been, J, Hyde, A. J. Taylor,
John McNamara, Duane Devotie, Dan Ellyson, G. M.
Walker, William .Matthews, Harry Rich, and George F.
Walker.

DES MOINES POSTMASTERS.

The original name of the office was Raccoon River, and
the first duly commissioned Postmaster was Joseph Smart,
Indian Interpreter, who received his appointment in April,
1846. Declining to serve, T. K. Brooks, with Messrs. Church
and Newcomer on his bond, filled the place as the first reg-
ular postmaster. The office was kept at the time at the old
Agency. The mail was brought on horseback.

P. M. Casady was appointed postmaster in January, 1847,
at which time the name of the office was changed from Rac-
coon River to Fort Des Moines. R. L. Tidrick, entered on
the duties of the office January 1, 1849. He was succeeded
by Hoyt Sherman, in the Spring of 1849, appointed by Pres-
ident Taylor.

In 1853, at the time when president Pierce came into
power, Wesley Redhead was appointed postmaster. He
served until the accession of President Lincoln in 1861,
when John Teesdale came to the office. Mr. Teesdale was
followed by George C Tichenor, May 16, 1867, after whom
came J. S. Clarkson, September 1, 1871, the present post-
master.

A few years since, the office was removed from the build-
ing it occupied on Third street, to the fine and costly Fed-
eral structure on the corner of Fifth and Court Avenue, the
building of which commenced in 1867. The immense busi-

2(i2 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

ness which is now done in this office — greater than that of
any other office in the State — contrasts strangely, as well as
strongly, with those primitive times when Mr. Casady car-
ried the entire mail matter of the town in bis hat and
pockets.

A. L. F. Mower was, until recently, the Depaty Postmas-
ter in East Des Moines. He came here in 1856, and died a
few weeksj since in California. He was succeeded by L.
H. Mower.

The city mail carriers who commenced service July 24>
ISYo, are Number 1, James B. Olmsted; 2, William Hoppe;
3, Archie Christy; 4, John A. King; 5, Barton H. Dear; 6,
Warren Walker; and Y, Frank Daugherty.

John Beckwith, the present Assistant Postmaster, has
been connected with the office during the past twelve years.

To show the rapid increase of business in the Des Moines
postoffice, we give the following aggregates, as furnished
by Mr. Beckwith: Total amount of money orders issued
during the first six months of 1870, $24,284. 07; fees received
for same, $186.15. For the first six months of 1876, $41,-
944.76; fee^s on same, $396.15. The amount of money orders
paid during the first six months of 1870, is, $37,096.61 ; the
amount for the same time in 1876, is $146,838.46.

The respective amounts of mail matter delivered and col-
lected by the city carriers, for the third quarters of 1874,
and 1876, are as follows: Delivered during the third quarter
of 1874, 108,427 letters, 16,970 postal cards, and 72,566
papers; collected during the same period, 70,213 letters?
9,434 postal cards, and 8,809 papers. During the third
quarter of 1876, there was delivered, 146,825 letters, 43,279
postal cards, 81,566 papers; collected during the same
period, 84, 717 letters, 21,680 postal cards, and 8,300 papers.

OF POLK COUNTY. 2f>3

STAGE OOMPAI^IES.

In September, 1849, Fink & Walker established lines of
stages from Fort Des Moines to Keokuk and Iowa City;
and during the same } ear Chiles & Hall ran a hack from the
Fort to Kanesville, or Council Bluffs. These companies
gave the public on these routes, all the facilities of travel
which were enjoyed, before the Western Stage Company
was introduced into Iowa.

WESTJiEN STAGE COMPANY.

No history of Polk county would be complete, without
special mention of this great corporation, the Western Stage
Compau}', which wielded such a commanding influence
among us in ante railroad times. Among the prominent
partners in this company, were: E. S. Alvord, of Indian-
opolis, President; Kimball Porter, of Iowa City; Messrs.
Shoemaker, W. H. Sullivan, D. Tallmadge, and Campbell,
of Ohio, and Colonel E. F. Hooker, of this city.

The headquarters of this Company were established at
tiie old Everett House in Fort Des Moines, July 1, 1854.
The House was at that time kept by A. Morris. The Gen-
eral Superintendent of the Stage lines was Colonel E. F.
Hooker, whose residence and business office were located
on the site, or nearly so, of the large furniture establish-
ment of Harbach Brothers, on Third street. The first office
agent was a Mr. Smith. One of the early agents was W.
H. McChesney, who died at Colonel Hooker's old residence
May, 1858.

264 CENTENNIAL HLSTOEY

Another agent in those early times, was W. P. Cooper^
who was succeeded in April, 1858, by A. T. Johnson. This
latter gentleman, so extensively and favorably known to
our citizens, remained as agent until the corporation ceased
to exist, July, 1870. George McGuire, who died in August,
1864, was prominently known as one of the representatives
of the Company. The Secretaries who resided in Des
Moines were: E. B. Alvord, T. R. Fletcher, E. W. Spar-
hawk and E. G. Sears. Of these, E. B. Alvord, and E. W.
Sparhawk are dead.

A. B. Woodbury was Superintendent of the Company's
shops, which were located, along with the barn, on the
corner of Eighth and Vine streets, where Getchell's lumber
yard is now situated. The shops were divided into depart-
ments, in one of which the wood work was executed; in
another, the painting; in another horse-shoing, and in others,
harness-making, and blacksmithing for ironing coaches.
From these varied operations, the reader will form some
conception of the magnitude of the business carried on by
this great organization.

Col. Hooker retired from the Superintendency in 1866,
and was succeeded by R. Lounsberry, who was the last one
filling this office. H. B. Alvord settled up the affairs of
the corporation at its close, with great profit to the Com-
pany. To give some idea of the business accomplished, it
is proper to state in this connection, that the receipts for one
year alone, on the line between Des Moines and Boone,
reached the large sum of $100,000. But after the Rock
Island Railroad was completed to Council Bluffs, the Boone
line fell into insignificance, and the days of the Western
Stage Company, so far as Iowa is concerned, were num-
bered.

The stages of this corporation transported to Davenport,
with all their personal equipments, the members of the 23d
and 39th Iowa Infantry, requiring just two days to take an

OF POLE COUNTY. 265

entire regiment. In this way, parts of the 2d, 4th, 10th'
and loth regiments, were taken to their rendezvous. On
the day after the adjournment, in old times, the members of
the Legislature, living abroad, were either at their homes,
or were far on their way to their destination. The morning
after the great Republican State Convention in 1864, hardly
a delegate to that body, except those who lived here, could
be found in the city. Mr. Johnson had sent them off
during the previous night in a regiment of coaches.

The last coach belonging to the Company inDes Moines,
was sold for $30 to James Stephenson, of Omaha, in 1874.
Mr. Johnson rode on the driver's seat from the stage barn
to the freight depot of the R. I. R. R., and as he left the old
vehicle to take its journey westward on the cars, he bade it
an affectionate farewell. Many of the old employes of the
Western Stage Company, are yet living in the county. The
Company's farm on Mud Creek, in the eastern part of the
county, comprising at one time 600 acres, has gone into the
hands of other owners, and nothing is left to us of the rich
old corporation, but the stirring memories with which its
name is associated.

OMNIBUS LINE.

After the railroads had been completed to Des Moines,
the Western Stage Company established an omnibus line in
the city, which was operated by them until July, 1868, when
A. T. Johnson & Son bought their interest. Since that
time, these gentlemen have had almost exclusive control of
this business. Two or three months since, they purchased
three fine omnibuses, thereby accommodating themselves
to the increasing capacity and demands of the city.

EXPRESS COMPANY.

The first Express in the County was an individual enter-
prise, operated by a Mr. Parker, commencing in 1855. The
34

2^5 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

first regular agent at Fort Des Moines was Harry Clark.
In 1858, the F. S. Express Company bought out Parker's-
Expressy and R. K. McMasters was appointed agent in the-
City, and so continued till July, 1863, when "W. H. Quick
was appointed to take his place. At that time, J. Shepard^
now General Western Superintendent at Chicago, was Di-
Tision Superintendent.

In 1865, Mr. Quick was appointed Division Superinten-
dent of the Iowa and Nebraska Division, and E. L. Smith
succeeded to- the place af Mr. Q Mr. Smith is still agent
here, having the honor of being the oldest continuous agent
of the Company in the State.

Like all other business enterprises, the U. S, Express Com-
pany had a small and unpretentious beginning, requiring
the work of but one man to serve its limited interests; but
now, since the old Western Stage Company has been su-
perseded by our grand railroad system, the Express Agency
here has grown to very large proportions, requiring the con
stant services of eight men and three teams to transmit
packages from the depots to their local destination, and
transact other business connected with the office. In early
times, when the facilities for transportation were confined
to horses and vehicles. Skunk river, and especially Skunk
Bottom, as it was classically called, was a constant terror
to the Express Company. The packages consigned to their
care were frequently hindered in transit by the delays and
obstructions caused by this historic bottom; and although
the greatest care and precaution were taken to prevent hin-
derances and accidents, they did not prevent the local
Agent and Messenger from feeling great solicitude on this
account.

It is worthy of remark here, that in the amount of ex-
pressage during the past ten years, Iowa has presented a
more rapid increase than any other State in the Union. This
certainly speaks well for the business energy of our people.

DF POLK €OUNTY. 267

HOTJffiLS.

Martin X Tucker — the X having been suggested by the
fact that he always wrote his signature with that accommo-
dating capital — kept a public house in one of the garrison
buildings in 1846. His education was quite deficient, as
■upon one occasion, while speaking of some contemplated
repairs in his hotel, he declared he intended to " run an av-
'Cnue through it, and having put up a condition, he would
be able to detain th-e traveling public in a more hostile man-
ner."

Part of the old Collins House, on Market street, was orig-
inally occupied as a blacksmith shop, by S, L. Fuller. In
dme Mr, Tucker took possession of this property, and fitted
it up for a hotel. He sold it to Mrs. Brechbill, who changed
the name to Astor House. For many years, it was recog-
nized as one of our principal public houses. Samuel Noel
and Mr. Collins were among the landlords. The old hotel
on Third street, near Walnut, West Side, was first kept by
B. T. Hoxie, who was succeeded by Henry Everly. In the
Spring of 1853, this house was purchased and occupied by
J. C. Savery. The log part of this building had belonged
to the barracks, and the additions to it were made by Mar-
vin and Luse, in 1852-3. The hotel and furnishings, and
two lots, 132 feet square, were bought by Mr. Savery for
$5,000, the lots being valued at $1,000. This hotel, known
amid its changes as the Everett and Blodgett House, City
Hotel, and other names, was demolished not long since, to
give place to a more stately and imposing edifice, after hav-
ing served the purpose of its creation nearly thirty yeard.

The Shamrock House, on Second street, kept by Michael
McTighe, has been in existence about twenty years. The
landlord, Michael McTighe, one of the Aldermen from the
First Ward, has served more years in the City Council than
any other member of that body. He came to Fort Des

1268 CENTENNIAL HISTOKY

Moines, September Yth, 1854; and was the first native of
Ireland to settle in town. Major Thomas Cavanaugh, also
Yrom Ireland, who was Mayor of the City in 1862, took up
his residence here not long after Mr. McTighe.

The most important public house in the Town twenty
years ago, was the " Demoine House," the owner of which
for a long time has been S. F. Spofibrd. It is now kept by
J. Gump & Son. Among old hotels on the West Side, were
the American House, on Second street; the Buckeye House,
on corner of Market and Third; and the Cottage House,
since called Avenue, on Court Avenue. The Cooley House,
established by N. B. Cooley, and now called the Loper
House, in East Des Moines, was a place of entertainment
in early times. In the same part of the Town, were the
Grout, Walker, and Slatten Houses.

The first public house, however, in what is now East Des
Moines, was kept in a log cabin, near the site of Shepard &
Perrior's mills. It was called Meachem's Tavern; and it
was cotemporary with Tucker's first hotel in Fort Des
Moines.

In 1866, work on the Savery Block was commenced; and
a few years later, one of the grandest hotels in the West
was opened in it. Subsequently, through the money and
enterprise of Dr. Aborn, the Aborn House, with its splen-
did appointments and commanding position, added new
dignity to the Capital City. Meantime, the Pacific, now
the fine Morgan House, kept by Mrs. Long; the Given,
Monitor, and Fanning Houses, and City Hotel, began to
grace the town; while on the East Side, the Capital, Groves,
Banner, Pennsylvania, and Jone^ Houses, displayed their
inviting attractions to the public. The Jones House is a
large and well appointed hotel, whose gentlemanly propri-
etor, G. W. Jones, is a solid and influential citizen.

In South Des Moines, the Indiana and South Des Moines
Houses have grown up; and finally, the Spofl^ord House, on

OF POLK COUNTY. 269

Walnut street, which is destined to take the place of the
old Demoine House, will be the most magnificent edifice of
the kiud in the State. It will be owned and controlled by
a stock company, of which Col. S. F. Spofford is President;
P. M. Casady, Treasurer; R. G. Orwig, St^cretary; Dr. H.
L. Whitman, Joseph A, Ankeny, and F. L. Downing, Di-
rectors. This immense building will be 132 feet square,
and five stories high, above the basement, with Mansard
roof and towers, and with 262 rooms. The dining room and
rotunda will have marble floors, and the ceiling will be 24
feet high. There will be an open court in the center, 44
feet square, with a fountain in the midst, and decorating
flowers. Forty rooms will have bath attachments, and the
whole edifice, from basement to tower, will be constructed
on the most refined and elaborate plan, suggested by the
best approved systems of modern architecture. The entire
cost of finishing and furnishing this massive structure, will
reach $200,000. William Foster is the architect. Work
has already been commenced on the foundation.

We understand that the Spofford House Company have
recently purchased the Jones House, in East Des Moines.

GAS COMPANIES,

The first Gas Company of the city, represented by James
M. Starr, of Richmond, Indiana, was organized in April,
1864. His contract with the city stipulated that on or be-
fore the first day of September, 1865, he was to complete
the apparatus for making gas, and lay down one mile of
main pipe in the principal streets of the city. The privi-
leges granted to this Company were to extend over a period
of fifteen years.

he Capital City Gas Light Company was organized
September, 1875, and received their charter from the city,
March 20th, 1876. They have almost completed their works,
having put in ten miles of mains. An unfortunate contro-

270 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

versy sprang up between this Company and the old one,
which has been pending several years. This controversy
precipitated a lawsuit, in which C. C. Cole and Bissell &
Crane were attorneys for the old Company; Seward Smith,
City Solicitor, for the new, and C. P. Holmes, Smith & Bay-
lies, and McHenry & Bowen for the city. This suit termi-
nated by a Supreme Court decision, in favor of the right of
the city to grant a charter to the new Company.

The officers of the Capital City Company are: F. F.
Marsh, President; W. S. Agard, Secretary; William Sum-
ner, Treasurer,

On the evening of November 23d, 1876, lamps of the new
Company were first lighted. The city has about 1000
street lamps, giving us the best lighted city in the State.

DES MOINES WATER WORKS.

The first effort to supply the city with a system of Water
Works, was made in 1868. A Company was organized at
that time, to whom the city granted a charter, and with
whom it made a specific contract. G. W. Clark had the ex-
ecutive management of the enterprise. This Company,
however, forfeited its contract, and the work was aban-
doned. We are indebted to Fred. M. Hubbell, of this city,
for the following clear and satisfactory history of the pres-
ent

DES MOINES WATER COMPANY.

The Des Moines Water Company was organized, April 3,
1871, by the following gentlemen: B. F. Allen, J. C. Sa-
very, Williaui Brad en, J. M. Tuttle, Hoyt Sherman, P. M.
Casady, J. S. Polk, George Whitaker, John A. Elliott, and
F. M Hubbell, who adopted x\rticles of Incorporation

The corporate directors were: B. F. Allen, AVilliam Bra-
den, J. M. Tuttle, P. M. Casady, and J. S. Polk, who were

OF POLK COUNTY. 271

instructed to procure the necessary charter, granting to said
Company the right to erect, maintain, and operate Water
Works in the city of Des Moines.

The capital stock of the Company was fixed at $150,000;
but was afterwards increased to 8300,000. B. F. Allen was
elected President and Treasurer, and J. S. Polk, Secretary.
The Executive Committee were: B. F. Allen, J. S. Polk,
and William Braden.

The charter was passed by the City Council, May 2, 1871;
and the erection of the works was immediately begun. The
Company had ten miles of mains laid by November, 1872.
The buildings were erected in the year 1871, upon Block
49, of J. Lyon's addition to Des Moines.

The total number of miles of mains is now 15, ten miles
of which are on the West, and five on the East Side.

Number of consumers on West Side, 400; number on
East Side, 156. Engine, 300-horse power. Two tubular
boilers, one of which is horizontal. Number of gallons
pumped daily, 800,000. They supply all the railroads in the
city, to-wit: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, Keokuk &
Des Moines, Des Moines & Fort Dodge, and Des Moines &
Minnesota. They supply. East Side: Eagle Iron Works,
McDonnell & Meara (boiler makers), Shepard & Perrior
(grist mill), Williams & Brothers (grist mill), Ankeny
Brothers (oil mill), Capital City Gas Light Company, En-
gines at the Capitol, and the Plain Talk newspaper.
Steam engines on West Side furnished with water, are as
follows: Itegister, Leader^ and Journal ofiices, Mills &
Company, Carter, Hussey, & Curl, Skinner Brothers, J. H.
Given & Co., Dan. Tyrrell's grist mill, Brooke, Wilson &
Stein, Piatt & Spieth, Des Moines Gas Works, H. M. Bush's
warehouse, and a large number of business houses and pri-
vate families.

The otiicers of the Company for the present year are: J,
S. Polk, F. M. Hubbell, S. Van Cleve, George H. Maish,

275! CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

and Joseph Deming, Directors; J. S. Polk, President; F.
M. Hubbeil, Secretary; George H. Maish, Treasurer: S. Van
Cleve, Superintendent.

Total cost of the Works, June 1st, 1876, $273,873.81.

RAILROAD OFFICERS.

Of the Keokuk & Des Moines Railroad, H. O. Whiting
is the Western Agent, and H. Coykendall the Agent for
Des Moines. Of the Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad,

C. W. Gilmore is Superintendent; G. W. Oglevie, General
Freight and Ticket Agent ; H. Coykendall, Local Freight
and Ticket Agent; E. Weston, Passenger Conductor; Thos.
Hoke, Train Dispatcher ; M. D, Ridle, Agent at Ashawa;
G. H. Corse, Agent at Altoona; and W. Hannold, at Noble-
ton, or Mitchell ville.

Of the Chicago, Rock Inland & Pacific Railroad, the res-
ident officers are: H. F. Royce, Division Superintendent; C.

D. Sprague, Freight and Ticket Agent; Giles H. Williams,
Train Dispatcher; J. H. Preston, Road JMaster; C. S. Bink-
ley. Foreman Engine House ; J. B. Davis, Foreman (^ar
Shop; C. A. King, Agent at Mitchell ville; R. C. Lain, at
Altoona; George S. Kinsman, at Commerce; and J. D. Mc-
Glothen, at Avon. The resident Conductors of this road
are: William A. Ackley, Fred Bliss, William A. Smith, R.
Patch, Passenger Conductors. Andy Swivel, H. Sheldon,
R. J. Scott, Accommodation. G. N. Black. G. W. Buel, L.
W. Scripture, C. J. White, C. M. Hunt, O. L. Peniiell, and
Thomas Egan, Freight Conductors.

Of the Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad, James Calla-
nan is President; J. J. Smart, Vice-President and General
Superintendent; Charles H. Getchell, Treasurer; and J. B.
Stewart, Secretary. The Agents are: B. A. Little, Des
Moines; Eli Thornton, Ankeny; B. A. Little, Polk City; W.
B. Miller, Sheldahl. The Agents outside of Polk County
are: M. C. Stevens, at Kelley; and C. K. Skinner, at Ames.

OF POLK COUNTY. 278

The Master Mechanic, Des Moines, is Thomas Hurley; the
Conductors are: F. C. Hurley and Oliver Ledrow; the En-
gineers are: Thomas Hurley, O. R. Witty, and Chas. Hotch-
kiss; the Road Master is C. P. Whitmore.

The first railroad car manufactured in the county, was
made in Des Moines by this Company. Its title is No. 7.

DES MOINES BANKS.

B. F. Allen commenced banking in 1855, and continued
in the business till 1875. F. R. West was the first Presi-
dent of the Des Moines branch of the State Bank of Iowa,
which commenced business January 1st, 1859, with Hoyt
Sherman as Cashier. This Bank was organized as the Na-
tional State Bank, May 1st, 1865, and so continued as such
until May, 1876, when it was succeeded by F. R. West <fc
Sons' State Bank of Iowa. Of bankers. Captain West has
continued longer in the business than any of his cotempo-
raries in Des Moines.

The Capital City Bank, of which B. F. Allen was Presi-
dent, and A. L. West was Cashier, was organized Novem-
ber Ist, 1869, and was sold to H. C. Sigler and William
Christy, July Ist, 1876.

The Iowa National Bank, of which H. K. Love is Presi-
dent, and George H. Maish, Cashier, was established No-
vember 1st, 1875. Capital stock, $100,000.

The Citizens Bank, of which Governor Samuel Merrill
was President; John A. Elliott, Vice-President, and John
W. Ulm, Cashier, was organized November, 1871, with a
capital of $100,000. It was changed to the Citizens' Na-
tional Bank, with the same officers, May 15th, 1872. The
present officers are: President, Samuel Merrill; Vice-Pres-
ident, J. H. Merrill; Cashier, J. G. Rounds. Present cap-
ital, $150,000. Surplus fund, $50,000.

The Valley Bank was established January]6, 1873, by G.

M. Hippee and J. J. Towne, with a'capital of $50,000. Sub-
35

^74 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

sequently, T. H. Delamater, of Meadsville, Pa., and C
Noble, of Erie, Pa., were admitted into the firm. The cap-
ital stock was increased to ^100,000. G. M. Hippee is Pres-
ident, and J. J. Towne, Cashier.

The Des Moines Bank was established July 26th, 1875^
by P. M. Casady, C. H. Gatch, E. S. Gatch, and Simon
Casady. These gentlemen recently erected for tbeir busi-
ness, on Third street, an elegant stone front building. The
Valley Bank has also a new and fine building for its busi-
ness.

The banking house of I. N. Thomas, was established
October 9th, 1873.

The First National Bank of Des Moines, was established
in 1864, with J. B. Stewart, as President, and Charles
Mosher as Cashier. Capital stock was $50,000; increased
afterwards to $150,000. This Bank was also a Government
Depository.

The Second National Bank was organized about the same
time, with a capital of $50,000. G. M. Hippee, was Presi-
dent, and Geo. W. Jones, Cashier.

A. J. Stevens established a bank in 1853, and was suc-
ceeded by Callanan & Ingham, in 1857. The latter firm re-
tired from the business in 1862.

Cook, Sargent & Cook, commenced banking in De&
Moines in 1855, and continued till 1858. Ira Cook, still of
this city, was the resident banker.

Maclot, Corban & White, commenced banking in 1855^
They were succeeded by White & Smith in 1857.

Green, Weare & Rice established a bank in 1855, and
continhed it till 1858.

Scott & Williamson were engaged in banking in East
Des Moines, during the years of 1857-8.

Hoyt Sherman & Co. established a bank in 1854. It was
succeeded by the State Bank in 1858.

J. W. Ulm commenced the business in 1868, and in 1869

OF POLK COUNTY. 275

ihe was succeeded by Coskery & Ulm. They were sue-
oeeded by the Citizens' Bank, to which we have elsewhere
referred,

fiTEEET RAILROAD.

On the first day of October, 1866, the Des Moines Street
Railroad Company was organized, and constituted" as fol-
lows: President, Dr. M. P. Turner; Vice-President, J. S.
Polk; Superintendent, U. B. White; Secretary, F. M. Hub-
ble. The following December, 1866, the Company obtained
their charter from the city, and a year thereafter the cars
were running on Court Avenue from Fifth street West side,
to the foot of Capitol Hill.

In time, the track was laid on Walnut street; and at the
present time there are 2^ miles of railway completed. Much
work has been done this year to extend the road; and we
are informed by the President, Dr. Turner, that he designs
at an early day to push his cars North to the city limits,
and West to Woodland Cemetery. With these improve-
ments in contemplation, he has already ordered a large sup-
ply of railroad iron.

For the present need of the road there are three cars
running, ten horses in daily use.

We omitted to state in the proper place, that the second
mile of this railway, running on Walnut and other streets,
was completed in November, 1872.

Since writing the obove a new car has made its ap-
pearance on the streets, exciting much admiration. Its cost
was 81,200; and without undertaking a description here, it
must suffice to state that this car, and the others which will
soon follow, will be a source of pride and pleasure, as well
as personal convenience, to visitors and citizens. The new
car runs to Seventh and Locust streets, in the vicinity of
several churches.

276 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

TELEGRAPHS.

The Western Union Telegraph was completed to Des
Moines in 1861. The agents in Des Moines, are: A. B.
Gunn, Manager; J. M. Smith, and Burt Rowe, Operators.

The Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph Company, established
an office in Des Moines, September, 1874, with A. H. Her-
rick, as Operator.

STATE OFFICERS.

Samuel J. Kirkwood, Governor; William H. Fleming,
Governor's Private Secretary; Josiah T. Young, Secretary
of State; Fletcher W. Young, Deputy Secretary of State;
Buren R. Sherman, Auditor of State; John C. Parrish, Dep-
uty Auditor of State; William Christy, Treasurer of State;
John D. Ingalls, Deputy Treasurer of State; David Secor,
Register of the State Land Office; John M.Davis,Deputy Reg-
ister of State Land Office; Professor Von Coelln, Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction; Rev. J. A. Nash, Deputy
Superintendent of Public Instruction; Mrs. Ada North, State
Librarian; M. E. Cutts, Attorney General; Richard P. Clark-
son, State Printer; Henry A. Perkins, State Binder.

SUPREME COURT.

The Supreme Court of the State, which has met at Des
Moines since 1861, is now constituted as follows: W. H.
Seevers, Chief Justice; J. H. Rothrock, Austin Adam?,
James G. Day, J. M. Beck; J. S. Runnells, Reporter; E. J.
Holmes, Clerk.

HAWKEYE FIRE INSURANCE.

The Hawkeye Fire Insurance Company of Des Moines,
was organized in 1865, by E. J. Ingersoll, B. F. Allen, J.
B. Tiffin, F. W. Palmer, and James Callanan. Mr. Inger-

OF POLK COUNTY. 277

soil was chosen President, and Mr. Allen, Treasurer. Cajj-
ital stock, $100,000. The present officers are: President,
E. J. Ingersoll; Vice-President and Treasurer, James Cal-
lanan; Secretary, Adam Howell.

STATE INSURANCE COMPANY. (fIRE.)

This Company was organized in Des Moines, September
6, 1865, with the following officers: President, W. M.
Stone; Vice-President, C. C. Cole; Treasurer, W. H. Holmes;
Secretary, J. M. Shuck. The present officers are: Presi-
dent, J. M. Coggeshall; Vice-President, C. P. Holmes; Treas-
urer, Samuel Merrill; Secretary, J. E. Myers. Capital stock,
$300,000.

EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE

The Equitable Lite Insurance Company of Des Moines,
was organized in 1867. Capital stock $100,000. The officers
are: President, Hoyt Sherman; Vice-President, L. P. Sher-
man; Secretary, J. S. Polk; Treasurer, F. R. West.

citizen's ASSOCIATION.

The first regular meeting of this body, the object of which
is to encourage manufactures, and promote in all other
w^ays the material interests of the city, was held at the Court
House, May 24, 1872, Hoyt Sherman, in the chair. A. G.
Kingsbury was chosen Secretary. W. S. Pritchard, Chair-
man of Committee on Organization, reported Constitution
and By-Laws, which were adopted. The following gentle-
men were appointed a Committee to solicit members:
Messrs. Collins, Tuttle, Hatton, Voodry, and Roberts.

The first regular officers of the Des Moines Citizen's As-
sociation, were: Thomas Hatton, President; L. W. Den-
nis, Vice President; A. L. West, Treasurer; Hoyt Sherman,
Chairman Finance Committee; N. B. Collins, Chairman

278 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Committee of Manufactures; J. B. Stewart, Chairman Com-
mittee on Taxes; C. H. Gatch, Chairman Committee on
Laws; Samuel Merrill, Chairman Committee on Railroads;
J. A. Ankeny, Chairman Committee on Home Manufac-
tures; R. S. Innes, Chairman Committee on Publications;
John A. Elliott, Chairman Committee on Improvements.

IOWA EXPOSITION BUILDING.

This immense building, 132 feet square, three stories high,
located on the corner of Eighth and Walnut, has just been
completed by Youngerman and Whittaker, Contractors. It
was formally opened on [the 5th day of October, with ap-
propriate ceremonies, Senator Wright delivering the Ad-
dress. The building contains an Art Hall on the second
floor, lighted from the dome by a sky-light. This is one of
the most attractive features of the exhibition. The museum
rooms are spacious, embracing rich collections from many
countries, of natural and historical curiosities. The exhibit
of Iowa at the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, will
be returned to this building, to be retained here perma-
nently.

There is a fine reception room, admirably furnished for
the accommodation of visitors. A large dining-room and
kitchen are fitted up with all modern improvements. The
State Horticultural Society, at its last annual session in Des
Moines, voted to place its collection of fruits, woods, &c.,
in this building. The Exposition embraces a systematic
classification of minerals, architectural materials of all kinds,
roofing materials, all kinds of upholstry, apparatus for heat-
ing, stoves, furnaces, fences, gates, garden ornaments, gas
and water fixtures, patents, glassware, vehicles, carriage
furniture, clothing, goods for the Masonic and other orders,
India Rubber goods, paper articles, leather works, engines,
woolen goods, silks, laces, straw goods, paintings, litho-
graphs, sculpture and statuary, florists' articles, artists' ma-

TH.t: NEW YORK

PUBLIC LiBh/^.RY

ASrOR, LENOX AND
TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

OF POLK COUNTY. 279

terials, ziiic and copper -ware, jewelry, perfumeries, drugs,
tobacco, head and feet clothing, guns and pistols, surgical
and dental instruments, hand tools, musical instruments,
railroad supplies, steam fixtures, farming implements, scales,
farm and garden products, show cases, safes, locks, and
other miscellaneous articles.

The capital stock of the Company is $50,000 paid up. The
officers are: Major Hoyt Sherman, President; Samuel Mer-
rill, Vice-President; L. M. Sandford, Secretary ; A. C. Tal-
bott. Treasurer; and W. T. Dart Superintendent.

The Directors are: Hon. Samuel Merrill, Major Hoyt Sher-
man, George H. Maish, Colonel C. H. Gatch, W. T. Dart,
A. C. Talbott, and L. M. Sandford.

A $5,000 organ, manufactured in St. Louis expressly for
this Exposition, will be one of its features.

On Tuesday evening September 12, 1876, a grand ball
was given. "..!:. :.^^ ..

The Iowa Industrial Exposition has been, since its open-
ing, a pre-eminent success. The rooms have been thronged,
day and night, with visitors, all of whom have gone away
delighted with the exhibition. New attractions in the dif-
ferent departments are multiplying every day, making the
Exposition the object of general admiration.

PAKMEKS' EXCHANGE AND CLUB.

C. D. Reinking has generously set apart a room in his
Block on Walnut street, which will be occupied as a Farm-
ers' Exchange, an organization designed to advertise what-
ever the farmers desire to sell, and whatever consumers
in the city, and elsewhere, desire to purchase. The Ex-
change Agent is William Duane Wilson, whose duties are
to keep the books of the Exchange, keep the room open,
and superintend the bulletin in the front of the building,
which publishes such articles as are needed. In this way,
farmers can report what they have to sell, and find an im-

2gO CENTENNIAL HISTORY

mediate market; and in this way also, persons who wish to
buy anything the farmer has to sell, will find the desired ar-
ticle without delay.

The Farmers' Club was organized in Des Moines, March,
18V6. The place of meeting is at the Farmers' Exchange,
which constitutes the headquarters for the farmers of Polk
county. The present officers are: President, M. W. Robin-
son; Vice-President, H. O. Hargis; Secretary, N. J. Harris.
The Club meets monthly.

BRASS AND STRING BANDS.

The first Brass Band of Fort Des Moines was organized
about the year 1855, and the following persons were mem-
bers: William E. Posegate, Dr. H. C. Grimmel, Dr.
George Grimmel, now of JeflTerson, Thomas Boyd and his
brother, William Deford, James Hall, Alonzo Dicks, W. T.
Smith, C. A. Mosier, and Prof. Kearns, the leader. This
Band was a grand feature at Fourth of July celebrations
and other festive occasions. It also gave concerts to assist
in paying teachers' salaries, and it finally died, as one of its
old members informs us, for want of wind!

One of the pioneer Brass Bands of Des Moines was or-
ganized by Professor A. Hartung, in 1859. It was called
the Des Moines Brass Band, and had an existence about
five years, under the same leadership. The following were
the original members: Major L. B. Houston, Ed. Kimball,
Bud Houston, James Hoar, William Boyd, J. S. Carter, Tac
Hussey, E. N. Curl, Frank Eastabrook, Samuel Noble, W.
H. Bitting, and Dan Hutton.

About the same time, the same gentleman organized an-
other band, known as Hartung's String Band, composed of
the following members: William Boyd, Ed. Kimball, Fred
Ensign, and James Hoar. This Band had an uninterrupted
existence of fifteen years, under the leadership of Professor

OF POLK COUNTY. 28 ^

Hartung, the only changes in the time being those which
refer to membership.

Dissmore's Orchestra was organized in 18*74, with the
following members: First Violin, George A. Dissmore,
Leader; Second Violin, Frank Senftle; First Cornet, Ed. R.
Hollis; Second Cornet, J. W. Bartlett; Clarionet, John Plo-
cek; Flute, Paul Blaise; Trombone, George Clark; Bass,
C. Ferguson; Snare Drum, E. F. Ward.

The Capital City Silver Cornet Band was organized April,
1872, with E. B. Hollis as Leader, and Noah Stutzman, as
Treasurer. The total membership at that time was eleven.
The following are the present members: E. B, Hollis,
Leader, 1st E Flat Cornet; R. Robinson, 2d Leader, 2d E
Flat Cornet G. A. Dissmore, Solo B Flat Cornet; Paul
Blaise, Secretary, 1st B Flat Cornet; P. West, 2d B Flat
Cornet; Ed Fritz, Solo E Flat Cornet; Sol. Stutzman, Ist E
Flat Alto; P. Shonalter, 2d E Flat Alto; Noah Stutzman,
Treasurer, 2d B Flat Tenor; G. W. Clark, 1st B Flat Tenor;
J. Plocek, Baritone; S. B. Brott, E Flat Basso; E.F.Ward,
Snare Drum, and A. W. Moor, Bass Drum.

FIRE COMPANIES.

The first Fire Company of the city, the Hook and Ladder,
was organized in 1865, by the following gentlemen: Charley
Harrington, William Nafie, Charles S. Spofford, William
England, John Miller, and Jack Sell. The first officers
were: Foreman, Charley Harrington; Assistant Foreman^
Jack Sell; President, Charley Spofford; Secretary, William
England.

After the city had purchased an engine, the Company was
reorganized under the name of the Hawkeye Hose Company,
with the following officers: President, John Miller; Secre-
tary, William England; Treasurer, David Utterson; Chief
Engineer, Charley Spofford; Foreman, Charley Harrington;

Assistant Foreman, Jack Sell.
36

282 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

In March, 1867, a meeting over Christy's hat store, was
held to discuss the question of organizing a Fire Company.
The organization was effected, and G. Washburn, was elect-
ed Foreman. The Company numbered fifty members. A
proposition was submitted by the city council to the citizens
this to raise by taxation*a sum sufficient to buy an engine; but
proposition was defeated, and the company was disbanded.

A few days later, W. A. Mitchell, C. O. Harrington, and
W. D. Christy, met in Sherman Hall and took steps to start
another company. The first regular meeting under the new
enterprise, was April 1, 1867, George C. Tichenor in the
chair, and W. D. Christy was chosen Secretary. The com-
pany was styled the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company,
and its services were tendered to the city. On the 8th of
April, the city council voted to purchase a Hook and Lad-
der, which was obtained, and placed under charge of the
company. Charley Spofford was elected Foreman, and on
the 8th of July was elected Chief Engineer, and C. O. Har-
rington, Foreman. This Company did effective service,
^aving a large amount of property in peril from the flames.

A year later, 1868, tHe Company was reorganized, the city
having purchased a Steam Fire Engine for their use. The
old Hook and Ladder Truck was turned over to a new or-
ganization, under the title of Excelsior Hook and Ladder
Company. Both organizations under the name of Rescue
No. 1, constituted one department, with C. F. Spofford as
Chief, who was succeeded in order by General N. B. Baker,
John Miller, William P. Dexter, William Nafie, C. T. Hah-
nan, Jacob Stoll, and R. Johnson.

This consolidated organization continued without change
until the advent of the Water Works in 1870, when a new
Company, under the name of Fellowship Hose Company,
No. 2, was organized in East Des Moines. In due time
Engine Houses were erected on West Locust street and
East Court Avenue.

OF POLK COUNTY. 283

A meeting of Division No. 1, called by William Nafie,
Chief Engineer, was held at the Engine House, June 6, 1 8*73,
at which time another consolidation was effected under the
name and style of Hawkeye Hose and Ladder Company, of
Des Moines, with Divisions Nos. 1 and 2. A new Fire De-
partment, superceding the old, and embracing the city, was
thus created. The following officers were chosen: Presi-
dent, F. Voodry; Vice-President, R. Morris; Secretary, W.
H. Bracken; Treasurer, John McGuire.

June 11th, 1873, the following officers were elected: As-
sistant C^hief, Frank Voodry; Foreman of Hose, J. Pattee;
Assistant Foreman of Hose, C. Riley; Foreman of Hooks,
John McGuire; Assistant Foreman of Hooks, A. M. Drake.
March 22, 1876, the present officers were elected, as follows:
President, Thomas Kemp; Vice-President, J. McGuire; Sec-
retary, Thomas Brooke; Treasurer, J. McGuire; Assistant
Engineer, J. Stoll; Foreman of Hose, Thomas Kemp; As-
sistant Foreman of Hose, Charles Shaffer; Foreman of Hooks,
J. McGuire; Assistant Foreman of Hooks, G. Sample. The
Chief of Department in 1873, was William Nafie, and in
1876, R. C. Johnson, who succeeded Jacob Stoll. Seven
fires have occurred in the city since April 4, 1876.

The Fellowship Hose Company, Division No. 2, was or-
ganized June 16, 1873, with seven members. The following
were the first officers: Assistant Engineer, A. Christy; Presi-
dent, H. H. Rich; Secretary, L. W. Jones; Treasurer, A. B.
Faulk; Foreman, W. C. Tulley. The present officers are:
Assistant Engineer, James Murphy; President, A. B. Faulk;
Secretary, J. A. Bryan; Treasurer, A. B. Faulk; Foreman,
James Crystal. Number of members at this date, eight.

HOSPITAL AND WORKING-MEN's CLUB.

During the administration of J. S. Reed, Rector of St.
Paul's Church, several enterprises of a beneficent character
were inaugurated, which we have noticed elsewhere; some

2g4 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

of which, since his resignation, have been carried on suc-
cessfully by Rev. J. B, Clark, Gen. L, A. Grant, Charles
Seeburger, and the Ladies of the Episcopal Church. De-
cember 14, 1875, Mr. Reed called a meeting of the ladies
the object of which was the establishment in Des Moines
of a hospital for the sick, maimed, and poor. The ladies
present were Mesdames Crocker, Tracy, Monroe, Myers,
Jewett, Porter, Savery, and Misses Abbie Mitchell and
Sallie Griffiths.

February 15, 1876, Cottage Hospital was started with the
understanding that no patients with contagious diseases
should be admitted, and that no discriminations should be
made in reference to religion, and nationality. Much lib-
erality in behalf of the enterprise, was manifested by our
citizens. Wesley Redhead proposed to furnish coal, and
Drs. Rawson, Ward, Hannawalt, Field, Bowman, and other
physicians, proffered their professional services. The Board
of Managers consisted of, President, Rev. J. S. Reed; Sec-
retary, Mrs. A. B. Tracy; Treasurer, Mrs. S. C. Gardner;
Mrs. George Crandale, Mrs. W.C. Finch, Mrs. M. M. Crocker,
and Mrs. J. E. Tone. These ladies, with others, take turns
in visiting the Hospital. The substitution of Rev. J. B.
Clark for Mr. Reed, is the only change which has taken
place in the Board.

The Hospital is located at No. 923, Seventh street. The
services of Samuel Davis and his wife were secured as
Steward and Matron. In all, twenty-five patients have been
received, but one of whom died. At present, there are five
patients. Twenty-two butchers of the city, supply the hos-
pital with meats free of charge. The managers gladly re-
ceive contributions of every kind and character that can be
utilized. Of the twenty-five patients admitted, two only
were members of the Episcopal Church.

St. Paul's Workingmen's Club and Institute of Des
Moines, was organized under the auspices of Rev. J. S.

OF POLK COUNTY. 285

Reed, January 19, 1876. The objects to be attained are of
a business, social, and beneficiary character. The present
officers are: President, Rev. J. B. Clark; Vice President,
T. M,. Knight; Secretary, George E. Belt; Treasurer, H. J.
Childress; Conductor, J. P. Smith. Present membership,
seventy-eight.

The Parish Aid Society; the Mothers' Meeting, organized
October .15, 1874; Night School; Industrial School for Lit-
tle Girls, October 17, 1874; Woman's Missionary Associa-
tion, April 30, 1874; Parish Guild, January 1, 1874; Sunday
School Fellowship, May 12, 1874; Guild House, with J. S.
Morse as General Superintendent, and Mrs. E. Porter, Mat-
ron; the Parish School, established, April, 1875; Employ-
ment Bureau, and Seabury School, are enterprises which
grew up under the fostering care of the Episcopal Church.

POLITICAL CADETS.

The Tilden and Hendricks Cadets went into organization
in August last. Their officers are: Captain, W. H. Merritt,
Jr.; First Lieutenant, Dan. M. Finch; Second Lieutenant,
Thomas North up; President, S. M. Rice; Vice President,
Charles H. Lewis; Secretary, W. L. Kirk; Treasurer, W. H.
McHenry, Jr.

The Hayes and Wheeler Cadets have the following offi-
cers: Captain, J. L. Nash; First Lieutenant, Frank Wil-
liamson; Second Lieutenant, Charley Tuttle.

Both companies are finely uniformed and well disciplined,
and both took part in the funeral procession which followed
the remains of General Baker to Woodland Cemetery.

MINERAL SPRINGS.

A spring of this character is situated on the farm of Wm.
S. Bennett, near the city. There is a copious supply of
water, which comes to the surface from a depth of 190 feet.

286 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

An analysis, by Prof. Blaney, of Chicago, gives to this wa-
ter the finest medicinal properties.

Three other mineral springs have been discovered, one of
which is on the property of Gen. L. A. Grant, another on
the land of George W. Savery, and another still on the
property of Wesley Redhead. All these springs are in
the immediate vicinity of the city, and all of them, as
claimed by their friends, possess medical virtues of high
order.

Ira Mitchell, of Des Moines, is engaged in introducing
these mineral waters to our people.

MUSICAL COMPOSER.

Prof. V. C. Taylor, well known as an accomplished mu-
sical composer and teacher of music, came from Brooklyn,
New York, to Des Moines, March 1, 1865. He is the au-
thor of several musical works of great merit. Not long
since he revised the popular Cantata of Queen Esther, and
its performance at Moore's Opera House, under his direc-
tion, in May last, was universally applauded. In this en-
tertainment, he secured the services alone of home talent,
and it is proper to say here that the native musical talent of
Des Moines is of high excellence.

On Thursday and Friday evenings, October 26 and 27,
1876, Prof. Taylor introduced, at Moore's Opera House, a
Cantata in five acts, named "Joseph," the greater part of
which was originated by himself. It displayed much gen-
ius; and the music, all of which was composed by the Pro-
fessor, was very highly commended. The characters in this
Cantata are generally drawn from the Bible. The ladies
and gentlemen who personated the characters were: Prof.
W. H. Leib, St. Paul, Minn.; W. P. Guiberson, Edward
Coykendall, Dr. R. M. Stone, A. T. Harritt, C. E. Risser, C.
P. Gray, S. F. Biixt, S. M. Rice, D. R. Town, A. M. Fergu-
son, C. E. Wingate, Mrs. I. N. Noland, Carrie Laird, Min-

OF POLK COUNTY. 287

nie Mecrackeu, C. A. Ferguson, Mrs. Hiram Robinson, Mrs.
J. S. Clarkson, Grace Clark, Emma Reigelman, Belle
Daugherty, Callie Smith, Anna Daugherty, Winnie Wight-
man, Mrs. W. S. Vernon, Hattie M. West, and Henry
Hirsch.

POLK COUNTY POETS.

Several years ago, Leonard Brown, one of our early set-
tlers, published a volume of his own composition, entitled
" Poems of the Prairie." Many of the poems in this vol-
ume evinced native talent, showing that the author could,
by the cultivation of his faculties, take rank among the ac-
credited poets of the age. One of his prose works, entitled
"American Patriotism," containing biographical sketches
of the soldiers from our county, who lost their lives in the
service of their country, during the war for the Union, is
very highly prized by our citizens, as a contribution to his-
tory, w^hich should be in all our libraries.

In 1871, W. W. Fink, of this city, published, under the
auspices of Mills & Co., a poem entitled " Valley Forge,"
descriptive of senes and sufferings during the Revolution-
ary War. During the present year, the same author issued
another volume, entitled " Hades and other Poems." Both
of these A^olumes indicate genius, especially in the realms
of poetical imagery and ideality.

ADJUTANT GENERAL N. B. BAKER.

This distinguished gentleman, so intimately connected
with the military history of Iowa, died at his residence in
Des Moines Wednesday morning at one o'clock, September
13th, 1876, in the 58th year of his age. Elsewhere in these
pages the reader w^ill find a sketch of him and his services.
The funeral services, which occurred Friday afternoon, Sep-
tember loth, were of a character to indicate the popular es-
teem and affection in which he w^as held by the people. All

288 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

the military, political, and civic organizations of Lhe county
contributed their services on the solemn occasion, swelling
the procession as it passed from St. Paul's Church, on Sev-
enth street, to Woodland Cemetery, to proportions which
were indeed formidable, Three Iowa Governors, Kirkwood
Merrill and Stone were present.

The pall bearers were: Governor Merrill, P. M. Casady,
Lieut.-Governor Gue, Gen. Ed Wright, Gen. J. A. William-
son, George W. Jones, G. M. Hippee, and J. N. Dewey.
No other funeral in the State was ever more largely atten-
ded; and no other death was ever followed by more genuine
and heartfelt mourning. General Baker was loved by every
soldier; and the thousands of poor people all over the State,
and all over the West, fndeed, whom he befriended in their
direst extremity and want, will never forget him, so long
as the chords of their hearts shall beat in response to the
touch of a people's gratitude. His body sleeps in Wood"
land Cemetery, but his great name and his deeds of charity
and good will to his fellow men are alive and awake ever-
more, in the memories of his countrymen.

The successor of General Baker in the Adjutant Gen-
eral's office, is John H. Looby, who, as a member of the
Second Iowa Infantry, was severely wounded at Shiloh, and
remained helpless and exposed on the field through long
and dreary hours after the battle had terminated. He was
disabled for life. We knew him well in the olden time,
when life was young and full of glowing anticipations.
The office has come to a gentleman who will fill it, as his
predecessor did, worthily and well.

FIRST ODD fellows' BURIAL.

The name of Conrad Youngerman appears among the
dead of early settlers, elsewhere in this volume. For fear
that readers may suppose we have committed an egregious
blunder, confounding with dead men one of the most en-

OF POLK CX)UNTY. 289

terprising citizens of Des Moines, who bids fair to live a
thousand years, we desire to state that the Conrad Younger-
man of Early Settlers was drowned in the Des Moines river,
near the City, during the great inundation of 1851. He
was a brother of John Youngerman, of Walnut township,
and not at all related to our energetic contractor and builder
of the same name. It is stated on good authority that his
funeral was the first among citizens of the county which
was directed by the Odd Fellows.

FIRST PHOTOGRAPHERS.

G. L. Reynolds was the first Photographer in Des Moines,
having arrived here in 1856. In 1827, he gave us for pub-
lication in the Citizen^ a graphic account of the adventures
he experienced some years before in obtaining an opportu-
nity to take the picture of Henry Clay, at his residence in
Kentucky. Several years ago Mr. Reynolds removed to
California. J. P. Sharman, of this place, who commenced
the same business in 1859, recently received a letter from
Mr. Reynolds, in which that gentleman refers with much
pleasure to his old Des Moines associations. Mr. Sharman
was the second photographer in the City.

There are many artists of this class now in Des Moines,
of whom we would be glad to speak in this connection, but
want of space forbids this indulgence.

Mrs. Sharman, mother of the artist, had a music store in
the town, and sold Organs and Pianos as early as 1857. She
is now residing in St. Louis.

INDIAN CHIEFS.

At the last payment made to the Indians at the Old Agency,
in the Fall of 1845, Keokuk, Young Black Hawk, Pow-
eshiek, Green and Squinty-Eyes, Chiefs of the Sacs and
Foxes, were present. Dr. James Campbell, who saw them,

states that Keokuk and Poweshiek were not tall in person,
37

290' CENTENNIAL HISTORY

"Dut were quite corpulent. Young Black Hawk, son of the
historic Chief, was about 22 years of age, with a tall and
graceful figure.

When Poweshiek left Fort Des Moines, he went south,
ward, and encamped with forty lodges on Grand river, a
short distance north of the Missouri boundary. The whites
of Northern Missouri became irritated at the proximity of
the savages, and threatened war and extermination. The
Indians on the other hand were equally exasperated against
the whites, and bloody war seemed imminent.

At this juncture. Dr. Campbell, J. B. Scott and Hamilton
Thrift, hearing of the trouble in which their old friend
Poweshiek was involved, mounted their horses at the Fortj
and rode nearly a hundred miles through the deep snow oi
1845-6. Arriving at Grand River, they ^ound the situation
very gloomy and threatening. Poweshiek and his band of
warriors, were engaged in holding two or three Dog Festi-
vals every day. This meant war. Mr. Scott took Powe-
shiek aside, and spoke to him substantially as follows:

"My friends and myself have traveled through the snow
a long distance to help you out of this trouble. We are
your friends. If you persist in your purpose of making
war on the whites, many of your squaws and pappooses, as
well as your braves, will be butchered. The remainder will
be driven out in the cold and snow, to perish on the prai-
ries. It would be better now for you to break up your
lodges, and go in peace to the reservation in Kansas, which
the Government has provided for you."

It was some time before the old Chief could bring him-
self to accept this good advice. He was fearful, if he va-
cated his place of encampment on Grand River, he would
be stigmatized as a coward, and this he could not endure.
He was finally made to comprehend the true situation; and
it was not long ere his lodges dotted the surface of the
prairie, hundreds of miles away from Grand River. The

OF POLK COUNTY. 291

timely arrival of friends, and the peace measures counseled
by them, saved the old warrior and his band from much
trouble, and possibly from extermination.

OLD BLOCK HOUSE, ETC.

One of the old block houses may still be seen, on the
west- side of Fourth street, between Market and Elm. Four
Cottonwood trees were planted in the vicinity a long time
ago, three of which are still remaining. Nearly opposite
this old relic, stands a log building, erected by Thomas Mc-
Mullen in 1847. It is claimed that this was the first hewed
log house built at the Fort, although another building, else-
where referred to, has claims to this honor.

William Lamb had a trading post one mile below the
Old Agency. A man by the name of Whisler, was also a
noted trader. Dr. Campbell crossed into the Territory at
New Boston, Illinois, in 1839, and at Blackhawk, near the
mouth of the Iowa River.

White's Steam Flouring Mill covers the site of the old
nine-pin alley, built by Nathaniel Campbell, in the Southern
part of the town.

THE TAXIDERMIST.

An excentric and gifted gentleman, by the name of
Moore, full of genial wit and racy anecdote, was employed
by A. J. Stevens and others in 1856, to go in the capacity
of a professional Taxidermist, or bird-stuffer, to Brazil, in
South America. The object of the Company was to es-
tablish a kind of museum at Fort Des Moines, an important
feature of which would be the bird collections from the
Tropics, which were expected to arrive in due course of
time. Mr. Moore went on his mission; and after having
penetrated to the heart of the Continent in his weary march
up the Amazon, an accident occurred, involving the death
of one of Mr. Moore's companions, which put an abrupt

292 * CENTENNIAL HISTORY

end to the expedition. The circumstances attending this
death, will, perhaps, never be revealed; but they were of
such a nature as to throw suspicion on Mr. Moore.

In the spring of 1857, Mr. Moore returned to Des Moines,
bringing with him quite a collection of South American
birds, which were afterward on exhibition in one of the
rooms of the Savery House. The Taxidermist came home
discouraged and demoralized, drinking deeply and repeat-
edly, until one day, weary and disappointed, he shook the
Des Moines dust from his feet and garments, and left, never
to return. We heard that a little boy, son of this gen-
tleman, was seen after he had been deserted by the father,
crying in the streets of the city of Des Moines. A gen-
erous farmer pitied him, took him to his home, and adopted
him as a member of his family. Nothing on earth but in-
temperance, would have induced such a man as Professor
Moore to be guilty of this unfatherly and unnaturar de-
sertion of his child.

PRIMITIVE SALOON.

At the Point, as it was classically called, which is under-
stood to have been the place near which Dr. James Camp-
bell's Eye and Ear Infirmary now stands, a grocery or
liquor store was in full blast, from 1848, to 1850. It was
carried on in a wooden building, the south room of which
contained a high counter, and all other appendages of a
primative drinking establishment. There the imbibing cus-
tomer could take his drinks, straight, mixed, complicated,
or involuted, just as he pleased; and he had the opportunity,
also, to lose his surplus dollars at different kinds of games.
These exercises enlivened the monotony of the passing
hour.

OF POLK COUNTY. 29 eS

AN OLD LAND MARK GONE.

Years ago the old house — part log and ^art frame, at the
Southeast corner of Twelfth and Walnut streets was one of
the fashionable Mansions of Des Moines. It was built in
1848, by an early settler whose name we cannot recall. The
next year it became the property of Mr. Keene, and then
found its way into the hands of his brother, the husband of
Mrs. Sypher. When that lady resided there, there was no
other house in sight of it, although by taking a short walk
to a stake and ridered fence, just east of it, the residence of
Mrs. Grimmel on the hill, and one other house on what is
now Third street, were visible. It was the headquarters for
Des Moines society, and there after the day's toils were
ended, Judge Casaday, Major Hoyt Sherman, D. O. Finch,
and many of the gentlemen now known as Old Settlers, but
then young men with the world before them, were wont to
congregate and talk of "the girls they had left behind them,"
and enjoy the hospitality, never stinted, of Mr. and Mrs.
Keene.

At one time it was the residence of Dr. Fagan. Then
Mr. D. O. Finch and wife made it a seat of pleasant hospi-
tality.

Just west of it, a portion of the plat being now used by
Peter Lambert for greenhouse purposes, was the play ground
of the Indians, whose close proximity and boisterous sport
kept Mrs. Keene in constant alarm.

The old house has a history rich in items for a Local's
pencil, and some day they may be told, but the present pur-
pose is only to record that the old landmark is no more. It
had become too old for service or beauty, and has been torn
down and removed. — Megister, July^ 1876.

294 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

ONE OF OUR OLD LAND-MARKS.

The Corning Gazette^ edited by W. H. Hoxie, copies our
article about the old land-mark on the corner of Twelfth
and Walnut streets, in this city, now being torn down, and
then adds the following chapter:

We clip the above from the State Register^ and will chip
in our mite of history of the old house. The house was
built by B. T. Hoxie, father of the editor of this paper, and
it was in the year 1847, if we are not mistaken. The logs
for the house were cut in the timber north of Fort Des
Moines, and what was rare in those days, they were hewn.
That was style on the frontier then. The winter of the
*deep snow," as it was always referred to by the old settlers,
Dr. P. B. Fagan was married to our eldest sister, the cere-
monies taking place in that house. The storm was so
severe that the guests were compelled to remain, some of
them, for several days. But who ever knew a pioneer's house
to be too small to entertain any sized crowd? Among those
present were Thomas Mitchell, who then lived in Apple
Grove, T. K. Brooks, then of Agency Prairie, and many
others whose names we cannot remember. C. C. Van was
there, coming in an ox team, but pretending it was a car-
riage. Any of the old settlers of Polk county can tell other
incidents of the wedding.

Years afterwards a brother, M. B. Hoxie, was married
and commenced housekeeping in the old homestead, living
there some time.

This house was the last one standing, to our knowledge,
erected by our father, and we are sorry it has been torn
.away. It has been our custom, when visiting Des Moines,
to take a look at the old house, in memory of the days of
yore. Now it is gone. The time was when it was the best
house in all Polk county. Fort Des Moines was not the
Capital then, and did not contain a two-million State House,

OF POLK COUNTY. 295

palace hotels, or palatial residences, as it now does, but it
did contain, and does yet, as true and warm hearted a set
of people as the sun ever shone on. Here's to the memory
of the old times, in the old homestead! — Register ^ Aug .^\%^Q.

FIRST WHITE INHABITANTS.

We have hitherto referred to Benjamin Bryant and Wil-
liam Lamb, in t?peaking of the first white inhabitants of
this region. These gentlemen frequently stated that they
came here before the Indians, which was historically true.
Before the Sac and Fox Indians were removed hither from
the Agency in Wapello county, Messrs. Bryant and Lamb
came in advance to make some necessary preparations for
such removal. In writing of first inhabitants, it would be
a serious omission to ignore the name of John Hays, now
living in Bloomfield Township, and formerly SheriflE" of the
County.

Mr. Hays and his brother Samuel, the latter of whom was
married at the time, came from Missouri to the site on which
Polk City stands, March, 1846, while Iowa was yet a Terri-
tory. Their nearest neighbor was an old bachelor by the
name of Shipman, whose log cabin was about a mile and a
half northwest of Messrs. Hays' residence. A man named
Evan Harris — a kind of poetical wag, by the way — had also
immigrated from Missouri in the Spring of 1846. One day,
Mr. Harris had occasion to visit Mr. Shipman, and becom-
ing irritated at the absence of the person whom he desired
to see, he meditated a moment, and then wrote on the door
of the cabin the following characteristic lines, which, if not
elegant, are at least emphatic :

" Evan Harris was here to-day,
Cursed the Old Bachelor, and went away."

The brothers Hays had selected a claim at the place
where they first settled, but circumstances not necessary to

296 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

narrate here, induced them to move the same season to Say-
lor Grove, after having disposed of their possessions to
George Beebe, one of the patriarchs of Madison Township.
Meantime, Evan Harris returned to Missouri, where he en-
listed as a soldier, and died in the service during the Mexi-
can War. Messrs. Hays rented land of John Say lor, son
of Beujamin Say lor, and they soon became acquainted with
J. P. Saylor, Frank Nagle, Solomon Bayles, Addison Mi-
chael, Eli Keeler, Perry Ware, James Bradley, and many
others whose names are included in the list of our pioneers.

Samuel Hays died in early times, and his brother John
removed to Fort Des Moines in 1849. In speaking of his
recollections of that period, Mr. Hays states that, aside from
the garrison buildings, which extended for some distance
along the banks of both rivers, the improvements at the
Fort were few and insignificant. What is now called East
Des Moines was divided into farms, and the greater part of
the site of the present city was covered with dense and
primitive thickets of hazel bushes. On his arrival at the
Fort, Mr. Hays established himself in a rude log cabin, with
but one room in it, located on Second street, between Wal-
nut and Locust. The house is still standing, as a memento
and memorial of a past age.

It is worthy of remark here, that the lot on which Ex-
change Block, Walnut street, was afterwards erected, was
offered to Mr. Hays for seven and a half dollars; but as
John could not then see the future glory of the State Capi-
tal, he rejected the offer with much decision and emphasis,
as utterly exorbitant! Subsequently, he bought one of the
lots belonging now to the Avenue House, for one hundred
half-dollars, in jingling specie, which was the currency of
those times in the West.

From the personal recollections of Col. Barlow Granger,
formerly an apprentice to Henry S. Randall, Editor of the
Courtland Advocate, New York, and afterwards a printer

OF POLK COUNTY. 297

Id the Republican office, St. Louis, we have obtained the
following items: He, and a partner, by the name of James
B. Jones, arrived at Fort Des Moines in the Summer of
1848, designing to engage in sales of real estate. Reaching
a point which overlooked the city, as they approached their
destination, each one of these gentlemen designated a par-
ticular site on which he intended, at some future time, to
establish his residence. Mr. Jones chose the site now oc-
cupied as the residence of B. F. Allen, while Col. Granger
selected the precise location on which he has been living
for a score of years. The former was disappointed in his
selection, while the latter realized all his expectations.

At first, Col. G. occupied as an office a building on the
corner of Market and Third streets, opposite the old Ohio
or Buckeye House. The same old house, still standing, was
employed after its vacation by Mr. Granger, in 1853, for
saloon purposes, by Gotleib Munzenmaier, who excavated a
rude hole in the earth for a temporary cellar, in which to
deposit his casks of beer. Old citizens well remember an
ancient building on Court Avenue, north side, between Sec- '
ond and Third streets, to the basement of which a pair of
stairs led directly from the street. This basement contained
the principal pioneer saloon in Fort Des Moines, and was
operated by Mr. M. The old Cottage House, on Court Av-
enue, was built by Benjamin Saylor, in 1849.

EFFECTS OF JEALOUSY.

One Sunday evening, just after nightfall, in the spring of
1858, a young man named Chandler, in company with a
Miss King, was walking near the northern limits of the
city. An Englishman by the name of Rosseter, had been
paying attention to the young lady, but was repelled.
Fired with jealousy and bad whisky, he secured a pistol,
and on the evening indicated, secreted himself in a hazel-
thicket near the road. As Mr. Chandler and lady were
38

298 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

passing the thicket, Rosseter stealthily left his ambush, and
coming behind the unsuspecting party, he placed the muz-
zle of the pistol almost in contact with the back of Mr.
Chandler's head, and fired. The bullet perforated the
palm-leaf hat which the victim wore, and penetrated deeply
into the brain, killing him instantly. Rosseter then fired a
shot at Miss King, wounding her in the hand, and causing
her to faint. Supposing that the work of murder was now
complete, as both victims lay motionless on the ground,
Rosseter turned the muzzle of his pistol against his right
temple, and pulled the trigger. He died next day in an old
untenanted building. Miss King recovered of her wound,
and is yet, we believe, a citizen of Des Moines.

DR. brooks' brick HOUSE.

In 1851, during the period of high water, Dr. Brooks em-
ployed a raft on 'Coon, with which to float from the brick-
yard the material for building the first brick house in East
Fort Des Moines. The structure was finished in the fall of
that year, and occupied a position near the R. I. R, R.
bridge.

HORACE Greeley's visit.

On the 22d day of September, 1871, while Horace Greeley
was delivering an agricultural address to 15,000 people on
the Fair Grounds, an alarm of fire in the city created great
consternation. It was soon discovered that Hoyt Sher-
man's residence was in flames; and besides this, a large
part of the block on Sixth street, between Locust and Wal-
nut, was consumed by fire. That was the last visit of Mr.
Greeley to the West.

SUNDRY HISTORIC ITEMS.

In 1849, Ben. Say lor erected a frame house, fronting on
Third street, on the lot on which Sherman Block now
stands.

OF POLK COUNTY. 299

The first spike on the narrow Gauge Railroad, was driven
by Gov. Carpenter, at 10 o'clock a. m., January 12, 1874, at
the corner of Vine and Fourth streets, East Side, amid the
screams of locomotives, the beating of drums, cheers and
huzzas, and strains from the brass band. Speeches were
made on the occasion by Ex-Gov. Merrill, Col. L. Q. Hog-
gatt. President Welch, Senator Larabee, and Gov. Carpen-
ter.

The Polk County Fair Grounds were covered, as late as
1851, with high prairie grass, and plum thickets. Near as
they were to town, they were infested by wolves, and other
denizens of untamed nature.

FLOOD OF 1851.

The memorable flood of 1851, lasted from the middle of
May to the middle of July. The Des Moines river extended
to the bluffs on the East Side; and immigrants were trans-
ported in flat-boats from East Walnut street, to Van's Point,
South of 'Coon. Jesse Dicks rafted along Second street,
the logs with which he built his house. During this
period, there was great scarcity of provisions; and J. M.
Thrift, and J. M. Griffiths, the latter of whom was at that
time a grocer on Second street, started in a skiff to St.
Louis, to order the necessary stores. Their return was
hailed with great rejoicing by the half famished citizens.

REMINISCENCES.

George Sneer, one of our City Aldermen, who came to
Fort Des Moines with his step-father. Dr. F. C. Grimmel,
October 15th, 1846, has furnished us with several remin-
iscences of the olden time. He states that the first resi-
dence of B. T. Hoxie was on Third street, immediately
north of where Harbach's stone front building now stands.
It was in the old log building of Mr. Hoxie, that the wed-
ding of Thomas McMullen, and a sister of Mr. Sneer, took
place.

300 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

The frame building erected by Addison Michael, to
which reference has been made, was located but a little
distance east of where Skinner's plow shop stands. This,
Mr. Sneer states, was the first frame house erected in town.
The second one, built in 1847, was on the southeast corner
of Market and Third streets. This is the building which
Mr. Granger occupied for a time as an office; and afterwards
it was converted into a grocery, or saloon, by Gotlieb Mun-
zenmaier. Mr. M. made it for awhile his residence; and it
is worthy of note here, that in this old historic building,
Des Moines Lodge, No. 25, I. O. O. F., was organized.
Right across Market street from this house, was afterward
erected the old Busic Tavern, the name of which was
changed to Ohio, or Buckeye House. In the immediate
vicinity, just west of Munzenmair's saloon, was the old
Tucker, or Collins House; and but a short distance east, was
the American House, erected several years later.

The first brick house in town was the old Court House,
which was recently merged into Central Block, one of
the fine structures of the city. A double log cabin, built
in very early times, occupied the site of T. E. Brown's fine
residence; and a two-story log building, erected by Mr.
Price, occupied the site of Kuhn's business block, on Court
Avenue.

William Deford was the first citizen blacksmith in Fort
Des Moines, his shop being immediately south and west of
where AuUman's Brewery jiow stands.

The first brewery was built in 1856-7, by George and G.
Hierb, on lots purchased from. Mr. Sneer, corner of Seventh
and Center streets.

A NOTED CELEBRATION.

In 1863, the Polk County Fourth of July celebration was
held at Polk City. Col. C. J. Clark was President; Major
J. C. Bennett, Marshal; Hon. C. C. Nourse, Orator; E. D.

OF POLK COUNTY. §01

Hawes read the Declaration of Independence, and J. W.
Doughty, of DeH Moines, with a class of Polk City sing-
ers, furnished the occasion with appropriate vocal music.
N. R. Kuntz was Captain of the Home Guards.

At the appointed time, a procession was formed in the
village, which marched to an adjacent grove, led by a band
of martial music. Rumors were in circulation, to the
effect that the meeting would probably be disturbed by a
supposed Anti-Union element in the vicinity. Captain I.
W. Griffith, at that time Sheriff of the County, was in at-
tendance, ready, if necessary, to preserve the peace; and if
any trouble had been contemplated, it was prevented, in
part at least, by his judicious management.

Only one little episode occurred during the exercises, to
mar the festivities. While Judge Nourse was delivering
his oration, it was rumored that an organized body of dis-
unionists was coming to break up the meeting. The long
roll of the military company — Home Guards — was heard,
and Major Bennett mounted a seat, and shouted, "To arms!
to arms! They'r coming! they'r coming!" Instantly, mul-
titudes of those who were present, arose to their feet in
wild alarm. At this moment. Judge Nourse, with a loud
voice, called the attention of the crowd, and with his char-
acteristic pleasantry and jocularity, said to them: "Friends,
just be seated; there is no danger, I assure you; be seated,
and all join in singing. Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!"
Sheriff Griffith, also, assured them that there was no dan-
ger, and advised the Home Guards to disband and mingle
with the assembly as citizens. Immediately, all were
seated again, and a thousand voices joined with the Glee
Club in the chorus of that grand old song.

POLK COUNTY AND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.

The first session of the Legislature in Des Moines passed
an act providing for a State Agricultural College. A pro-

302 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

vision in the law invited donations of money or lands from
counties desiring to secure its location. A number of en'
terprising farmers of Camp township offered lands to the
value of ten thousand dollars, to secure the location in that
township, where an eligible site had been selected, over
looking the Des Moines river. The county, also, by a vote
of the people, pledged ten thousand dollars to secure its lo-
cation in any part of the county. Samuel Reed, an enter
prising and public spirited farmer of that township under-
took to induce his brother farmers to donate lands, taking
the lead in making a handsome donation himself. During
his efforts for that purpose he called a meeting of the citi
zens of that section on the proposed College site, at which
about one hundred were present. The advantages of a
practical agricultural education were fully discussed, and
considerable enthusiasm was manifested. During the meet"
ing an excellent and bountiful lunch, prepared by the la-
dies, was greatly enjoyed ; and it is to be regretted that
the wishes of those people had not been complied with.
This was the first meeting ever held in the State in behalf
of a thorough agricultural education.

THE MORMONS.

In July, 1845, Orson Pratt, with three hundred Mormons,
footsore and weary, encamped at Apple Grove, on their
way to the Land of Promise. Under the most trying dis-
couragements these wonderful people evinced a fortitude
which was almost superhuman. The children, as well as
the parents, would break out into hymns of thanksgiving
and praise, despite the sufferings and privations which a
long journey through a strange country produced.

SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE.

The fearful massacre of settlers in the vicinity of Spirit
Lake, occurred during the winter of 1856-7. The murder-

OF POLK COUNTY. *^Q^

ers were Sioux Indians. When intelligence of the massa'
ere came to Des Moines, a meeting was immediately held,
in the old brick Court-House. Addresses were made by
Mayor McHenry and others. A military company was at
once organized, of which Mr. McHenry was chosen Cap-
tain.

On consul tatou with citizens. Mayor McHenry decided to
send messengers to the scene of the disaster, who were to
make their report before any further action should be taken
in regard to the matter. Samuel Noel, Scott, and B. D.
Thomas, of this city, were the messengers. On their re-
turn they reported that the Indians had left the State; and
as there was no further use for the Company which had
been organized, it was disbanded.

THE JOHNSON MURDER.

The body of John Johnson was discovered lying on Sec-
ond street, Sunday morning, June 14th, 1874. He had evi-
dently been murdered, as the wounds in his head indicated.
A man named Xelson alias Howard, and three other per-
sons, named Rickard, Jameson, and Mrs. Howard, were ar-
rested on suspicion of complicity in the murder.

Howard came to trial in December, 1874, and was found
guilty; and the last act of Judge Maxwell as Judge of the
District Court, was to sentence him to imprisonment for life
in the penitentiary, the exteme penalty of the law for mur
der in the first degree. The sentence was pronounced on
14th day of December; and the following night, while the
convict and his wife were together in the prison, the jail
was invaded by a band of masked men, who forcibly took
possession of the keys and effected an entrance into the
cell. Howard was separated from his wife, and a noose
having been thrown over his head, he was dragged violently
out of the jail into the open air, and suspended to a
lamp post at the northeastern extremity of the court-house

304 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

yard. The Vigilantes then quietly dispersed ; and though
indignation meetings were held, and a formal investigation
was instituted, it has not transpired to this day who were
the participants in this terrible deed of lawlessness. The
other defendants were finally released because of an infor-
mality in the indictment.

CAPTAIN JAMES ALLEN.

This gentleman, whose name has so often been employed
in these annals, was an uncle of B. F. Allen, of Des Moines.
At the breaking out of the Mexican war, he was authorized
by his government to organize a body of Mormon troops,
and conduct them to the seat of war. On his way down
the Missouri river, in command of the troops, he was ta-
ken sick. Through the intervention of J. B. Scott and
other friends, he was induced to stop at Leavenworth, where
he died shortly afterward. He was a bachelor ; and the
property, including an interest in Parmalee's Mill, which
he had accumulated in this part of the country, was left to
his nephew, B. F. Allen.

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.

G. B. Clark, who made a claim in Allen township in 1844,
was a bachelor about thirty-five years of age. He erected
two cabins on his claim, one of which was afterwards occu-
pied by J. D. McGlothlen. In the Fall of 1846, after dis-
posing of his property, Mr. Clark bought a half interest in
the claim of Willam Lowry, another early settler. Mr.
Clark boarded with his partner who had a family; and it
was understood that the two men should jointly cultivate
the claim.

Much work was done on the premises during the Fall and
Winter; and in the Spring of 1847, the ground was placed
in preparation for planting corn. At that time, the seed

OF POLK COUNTY. 305

corn for the new settlements of Polk county, was obtained
from the farm of William Lamb, on Agency Prairie.

One morning Mr. Clark started horseback with a sack for
the residence of Mr. Lamb, intending to cross the Des
Moines river at Newcomer's Point, four miles below Fort
Des Moines. He did not return to his home, and much
alarm was excited in the community. In a day or two after
his disappearance, information was received that he had
been seen in the vicinity of Parmalee's Mill on Middle river.
After a spirited search, the horse was found on South river,
with saddle, bridle, and corn sack still attached to him; but
from that day to this, although nearly thirty years have
passed away, not a word of tidings h-^s been received in ref-
erence to this man's fate. By some it was surmised that he
had been murdered; but whether this was the case or not,
will probably never be known until the revelations of eter-
nity make it apparent.

Since writing the former portion of this work we have re-
ceived some very valuable, items of history from Hon.
Thomas Mitchell, of Beaver township, who has been inti-
mately associated with our growth and prosperity during
the past thirty-two years. In his communication to us, he
states that Henry Mitchell and himself commenced the set-
tlement of Beaver township in 1844, the former erecting the
first house, the site of which was near the present residence
of Green Wheeler. At that time, the nearest settlers to
these pioneers were living at Fort Des Moines, on the West,
and Monroe, on the East. This state of seclusion from the
busy world lasted two years.

Henry B. and Thomas Mitchell first came to the township

in February, 1844; and in the following April, the latter

brought his family, consisting of his wife and two children,

from Jefferson county, Iowa, and established them in the

39

3Q5 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

new settlement. For three months after this removal, Mrs.
Mitchell did not see a white woman except the girl who
came with the family. The most accessible trading point
at the time, was at Fairfield, a hundred miles distant. It
is manifest, therefore, that Mrs. Mitchell did not have the
shopping privileges which are conferred on the ladies in
these times. Visiting was an infrequent luxury; and the
style of dress was simple and inexpensive among the whites,
albeit the native women, of whom there were many speci-
mens, tricked themselves out in fantastic costume, embel-
lished with flashy colors, the red predominating.

The Indians were removed in October, 1845, after which
the county was open to settlement. In the Eastern part, a
few families settled in the Autumn of that year; but Beaver
township received no farther accessions until the Spring of
1846, when Lewis M. Burke, a native of Pennsylvania, came
from Adams county, Illinois, and located near Mud Creek,
where he now resides. He is seventy-five years of age, en-
joying good health and a large measure of honor and worldly
prosperity.

In July, 1846, George Barlow, of Indiana, bought the
claim and improvements of Mr. Mitchell, and in company
with his brother, Blenford, settled on this purchase. George
was accidentally shot and killed in 1847, while Blenford
remained on the farm four or five years. In 1851, Green
Wheeler located on the Barlow farm; and about the same
time, AYilliam Sweeney and a Mr. Netterson pitched their
tents in the vicinity of Apple Grove, the residence of Mr.
Mitchell.

Beaver Township was, for the most part, backward in
settlement, caused by the great preponderance of prairie
over forest and grove. In 1854, the farm on which Mr.
Mitchell had been living, was purchased and occupied by
M. C. Keith, of Western New York, who, in 1856, transfer-
red, by sale, this property to Lambert Sternburg. This

OF POLK COUNTY. gQ?

purchase, as well as that of Mr. Keith, included the hotel,
which, under the management of Mr. Mitchell and his wife,
became exceedingly popular as a place of entertainment
during the years of emigration. In 1854, William Duncan
settled on Mad Creek, near the home of Mr. Burke. The
year ensuing, Benjamin Pearson settled on the prairie be-
tween Camp and Mud Creeks.

In 1851, James Rooker located near the upper end of
Apple Grove, where he still resides. In 1852, Elijah Can-
field, an old resident of Camp township, moved into Bea-
ver. In 1855, Moses Barlow came; and in the same year,
three brothers, William, Henry, and Frank Miller, settled
on Mad Creek, and erected a saw-mill on that stream; but
for the excellent reason that when there was a supply of
water there were no logs, and vice versa, the enterprise was
speedily abandoned. In 1855, Thomas Duncan settled near
his brother William; and about the same time, H. O. Mc-
Broom established himself on the prairie, as also did New-
ton Rooker. Samuel Chambers, of the Society of Friends,
from Belmont county, Ohio, and James Wingfield, from
Virgfinia, came in 1856.

In 1844, Mr. Mitchell was compelled to travel more than
a hundred miles to Bonaparte, to reach a mill. Ten years
later, there were several mills in the county; and all the
counties east of us were supplied with these desirable es-
tablishments. In 1844, the nearest trading point on the
east was Fairfield, as before stated; and in 1856, towns and
stores had multiplied in a marvelous ratio over the entire
State.

In 1849, Mr. Mitchell accompanied to Fairfield a corps of
engineers, who, under the lead of Col. Samuel R. Cartis,
were surveying the Des Moines river. In December, of
that year, the party were blockaded by a fearful snow-storm,
the snow lying two feet deep, on a level. On returning,
Mr. Mitchell states that the road had to be broken for a

308 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

hundred miles, and that the mail matter addressed to Fort
Des Moines, which he brought with him, was delayed two
weeks by stress of weather.

At the general election in April, 1846, to which reference
is made elsewhere, the residence of Mr. Mitchell was chosen
as the place of voting for that precinct. The number of
votes cast was 42, some of the electors coming by mistake
from Jasper county, as was afterwards learned when the
question of boundaries was better understood. One vote,
Mr. Thornton, came from what is now known as Douglas
township. The post office at Apple Grove, of which Mr.
Mitchell was postmaster, was the only place, for several
years, at which mail matter was received by the citizens of
Beaver and the surrounding townships.

Eli TruUinger settled at the grove which bears his name
in 1846, and he, together with Elijah Canfield, Thos. Black,
and James M. Montgomery, the three last named of Camp
township, were the nearest neighbors of Mr, Mitchell, and
did their marketing with him. The entire produce of the
surrounding country found for years a market at Apple
Grove. 'Squire Burge, the first Justice of the Peace in
Franklin township, settled there in 1846; and about the same
time Ezekiel Jennings, Joseph Jones, Daniel TruUinger,
Michael Lavish, John Fisher, and several of the Coreys,
were pioneers in the new settlements. Most of these per-
sons, as well as Mr. McCleary, who came in '48, have here-
tefore been mentioned.

NARRATIVE OF A. D. JONES.

Elsewhere in this history, mention is made of A. D.
Jones, who first surveyed the town site of Fort Des Moines,
using, as tradition affirms, a rope instead of a chain, in the
execution of his work. This gentleman was the first County
Surveyor. In 1868, while residing at Omaha, and not being
able to attend in person the meeting of the Early Settlers'

OF POLK COUNTY. 3(j9

Association of Polk County, which was called for that year,
he addressed a letter of communication to that body, which
has been forwarded to us through the kindness of Hon.
Thomas Mitchell. This letter embraces so many events of
a purely historic character, described in easy, familiar lan-
guage, that we deem it proper to publish it in this place.
Our readers are assured that its perusal will materially add
to their information on the subjects of which it speaks, and
they are assured, also, that many of the incidents related
will be found to be rich, racy, and entertaining:

• Omaha, Neb., August 17, 1868.
Secretary 0. S. Association^ PolJc County^ loioa:

Through the kindness of some unknown friend, I re-
ceived a copy of the Register which contained a call for
the assembling of all the Early Settlers of Polk County,
whether residents at the present time of that county, or
elsewhere. It would sfive me much pleasure to be with you
on that interesting occasion, but my business may prevent
me at that particular date. I will, therefore, endeavor to
give you a few plain facts, without any efforts at display,
which you may make use of as you deem proper in behalf
of the Association.

You must excuse me if I should appear somewhat personal
in reference to myself, as what I have to relate will of
course j^ertain much to my own history, having been an ac-
tive participant in much of what transpired while I resided
on the ground of the old garrison of Fort Des Moines.

I arrived at old Father Meacham's, on the East side of
the river, Des Moines, February 13th, 1846. Mr. Meacham
at that time kept a tavern, and I think had some connection
with a small store at the point. There I met Maj. McKay,
February 23d. He was really much of a gentleman, always
affable, and congenial. He was the first licensed attorney
in the place, and it became my lot, as a common pettifog-

3 1 0 CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

ger, to meet him oceasionally before the High Court of
Justice of the Peace. In the first case he was in the right
of it, but I succeeded in throwing his client into the costs,
and obtained the release of my own employer. A gentle-
man who had watched the progress of the case until its ter-
mination, came and tapped me on the shoulder, and said:
" See here. Mister, I have been waiting here to ascertain
who would be the successful lawyer in this case; I therefore
want you to come with me, as I have three cases now for
you." I went, and succeeded in gaining my point of re-
leasing the prisoners. These were my first cases before a
Justice of the Peace.

On the 14th of February, being the next day after I en-
tered the county, I went over to the Garrison ; attended a
political mass meeting, in which I was called upon to act as
Secretary; and by which I was also nominated as County
Surveyor.

The question which then divided the people of the county,
was Brooklyn vs. Des Moines for the County Seat. The
Brooklyn party nominated a gentleman by the name of
Woodward for County Surveyor, who beat me at the jdoUs
several votes. I contested the election, beat him, and re-
ceived my certificate, and was sworn regularly into ofiice.

During the election, it fell to my lot to attend the polls
at Tom Mitchell's, who is, by the way, very much of a gen-
tleman. Although I stood there all day, I believe I did not
get one vote.

Another prominent old settler, by the name of Thomas
McMullen, who afterwards married the daughter of Dr. F.
C. Grimmel, was also at Mr. Meacham's when I came to the
county.

Here let me mention a trick on the part of myself, and
others who are residing there now, and they may connect
themselves with the transaction if they deem proper:

Tom Baker was President of the Senate ; Wall Clapp

OF POLK COUNTY. 311

was a grocery keeper ; Whitten was County Clerk, and
Judge Casady was Postmaster. The question of Seat of
Government was prominent before the Legislature, and Ft.
Des Moines was very much interested in the relocation.
Baker, being the Representative of Polk County, and I hav-
ing a business connection with him, first as student in law,
and afterwards as his partner in practi<;e, it of course brought
me in direct correspondence with him, in a friendly and
personal way, more than many others. All were very anx-
ious to know when the question was to be settled, that they
might buy town lots on which to speculate.

Now for the trick: Tom and P. M. will well rememb-er
it. They daily insisted so strongly for me to inform them
what Baker had to say on the subject, when I had nothing
conclusive myself, that I determined on having some fun
over the question!

I talked the matter up with several prominent persons of
that day, and it was agreed that I should write a letter, drop
it in the postoffice, directed to myself: and when the crowd
were in waiting for their mail, I was to receive mine. I
received a long letter, went into the corner and read it to
myself of course. Many were anxious to learn its contents.
To a few leading ones I apparently divulged the secret of
the great probability that the Capital would be located at
Fort Des Moines. I having surveyed the town, and Wall
Clapp and others, as well as myself, being apparently anx-
ious to make some money out of our information, we took
the plat and started out very secretly to select lots.

Persons would come to us and enquire what we were doing
but we would give evasive and doubtful answers; but they
could see that we were selecting lots and apparently endeav-
oring to keep it secret. I being the prime mover in the
matter, others came to the conclusion that I was in earnest
and knew what I was doing. Anxiety took hold of Tom
McMuUen, and his father-in-law, and they commenced se-

312 CENTENNIAL HI8T0EY

lecting also in dead earnest. They bought about all they
could pay one third down for, and left the field with the proud
satisfaction that they at least had a good thing in their re-
cent purchase.

Then the cat was let loose, and to their great chagrin they
learned that my movements were all a ruse, and of course
they were not well pleased at the deception.

The joke turns, and I became the butt and laughing stock
after a few years in consequence of the wealth which they
accumulated out of that purchase, and my failure to realize
in consequence of my not purchasing at the time they did.
Notwithstanding the joke my friend Tom always remained
on the best of terms with me so far as I know.

The first line I ever ran for pay was east of the river be-
tween Messrs. Hart and Meacham, February 21. In that
region of country, along the Des Moines river, it was form-
erly quite brushy in places. I was employed to run chain
lines occasionally where it was difticult to see the rod-man,
and in many instances, I would require the rod-man to hal-
loo and I would go for the sound.

February 23, John Scott's child died, being the first death
in the county. February 28, the first delegates who went
from the county to meet in convention with Jasper and
Marion, to elect a delegate to assist in forming a Constitu-
tion, were Messrs. Lewis and Martin. Nothing was accom-
plished.

March 1st, the first marriage was solemnized between
John Beard, and Nancy Jane Welman, by Rev. Mr. Post.
The license was procured from Marion county.

The first store opened in Polk county was by Mr. Lloxie,
March 2, at the house of Mr. Meachara.

A. N. Hays and Captain Allen, if I am not mistaken,
opened a coal bank and stone quarry in 1843, being of course
the first in the county.

During the stay of the Dragoons at the Fort, I witnessed

OF POLK COUNTY. 3I3

a very unpleasant scene, March 6, 1846. Two of the
soldiers became intoxicated, and in consequence were put
in the guard house. One was gagged and his hands tied
behind him. The other one, after being kicked and cuffed
across the toe-path repeatedly, had his hands tied behind
him, and then tied to the ceiling just so that he could touch
the floor, and the other fared the same fate before he was
released.

The infantry had left the Fort before I came, and a por-
tion of the Dragoons left with a lot of Indians, March 8.
Capt. Grier, I believe, w^as in command. Mr. Drake, and
afterwards Mr. Hart, had liquor to sell; but Wall Clapp was
the first regular groceryman in the county, and occupied the
old trading post of Mr. Whistler, at the junction of the
Des Moines and 'Coon rivers. It was a log house extend-
ing in the direction of the Des Moines River.

Mr. Ayers, in "'Coon Row," and Mr. Thrift, in the coun-
try, were the first tailors, and were residents when I came,
both having been connected with the army for some time.

On the platteau, or second bench, were several mounds,
which I hold, and think I can prove, were the fallen resi-
dences of Indians — not graves. But I will not discuss that
question here, although a very interesting one to the his-
torian, as well as ourselves.

March 26, I started for the Three River country, for the
purpose of appointing judges of election, leaving poll books,
and selecting jurors, &c. I was acting as Deputy District
Clerk under Perry L. Crossman; transacted nearly all the
business, and organized the county, as the records will
show. Dr. Brooks accompanied me.

Mr. Warren, Whig candidate for delegate to the Sena-
torial convention, to form a constitution for the future
State of Iowa, spoke in Des ^loines, March 31.

Having formerly acted in the capacity of Postmaster, I

was solicited to assist in opening the first regular mail in
40

314 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

the county, April 1st, 1846 — Dr. Brooks, Postmaster; time
of arrival, every Wednesday, and departure, Thursday at 6
o'clock. I suppose you would now think that a long time
to wait for the mail, but I assure you it was a very welcome
visitor to us. The Dr. took the key, and opened the mail
to obtain his bond and commission. Jeremiah Church and
Mr. Newcomer, signed his bond, and I swore him into
office. The mail was wet. I wrote the first two letters that
started out in the mail, one to the Department, and another
to my friend George W. Jones.

The first election was held April 6th, 1846. I find this
note in ray journal in reference to it: "Stood post at
Mitchell's. Judges had erroneous views as to what consti-
tuted a resident, consequently everybody voted who wished
to, even pevsons traveling. Fifteen to twenty illegal votes."

My opponent ran on Mitchell's popularity. Tom had a
great infiuence at that date. He was a shrewd and an ex-
cellent manager of whatever he undertook, and a gentle-
man much liked by everybody who knew him.

Tom Mitchell was elected Sheriff"; Judge McKay, County
Clerk; Tom McMuUen, Recorder. Meacham, Saylor, and
Foutz, Commissioners. Mitchell had a free dinner.

J. B. Scott commenced running the first ferry, May ],
and Dr. Kiikbride came into the Fort, May 25. The County
Seat was located at Fort Des Moines by M. T. Williams, of
Mahaska, and Giles M. Pinneo, from Scott county, after
riding over the county eight days. Log guns were fired,
bonfires made, and the festivities of the occasion terminated
at Tom Baker's, by the Polk County Band, which consisted
of two fiddles, very unscientifically executed.

June 4, 1846, I commenced the survey of the town of
Fort Des Moines. Martin Tucker started the first hotel.
The first preacher of Polk County was Ezra Rath burn,
Methodist, and about the smartest preacher we ever had in
the County. Besides that, he was a gentleman; and not to

OF POLK COUNTY. 3^5

disparage others of his profession, he was every way
their superior.

June 10, the first marriage license was issued to Benj.
Bryant and Barbara Elvira Birge. At this date, we had a
Justice by the name of Michael* who was called upon toper-
form the marriage ceremony; but not knowing how to go
about the matter, he called upon me for advice. I gave him
all the requisite instructions, as I supposed; but not being
satisfied with that, he desired me to write what he should
say. I therefore sat down and penciled ofi* the following
ceremony, and requested him to commit it to memory:

" The parties wishing to unite themselves in marriage,
will join their right hands. Do you take the lady whom
you hold by the hand to be your wife ? Do you take the
gentleman whom you hold by the hand to be your husband?
By the authority vested in me, I pronounce you husband
and w4fe."

I attended the wedding at Grossman's, and the 'Squire
forgot the latter clause, and from the most distant corner of
the house, in a loud voice, I repeated it for him, and they
were married by his acknowledgment and certificate. On
other occasions I was solicited by him to accompany him
to guard and protect him from similar break-downs. One
instance, of more peculiarity than others, now occurs to my
mind, although I have forgotten the names; yet I remember
the location of the scene to have been at the head, or upper
end, of "'Coon Row." (Tom Mitchell can tell you where
that was, if no others.) In order to familiarize the 'Squire
with the ceremony, and its execution, and whilst convivial-
ity was the order of the evening, I called up one couple
after another, they enjoying the fun nearly as much as if it
were reality, and went through the cenemony of marriage
until all present, as well as the Justice, became sufficiently
informed to go through the reality without mistake.

We celebrated the Fourth of July, 1846, with Tom Baker,

3 1 f^ CENTENNIAL HISTORY

Orator; Major McKay, Reader of Declaration of Independ-
ence; Messrs. Winchester, Frazee, and Scott, Marshals, and
myself acting as President of the day. Toasts were read
and cheered. About two hundred people were in attendance.
The day was very warm. Dinner, one dollar per couple. A
dance was held at night; and take the day through, it was
a pleasant and jolly gathering.

These relations of simple facts may not be interfesting to
your members, but of considerable importance to your As-
sociation.

There were many interesting lawsuits about these times;
one in which old Squire Moody prosecuted John Thornby,
for cracTcing jokes. Baker and myself for the plaintiff, and
three attorneys for the defense. It was an action for assault
and battery, and we failed in it for want of evidence.

July 13th and 14th, first sale of lots.

By the Census taken on the 18th, the population of Polk
county was 1301. The number of persons in Fort Des
Moines was 127; families, 23; and houses, 31; they being
those erected by the Government as a Fort.

The lawyers in town July 23, 1846, were T. Baker, W.
D. Frazee, P. M. Casady, L. D. Winchester, and Wm. Mc-
Kay. Physicians, Dr. Fagan, a graduate of St. Louis, and
Dr. Kirkbride.

One store assessed at $1,500.00, kept by B. T. Hoxie; f)ne
dry -goods and grocery store by A. Michael; a grocery and
provision store by W. W. Clapp; a grocery (saloon) and
place of amusement, by J. A. Campbell; a tavern by M.
Tucker; an apothecary shop by L. D. Winchester; a turner
and chair factory, Mr. Yannatta; a wagon maker and car-
penter, D. Solenberger; mill-wright, John Ehle; and Mr. W.
F. Ayers, a tailor. " A. Michael, justice of the peace, and
Jesse R. Miller, constable. Methodist Church with two
ministers, E. Rathburn and his father; and a Babtist church.

July 23, 1 made it my business to take the census. There

OF POLK COUNTY. 3^7

where eleven young ladies, and thirteen young gentlemen,
who were proper subjects of matrimony. I regret that I did
not record their names, although I might now name some
of them by guess.

A very perceptible difference was formerly noticed in ref-
erence to the waters of the Des Moines and 'Coon rivers, the
former being much the warmer at the same hour.

Up to the 24th of July, I had issued four marriage licences.
One of the gentlemen informed me had no money to pay
for his license, and proposed to pay for it in splitting rails.
Inasmuch as I was not in want of such services, I declined
the pi offered labor, and donated him the license.

The first frame building put up in Fort Des Moines, was
by David Solenberger, and was eighteen by twenty, with
nine feet story.

July 25th, lots at first sale brought from $10 to 8I6O,
Wall Clapp paying the highest price for the lot nearest the
junction of 'Coon and Des Moines rivers. The lots were
disposed of principally to speculators.

At the first election there, there were one hundred and
seventy-nine votes given for the two candidates for Sherifi".

At the August election following, I must have been very
popular, for I was elected Constable by the Whigs, and
Justice of the Peace by the Democrats; and took my cer-
tificates from both. It was through spite that the Whigs
ran me for Constable.

At the August election the number of votes cast was 211
making a gain of 32 votes in four months.

If any of you have any curiosity to look into an old
Squire's docket, get that of Esq. Stark, near Dr. Brooks
It will make you shake your sides every ti<ue you think of
it. For a number of years I kept many of the cases in
memory, but they have passed from me to such an extent
that I could not render them sufficiently intelligible.

The first burial was that of a gentleman from over the
'Coon, August 8th.

3 ] g CENTENNIAL HISTOEY

It may not be uninteresting to the Association to learn
who inhabited that wild region, August 18tb, 1846. I will
therefore present you with the principal names of the citi-
zens of your city at that date.

Ezra Rathburn, father, two young ladies, and two young
men; D. Solenberger and wife; W. W. Clapp and wife; J.
Campbell, wife and two or three children; Mr. Thorp and
several children; Mr. Morris, wife and children; Sara Yan-
atta, wife and children ; B. T. Hoxie, wife and children ;
Martin Tucker, wife and several children ; Col. T. Baker,
wife and several children; Mr. Caves, wife and two children;
V^m. Ward and wife; Perry Wear and wife ; William F.
Ayers, wife and children; A. Michael, wife and child; Col.
John Rose, wife and children; Mr. Crews and wife; P. L.
Crossman, wife and child; John Ehle, wife and child; Mr.
Buzick, wife and children.

Among the young folks, I find the following names: Miss
Mary Thorp, a marriageable young lady, with a sister just
beginning to look upon the bright side of matrimony; Miss
Malissa Hoxie was also in the line of marriageable promo-
tion; also, Miss Luticia Tucker, and Miss Kirkbride. An
old maid, by the name of Jemima Scott, and several others
whose names I have forgotten.

The young gentlemen about the town were: George A.
Michael, Dr. Kirkbride, Thomas McMuUen, P. M. Casady,
L. McHenry, Lewis Whitten, Maj. Wm. McKay, Jonathan
Rathburn, and Ezra Rathburn.

PIONEER EXPERIEXCES.

John D. McGlothlen informs us that when he arrived,
with his family, at their new home in Allen township,
which occurred in June, 1846, he accepted the hospitality of
James Davis, an old bachelor, who tendered his cabin to
the new-comers until such time as they could erect one for
themselves. Here, in their new home, the ague made an

OF POLK COUNTY. 319

invasion; and Mr. McGlothlen, his wife, and children, be-
came victims of this annoying disease. October 2d, 1846,
they got possession of the cabin on their own faim.

The structure which they inhabited had but one room in
it; and the puncheons used for flooring purposes were so
scanty that they covered but half the earth on the inside
from view. There was neither door nor window; but as a
substitute for these, the opening which had been made for
a fire-place, was employed for this purpose. In time, how-
ever, as the fire-plaqe and chimney were in process of con-
struction, it became difficult to establish communication
with the outside world through such a peculiar orifice. In
the midst of sickness and discouragements, the necessary-
improvements were made to the building before the advent
of very cold weather. The nearest grist mill, at the time,
was Duncan's, near Oskaloosa; and during the fall of 1840,
Mr. McGlothlen took his team of four horses, and large
covered wagon — the same which had brought himself and
family from Indiana — and proceeded to the mill, taking
with him a number of grists for waiting families in the
neighborhood. Arriving at the mill, he found it so crowded
with anxious customers, that he deemed it advisable to go'
farther. At Farmington, he found the situation the same;
and success did not crown his efiorts until he reached Bo-
naparte, on the lower Des Moines river. On the homeward
route, bad weather set in, and teaming became heavy and
laborious. It took him just twenty-one days to make' the
round trip.

METHODIST EEUNIOJT.

In September, 1867, the three Conferences of the M. E.
Church in the State, viz: Iowa, Upper Iowa, and Des
Moines, had a fraternal meeting in this city. Bishops Janes,
Clark, and Thompson, were present. Hon. C. C. Nourse, in
behalf of the city, made the welcoming speech to the Con-

320 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

ferences. It was an interesting convocation of ministers,
and will long be remembered by our citizens.

GOVEEXOR CARPEXTER.

In 1853, while J. C. Savery was keeping hotel at the old
Hoxie stand on Third street. Gov. C. C. Carpenter, then
young and unknown, came to Fort Des Moines on his first
tour to the West, in search of a school. After sojourning
for a time with Mr. Savery, and failing to obtain a school
here, took up his satchel, and wended h^s tedious and weary
way to Fort Dodge, eighty-five miles, as a pedestrian. It
is hardly probable, while achieving this laborious journey
on foot, that the young immigrant looked forward pro-
phetically to the time when he would become Governor of
a great State, with more than a million inhabitants. Such
is fate, or rather, such is grit, pluck, brains, and a superin-
tending Providence.

THE GUARD HOUSE.

The old Government Guard House was erected just at
the place where Vine and Third streets now intersect each
other. A partition was run through it, and here, in 1846,
Mr. Campbell kept a grocery, with his provisions on one
side of the partition, and his various liquors on the other.
On the liquor side, as he affirms, the first Grand Jury of the
county met for consultation; and it is easily imagined, that
in those times when whisky was much more popular than
it is now, the jurors had a good time of it in their solemn
convocations.

W. A. SCOTT.

The body of W. A. Scott, was brought back from Den-
ver, where he died in 1857, and buried on Capital Hill,
near the old Capitol, under the shade of an oak tree. This
was done in consequence of his own request. He had

OF POLK COUNTY. 32 1

spent a common fortune in improvements at Fort Des
Moines, and it was but natural that he should wish to be
brought back here for burial, so that his body might re-
pose among scenes and associations of the olden time,
which he loved so well. Nothing to-day, marks the spot
where he rests, but a rude fence around his grave.

THE FIRST WELL.

The first well in the county, was excavated by Isaac
Cooper, who employed in the c aeration a pair of skillets
which had been left by the Indians. The well was twenty
feet deep.

A PRIMATIVE CHURN.

Peter Newcomer, a substantial old settler, who still re-
mains with us, obtained from Captain Allen, February 1844,
a permit to make a claim four miles east of the Fort. As a
substitute for a churn, Mr. N. hollowed out a log, and for a
dasher, he brought into requisition a hickory pole, thus in-
geniously supplying his wife with an invention for making
butter,

THE HOSTILE SIOUX.

Often during the sojourn of the soldiers at the Fort, pop-
ular excitements were occasioned among the Indians, as
well as whites, by rumors of expected raids from the hostile
Sioux. At such times the stolid and phlegmatic Sac, made
indolent by the help and protection of the Government,
would turn away philosophically from the scout who brought
the news, and retire to his quarters to re-employ his valuable
time in playing cards and other recreations.

MARLY DESPERADOES.

Much trouble was experienced at times by the soldiers and

settlers, which was caused by the importation into the coun-
41

322 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

try of a number of armed desperadoes who were constantly
engaged in planning and executing their schemes of vio-
lence and outlawry. On one occasion, two or three of these
ruffians, among whom was a scamp by the name of Jonas
Carsner, succeeded in stealing several horses belonging to
the Sacs. A detachment of men was sent out by order of
Captain Allen, to arrest the thieves, and bring them to pun-
ishment. Jonas Carsner was caught, and after a summary trial
which elicited no direct evidence against the defendant, he-
was delivered over into the hands of Sergeants Haley, Good
ell Smith, and another person whose name has not trans-
pired. These soldiers, disguised as Indians, gave to the
culprit a thorough and satisfactory whipping, which he
doubtless deserved, and then let him go.

A man named Fish, from whom two horses had been sto
len by Carsner's band of ruffians, started out after the
whipping and dismissal of the latter, to hunt for his lost
property. He was mounted on a horse belonging to a Sac.
As he was passing fhe skirt of a forest, Carsner suddenly
leaped from his ambuscade, cut the saddle-girth, hurled
Fish to the ground, mounted his horse, and rode away in
triumph. The unfortunate Fish, who was out of water at
this discomfiture, footed it back to .the garrison, where he
reported the results of his luckless trip, amid the execra-
tions of the Sacs, and the laughter of the soldiers.

WOLVES.

Wolves were numerous and mischievous in those times.
They repeatedly infested the cabin of John Saylor, who was
running a garrison farm north of the Fort. At a certain
time, when Mr. S. was absent on business in Van Buren
county, these animals became so impudent and ferocious
that, approaching the cabin with clamorous howls, they
climed every accessible eminence, and peered savagely
through the windows, threatening the wife who was the
only occupant of the building.

OF POLK COUNTY. 323

A KNOCK-DOWN AKGUMENT.

Shortly after John Saylor established himself in the town-
ship which bears his name, a number of besotted Indians came
to his cabin, and demanded meat and other supplies for
their expectant stomachs. Mr. Saylor was not in a condi-
tion to surrender provisions which his family needed; and
in the crisis of the emergency, he grasped a stout hickory
sapling, and after knocking down a number of the dusky
intruders, he managed to drive the others away, thus achiev-
ing in this unequal conflict a victory over his enemies!

ISAAC COOPER.

Isaac Cooper at one time took a grist of corn from Oska-
loosa to Parmalee's mill to be ground. The river was very high,
and he was obliged to ferry his corn across on a raft of logs.
Subsequently, he sold the meal at the Fort, for two dollars
per bushel. The first chair in the County was manufactured
by the same gentleman, the material of which was a black
walnut tree, the bottom being formed of the bark. As
boots and shoes were a scarce commodity, Mr. Cooper, rec-
ognizing the fact that necessity is the mother of invention,
employed the tops of boots discarded by the dragoons, and
parts of saddle-skirts, wherewith to fashion a pair of shoes
for one of his children. He states that these shoes were an
improvement, for real value, on any others, which have
since been used.

OLD EACE COURSE.

The site of the present Methodist Church, on Fifth street,
was originally part of an Indian race course, whereon these
aboriginal inhabitants tried the speed and bottom of their
ponies, generally winning when they staked their bets
against white competitors.

324 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

FIRST CELEBRATION.

On the Fourth of July, 1846, a celebration occurred at
Fort Des Moines in honor of the day. It was a spirited af-
fair, mixed up with anvil explosions, and numerous other
noises which convulsed the air. Many shots were fired by
the soldiers for fun and glory into the garrison buildings;
and the little boys had a rare time while engaged in ex-
tracting the balls which penetrated the palisades. Early in
the day a procession, two hundred strong, was formed
under the direction of Messrs. Winchester, Frazee and Scott,
Marshals of the day; and marching to a grove on the West
Side, where Col. Tom Baker delivered a patriotic discourse,
and where a sumptous dinner was served up to the waiting
crowd. In the evening the festivities were continued by a
dance, made lively by the two fiddles which had been used
in the celebration during the former part of the day. Thus
ended the first celebration of our nation's birth in Polk
County.

FIRST PRISONER.

Thomas Mitchell, Sheriff of Polk County, received the
first prisoner into custody. The defendant was from Mer-
cer county, Missouri, and was charged with murder. The
arrest was made by Peter Myers. When the requisition for
the prisoner came from the Governor of Missouri ; an at-
tempt was made by his friends to rescue him, but Messrs.
Mitchell and Myers skillfully eluded them, and the mur-
derer was promptly delivered into the hands of the proper
authorities.

A BEAR STORY.

In 1846, Camillus Leftwich, who with his family had been
snake-haunted in a rail pen for six weeks, started out one

OF POLK COUNTY. 325

morniDg to traverse a large area of country, in quest of
neighbors to assist him in raising his cabin, which was sit-
uated in Four Mile Township. On his way, he saw a large
black bear emerging ■ from a thicket. He made a note of
this circumstance in his mind; and after the cabin had been
raised, Mr. Letwich and his neighbors concluded to indulge
in a bear hunt. Armed with such implements of slaughter
as they could find, and supported by three greyhounds, the
party commenced to hunt. Bruin was discovered, and from
a distance of fifty yards, Mr.- L. took aim with his old flint-
lock gun, and the bear yielded up the ghost!

COUNTY si:a.t contkoversy.

The war between Brooklyn and Des Moines, in 1846, for
the County Seat location, was peculiarly exciting, enlisting
the sympathies and active efforts of the friends of both lo"
calities. Thomas Mitchell, Dr Fagan, and two other gen-
tlemen, all of whom were interested in favor of Fort Des
Moines, started on a cold February day to Iowa City, whither
they were going as lobby members to confer with the Com-
missioners of location. The first night, chilled and weary,
and half famished, they called a halt four miles east of
Newton, at Bennett's cabin, where they sojourned until
morning, sleeping on a trundle bed. They broke their fast
with corn bread and sour bacon; and they left the cabin
refreshed and full of hope and courage.

CUEIOirS HABITATION.

It is reported of James Smith, the eminent pomologist,
that he and his son, being at a loss to provide themselves
with a habitation during their first winter's sojourn in that
part of Delaware Township which now belongs to Doug-
lass, excavated a hole in the side of a hill, the door to
which was constructed of slabs. Near this unpromising
residence, the first nursery was started in Polk County.

326 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

J. C. JOEDAN.

J. C. Jordan, who settled in Walnut Township in 1848,
had the advantage of his pioneer neighbors in some archi-
tectural conveniences. Ordinarily, the pioneer's door was
composed of slabs, or rude boards, rived from a black wal-
nut tree, fastened together with cross pieces, through
which wooden pegs were driven into the slabs. Added to
this, the primitive door was suspended on wooden hinges;
and a wooden latch, with string attachments extending
through a hole to the outside, for the welcome visitor to
grasp with friendly hand, completed the arrangement.
Mr. Jordan, however, gave to his cabin a regular battened
door, whose modern air made it an object of general ad-
miration.

WALNUT CEEKK MILL.

'Coon River was dammed, and a race was cut from it to a
point on Walnut Creek, on which Baker's flouring and saw
mill, was erected, thus operating a mill on one stream by the
water of another. This mill was continued until about
1860, when it was abandoned to decay.

STEAMBOATS.

Our friend C. A. Mosier, to whom we are indebted for
many valuable facts of history, states that he has seen as
many as six steamboats, at one time, at the Point, that is, at
the junction of the Des Moines and 'Coon rivers.

FIRST ORCHARD.

The first apple and peach orchard in Polk County, was
set out by E. Mosier, in 1848, on what is now called Burn-
ham Farm, two miles north of the city, on the Ft. Dodge
stage road. Two heavy crops of peaches were produced in
1855 and 1856; but the trees were winter-killed in 1857.

OF POLK COUNTY. 327

DR. J. C. BENiyTETT.

In one of the old stage barns erected by U. S. ti'oops in
1843, Dr. J. C. Bennett was compelled to suppress the sale
of his work, entitled "Expose of Mormonism." Ropes and
revolvers were freely used to bring about this result.

folk's compliments to GUTHRIE.

A glance over Mrs. MaxwelPs interesting and well writ-
ten History of Guthrie County, shows that Polk County
played an important part in shaping th«8 destinies of that
prairie commonwealth. As late as 1859, Des Moines was
the Guthrie county settlers' base of supplies for the pur-
chase of groceries and dry goods. Here, also, they came
for flour and meal.

Mr. Lewis Whitten, of Polk, and David Bishop, of Mad-
ison, were the Commissioners to locate the county seat.

The Baptist Church was organized in August, 1858, by
Rev. J. A. Nash.

Hon. Isaac Parrish, of Des Moines, was the first resident
attorney, and was District Attorney in 1^55.

The first editor in the county, if we are correctly in-
formed— Mr. John E. Parrish, also went from Des Moines.

The first religious services held in the county, were in
Jackson township, Rev. Michael Hare, a Methodist clergy-
man from Des Moines, officiating.

In 1852, in the same township, a post office was estab-
lished, named Allen, in compliment to B. F. Allen.

The first criminal prosecution was that of Wm. Rhoades
and Noah Trogler, for larceny. There is yet in existence
the receipt of " W. H. McHenry, Sheriff of Polk County,"
for the prisoners who were sent to Des Moines for safe keep-
ing. If there's anything connected with old settlerism any-
whefe in this vicinity that our Bill hasn't had a hand in, it
has not yet been made jpublic, — State Register^ Nov., 1876.

328 CENTENNIAL HISTOKY

THE LA.TS ELECTION.

The following is the result of the late election in this
county, November 7, 1876:

For President— Hayes, 4,324; Tilden, 2,382; Cooper, 482.

For Secretary of State — Young, 4,337; Stubenrauch, 2,374;
Macready, 476.

For Auditor of State — Sherman, 4,349; Groneweg, 2,367;
Brown, 477.

For Treasurer of State — Bemis, 4,330; Jones, 2,382; Fry,
476.

For Register of State Land Office — Secor, 4,323; Ridenour,
2,356; Walker, 507.

For Attorney General — McJunkin, 4,327; Cook, 2,379.

For Judge Supreme Court — Seevers, 4,329; Hayes, 2,379;
Negus, 476.

Jor Judge to fill Vacancy — Rothrock, 4,311; Graham,
2,316; Jones, 453.

For Superintendent Public Instruction— Yon Coelln, 4,263;
Nash, 2,799.

For Congress — Cummings, 4,178; Gilpin, 2,332; Hastie,
640.

For Circuit Judge— Mitchell, 5,701.

For Clerk of Courts — Keys, 4,5 08; King, 2,244; Mcwhorter^
434.

For Recorder — Read, 4,380; Stutz, 2,350; Norris, 416.

The Republican majorities range from 1,500 to 2,300.
The total vote cast in the county on the President was 7,188,
while 3,477 were cast in Des Moines.

THE CAPITAL CITY.

There is no grander site in the country, on which to build
up a magnificent city, than the one which was chosen for
the Capital of Iowa. Shrewd and sagacious men, who had

OF POLK COUNTY. 329

the ability to comprehend the great natural advantages of
this site, and who had the ability, likewise, to penetrate the
future, anticipating the prospective greatness of our city,
made early investments here, knowing that the time would
surely come in which they would reap a rich harvest of
prosperity. Well do we remember the impression made on
our mind, nearly a quarter of a century ago, when, for the
first time, we stood on Capitol Hill, and looked westward
over the luxuriant landscape, in the midst of which the em-
bryo city reposed in all its positive, as well as its prophetic
beauty.

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 occasional residences. Far-
ther on, we saw the plain, or beautiful valley, stretching
away from the base of the hill to the river, covered here
and there with unpretentious buildings, erected by the pio-
neers of the Capital City. In the center of the valley,
penetraticg 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
waters, as a tribute of respect and reverence, to the beauti-
ful stream with which it became blended.

Looking beyond the Des Moines river, our eyes fell on
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 business
houses became more numerous and more ambitious ; and
beyond these, the plain Avhich extended to the bluffs, was

42

330 CENTENNIAL HISTORY

not only magnificent in itself, but was large enough to form
the site of a vast metropolis.

la the splendid panorama, spread out before our delighted
vision, we could not fail to survey with pleasure the bold and
romantic hights, which, on both sides of the two rivers, en-
compassed the valley, seeming to come down from their
tree crowned eminences, to do honor to the young city
which was destined in time to become the metropolis of
Iowa. Now, then, if the reader has followed us in our de-
scription, so as to comprehend the beautiful scenery of this
locality, with its spacious valley, separated by the rivers,
and its cordon of wooded heights, standing around it like
invincible sentinels, watching through the years its progress
and security, he will agree with us, in the declaration, that
there is no city amid the landscapes of earth, on which Na-
ture in her benevolence has lavished more kindness, than
our beloved Des Moines.

SILVER WEDDIjSGS.

We have just space -enough at the close of this volume,
to state that the silver weddings of W. W. Moore, Dr. W.
H. Ward, and L. P. Sherman, were celebrated at the resi-
dence of the first named gentleman, Tuesday evening, No-
vember 25, 1 876. Dr. Ward came to this part of the country
in 1848, and was united to Miss Allie Yount, on North
river, in Warren county. He practiced medicine many
years at Carlisle, before removing to Des Moines. Rev.
Sanford Hoines solemnized the marriage.

W. W. Moore and Mary Ann Winchester were wedded
at the old Winchester residence in Des Moines, which occu-
pied the site of the Valley Back. Rev. J. A. Nash officiated
at the ceremony. Mr. Moore is the veteran merchant, hav-
ing been longer in that business in Des Moines than any of
his present cotemporaries.

Mr. Sherman was united in this place to Miss Susan R.

OF POLK COUNTY. 33I

Lawson, "Rev. Thompson Bird officiating. The ceremony
took place at the residence of James Hall, corner of Court
Avenue and First street. Mr. Sherman was the pioneer
editor; Dr. Ward was the pioneer physician, and Mr. Moore
was the pioneer merchant.

The old settlers' gifts, at this rare celebration, consisted
of a silver set donated to each couple; the three sets being
worth $500.00. The recipients of these fine gifts were un-
prepared by any previous intimation for their reception.
Judge W. W. Williamson, by invitation, addressed Mr.
Sherman and his lady, Judge Phillips, also by invitation,
addressed Mr. Moore and his lady; and Judge Casady was
called out to address Dr. Ward and his wife, to which he
gracefully responded. Messrs Thomas Hatton, Jr., J. P.
Sharman, and Misses Jennie Nash, and Carrie Laird, with
Professor Proctor at the organ, furnished the choicest music
for the occasion. Rev. J. A. Nash, in behalf of the principals,
acknowledged the reception of the silver sets from the Old
Settlers.

CRYSTAL LODGE.

Crystal Lodge, Mitchellville, No. 313, was organized No-
vember 20, 18V1. The charter members were: S. S. Moore,
H. J. Grismer, N. W. Cram, E. S. Hagaman, J. R. Sage,
Peter Miller, J. Russell, D. N. Darley, Joe Riggott, and C.
C. Ellis.

The first officers were: S. S. Moore, W. M.; H. J. Gris-
mer, Sen. W.; E. S. Hagawan, Jun. W.

The present officers are: Robert Ball, W. M.; W. S. Jones,
Sen. W.; L. W. Cannon, Jun. W.

This Lodge has sixty members. Seven have demitted,
and one has been called from labor to refreshment, since
organization.

INDEX.

PAGE.

Aboriginal Population 16

Ancient Documents 48

Army of the Tennessee 132

Arsenal, State * 135

Agricultural Implements 157

Agriculture 177

Central Iowa District Association 178

Agricultural Societies 179

Adjutant General Baker 287

Allen, Captain James 304

Argument, A Knock-down 323

Births and Deaths, first 22

Brooks, Dr. T. K 42

Bridges and Roads 141

Banks 273

Baker, N. B., Adjutant General 287

Block-House, etc 291

Bear Storv 324

Bennett, Dr. J. C 327

Bands, Brass and String ; ., 280

Claims and Pioneers 21

County Seat Location 22

Claim Association 36

County Government 90

Board of Commissioners 90

Judges of Election appointed 90

County Precincts organized 91

Election Judges 92

Court House 93

County divided 94

Elections of 1849 94

Court House and Jail 95

Probate Ju<1ges. , 96

C'.unty Judges 96

Board of Supervisors 98

^ew Court House 99

County Officers and deputies 100

County Farm 106

Centennial Fourth 135

CaledoniaaClub 235

Conductors' Brotherhood 238

Citizens' Association 277

334 i™EX.

PAGE.

Cadets— Political 285

Celebration — a noted 300

Carpenter — Governor 320

Churn — a primitive 321

Cooper, Isaac 323

Celebration— first 324

County Seat controversy 325

Capital City 328

Dedication 3

Discovery of Iowa -10

Des Moines River ; 11

District Court 108

Judges and other officers 110

Officers and Attorneys 110

Attorneys admitted in 1851 Ill

Des Moines Coal Companies 147

Des Moines Coal Company 148

K W. Sypher 149

Excelsior Company , 149

Watson (Company 149

Pleasant Hill Company 150

Eureka Company 150

Eclipse Company 151

Iowa Central Company 151

Hawkey e Company , 151

Cooley's 152

I indsev's 152

Peterson's 152

Driving Park Association 182

Directory — Des Moines 193

Dr. Brook's brick house 298

Desperadoes — early ..„ 321

Election, first 23

Early Settlers' Association 41-

Eirst Members 43

Dead of same 43

First Festival 44

Historic Items 45

Old Settlers Death 46

Unrecorded Deaths 47

FnroUment, Board of 132

Educational 196

Schools and Colleges 196

St. Ambrose School (Catholic) 201

St. Mary's Catholic German School.. 201

Kindergarten 202

St. Paul's Guild .;.. 202

Seabury School 202

Select School 203

formal School 203

Independent School Association 203

INDEX. 335

Educational— Con^mwf<i.

PAGE,

Business College 204

Law College 205

Des Moines University 205

College Literary Association 208

Engineers' Brotherhood 238

Express Conapany 265

Equitable Life Insurance 277

Election, the late 328

Fort Des Moines 24

Ou:'o 'k from 1845 to 1850 24

bituaiion in 1849 31

Extinction of 'iitle 35

Fleming War 40

Farmers' Exchange and Club 279

Fire Companieb 281

First Odd Fellow's Burial 288

Flood of 1851 299

Grist and Saw Mills 164

German Tufner's Association 237

Gas Companies... ' 269

Guard House 320

Hotels 267

Hawkeye Fire Insurance 276

Hospital and Workingmens' Club 283

Horace Greeley's visit 298

historic Items 298

Habitation — curious 325

Indian Traders, etc 20

Iowa Exposition Building 278

Indian Chiefs 289

Journalism 183

State Leader 183

Iowa State Register 185

Homestead 187

State Journal ; 188

Iowa Progress 189

Iowa State Gazette 189

The People .... 189

Dailv Bulletin 189

Patrons' Helper 190

Western Jurist 190

Temperance Platform 190

Plain Talk.... 191

Baptist Beacon 191

Analyst 191

Anzeiger 191

336 INDEX.

Journalism — Continued.

PAGE.

Herald of Liberty 191

School Journal '. 192

The Motor , .'. 192

New Broom, 192

Pomologist 192

Monroe's Special Train : i92

Iowa Printing Company 193

Jealousy — etiectsof 297

Johnson murder 303

Jordan, J. C 3'26

Library Association.

Mounds— Ancient 15

Mitchell Seminary 58

Miscellaneous Items 98

Murder— first Ill

Military Companies 132

Mineral Resources 143

Mininor— first systematic 145

Manufactures , * 152

Plow Shops «? 154

Foundries and MachineShops 155

Oil Mills 156

Furniture 157

Planing Mills 158.

School Furniture 158

Scale Company 158

Potteries 159

Woolen Mills 159

Marble AVorks 159

Organ Factory 160

Spice Mills 160

Bricks 161

Carriage Factories... J61

Miscellaneous 162

Medical Society, County 251

Mineral Springs 285

Musical Composer 286

Mormons — the 302

Mysterious disappearance 304

Mr. Mitchell's Narrative 305

Methodist Keunion o 319

Mill— Walnut Creek 326

New Capitol 140

Narrative of A. D. Jones 308

Official History 7

Resolution by Congress, suggesting such a work 7

Proclamation of Governor Kirk wood, authorizing 7

INDEX. 53:

Official History — Continued.

PAGE„

Invitation by the Centennial Commissioners for such

a history 8

Old Lang Syne — Poem 73

Orders— the different 225

I. O. O. F., Fort Des Moines Lodge 225

Jonathan Lodge 226

Capital Lodge 226

Rebecca Lodge 227

Ebenezer Encampment 227

A. F. & A. M., Capital Council 228

Home Lodge 228

Capital Lodge , 228

Corinthian Chapter 229

Emanuel Consistory 229

Pioneer Lodge ., 230

Temple Commandery 230

Eastern Star 231

North Star 241

Crystal ( Mitchell ville) 331

Benefit Association 231

Improved Order of Red Men 232

United Workmen 233

Des Moines Lodge „ 233

Capital Lodge 283

Knights of Pythias, Myrtle Lodge 234

Capital City Lodge 234

Ancient Order of Hibernians. 239

Jewish Order 241

I. O. G. T., Des Moines Lodge 245

Union Lodge 245

Eureka Temple 246

Jocelyn Temple... 246

Sons of Temperance 246

Polk County Granges— P. of H „ 247

Polk City Lodges 252

Omnibus Line 265

Old Land-mark Gone 293

One of our old land-marks 294

Orchard, the first 326

Preface 5

Physical Features 16

Primitive Justice 24

Pork Business 165

Publishing Houses 194

Poets, Polk County 287

Photographers, first 289

Polk county and Agricultural College 301

Pioneer Experiences 318

Prisoner, the first* „ 324

Polk's Compliments to Guthrie.; 327

Raccoon River 13

Relief Association 126

Reunion, Grand Military 131

43

BBS INDEX,

PAGE.

Roads and Bridges 141

Railroads 169'

Our present Railroads, 17&

Railroad Stations „ 17&

Reli|;ious Organizations 209

Fifth Street M. E. Church 209^

Wesley Chapel M. E 210!

Asbury Chapel M. E 211

East Fifth Street M. E, „ 211

Centenary M. E 211

Burns Chapel M. E , 212

African M. E, Church 222

Presbyterian Churches^ 21S

Baptist Churches 214

Episcopal Chuich . 216

Plymouth Church 216-

First Christian Church , 218

Church of Christ 219

English Lutheran Church 219

German Lutheran „ 220

St. Ambrose Church (Catholic) 22a

St. Mary's Cathohc Church , 221

Hebrew Church 221

Children of Israelites 222

United Presbyterian 222

Methodist Protestant 222

United Brethren 222

German Methodist 223

Universalist Church , 22S

Swedish Churches. 223

First Spiritual Association 223

Evangelical Association 223

Young Men's Christian Association 224

Friends , 224

County Denominations 224

Railroad Officers 272

Reminiscences 299

Racecourse, Old 323

State and County... 11

Skunk, or Chicaqua River 14

Soldiers, U.S 19

Soldiers, Polk County 113

Second and Third Infantry ... 113

Company E, Fourth Infantry, etc 117

Tenth Iowa Infantry 119

Co. B, 15th Iowa Infantry, etc 120

Co. F, 16th Iowa Infantry, etc 121

Co. B, 17th Iowa Infantry, etc 121

Twenty -Third Regiment 122

Thirty-Fourth Regiment 123

Thirty-Ninth Regiment...! 123

Forty-Seventh Regiment 124

First Infantry, Colored 124

Second Cavalrv 124

INDEX. 339

Soldiers, Polk County — ConiinuecL Page,

Eighth Cavalry , 125

First Battery 125

Second Battery, etc 125

Soldiers, Our , 126

State Capitol 138

Saw and Grist Mills , 164

St. George's Society 237

Street Rail Road 275

State Officers 276

Supreme Court 276

State Insurance Co., (Fire) 277

Saloon — primitive , <, 292

Spirit Lake Massacre 302

Scott, W. A 320

Sioux — the hostile 321

Steamboats .' 326

The Townships 51

Township Organizations 51

Allen..... 52

Beaver 56

Bloomfield 59

Camp 60

Delaware 63

Douglas 65

Elkhart 66

Four Mile^ 67

Franklin 68

Jefferson 69

Madison 70

Saylor 85

Walnut 86

Washington 88

The County 136

Typographical Union 235

Temperance Association — Peoples' 247

Town and City — Original Plats and Additions 253

Cemeteries 254

Fort Des Moines 254

City of Des Moines 256

Mayors 259

City Officers 260

Post Masters 261

Telegraphs 276

The Taxidermist 291

U. S. Land Office 112

U. S. Pension Office 129

Weddings, First 21

Woman Suffrage Association 239

Western Stage Company 263

Water Works , 270

Water Company 270

White inhabitants, first 295

Well, the first 321

Wolves 322

Weddings, silver 330

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