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, Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa
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PIONEERS
OF
POLK COUNTY, IOWA
AND REMINISCENCES OF
EARLY DAYS
BY
L. F. ANDREWS
Volume II
DES MOINES
BAKER-TRISLEE COMPANY
1908
THE REGISTEn AND I.EADER COMrANT.
DE8 MOINES.
1190319
First Official Seal of the District Couht of Polk County, Iowa
The Eagle Side of a Quarter Dollar, April Seventh, 1846
ROBERT S. FINKBINE
ROBERT S. FINKBINE
IN these days of grabs, grafts, and peculation by those having con-
trol of trust and public funds, it is pleasing to record at least
one person who was proof against all temptation, and his name
was Robert S. Finkbine, or "Bob," as he was familiarly called.
Though not an early settler of Des IMoines, he was a pioneer of
the state, and closely identified with its growth in many directions.
He came to Iowa from Ohio in 1850, settled at Iowa City as a
builder, for which he had fitted himself by education and experi-
ence. His quaint, old-fashioned ways attracted the attention of
Governor Kirkwood, another of like ilk, and they became warm,
firm friends. He established a reputation there by his skill and
integrity in the construction of some of the State University build-
ings, the College for the Blind at Vinton, and coimty buildings
elsewhere.
In 1864, he was elected Representative to the Legislature, and
served two terms. As a law-maker, he was alert, clear-headed, had
the courage of his convictions, courteous, affable, put on no frills,
jolly, an inveterate joker, brusque, blunt of speech, never talked
to the galleries, and made lots of fun for the staid and stately
solons of the House.
Though not gifted as a speech-maker, his Teutonic frankness,
genial temperament, and honesty won the esteem and confidence of
every member of the Legislature, for he could be relied upon to sup-
port every measure of practical benefit to the people, and make
those not ridiculous — a peculiar gift he had.
In those days, there was an abimdance of grabs and peculations.
It was not uncommon — in fact, it was the custom — on the opening
of the session, for each member to find on his desk a package neatly
wrapped, enclosing a pocket knife, a gold pen, a portfolio, an
eraser, or some other article possibly useful.
The custom became so uniform, the expense so considerable, and
5
6 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
the inquiry so frequent as to where they came from, the Eleventh
General Assembly deemed it best to legalize it, and one day a reso-
lution was presented, requiring each member to be furnished a
good pocket knife. Hoyt Sherman oflFered an amendment by add-
ing, "at a cost not to exceed two dollars." x^Jiother member moved
to amend the amendment by including "a good shaving cup and
brush." Another member wanted sheep shears, until finally the
thing got so farcical it was dropped, but each member got a pocket
knifo, penknife, eraser, and gold pen, and the regular rejwrters for
daily papers also got a pocket knife or gold pen. I was then report-
ing for Chicago, Saint Paul and Saint Louis papers, and was given
a pocket knife, all of which "at a cost not to exceed two dollars."
It was the custom, also, for the members to vote themselves daily
newspapers and the necessary postage to send them to their con-
stituents. One day, the question came up to fix the number that
should bo ordered for each member, when amendments at once
began to pile up to limit it to those printed in the state, to those
loyal during the war, to twenty, twenty-five and thirty. It was
finally decided that each member should have thirty dailies, three
of which may be published outside the state — there were but twelve
dailies published in the state — or their equivalent in weeklies.
The expense for newspapers furnished the Eleventh session was
thirteen thousand, two hundred and ninety dollars and fifty-nine
cents; for postage, ten thousand, twenty-one dollars and fifteen
cents. For the next session, the Twelfth, the expense for news-
payers was twenty-three thousand, seven himdred and two dollars
and twenty-nine cents ; for postage, sixteen thousand, two hundred
and twelve dollars and thirty-three cents. Members also had letter
stationery, with printed headings.
During the session of 18G4, Dubuque got short of water, and
called a convention to consider the improvement of the Mississippi
River. The Legislature was invited to attend. The member from
Buchanan, in the House, resolved, "That this Assembly accept the
invitation." The going, and how, was another question. After
considerable maneuvering, the "gentleman from Linn" moved to
lay the whole matter on the table, which was lost, when the "gen-
tleman from Black Hawk" moved to amend the acceptance with,
ROBERT S. FINKBINE 7
"provided that there shall be no expense incurred to the state, either
as per diem or traveling, or for postage." He did not tell the
House what the probable expense for postage would be, but his
amendment was defeated, whereupon another member came to the
rescue of conscientious scruples by moving that, "No member shall
be regarded as under any moral or pecuniary obligation to draw
his per diem or postage for the time of such absence." It was
adopted, forty-six to thirty-five, and the House went to Dubuque
to "improve the Mississippi River."
On another occasion, the House adopted a resolution to furnish
each member with a copy of "all Supreme Court reports now on
hand, or to be published during the present term," to which Pete.
Ballingall, an efficient and popular Democratic member, wanted
to amend by including the doorkeepers, but the Republicans didn't
seem to appreciate Pete.'s efforts to educate the masses.
In 1872, the Fourteenth General Assembly abolished all allow-
ances for newspapers, stationery, pocket knives, or other perqui-
sites, and it did another thing: Prior to that time, members had
received five dollars per day, and the sessions were prolonged until
near May, for, "between hay and grass" on the farm, five dollars
a day was a better thing. Since then, when the Legislators assem-
ble, they divide five hundred by five, and when the one hundred
days have expired, they are ready to go home, and, as "unfinished
business," lots of bills, most of them deservedly, go into the waste
basket.
Robert was made chainnan of the Committee on Ways and
Means, which had cognizance of the multifarious schemes respect-
ing state finances. He was cautious, critical, and economical, but
when it came to suffering humanity generally, he was more liberal.
He sent to the House one morning his report on a subject he had
been wrestling very seriously with — for him :
"The Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred
the petition of John Clayton, of Dallas County, have had the same
under careful consideration, and have instructed me to report that
they have given the subject their best attention, and have unani-
mously concluded that the petitioner could never have been a mem-
ber of the popular branch of this General Assembly, for, if so, he
8 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
would not have fallen into the mistaken idea that the members
thereof needed watching. Your Committee fully concur in the
prayer of the petitioner, that this General Assembly should do
something for the sake of 'suffering humanity generally,' and the
petitioner particularly, to lighten the burdens of taxation. To
accomplish this end, we are assured by the petitioner that 'he will
ever pray,' and we recommend that he do so, 'without ceasing.'
There is one positive declaration in the petition which suggests
itself to the minds of the Committee as being strictly true, and par-
ticularly applicable to the members of this General Assembly ; it is
that, 'this thing of working two hours a day don't pay,' and we sub-
mit this part of the petition to the careful consideration of the
House, trusting that in its wisdom it may devise some means to
make it pay. We are confident that, could the petitioner witness
the earnest zeal, imtiring energy, and unyielding perseverance dis-
played by members of this House in their honest and industrious
efforts to regulate everything, from the laying out of a township
road to reconstructing the General Government, he would admit it
unnecessary to pray for 'working members.' We recommend, how-
ever, taking all the circumstances into consideration, that the
prayer of the petitioner be granted."
In 1872, the Legislature elected Robert one of the Commission-
ers to erect the new Capitol, and, though a builder of some experi-
ence, the Board, with some doubt as to his fitness for so important
an undertaking, elected him Superintendent of Construction, but
it was not long before it was discovered, greatly to their surprise,
that he knew all about stone, iron, wood, and labor, and their value
in building; that he was not an architect, but, given a specific plan
or model, and he would produce it in marble, stone, or iron, as
imperishable as the material of which it was made; that he had a
trained mind, capable of elucidating difficult problems. That was
an acquisition which enabled him to meet the many exigencies
which arose by reason of defects in the plans of the architect, or
processes of constniction, so he became the master mind of the
work — what he decided was the ultimatum — with one exception.
When the matter of gilding the big dome came up, he was very
strongly opposed to it, not only because of the great expense, but
ROBERT S. FINKBINE 9
it was simply ornamental, to show oil, but when he was convinced
that it was an important plan of a majestic structure, he accepted
it, and was therefore the more determined that it should be well
done.
I was a frequent, almost daily, visitor to the building, and
became quite familar with its progress. I recall one instance of his
skill. The plans called for a single stone for the entablature over
the columns at the north and south porticos. He determined the
stone would not bear the strain of the immense load above it. Archi-
tects in other fine buildings had remedied similar difficulties by
placing an iron girder under the stone, thus putting an unsightly
blemish on the structure. Robert, to avoid that, threw an arch over
the columns, from which heavy iron rods were brought down and
fastened to the stone by lewises (a dovetailed iron wedge fitted into
a dove-tailed tenon, similar to those used in hoisting heavy stone) ,
and the whole imbedded in masonry.
Another instance was in the rotunda of the main corridor. The
architect's plans showed a complete circle therefor. Robert con-
cluded the supports at the intersection of the four halls, on which
the central dome was to rest, were not strong enough to bear the
weight, and they were enlarged, which explains the break in the
circle at these points.
Another instance was that of the arches in the main corridor.
The architect, Piquinard, who died soon after the work began, also
designed the Illinois Capitol, and there was some similarity in the
plans. In the Illinois building, these arches were made largely of
stucco, and on the floor above them, during construction, barrels
of water were standing, which leaked, and the water seeped into
the stucco beneath. One day, a laborer was pushing a loaded
wheelbarrow, when the floor gave way, and he went down to the
floor below. Robert, to prevent such a contingency from any cause
except an earthquake, built his arches solid, of hard-burned brick,
laid in cement.
The most notable characteristic of him was his probity and
integrity. Chances there were, hundreds of them, to have pro-
fusely feathered his own nest, but he could not be bought nor sold,
and contractors for material soon found that he knew his business.
10 PIOXEEES OF POLK COUJSttY. IOWA
Numerous instances occurred illustrative of this, which have never
been given to the public, for he had no press agents, though he was
a good fellow with the press scorpions. All attempts to pump him
were met with a question — he had a habit of asking questions of
all persons on all subjects, or he would parry with a joke or jest,
for he was always loaded with fun.
On another occasion, an Eastern firm was requested to give
prices for some iron stairways, involving several thousand dollars,
which was done, and found to be pretty steep. Robert wrote them
that their figuring man must have been out of town when their fig-
ures were made. They sent a man here on the first train to attend
to the matter, and on comparing Robert's figures with those of the
bidders, there was a difFerence of only twenty dollars.
One day, he saw a man unloading brick on the grounds, and
asked him what he was hauling those brick there for. "For the
Capitol," was the reply. "Tell your boss to find some other place
to put them ; I haven't any room for them here," said Robert. The
brick were hauled away, and brick according to contract supplied.
When those large, red-granite columns in the main corridor
were received, Robert inspected them and found they were a frac-
tion of an inch too large. He at once notified the contractor that
they were not according to specifications. The contractor came
here and offered to make a deduction of about two thousand dollars
if the place designed for them be cut away and let them in. Robert
replied that those four corners were supports for the dome ; to cut
away an inch would greatly reduce their strength ; that when the
columns were made to conform to the specifications, they would be
accepted and paid for, not before. They were taken back and the
necessary change made, at great expense and loss to the contractor.
When the marble wainscoting for the grand stairway was
received, it was foimd to be too large, and was rejected. Robert
refused all compromises with the contractor, and he was obliged to
send a large force of men from Is'ew York to recut the marble.
Contractors finally learned that the only hope of getting pay
for material was in filling their contracts to the letter.
The sculptor who formed the twelve symbolical statues in the
main corridor was a Frenchman, and a fine artist. The figures,
ROBERT S. FINKBINE 11
though ideal, are anatomically correct. He did his work in the
room now occupied by the Railroad Commissioners, and kept the
door locked against everybody except Robert, who one day invited
me to go with him. The fellow was at work on the figure repre-
senting "Agriculture." He had formed a pig of the scrawny, long-
haired, razor-back variety, from Missouri. Robert, seeing it, asked,
"What is that?" "Peeg," was the reply. "That's no pig," said
Robert, as he gave me a wink. The fellow instantly smashed the
thing into fragments. Robert then furnished him a model of the
Iowa variety.
One day, the Trustees of one of the state institutions came here
to consult Robert respecting elaborate changes they wanted to make
in one of their buildings. They brought a large roll of plans,
which they spread out on a table, and were very sanguine of the
utility and correctness of them, but they wanted his opinion of
them. Robert chucked away a fresh quid of the Indian weed,
shoved a cuspidor alongside of his chair, and sat down. He looked
over the drawings carefully, read the specifications critically, and
leaned back in his chair, firing a shot at the cuspidor.
"Well, what do you think of the i>lans?" was the first query.
"They are very nice and well drawn," replied Robert.
"What is your opinion as to working them out ?"
"You can go on, gentlemen, and make your changes according
to them, but the d — d thing will tumble down before you get
through with it."
The plans were quietly rolled up and never heard of afterward.
The work on the Capitol was done by the day. Each man given
a stone to cut was charged with it, and did not get his pay in full
until it was accepted, but one cutter got away with Robert. He
made a bad break in a stone for the cornice on the west side, over
the House Chamber, but he cut it out and set in a block so deftly
that it escaped detection until it had been in place some time. When
discovered, Robert had it drawn out and replaced by another. It
weighed several thousand pounds, but so perfect was the cutting
that the exchange was easily made with a derrick.
When the Commissioners were ready to turn the building over
to the state. Governor Larrabee employed several expert account-
ants to examine their records and accounts. After several months'
12 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
laborious work, investigating an expenditure of three million, five
hundred thousand dollars, embracing thousands of vouchers, con-
tracts and bills, they reported a discrepancy ■with the balance sheet
of the Commissioners of two dollars. It was never decided where
the real discrepancy was, though Robert always claimed that Lar-
rabee's bookkeepers had made a mistal^e in their figuring some-
where; that he never got the two dollars.
In 1879, the bridges were owned by the city, and toll was
charged. To make them free, the county assumed a portion of the
expense, and Robert was selected by the Coimty Supervisors to
make an appraisement of the valuation of those at Walnut Street,
Court Avenue, 'Coon Point, and Seventh Street. It was fixed at
one hundred thousand, three hundred and forty-nine dollars and
nineteen cents, which the county accepted and agreed to pay.
In 1880, he had become so identified with Des Moines, he moved
his family here, and became an integral part of the civic com-
munity.
In 1890, he was appointed a member of the Board of Public
Works, and served two terms, when he retired from active business.
Politically, he was a radical Republican, but not an ofiice-seeker
nor a politician, yet it must be admitted he was well posted in poli-
tics generally.
Socially, he was courteous, plain of speech and manner, evidenc-
ing his German ancestry ; always effervescent with wit and humor ;
of high moral temperament; an ardent supporter of church and
school. He was a typical pioneer, and materially aided as a law-
maker and citizen in building the social structure as he built the
Capitol, to be approved by future generations.
He was a member of high standing in the fraternity of Odd
Fellows. As a man of affairs, he possessed rare executive ability.
As the builder of the Capitol, there was never even a suspicion of
self aggrandizement against him, and the structure wiU stand an
enduring testimonial of his ability, honesty, and integrity.
February Eleventh, 1906.
ALEXANDER C. BONDURANT
AN early settler who made himself useful and helpful in many
directions was Alexander C. Bondurant, from whom the
town of Bondurant was named.
Born in Sangamon County, Illinois, September First, 1829, of
Kentucky-bom parents, he passed the years of his minority on the
farm of his father.
During the winter months, he attended the district school. On
attaining his majority, he decided to be no longer dependent on his
father, and, with a younger brother, Thomas, started in business
life. Casting about for a standard of right living and doing, they
found the best was within the pale of the Church. They accord-
ingly united with the Christian Church, of which their parents
were active and influential members, and made a mutual compact
that they would follow the occupation of farming and live accord-
ing to the best standard of human excellence.
They began by breaking prairie land with ox teams, and, so
soon as means sufficient were acquired, Thomas entered a quarter
section of Government land in Piatt County, Illinois, and began
the development of a farm, but Alexander had decided, while gath-
ering his funds, to join the tide of emigration from Illinois to Iowa,
and in 1857, came to Polk County and made a claim to thi-ee hun-
dred and twenty acres in the southwest corner of Franklin Town-
ship. He cleared the land, turned up the virgin soil, and laid the
foundation of what became the largest holdings in the county, cov-
ering an area of twenty-five hundred acres, with a beautiful home,
surroimded with all the environments of luxury and comfort which
wealth, good taste and refinement could suggest.
While his accumulation was the result of energy and good man-
agement, he considered it only the means whereby he could do good
and be helpful to those around him by beneficent giving. Very
soon after his arrival, he organized a church at a schoolhouse near
13
14 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
where Altoona now is, and there worshipped until the Chicago,
Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was built to Altoona, when a
church building was erected there, and his church abandoned the
schoolhouse. He gave the church society forty acres of ground,
the proceeds from which provided a good fund to meet expenses of
the church.
In 1892, when the Chicago Great Western Railway was built,
a station was located on Bonduraut's land, and named Bondurant.
In 1893, it was platted, and he offered a town lot to those who
would take it and build, or open a business house on it. The first
one was occupied as a store in the lower story. The upper one was
used for religious worship.
Mr. Bondurant was an active promoter of educational affairs,
and while his church was provided with a temporary meeting-place,
he must have schools, and in 1885, the first was opened, with thirty-
five scholars.
In 18S(), he donated the ground for a church building, and
withdrew from the Altoona church and organized a new one at
Bondurant, with Reverend J. B. Vawter as its first pastor. To aid
the church, he offered the use of thirty acres of land, which, each
Spring, was planted with corn, cultivated and gathered by mem-
bers of the church. The com gathering was followed by an old-
fashioned "husking-bee," with the usual "red ear" concomitant.
The event was one of pleasure, joviality, and companionship pro-
verbial with the early settlers. The first crop yielded twelve hun-
dred bushels, and was a substantial aid in defraying church ex-
penses. The membership was nineteen.
In addition to the proffer to those opening business houses, he
offered free sites for manufacturing industries, which resulted in
the rapid growth and prosperity of the town. Churches of other
denominations than the Christian, stores, shops, factories, grain
elevators, hotels, a bank, and newspaper followed, and the town is
now one of the best on the line of the Chicago Great Western Road
in the state.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Woman's Christian
Temperance Union, and woman's clubs, all with large membership,
give variety and spice to its social life. In fact, the town is a
alexa:j^der c. bondurant is
notable testimonial of the nobility of character of the man who
founded, promoted, and fostered it.
Several years ago, the Old Settlers' Association held a levee on
the magnificent and spacions grounds of Mr. Bondurant. There
was a large crowd present. He made elaborate preparation for the
event, a part of which was the employment of a special police
officer to look after intruders upon the festivities. The day was
excessively hot, and during the afternoon. Colonel Godfrey, "Dan"
Finch, Colonel Merritt, and General Tuttle strayed oif to a quiet
corner in the shade, and settled down to a game of euchre. Soon
after, along came the "cop" and arrested the whole gang. They
protested ; said they belonged to the crowd ; were just having a little
game for amusement. "That's too thin; come along," said the
"cop." He marched them down to headquarters, and turned them
over to Bondurant, saying he had "caught them up back there in
the timber, gambling." Bondurant replied that he would take
care of them, and the "cop" returned to his duties. The quartette
did not hear the last of it for a long time.
Mr. Bondurant was public-spirited and a liberal supporter of all
good works. He gave five hundred dollars to Drake University
when it needed the money, the amount to be derived from the
rental of fifty acres of land, which he set apart for that purpose.
He was a generous friend of the poor and helpless. He carried out
in his daily life the resolve of his early manhood, that his possession
was but a trust to be used in every worthy entei-prise which would
advance the best interests of the community in which he lived, and
it can be truly said that Polk Coimty is better for his having lived.
Julv Fourteenth, 1907.
EDWARD ENTWISTLE
EDWAUD ENTWISTLE
ONE of the most notable of the early settlers of Des Moines —
notable in that he represents an epoch, one of the most prom-
inent in the industrial history of the world-^is Edward
Entwistle, now quietly living at the corner of Second and Des
Moines streets. He has seen the development of steam power for
transportation purposes, from the first locomotive, and the first
railway, until they have encircled the globe and gridironed its con-
tinents. The remarkable feature of it is, that he was in it-at the
beginning, and ran the first locomotive put on a railroad.
Bom at Tilsey's Banks, Lancashire, England, March Twenty-
fourth, 1815, at less than fourteen years old he was apprenticed for
seven years to the trade of Mechanical Engineer, in the large works
of George Stephenson, and his son, Robert, at l^ewcastle. In 1828,
the Liverpool and Manchester Railway Company began building a
railroad across Chat Moss, an immense bog, between the two cities.
Steam carriages had been in iise for some time, carrying light mer-
chandise at slow speed over the ordinary roads. The Stephensons
believed engines could be made to run on iron rails, at high speed.
The Directors of the railway company were decidedly skeptical,
but finally decided to offer a price of five hundred pounds (two
thousand, five himdred dollars), for an engine, conditioned that if
of six tons weight, it must consume its own smoke, draw day by
day twenty tons weight, including its own water tank and tender,
at ten miles per hour, with a steam pressure not exceeding fifty
pounds per square inch, and must be delivered at the Liverpool
end of the road before October First, 1829 ; the price not to exceed
five himdred and fifty pounds (two thousand, seven hundred and
fifty dollars).
The Stephensons decided to compete for the prize, notwithstand-
ing the opinion of the leading engineers of the country that, not
only a high-speed engine, but the building of the road, would be a
Vol. II— (2). 17
18 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
faihire. The elder Stephenson contracted to build the road across
the bog — a difficult undertaking.
The locomotive was completed, was named "Rocket," and at the
trial won the prize against three competitors, and settled the ques-
tion for all time whether horse traction or steam traction was to
be used on railroads. By the skill and inventive genius of Robert
Stephenson, it took on the form, in all essentials, maintained in the
leviathan locomotives of to-day.
After the trial test, it was put in service hauling material for
construction of the road. Its gauge was four feet eight and one-
half inches, or that of the ordinary wagon road, Stephenson doubt-
less intending to make sure that if it failed on a rail, it would do
service on a dirt road. It is a singular fact that the gauge of the
"Rocket" has since been the standard gauge of railroads all over
the world. Other widths have been tried, but abandoned. The
great New York and Erie was built and equipped for a six-foot
gauge, and when the gauge was changed to the standard, occurred
the famous "Railroad War" at Erie, Pennsylvania.
When the road was completed, September Thirteenth, 1830,
was set for the first trip of a passenger train over it. The train
consisted of two double-decked carriages, each seating eighteen per-
sons, nine on deck and nine below. The weight of the train was
not quite ten tons. The average speed was fourteen miles, though
at times a maximum of twenty-nine miles was made.
Entwistle worked in the shop where the "Rocket" was built, on
some part of it, and manifested so much interest in it, he was given
a permit by Stephenson to go with it on the trial trip. On the
return, he was given the throttle, and for two years made two round
trips each day between Liverpool and Manchester, thirty-five miles,
to the great surprise of the pessimistic prognosticators, and thus
was established the first high-speed railroad passenger train in the
world. The labor was so exacting — he was only a lad — and the
exposure to the elements so great, there being no protection there-
from, he asked to be relieved. Stephenson was so well pleased
with him, he secured a berth for him on one of the Duke of Bridge-
water's coasting steamers, as second engineer, where he served the
remaining five years of apprenticeship and one year more, when, in
EDWARD EATT\YISTLE 19
1837, he decided to come to America. That was the memorable
year of hard times. There was no demand for labor, and wages
were low, but he secured employment as engineer on Hudson River
steamboats, at one dollar per day, and in iron mills, until 1844,
when he came to Chicago, where he readily found employment as
stationary engineer, and one season with Henry Perrior, as engi-
neer on the lake propellor, Rossiter.
In 1854, Perrior and his brother-in-law, William Shepard, came
to Des Moines and took possession of the flour and woolen mill
which had been started by "Old Johnny" Dean and N. P. Jordan,
on the river bank between Locust and Keokuk (now Grand Ave-
nue). In 1856, Shepard went to Chicago, purchased machinery,
four pairs of buhrs, and equipment for the mill. While there, he
employed Entwistle to be the engineer of the mill. He came by
the Rock Island Road (he thinks the train was hauled by the first
locomotive that crossed the Mississippi River) to Iowa City, and
thence by wagon to Des Moines, arriving in March, 1856. The
machinery got as far as the proverbial terror, Skunk River bot-
toms, where it was laid up nearly six months.
Entwistle remained with the mill until 1877, when it was
burned. He then went to the Ankeney linseed oil mills, where he
remained twenty-two years, and in 1899 shut off steam, closed the
throttle, and retired to Easy Street, to pass the remainder of his
days in a cottage where he has lived fifty years, and where, on the
Twenty-fourth of next March, he will pass the anniversary of his
ninety-first birthday.
In the Spring of 1859, there was a big flood, and water was all
over the county. Steamboats did a lively business, fourteen being
tied up at one time at 'Coon Point. Doctor A. Y. Hull and others
decided to take advantage of the opportunity. They got lumber
at Sinclair's mill, up the river, on the East Side, built a boat on the
river bank near Court Avenue, and named it Demoin Belle. Its
first trip was started April Tenth. The mills being closed, Ent-
wistle was employed as engineer, and made three roimd trips on
her from Keokuk to Fort Dodge. The next year, she collapsed,
went to the bottom, was raised, re-built, re-named Little Morgan,
and continued in service until 1862, when steamboating on the Des
Moines was abandoned to the railroads.
20 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
In 1876, he went to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia,
where, in the locomotive department of exhibits, among the high-
flyers, he had the extreme pleasure of meeting his old pet, the
"Rocket." His identification with it quickly made him one of the
most conspicuous persons of the whole show.
During the recent World's Fair at Saint Louis, he was offered
large sums to attend as the guest of the exhibitors of railway sup-
plies, but his advanced age admonished him not to make the ven-
ture.
A few days ago, I dropped in on the veteran of the throttle, and
found him wide awake, as usual. During the sitting, he related
some of his early experiences:
"I came here during the panic. Times were hard, money was
scarce, and what there was, was not good; you could not keep it
over night and know what it would be worth the next day. Wages
were low ; if the very best mechanic got a dollar and a quarter per
day, he thought he was getting the very best wages — an extra price.
Then he had to take payment in store orders. There was not much
of a town here ; it was nearly all on the west side of the river. There
were but few houses on the East Side. From the river to Capitol
Hill, the land was very low and wet, and north of Locust Street
was heavy timber. There were no bridges except a temporary float-
ing bridge near Keokuk Street — it was Keokuk on the East Side
and Sycamore on the West Side, for the East Siders could not
agree on anything with the West Siders ; they wouldn't even write
the name of the town the same way, and wrote it 'Demoin.' Both
sides were hot over the location of the State House, but, being a
newcomer, I took no part in it ; I was here for business. As I said,
houses were scarce. Shepard had a smaU frame house near Fifth
and Keokuk, which had been used as a cow shed. It was the only
place I could get. I fixed it up and moved into it. Lots were
cheap, and I bought some around this corner where we are, went
down to Peter Newcomer's mill, had Cottonwood lumber sawed,
and built a small frame house on this lot, and have lived on it ever
since. The money being so bad, I only took enough for economical
living expenses — I considered Shepard and Perrior safer than the
banks — until my back pay had accumulated to over eight hundred
EDWAED ENTWISTLE 21
dollars. Ira Thornton came along one day, about that time, and
offered me one hundred and sixty acres of land lying one mile east
of Bei^wick for ten dollars an acre, and I swapped my money for it.
I rented it, had it cultivated and improved, until three years ago,
when I sold it for sixty dollars an acre, but I didn't know then
what is known now, that under every acre of it is a thick strata of
excellent coal.
"No, this is not the Cottonwood house ; that was built in a hurry
so I could get out of the cow shed.
"Yes, living expenses were very reasonable when I came here.
Flour was high, owing to the scarcity of mills. It was nine dollars
per barrel. Game was plentiful, however. The timber and prairies
were alive with game. You could go out with a dog and gun and
come home at night loaded with game. One afternoon in 1857, a
fellow named King and I went across the river into the timber
north of where Center Street now is, on the AVest Side, and shot
two deer. The prairies were thick with chickens and quail, the
streams with ducks, geese and fish. I saw a wagon box filled one
day with fish caught with one sweep of a small seine in the river
just above Keokuk Street. Prairie chickens would come and light
on the fence around my yard.
"No, sir; I was never sick a day in my life; and I never was
drunk, though you could buy whiskey in those early days for thirty
cents a gallon, and it was much better than the stuff you pay three
dollars a gallon for now."
Entwistle's physical condition is excellent, barring slight rheu-
matic troubles ; his memory is vivid and retentive ; reads without
glasses; is slightly deaf, and, altogether, bids fair for another ten-
mile run on life's course.
Politically, he was originally a Whig, and cast his first ballot
for "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," in 1840. He joined the Eepub-
lican party on its organization, and has remained with it, but is not
a politician. He is a vigorous reader, and keeps posted on what is
going on in the world.
Socially, he is of kindly temperament, loqxiacious, companion-
able, and takes much interest in the laboring classes, yet is not an
agitator. Fully appreciating the benefit of education, and deeply
22 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
regretting the conditions which deprived him of acquiring such in
his youth, he is an earne-st supporter of all means for the education
of the masses. Though his ancestors were Quakers, he affiliated
with the Baptist denomination and gave financial aid in building
the first Baptist meeting-house, on Mulberry Street, and also the
second edifice, at Locust and Eighth. He is also a veteran mem-
ber of the fraternity of Odd Fellows.
February Twenty-sixth, 1906.
NATHAN ANDREWS
A PROMINENT pioneer of Polk County, and one who was
active in laying the foundation of the prosperity which has
come to the present generation, was Nathan Andrews.
He was born near Eochester, New York, December First, 1815,
of an ancestry dating back to the Crusaders. In 1818, his father,
a farmer, removed to Tippecanoe County, Indiana, where Nathan
passed his boyhood days, and acquired what education he could in
the common school of that period. He continued farm labor until
1840, when he went to Jasper County, Indiana, preempted Govern-
ment land, and for eight years labored to cultivate and improve it.
In March, 1850, he came to Polk County, and preempted a tract
of land in what was then Madison Township, to which he subse-
quently added sufficient to make his holdings about fifteen hundred
acres. He at once began farming on an extensive scale. It was his
ambition to be the possessor of a model farm. The best machinery,
fine buildings and sheds, and the best breeds of cattle were his
standard.
Madison Township was an attractive point for the pioneer set-
tler. Des Moines River crossed it diagonally near the center, and
north of it, Big Creek and Mosquito Creek ran diagonally southeast
across it, while south of the Des Moines, Beaver Creek meandered
southeast across it, thus affording ample timber belts, prairie, and
water. It was early dotted over with groupings, or settlements, as
they were called, of intelligent, enterprising and industrious peo-
ple, whose sole purpose was to build homes. Among the prominent
families were Groseclose, McClain, Burt, Kuntz, Ayers, McHenry
("Old Bill"), and, to quote from Leonard Brown's Hiawatha list:
"Wiess and Wheelhouse, Smutz and Skidmore,
Leightsy, Eslick and the Murrays —
Isaac Nussbaum, Henry Beeson,
Peter Suter, Amos Stevens,
23
24 PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Myers, Mercer, Mosier,
David Reuser and Neuswander —
Blain and Burley and the Griggsbys —
Doctor Mather — first physician —
Stephen Harvey and George Bebee,
Bristow, Leonard Small, and Davis,
Hanna, George and Jacob Hauser,
Jacob, George, and Bill Van Dorn,
And the Martses, George and Jacob,
Adolphus and Josiah Hopkins,
Schiedler, Hammond, Swim and Baker —
D. B. Spanlding and John Messersmith —
Conrad Stutsman, Father Crabtree —
Benjamin Hunt and P. G. Miller —
Samuel Hays and J. C. Bennett,
Hiram Smith and brave John Kellison."
They were noted for their public spirit and sterling character.
They battled against the hardships of pioneer life, did their whole
duty as citizens, and the world was better for their living in it.
In June, 1849, Jacob Hauser laid out the tovra of Montecute,
later called Springfield, biiilt a store and postoffice, got the appoint-
ment of Postmaster, and every two weeks came to Fort Des Moines,
got the mail for his settlement, put it in his pocket, and went home.
In 1851, a mail route from Fort Des Moines to Fort Dodge was
established, and the mail was carried on horseback.
In November, 1850, George Bebee laid out the town of Polk
City, started a store, postoffice and shops, and began to do things.
In November, 1853, James Skidmore laid out the t«wn of Cory-
don. He and Hauser were vigorous rivals of Bebee with their new
towns, but the latter had the advantage in location and trade, and
succeeded in
"Knocking Montecute all to flinders.
And discomfiting the merchants
Who had opened there their storehouse,
Uncle George and Jacob Hauser
And Polk City rose in splendor.
And the Square was cleared of timber.
JTATHAN ANDREWS 25
It was soon an active village,
With the store of Justice Bebee —
And the mill of Conrad Stutsman —
And Ives Mark's great chair factory —
With the wagon shop of Crabtree,
And with Nubro's anvil ringing,
And the school taught by Miss Mather —
By the maid, Desire Mather."
In January, 1851, the County Commissioners bisected Madison
Township, set off all of it south of Des Moines River, and named it
Jeiferson Township. It was in this township the Beaver Creek,
or McCain, Settlement started; where Judge McHenry, Sr., set-
tled, and where the first Settlers' Claim Club was formed, to pro-
tect the settlers from claim-jumpers, horse thieves, and other unde-
sirable persons. McHenry and Tom. Baker formulated the by-laws
of the club, and, as McHenry was wont to put it, "When claim-
jumpers or horse thieves were brought before it, no continuances
were allowed ; no dilatory pleas were heard ; no appeals granted by
Judge Lynch. His judgiuents were swift and certain. The pioneer
settlers were a law unto themselves."
In this township occurred the first murder in the county, by
Pleasant Fouts, of his wife, August JSTinth, 1854, because she
refused to sign a deed for the sale of his land claim. He was sent
to the penitentiary for life, and died there twenty-three years later.
So soon as the township of Jefferson was organized, Andrews
took an active part in improving its civic and social condition. He
built, at his own expense, the first schoolhouse in the township. It
was also used for religious purposes. The Reverend William Coger,
of the Christian Church, and Ezra Rathbim, a Methodist, both
pioneers, were frequent preachers in it.
In 1857, Andrews, to keep pace with his contemporaries, laid
out the town of Andrews, on the south side of Des Moines River,
about two miles southwest of Polk City. A postofiice was estab-
lished there, named Lincoln, and maintained for many years. It
never aspired to great commercial importance, got side-tracked in
the building of railroads, yet it was, and is now, a favorable resort
of farmers thereabout on rainy days to swap yarns and discuss the
generality of things in general.
26 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Socially, Andrews was hospitable, genial, and of kindly tempera-
ment, and a liberal contributor to all public and private enterprises
tending to help the community in which he lived. He was an act-
ive member of the Farmers' Alliance, and a vigorous opponent of
the Barbed Wire Trust.
Politically, he was independent of all party organizations, and
gave his influence and vote in favor of what he deemed best for
the public good.
Two other jirominent men in Jefferson Township were the
brothers, John D. and John McClain, who started what was known
in the very early days as the McClain Settlement.
John, a Virginian by birth, came in 1851, a typical pioneer,
who became very prominent in public affairs, and was one of the
solid men of the county. In 1860, when the Board of County Com-
missioners, which consisted of three members, was abolished, and
a Board of Supervisors substituted, consisting of a representative
from each township, he was elected from Jefferson Township, and
reelected every two years until 1871, when the Legislature abol-
ished that system and returned to the old plan of three Supervisors,
and he retired from public office. He was notable for his integrity,
watchfulness of public interest, economy, and sturdy opposition to
schemes for increasing taxation. He was a Democrat of the true
Jaeksonian variety, and a radical Granger when that "ism" was
rife. He deceased in 1874.
John D. was a Virginian by birth, and a boat builder by trade.
He came to Henry County in 1845, and to Jefferson Township in
1851, and began farming on an extensive scale. His activities and
sterling qualities at once brought him into notice, and in 1852, he
was appointed Deputy County Assessor for two years. In 1853,
Byron Kice, the County Judge, appointed him the first Justice of
the Peace in the township. He held the office until 1874, when his
health became impaired and he resigned. In 1876, he was again
persuaded to take the office, and served until 1878, when his health
again compelled his resignation. Such was public esteem of him,
he was frequently pressed into seiwice as Township Clerk and
NATHAN ANDEEWS 27
Other highly esteemed and prominent families were the Mur-
rays, John and Thomas, the latter having the notable distinction of
bringing with him to the county, in 1851, his seventeen robust and
buxom children, who grew and made good.
September Eighth, 1907.
LEONARD BROWN
LEONARD BROWN
NO record of the early history of Polk County and Des Moine3
would be complete without reference to Leonard Brown,
whose sayings and doings have been interwoven in many
ways into the warp and woof of the social fabric. He is of that
class of early settlers who became such by force of circumstances,
who were brought here in infancy by their parents, or were bom
here, grew up with the country, and are now identified with lead-
ing industries of the commimity.
In the Fall of 1853, Aaron Brown and family started on their
pilgrimage by wagon from Indiana, to a better coimtry. All went
well until about midway of the twenty-mile prairie which spread
out wild and bare between N"ewtou and "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell's
tavern — unoccupied, and deemed uninhabitable by natives of Indi-
ana and Ohio, for want of timber for fence rails and fuel — the
westward plodders reached a small creek which had a few hours
before become swollen and carried away so much of the flooring of
the bridge, a crossing could only be made on foot. The wagon was
imloaded, taken apart, and everything carried across the stream by
hand — sixteen-year-old Leonard doing his share — except the wagon
box, which was floated, the horses swimming. The outfit was then
re-assembled, and the journey resumed, ending at Des Moines in
October. The only available place for a home was a double log
cabin owned by Alexander Scott, which stood on his farm, about
eighty rods southwest of Capitol Hill. Soon after, the family
removed to a cabin which stood on a farm near where Lincoln
School building now is, on Mulberry Street. A stake-and-rider
fence surrounded the farm, with a driveway westward from Ninth
Street about where Locust Street is now. Leonard's first job was
with William Krauso, as general utility helper. Elder J. A. I^Tash
had started Des Moines Academy in one room of the Court House,
which stood where the LTnion Depot now is, and Leonard's highest
29
30 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
ambition was to get an education. There was the opportunity, but
not the means. Bread and butter was wanting. Money was scarce ;
he had none; but "where there is a will, there is a way." William
De Ford, the first blacksmith in the town, had a shop on Second
Street. A "blower and striker" is an important functionary in a
blacksmith shop, so Leonard thought, and he engaged board and
lodging with De Ford's family, for which he paid in "blowing and
striking" until nine o'clock evenings, turning horseshoes. To pay
for his tuition, he built the fires and swept the academy rooms
through the Winter. In the Spring following, he was employed
by Samuel Gray as Deputy County Recorder and Treasurer, and
Books "E" and "F" in the Recorder's office contain the deeds and
mortgages transcribed by him.
In those days, the majority of public sentiment was pro-slavery.
An Abolitionist was considered fit only for contumely and con-
tempt. One day, while Leonard was serving as Deputy, an election
was held in one of the court-rooms, during which politics got at
fever heat, one very noisy individual denouncing the Abolitionists
in vigorous terms. "We hear a great deal about them," said he,
"but when do we ever see one? No man dares to say he is one."
Elder Nash happened to be there to cast his ballot, and hearing the
bravado, turned quickly about, and, face to face, said to the fellow:
"I am an Abolitionist," whereupon the fellow quickly subsided
and got away.
In the Fall of 1854, Leonard taught the first school in Storj
County, west of Skunk River. It was in a typical pioneer school-
house, stick chimney, sod jambs, and a rude fireplace. It was a
"subscription school," there being no free school system, and he
"boarded around," his boarding-places being conspicuous for their
magnificent distances. For his three months' service, he was paid
forty-five dollars, the most money he had ever had at one time.
The next Spring, he returned to the Academy as a student,
determined to fit himself for pedagogy as a life work. He was
made a tutor, and Congressman Hull, Lon. Bush, George Lyon,
boys then aboiit twelve years old, can testify as to his ability to
teach the "Geography Class."
In the Spring of 1855, Elder Nash closed his Academy and
devoted his time to the pulpit, and improving his property on
LEONARD BROWIT 31
Ninth Street, near School, then all a forest, Leonard remaining
with the Elder, working half of each day, and giving the other half
to study and recitation. In September of that year, he secured a
position as tutor in the ITniversity at Burlington, for which he
received board, room, and tuition.
Barring the forty-five dollars received in Story County, his emol-
uments thus far had been boarding and lodging. The next problem
was wherewith to be clothed. He therefore, in the Winter of 1857,
taught the district school of Flint Creek, six miles north of Bur-
lington. It was a school of fifty piipils, of all grades, from ABC
to Higher Mathematics and English Grammar, lively and wide-
awake. It was there he had a practical demonstration of his psy-
chological theory of school government. One day, a boy named
Charley Adams came to the school, who had been ostracised and
outlawed from the public schools of Burlington as a bully and
bravado, by whipping out the teachers. He had not been long in
his seat before the whole school was attracted and annoyed by his
disorderly behavior, to which Leonard gave little attention. When
school closed for the day, the boy was asked to remain after the
dismissal a few moments. Recalling the incident a few days ago,
Leonard said :
"After the scholars had gone, and I had finished some writing,
I said to the boy: 'Your parents send you to school to learn, do
they not V
" 'I have no parents.'
" 'Well,' said I, 'I am sorry for you. I was left in nearly your
condition when I was eleven years old, by the death of my mother,
and I have gone from pillar to post ever since; have done entirely
for myself; was a bad boy at school until a good teacher gave me
a better notion, and I determined to get a good education, if pos-
sible. Now, I am trying to work my way throxigh college, and to
that end, am teaching this school. I have studied Phrenology some,
and am sure I know just what kind of a boy you are.'
" 'What kind of a boy am I ?' he asked.
" 'You are a very smart boy. You will make your mark in the
world, and a good one, too, if you try. There are few boys in the
school your equal in intelligence, I think, and I want you to come
32 PIONEERS OF POLK COU?v'TY, IOWA
to school, and also to come to my room at the Eipley Tavern, where
I have a trunk full of good books, which you are welcome to read.'
"He was excused and went home. From his grandparents, I
learned that on reaching home, he said to the old people: 'I am
going to school to that man ; I like him.' He became one of the
best and most industrious pupils in the school, and took an active
part in the exhibition at the close of the term. On my return to
the University, he soon followed, with his books, to get an educa-
tion. Soon after, my support fimds ran out, I was obliged to
return to Des Moines, and lost all trace of the young man."
In the Fall and Winter of 1856, Leonard was a teacher in Ives
Mark's College at Palestine, Story County; in 1860, he opened a
Select School at Avon, Polk County; in the Spring of 1861, he
became a teacher in Elder Nash's Forest Home Seminary, on
Ninth Street.
After the battle of Wilson's Creek, in August, 1861, William
H. Coodrell, who was a student at the Seminary, and had enlisted
in the First Iowa Infantry (a three months' regiment), came home
with his arm in a sling from a wound received in the battle, and
one day, during a recess of the school, gathered together about a
dozen students, marched them single file to Hierb's Brewery, at
the comer of Center and Seventh streets, where they loaded up
with beer. On returning to the schoolroom, Leonard started to call
them down for their action, but they were not inclined to hear him.
He requested them to be seated, and when they got sober he would
talk with them, whereupon Dave Winter quickly arose, and, bring-
ing his fist down on his desk with a whack, said : "Mr. Bi-own, I
am just as sober as any man in this saloon." His blunder caused
a vigorous titter among the girls, and the next day every one of the
crowd enlisted in the Fifteenth Infantry, and subsequently it was
admitted they enlisted because they did not dare to go back and
face the girls.
In May, 1864, Leonard enlisted in the Forty-seventh Infantry,
for one himdred days. On his return from service, he resumed his
school, which had been removed to Seventh Street, between Center
and Crocker, and in October, 1865, he was elected County Superin-
tendent of Schools, and served one term. In 1870, he opened a
LEON-ARD BROWN" 33
school in Polk City, and in 1875, was elected a professor iu Hum-
boldt College, but soon after resigned and entered the lecture field.
For twenty years, he canvassed the state as an advocate of social
and political reform.
After the close of the Civil War, he published a book of six
hundred pages, in memory of the soldiers of Polk County, who
had died in the service, and other works of prose and verse — twelve
in all. For the last t«n years, he has been preparing what he deems
his crowning work : "Our Own Columbia That Is to Be !" — social,
moral, religious, and economic, and also a collection of his verses,
entitled, "On the Banks of the Des Moines."
Among his pupils were Simon Casady, Amos Brandt, "Charley"
Rogg, Fred. Getchell, "Dan" Bringolf, Philo Kenyon, George A.
Miller, Bruce Jones, Homer and Leander Bolton, the De Ford
boys, Mrs. Lena Ingham Robinson, Mrs. Ella Clapp White (wife
of the shoe dealer), Mrs. jSTewton Harris, Mrs. Minerva Jones
Hallet (wife of the dentist), and scores of other well-known and
prominent citizens of to-day, and they all declare he was a good
teacher.
He says his long experience as teacher fully affirms his belief in
the adage that you can lead a horse to the trough, but you cannot
make him drink ; that there are no bad boys — at least, he has never
met one. Give a boy the right ideal, and he will become a good
and useful man — a rule with no exceptions.
In the very early days, Leonard was actively identified with
Father Bird and Elder Nash in establishing schools, and advocat-
ing the educational facilities of the community, and the impress of
his earnest zeal and labor can be seen at the present day.
March Eighteenth, 1906.
Vol. II— (3).
ISAAC BRANDT
1 190319
ISAAC BRANDT
OF those who have had something to do with the growth and
prosperity of Des Moines is Brandt, known by the "general-
ity of mankind in general" as Isaac. To accost him as "Mr."
would be a breach of custom. He came here in the Winter of 1856,
in one of the "jerkeys" of the Stage Company, and he now can show
the receipt for seventeen dollars, dated January Thirtieth, paid
for the jolts and bumps received en route from Iowa City. He was
reconnoitering. Aft<?r inspecting the town for a short time — it was
not very encouraging, for there were no bridges over the rivers, the
t/>wn was sparsely settled — he made a four days' walk to Council
Bluffs — he was in a hurry to find a better place. His ardor weak-
ened, and his walk back was made in five days. He decided to
abide here. He went East for his family, to close up his business
affairs, and returned in April, 1858. Houses were scarce, but after
much quest, he found a small wooden shanty with two rooms, on
Seventh Street, on the East Side, where he lived for a time. On
seeking a spot for a permanent home, he found a lot at the north-
east corner of Twelfth and Keokuk, now Grand Avenue, on which
was heavy timber and several Wild Cherry trees in full bloom, near
the present Capitol grounds, which pleased him, though unattract-
ive for a home. The grounds were covered with dense timber and
thicket, in which, the Fall previous, rabbits, quail, and pheasants
were shot, and a few rods south on Twelfth Street was Walker's
Lake — good for duck hunters in season — which is now Franklin
Park. Keokuk Street was simply a trail through heavy timber.
On the West Side, Sycamore Street ran Tip against "Charley"
Good's orchard, which lay along the river. There Isaac felled the
big trees, dug oiit the stumps, retained the cherry trees, built a
house — there were none east of it — and named the spot "Cherry
Place."
35
36 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
He at once went into mercantile business in a two-story brick
at the corner of Fourth and Locust, where is now the Lakota House.
It was built by Harry Griffith ahead of time, on what was a black-
berry patch, and was called "Griffith's Folly." In the Spring of
1862, there was a flood, and the whole East Side was under water.
Members of the Legislature were carried in boats from the West
Side to the old Capitol. The steamboat Ldttle Morgan came in one
day, landing at 'Coon Point. Among her cargo were eight casks of
glassware, fourteen cases of dry goods, two boxes of boots and shoes,
one hundred barrels of salt, two hogsheads of sugar, and four crates
of crockery consigned to Isaac. How to get them to his store was
the problem, as teams could not be used, but the steamer solved it.
She backed down stream a short distance and headed for the store,
where she tied up and the goods were delivered dirctly into the
south door.
Very soon after his ari'ival, Isaac became interested in educa-
tional affairs, and in 1858, at a mass meeting of citizens, he offered
a resolution recommending the organization of the Independent
School District of East Des Moines, which was adopted, and he
was made one of the Directors.
He was a dyed-in-the-wool Abolitionist, and belonged to the
original stock. He was a personal friend of John Brown, and dur-
ing the exodus of negroes from Kansas and Missouri he was a Con-
ductor on the "Underground Railroad," and his house was a regu-
lar station. Brown came here very early one morning, with four
negroes, covered with cornstalks, in his wagon. After refresh-
ments, and discussing the schedule of further stopping-places, they
had a parting handshake over a small wooden gate at the back yard.
Isaac still has the gate, and the colored people are waiting for him
to die, so they can get it, for during life he will not part with it.
The migration of the negroes was attended with many difficul-
ties, though the friends of Kansas Free State perfected plans
deemed sufficient to get the "emigrants" safely to destination.
George D. Woodin, of Indiana, was General Manager, with the late
Judge Seevers, of Oskaloosa, and Lewis Todhuntei", of Indianola,
in the Central District.
There was here a very strong pro-slavery sentiment, in those
days, as many of the early settlers came from slave-holding states.
ISAAC BRANDT 37
The country was full of secret agents and slave^hunters, so that the
utmost caution was necessary to get the "passengers" through this
Division. They were packed in sacks, boxes, barrels, coSins, under
loads of straw, or cornstalks, men in women's clothes, and women
in men's clothes. There was little daylight travel. It was not
uncommon that, secreted about "Uncle Jimmy" Jordan's place,
near Valley Junction, could be found a number of "passengers,"
waiting for a clear track. Then they would come to Isaac's place,
thence go to Eeverend Demas Eobinson's place on Four Mile Creek,
thence to "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell's, thence to Grinnell, thence to
Cedar County, the terminus of this Division. The old settlers here
will probably remember one occasion when Brown came to Grin-
nell with eleven negroes, stopped over Sunday, and made a speech
in the church, detailing the wrongs of Kansas. The Statesman,
the Democratic paper here, came out with a sensational article,
headed in big letters: "The John Brown Raid! Hell Broke
Loose ! !" in which Brown was depicted as a murderer, robber and
horsethief.
Sometimes it was necessary for emigrants to be doubled back
on their track to avoid detectives who were close on their trail, but
none were ever caught and returned, for the doctrine was very
early established that there was no property in slaves in Iowa, in
the first case decided by the Supreme Court, that of "Ralph," on
habeas corptis, in 1839. Ralph made an agreement with Mont-
gomery, his master, in Missouri, by which he was to come to
Dubuque and earn money and pay five himdred dollars for his free-
dom. He worked four years and earned the money, but concluded
to keep it. His master then came after him, had him arrested and
brought before a Justice of the Peace, charged with being a fugi-
tive slave. The Justice was preparing to deliver him when he was
estopped by a writ of habeas corpus, which brought the case before
Chief Justice Mason of the Supreme Court, who held that it was
not an escape, but an emigration by consent of the master; that
Ralph owed the debt for his freedom as though it had been incurred
for purchasing a horse, and ought to pay it, yet for non-payment,
he could not be reduced to slavery as property in Iowa. "But,"
said the court, as a sort of placation, "if his master can get him
38 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
back to Missouri without the aid of the courts, the Iowa courts will
not interfere."
Despite this decision, slaves were held in Des Moines as late as
1845, without objection. Joseph Smart, who had a Fox squaw
wife, was Indian Interpreter for Beach, the Indian Agent for the
Government. He went to Missouri, bought two slave women,
brought them here, and when he got through with them, took them
back and sold them.
Isaac has always been a teetotaller, never having tasted alcoholic
liquor, ale, wine or beer, nor tobacco. He early identified himself
with the Order of Good Templars, which flourished extensively at
one time, and in 1862, was elected Worthy Chief of the Grand
Lodge of the state, and served five full terms.
In 1867, he was appointed Deputy State Treasurer, and served
six years. In those days, the Legislature was very liberal with
grafts. Members and newspaper reporters were supplied with
newspapers, gold pens, and pocket knives.
Being largely engaged in the real estate business, Isaac, in 1870,
became a '"Granger," and was made Master of Capital Grange,
Number Five, Patrons of Husbandry.
In 1873, he was elected as Representative to the Legislature,
known as the "dead lock" or anti-monopoly General Assembly. The
House consisted of fifty Democrats, forty-five Republicans, and
five "on the fence." To elect a Speaker and organize the House
required fifty-one votes. How to get them was the problem. The
men "on the fence" held the balance of power, and must be reck-
oned with. Jake Rich, Chairman of the Republican State Com-
mittee, an astute politician of Dubuque — what he didn't know
about politics was not worth learning — and leading Republicans
held a coimcil to select a candidate for Speaker. John H. Gear,
of Burlington, was selected by the Republicans. The Democrats
selected J. W. Dixon, of Wapello County, as their candidate. The
first ballot gave Gear fifty votes and Dixon fifty votes, to the great
surprise of the Democrats, and the satisfaction of the Republicans.
For ten days the balloting went on without change of a vote, when
Gear received seventy-nine votes.
Isaac was highly commended for his management, and on mak-
ing up the committees, he was made Chairman of that of Ways
ISAAC BRANDT 39
and Means, and Cities and Towns, and a member of the committees
on Compensation of Public Officers, and of Insurance. The session
was a strenuous one from the start to finish. The Anti-Monops
were out for reform, and retrenchment of salaries and expenses.
The previous Legislature having ordered the erection of a new
Capitol, and appropriated one hundred and twenty-five thousand
dollars per year to build it, they denounced it as an extravagant
waste of public money. I can still see — being daily on the spot —
Lucien Quintellus Hoggatt, the spectral member of the House from
Story County — shaking his long, bony fingers at the Republicans
in protest against their contemplated "robbery of the farmers of
their hard-earned dollars."
Isaac kept quiet. It was not long before some of the reformers
had axes to grind. Isaac ingratiated himself into their good graces
by assisting them in all possible ways, and if any of their special
bills came before his committees, they were invariably recom-
mended for passage, and later, on the floor, he would favor them
with his voice and vote. I also think he used the "grip" of Grange
Number Five to some advantage. For his good offices, they pledged
him their support when he needed it.
The opportunity came when he introduced his bill for an addi-
tional appropriation of two himdred thousand dollars to hasten the
erection of the Capitol. It astounded the Anti-Monops, and Lucien
Quintellus Hoggatt was inexpressibly indignant, but they were
under obligations to Isaac that they could not honestly repudiate,
and the bill passed by a vote of seventy-two to sixteen, twelve mem-
bers dodged. The Senate cut it down to one hundred and twenty-
five thousand dollars, and Isaac let it go at that.
Soon after the House was organized, Mr. Madden, the other
Polk County member, introduced a bill to let the public printing
to the lowest bidder by contract. Isaac was accused of being the
author of it. Frank Mills was doing the public printing, and as it
was a very fat job, there was a vigorous stirring up of the members
over the bill. It went to the Committee on Printing, which reported
adversely to it, but Isaac secured its placement on the calendar for
a special day hearing, and when it was taken up, he disproved the
accusation against him by getting the bill so amended as to fix the
40 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
printing at ninety per cent and the binding at eighty-five per cent
of the cost then paid, and as amended it passed.
As Chairman of the Committee on Cities and Towns, Isaac
engineered through the House a Senate bill authorizing cities and
towns to improve alleys by contracts let to the lowest bidder, a
measure which has proved to be of great benefit to Des Moines.
He also secured the passage of a bill requiring all lands when
laid out in town lots to be free from all incumbrances before being
platted, thus assuring the purchaser they were not plastered with
judgment liens, mortgages, or delinquent taxes.
In 1877, he was elected City Alderman, in the Fifth Ward, and
the West Siders — not so much as a mark of respect as fear of his
influence and persuasive powers — got him elected President pro
tern of the Council. They wanted to keep him "off the floor."
In 1880, he was a candidate for Mayor, but he very soon ran up
against Des Moines River. He was on the wrong side of it. The
old river feud was still extant. The West Siders rose up against
him, and he was defeated by Colonel W. H. Merritt, a Democrat,
though he carried the East Side by a large majority.
In 1884, the Twentieth General Assembly appropriated fifty
thousand dollars to purchase ground for the permanent location of
the State Fair, this location to be given to the city donating a like
amount for buildings and improving the groimds.
Instantly, there was a vigorous contest for the prize. Cedar
Rapids was in it, with the most effusive declarations and promises,
but Des Moines, with the prestige of six continuous successful
Fairs, her central position, and the promise of the required dona-
tion, won the prize. The grounds were purchased, two hundred
and sixty-six acres, at a cost of forty-six thousand and nine dollars
and twenty-five cents. An effort was then made to raise the dona-
tion fund from the city, but it failed. Isaac, always ready to help
the town, took hold of the proposition, and secured subscriptions to
the amount of fifty-five thousand, six hundred and ninety-six dol-
lars, of which he collected fifty-one thousand dollars and delivered
it to the State Agricultural Society.
The permanent location of the Fair Grounds led to notable
changes in the geography of the city and improvement of streets.
ISAAC BRANDT 41
Somewhat elated with his success, Isaac was one day standing with
some of his friends on the highest point on the grounds, which he
called "Inspiration Point," and, looking westward at the splendid
vista, he suggested the establishment of a boulevard one hundred
feet wide, direct from the grounds to the city, to be called Grand
Avenue, and soon after he secured the right of way for it, to the
east end of Keokuk Street, at Eighteenth Street. From this point,
Keokuk Street extended to the river ; on the West Side it was Syca-
more to Arch (now Fifteenth), thence Greenwood Avenue west to
the city limits. Isaac then persuaded the City Council to change
the names of these three streets to Grand Avenue, thus giving the
city a beautiful street nine miles long through its center.
Were the present city dweller to read the names of the streets as
given in the first City Directory, publised in 1866, which I com-
piled, so great have been the changes, he would not know where he
was at. In fact, there were then many families who did not know
what street they lived on, so widely scattered were they.
In 1883, President Arthur appointed Isaac one of three com-
missioners to inspect two divisions of the Northern Pacific Eail-
road, and in 1890, President Harrison, in recognition of his long,
active, influential service in the Republican party, apjxiinted him.
Postmaster, and for four years he did good service.
Religiously, he is not a churchman. Though thoroughly instilled
with all the tenets of the Westminster Catechism, by a good Pres-
byterian mother, and Biblical precepts by a rigid Dunkard father,
he is tied to no sectarian creed. He believes in honesty, equity,
justice, right-living, and giving every person a fair deal. He uses
very mild "swear words" sometimes, for emphasis, in conversation.
And he has fads. He delights in gathering facts and incidents
which make history, always accessible, and valuable to newspaper
scorpions. He has sample copies of every national, state and county
ticket of political parties from 1858 to date; the vote of each
coimty and town election in Polk County from 1858 to date; the
rules and regulations of each Legislature, with the name and post-
office addi-ess of each member, from 1858 to date. He formerly
had three sample tickets that his father cast for William Henry
Harrison for President, in 1840, but he gave one to Benjamin
42 PIOIiEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Harrison when he was making his noted Presidential tour of the
country, and his car was making a stop at the depot in Des Moines.
He also has the record of the height and weight of his six "kids,"
taken on their birthdays, the girls from seven years to eighteen, the
boys from seven to twenty-one years.
March Twenty-sixth, 1905.
CURTIS LAME
CUUTIS LAMB
A FEW days ago, I visited Curtis Lamb, a pioneer of Iowa,
who, with his wife, was spending a few weeks with their
daughter, Mrs. T. L. Blank, on Jefferson Street. I found
him, eighty-seven j^ears of age, active, hale and hearty, social, and
prolific with incidents of pioneer days.
A native of Posey County, Indiana, in 1827, when nine years
old, with his parents, he went to the lead mines near Mineral Point,
Wisconsin. The trip was made down the Ohio and iip the Missis-
sippi on a flat-boat, so crowded with household goods and live-stock
of immigrants as to make traveling disagreeable and uncomfortable.
While going up the Mississijipi, the boat became disabled and was
laid up for repairs two weeks. The passengers were landed on
what is now the Iowa side of the river, glad to escape their over-
crowded quarters, so he may be rightfully cited as a pioneer of the
state. He resided in Wisconsin until 1850, when, with his family,
he started for California, but stopped for the winter at Kanesville,
now Council Bluffs, with the Mormons. During the Winter, he
went on a hunting trip northward and discovered the Little Sioux
Eiver. He decided the country there was good enough for him,
and in the Spring of 1851, went back, made a claim, lived in a
tent while he built a log cabin, the first in what is now Woodbury
County, and became the first white settler.
In 1855, having heard of the new town of Sioux City, he con-
cluded to go and look at it. Of that, he said :
"After looking at the site, I decided to move there, and in the
Summer went over to cut hay and put it up, to feed my oxen while
I cut logs for a house during the coming Winter. I drove into
Sioux City along a ridge between the Floyd and Missouri rivers,
thinking I could get down near the point, but it was too steep. I
turned back, and finally, about nine o'clock, got to Doctor Cook's,
who kept a kind of stopping-place in a hewed log house, which stood
43
44 PIONEEES OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
on the east side of Perry Creek, near the mouth. The next day, I
made arrangements for my hay and returned home. The next
Winter, I went back, chopped down trees on the iJ^ebraska side of
the river, there being none suitable on the east side, and my little
boy, with oxen, hauled the logs on the ice to where I wanted to use
them. The next Spring, in 1856, I went over with 'Abe' Liver-
more, James McGinn, an Irishman, and one other man, to hew
the logs and build the house. 'Abe' made the shingles by hand out
of Black Walnut. 'Jim' and I sawed the boards for the sheathing
with a whip saw, from Maple logs, enough to cover a house 16x20,
the first sawed lumber made in that county. The flooring was
shipped from Saint Louis, and cost seventy dollars. In May, I
moved my wife and four children into the completed house. I can
now only conjecture where it stood, but it was on the second bot-
tom, and about two blocks from the Missouri River. I took in a
few boarders and some transients, land speculators, free with their
money, the Land Office being nearby, and the hoiise was always
full. At the end of six months, I sold out to Judge Moore, one of
my boarders, for fifteen hundred dollars. A. M. White had a pre-
emption claim for one hundred and sixty acres where the city now
is, and, as someone had to live on it, he offered me a ten-acre inter-
est in it and the use of a new frame house if I would take it and
board him. I accepted the offer late in the Fall. On the Eighth
of January, my second daughter was born, the third white child
born in Sioux City. During the Summer of 1857, several frames
for houses were brought in and put up, one large one was put up
by a man named Benham, and furnished for a hotel, which he
named the Pacific. Soon after. Judge Moore traded the town of
Niobrara, which consisted of a lot of stakes driven in the ground,
and several imposing plats, for the hotel, and persuaded me to run
it a year for a rental of one thousand dollars. No papers were
drawn for transactions in those good old days. A man was almost
insulted if asked to sign a note. A man whose word was not as
good as his note was very much looked down upon."
Asked if he had any experiences with Indians, he replied :
"Yes, I read your sketch in The Register and Leader several
months ago, in which you stated that you met Ink-pa-du-a-tah at
CURTIS LAMB 45
Wabashaw a short time before the Spirit Lake Massacre. I think
you are mistaken, for he camped on my place in Woodbury County,
and went from there up to Cherokee, and from there to Peterson,
then to Spirit Lake, where the killing commenced. I traded with
him and his tribe for three successive Winters, they camping on my
claim not far from my cabin, two miles north of where Smithland
now is, in Woodbury County. The second cabin I built is still
standing, and is preserved by the Woodbury County Old Settlers'
Association.
"In my dealings with Ink-pa-du-a-tah, I found him perfectly
honest, a good neighbor, and true friend.
"In the Spring of 1856, after Sioux City was started, I moved
there, to send my children to school. I rented my farm to Mr. Liv-
ermore, and when the Indians came down the next Fall, as usual,
they found me gone, and the new settlers did not want them there.
A company of white men formed and went to Ink-pa-du-a-tah's
camp while the men were out himting (some were hunting with
bows and arrows) and there were nineteen guns left in the camp.
When the white men appeared, the squaws and children took to the
woods. The white men tore down the tepees, took the gims and
ammunition, and went home, intending, it was said, to go back
later and return the guns and tell the Indians what they wanted.
They evidently did not understand Indian nature, for when they
went back the next morning, the Indians were gone, having moved
in the night.
"Insulted and injured, as they felt, it was no wonder the
Indians concluded to borrow some white men's guns in the same
way theirs had been borrowed. At Cherokee, they went into the
houses and took the guns and some provisions, but hurt no one.
They then went on to the next white settlement, Peterson, twelve
miles, where they took more guns and provisions; then on up to
Spirit Lake, where, at one of the first houses, the people were
scared, and a man shot an Indian. Then the fighting and killing
began.
"It was, and still is, hard for me to realize that my old friend
and neighbor, whom I never knew guilty of a mean act, could have
sanctioned the cruel, bloodthirsty deeds committed during the hor-
rible Spirit Lake Massacre.
46 PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
"In OTir neighborhood, at first, there were hut three families
within a radius of twenty miles. It was necessary for our men,
to go with loads to Kanesville, now Coimcil BluflFs. The third man
would stay and do chores for the two absent men. The women and
children would stay at my cabin. Sometimes, for days and weeks,
my wife and four children would be intrusted, as you might say,
to the care of Ink-pa-du-a-tah and his band. I could relate many
acts of his kindness. He would come to the cabin, and ask if any-
thing could be done. If logs were needed for the immense fire-
place, he would send up squaws to carry them in, and the table was
supplied with the choicest of their fish and venison. He taught me
the Sioux language, and many hours have we set together by my
fireplace, exchanging knowledge of our languages. My pronimcia-
tion of one word always afforded him great anfusement. It was
the word signifying the internal ear, or ear-hole. I could not speak
it right, and he would lean back and laugh heartily. It finally
became his invariable custom to pronounce that word for me when
he wanted to bring the lesson to a close. He called me Ah-si-a-tah
(accent on the second syllable), which means, so far as I could
understand it, 'many good things in one person.' "
Asked how he first met Ink-pa-du-a-tah, he replied :
"I came to Iowa in 1850, took a claim in Township Eighty-six,
Range Forty-four, on Little Sioux Eiver, in what is now Little
Sioux Township, Woodbury County, about thirty miles southeast
from Sioux City, and built a log cabin. In the Fall of 1852, about
twenty miles north, were some Indian camps. One day, a Spaniard,
named Joe Mary\-ille, came to my cabin with a horse and sleigh,
and two Indians on their way from Sergeant's Bluff to these Indian
camps, with blankets and other goods to trade with the Indians.
He also had some alcohol. They stopped at my cabin over night.
I made them bunks on the floor, as comfortable as possible. While
there, Joe doped the alcohol with water, all it would bear, and went
up to the Indian camp. He first traded his blankets and other
stuff for furs, and the next morning let go the firewater. Knowing
the nature of the stuff, he deemed it prudent to get out early, and
went to 'hitch up,' but his horse was gone. Concluding it would
take the back track to my stable, where it stopped the night before.
CUETIS LAMB 47
he took the trail, arriving about ten o'clock, where the horse was
having a good feed and waiting for him. He mounted him, and
went back to get the sleigh. By that time the dope had got in its
work, the Indians were fighting drunk, and having a regular knock-
down and drag-out. The squaws had taken their papooses and gone
to the timber for safety.
"There were two bands of Indians. Ink-pa-du-a-tah was the
chief of one band, and Wah-se-bo-be-do chief of the other. In the
ailray, a brother of Ink-pa-du-a-tah was killed, and Wah-se-bo-be-do
badly wounded by stabbing. Joe finally succeeded in stopping the
fight, and persuaded the two bands to separate, Inka-pa-du-tah to
go north, and Wah-se-bo-be-do to go south, where help for his
wounds could be secured. Muz-ze-min, a Medicine Man, had a
tepee not far from my cabin. He was an uncle of Wah-se-bo-be-do,
who evidently knew where he was, for he sent an Indian boy down
to his tepee to tell him that he was wounded, and his band was
coming down with him. Muz-ze-min told the boy to go back and
meet them, and tell them to bring Wah-se-bo-be-do to the white
man's cabin. Muz-ze-min then came and told me what he had
done. I said that was all right, though most of our conversation
was in pantomime, as I had not then learned much of the Sioux
language. After some time, I saw the Indians coming. Wah-se-bo-
be-do was walking very feebly, and when he came to our porch, he
seemed too weak to step up. I went out and helped him in, and set
a chair, but he motioned to the floor. My wife hastily put a straw
bed and some blankets on the floor, and he lay down. All this time
Muz-ze-min sat with his elbows on his knees and face covered with
his hands. After a while, he went and sat down by Wah-se-bo-be-do,
leaned over, said a few words, and kissed him. Aft«r a short talk,
he examined, with much tenderness, the wound, which was a stab
with a knife, and had pierced one lung, from which air and blood
escaped at each respiration. My wife brought bandages, and Muz-
ze-min dressed the wound with some powders of his own make.
They then went down to the tepees which the squaws had pitched,
where they stayed all night. I think they were afraid Inka-pa-du-
tah would come down from the north, for they all left for Ser-
geant's Bluil the next day, and I never saw Wah-se-bo-be-do again,
though I was told he recovered.
48 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
"Ifot many days after, I was at work in the timber, when the
children came rushing to me in great excitement, saying the house
was full of Indians. Hurrying home, I found them there, their
faces covered with war paint, and in an apparently ugly mood.
Feeling sure it was the band that had fought Was-se-bo-be-do's
band, and knowing I had aided and befriended their enemy, and
not understanding a word of their language, I was somewhat puz-
zled to know what course to pursue. I set to thinking mighty fast
to decide what to do to pacify them. Knowing the surest way to a
person's good nature was through the stomach; that the Indians
were fond of turnips; that I had some good turnips stored away,
I got a quantity and distributed them around. Each took one and
laid it on the floor, without uttering a word or a grunt, which was
a bad sign ; neither did they offer me a pipe to smoke, for they
were all smoking, which was another bad sign. Meanwhile, the chil-
dren played around, and their mother went on with her work, as if
she was undisturbed. After an hour of this suspense, Inka-pa-du-
a-tah picked up his turnip, the others following him. After eating
their turnips, he came and shook hands with me first, and all the
others followed. They then went to their tepees, not far away,
where they remained all Winter. We became quite friendly. Ink-
pa-du-a-tah taught me their language, and I taught him our's, and
the white man's ways. My cabin was always open to him, and he
became a firm friend of ray wife and children. For three success-
ive Falls, he returned and camped on my place, and traded with
me. He told me they went north every Spring to where the wild
ducks and geese laid their eggs, of which the Indians are very fond.
While with me, they would hunt and trap. I loaned them a lot of
steel traps, and they always returned them in the Spring before
going north. They would trade me elk, deer, otter, mink, beaver,
wolf, fox, and other skins, and venison hams, which I took to
Council Bluffs, then called Kanesville, ninety miles distant, where
I sold them for cash. I remember one lot of furs and four hvmdred
hams which brought six hundred and eighty dollars in gold. With
the proceeds of the sales, I would buy a general stock of Indian
goods, together with provisions for my family. Sometimes I would
have three or four yoke of oxen hitched to my load, making two
CURTIS LAMB 49
trips during the Winter and one during the Summer, as the Sum-
mer trade did not amoimt to very much, with only roving bands of
Yankton Sioux.
"The third Fall on my claim, in 1853, two Indians of Ink-pa-du-
a-tah's band came to my cabin and told me the Indians were com-
ing, loaded down with furs, and wished I would go with a wagon
and lighten their load. I yoked two yoke of oxen to a wagon, loaded
up with some cornmeal and other goods, and went up in company
with Sam. Day, who was staying with us at that time. We met
the Indians about six miles north in a small open prairie. After
shaking hands with all the warriors, we decided to come back about
a mile, where there was timber and water, and there we camped.
The Indians built a big fire, the squaws pitched the tepees and pre-
pared a supper. Having taken our own food, Sam. and I ate
together. After supper, business was lively. As fast as I could
scoop up cornmeal in a pint measure, an Indian would take it and
hand me a package of muskrat skins, five in a package. I counted
them the first few times, but soon grew tired of that, and just
threw them into the wagon as fast as I could. I was never cheated
by them. I traded wool blankets, heavy mackinaws, for buckskins,
getting ten buckskins for a blanket. After finishing trading, we
retired peacefully for the night, and everything was quiet until
daylight. We were early astir, and after breakfast, moved south-
ward. When within three miles of my cabin, the Indians said they
would camp there, the grass in the woods being still green and
fresh for their ponies. Sam. and I went on home.
"A few days later, Ink-pa-du-a-tah came and told me there were
'min-ne-has-ka' (white men), 'num-pah' (two), in a small grove a
mile and a half east of their camp, who had whiskey to sell to his
men ; that they had come to his camp with bottles of whiskey, and
treated his warriors, and given them to understand by signs that
they had a barrel of whiskey to sell. He said he did not want his
men to have it, as they would get mad and fight. He asked me
what he should do; should he go and break the barrel? I said,
'Ifo,' that I would go up to his camp that night. That was all I
said, but he went away perfectly satisfied. That evening, quite
early, I, with my hired man, Zachary Allen, went to the Indian
Vol. II— (4).
50 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
camp. I wanted to get positive evidence the men were selling
whiskey to the Indians. I told the Indians to dress Zach. and
myself like Indians, and we would go with them and get whiskey.
They had lots of sport dressing us up, and we made quite respect-
able looking Indians. We put blankets over our heads, drawn tight
about the face to hide our beards. After donning our garments,
we were much surprised to see how much larger we seemed than
the Indians. We went over to the white man's camp, and found
two Spaniards with a big bonfire. They invited the Indians to
come nearer and get warm. They passed around a little whiskey,
but soon detected us, and I heard one of them say to the other in an
undertone : 'I wonder who told those fellows we were here ?' They
would do nothing more that evening, and early the next morning
they were gone.
"I relate this to show that Ink-pa-du-a-tah really wanted his men
to be sober, industrious, and law-abiding. He often asked me:
'Have my men ever stolen anything?' and I could always answer,
'No.'
"No, I never saw Ink-pa-du-a-tah after the massacre at Spirit
Lake."
Noticing that he spoke Ink-pa-du-a-tah's name different from its
usual appearance in print, I asked why. The reply was : "That
is the way it was always spoken by him, with the accent on the
third syllable."
Politically, Lamb was a Whig and Abolitionist. He cast his
first ballot for William Henry Han-ison, in 1840, and has always
been a Republican. He is an enthusiastic supporter of Roosevelt,
and a firm "Standpatter;" is not a politician, though he keeps him-
self thoroughly posted on current events through the papers ; has
never asked a public ofiBce, though he helped to organize Woodbury
County, was elected the first Justice of the Peace in the co\mty,
which office, or some other township ofiice, he has held continuously
since. He takes an active part in educational affairs, and has been
a member of school boards many years.
Socially, he is not connected with any of the fraternal organiza-
tions, though he is fond of company, a good conversationalist, of
genial temperament, and deservedly popular.
CURTIS LAMB 51
Religiously, in his earlier years, he affiliated with the Metho-
dists, but later denounced all creeds, and during the past few years
has been a close student of the Bible; has repeatedly read the
"Millenial Dawn," a series of books by Russell, and firmly believes
they are all true.
Physically, he retains all his faculties to a remarkable degree.
The retentiveness of his memory is surprising, and valuable to a
compiler of the history of his county. He some time ago retired on
Easy Street. For diversion, he cultivates a garden, which is the
pride of his life, and he is getting anxious for the lion of March
to let go his grip so that gardening may begin.*
April First, 1906.
'Died suddenly, January Third, 1907.
MADISON YOUNG
A PROMINENT early settler, and useful man, was Madison
Young, or "Esquire," as everybody in the county knew him.
Entering Union College, New York, at the age of twenty-
three, he worked his way through, paying his expenses by manual
labor, and graduated from the law department at the head of his
class. He came here in December, 1849, opened a law office on
Second Street, near Market, and at once identified himself with
public affairs, especially those respecting schools, in the little ham-
let at Eaccoon Forks. He was admitted to the Bar the following
Spring Term of court, and appointed Special Prosecutor for the
counties of Dallas, "Warren, Madison, Jasper, Boone, and Mar-
shall, the Fifth Judicial District then embracing those counties.
Early in 1850, a movement was made for the formation of a
School District, and at a meeting of the Directors, in May, he was
elected Secretary. His record says:
"On motion, the electors pi-esent proceeded to vote by ballot
whether they would levy a tax or not \ipon the taxable property
in School District Number Five, Des Moines Township. One vote
was given for a tax, and seventeen votes for no tax. Whereiipon,
it was declared that there should be no tax raised for the purpose
of renting, hiring, building, or buying a schoolhouse at this time,
in School District Number Five, Des Moines Township, Polk
County, Iowa.
"The meeting then adjourned sine die."
The particularity of this record indicates clearly the methodical
manner in which the Esquire did his business.
The community was small, the people were poor, and felt unable
to build schoolhouses, and the school was continued in the Court
House.
In November, a meeting was held of the Directors to examine
Charles L. Alexander respecting his qualifications to teach the
school. (See page One Hundred and Twentv, "Volume One.)
5,3
54 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
It was at this meeting of the Directors a decision was made to
purchase a lot and build a schoolhouse, and in 1851, one hundred
dollars was paid for one-half acre at the northwest corner of Ninth
and Locust, and by slow progi-ess a two-story building was com-
pleted in 1855, costing about eleven thousand dollars, and occupied
during the Winter term of 1856 by a corps of four teachers, with
J. A. Stickney, Principal, and thus was begun the Public School
System, with less than three hundred pupils.
In 1851, Young was elected Justice of the Peace and Coroner.
During his tenn occurred the cow case, notable among the early
settlers, the details of which are given in the sketch of Judge Curtis
Bates. (See page Four Hundred and Twenty-two, Volume One.)
In May, 1855, at a State Conference of the Lutheran Church, it
was decided to establish an institution for higher education at some
point within forty miles of the Capital, which manifested the most
liberality toward it, and to be known as Iowa Central College.
Judge Casady, Doctor F. C. Grimmel, Esquire Young, and Cap-
tain F. R. West at once took the matter up to secure its location at
Des Moines, a characteristic of the pioneers to work unitedly in
promoting the welfare of the town, regardless of their individual
church associations. A subscription was raised, a site purchased
for sixteen hundred dollars, at Fifteenth Street and Woodland
Avenue. The proffer was accepted, and during the Summer of
1856, the corner stone was laid and the walls erected, but, because
of the hard times and scarcity of building material, work was sus-
pended for want of funds. At this juncture, Judge Casady, Father
Bird, Esquire Young, Captain West, R. W. Sypher, and Doctor
Grimmel gave their individual notes, at thirty per cent interest,
for a loan of five thousand dollars, to go on with the work, and in
1857, the roof was put on and construction suspended, the bare
walls being left exposed to the elements as a deserted building imtil
1865, when the projierty was sold to the Baptist denomination. A
subscription fund of t^velve thousand dollars was then raised in
Des Moines, the building completed, and in 1886 was inaugurated
the L^niversity of Des Moines, by Elder Nash. Later, the prop-
erty was sold and the L'niversity became what is now Des Moines
College.
MADISON YOUNG 55
In 1856, Young purchased a tract of several acres on Ninth
street, adjoining the present Des Moines College grounds. It was
his custom to invest every dollar he could in real estate, most of
which was subsequently platted and added to the city. He cleared
the tract of its forest and planted a fruit orchard and vineyard.
While waiting for the trees to grow, he sjjent two years in Heidel-
burg, Germany, attending university lectures, and in the grape and
wine districts on the Rhine, to gain practical knowledge of grape-
growing and wine-making. Returning, he built a shanty on his
tract, and in Summer, living alone, cultivated his trees. In the
Winter, he lived in a grout house he had built just south of 'Coon
River, while experimenting with Reverend Doctor Peet, the first
Episcopal minister, and Henry Scribner, to find a substitute for
brick for building purposes. For several years, he cultivated his
fruit farm, produced several varieties of luscious apples, and
became an expert in making fine wine. Meanwhile, he built a fine
two-story house of brick on the tract. His health failing, he very
reluctantly sold the farm to Conrad Youngerman. It has since
yielded to the encroachment of improvements, is covered with fine
residences, the orchard has gone to decay, but the brick house still
remains, as the home of Mrs. Anna Ross Clark, near the corner of
Fifteenth and North streets.
In 1873, he went to Colorado to regain his health, but before
going, made a will bequeathing all his wealth to his brothers, sis-
ters, and their children, about thirty-five thousand dollars, except
one thousand dollars to his alma mater. Union Colege, and one lot
in South Des Moines, which he gave to a colored man named Mur-
ray. Failing to get relief in the West, he returned, and in Septem-
ber, accompanied by Taylor Pierce, City Clerk, he went to Cin-
cinnati Hospital, but the ravages of Consumption had done their
work, and October Twenty-third, he ceased to be. In accordance
with his expressed desire, his remains were brought here, interred
in Woodland Cemetery, and a fine monument designates the spot.
He was public-spirited, charitable, and during his life gave lib-
erally to worthy objects, especially in the early days, when help
was needed to promote and foster that which tended to the better-
ment of society.
56 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Socially, he was reserved, taciturn, abjured society affairs and
functions, preferring the single life of a bachelor. In 1850, when
Pioneer Lodge, jSTumber Twenty-two, A. F. and A. M., was organ-
ized, he was the first person admitted to membership. When, in
the same year, Fort Des Moines Lodge, I. O. O. F., was organized,
he was one of the charter members, and elected its first Noble
Grand.
There being no other place available, its first meetings were held
in the Clerk's office at the Court House. Soon after, a second story
was added to Granville Holland's store on Second Street, near
Vine. In both lodges. Young was an active and efficient member,
their exclusiveness being congenial to his temperament.
Religiously, he was an Episcopalian. In 1855, when Saint
Paul's Church was organized. Young became one of the first Board
of "Vestry. Meetings were held at the residences of church mem-
bers, and wherever a place could be obtained, until, in 1856, Edwin
Hall donated a lot on Seventh Street, where now is the annex to
the Younlcer store, and a small chapel was erected. Doctor Peet,
the first Rector, was a missionary — a noble, worthy man — who,
with Father Bird and Elder Nash, formed a triumvirate of good-
ness and virtue which laid the foundation of that public sentiment
which has made this a widely notable community of schools and
churches.
Politically, Yoimg was a radical Whig, but not a politician. The
only public office he held was given him when there were not
Whigs enough in the township to form a Corporal's guard.
He was a man of many idiosyncracies and eccentricities, one of
which was talking to himself during his later years. He would
visit places of business and quietly sit for an hour muttering to
himself, or he could be seen walking the street talking to himself,
and emphasizing his conversation with gestures of the hand. It
was absent-mindedness, not from mental aberration.
April Eighth, 1906.
SETH GRAHAM
SETH GRAHAM
AN old-timer in Des Moines, and one of its best-known citi-
zens is Seth Graham, a genuine Buckeye, bom in Wayne
Coimty, Ohio, April Thirteenth, 1831, of Scottish ancestors,
who emigrated to America in 1793.
In 1838, his father moved to Pike County, Illinois, where, as a
millwright, he resided imtil 1842, when he removed to Perry
Coimty, Illinois. In the meantime, Seth attended the district
schools, assisted his father, and became familiar with the use of
mechanical tools. In Perry County, he was employed in a wagon
shop, carpenter shop, and did mill work for two years.
In 1849, when eighteen years of age, he struck out for himself,
and paddled his own canoe. In 1850, he landed in Iowa, and went
to burning lime in Cedar County for fifteen dollars per month. In
the Fall of that year, he made a contract with IST. L. 'Milbui-n, an
extensive bridge builder, and built bridges on Cedar River, on the
Des Moines, at Keosauqua, in 1851-1852; on the Skimk, at Rome,
on the road from Fairfield to Mount Pleasant, in 1852-1853.
In the Fall of 1853, he began the building of the steamboat,
N. L. Milburn. at lowaville, on Des Moines River. The hull was
completed and towed into an inlet for the Winter, and to protect
it against floating ice in the Spring. The next morning it was
found water-logged. Milburn charged Andrew Jackson Davis, he of
the famous Colorado Will Case, a few years ago, who was running
a saw mill on the opposite side of the river, and with whom he had,
in common with many others, trouble in the courts, with sinking
the hull. Early in the Spring, an attempt was made to raise it and
get it back to the yard for completion, but a high wind got control
of it and blew it across the river in Davis' bailiwick, where it
landed in the underbrush. Milburn called Seth and told him to go
and borrow John Jordan's revolver, quietly slip over to the boat,
and guard it, for "the man who sunk it will try it again to-night."
57
58 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Seth went and whispered bis want to Jordan, who took the revolver
from his desk and slipped it into Soth's overcoat pocket. Seth then
crept stealthily on board the craft. It was a bad night ; the wind
was high and frigid ; there was no escape from it except to crawl
into one of the empty boilers, which he did, making himself as
comfortable as possible, ocasionally thrusting his head out of the
"manhole" to see if the coast was clear. The dreary night passed,
however, without disturbance. Crawling out of his post early in
the morning, and stretching himself to take the kinks out of his
anatomy, he examined his trusty revolver, the six chambers of
which contained not a sign of a charge; neither had he one in his
pockets.
The hull was moved to its yard again and hustled to completion,
making its first trip May Sixteenth, to Keokuk, thence back to
Eddyville. About twelve miles below Red Rock was a good coal
mine, where the Milburn got its coal. The boat was kept busy, and
on one of its trips, the Badger State was found lying fast on a rock
just below Ottumwa, and heavily loaded with freight for Des
Moines. The freight was transferred to the Milburn, and on the
Nineteenth of June, pulled out for "Raccoon Forks." Among the
passengers on the Badger State were Colonel J. M. Griffith, then
running a general merchandise store, and Jesse Dicks, a stove and
hardware merchant, both on Second Street, who had been to Saint
Louis to buy goods. When within a few miles of the coal mine, the
steamboat /. B. Gordon was discovered coming after them at full
speed, apparently to cut the Milburn out at the coal mine. The
pilot ran along slowly, until the Gordon got close on, when barrels
of tar were rolled out, the heads knocked in, the wood plunged into
the tar, and then under the boilers. The Milburn forged ahead and
struck the coal dock with a thud that sent everybody sprawling on
the deck, but she got the coal.
When it reached "Rattlesnake Bend," about eight miles down
the river, the current being swift and tortuous, Dicks and Griffith
preferred to walk across the narrow neck of the bend, which is
shaped like a horseshoe, and they were put ashore, to be picked up
at the other end of the bend, but they failed to make a coimection,
and the next seen of them was about two hours after the boat tied
SETH GRAHAM 59
up at the "Point." They hove into port on the south side of the
'Coon and hailed Seth to come over with a skiil — there were no
bridges — and get them. Dicks, who was of very obese construction,
short in the legs, was puffing like a porpoise; Griffith, tall and slim,
a rapid walker, as everybody knows, having given him a hot pace.
In the Spring of 1854, the 3Iilburn went up Missouri River on
a three months' cruise. Then she loaded with freight from Saint
Louis to New Orleans, where she was chartered for the cotton trade
— and when crossing the Gulf of Jilexico, foundered and sunk.
In the Spring of 1855, Seth came to Des Moines, and went to
work in the steam saw mill of Stanton, Griffith & Hoover.
The first Sunday after his arrival, a big commotion broke out
in the Irish Settlement, down on the 'Coon bottoms. It was
rumored they had all been poisoned. They had suddenly become
as "crazy as bedbugs," not violent, but hilarious and noisy. All
the physicians in town were called out, and the whole town rushed
down there. The victims were singing and dancing, and making
more fun than a circus. Asked what the trouble was, they said
they had been eating "greens," made from Jimpson Weed. The
doctors doped them according to their best diag-nosis, the symptoms
indicating spirituous frumenti, though they vigorously denied that
they had "touched a drap av the craythur, for isn't it locked up
wid the prohib'try law, an' Docther Cole has the key? Indade, it
was the weeds."
In a few hours, the excitement subsided entirely.
I recall another case of "greens" which occurred in 1853, on
the Fourth of Jiily. A big celebration was had. "Old Bill"
McHenry was Master of Ceremonies, and "Dan" Finch did the
orating on the steps of the old first Court House. It was a gala
day and everybody was happy as lords. A few weeks ago, "Dan,"
referring to those "good old days," said of some of the doings of
that day, that William Marvin, who kept the Marvin House, on
Third Street, and was also Clerk of the Courts, sent down to Bur-
lington for some choice ingi-edients to make a drink called "julep,"
composed of sugar, water, and the stuff he got at Burlington, which
was mixed, and some "greens" added. Marvin "set up" the con-
coction to his numerous frieuds, and its effect was most decidedly
60 PIOISTEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
exhilarating, for Captain West hnujiht one of the finest resi-
dences in town right opposite the Marvin House, paid eight hun-
dred cash for it, and the next morning had forgotten all about it,
and declared that somebody had robbed him. Hoyt Sherman and
R. L. Tidrick, two very dignified and circumspect gentlemen,
escorted one of the young ladies home in a buggy, and Byron Rice,
the County Judge, a very temperate and economical man, became
very much disturbed and disconsolate because he could not find
some poor, worthy family to whom he could give a farm. There
was something very peculiar about it. ]\fost everybody who drank
the stuff felt the same way. T was always inclined to think it was
the "greens."
In the Fall of 1854, Seth and W. F. Ayers purchased the steam
saw mill at the foot of Des Moines Street, on the east bank of the
river, owned by Stanton, Griffith & Hoover. They denuded forty
acres of heavy timber on Ed. Clapp's land in North Des Moines,
and cleared the section where Mercy Hospital now is. In fact, the
whole country north of School Street was heavily timbered. The
coal for making steam was burrowed out of the bluff where Saint
Mary's Church is, and floated across the river in scows.
In 1857, Seth and Avers built a three-story steam flour mill
where the Edison light plant is. The machinery was shipped from
Mount Vernon, Ohio, by rail to Iowa City, thence hauled by teams
t« Des Moines, with the usual delay in getting across Skunk Bot-
toms. The price paid for wheat was seventy-five cents to one dol-
lar per bushel. A defect in the apparatus for "smutting" pre-
vented making a good gi-ade of flour, and the project was not a
success, and in 1859, the partnership in both mills was dissolved.
In 1861, the flour mill was destroyed by fire.
In 1859, Seth went to Boonesboro, where he superintended a
flour mill one year ; then he went to Perry County, Illinois, where
he worked in a lumber yard until 1862, when he returned to Des
Moines, and went to Elkhart and ran a saw mill for Joe Hutton
one year, when he went to work in the foundry and machine shops
of H. N. Heminway, on the East Side, to learn the trade, where
he remained until 1868, and became a master mechanic. While he
was there, he made for me a very fine machinist's "peen" hammer.
SETH GRAHAM 61
which was stolen by one of the Beve Graves gang of thugs, robbers
and murderers, which terrorized the town in 1874-1875.
While Seth was employed in the Heminway shops, a draft was
ordered by the Government to fill up some regiments that were
deficient. When the war broke out, there was a strong pro-slavery
element in the town and county ; many of the pioneers having come
from slave-holding states, their sympathies were naturally with
their former states. In fact, slaves were owned and held in Polk
County in 1845. There was strong opposition to the draft, and
Hub. Hoxie, who was the United States Marshal, arrested three
men in Story County for resisting it, brought them to Des Moines,
and placed them imder guard in the third story of the Exchange
Building, at Third and Walnut streets. There was in town a large
number of members of the Knights of the Golden Circle, who were
Eebel sympathizers, opposed to the war, and especially all attempts
to coerce men into the army, declaring that, as the Republicans
brought on the war, they should fight it out. It was reported to
Hoxie that the conclave had planned to seize a lot of guns and
ammunition stored in the State House, release the three prisoners,
and destroy the Register office, which was on the second floor of the
Savery (Kirkwood) House. He immediately selected one hundred
trusty, able-bodied men, of whom Seth was one, to guard an attack.
They were armed and equipped for duty, with instructions to take
no chances ; if they shot, to shoot to kill. The Rebel sympathizers
were noisy and demonstrative as to their intent and purpose. The
Democratic State Convention was in session down on the old Fair
Grounds, at the foot of Seventh Street, near 'Coon River, and there
was a big crowd in town. One of the speakers in the convention,
a prominent man in the party, reverted to the rumors which were
rife, and, recognizing in the audience some of the suspected secret
conclave, he, in vigorous terms, advised against any interference
with the movements of the Government, for "the man who attempts
it might as well make preparation in advance for his funeral, for,"
he said, "there are more than one hundred Union Leaguers in
town, prepared for whatever may happen." As an approach to the
State House, Exchange Building and Register office at night was
greeted with a look down the barrel of a well-loaded gun, with a
man behind it, the raid was not attempted.
62 PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Referring to that event a few days ago, Seth said : "When the
war broke out, the northern Democrats were an uncertain quantity.
Did you know John A. Logan ? He was a pretty good Union man,
wasn't he ?"
I replied that I had seen him many times, "but what of him ?"
"Well, I knew him along in the Forties, when I was a schoolboy,
and " Then, twirling a cigar between his lips, relapsed into
a reminiscent mood for several moments, as if scanning the picture
before his vision, then went on : "He was a rising young lawyer,
following the courts around the circuit on horseback, stopping at
the various county seats, as was then the custom. When court
met at Pinckneyville, the lawyers all stopped at the same tavern,
as there was but one, and it was the pride of us boys who could get
in the good graces of the hostler to ride their horses to the creek to
water, thereby saving the hostler a whole lot of hard pumping, and
some of the horses were more or less accustomed to the race ti'ack,
and would not let anything pass them. It was fun to ride up
behind some fellow and make his horse run away with him, but our
great delight was to stand around open-mouthed and drink in the
yarns told on the porch after supper.
"Logan was dark-complexioned, black-haired, and black-eyed.
He was a good talker, spoke with a decided Southern accent, and
was an ideal hero for us boys. I think his most impressive yarns
were of diielling and horse racing. He lived in the adjoining
county of Franklin.
"I left Perry County in 1849, and on my return, in 1860, he
was the Representative in Congress from that district, and I did
not see him again imtil Jime, 1861. Things were hot in that coun-
try then. Business was dead ; work was played out. The Presi-
dent had called for seventy-five thousand one-hundred-day men,
and Company A of the Eighteenth Regiment was being recruited
with a rush ; meetings every day for recruits and drill. Our Rep-
resentative's proclivities being pretty well known, he was freely
cussed or discussed, depending on the point of view. He started
out to make a tour of the southern counties before returning to
Washington for the called session of Congress. The day he spoke
in Pinckneyville, he did not come on the drill ground, and most of
SETH GRAHAM 63
us went down to the lake for a swim before going to hear him.
While there, John Kirkwood, the drill master — afterward First
Lieutenant, and killed at Fort Donelson — proposed that we fill our
pockets with stones and 'rock' him out of the Court House if he
advocated Secession or gave any treasonable utterances. The pro-
posal met a hearty response. There were about forty of us. We
loaded up and went to the Court House, scattered ourselves around
the back seats, with Kirkwood up near the front, where we could
all see him when he fired the first shot, but we did not get the
opportunity. The nearest the speaker come to it was when he said :
'Raise your volunteers and put them in the field, but put them in
the harvest field. If Illinois is invaded, I'll fight. I'm going back
to Washington City in about two weeks, and if Washington City is
invaded, I'll fight, but I'll not go out of my state to fight.'
"He was not 'rocked' out, and we unloaded around the corner.
He went on his tour, and we got reports that at most of the places
where he spoke, parties of men were made up to go hunting or fish-
ing, and by some unaccountable accident they all met down on Ohio
River, and, as there was about enough to form a company, they
concluded to go over and offer their services to the Southern Con-
federacy.
"In after years, it was thrown up to him in Congress, and I
never knew of his coming out flatfooted and denying it. He always
referred to his record in Congress as disproving it.
"However, on his return from that trip, the Eighteenth Regi-
ment had gone into camp at Anna, and he wanted to go in and see
some of the boys, but, unfortunately, he found some of those same
Perry County boys on guard, and they positively refused to admit
him or take his name to the commanding officer.
"After the regiment had been mustered into service, we organ-
ized a company of Home Guards, similar to the plan later adopted
by the Union League. Our headquarters were usually in the field,
our drill ground the same.
"About that time, Hawkins S. Osborn, our Representative in
the Legislature, attempted to raise a company of mounted horse
guards He had said at Salem : 'We can take all south of Mason
and Dixon's Line, and go with the Confederacy.' We furnished
64 PION'EEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
him enough recruits to hold him level, and hefore the Summer was
over, they disbanded.
"I have forgotten the precise time we got the report that Logan,
Breckenridge, and another Representative had sent a messenger to
Richmond to see Jeff. Davis and ascertain upon what conditions he
would be willing to compromise, and had been answered, that if
they gave him blank paper and allowed him to write his own con-
ditions, he would have nothing to do with the Federal Government.
"At the close of that session of Congress, a number of Repre-
sentatives agreed to go home, raise a regiment, and go into the
field. When Logan arrived, he found the Thirty-iirst Regiment
nearly full, and, with his disposition to 'get there,' it suited him
better to be elected Colonel of that regiment than to raise another.
Company A, again the company from Perry, voted almost solid
against him, but he was elected. Immediately, in Company A, a
ring was formed to kill him if he made a move to betray them to
the enemy. I think there were ten in the ring, but I only knew
one of them positively. I asked one, the first home on a furlough,
how they were getting along with John A., and his reply was:
'We are not worrying about John A. now ; he is going to give us all
the fight we want.' "
At the close of his five years' service with Heminway, in 1868,
Seth had the choice of the superintendency of the foundry and iron
works or a partnership with Lester Gate in the transfer business.
He chose the latter, and is in it to-day, his son, Fred., having suc-
ceeded Gate, who deceased in 1893. During his service, he has
distributed an average of one family a day of new-comers to homes
in the city, and set them on the way to help Des Moines do things.
The first ten years, he paid the railroads one and one-quarter mil-
lion dollars for freight charges.
Politically, he is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, but takes no
part in politics, as politics goes. During the War Period, he was
an active member of the Union League.
Socially, he is genial, good-natured, unobtrusive, reticent, and
enjoys companionship, but gives little attention to social functions.
In business affairs, he is noted for sterling integrity, as evidenced
by the fact that he has served more years as treasurer and officer of
SETH GRAHAM 65
Masonic bodies than any person in the United States. He was initi-
ated in Pioneer Lodge in 1856, and received the degree of Master
in 1857. His record stands thus:
Raised in Pioneer Lodge, January First, 1857 ; elected Treas-
urer, 1869.
Exalted in Corinthian Chapter, 1858 ; elected Treasurer, 1880.
Knighted in Temple Commandery, 1871; elected Treasurer,
1872.
Elected Treasurer of Masonic Temple Association at its organ-
ization, 1883.
Elected Treasurer of Masonic Library Association at its organ-
ization, 1886.
Elected Treasurer of Alpha Council at its organization, 1897.
There is never a doubt as to the funds of those bodies while
Seth holds the key to the bos, and it can be truly said he is an
exemplar of the tenets of the Masonic order in civic and social life.
Religiously, he is an Episcopalian. In the early days, he was
active in church work, holding the office of Vestryman for some
time.
He is still in business, vigorous and healthy ; lets Fred, do the
heavy work ; takes three square meals a day ; carries a cigar in his
lips every day from morning to night, half the time unlighted;
enjoys life and the esteem of his fellow citizens.
November Twenty-fifth, 1906.
Vol. II— (5).
REV. I. M. T. CORY
I. M. T. COEY
AMONG the pioneers of Polk County were several named
Cory. I iise the term pioneer in its strictest sense, for the
old Pioneers' Association will not admit any to the distinc-
tion who came to the county after 1848-49.
The Corys came early in 1846, before the state was admitted to
the Union, from Elkhart County, Indiana. From them, the well-
known Cory's Grove, a beautiful belt of timber which extended out
from Four Mile Creek, was named. They made their claims in
what was then Skunk Township, put iip log cabins, and at once
began to develop the barren prairie. At that time, Polk County
was not laid out in civil townships, the first Board of County Com-
missioners having simply divided the coimty into six townships for
election purposes. Skunk Township embraced what now comprises
Douglas, Elkhart, Franklin, and Washington townships.
The new-comers wrote to home friends most glowing accounts
of the new country, and the place of their adoption ; that sometime
the Capital of the state would be removed westward to a more cen-
tral point, and that Cory's Grove was just that point. Accord-
ingly, early in October, 1846, more of the family started for the
Promised Land, and among them was Isaiah Martin Thorp Cory
— I think that is all the name he brought with him — a lad of nine
years. They came, with horses and oxen, through Vermillion
County, Illinois, crossed the Mississippi at Burlington, camping
wherever night overtook them, with only one mishap, the drowning
of an ox while fording a stream in Illinois. From Burlington,
they followed the route used by freight haulers to "Uncle Tommy"
Mitchell's tavern, the resting-place of pioneers on entering Polk
County. Skunk River Bottoms was crossed by good management
and a severe struggle in its cavernous mud, and on the second day
out from "Uncle Tommy's" they reached their destination. The
outlook was not very attractive, for, said Isaiah one day: "There
67
68 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
was nothing there but Indians, deer, elk, turkeys, otter, beaver, and
'coons, but there was not a rabbit or rat in the whole county."
The first demand was for shelter. A small log cabin was put
up, the walls chinked with mud, and a chimney built of sticks and
clay. Isaiah passed his boyhood days going to school and to mill
with a sack full of grain before him on a horse. His leisure hours
were devoted to fitting himself for active business and preaching.
In 1848, the Corys, with their accustomed energy and enter-
prise, decided to have a township more circumscribed, with some
form of local civil government. They accordingly held a meeting
organized a township, named it Elkhart, in honor of their Indiana
home, and elected ofiicers. The meeting was held at the base of a
large boulder brought down from the far North by glacial ice, and
which, by the subsequent cutting and carving of territory, is now
the northeast corner stone of Douglas Township. That was the
first civil township organized in that part of the county.
Skunk River runs through that section, and there are also sev-
eral small streams. It was, in the early days, a favorite resort for
hunters and trappers, as fur-bearing animals abounded.
Bands of Pottawattamie and Musquakie Indians, the latter rem-
nants of the Sauk and Foxes, who refused to go to Kansas when
the tribes were removed from the reservation around Fort Des
Moines, frequently visited it, and, though considered peaceable,
they caused considerable uneasiness in the Settleuient, which was
isolated, being the farthest north in Skunk Valley, for they were
sometimes impudent and threatening, especially if none of the male
members of a settler's family were present. There was constant
alarm among the women and children, who had little knowledge of
Indians except as savages, for, however peaceable an Indian may
be, when soaked with "fire water," he is mighty imcertain. With
few exceptions, bucks, as well as squaws, would drink it if they
could get it . "Whiskey" was usually the first word they learned
to speak in English. The women and children could not be divested
of their fears.
Isaiah probably has not forgotten the Winter of 1848, that of
the deep snow and severe storms, in which occurred the only real
Indian scare in Polk County, of which I have any knowledge, and
I. M. T. COEY 69
it occurred in his Settlement. The snow was so deep, and the bliz-
zards so frequent, it was nearly impossible for settlers to communi-
cate with one another, or get anywhere for several weeks. A band
of Musquakies had camped near Cory's Grove ; the snow and storms
had prevented them getting game for food, and they only escaped
starvation by begging from the settlers corn, potatoes, and the car-
casses of farm animals that had died from exposure to the elements.
One day, they came to the Settlement greatly agitated and
excited, declaring a large party of Sioux was coming to take them,
and massacre the whole Settlement. They urged the settlers to flee
and save their lives. So intensely vehement and excited were they,
the settlers were of course greatly disturbed, though doubtful of
immediate danger. But, soon after, they were shown a campfire
some distance away, in the northwest, which was certain evidence
of the approaching Sioux. Instantly, the Settlement was aroused,
and hurried preparations were made for protection and safety.
The women and children, with everything that could be used for
defense, were gathered at the cabin of J. W. Cory, where they
were soon joined by the Musquakies, who volunteered to help
defend the garrison. Not long after, Sioux scouts were seen in the
grove not far away, and the shrill war whoop was heard. The
women and children, paralyzed with terror, huddled close to the
floor in a corner of the cabin, expecting every moment to hear the
crash and cry of onslaught, not daring to make a sound for fear of
adding to the terror of the situation. Every few moments, some-
thing occiirred to intensify the horror. The men had equipped
themselves as best they could for defense, and were stationed at the
most vulnerable points, prepared for the worst.
Early in the evening, the Musquakie begged that their squaws
and papooses, left in the tepees some distance away, be taken into
the house with the white women and children, but it was refused.
They were finally permitted to go into a rail pen near the cabin,
where they were covered with straw. The squaw movement was
also another cause of alarm and suspense, fearing there was treach-
ery in it.
The night wore on — a night of absolute horror and suspense no
pen can describe, the memory of which time will not obliterate
70 PIOKEERS OF POLK COUI^TY, IOWA
from the minds of that little group. It was the longest night they
ever passed.
Finally, when daylight began to dawn, and all was quiet, the
Indians were charged with trickei-y, but they firmly denied it,
declaring they had seen Sioux in the timber. Soon after, the
squaws began to crawl out of the straw pile, and the chief's wife
declared she had seen and heard the Sioux, whereupon one of the
bucks, known as Mike, told her she lied, that she had not seen a
Sioux. He turned to go away, when she quickly drew a knife and
made a savage thrust at him, which he parried with his arm, and
then struck her across the chest. She started to run away, when he
siezed her, took her knife from her, and plunged it and his own
knife into her back, and she fell to the groimd. Mike then fled, but
was pursued by the chief and his son, amid great excitement of the
settlers and Indians. The trio had not gone far when the sharp
crack of two rifles was heard. But Mike outwitted his pursuers by
spreading out his blanket at one side, and the bullets went through
the center of it, missing him. He surrendered, a pow wow was
held, and, after a long talk, it was agreed that he give twelve ponies
to the chief for the injuries to his squaw if she recovered; if she
died, he was to give his life. She died not long after, in Four Mile
Township, but Mike had made his get-away.
What the motive of the Indians was for their action will never
be known, but the settlers were finally convinced that it was a
scheme to frighten them from their homes, yet fearing more des-
perate means, even massacre, might follow, they at once ordered the
Indians to leave the county, and never come back, with such posi-
tiveness and determination they went, and thus ended an event sub-
sequently often recalled by the participants with humor, but to the
actual terror, suffering and anguish of that one night, even mas-
sacre would not have added a single pang.
Life in the early days was fraught with many hardships and
privations. Fever and ague were often prevalent, which would
wrench and rack every bone in the body, debilitating the system,
and making life miserable. The nearest physician was Doctor
Grimmel, at The Fort, and to get him often required great expos-
ure to the elements. Sometimes the flour sack got empty, and the
I. M. T. CORY 71
nearest mill was at Oskaloosa, sixty-two miles away, requiring a
week to make the trip. "Meanwhile," said Isaiah one day, "we
lived on 'coon and squash."
As Isaiah grew to manhood, he very early identified himself
with every enterprise to improve the social condition of the com-
mimity. The church and school were objects of his special endeavor.
A man of kindly impulses, intelligence, business capacity, public-
spiritedness, and integrity, he became one of the most progressive
and substantial citizens of the county. He laid out and organized
the old, or first, town of Elkhart, and boosted it with great energy
as the nucleus of the new Seat of Government when it was removed
from Iowa City. He was early elected Township Trustee, held
the ofiice fifteen years, and in the meantime the entire list of town-
ship ofiices from Constable to the highest, the duties of which he
most faithfully executed six days in the week, and on the seventh
preached the Gospel according to the Campbellite, or Christian,
Church, of which he was an exemplary minister.
The log cabin in which he resided many years, and in which
the United States Government Surveyors made their home when
running the lines for civil townships, long ago was supplanted by a
fine, commodious residence, which, with his broad, productive
acres, splendid orchard of fifteen acres, and fine vineyard, formed
the environments of a home gratifying to the taste of the most fas-
tidious, and there he is passing the evening of his life, in content-
ment and repose, with the consciousness of duty well done, and the
esteem of all who know him.
Politically, he is a Republican. He cast his first vote for Presi-
dent for Lincoln. In local afFairs, the prevailing sentiment in his
favor is so nearly unanimous, his consent to take a public office is
all that is necessary.
April Twenty-second, 1906.
GUY K. AYERS
GUY K. AYRES
THE only living resident of Des Moines who was here when
the Dragoons and Infantry comprising the garrison of Fort
Des Moines were here, and saw thera drilling nearly every
day, is Guy K. Ayres, a pioneer from circumstances over which he
had no control.
Bom in Ohio, when twelve years old his father emigrated to
Iowa, in 1843, going down the Ohio River to Saint Lonis, thence
up the Mississippi to Keokuk, thence by wagon to Fairfield, where
he stopped for a time, thence to Ottumwa, until the early Fall of
1845, when, loading his family and household goods into a wagon,
hauled them with oxen to Fort Des Moines, landing on the east
bank of Des Moines River, a desolate and uninviting place, for
there were but two dwelling-places between the river and the build-
ings of the Indian Agency, about two miles down the river, one
tliat of W. H. Meacham, which stood on the bank of the river, near
Grand Avenue, and that of Alex. Scott, which stood near the east
end of the present Court Avenue bridge. ^Meacham had made a
claim of one hundred and twenty acres extending from about where
Walnut Street is, east to Capitol Hill and north to near the line of
Des Moines Street. Scott had a claim for all south of that as far
east as the starch works. The whole of that section was covered
with timber and underbrush. The land was low and wet, especially
that of Meacham's, and contained not a building thereon.
Meacham, being a man of genuine hospitality, took Ayres' fam-
ily into his cabin, where they remained until the first detachment
of infantry left the garrison, when they moved into the fifth cabin
from the east end of 'Coon Row in the soldiers' quarters. Ayres
being a good tailor, readily found employment as a tailor, and, with
J. M. Thrift, the garrison tailor, did the tailoring for The Fort.
In that cabin they lived until the cavalry, or Dragoons, as they
were officially called, left, in 1846. The Dragoons were required
73
74 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
to gather up several bands of Indians who had straggled away up
the Des Moines and 'Coon rivers, evidently expecting to escape
being transferred to Kansas, where the other Indians had been
taken. In February, Colonel Grier issued orders to round them
up and bring them into The Fort. One lot was found about thirty
miles up the Des Moines, and another on Skunk River. There
were about three hundred of them. They were corralled down on
the bottoms along the 'Coon, and put under guard, no white per-
sons being allowed to communicate with them. Guy says they
were a dilapidated looking lot. On March Eighth, the Dragoons
started with them for Fort Leavenworth, and on the Tenth, Colonel
Grier, with the remainder of the infantry, left The Fort, and the
military post came to an end. Ayres then moved into the cabin
vacated by Captain Allen, corner of Second and Elm.
Guy was a youngster in those days, and took notice of things.
He says he remembers the location of every building as distinctly
as though it were but yesterday, and that the diagrams of The Fort
which have been printed in "Charley" Aldrich's Annals, Will. Por-
ter's "History of Polk County," and the newspapers, purporting
to have been drawn by the War Department at Washington, are not
correct as to the location of the buildings, and especially the flag-
staff. He says :
"One of the most attractive features of the garrison was the
horses of the Dragoons. Captain Allen rode a beautiful white, full-
blooded Arabian. He was a very small man, but a splendid horse-
man. He was a strict disciplinarian. When he made an order,
every man in the garrison knew that it meant just what it said.
There was no talking back, yet he waa kind and generous-hearted.
The Dragoons all rode bay horses, so near alike it was nearly
impossible to distinguish them. So perfectly were they trained
that when turned loose on the Commons, as they were frequently,
they went at once through the regular driU as perfectly as though
under the saddle and bridle, and then they would scatter.
"Colonel Grier was usually in command of The Fort. He was
a large, athletic man, weighed over two hundred pounds, of genial
temperament, and quite social with the youngsters. He lived in
the first cabin of the row along Des Moines River. Captain Allen
lived in the fourth cabin. There were five cabins in the row.
GUY K. AYRES 75
"There were but very few people here when the soldiers left,
but soon after they began to come in rapidly, faster than living-
places could be provided, as there were no saw mills in the county.
The lumber for some of the first was brought from a mill in
Clarion County. I am quite certain the first log cabin put up by a
settler was a little south of the corner of Third and ilarket streets.
There were three large Sycamore trees near it. The photo of it
has appeai"ed in "Charley" Aldrich's A7inals, other publications
and newspapers as the house occupied by Colonel Grier, whereas he
had left the country before it was built, and never saw it. The
boarded addition was put on some time after its construction. It
was standing as late as 1S68. Opposite it, Thomas McMullen built
a cabin, in 1S47, of hewed logs, which was torn down about 1880.
"In 1849, there was an island in Des Moines Eiver extending
from near Court Avenue to a point just below the mouth of 'Coon
River, and another large island about one-fourth of a mile lower
down. Both were covered with a dense growth of large timber
trees. On the upper island was a large Cottonwood, which, in
1851, was twisted and torn by the lightning strokes of that year,
but it stood up until the islands themselves were washed away by
the floods of the succeeding two years.
"The first brick business building in the town was erected by
Doctor James Campbell, down at 'Coon Point, near the covered
bridge, for an Eye and Ear Infirmary. It was three stories high.
The first floor was used for dry and wet groceries, the wet groceries
being dispensed from a bar, by the glass, at the rear end. The sec-
ond floor was a billiard room and restaurant. The upper floor was a
dancing hall. It was considered a very important improvement and
extravagant investment of money. Some of the doings in that
building would not be very proper reading for a family paper.
"In 1845, while the soldiers were here, food supplies for those
outside of the garrison were sometimes short. Small quantities of
flour could be bought of Benjamin Bryant, who was a Trader at
the Trading Post, dovsTi the river about a mile and a half. The
soldiers drew rations regularly and usually had some left over,
which they would gamble away among themselves, and the fellow
who won the pile would sell it to the settlers, which afforded the
few families here then to get sugar, beans, and pickled pork."
76 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Guy did not like tailoring; it was too confining, and he turned
his attention t-o teaming, plowing, and whatever he could find to do.
Early in 1846, his father made a claim for all the land on the flat
from Eighth Street west to what was called Lyon Run, now Inger-
soll Run, at Seventeenth Street, north to High Street, and south to
'Coon River, and fenced twenty acres west of Eighth Street,
between Tenth and Twelfth streets, the original town having
been platted to Eighth Street west. The rails for fencing were
split from logs cut in the ravine between Eleventh and Twelfth
on School. Guy hauled the rails and logs for the cabin.
Perry L. Grossman, the first Clerk of the coimty, pretended to
hold a prior claim to the land, and when Ayres had his twenty acres
fenced, Grossman took down an empty cabin which was do^vn on
the 'Goon bottoms, and put it up on Ayres' enclosure at Ninth and
Market streets. The same night, Guy and his brother, David,
another youngster, tore it down, their father being absent. The
next morning, Grossman rebuilt it, and hired a man named Lacey
to occupy it. The two boys saw him loading up his household goods
to move in, when they, with their mother, hustled a lot of bedding,
chairs, tables, etc., into a wagon and made a rush for the cabin,
beating Lacey long enough to get installed and in possession. Lacey
threatened to throw them out, but after a considerable bluster and
threats which failed to scare the boys, he retired in good order.
Soon after, the cabin was sold to Doctor P. B. Fagen.
In 1849, Ayres purchased seven himdred and twenty acres in
Franklin Township, at what is known as Ayres' Grove, and began
to cultivate a farm, but Guy concluded he wanted an education and
remained in town. Hezekiah Fagen, who lived near what is now
the comer of Thirty-first Street and University Avenue, asked him
one day if he didn't want to go to school. If he did, he could come
to his house, help the boys do the chores, and go to school. He
accepted the offer. The only school available was a subscription
school at Hickman Comers, one mile and a half north, through the
timber and bmsh, kept in a rough log cabin. The seats were a.
long bench of split Linn timber placed along the wall, for the boys
on one side and the girls on the other. It was heated by a large
iron stove, the bovs cutting the wood for it. The teacher was an
GUY K. AYRES 77
old man named Schneider. He taught Reading, Writing, Spelling,
Arithmetic, and Gray's English Grammar. A spelling sch(x>l was
held once a week, and there were some mighty good spellers in the
school.
His next step toward an education was a term in Elder Nash's
school in the Court House. He boarded with John Hays, who
kept the Cottage House, at the comer of Fourth Street and Court
Avenue, opposite The Register and Leader building, and did chores
for his board.
In 1855, Guy's father came into town, purchased two hundred
and twenty-one acres on the river bottom, back to the bluffs, cleared
the bluffs of timber, and erected a two-story frame dwelling where
the Benedict Home now is, and one day he asked Guy how he
would like to go into the milling business. It suited him, but four
hundred dollars was all the money he had. His father said that
was enough. They formed a partnership, purchased the saw mill
of Griffith, Stanton & Hoover, which was on the east side of the
river, at the foot of Des Moines Street, moved it to the west side of
the river, rebuilt it at the foot of North Street, and began to cut up
the heavy timber which skirted the river on both sides. Logging
was good business in those days. I think Ed. Clapp has not for-
gotten some log hauling he did to that mill. Slabs were used for
fuel for the engine. They did not then know that coal was under-
lying the whole of Polk County. In 1857, the mill was sold to a
man who could not pay for it. It was dismantled, sold in parcels,
and a new flouring mill built where the Edison electric light plant
now is, at the foot of Chestnut Street. It was burned in 1861.
Guy then began buying or building mills on his own account,
starting at Iowa Center, tience to Swede Point, Moingona, Shel-
dahl, Missouri, and other places, including Seattle and Tacoma.
He did the machinery engineering for the glucose works which
G. M. Hippee, J. J. Towne, "Charley" Weitz, Doctor Eaton, and
others started, at Eighth and Vine, on the West Side. He also
invested several hundred dollars in the enterprise. The factory
turned out good glucose, and promised a good market for corn, but
the exhalations from it became so obnoxious to the residents in that
section, it was closed as a nuisance. A site was then purchased
78 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
down where the starch works were, a four-story brick 160x140
erected, and the business resumed on a larger scale, but in 1883
went out of business.
During the thirty years building mills, or buying them and
swapping them for farms, he has acquired a competency sufficient
to enable him to take a rest, on Seventh Street, opposite Crocker
School, without worry as to the crops or the money market. His
j)rincipal diversion is to swap yams with some old-timer downtown
on a street comer.
Mav Sixth, 1906.
JUDGE CHARLES C. NOURSE
JUDGE CHARLES C. NOURSE
AN early settler who has been prominently identified with the
public affairs of the state, Polk County and Des Moines, is
Charles Clinton Nourse, or "Charley," as everyboy in the
state calls him — in fact, he says that's his name.
A Marylander by birth, he received his education principally
from his father, who for fifty years was a prominent teacher, and
in 1850, graduated from the Law Department of Transylvania
University, at Lexington, Kentucky. The year following, he
decided to come West. Going down the river to Louisville, thence
up the Mississippi, he landed at Burlington, where he was kindly
received by the minister of the Methodist Church, of which he is
a member. The Supreme Court then being in session there, he was
taken to the hotel where the judges stopped, and introduced to
them, of whom was Jiidge Joseph Williams, well known to old-
timers as a man of "infinite jest," "a great joker, stoiy-teller, and
player on many musical instruments, especially the fiddle."
"Charley" was cordially received by the judges. During the
visit, they learned that he held a sheepskin as a full-fledged lawyer,
and Judge Williams wanted to see it. "Charley" promptly pro-
duced it, but not one of the judges could read it, as it was written
in Latin, the judges in those days in Iowa being better versed in
equity and justice than in dead languages. "Charley," however,
read it to them in English. The next morning, a motion was made
in court to admit him to practice in the state, and for a committee
to examine him, whereupon Judge Williams said a committee was
unnecessary, and directed the Clerk, James W. Woods, known to
every lavty^er in the state in those days as "Old Timber," to make
out his certificate. He then decided to go to Keosauqua, in Van
Buren County, and open a law office. It was the year of the big
flood, when the valleys of the rivers were overflown as they never
were before nor since. Communication between towns and villages,
79
80 PIONEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
which were mostly along the streams, was difficult, or was cut off
entirely. He had trouble in getting to Keosauqua, being compelled
to abandon the jerkey and foot it about ten miles through mud
and water, arriving thei-e in a very unpresentable condition, a
stranger, with less than a dollar in his pocket. Applying for board
in a private family, the housekeeper did not seem to like his
appearance, and "turned him down," but he was kindly taken in
by "Father" Shepherd, at his tavern, where he remained until he
took to himself a housekeei>er.
He very soon made himself known in the community, being a
good mixer, always bubbling over with quaint humor, and the fol-
lowing year was elected Prosecuting Attorney for Van Buren
County, and at once took rank with the leading lawyers of the
time. A quasi prohibitory law then being in force, the Grand
Jury of Lee County found a large number of indictments for viola-
tions of the law. C. J. McFarland, who subsequently became the
notoriously noted Judge of the District Court of Polk County, was
the Prosecuting Attorney. He was a lover of whiskey, and imbibed
it freely. The uselessness of attempts to prosecute the violators
through him was so apparent changes of venue were taken to Van
Buren Coimty, where "Charley" was known to be a relentless foe of
whiskey, but at every term of court, McFarland came up, put in
dilatory motions and pleadings, got the cases continued, imtil the
court got tired of it, and wiped them from the docket, not one being
tried.
In 1854, "Charley" began to get into politics, and was elected
Chief Clerk of the Lower House of the Fifth General Assembly,
in the old Capitol at Iowa City, the most notable event of which
session was the retirement of the nestor of ancient Democracy, Gai-
eral Augustus Csesar Dodge, from the United States Senate by sub-
stituting James Harlan, and the passage of the first prohibitory law
in the state. It was a pivotal point in the politics of the state, and
the Democrats, foreseeing their waning power, fought desperately
for supremacy and the election of Dodge, but the Free Soil Whigs
won out.
In 1856, "Charley" was elected a delegate to the Eepublican
State Convention, which organized the Rei^ublican party in Iowa,
and was also elected by the convention one of the secretaries.
JUDGE CHxiRLES C. BOURSE 81
At the session of the Sixth General Assembly, the last held at
Iowa City, he was elected Secretary of the Senate. It was during
that session the so-called "Black Laws" came into prominence. Up
to that time, neither a negro, mulatto nor Indian was a competent
witness in any court where a white man was a party to the action.
A bill was introduced to repeal the law. The Democrats and Anti-
Jfebraska Whigs opposed it, and made desperate efforts to defeat it.
As an indication of public sentiment at that time, for there were
Anti-jSfebraska Whigs right here in Polk County, at the August
election, soon after the Legislature adjourned, Polk County voted
sixty-five yeas to five hundred and fifty-seven nays to strike the
word "white" from the Constitution and give the negro the right
to vote. The proposition was defeated, but in 1880, the county
voted again on the same proposition, giving three thousand and
fifty-two yeas and six himdred and seventy-eight nays.
While "Charley" had no voice respecting these measures on the
floor of the Senate, there was no bar to the expression of his opin-
ions privately in the "Third House," and he usually had the cour-
age of his convictions.
At the session of the Seventh General Assembly, the first held
in Des Moines, January, 1858, he came as the hold-over Secretary
of the Senate, to serve during the organization proceedings. He
stopped at the old Grout House, which stood at the foot of Capitol
Hill, on Walnut, where many of the Legislators domiciled, as they
did not like floundering through the mud and ferrying across the
river in the dai-kness to the West Side, the days being short, and
no sidewalks nor bridges. Many times, the only way to get to the
State House from the West Side was in boats. Some of the mem-
bers placed cots in the garret of the rookery and slept there. It
was a dismal change from the pleasant surroundings at Iowa City;
but they were a wide-awake, gay old crowd, some of them subse-
quently acquiring national fame. There were among them Eli-
phalet Price, the star-gazer poet and notorious wag ; "Old Timber"
Woods, with his quaint ways and his foghorn voice; "Old Black
Hawk" (Zimri Streeter), full of wit and humor; Sam. Kirkwood,
J. B. Grinnell, James F. Wilson, W. W. Belknap, W. H. Seevers,
B. F. Gue, George W. McCrary, and Ed Wright, none of whom
Vol. II— (6).
82 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
are now living. They lambasted the Town Council, and passed
resolutions demanding the building of a sidewalk of two twelve-
inch planks, one foot apart, from the river to the foot of the hill,
which some of them, at times, could not have walked had they
tried, or that they be furnished gum shoes or ponies to ride.
A couple of new members, without any experience as Legislat-
ors, had been placed on the Committee on Banking, and one day
an old farmer in the back part of the hall arose and offered a reso-
lution requesting the Committee on Banks to prepare a couple of
bills on banks, and went into a long discussion of the powers and
duties of the Legislature thereon, whereupon one of the new-com-
ers said to the other : "Who is that old fellow ? I am opposed to
that resolution." "So am I," was the reply. "He is an old farmer ;
what does he know about banking? Let's have some fun with
him." They soon learned that they had nm up against Sam. Kirk-
wood. Though hoth of them subsequently became Judges of a
District Court, they were a long time after often reminded of their
"fun with that old farmer."
One day, a minister from Nebraska happened to be in the
Lower House, and the Speaker invited him to make the opening
prayer, which he did, to-wit: "Fathea- of all good, bless this grand,
young state with righteous laws, with an imdefiled religion, with
good women, tnie men, pure water, and a sound currency. Amen !"
So soon as the Legislature was organized, "Charley" went over
to the House to take the place of the Chief Clerk elect, who was
sick, where he remained until the Clerk's convalescence. He also
remained some time after to assist in promoting the interests of the
people down the river in securing the completion of the Slack
Water Navigation project, and getting a move on the Navigation
Company, whose chief piirpose seemed to be to do nothing.
In March, 1858, he decided to make the Capital his future
home, and, with his wife in a buggy, his household goods hauled
by a pair of mules, after four days' wrestle with horrid roads,
arrived on Saturday, and unloaded themselves into two rooms of a
small frame house which stood on the southwest comer of Sixth
and Locust, at twenty dollars a month rental. The next day, he
and his wife lay in bed all day enjoying a vigorous shaking up
JUDGE CHAKLES C. Is^OUKSE 83
with "Fever'nager," without food or drink, except a cup of tea
which Mrs. R. L. Tidrick brought them late in the day, she having
followed the custom of the eai-ly settlers to "stand not upon the
order of their going," but introduce themselves to new-comers at
once.
Immediately, he formed a partnership with Judge W. W. Wil-
liamson, and entered into an active practice of his profession.
In 1859, Sam. Kirkwood was a candidate for Governor against
Augustus Csesar Dodge. "Charley," who was a power on the polit-
ical stump, and a crowd-getter, took the field for Kirkwood. One
of the leading issues of the campaig-n was that of eleomosynary
institutions. The Democrats were united in opposition to the
alleged extravagance of the Republicans in ordering public build-
ings, especially the Insane Asylum at Mount Pleasant, which had
been commenced. Dodge and his friends vigorously opposed any
more being expended on it, declaring it was an extravagant waste
of the people's hard-earned dollars; that there would not be enough
crazy people in the state of Iowa to fiU the enormous building in
one hundi-ed years. "Charley" pimctured their sophistry with that
pungent vrit, sarcasm, and ridiculosity which made him famous as
a stump orator, citing them to the only public building they had
given the people, an inadequate Penitentiary at Fort Madison.
In 1860, he was elected Attorney General, and during his term
he wound up the tangled claims of the state known as the "Eads
defalcation," or "Eads Fund Claim."
When the association was formed by the East Siders to get the
State House located on that side of the river, a large number of
lots, including that on which the old and new Capitol were built,
were put into a pool to secure the location. The Stat© Commis-
sioners having fixed the site, after being liberally bonused, as the
West Siders alleged, the pool had a number of lots left, but no
money. John D. Eads, then Superintendent of Public Instniction,
was persuaded to loan the pool, without lawful authority, from the
Public School Fund, the money necessary to built the State House,
for which a blanket mortgage was given on the lots in the pool.
The building was turned over to the state as partial payment of the
loan some time later, and practically went into bankruptcy.
84 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
"Charley" foreclosed the mortgage on what lots could be identi-
fied, and secured several thousand dollars to reimburse the School
Fund, but the debt was never paid, and was carried on the records
of the State Treasurer for nearly twenty years, when it was finally
ordered stricken from the record by the Legislature.
In 1860, "Charley" was selected one of the thirty-two delegates
to represent Iowa in the Republican National Convention, at Chi-
cago, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for President and organ-
ized the National Republican Party. It was the largest and most
imposing body of statesmen ever assembled in a political conven-
tion in this country.
In 1862, he was reelected Attorney General, and served two
years.
In 1865, Judge Gray, of the District Court, deceased, and
"Charley" was appointed to fill the vacancy. The following year
occurred the memorable contest between the friends of John A.
Kassou and General G. M. Dodge, resi^ecting the nomination for
Congressman, in which the most bitter animosities were engen-
dered between citizens, even in social life. "Charley," who was of
positive temperament, and not afraid to express his opinions, gave
his influence to Dodge, who was nominated by the Congressional
Convention. The Judicial Convention to nominate a candidate for
Judge to fill the vacancy convened two days later. "Charley" was
the logical candidate, and by the customary rule he would have
received the nomination without opposition, but the friends of Kas-
son were angry ; they packed the convention ; they freely admitted
his eminent fitness for the place, but they were determined to
avenge the treatment given to Kasson, and H. W. Maxwell, of
Warren County, was nominated, when "Charley" at once resigned
and returned to the practice of law, which he found vastly more
remunerative than ofiice-holding.
In 1876, he was selected by the Governor to deliver the address
responsive for the State of Iowa at the Centennial Exposition in
Philadelphia. It was an eloquent, masterly exposition of the birth,
rise and achievements of one of the youngest states of the Union,
tersely told, in which he cited the monarchies of the Old World to
Iowa as the center of the diadem of new states bom of their own
JUDGE CHARLES C. NOUESE 85
enterprise and tutored at their own hearthstones. Twenty thousand
copies of the address were printed by the state for distribution.
In 1S77, Simpson College conferred upon him the degree of
LL. D.
In 1884, occurred one of the most exciting events in the history
of the state. It was the removal by Governor Sherman of John L.
Bro^vn from the office of Auditor of State, and the appointment of
J. W. Cattell to the place. Brown, a man of iron will and determi-
nation, refused to vacate. The official business of the office became
disrupted, for the Governor would recognize no act of Brown, who
would listen to no proposition for adjustment of the trouble, which
included his ouster. The Governor then ordered Adjutant General
Alexander to remove him and take possession of the office. The
whole body politic of the state was instantly aroused, for the Gov-
ernor and Brown were both war veterans, well known and popular.
Alexander called out a company of the !N'ational Guard to exe-
cute the order and take possession of Brown's office, which was on
the second floor of the State House. The Guards were composed
of young men, some of them mere sti-iplings, but they obeyed the
orders. Brown resisted, but he was seized bodily and carried out
of the building, and guards placed at the staii-way with orders not
to allow him to pass.
One day, I was standing near the guard at the head of the stair-
way, when I saw "Charley" slowly threading his way upward, his
head bowed in deep meditation of the why and wherefore of the
thusness, when he was greeted with a command to halt. Looking
up, he saw a little, dapper fellow about five feet high, I think his
name was Parker, armed and equipped according to law. "Char-
ley" said he was the attorney for Mr. Brown, and must see him,
and, with a broad, ironical smile on his face at the ludicrousness
of the attempt of the little five-footer to stop him, started ahead,
only to look straight into the front end of a big gun, with the warn-
ing that he would get its contents if he didn't stop. There was no
chance for an argument, and he retired in good order, but he won
out in the end, for Brown was finally acquitted of the charges
against him.
86 PIONEEES OF POLK COUN^TY, IOWA
He is public-spirited, always ready to aid any enterprise for the
public welfare. For temperance and prohibition, he has been a
strenuous and powerful advocate.
Religiously, he has ever been a pillar of the Methodist Church;
is a believer in Divine Providence, so firm that he once declared
in a public speech that the State of Iowa was the exemplification
of the fulfillment of a great and divine purpose — that it was not
an accident.
Socially, he is genial, humorous, conservative, loves a good
story, spices his speeches often with witticism, sarcasm, and with
entendre, or causticity which stings.
During the past few years, he has retired from active business
because of an affection of the eyes, which has nearly enshrouded
him in darkness, and on his Fern Hill farm, at the north city lim-
its, is spending his days in quietude and reflection of a life well
directed and approved by a people with whom he has lived.
May Thirteenth, 1906.
ELIJAH CANFIELD
ONE of the pioneers of Polk Coimty who impressed his per-
sonality upon its civic affairs was Elijah Canfield. A
Pennsylvanian by birth, he came here in 1845, and located
a farm on the wild, wide prairie in Democrat Township. In 1848,
the name was changed to Camp Township, which then embraced
nearly the whole of the eastern part of the county. The only saw
mill in the county was Parmelee's, ten miles down the river, and
lumber was scarce. He built a log cabin sixteen feet square, with
a rude fireplace at one end, constructed of stones gathered in the
neighborhood, and a chimney of sticks, the whole plastered with
mud clay from the land. Greased paper was used for the windows
instead of glass, old boxes for tables and shelving.
The first settlements in the new country were made along the
rivers, to get the benefit of timber belts skirting them for logs for
lumber, fence rails, and fuel, hence it is the principal cities and
towns to-day are along rivers. The prairie settler was therefore
deprived of those accessories, added to which was the isolation, his
nearest neighbor often being miles away.
With energy and faith in the future, Canfield began to turn up
the soil and build a home — he was a home-builder of the true type.
So soon as he had completed his cabin, he started a church, and
organized the first class of the Methodist Church in that township.
So soon as the church was started, Canfield organized a School Dis-
trict, the first in the township.
In 1847, he removed to Four Mile Township, and during the
Fall, built the first schoolhouse in that township. It was 16x24
feet, a rude affair, but it served the purpose. Each settler fur-
nished their pro rata number of logs for it. Benches, desks, and
tables were improvised from the native timber. A teacher was
employed by voluntary subscriptions, there being no organized
school districts.
87
88 PI0:NEEKS of polk county, IOWA
Canfield was greatly troubled by wolves, the timber being full
of them. They had a hankering for his pigs and calves, and so
frightened his children, they hardly ventured to go to school.
There was one large, wild-eyed ferocious brute which became
especially annoying, and one moonlight evening he discovered it
cautiously approaching a pile of straw in which the pigs were sleep-
ing. Taking his shotgim, he stealthily got within a few paces of
the thief, so intent upon its quest for pork it did not heed the com-
ing danger. There was a puff and a bang, and the pest of the set-
tlement was put out of business.
In 1846, the turning up of the prairie soil released the miasma
therein, and Fever and Ague was epidemic. There were not enough
well persons to care for the sick. It was not uncommon for the
doctor who visited families to be taken with chills and have to go
to bed with the sick until the paroxysm passed away. To see a
strong, robust man shaking so violently as to make the floor tremble
— and the experience repeated until he became a physical wreck —
was a familiar picture to many of the pioneers.
There were also other menaces to the peace and comfort of the
early settlers. Skunks destroyed their poultry, rabbits killed their
young fruit trees by gnawing the bark and tender roots, rattle-
snakes were so numerous as to make it unsafe to hunt cattle
through the tall grass without a club or some weapon for defense.
An old-timer relates that he stopped over night once with a couple
of bachelors who had taken a claim on the prairie. They prepared
a good supper, but he noticed that they ate nothing, and asked if
they were sick. "No," was the reply, "but we killed two hundred
and twenty-five rattlesnakes this afternoon, and the smell of them
rather upset our appetites."
Commeal and flour in those days were the most frequent source
of deprivation. Of meat, bacon was the staple, but the timber and
groves abounded with deer, turkeys, and wild pigeons ; the streams
with fish, the prairies with quail and chickens. As late as 1855,
Eobert Powers drove into Dubuque, in February, with one thou-
sand prairie chickens, one thousand quail, one thousand rabbits,
eight deer, five wolves, and two bears. It was not uncommon for
settlers to shoot game from their cabin d(Xirs. The prairie chicken
is nearly extinct.
ELIJAH CAXFIELD 89
"They have scattered from the meadow,
They drum no more —
Those splendid Spring-time pickets !
The sweep of the share and sickle has thrust them from the
hills.
They have scattered from the meadow
Like the partridge in the thickets ;
They have perished from the sportsman who kills, and kills,
and kills."
At certain seasons, the wild, or passenger, pigeons made their
appearance in flocks of millions, breaking down trees on which
they roosted while making a stop to get food. They have now
become extinct in this state. The last flight was in the Spring of
1868. There were lines of them stretching out on the skyline as
far as the eye could reach, and lasting for several days. Not only
have animals and birds succumbed to Civilization, but some of
our trees. I do not refer to those used for lumber or building. All
over the city, where lots have been improved by grading, cutting,
and digging, you will find the dead and dying Black Oak.
In 1847, John D. Parmelee, who had started a mill about ten
miles down the river, to saw lumber for the barrack buildings at
The Fort, added machinery to grind corn. Canfield was there
when it started, and saw the first bushel of grain ground in Polk
County. A year later, stone buhrs were added to grind wheat,
but there was no bolting machinery, and the farmer's wife had to
do the bolting at home.
In 1850, Canfield sold his farm and took another new one in
Clay Township, then a part of Beaver Township, where he estab-
lished a home which became one of the finest in the county, and
where he passed the remainder of his days. On the farm is the
oldest orchard in the county. As elsewhere, his first work in the
township was to organize a church and a School District. He was
intensely public-spirited and active in civic affairs in the township
and county. A man of good, common sense and judgment, busi-
ness capacity, and strict integrity, he logically became the choice
of the township for places of trust, hence he was repeatedly elected
Justice of the Peace, ToA\-nship Assessor, and Treasurer — in fact.
90 PIOIvTEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
he held some public oiSce continually after coming to the county,
not because he wanted them, but the people would not let him
refuse. His public duties brought him so frequently to Des Moines,
he became a familiar personage, and well known to everybody.
Politically, he was a Whig, but not an active partisan. His
neighbors and townsmen waived his politics, however. Had he
been a Democrat, he could have had some of the best offices in the
county, for he was very popular, but in those days the Democrats
did not believe a Whig had any right to hold a public office, and
Barlow Granger and his confederates made it certain during the
first decade that they did not get any. The devices and schemes
to that end were at least peculiar, if not suspicious. If the con-
test was close or doubtful, a laggard poll list from a way-back pre-
cinct would come in, be counted and settle the majority.
Socially, Canfield was genial, hospitable, and of kindly tem-
perament. His home was always the resort of old settlers, where
they found warm hearts and generous welcome. He was a highly
esteemed member of the Pioneer Settlers' Association. His nobil-
ity of character, purity of aspirations, cleanliness of life, devotion
to country, and obedience to God, made him a man in the true
sense of the word, and of inestimable value during the formative
period of county affairs.
March Fourth, 1906.
JUDGE GEORGE G. WRIGHT
JUDGE GEORGE G. WRIGHT
WHEiST the heart pulsation ceased, and the surcease of life
came to George G-. Wright, the state, Polk Coimty, and the
City of Des Moines parted with one more widely known
and intimately connected with their history than any other person.
Born in Indiana, crippled in early childhood by a severe attack
of Rheumatism, cut off from all the sports of boyhood, he found
compensation therefor in books. Each county in the state then had
authority to select two worthy young persons for free tuition in the
State University. They were usually dubbed charity students by
the "regiilars," and young Wright was accordingly ranked in that
class, but, undaunted, he studiously and zealously took on the task
before him, graduated with high honors at the age of nineteen, then
read law with his brother, was admitted to the Bar in 1840, and in
September of that year went down the Wabash and Ohio rivers,
up the Mississippi, landed at Burlington, thence by stage to Keo-
sauqua, which contained a few log houses, and had just been made
the County Seat of Van Buren County. The country was sparsely
settled, and presented poor encouragement to a young, ambitious
person, but strenuously optimistic, he looked ahead. He was ener-
getic, industrious, social, and of that temperament which wins
friends, esteem, confidence, and, in 1846, he was appointed by the
court Prosecuting Attorney for the county.
In 1846, he was nominated for delegate to the Territorial
Council, which made the first Constitution of the state. His oppo-
nent was the father of his wife, Thomas Dibble, an old-fashioned
Democrat of the Bourbon type, who didn't believe a Whig had any
right to hold a public office. The district comprised Davis, Appa-
noose and Van Buren counties. AVright was a Whig, and there
were not enough Whigs in the district to elect a Corporal's Guard,
but his Van Buren friends expected him to pull through, the other
counties being sparsely settled. He took the field, made the contest,
91
92 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
shook hands with the voters, "jollied" the women and children,
and returned home declaring he had the promise of every voter in
Appanoose County, hut was a little in douht about Davis. When
the returns came in, of the twenty-six votes cast in Appanoose
County, he received one. He immediately wrote the chairman of
the Canvassing Board to send him the name of the man who cast
that one vote, declaring he would send him a dress for his wife.
He never found the man, but he used to say sixteen different men
claimed the dress, and he was ready always to give it to the right
person.
In 1848, he was elected State Senator from Van Buren County
for four years, which included the Second and Third General
Assemblies. Most of the members at both sessions were hard money
Democrats, or Loco Focos, as the Whigs called them, from an inci-
dept which occurred in Tammany Hall, New York. The meeting
got into a furious row, the chairman fled from the hall, and the
lights were suddenly extinguished to break it up, but some stand-
patters re-lighted the lamps with loco foco, or lucifer matches,
which had just come into use. In the Harrison campaign, in
1840, the nickname was universal. A tobaconist got out a cigar
with a match stuck in one end for lighting it, which he called the
Loco Foco Cigar.
The Democrats, true to their hard-money proclivities, passed a
law prohibiting banking by any person, association, or corpora-
tion, or creating any paper to circulate as money, but neglected to
prohibit the circulation of foreign bank notes. The result was, the
state became flooded with rott«n, worthless, foreign stuff, the gold
and silver was "salted down" by every person who could get a dol-
lar, mechanics worked month after month without seeing a piece
of metallic coin, culminating in the financial crash of 1857, which
strewed the country with commercial and industrial wrecks.
They also passed the so-called prohibitory law, which abolished
saloons, but provided for the sale of whiskey the same as tea, cof-
fee, and codfish, by which came the ubiquitous "coimtv grocery"
of that day, the authority to keep a grocery being granted by the
County Commissioners.
It was at the third session all the un-laid-out portion of the state
was parceled into sixty counties and named. The contest for names
JUDGE GEORGE G. WRIGHT 93
was spirited, and for once George, who had become quite noted
for his parries and repartees to the witticisms of his confreres,
got stumped. When "Wright" was suggested as the name for one
county, several senators at once wanted to know what "Wright"
was intended. Senator Leffingwell, the leader of the Democrats,
with a twinkle in his eye, arose and moved that the name "Wright"
be stricken out, "for," said he, "I understand the suggestion was
made in honor of the Senator from Van Buren. He is a very
young man, and we don't know what he may sometime be giiilty
of." George was stumped, and failed to respond to the remark,
when another member announced the honor was intended for a
brother of George G.
The most important work of that session was the compilation of
the first Code, involving the putting in statutory fomi the unwrit-
ten law on many subjects, and reconstructing the entire judiciary
system. Judge Casady, who was the Senator from Polk Coimty,
says Judge Mason and Wright made that Code; that Wright
worked day and night upon it, and when, toward the end of the
fifty-day limit of the session — their pay was two dollars a day for
fifty days and one dollar a day thereafter — opinion was expressed
that an extra session would be necessary to finish the Code, Wright
took the floor and declared he would never consent to adjourn until
it was completed and passed, and he held the members to it sixteen
days at one dollar a day. Two of the measures in it, specially pre-
pared by Wright, were those abolishing imprisonment for debt,
and the homestead exemption, both of which are in force to-day
practically as he wrote them.
In 1850, he was nominated for Representative in Congress in
that district, which comprised the south half of the state, and over-
whelmingly Democratic. His opponent was Bemhart Henn, a
good friend of his. They traveled the district together, and slept
in the same bed. The Des Moines River Improvement scheme was
the all-absorbing subject of public thought; it permeated the whole
politics of the state. Every candidate for public office was meas-
ured by his zeal in its behalf, so it was the main effort of Henn
and Wright to show their superior faith and effort in the project,
and many laughable stories they used to tell of their campaign.
94 PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Wright said Henn would wake him up in the night, shouting in
his sleep : "I am loyal to the Des Moines Improvement," and one
day they were riding along when Henn saw a man at work in the
field. Both started after him to get his vote, but Wright being
lame, Henn beat him, hurrahing for the river improvement as he
went, only to find the man a dummy set up to scare crows. Wright
was defeated, and he used to say it was because Bemhart knew
every Democrat in the district, could call them by their "front"
names, and he couldn't.
In 1854, when not thirty-five years old, his legal ability and
popularity prompted the Whigs to select him as their candidate for
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. His opponent was Edward
Johnston, the strongest man in the Democratic party. In the joint
convention of the Legislature, that then being the body to fill the
place, he received fifty-three votes and Johnston forty-five. He was
continuously reelected for fifteen years.
During his service on the bench, the entire judiciary system of
the state was changed. The most abstruse and intricate questions,
involving vast interests of the state, corporations, and individuals,
ever before that court, were solved, and precedents established
which have been accepted and confirmed by the highest tribimals
of the Nation. In fact, the present jurisprudence of the state rests
upon the foimdation laid by Judge Wright and his early associates.
Woodward, Isbell, Stockton, Lowe, Dillon, and Cole.
The opinions of Judge Wright, running through the first thirty
volumes of the Iowa Reports, are deemed models of perspicuity,
clearness, and soundness. One of his notable decisions was respect-
ing the running of hogs at large. Under an Act passed by the Leg-
islature in 1857, the first local option law in the state, a case was
taken up to his court on the constitutionality of the law, the appel-
lant claiming the law was unconstitutional on the ground that it
was class legislation, giving hogs the right to go where they pleased
in one county and not in another county. The Judge held that
hogs were not necessarily "equal before the law," that is, the law
need not aifect all hogs alike ; that as the law had provided where
the people of a county — and every county had the same privilege
— had voted for or against hogs running at large, the law was
JUDGE GEOEGE G. WRIGHT 95
constitutional as a police regulation. That decision established the
rule of local option.
In 1855, the Judge came to Des Moines, and soon after, with
Judge Cole, organized the Iowa Law School. The first class con-
sisted of twelve, and I venture to say no class ever received so com-
plete, liberal, and valuable instruction as that. Judge Wright was
a favorite of young men, and had the happy faculty, possessed by
very few, of expressing his views in attractive form. He strove
to impress upon the class his ideal of moral and professional recti-
tude, and sound fundamental principles of the science of law. To
him, shystering and so-called sharp practice was abhorrent. I
recall one day when he said: "While it is the duty of a lawyer to
protect the interests of his client and secure the verdict of a jury,
with all his power, he should never resort to trickery, but keep
within the law and the facts. Above all things, never attempt to
deceive the court, for nothing will so utterly degrade you, and
destroy your standing." An apt illustration of this occurred soon
after, in the United States District Court here, before Judge Sam-
uel F. Miller, of the United States Supreme Court, well knovm to
old-timers as a rigid disciplinarian. Every member of that law
class, I think, was present. The case before the court was a very
important one, involving intricate points of law, multifarious indi-
vidual interests, and millions of money. Mr. , a very promi-
nent attorney, in his argument, made a statement to which the
Judge quickly retorted : "Mr. , do you state that as a propo-
sition of law ?" The attorney started again, when the Judge curtly
cut him oif with, "Mr. , the court knows all the law in this
case ; take your seat." The effect of the rebuke upon the lawyers
present was intensely manifest.
In 1868, the Iowa Law School became the Law Department of
the State University, and its graduates alumni of the University.
Judge Wright continued with the school until June, 1896, when he
gave his last lecture.
In 1870, the Judge retired from the court, and, yielding to the
importunities of his friends in the south half of the state, became
a candidate for United States Senator. His opponent was William
]-!. Allison, who had been four times elected to the Lower House.
96 PIO^s^EEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
His friends claimed he was logically entitled to promotion, but the
popularity of the Judge was irresistible, and he was elected on the
first ballot, which probably no other man in the state could have
secured. He served six years, on four important committees, and
declined a re-nomination, which ended his public office-holding.
During his many years in public oSice, he was often pressed
into service in civic affairs not political. In 1860, he was elected
President of the State Agricultural Society, and during his four
terms, by his good judgment and wise counsel, the Society was put
on the road to the high place it now occupies.
In 1879, he was elected a director of the Chicago and Rock
Island Railroad Company, which place he held during his life.
In 1882, he was elected President of the Polk County Savings
Bank, and President of the Security Loan and Trust Company,
which places he held until his decease.
In 1885, he was elected President of the American Bar Associ-
ation, in honor of his nobility as a jurist, statesman, and citizen,
and served two years.
He was the founder of the Pioneer Lawmakers' Association,
and at its permanent organization, in 1892, was elected its Presi-
dent. He held the place so long as he lived. It was in that rela-
tion he had the most enjoyment of all the multifarious associations
of his eventful life. He knew all the members, called them by
their "front" names, and they knew him. At the reunions of those
survivors of pioneer days, when were recounted the events of early
days, the contests, political and otherwise, the success and defeats,
their incidents, and as a body, in genuine good fellowship, all old
animosities forgotten and forgiven, the Judge, with his rich fund
of anecdotes, witticisms, and happy repartee to the cute thrust
of some fellow, made the occasions a source of solid enjoyment.
The very last letter he wrote was to one of the officers respect-
ing an approaching reunion, in which he expressed joyoiis antici-
pation of its coming, but the twilight portending the coming night
was already about him, and before the assemblage met he had
ceased to be.
During the Civil War period, incapacitated from military serv-
ice by lameness, he sustained the Government by every possible
JUDGE GEORGE G. WRIGHT 97
means, and many a soldier and his family found him a friend when
needed. In recognition of his patriotic service, the Military Order
of the American Legion of Honor made him a member of the Third
Degree, one of the only three civilians on whom the degree has
been conferred, the others being James Harlan and William B.
Allison.
Politically a Whig, until the Republican party was organized,
he never sought a political office. His forty years' holding of pub-
lic office and of fiduciai-y trusts was in response to the spontaneity
of public demand, regardless of politics.
Socially, he was the embodiment of all that is good and ennob-
ling in social life. His sympathies embraced all human interests.
His hold upon the hearts of the people was marvelous. At social
functions, he was always a favorite; at banquets, as toastmaster
or after-dinner speaker, he had few equals. In fact, he was pre-
eminent in the social life of the entire state. In every department
of civic life, he exemplified the highest type of manhood, an inspi-
ration to the young, and the pride of the Commonwealth.
By profession of faith, he was a Methodist, but his broad, cath-
olic spirit accepted and cherished the Christianizing influence of all
denominations.
His home was the reflection of his beautiful nature. Withia its
portals there was love, content, and happiness.
He deceased January Eleventh, 1896.
Jime Third, 1906. "
Vol. II— (7j.
JOHN L. SMITH
JOHN L. SMITH
ACO!N"SPICUOUS and familiar personage around town in
the early days of Fort Des Moines was John L. Smith. A
native of Cazenovia, ISTew York, when sixteen years old, he
was forced by the circumstances of a widowed mother to look out
for himself. Being of migratory temperament, he entered the
service of the American Fur Company, owned by John Jacob
Astor, of New York, as disbursing agent and trader, the headquar-
ters of the company being in Chicago. He went to the Lake Supe-
rior Country, where he remained several years, trafficking with
Chippewa and Winnebago Indians, during three years of which
he did not see the face of a white man. It was hazardous business,
as he had to travel through the wilderness on horseback, carrying
large sums of gold and silver from one post to another. The Chip-
]>ewas and Winnebagos often got at war with each other, and he
was liable to get mixed up in it through suspicion of being more
friendly to one side than the other, and so he did, for he was sev-
eral times wounded in their combats.
Subsequently, he traversed the country westward from Chicago,
trading with the Sauks and Foxes. He crossed Des Moines River
when there was not a white settler in what is now Iowa.
Fur buying in those days was an extensive business. The furs
were usually floated in canoes down rivers to the lake, and thence
by vessels to Chicago. Sometimes wagons, several of them, were
required. When a river was reached, the wagon box was removed
from the running part, and the furs floated across therein.
He became thoroughly conversant with Indian character, and
learned to speak their language fluently ; in fact, he became a "heap
big che-mo-ka-man" (pale face) among them.
Tiring of the business in 1840, he went to Ohio, where he
rejoined his mother, and engaged in manufacturing fanning mills
until May, 1854, when he came to Fort Des Moines, purchased two
99
100 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
lots near what is now the northwest comer of Eighth and Walnut,
"out in the country," and built a commodious one-story-and-a-half
seven-room frame house, entirely of Black Walnut lumber, hauled
on wagons from Davenjwrt. When the house was completed, it
was furnished with furniture purchased in Cincinnati, and shipped
by steamboats, arriving here on the Clara Hine, which tied up at
'Coon Point. Some of the furniture was Rosewood, upholstered
with fine haircloth, and is in use to-day in the home of two daiigh-
ters on West I^inth Street.
The house completed and furnished, his family arrived in Octo-
ber, and became an integral part of the little community widely
scattered over the plateau between the two rivers, and also prover-
bial for their hospitality and good cheer. Their latchstring was
never "pulled in." For seven years, John A. Kasson made that
house his home with the family, and, being a man of public affairs,
it was the headquarters for politicians. Frequently, on Sunday,
my wife and I used to go there from our boarding-place, where the
Morgan House now is, straight through the weeds, across the Com-
mons, for a social chat.
Like all settlers in those days, the family adapted themselves to
circumstances. Although the father was a good provider, the
larder sometimes got short, especially of fruit and meat. The great-
est scarcity was fruit, Mrs. Smith often saying she could get noth-
ing but wild crab apples for preserving, and wild plums for "plum
butter." For meat, Hiram Y., their oldest boy, who was a wide-
awake, hustling youngster, and who subsequently became promi-
nent in county and state affairs, was equal to the occasion. He set
traps along the bluff north of what is now High Street, and every
morning, before breakfast, he would go to his traps and gather up
an ample supply of quail or prairie chickens. His biggest catches
were made on the spot where the Congregational Church now
stands.
In 1869, Smith built a two-story frame house at Tenth and
Walnut, and abandoned the old one.
This house boasted of the first plate-glass front door in Des
Moines. The house sat well back from the street in those days,
was a pretentious affair, and was one of the show jilaces of Des
JOHN L. SMITH 101
Moines, but it was never so cherished a place as the old home, with
its treasured memories, in which the first formal invitational din-
ner of ham and eggs was served in the town. Mr. Smith, hearing
of the first importation of several dozen eggs and a ham from Keo-
kuk, cornered the market and shared the dinner with his friends,
who lived "within a few doors." Hoyt Sherman was summoned
from his home at Sixth and Walnut, where the Utica Building
now is. The Robertson family was living at the site of the Chase
& West Block, and Mrs. Mills (now Mrs. E. R. Clapp) from
around the block on Eighth Street, and as many more as were in
personal invitation distance. The first cornmeal mush ever served
in Des Moines was held as a highly prized dish for the same com-
pany, on another occasion. Mr. Smith received the first sack
brought from Keokuk. Mush was all that was served, and the par-
takers never forgot that meal.
During the Summer, while he was building the old house, he
purchased two lots on Walnut Street, where the Wabash ticket
cifice now is, the price paid I have forgotten, but he traded them
to John O'Connor for a pair of "onery" mules and a wagon, and
"doubled his money," he used to say.
His first business venture was a general store on Second Street,
near Vine, with H. E. Lovejoy's store on one side and J. M. Grif-
fith's store on the other. Disliking indoor labor, he soon sold out,
and was employed by the United States Land Office for some time
in locating lands in the western and northwestern part of the state.
His next venture was the marble business, in which he gained
an extensive reputation throughout Central Iowa by his genial,
happy temperament, though engaged in a rather sombre enterprise.
He also had the contract for setting the poles of the Western
Union Telegraph Company along the Rock Island Road, when
their lines were built. In 1866, he was appointed Indian Agent
for the Otoe and other Indian tribes in Gage County, Nebraska, to
adjust some trouble between them and Uncle Sam. His long expe-
rience with Indians enabled him to secure unexpectedly friendly
relations with them. He held the place until President Grant
superseded the Quaker policy then in force in Indian affairs, which
being interpreted, meant that a "good Indian was a dead Indian."
102 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
In 1870, he started a grocery store on Walnut Street, between
Sixth and Seventh, but very soon got. the migratory fever again —
being subject to Asthma, he wanted more air — and he went on the
road for the large printing house of Mills & Company, and made
the circuit of the County Clerks throughout the country. On one
of these trips, in May, 1874, his team became frightened, and,
when crossing the railroad track about three miles west of Stuart,
he was thrown out, receiving fatal injuries.
Socially, he was of cheerful, sunny temperament, companion-
able, possessed great strength of will, had the courage of his con-
\ ictions, yet won and retained the friendship of others to a remark-
able degree. His integrity was never questioned. Though of pon-
derous physique, he was always active and busy. In social affairs,
his labor and influence were given to every moral and educational
movement to promote the weal of the community. The home, the
church, and the school were with him the only sure foundation of
good government.
Religiously, he was a Baptist of the Saint John type. When the
first church was organized, and the building of a meeting-house
was started on Mulberry Street, where George Dimmitt now sells
hardware, he gave many days of manual labor with Elder Nash
and W. A. Galbraith, with hammer, saw, plane, axe, and trowel,
helping the project along. His home was one of generous hospi-
tality, and during church conventions of his faith it was a favorite
resort for brethren.
He was an active and earnest member of the Old Settlers'
Association.
Politically, he was a radical Abolitionist and Whig, and every-
body knew it. He was not a politician, and took little or no part
in politics, yet, through the good offices and friendship of Kasson,
he was several times given a public trust, which he executed with
strict fidelity and credit to himself.
May Twenty-seventh, 1906.
JOHN M. DAVIS
JOHN M. DAVIS
LIVING over on the East Side, very quietly, on Easy Street,
undisturbed by the price of flour, cornmeal, potatoes, the
uncertainty of Packingtown products, or the tax collector, in
a house which was built on the installment plan, when there wasn't
lumber enough to build a house complete, can be foimd John M.
Davis, an old-timer, who made his advent to the town with the
archives of the state, when they were removed from Iowa City, in
1857, which was an important epoch in the history of the town and
county.
Born in Ohio, John, in 1854, got the Western fever, went down
the Ohio Eiver, up the Wabash, thence by stage coach to Iowa City,
where he entered the service of George McCleary, Secretary of
State, as his Deputy. There he remained until the expiration of
MoCleary's term, in 1856, and also of his successors, Elijah Sells,
in 1863, and Doctor James Wright, in 1867, when he became the
Deputy of the Eegister of the State Land Office, where he remained
— except one year — until the office was abolished, in 1883, as a
separate department of the Government, but he was retained as
Chief Clerk in the office until 1891. During all these years, he
was considered and accepted as the main spoke in the wheel of the
Government machine. During his service in the Land Office, the
business was immense, requiring the most expert management.
In November, 1857, orders were given to remove the archives of
the state to Des Moines. It was a big job. There were all the
records of the offices of the Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, and
Superintendent of Public Instruction, and four large safes with
their contents. There were no railroads, the route a wide expanse
of unbroken country, some of the roads mere blind trails, and
streams with no bridges.
It fell to the lot of John to do the packing of the contents of the
Secretary's office, which, causing him the most concern, was the
103
104 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
return'; of the October election of Governor and Lieutenant Gov-
ernor, it being the first election of a Lieutenant Governor in the
state. The returns were sent in sealed envelopes from the several
counties, to be delivered to the Speaker of the House on the assem-
blying of the Legislature, in January. They had not all been
received, and John did not want to take any risk in their getting
lost or mislaid, so, in accordance with the old adage that "one move
is as bad as a fire," he put the returns in his trunk with his cloth-
ing and sat on the lid.
Martin L. Morris, a Des Moines man, for many years an asso-
ciate editor of the Democratic papers of that day, as Treasurer and
Custodian of State Property, contracted with a man named Bowen
to haul the contents of the four ofiices to Des Moines. The roads
were bad, and progress was slow. On reaching Four Mile Creek,
a severe storm of wind and snow arose, rendering further move-
ment of the big treasury safe imjxtssible. It was dumped over-
board, to wait the abatement of the storm. It contained a large
amount of money, but there was little or no danger of burglary. It
was provided with a good combination tumbler lock, and only the
Treasurer and his Deputy knew the combination, but the boys
were interested in its arrival, for the payment of their preceding
month's salary depended on it. The Secretary's safe, a smaller
one, also had a similar lock, the combination of which John carried
in his head.
After the storm was over, a team of ten yoke of oxen and a big
bobsled was made up in town, and the safe hauled to the State
House through mud and slush, the snow having melted.
Colonel Hooker, Superintendent of the Great Western Stage
Company, proffered the four state officers free transportation. It
was his special pride to "do things" on occasions, and early on a
clear, cold Friday morning, November Sixth, 1857, he ordered
out the best coach at the station, four fine horses, and put "Joe"
Baggs on the box, with instructions to "get there on time." "Joe"
was the oldest and best reinsman on the line, and known from Iowa
City to Omaha.
With a relay of fresh horses every ten miles, the trip was made
nicely, despite a severe snowstorm, and about noon on Saturday,
JOHN M. DAVIS 105
"Joe" pulled into Des Moines, crossed Des Moines Eiver on a pon-
toon bridge, and rolled up to the Demoin House, which stood where
the new PostofEce is to be, his horses puffing like a jack-rabbit
with a hound behind him, his passengers jovial, and hungry, but
Boon satisfied by the sumptuous spread Colonel Spofford, noted for
such things, laid before them.
With the deputies and clerks, it was different. Treasurer Mor-
ris hired a "jerkey," put in it the six fellows, "Dave" Sells, "Dan"
Warren, "Tom" and "Bill" Kinsey, George Matthews, and John,
with their baggage. It pulled out immediately after the stage
coach left. The first day, they reached Brooklyn. The next day,
they were buffeted with wind and snow, so that they got only within
about twenty-five miles of Des Moines, when the driver pulled up.
The next morning, the snow was so deep the roads were entirely
obliterated, and the driver refused to go on, as he did not know
the way, and would take no risks — getting lost on a trackless prai-
rie was a thing to be considered in those days. Then it was up to
the boys. They hunted up a fai-mer who knew the road to Des
Moines, "day or night," piled themselves on his farm wagon, with
their trunks for seats, John sitting on his own, "Tom" Kinsey
used to say, to be sure those election returns didn't get away from
him, and about four o'clock on Sunday were landed at the brick
boarding-house kept by Doctor Shaw, which stood where Father
!Nugent's Catholic Church now is, jolted, bumped, and hungry.
The Doctor quickly satisfied the cravings of their vacant stomachs.
Monday morning, they were ready for business. Harking back
to that day, John says the outlook was dubious. The State House
was not ready for them, and the Legislature coming soon after.
Carpenters and laborers were rushing aroimd, and chaos every-
where. Boxes and bundles heaped high, with no place to put their
contents. Looking out over the surroundings, the scene, compared
with the pleasant environments they had left in Iowa City, the
prospect was not very "happyfying." The State House, built in
the woods and brash, east and south of it heavy timber, in which
squirrrels, quail, and grouse revelled, and in the early Spring only
the Hoot Owl and plaintive song of the Whip-poor-will broke the
silence of the desolation. Between the State House and the river.
106 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
but a few primitive buildings ; not a street leading thereto was little
more than a trail ; not a sidewalk ; the soft, black soil, when wet,
sticky, slippery, and nearly impassable, often covered with water,
and passable only in boats. Where the present Capitol now stands
was a forest ; farther east of it, what is now Franklin Park, was a
pond, dotted thick with the houses of Muskrats. The only conso-
lation to the new-comers was the cordial welcome and kind treat-
ment of the residents.
John was retained as Deputy Secretary of State thirteen years,
though in the Summer of 1863 he was detailed for duty in the
office of the Provost ]\rarshal, to prepare measures for enforcing
the draft of men for the army, which had been ordered by Uncle
Sam, and which caused the hurried departure of several able-bodied
individuals of the community to some place more agi-eeable to their
health.
It was during Wright's term that pocket knives, gold pens, and
ink erasers were distributed to members of the Legislature, state
officers, and newspaper reporters, the state footing the bill.
In 1867, John became the Deputy of the Register of the State
Land Office, serving until 1876, when he resigned. His successor
served but one year, when he resigned, and John was re-appointed,
solely on his merits, serving until 188-3, when the office was abol-
ished, but he was retained in the office as Chief Clerk until 1891,
when he was detailed for service in the Government Land Office
at Washington for a time.
It was during his connection with the State Land Department
that most of the lands under the several grants were conveyed to
the state by the United States, and by the state to the parties
entitled thereto. Also, during that period, the office of Surveyor
General, located at Dubuque, was discontinued, and all the original
field notes and other fixtures of the office were turned over to the
State Land Office.
In all business transactions of the office, John was extremely
cautious to avoid mistakes, and especially in preparing for publi-
cation the biennial reports of the office in which were given a com-
plete history of the several land grants, the laws, state and con-
gressional, together with judicial decisions relating and pertaining
thereto.
JOHN M. DAVIS 107
Riparian rights on our meandered lakes and rivers, with all
facts relating thereto, were fully set forth, with such suggestions
as were deemed advisable.
These reports have been of invaluable service to lawyers and
courts, because of their integrity and comprehensiveness in the
multifarious litigation by railroads and others, growing out of land
grants and land laws.
While the railroads are now vigorously being hauled into courts
charged with various acts of malfeasance, a reading of the Acts of
Congress and the Iowa Legislature of July, 1856, granting land to
the three railroads which now cross the state, in which the roads
were unmistakably deemed to be public highways, and to be con-
trolled by Congress and the Legislature of Iowa, is pertinent. It
provided that the troops and property of the United States shall be
free from toll or any charges ; that the railroad companies shall at
all times be subject to such rules and regulations as shall from time
to time be enacted and provided by the General Assembly of the
State of Iowa, and the Acts of Congress. They shall make a regu-
lar annual report of their proceedings at the usual time and place
of electing their officers, exhibiting their expenditures, liabilities,
etc., a copy of which shall be filed in the oSice of the Secretary of
State.
In all his thirty-eight years of service as a public officer, John
was true to his trust ; his integrity never doubted ; was unvulner-
able to the many opportunities for self-aggrandizement, so that
to-day his only compunction of conscience is the acceptance of a
pocket knife in 1864, through the blandishment of his superior,
Doctor Wright ; but they all did it.
John was economical, frxigal in habits, "salted" his surplus earn-
ings, and soon after he came to Des Moines loaned Alex. Scott,
who had built the State House and got into financial straits, some
money — land was cheap, lots of it to the acre, and money scarce.
The loan was secured by mortgage on the most cherished tract of all
the land Scott owned on the East Side, which, after several exten-
sions, he could not redeem. It fell to .lohn, and there he built a
home. But a few rods away rest the remains of Scott, neglected,
undesignated, covered with rubbish, a shame and disgrace to the
108 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
great State of Iowa, to which he gave the gi'ound on which the
State House was built, and a portion of the money to build it ; died
in poverty, and was buried by the charity of friends.
John was a Whig from the start. He cast his first vote in Iowa
in 1855, for John C. Lockwood, the Whig candidate for Registrar
of the Des Moines River Improvement Company, which became
bankrupt, after squandering the proceeds of millions of acres of the
public domain, for which the state received three uncompleted
dams, two old scows, no river improvement, and numerous other
daums all over the state.
Socially, John is imobtrusive, genial in temperament, and ever
enjoys a quiet conversation with some old-timer. He spends his
time mostly about his home, contented and happy.
June Twenty-fourth, 190C.
WILEY C. BURTON
ONE of the early settlers of Des Moines was Wiley C. Burton.
The date of his coming, I do not know, but he started a
store down on Second Street when all business of the town
was done on that street. He took an active part in the affairs of
the little town, with Doc. Campbell, Cole Noel, Granville Holland,
and other old-timers.
In 1855, he was elected a member of the Town Council, when
Barlow Granger was Mayor. There were no Wards, the Council
being elected from the body of the people. The office was one more
of honor than profit or labor. There were no chances for grafting
in those days, as the to^vn possessed little or nothing.
The same year, Wiley, with Byron Rice, Lovell White, A. New-
ton, and a few others, built the Exchange Block, at the northwest
comer of Third and Walnut streets, the first brick building on that
street. On the first floor were three dry goods stores, one grocery,
Doct^tr Shaw's drug store, and a bank. On the second floor were
the United States Land Office, the headquarters of the River
Improvement Company, offices of lawyers and Justices of the
Peace, and a very expensively equipped saloon. The upper floor
was for small offices. It was in that building the Iowa State Reg-
ister had its first home, and there the first daily paper of the city
was issued.
In 1856, when the location of the State Capitol question came
up, he was one of the leaders of the West Siders. He circulated
a subscription to raise a fund of two hundred thousand dollars, to
be donated to the state if the Capitol was located on the West Side,
and put himself down for three thousand dollars.
The contest was vigorous on both sides. The East Siders
declared the subscription fund raised on the West Side was not
worth the paper it was written on, but the East Side won. The
West Side was mad, and reque.sted the Legislature to make an
109
no PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
investigation, which was gi-anted, and a committee appointed there-
for, but it did not meet until February, 1858. Several persons
were called before the committee, and gave testimony under oath.
J. T. Baldwin testified that he was here during the time the Com-
missioners were here, and that his business was to influence them
in making a fair and just decision in locating the Capitol; that
three of them put up on the East Side, and he ate and drank with
them, and slept with one; that West Siders gave them the cold
shoulder, while the East Siders were more hospitable and friendly,
but he refused to answer any questions tending to self-incrimina-
tion. Harrison Lyon testified that he owned a portion of the land
on which the location was made, and that he turned over to Bald-
win ten lots, to be put where they would do the most good in secur-
ing a location.
J. A. Williamson, a lawyer, was another East Side promoter.
He testified that he spent a year and a half, using all lawful and
legal means, and lots of whiskey, to get the location on the East
Side; that fifteen lots were inti'usted to him to be used for that
purpose. He refused to tell what he did with them. He said
Pegram received notes for ten thousand dollars, secured by fifty
lots.
Burton testified that he was one of the "getters-up" of the sub-
scription for two hundred thousand dollars on the West Side, to
be given to the state provided the Capitol was located on that side ;
that he went, with Granville Holland and J. M. GriSiths, on the
Twenty-second of April, 1850, to notify the Commissioners that
the money was being raised; that they were told no location had
been made; that any offer would be taken into consideration the
next day. It was shown the location had then been agreed upon.
C. C. Van, who owned a large tract of land south of the 'Coon,
built a mill there, and started a town known for several years as
Vanto\vn, which has developed into the present Sevastopol, testified
that Pegram said to him one day something about lots he was to
get as a bonus ; that a few days after the location was made, he
said he had sold the lots, taking notes for them, made payable at
Council Bluffs. Since then, he told him they had been paid. He
said there were two hundretl and fifty lots; that he was to have
WILEY C. BURTON 111
fifty. Baldwin was here, and appeared to know what was going
on. He said if the West Siders would raise fifty thousand dollars,
the Capitol would be located on that side of the river ; that he was
in favor of the West Side, and believed the Commissioners were;
that two hundred and fifty lots had been set apart for the Commis-
sioners on the East Side; he was to have a share; that he had one
thousand dollars the Commissioners did not know of. He asked
what the West Side would give. He said Pegram had made his
mark at ten thousand dollars, and they would have to come down.
Several witnesses interested in the lots said to be in the pool
were called, but they refused to give answers, by advice of counsel.
W. A. Scott, who owned part of the Capitol grounds, and the
land on which the old Capitol was built, being sworn, testified as
follows :
"Question. — Where did you reside at the time of the location of
the Capitol ?
"iVnswer. — At this place on the east side of the river.
"Question. — Did you see the Commissioners when they were
here to locate the Capitol!
"Answer. — I did.
"Question. — Did you have any conversation with them in refer-
ence to the location before it was determined ?
"Answer. — Yes, sir.
"Question. — On which of these additions which I point out on
the map was the Capitol located ?
"Answer. — It was partly on Scott's Addition to the Town of
Demoine, and partly on Lyon's Addition .
"Question. — Did you, at or about the time of the location of the
Capitol, sell and convey, or agree to convey, or agree to hold in
trust, any part of your said property to or for said Commissioners,
or to any or either of them ?"
Witness refused to answer, "on the ground, and for the reason,
that if any act done, or transaction had, between the said Commis-
sioners and the affiant, would tend to impeach the conduct of the
Commissioners, it would and will operatei to impeach and disgrace
affiant; and, further, the answer he would be compelled to give,
taken in connection with the evidence already taken, and questions
that might follow, will tend to disgrace the affiant."
112 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
The Legislative Committee in its report said :
"From the testimony, it appears that twenty acres of land,
worth nearly one hundred thousand dollars, was offered to the
Capitol Commissioners for the state; that, besides this, various
persons offered two hundred thousand dollars' worth of real estate
as a further inducement to locate the Capitol on the west side of
Des Moines River; that when the Commissioners received notice
that the two hundred thousand dollars would be offei'ed them, they
signified a willingness to give it due consideration, and delay their
final decision until the next day, but, instead, they came to a deci-
sion which barred the interested parties from presenting their sub-
scription.
"The memorialists presented several witnesses on whose testi-
mony they relied to show that a property worth fifty thousand dol-
lars was given the Commissioners as a bribe, or bonus, or gratuity,
but the witnesses refused to answer interrogatories put to them, by
which only it could be proved that all of the Commissioners could
be positively identified with fraud and corruption, was withheld,
and it was not in the power of your Committee to bring it out.
"It appears, from the testimony, that two hundred and fifty lots
were set apart on the east side of the river to influence the location
of the Capitol ; that town lots, or interests in town lots, were given
to effect the location ; that Pegram was bribed ; that Baldwin was
the go-between with Pegram, if not more of the Commissioners,
and the proprietors of land on both sides of the river; that he
appeared to have Pegram, if not a majority of the Commissioners,
for sale to the highest bidder. There is nothing in the testimony
implicating Commissioner Goodrell in the frauds alleged in the
second charge."
The Committee recommended that the Attorney General be
instructed to institute proceedings for recovery of any bonuses the
Commissioners had received for locating the Capitol, as such bonus
should have been for the state, and not for the Commissioners.
The report was referred to a committee — and is there yet.
In May, under the new charter, Wiley was again elected to
the City Council, to represent the Third Ward. It was an impor-
tant period in municipal affairs, as the whole system of civil gov-
ernment had to be reorganized to meet the changed conditions.
WILEY C. BURTON 113
In 1867, he was elected Street Commissioner. The streets were
mere dirt roads, though much cutting and grading was being done,
and plank sidewalks were laid on some of the streets below Fifth.
Cows ran at large, and when they wanted a change from grazing
on vacant lots, they made a raid on gardens and the sleds and
wagons of farmers, usually, unless there was a good dog on guard,
leaving only the box.
That was the end of ofRce-holding for Wiley. He then turned
his attention to trading and speculating, but retained an interest in
public affairs.
Politically, ho was a Whig. He voted for William Henry Har-
rison for President in 1840. In 1854, he joined the Know-Noth-
ing Party, which elected Grimes for Governor, and piit an end to
Democratic rule in Iowa. He says he wants to live to vote for
Roosevelt in 1908. He is now living in South Dakota.
July First, 1906.
Vol. II— (8).
DANIEL TRULLINGER
DANIEL TRULLINGER
THE pioneer of pioneers of Polk County and Des Moines was
Daniel TruUinger, the only living man who was at Fort
Raccoon when it was only a soldiers' camp. There was no
cannon, no stockade, no block houses. It was not a fort, but sim-
])ly a military camp, really more like a community of camping
settlers; the difference being, they were sent here by Uncle Sam
to protect from the marauding Sioux, the Sauk and Fox Indians,
who had a raservation at or near where Avon now is, on what was
called Keokuk's Prairie ; also villages along Skunk Eiver and Four
Mile Creek. When TruUinger arrived, the soldiers were living in
tents, having preceded him but a few days.
Born in Ohio, in 1818, TruUinger was raised on a farm, get-
ting what education he could in the common schools of that day.
From Ohio, he removed to Indiana, near Perrysville, where he and
four brothers had small tracts of land. While there, he learned
brick-making with his uncle, Benjamin Gordy.
In May, 1843, he and his brothers decided to come West, where
land was cheaper and could be piirchased in large quantities. Pack-
ing such necessary household goods, as pioneers usually did, into
prairie schooners, with oxen for motor power, they started for Iowa,
and June Thirteenth crossed the Mississippi at Fort Madison, and
went on to Jefferson County, where they stopped near Fairfield,
then the most frontier point, a few days, and where Daniel learned
of the establishment of the new fort at Kaccoon Forks.
Harking back to the event a few days ago, he said :
"With my wife and baby, and Uncle Ben. Gordy, an ox team
and wagons, we left Fairfield, and five days later arrived at The
Fort, the Fifteenth of June. We forded the river near where the
Grand Avenue bridge is, the water being veiy low, not up to the
hubs of the wagon wheels. The soldiers of the garrison had been
here about three weeks, and were living in tents pitched along the
115
116 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
heavy timber belt which skirted the river, or ab<:)iit where Second
Street is now. The day we arrivetl, they were putting the roof on
the commissary store building, near Des Moines River, just north
of the 'Coon. There was a sutler's store where the south end of
Prouty's wholesale grocery store is now, and the logs up for a
Guard House a little south and west of the sutler's store. Xothing
had been done about dwellings, though logs were being cut for
cabins in the timber on the east side of the Des Moines, and along
the bluff on the west side.
"So soon as the sutler's store was ready to occupy, they began to
put up cabins for dwellings. The first row was for the officers,
along the Des Moines, where First Street is, and fronted we^t.
They were double, with a portico between them, the entrance to
each half being from the portico. Some were roofed with shingles,
and some with clapboards. They had good doors, windows, and
flooring, the material for which was hauled from Keokuk in Gov-
ernment wagons. The logs were cut and hauled by the soldiers.
The cabins for the soldiers were along the 'Coon. The building
was done by five carpenters, who came with the soldiers. All the
necessary material for building was at hand, except brick, and that
was my opportimity. My uncle was an expert brick-maker, and I
had learned of him to make brick. We were just the men Captain
Allen, commander of The Fort, was looking for. Brick was wanted
for chimneys and fireplaces of the cabins and stores. There were
no stoves. I at once went prospecting for clay, and about half a
mile up Raccoon Kiver found a deposit of clay and sand, and not
far away a pond, about fifty feet long and nearly as wide — I think
it was about the south end of what is now Sixth Avenue — with no
bottom, as we tested it for at least sixty feet and found none, and
I am told that the early settlers at The Fort said it had no bottom
at all. My uncle built a mill to gi-ind the clay on a rise of ground
near it, and there we established a brick yard, making from two
thousand to four thousand brick per day, of what was known as
sand brick, and they were good brick, too. During that Summer,
we made about two hundred and eighty thousand brick. For mor-
tar, my son, Aaron, found a lot of stone lying on the ground along
Four Mile Creek, which he gathered and burned, making splendid
lime.
DANIEL TRULLINGER 117
"We worked every day in the week, as Captain Allen was anx-
ious to get the buildings all completed before Winter set in, and we
had to keep the fire going under the kilns, anyhow. A day's work
was from sunrise to sundown. There were no labor unions, and no
holidays. There were no churches, nor preachers. In fact, the
only way we knew when Sunday came was seeing the soldiers lined
up for drill and inspection, and a general cleaning up of the camp.
There were nearly three hundred soldiers in the camp, about one
third of whom were cavalry, or Dragoons, as they called them.
They were all a rugged, honest lot of fellows, used to roughing it,
and ready to fight Indians or anything else that ran up against
them, though they were quiet and orderly about the camp, for they
had to be, as Captain Allen was a strict disciplinarian ; but some
times. Lieutenant Grier, who had more direct charge of the boys
and had more humor in his nature, would give a little relaxation —
if the Captain was not around.
"There were no settlers in the county that Summer, as the
whole cormtry was imder military control. Alexander Scott, Alex-
ander Turner, Peter Xewcomer, and William Lamb, came in about
two weeks before I did, and Captain Allen gave them permits to
cultivate ti-acts of land to raise provisions for the camp. They
immediately broke ground and planted com as they plowed. Lamb,
I understand, sowed the first wheat and oats in the county. They
got good crops, which had to go to the soldiers' camp, as they were
mot allowed to sell a bushel to anybody. Scott's land was on the
east side of the Des Moines, extending down near the starch works.
Lamb and Turner were east of him, and Newcomer was on Four
Mile Creek. Subsequently, they filed claims and made farms of
their land. Aside from these, we had no neighbors except Indians.
"Inside the garrison or fort, aside from the soldiers, there were
only the carpenters and bricklayers There were only five women
during that Summer — the wife of Doctor Griffin, the post surgeon ;
of Lieutenant Grier, of two carpenters, and my wife — so we didn't
have any women's clubs or society doings. There were no amuse-
ments except occasionally the soldier boys would play fiddles, yet
everybody was happy. It was like a big family working together
in harmonv, sharing with each other their fiftv cents a dav wages.
118 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
tobacco, and whiskey. In fact, as the days were long, when night
came ever^'body was ready to go to bed. We had little use for the
tallow dips Uncle Sam furnished for lights. The Doctor and five
women were kept busy, for there was much sickness from Fever
and Ague. At one time, there was less than two dozen men in camp
able to work.
"We had good living, and the cabins, when completed, were
comfortable. The Government furnished rations of sugar, flour,
bacon, ham, codfish, rice, other provisions, tobacco, and a pint of
whiskey free to every person in the camp, daily — the women,
though, were not allowed the whiskey. It wasn't the kind you get
now. If a man got drunk with it, he wasn't sick a week afterward.
A good deal of it, however, went to break the 'shakes.'
'"The men worked hard; wages were low; the common laborers
got fifty cents a day, the bricklayers one dollar, the boss carpenter
two dollars, the boss bricklayer one dollar and seventy-five cent-s,
but all got the daily allowance of rations and a cabin for a home,
as fast as they were completed. Attached to every cabin was a
small garden.
"One great trouble we had was to get mail. The nearest post-
ofiice was Fairfield, and the only way to get mail was by sending a
soldier after it, and of course newspapers and reading-matter were
scarce.
"During the Summer, Captain Allen was talking one day about
fixing a point nearer The Fort, where mail could be deposited, and
finding a man to take charge of it. I recommended "Uncle Tommy"
Mitchell, whom I had known for some time. He accepted him, and
gave him a ]>emiit to select a tract of land to cultivate, which he
did the next Spring, at a place south of what is now Mitchellville,
kno^vn as Apple Grove, from a large grove of wild crabapples, on
Camp Creek. It was a good place, as the wagon trails from Keo-
kuk, Iowa City, and Fairfield came together a few miles eastward.
He put up a large log cabin, settlers soon began to come in, and
travel increased so that he oi>ened a tavern and did a big business.
"Xo, the Indians were very peaceable and quiet. Squads of
them frequently came into the camp, and the brick-making was a
great curiosity to them. They would sit around for hours and
DANIEL TRULLINGER 119
watch the operation, jabbering away, and some could talk good
English. They were great to ask questions. There were three
bands, numbering about one thousand. Keokuk had a large village
on his prairie, which was just north of where Avon now is, and not
as pictured at page Three Hundred and Sixty, in Fulton's 'Red
Men of Iowa,' as lying from Des Moines River eastward to the
starch works. There were bands along the Skunk and Four Mile
Creek. They were friendly, and seemed to realize that the soldiers
were here to protect them from their mortal enemy, the Sioux.
Sometimes they would go up north hunting, and get on the terri-
toi-y called neutral ground, the Sioux would get after them, and the
soldiers would be called out to drive the marauders off. One day,
a Sioux chief came to Captain Allen and proposed to join his sol-
diers, kill all the Indians on the resei*vation, and then let the white
people have it. When the Captain told him he was here to protect
them and keep the Sioux where they belonged, the old chief gave a
grunt and went off in high dudgeon.
"In October, the buildings had nearly all been completed ; there
was no further demand for brick, and I decided to leave. Captain
Allen offered me ten dollars a month, rations and cabin, but I
thought it was not enough, and declined. I returned to Fairfield,
and went into the teaming business. In April, 1846, I left Fair-
field, to go to my brother, Eli, who had bought a large claim where
'Trullinger's Grove' is, in Franklin Township. On the Sixth, I
arrived at 'Uncle Tommy' Mitchell's tavern, where they were hold-
ing the first election in Polk County, to elect county officers.
" 'Tommy' said he was mighty glad to see me; that I was just
in time to vote, and I threw my vote into his hat. I hadn't been
in the county fifteen minutes. Everybody voted who wanted to,
and no questions asked. Some came fifteen miles. After voting,
they went home and left 'Tommy' to count the votes. That was
the trust and confidence the pioneers had in one another. It
wouldn't do nowadays, I think.
"I stopped with 'Tommy' three days, went on to my brother,
made a claim for one hundred and sixty acres near him, broke and
planted twenty-four acres, and in the Fall sold out and returned to
Fairfield, and went into brick-making and teaming. I remember
120 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
that in 1849 I hauled a load of corn and some provisions to 'Uncle
Tommy' — he had got short, his tavern consuming more than his
farm produced — and on the way, in Jasper County, I ran up
against the Quaker Commissioners the Legislature had sent out to
locate a site for the new Capital of the state. They had laid out a
big town on the open prairie, no timber or buildings in sight, nor
any water within five miles. I didn't think it was a very good
place for the Capital.
"I also remember hauling young hogs weighing about one hun-
dred and fifty pounds, butter, eggs, and potatoes to The Fort. I
had to get a permit to sell them from Captain Allen, and he would
fix the maximum price on them — the pork at fifty cents, butter
fifty cents, and eggs twenty-five cents per dozen. I could sell below
his price, but not above it."
In 1864, Tndlinger got the gold fever, and, with a friend,
started for Montana, but when he got to Julesberg, changed his
mind and went into the mountains to prospect for gold, but found
it too hard work, and went to Denver, where he ran against a man
from the East with a slaughter house, meat market, and grocery,
worth two thousand dollars, who was suffering from Nostalgia —
that is, he wanted "to get back home." Ti-ullinger offered him one
thoiisand dollars for the outfit, got it, and ran it nine years. Sub-
sequently, he speculated, prospected, bunied charcoal, and bossed
silver mines in Colorado until 1879, when he came back to Iowa,
bought a big farm in Calhoun Coimty, held it until March, 1900,
when be came to Des Moines, invested his surplus shekels in town
lots, and made his home with a widowed daughter on Morton Street
— a few rods east of the Danish College, where he spends his time
at ease. In Summer, he cultivates shrubbery, flowers, fruit, and
vegetables, which, as I saw them a few days ago, indicate that he
knows how. He is rugged, active, has perfect health, can do a good
day's work, eats three square meals a day, has no use for breakfast
foods or patent concoctions for old age, and the day I visited him
I found him on a ladder trimming his shade trees.
Politically, he is a Hardshell Democrat; never voted any but
the straight ticket, except once for his old friend. Ford, a Whig,
for Treasurer of Jefferson County. He is a Standpatter, and says
DANIEL TRULLINGER 121
if he was a Republican he would vote against Cummins for Gov-
ernor, because he is opposed to more than two terms for any state
officer, on principle. He never sought a political office, though for
several years he held the office of School Director, consequent upon
his active interest in educational affairs and public schools.
Socially, he is genial, frank, and conversational. An hour's
recital of reminiscences of people, conditions, and circumstances he
has rubbed up against in his long life is replete with interest, and
a pleasing diversion.
Religiously, he is not a member of any denomination, though he
attends the Christian Church from choice.
July Eighth, 1906.
FIRST THINGS IN DES MOINES
ON May Twentieth, 1843, Captain James Allen, with four
officers and forty-four soldiers, arrived at the forks of the
Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, on the steamboat lone, the
first steamboat to reach The Forks. It landed where the west end
of the Court Avenue bridge now is. The mission of the soldiery
was to establish a temporary military post. With them came four
civilians. Doctor John S Griffin, who was made Post Surgeon; J.
M. Thrift, a discharged soldier, father of the present Adjutant
General Thrift, who was made Post Tailor, and Charles Worthing-
ton, who was assigned to duty as Blacksmith. His shop was on
the bottoms near the 'Coon, and in the rear of the soldiers' quar-
ters. That was the roster of Fort Raccoon, as Captain Allen had
named the post.
J. M. Thrift was the only one of the post roster who remained
and became a resident and citizen of the new community, and there-
fore was the first white man of record in and for Des Moines.
First Political Meeting — February Fourteenth, 1846, to select
candidates for the several county officers to organize Polk County.
First Election— April Sixth, 1846.
First District Court— April Sixth, 1846, in one of the log
barrack buildings on 'Coon Row.
First Clerk of the District Court — Perry L. Grossman.
First Sheriff — "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell.
First Church Organized — Methodist, January Fifth, 1845.
First Sunday School — Organized, with seven children, in the
Spring of 1845, by B. T. Hoxie and the Reverend Ezra Rathbun.
First Sermon — Ezra Rathbun, at the funeral of a child of
Colonel Grier, September, 1845.
First Church Building— 1848, on Fifth Street, a two-story
frame, where the Iowa Loan and Trust Building stands, for the
Methodists.
123
124 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
First Presbyterian Church- — Organized the first Sabbath in
June, 1848, under rather unique circumstances. Reverend Thomp-
son Bird came to Fort Des Moines the January previous, as a mis-
sionary of Des Moines Presbytery, and at once began arrangements
to organize a church of the New School faith, and for that purpose
a meeting was held in the fourth cabin from the right end of the
row, along the west bank of Des Moines River (see Frontispiece),
which had been occupied as one of the officers' quarters, and now
the southwest comer of First and Vine streets. There were five
cabins in the row, and they fronted west. The following is the
record of the meeting, made in the handwriting of Father Bird :
"FoET Des Moines, Iowa,
"June, First Sabbath, 1848.
"According to previous notice, publicly given, on the Sabbath
above named, the following persons were, at their own request,
organized into a church under the name of the Central Presby-
terian Church, of Fort Des Moines, Iowa, to-wit:
"Mrs. Anna P. Bird, Samuel Kellogg Kirkpatrick and his wife,
Mary Kellogg Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Ruth Jane Shell, Mrs. Francis
Guerant, Mrs. Hannah Yates."
Simultaneous with Father Bird's movement, there was another
inaugurated by John S. Dean, and several families, who lived on
the East Side ,to organize a church of the Old School faith, to be
known as the First Presbyterian Church. They fixed upon the
same day and hour selected by Father Bird, but a severe storm the
Saturday night previous did such damage to some of their cabins,
it was necessary to postix)ne their meeting imtil repairs could be
made, and it was not held until late in the afternoon, after Father
Bird's meeting had adjourned. It was held in the two-room cabin
of Mr. Dean, which stood fronting the east bank of Des Moines
River, nearly opposite the new City Library. The record says :
"According to understanding, a number of Presbyterians (Old
School), met together at the home of John S. Dean, and, after
mutual consultation, agreed to be organized into a church, to be
called the Presbyterian Church of Fort Des Moines. The Reverend
Samuel Cowles presided. The following persons were recieved
upon certificate as members : John S. Dean and wife, Mrs. Nancy
FIRST THINGS IN DES MOINES 125
Dean ; Miss Hannah C. Dean, William Garrett and wife, Mrs.
Mary Garrett; Miss Margaret A. Garrett; James H. Finch and
wife, Sarah J. Finch; Abram S. Dean and wife, Ann Dean;
Mrs. Eleanor B. Garrett, Miss Sarah Frederick, and Mrs. Esther
Myers."
"Fncle Johnny," as he was called, did not propose to recognize
the West Siders, as was his rule, and soon after his church organ-
ization, the name was changed to "First Presbyterian Church," to
distinguish it from the Central. November Fifteenth, 1857, they
were consolidated as the Central Church.
First Physician (Civilian) — Doctor Thomas K. Brooks, Sep-
tember, 1845.
First Frame Building — Two-story, at southeast comer of Third
and Market streets, by David Solenbarger, in July, 1847.
First Brick Dwelling — Corner Fourth and Court Avenue,
where the Valley National Bank now stands, by L. D. Winchester,
in 1849. "Billy" Moore was married in it.
First Tavern on the East Side — W. H. Meacham's log cabin,
near east end of Grand Avenue bridge, in 1845.
First Tavern on West Side — Log cabin on Market Street, used
as a blacksmith shop by the soldiers, to which was added a frame
addition in 1846, by Martin X. Tucker, as he was called. He
signed his name with an "X" and somebody else had to write the
rest of it.
First Drug Store — In the old soldiers' Guard House, by Doctor
F. C. Grimmel, October, 1846, corner Third and Vine streets.
First School — April, 1846, in one of the log barrack buildings,
by Miss Davis. She had to suspend school in July, 1846, while the
District Court was held in her schoolroom.
First Public School — Organized November, 1849.
First Public School Building — Erected in 1855, at the north-
west corner of Ninth and Locust streets. It required two years
from start to finish.
First Eegular Mail — Arrived March Third, 1849, by special
messenger on horseback.
First PostofBce Building — A small, one-story frame, northeast
comer of Second and Vine streets, built by Hoyt Sherman, Post-
master, in 1850.
126 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
First White Male Child — Son to John B. Scott, an Indian
trader, on the east bank of Des Moines Eiver, near Vine Street,
born in January, 1845.
First W^hite Female Child — Bora to a settler, Frances Michael,
October Twentieth, 1844.
First Death — An infant child of Lieutenant Grier, of the gar-
rison, September, 1845.
First Marriage License — Benjamin Bryant and Elvira Birge,
June Eleventh, 1846.
First Census Taken — July, 184G; population, one hundred and
twenty-seven.
First Record of Sale of Town Lot — August Fourteenth, 1846.
First Mortgage of Record — June Twenty-ninth, 1847.
First Ice Dealer— Ed. E. Clapp, 1846.
First Meat Market — "Uncle David" Norris, on Second Street,
1846, though John Hays always claimed priority to Norris.
First Town Council — Met in Court House, October Twenty-
sixth, 1851.
First President of Town Council — "Father" Thompson Bird.
First Newspaper — The Iowa Star, June Twenty-sixth, 1849.
First Daily Newspaper — The Register, January Thirteenth,
1862.
First Stage Coach— July First, 1849.
First Mill— By W. H. Meacham, on the East Side, in 1846,
near where the casket factory now is It was run by horse power.
First Stove Store — By Jesse F. Dicks, Number One, Mechan-
ics' Hall, Second Street, 1849.
First Coal Dug — By soldiers of the garrison, in 1843.
First Lawyer Admitted to Practice in the District Court —
William D. Frazee, September, 1846.
First State Capitol — Opened January Eleventh, 1858.
First Fraternal Organizations — Masonic, January Sixteenth,
1850; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, April Twenty-sixth,
1850; Knights of Pythias, February Twenty-second, 1871;
Ancient Order of United Workmen, February Eighth, 1875;
Legion of Honor, July First, 1879 ; Grand Army of the Republic,
March Twelfth, 1878.
FIRST THINGS IN DES MOINES 127
First Tailor — J. M. Thrift, on Second Street, 18.45.
First Citizens' Store — By B. T. Hoxie, on Second Street, cor-
ner of Vine, 1846.
First Plasterer — Samuel Gray, 1848. He plastered the first
Court House.
First Photographer— G. L. Reynolds, 1856.
First Ingrain Carpet — Brought by Mrs. Captain West, 1849.
First Full-blooded Irishman — Michael McTighe, who came in
1854. He ran the Shamrock House, on Second Street, between
Market and Vine; was a member of the City Council from 1861
to 1877, and, with Michael Drady, ran the old First Ward to suit
themselves. And Drady is still with us, his head full of stories
galore of those old days. They were a jolly, hustling couple.
First Amusement Hall — Built by Doctor M. P. Turner, on
Court Avenue, adjoining The Register and Leader Building, in
1856.
First Iron Foundry— By H. N. Heminway, in the Fall of
1856.
First Steam Boiler Works — By N. S. McDonnell, near the east
end of Court Avenue bridge, and he is still running the business
at the same place. The first boiler made went into Heminway's
foundry.
First Brass Band— By C. X. Mosier, in 1855.
First Piano — Was brought by Captain F. R. West, in 1853.
First Drayman — Michael Kennedy, 1853.
First Steam Power Printing — By John Teesdale, 1859.
First Carriage — Built by O. W. Munsell, for Captain West, in
1867.
First Brewery — George Hierb, at comer of Seventh and Cen-
ter street, 1855.
First Time City Was Lighted With Gas — July Sixteenth,
1865.
First Fire Company Organized — A volunteer, 1865.
First Railroad Passenger Train — August Twenty-ninth, 1866,
the Keokuk and Des Moines.
First Street Railway — 1867, built by Doctor M. P. Turner.
First Carload Wheat Shipped from City to Chicago — By War-
ren & Graham, September Fourth, 1867.
128 PIONEERS OF POLK COU^^TY, IOWA
First Railroad Bridge — Built by the Rock Island, 1868.
First Velocipede — By Wesley Redhead, July Twenty -eighth,
1869.
First Street Pavement — Cetlar blocks, 1882, on Walnut, from
First to Fifth.
First Furniture Dealer — C. D. Reinking, 1848.
First Brick Dwelling on the East Side — By Doctor T. K.
Brooks, 1851.
First Brick Business House on the East Side — Near Fourth
and Locust streets, 1856.
First Brick Building — Doctor "Jim" Campbell's Infirmary,
at 'Coon Point, 1849.
First Brick Building on Court Avenue — Sherman Block, at
Third, 1856.
First Brick Building on Walnut — Xorthwest corner of Third,
1855 ; known as Exchange Block.
First Frame Residence on the East Side — By Colonel J. M.
Griffith, at the northeast corner of Sixth and Walnut.
First Barber- — John Chalmers, a Scotchman. He attempted to
fill his lamp one evening with camphene, when it exploded. He
was carried into the cabin of Elder Xash, which stood on Walnut,
a short distance west of the Exchange Block, and died in a few
hours.
First Shoemaker — N'at. Campbell, 1845. He had a small log
shop near the present comer of Sixth and Cherry, and made good
shoes.
First Power Printing Press. — A Guernsey, 1856, was run by
hand, on which the Citizen, a Free Soil paper, was printed. It
existed one year, and then joined the multitudinous wrecks of
early newspapers.
First Express Company — The United States, May, 1856.
First Locomotive Entering City — A Manchester built engine,
the Marion, Number Eleven, August Twenty-eighth, 1866. It
hauled a load of rails to complete the track to the East Side, for the
Valley Road.
First Court House — Commenced in 1848, completed in 1850 ;
stood where the Union Depot now stands.
FIRST THINGS IN" DES MOINES 129
First Incorporation of the Town of Fort Des Moines — 1851.
First Incorporation of City of Des Moines — 1857.
First Time Court House Was Lighted by Gas— January Sev-
enteenth, 1864.
Firet Recorded Total Vote of the Town at a General Election — ■
Two hundred and forty-four, in 1852 ; population, five hundred
and two.
First Steam Power to Drive Machinery — Put in a mill by C.
C. Van, 1849.
First Meeting of the Legislature in the City — January Elev-
enth, 1858.
First General Merchandise Store — Built of logs, by Robert A.
Kinzie, where the Sherman Block is, at Third and Court Avenue.
He could sell goods to anybody but Indians, being prohibited by
the commander of the garrison.
First Mayor of the City of Des Moines — William H. McHenry,
1857, familiarly called by old-timers, "Old Bill," to distinguish
him from his son, now a Judge of the District Court.
First Hook and Ladder Company — 1865.
First Bridge — A pontoon, at Grand Avenue, 1856, then known
as Keokuk Street on the east side of the river, and Sycamore on the
west side.
First Bridge Proper— i\. trestle, at Market Street, 1857.
First Bridge at Court Avenue — 1858.
First Bridge at Walnut Street — 1866.
First Bridge Across the 'Coon — 1862, built by Doctor M. P.
Turner.
First "Grand Social Event" — A fancy dress party, Winter of
1859, at the home of Edwin Sanford, on Seventh Street, below
Mulberry, then the most fashionable portion of the town. About
sixty invitations included all the society people. It was a hilarious
aggTegation of fun-makers. I don't think Mrs. Judge Rice, "Fri-
day" Eason, C. W. Keyes, B. F. Allen, John A. Kasson, or Mrs.
Bina M. Wyman, then a most sedate and circumspect schoolma'am,
have forgotten it. There was real, solid enjoyment in the social
events of those days, such as is not to be had in these days.
Vol. II— (9).
130 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
First Cemetery — At a point near the northeast comer of Third
and Locust, and extended north nearly one block. The first burial
in it was the child of Colonel Grier, in September, 1845. It was
subsequently removed, as were all the four bodies interred therein.
First Name of the Postoffice — "Raccoon River," and it so
remained until 1847, when it was changed to "Fort Des Moines."
First Bank— B. F. Allen, on Second Street, 1855.
First Citizen Blacksmith — William H. DeFord. His shop was
on Elm Street, near Third, in a log cabin.
First Flock of Sheep Brought to Polk County — Pastured on
the Commons, where the Court House now stands, and westward.
Doctor "Jim" Campbell brought them.
First Log Cabin Built by a Settler — On the west side of
Fourth Street, between Market and Elm, and was conspicuous
until 1868, for three large Cottonwood trees which stood near it.
First Systematic Deep Coal Mining — By Wesley Redhead and
John Gibson, in 1870.
First Tanner)' — In 1847, two men, named Roberts and Kane,
built a log cabin for a tannery at the corner of First and Walnut
streets. They dug a large cave in the bank of Des Moines River,
in which to keep oil, grease, and "stuffing." They got oak bark on
Terrace Hill, where Fred. Hubbell lives. The following Spring,
the river flood carried away the contents of the cave, the cabin was
sold and moved to give place to the Demoin House.
First Business Collegt^— J. W. Muffly, 1864.
July Twenty-second, 1906.
JUDGE CHESTER C. COLE
JUDGE (HESTER C. COLE
CHESTER C. COLE was boru June Twenty-fourth, 1824, at
Oxford, !N"ew York, of English ancestry, which is given high
rank in Burke's Registry of English Peerage and Heraldry.
He silent his youth on a farm with his mother, attended public
schools and Oxford Academy imtil thirteen, when he became clerk
in a stoi'e until eighteen, when he entered the Junior Class at
Union College. At twenty-one, he entered the Law School of Har-
vard, and graduated in 1848. He then went to Frankfort, Ken-
tucky, where he reported the i^roceedings of the Legislature for the
Daily Commonwealth of that city, at the conclusion of which, he
located at Marion, Kentucky, was admitted to the Bar of Critten-
den Coimty, and began the practice of law, in which, during his
nine years' stay there, he attained a high rank, especially in crimi-
nal law. It was said of him he was counsel for the defense in
nearly every criminal case before the court, and never had a client
convicted ; that he never prosecuted but two criminal cases, one for
murder, and the defendant was hung ; the other for passing counter-
feit money, and the defendant was sent to the penitentiary. His
practice extended to several counties in Illinois, and he came in
contact with the ablest lawyers of that time and place.
In 1857, he came to Des Moines, a stranger, began practice,
and was soon accredited a leading position with the Bar.
In 1859, he was nominated by the Democratic Convention for
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. His opponent was Caleb
Baldwin, of Council Bluffs, weighing over four hundred pounds,
a ponderous and formidable one for the young newcomer. The
Democratic party was then divided on the leading political issue
at that time — the Missouri Compromise. Cole was identified with
the Douglas wing of it, but the party had lost its grip in Iowa,
and he was defeated.
131
132 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
In 1860, he was uominated by the Democrats for Representative
in Congress, from the Second District, which comprised nearly the
south half of the state. His opponent was Samuel R. Curtis, very
little known, and whom he was told could be beaten without effort.
He loaded himself with speech-making material, and having got
possession of the Statesman office, he hired Stilson Hutchins, a
well-known politician and newspaper editor in those days, to run it
during the campaign. With a team each, they started out — there
were no railroads, and stage coaches did not run where they wanted
to go. They traveled together, became good friends, sometimes
riding together, and the drivers together. He soon discovered that
Curtis had to be considered with zeal and care. Referring to it
not long ago, he said :
"I will tell you what I did. I made a speech — I had material
for a few speeches on hand — and the next day made another speech.
I found Curtis' mind so tardy he could not answer the speech I
had just made, but would answer overwhelmingly the speech I had
made the day before. The difficulty was, it did not get to the same
audiences, for we had moved. I concluded I would svibstitute;
raalve the speech in one place that I should have made in another
place, and, upon my word, he made most conclusive answer to it.
I found that it would not do to be repeating the same thing before
him ; I must get new material ; so I had Hutchins gather up mate-
rial and suggestions, which he brought me every week or two. The
campaign was never equaled in the state. There were seventy days
in succession. From Keokuk to the Missouri River, back to the
Mississippi, thence back to the Missouri, and then back to the Mis-
sissippi, with an average of more than one debate a day, for though
there was arranged but one debate each day, each party had the
right to put in an additional one, and we did. The hardest task
was to avoid repeating, to baffle my opponent's slow grasp of
points, but he proved to be a man of great strength of mind and
vigor of character, and became one of the great men of the Nation.
We became warm friends thereafter."
In 1858, he was elected City Attorney, and served one tenn.
In 1861, when reports came of the attack on Fort Sumter, the
Judge headed a call for a mass meeting, which was held in Sher-
man Hall. The crowded gathering was addressed by him in a
JUDGE CHESTER C. COLE 133
stirring, unanswerable appeal for support to the Government in
putting down the Rebellion. Thenceforward he was allied with
Union men, though he was recognized by his party until 1862,
when he was called to address a party convention, on which occa-
sion, in most scathing terms, he denounced the party for its sym-
pathy with the South.
In 1863, when rumors came that a Rebel raid was to be made
on the Missouri border, the Judge took the field and spent thirty
days among the people of the border counties, in earnest endeavor
to reconcile his old Democratic associates to the new order of
things. He left the party, and joined hands with Baker, Bussey,
Tuttle, and Crocker, to save the Union. William M. Stone was
running for Governor on the Republican ticket. The Judge sup-
ported him by public addresses and through the newspapers, giving
in vigorous, patriotic terms bis reasons therefor, and Stone was
elected.
In 1864, in recognition of his labor in behalf of the Union, Gov-
ernor Stone appointed him an Associate Justice of the Supreme
Court, and in October he was elected to the full term of six years
by the unprecedented majority of forty thousand. In 1869, he
became Chief Justice of the Court. In 1870, he was reelected,
and the same year Iowa College at Grinnell confen-ed upon him
the degree of Doctor of Laws. In January, 1876, he resigned and
resumed the practice of law.
In 1865, he boldly and publicly announced himself in favor of
Xegro Suffrage, and was the first person of prominence and influ-
ence in the state to do so, on the ground of right, reasonableness and
justice, an innovation which, at that time, required the courage of
one's convictions.
The same year, he, with George G. Wright, his court associate,
organized the Iowa Law School, at Des Moines, which at once gave
promise of great success. In the meantime, steps were being taken
to organize a Law Department of the State University. To avoid
a formidable rivalry, a plan was perfected to merge the school into
the department of the LTniversity, but the necessary legislation
thereto was not secured until 1868, when the department was
opened, but the founding was antedated so as to include the gradu-
ates of the Iowa Law School for the years 1866, 1867, and 1868.
134 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
The school then closed, became the Law Department of the Univer-
sity, and Wright and Cole the law lecturers.
The year 1865 was a busy one for the Judge. A general effort
was being made to provide a suitable home for the orphan children
of soldiers. It appealed so directly to his sympathies, he at once
took an active part in the matter, was made one of the Trustees,
and elected President of the Board. He found there twenty-five
children, poorly cared for, with less than one thousand dollars
funds for expenses. During the first year, eight hundred children
were gathered in, and over two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
expended in improvement and equipment of the home.
He also assisted in organizing the State Fire Insurance Com-
pany, and was elected its Vice-President.
In 1872, it became apparent to discerning minds that the State
Library was in a dilapidated, chaotic condition, evidencing no pur-
pose, method, or utility — in fact, it could hardly be called a library.
The necessity for some legislation that would give it the dignity of
a state office and be of benefit to the jieople became so conspicuous.
Judge Cole and his associates took hold of it, and secured the pas-
sage of an Act creating a Board of Trustees comprising the Gov-
ernor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Supreme Judges ;
the library was made a state institution, and provision for its
enlargement and permanent improvement. It is now, with its
more than one hundred thousand volumes, beautifully housed in
the Capitol and "Charley" Aldrich's magnificent omnigatherum —
that's what everybody calls it-^an honor to the state.
When the Judge was practicing law, he also edited for many
years the Western Jur^ist. a law journal published by j\[ills & Com-
pany, which attained a high rank. In 1870, he edited the re-publi-
cation of the first eight volumes of the Supreme Court Peports,
with elaborate annotations, which evidenced his legal acumen and
exhaustive research.
In 1892, he was chosen Dean of the Law Department of Drake
University, which office he holds now.
Possessing a natural genius for tie law — in fact, being a bom
lawyer — he has cultivated and enlarged his acute, subtle, penetrat-
ing mind by cautious, laborious study, large experience, and long
JUDGE CHESTER C. COLE 135
practice, until he has become master of the science of law. As a
forensic orator, he is clear, forcible, argumentative, possessing the
power to sway juries, and hold the attention of audiences. As a
Judge, his plain, penetrating, analytical reasoning, and good judg-
ment, were potent factors in his court, consisting of his associates,
Wright, Dillon and Lowe, the strongest and best the state has ever
had. tender the new Constitution, without precedents, it was their
duty to fix the rule of law respecting the taxing power of the Gov-
ernment; the relation of corporations to the body politic, and cor-
porate rights, involving intricate and perplexing questions under an
ambiguous clause of the Constitution requiring the property of
corporations, with their numerous ramifications and widely diver-
gent interests, to be taxed the same as that of individuals. So
wisely was it done, their decisions have become the established law.
In social life, the Judge has been a prominent factor in all its
departments — civic, educational, and religious — always ready and
active to promote the welfare of the community. He holds high
rank in the Masonic fraternity and Knights of Pythias. He is
eminently social, and heartily enjoys company. His home is noted
for its generous hospitality. That big house on Fourth Street was
the scene of some of the most brilliant and notable entertainments
known in the city.
In my reporting days, the Jiidge was my favorite in fishing for
news respecting the doings of the Supreme Court. He knew and
appreciated the wants of newspaperdom. I recall one day when
interviewing him, Judge Mitchell, of the then Circuit Court, came
in, bringing an opinion he had prepared with great care, evidently
to avoid a reversal of it by a higher court, and asked Cole to read
it, which he did, saying : "You have sustained your position very
well, but suppose " adding a half dozen words. "I never
thought of that," said Mitchell, and, putting the opinion in his
pocket, went home to build another one that would stand up. The
Judge was ever ready to help others.
The Judge is an admirer of fine horses, and he likes to see the
"wheels go 'round." Several years ago, he became just a little
sporty, for a diversion, indulging in a beautiful pair of black, high-
steppers, which, with perceptible self-satisfaction, he gave the peo-
ple frequent opportunity to see on the streets in their graceful
136 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
movements. Sometimes, perchance, he would draw up alongside
Levi J. Wells, outside, exercising some of his sprinters. It was
the rule of Levi never to let anything that went on four legs pass
him on the road, and the Judge was sometimes humorously inclined
to tease him for a short spin, and "see the wheels go 'round."
As a citizen, he is an exemplar of the best type of civilian. His
public spirit and constant endeavor to promote the highest ideal
of civic life have added gi-eatly in the betterment of the city and
state.
Religiously, he is a Presbyterian, and for many years has been
an Elder of the church. He was largely instrumental in securing
the merger of the Old and New School churches in the city, in
1874.
Despite his eighty-two years, he is hale and hearty, and to his
law school, clients, and friends, seems as vigorous as thirty years
xVugust Fifth, 1906.
DR. H. L. WHITMAN
DOCTOR HENRY L, WHITMAN
ONE of the best and most beloved of early settlers of Des
Moines was Doctor Henry Lyman Whitman.
He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, December Thir-
tieth, 1814, of English ancestry, who crossed the Atlantic in 1638,
four years after the family from whom my own family descended,
all of whom settled in the same vicinity in Connecticut.
He spent his life on a farm until the age of seventeen, receiving
the education afforded by the common schools of that day. During
his eighteenth year, he attended Hartford Academy, and fitted him-
self to enter Amherst College, from which he graduated in 1839,
with distinction as a scholar. He then spent two years teaching in
Tennessee and Missouri, when he returned to Weathersfield, Con-
necticut, and began the study of medicine with Doctor Welch, an
eminent practitioner, preparatory to entering Jefferson Medical
College, at Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1845.
His Western teaching tour convinced him the West presented
the best inducements to a young man with aspirations or ambition,
and he came to Freeport, Illinois, where he remained two years,
securing an extensive and good practice, but the spirit of migra-
tion was rife everywhere, and in 1848, the lead-mine district of
Dubuque was an attractive point. Thither he went, and for five
years was engaged in laborious and lucrative business.
In 1853, Raccoon Forks and Fort Des Moines had come into
prominence as the probable Capital of the state. Public sentiment
was largely in favor of removing the Seat of Government from
Iowa City to a more central point in the state, which Fort Des
Moines, geographically, was then admitted to be. The military
post had given it a presl^ige which portended well to that end. It
was also the objective point of several railroads — on paper, it is
true. Emigration was moving toward it rapidly, and the Doctor
came that year. The town was small, little more than a village,
137
138 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
with less than eight hundred inhabitants, great and small, the
small ones averaging more than the usual census ratio, for the stork
was a busy bird in those days.
The most accessible and comfortable tavern in town was the
Marvin House, near Walnut, on the east side of Third. It was the
headquarters of the stage coach lines, and the home of the most
popular young men of that time. The Doctor being a bachelor,
fond of good company, also made it his home until the Demoin
House was built, when he removed there, remaining until his mar-
riage, in December, 1865, when he purchased the residence built
by J. E. Jewett, which stood on First Street, and was removed to
give place to the new Library Building.
He opened an office in a small frame building on the north side
of Walnut Street, near Fourth, and soon found demand for his
services. There were but few settlers in the coimty, and the long
drives over bad roads, or no roads at all, in sunshine and storm,
were wearisome, and added much to the labor of his town practice,
but he never refused a call. His sympathetic nature, and loyalty
to the principles of his profession, dominated all idea of pecuniary
profit. He soon won the most implicit, abiding confidence and
trust of the people. In every home, his presence was welcomed as
a benizen of helpfulness. His practice assumed such proportions,
it was a marvel how he could do so much, for he was a regular
contributor to leading medical journals, and had extensive business
interests.
In 1858, he originated the movement for the organization of
the Polk County Medical Society, was elected its first President,
and held the place several years. He was a member of the Amer-
ican Medical Association, and the Iowa State Medical Society. He
stood very high in the profession, and took great interest in the
honor and standing of its membership. Charlatanism and quackery
in all their forms he did not hesitate at all time, and in all places,
to denounce in terms unmistakable — ^there was no ambiguity about
it. He was a "Regular" in all the term implies, a model, talented,
educated physician.
In 1871, when the Citizens' Bank was organized, he became a
stockholder, and when, in 1872, it was reorganized by Governor
DOCTOR HENRY L. WHITMAN 139
Merrill as a national bank, he was elected one of the Directors, a
place he held during his life.
Politically, he was a Whig, but always opposed to slave-holding,
and, with the earnestness of an Abolitionist, advocated the emanci-
pation of the slaves in the South long before the Civil War came,
a position which, at that time, required some moral courage, for
there was a strong pro-slavery sentiment in the body politic of Polk
County. The Doctor, however, was not a politician, took little or
no part in it. His mind and efforts were engrossed in helping the
sick, the needy, and community generally.
During the war period, when its terrible effects began to impress
themselves on the families of the men engaged on the battlefields,
and charity was needed for their relief in many ways, the Doc-
tor's patriotism was most generously manifested. During the
entire war, a call from the family of a soldier was responded to
as quickly and cheerfully as though a millionaire's dollars were
behind it — in fact, more so. For all such service, he refused com-
pensation, and seemed only pleased that he could render aid.
He was a sanitarian, and believing the healthfulness of a com-
munity depended largely on its cleanliness, he t^ok great interest
in the sanitary affairs of the town.
Socially, he possessed great conversational powers, and scholas-
tic attainments of high degree. He was modest, affable, and com-
panionable. In all the relations of life, he was the exemplar of
ideal manhood. He was a stern moralist, excluded from his inti-
macy all who did not meet his standard of rectitude, yet his sym-
pathies reached all humanity. He regarded his profession as
intended for the good of those with whom he lived, and so it was
he won his way into the hearts and homes of the community to a
notable degree. It was said of him by Doctor Ward, one of the
well-known old-time physicians of the town : "No man more com-
pletely had the hearts and affections of the people than Doctor
Whitman."
He was an active member of the Old Settlers' Association, and
heartily welcomed at its periodical gatherings.
He was public-spirited, and actively supported all measures to
promote the church and school.
140 PIONEERS OF POLK COUi^TY, IOWA
Religiously, he was a Congregationalist, but on coming to Des I
Moines, there being no organization of that faith, he affiliated with j
the Presbyterian Church, and formed a companionship with Father j
Bird which intensified as the years passed, so long as they lived. j
When the Congregational Church was organized, he became a ]
member of it. He was a true. Christian man, whose highest ideal 1
was to render full service to God, his fellow-man, his family, and i
himself. j
In 1875, he retired from practice, devoting his time to business I
affairs and litei-ary work, until 1S84, when his health failed, and |
he went to Duluth for recuperation, where he was attacked with a
severe cold, which, despite the skill of the best medical men, ter-
minated fatally, August Seventeenth, 1885, and caused profound
sorrow throughout the town, county, and state. Expressions of
love and esteem of him were received from all directions. The
homes of Des Moines had lost a friend in need, a wise counselor
and comforter in adversity.
On receipt of notice of his decease, the Coimty Medical Society,
in special session, adopted resolutions expressive of its profound
esteem for him, his professional integrity, devotion to principle
and honor, his irreproachable character, and worth as a citizen.
August Twelfth, 1906.
L. D. SIMS
MY reminiscences of early settlers have be^^-n confined princi-
pally to those of the town, but there were many, after
severe trials, privations and struggles, became prominent
in pnblic affairs, and aided largely in advancing the public good,
who did not live in the town.
A notable example of the hardships of pioneer life was that of
L. D. Sims, who came in a wagon with his family from Ohio,
arriving in October, 1848, and went to work for Peter Newcomer,
on his farm, about two and a half miles down Des Moines River.
There was a small building used for a workshop on rainy days, in
which he placed his family, his household goods, consisting of a
pine box for a table, wooden benches for chairs, and a shakedown
bed. He received fifty cents a day for his labor, husking corn and
doing odd jobs about the place.
In December following his arrival, Sims took a farm on shares,
his portion being one-half the product of ten acres of corn. The
Winter was severe, the snow about three feet deep, and many hard-
ships were endured by himself and family. Few luxuries were
had in the home, or on the table, but wild game was abundant, deer
and wild turkey often adding to the supply.
Early in the Spring of 1849, he began work in earnest, but one
morning when hitching his team for plowing, one horse suddenly
sickened and died. Despite the delay, with the kindly loan of
neighbors' horses, he planted twenty-six acres of com, sixteen of
which was known as sod com, and five acres of wheat. In the
Fall, he c^^t the wheat with a cradle, the first one used in the
county.
In August, his other horse was killed by lightning. He invested
thirty-five dollars, all the money he had, in a yoke of oxen, gathered
his corn crop of one hundred and fifty bushels, and sold it to Alex.
Bowers for twenty-five cents a bushel, with which he purchased the
much-needed clothing for himself and family.
141
142 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
In the Fall of 1849, he made a claim in Bloomfield Township,
and, with the aid of his wife, built a log cabin, minus floor, doors,
chimney, and chinking between the logs, into which, iu February
following, he moved. To keep the snow from blowing in on the
l>eds at night, the wagon cover was bung on the wall, and sometimes
the wagon box placed over the children's bed on the floor. So intense
was the cold, the family remained in bed on several days to keep
from freezing.
The next season, he planted sixteen acres of corn, cut and split
rails to fence thirty acres, worked out a month for fifty cents a
day, walking seven miles morning and evening to and from his
work.
In 1856, on the site of his first cabin, he built a hewed lo;^
house with four rooms, doing all the work except making the doors.
In the Fall, he sold the farm, and resolved to go to Kansas. He
spent the Winter seeking a location, but his wife so seriously
objected to leaving Iowa that he abandoned the project. In August,
she passed to her eternal rest, leaving him with eight children.
Soon after, he purchased a wild, uncultivated tract in what is now
Grant Township, carved out of Lee Township, adjoining the east-
ern part of tie city, and began again, with his children, to make
a home, a task the present generation know little or nothing of.
The fortitude, pluck and energy which had overcome obstacles
before which most men would have quailed, was still inherent
within him, and, beginning with the breaking plow, he soon had
under way valuable permanent improvements.
The old breaking plow was one of the most prominent factors
in promoting Western civilization. It was often ungainly, uncouth,
and roughly fashioned, but it ser^'ed its purpose. In the very early
settlements, there were usually mechanics who had not forgotten
their trades, and, joined together, they could construct a plow,
adapted to the purpose. The beam was usually about ten feet long,
fashioned from the very toughest timber. Near the front end were
two small wheels, one about four inches larger than the other, to
run in the furrow, the smaller one running on the sod, thus keeping
the plow level with the ground. A long lever reaching from the
front end of the beam to the plow holder was used to fix the depth
L. D. SIMS 143
of the furrow by raising or lowering the lever, and, by dropping
it to the beam, the plow could be thrown entirely out of the gi'ound.
The mould-board was made of wood, on which thin strips of steel
were fastened by a blacksmith, and so shaped as to turn the sod
over flatwise. Attached to the board was the share, made from good
steel, with one edge and a point sharpened to a keen cutting edge,
to cut the tough, fibrous mass of roots of grass and weeds, and often
roots of shrubs and grubs, which had been killed by prairie fires.
Fastened to the beam vertically, and extended to the point of the
share, was a coulter, as it was called, made of the best steel, the
lower six inches sharpened to a keen edge to rip the turf above the
point.
The plow being ready, a string of three to six yoke of oxen
would be hitched to it, and with slow plodding pace a strip of soil
twenty to thirty inches wide would be turned over to the sun's
rays.
In the rush of the first settlements, there was a scarcity of break-
ing plows. The first effort of settlers was to get a crop of com and
wheat, and it was the custom to help each other by loaning their
oxen, and have the plow take turns in the settlement. If the new-
comer arrived early in the Spring and got a tract broken up in
April, he would go into the field, and, following each second or
third furrow, with an a.xe make a deep cut in the turf, into which
a small boy or girl, often the wife and mother, would drop a few
kernels of com and give it a stamp of the foot. There was no fur-
ther cultivation, and the resultant crop was known as sod com, a
great boon to many of the pioneers. There are many of the present
generation living in luxury who, as boys, have vivid memories of
bread made from sod com, not even ground into meal.
The old breaking plow has gone, and with it the sod house, the
log cabin, the trials of pioneer life, the common humanity, generous
hospitality, the helpfulness of one another, the unity of thought
and purpose, but they left an heritage on which has been built a
civic community second to none on earth.
In due time, Sims developed his farm to one of the best in the
county, and surroimded himself with all the means to enjoy the
reward of his toil and settle down to a quiet old age. His upright-
ness of character so won public esteem, he was often called to
144 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
public office. He took great interest in public schools, and was the
projector and most liberal contributor for building the first school-
house in Grant Park. For many years, he was the leading mem-
ber of the School Board. His purse was always open to help public
improvements When the fund was being raised by citizens of the
city to purchase ground for the State Fair, he gave one thousand
dollars.
Politically, he was raised under the tutelage of the Democratic
party, but he opposed its Free Trade policy, and cast his first vote
for "Tip]>ecanoe and Tyler, t«o," and remained a Republican, but
in local affairs he was independent. In 1847, he evidenced his
patriotism by enlisting in the Fourth Ohio Infantry, for the Mexi-
can War, went to Vera Cruz, where he was stricken with Yellow
Fever, and, after partial convalescence, was honorably discharged
for disability. In the Civil War, he served as wagon master in the
Fourth Iowa Infantry.
Socially, he was genial, courteous, a kind neighbor, popular and
influential in social affairs of the community. He was a prominent
member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. He died in 1895.
October First, 1905.
GENERAL M. M. CROCKER
GENERAL M. M. CROCKER
RESPLENDEN'T with military fame, and oonspicuoua in the
civic pride of Des Moines, stands the name of Marcellus M.
Crocker. To detail his military record, brilliant with great
achievements, would fill all the columns of the Sunday Register
and Leader. I can only make desultory reference to it now.
Born in Johnson County, Indiana, in 1831, he lived there until
1844, when he came to Iowa, with his father, who stopped at Fair-
field, and soon after made a claim on Government land two miles
northwest of Lancaster, in Keokuk Coimty, when Marcellus trans-
ferred his activities from school to assisting his father in break-
ing up the wild prairie and improving the farm, with all the trials
and experiences usual with the pioneers. In the meantime. Shep-
herd Leffler, a prominent Democrat and Representative in Con-
gress from the Second District, which comprised the south half of
the state, became attracted to the young man, and, having the right
to select a cadet to West Point Military Adacemy, in 1847, gave it
to Marcellus, who, anxious to acquire an education, at once went
to West Point, where he remained until the Fall of 1849, when the
death of his father necessitated his return to the farm to care for
his mother and sisters, and settle the affairs of the estate.
In 1850, the venerable Judge Olney, well known to every old
settler in Van Buren County, suggested to Crocker that he read
law, and offered to give him instructions and the use of his library
free, which was most thankfully accepted, and at stated periods
the Judge went to Lancaster and gave instructions to his student.
In 1851, Crocker was admitted to the Bar, began practice and
acquired a successful business. He remained at Lancaster until
1854, when he came to Des Moines, and formed a partnership with
"Dan" Finch, one of the best lawyers in the state, and at once took
rank with the best of them. Soon after. Judge Casady joined the
Vol. II— (10). 145
146 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
partnership, and not long after, Jeff. Polk, making a law firm
without a peer in the state.
A well-known chai-acter in the very early days was Ben. Bry-
ant. He came here when The Fort was established, served two
terms as County Treasurer, and then was elected Justice of the
Peace. He was rather illiterate, but prided himself on seeing a
"law p'int" with the best of them, and made a very creditable
showing. He was a Democrat of the "blue-bellied" variety, and,
having served one term, started in for a second. The Whigs started
a story that he was not a proper person for the office, that he was
completely under the control of Crocker. Ben. denied it in robust
language. "Just give me a chance," said he, "and I will show you
that Crocker don't own me." Among other things, Ben. was lax
respecting his creditors. Soon after his campaign opened, Crocker
had a case before him, and during the hearing made several objec-
tions to his opponent's method of procedure. Ben. overruled them
straight, declaring, "Your p'int ain't good," until after several
knockouts, Crocker turned upon His Honor, saying, "I can't under-
stand the action of the Court in this case. I believe somebody has
been tampering with it." "I fine you ten dollars for contempt of
court," replied Ben. "Very well," said Crocker, "I'll just indorse
it on this promissory note of yours," drawing the paper from his
pocket. That was a "p'int" in equity Ben. hadn't considered.
In 1856, when the contest was on between the East and West
Sides over the location of the State House, Crocker was a West
Sider, but he didn't have any money to invest in the "war fund,"
and thus escaped the "grab" which went to the pockets of certain
of the locating Commissioners.
In 1858, McFarland's tenn as District Judge expired, and
Crocker, who was a Democrat, decided to make a run for the place.
He was very popular, a fine lawyer, and his friends relied upon
those attributes to carry him through. The Democratic Judicial
Convention cordially indorsed him with its nomination. The
Republicans had become quite strong in the district, and though
prominent men of that party desired to support Crocker, they could
not abjure fealty to their party, and John H. Gray was elected by
a small majority, the first Republican elected to that office in the
district.
GENEEAL M. M. CROCKEK 147
The two years spent by Crocker at West Point had stimulated
the military fervor in him, and in 1857, I think it was, he began
to agitate the organization of a State Militia. There was no militia
law. Dubuque had two military companies, the Governor's Guards
and Washington Greys. Davenport, I think, had a company, but
they were organized principally for dress i^arade and Eourth of
July celebrations. General G. M. Dodge had, in 1856, organized
the Council Bluffs Guards, for the purpose of protecting the fron-
tier, then exposed to depredation by Indians, having secured, with
the special aid of Governor Grimes, the necessary arms and equip-
ment, it being understood the company was to be deemed a special
frontier guard.
Crocker, however, wanted some provision by law for arming,
equipping and uniforming an active State Militia, with independ-
ent companies. He and Dodge got together and prepared a bill,
similar to the militia laws of the older Eastern states, but adapted
to the financial conditions and population of Iowa, which was pre-
sented to the House of the Seventh General Assembly. It was
known as House File Jfumber Forty-seven, and when it came up
it was made the butt of je,sts and gibes; all kinds of farcical and
ridiculous amendments were piled on it ; its head was cut off, and
so othei'wise emasculatetl as to lose its identity. Crocker and Dodge
were taunted with hmacy in presuming to ask the Legislature to
create a standing army in Iowa. Several members boarded at the
Savery House (now the Kirkwood), and Crocker laid in wait for
them one evening. He was mad, and those who knew him can
readily understand what he gave them. He was an expert in the
use of invectives, and could swear like a Flanders trooper. He
denounced them in the most caustic terms, and they promised to
give the subject due consideration. Dodge got disgusted and went
home. The House then went on and passed a bill authorizing the
Governor to organize companies of "Minute Men" among the set-
tlers for the protection of frontier localities against depredation by
Indians, the companies to be limited to twelve men, and their pay
TO be seventy-five cents per day when actually in service, and fur-
nish their own guns. It went to the Senate, where a substitute was
put up against it, and that was the last heard of it in that session.
148 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
It went over to the Eighth General Assembly, in 1860, when an
Act was passed authorizing the Governor to select not exceeding
twelve companies, among the settlers, to which he was to furnish
such arms and ammunition as he deemed necessai-y; they to hold
themselves in readiness at all times to meet hostile Indians ; that of
the said Minute Men, not exceeding four should be employed as
active police, and to be paid only for the time actually employed.
The sum of five hundred dollars was appropriated for the purpose
of the law. That was as near as Iowa ever came to having a State
Militia until the National Guards came into existence.
Crocker, however, though disgruntled, was not discouraged. The
military spirit was in him, and late in 1860, I thitLk, he organized
a company which took the name of the Capital Guards, and he was
elected Captain. Plans were made to procure arms and uniforms.
In x\pril, 1861, while attending court at Adel, came the report that
Fort Sumter had been fired upon by the Rebels. Three days later
came the call of the President for volunteers. Crocker turned over
his cases in court to other lawyers, came home and tendered the
services of himself and his company to the Government, but so
inadequate were the facilities for communicating with the Gov-
ernor that Eastern cities in more direct communication with him
quickly filled the one regiment which had been allotted to Iowa,
and which was to serve only three months. Soon after came the
call for three-years enlistments, and the Capital Guards were
assigned as Company D in the Second Regiment. Crocker was
promoted to Major of the regiment, May Thirty-first ; Lieutenant-
Colonel, September Sixth ; to Colonel of the Thirteenth Regiment,
October Thirtieth. Immediately after the Battle of Shiloh, the
Iowa Brigade, composed of the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fifteenth,
and Sixteenth regiments was organized, and Crocker was placed
in command as Brigadier General, November Twenty-ninth, 1862.
It became one of the most distinguished brigades in the Army of
the Tennessee, and was known throughout the army and at the War
Department as the "Crocker Greyhounds." With that brigade, at
Shiloh and Corinth, he made one of the most brilliant pages of
history. He continued with it until April, 1863, when he was
placed in temporary command of the Seventeenth Army Corps,
during the temporary absence of General Quimby.
GENERAL M. M. CEOCKER 149
Being of frail physique, his health failed under the hardships
and exposure of his vigorous campaigns, and on the return of
Quimby to his command, Crocker was place<l temporarily on the
staff of General Grant, their tents being near each other. Grant's
attention was attracted by the constant and severe coughing of
Crocker, and, meeting him one morning, said to him: "Was it
you I heard coughing so last night?" '"Yes," replied Crocker.
"Well, then, my dear fellow, you must go straight home, for you
will die here."
In June, 1863, he was given a sick leave and came home in bad
physical condition. The seed of the "White Plague" had been
sown in his system. Soon after his arrival, the State Convention
of the Union party was held in Des Moines, and during the ses-
sion he visited the hall. He was greeted with a perfect salvo of
cheers. There was a bitter contest in the convention over the nomi-
nation for Governor, and Crocker's friends tried to induce him to
consent to the use of his name, but he objected, saying, "If a sol-
dier is worth anything, he cannot be spared from the field ; if he is
worthless, he will not make a good Governor. If I was Governor,
I would die in a short time with dry rot. I am a soldier, and a
soldier I will remain until the war is ended, or I am knocked out,"
and, despite the fact that he would have been nominated by accla-
mation, his name had to be dropped. He made a short, brilliant,
patriotic speech to the convention, in which he flayed the Knights
of the Golden Circle, the "Copperheads," and Democrats, who, he
declared, "want the Union as it was and the Constitution as it is.
I want the Union as it is and the Constitution as it ought to be."
In the Fall of 1863, he rejoined his old corps (the Seventeenth)
in the famous march of Sherman to the sea, but his frail body
failed to respond to his indomitable spirit, and he was relieved
from duty, but early in the Summer, he was tendered a command
in the Department of New Mexico, at Santa Fe. Believing the
change would be beneficial, he accepted. He remained there until
tBe Spring of 1865, when, not regaining his health as expected,
he asked to be transfen-ed again to his old field, which was granted,
and the following order was issued;
150 PIONEERS OF POLK COUJ^TY, IOWA
"Depaktment of j^ew Mexico,
"Assistant Adjutant Gexeeal's Office,
"Santa Fe, 'New Mexico, March Eleventh, 1865.
"Special Orders Number Eight.
"IX. In compliance with Special Order Number Four Hun-
dred and Seventy-seven, series for 1864, from the Headquarters of
the Army, Brigadier General Marcellus M. Crocker, United States
Volunteers, is relieved from further duty in the Department of
New Mexico, and will proceed without delay and report in person
to the General commanding the Army of the Cumberland for
assignment of duty.
"The General commanding the Department of New Mexico
takes this occasion to express his warmest thanks for the efficient
and judicious manner in which General Crocker has conducted the
affairs pertaining to the important post of Fort Sumner, and to the
reservation at the Bosque Redondo, with its nine thousand captive
Indians; a duty which required an exercise of great judgment,
moderation, firmness and forecast; and a duty which has been
performed in such a manner as not only to give the utmost satis-
faction to those connected professionally with the military affairs
of that post and of the department, but to win the affectionate
regard of the Indians themselves, who are receiving their first
impression of civilization, and their first lessons in the art, liter-
ally, of earning their bread by the sweat of their brows.
"General Crocker carries with him to the new field of duty to
which he has been called, the earnest wishes on the part of the com-
rades he leaves behind, not only that he will soon be restored to
health, but have an opportunity to add renewed lustre to his already
brilliant reputation as a soldier.
"Ben C. Cutler,
"Assistant Adjutant General.
"By command of Brigadier General Carleton."
Crocker reached Washington in June, where he was prostrated,
and lingered until August Twenty-sixth, when he passed to his
eternal rest. His remains were then brought to Des Moines, and.
attended by one of the largest and most impressive civic and mili-
tary corteges ever seen in the city, were deposited in Woodland
GENERAL M. M. CROCKER 151
Cemetery. A plain, white marble monument marks his resting-
place. It has been disintegrated by the elements, and is slowly
going to destruction. Something more durable and more generously
expressive of public appreciation of such a man is due from the
city, if not from the state, and it would doubtless be foi'thcoming
if an organized effort was made.
As a military man, he was chivalrous, brave, bold, an able
leader, and preeminently successful. As a Division Commander
he had no equal in the state, as evidenced by his rapid promotions,
measured by the rigid rules of military science. General Grant
said of him in his autobiography: "He was fit to command an inde-
pendent army."
As a lawyer, he was accomplished, brilliant, and was highly
esteemed by the courts and Bar. As a son, husband and father, he
was, in every relation, devoted and tnie.
As a citizen, he was honorable, exemplary, and public-spirited.
lie had a remarkably strong hold on the affections of the people of
Des Moines and the state. In the city, a principal street, one of the
best public schools, a park, and one of the finest business blocks
bear his name. On the southwest corner of the pedestal of the
magnificent State Soldiers' Monument, near the Capitol, a splendid
equestrian statue of him is one of the group of four. The County
Supervisors named a township in his honor. In 1870, the Legisla-
ture carved a county from Kossuth County, and gave it his name,
but local dissensions caused the matter to get into the courts, and
the Supreme Court held the law was invalid because the county
did not have an area of four hundred and thirty-two square miles
— it wasn't big enough. There is also Crocker Post of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and Crocker Brigade, composed of veterans
of his old brigade, which holds a reunion every two years.
Several years after his monument was erected. Judge Casady,
Jeff. S. Polk, Judge Wright, Barlow Granger, George Whittaker,
Jesse W. Cheek, Captain Ed. L. Marsh, Robert S. Finkbine, Hoyt
Sherman, B. F. Gue, and "Charley" Aldrich had cut on it the fol-
lowing words:
" 'General Crocker was fit to command an independent army.'
"U. 8. Grant.' "
August Twenty-sixth, 190G.
GENERAL CYRUS BUSSEY
GENERAL CYRUS BUSSEY
BREVET Major General Cyrus Bussey is one of the two liv-
ing Generals Iowa had in the Civil War, Major General
Dodge being the other. As he was an active politician, a
radical Democrat, living in a hotbed of Copperheads, when the
war broke out, I visited him a few days ago to get a little of the
unwritten history of his evolution from a Democrat — for at that
time every Democrat in the North was considered a Southern sym-
pathizer — to a supporter of the "blood-thirsty usurper, Lincoln,"
as Henry Clay Dean used to call him.
Bom in Trumbull County, Ohio, in 1833, when four years old,
Cyrus went with his father, a Methodist minister, to Indiana, and
at fourteen entered a dry goods store at Dupont, Indiana, as clerk,
and, mastering the business, at sixteen began on his own account,
at which he was quite successful. In the meantime, he fortified
himself for the activities of business life by a rigid course of study
several hours each day.
In 1855, he came to Iowa, and settled at Bloomfield, Davis
County, where he acquired a prosperous business, took an active
part in politics, was an attractive and forceful speaker, and a leader
in civic affairs.
In 1859, he was elected to the Iowa Stato Senate by the Demo-
cratic party, and served in the session of 1860.
He was a delegate to the Charleston Convention, and served in
the adjourned session in Baltimore, which nominated Stephen A.
Douglas, and took part in the campaign of that year for his
election.
The firing on Fort Sumter, in 1861, caused great excitement in
Davis County, many of whose citizens were natives of slave states.
Many Democrats sympathized with the South, and were opposed
to coercion. The Republicans, to make a point against the Demo-
crats, called a meeting by handbill, inviting "Cyrus Bussey,
153
154 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Senator; Harvey Dunlacv, and Marvin Hotohkiss, Representatives,
to come out and show their hands." The meeting assembled at the
Methodist Church, which was packed to the doors. Bussey made a
patriotic speech. Referring to the constitutional provision allow-
ing the creation of a public debt for war purposes, he said :
"I am not only willing to put my hand in the treasury, but my
arm to the shoulder, to provide money to put down the Rebellion."
The two Representatives declined to speak, and they voted
against all bills introduced to aid in suppressing the Rebellion.
When the meeting adjourned, an excited crowd of Democrats met
Bussey at the door, where the editor of the Democratic paper pub-
lished in Bloomfield said to him: "You have made a d — d fool
of yourself. The Republicans and Abolitionists have brought the
war on the country, and Democrats should let them fight it out."
Bussey replied that if he could not be a Democrat and be a patriot,
he would cease to be a Democrat.
The extra session of the Legislature convened on the Fifteenth
of May, 1861. Bussey's position was well known. He was tied
evenly between the parties. Before the meeting, he informed Sen-
ator J. F. Wilson that he would vote with the Republicans for all
war measures. He was appointed a member of the Military Com-
mittee of the Senate, and voted for the bill reported by that com-
mittee appropriating one million, two hundred thousand dollars
for war purposes. Five other Democrats voted for the bill, leaving
a large majority of Democrats against it. Governor Kirkwood,
fearing so much opposition in the Senate would retard enlistments
and build up an anti-war party in the state, sent for Bussey, and
asked him to urge his Democratic colleagues to vote for an appro-
priation of eight hundred thousand dollars, and he spent the entire
night, visiting Senators at their rooms, stating his opinion that
from what he had learned among Southern men in Washington
and at the Baltimore Convention, that every man in the South
would fight for the Confederacy ; that it would be a long war, and
they could not afford to place themselves on record against pre-
serving the Union. Half a dozen Senators agreed to vote with him
for eight hundred thousand dollars. When the Senate convened
the next dav, Bussev moved to reconsider the vote bv which the bill
GENERAL CYRUS BUSSEY 155
appropriating one million, two hundred thousand dollars had
passed. Jarias E. Neal, of Knoxville, who opposed all war meas-
ures, arose and said he was pleased to see that the Senator from
Davis was putting himself right on the war question, and in favor
of his party; that he had great respect for him, on account of his
father, who was the station minister of the Methodist Church at
his town of Knoxville, and had been pained when he voted with
the Republicans. The motion to reconsider was adopted. Bussey
then moved to appropriate eight hundred thousand dollars, which
brought Senator Neal again to his feet, who said he was greatly
disappointed in the Senator from Davis, who seemed bent on
destroying himself. The bill thus amended passed, with six Dem-
ocratic members voting against it.
Bussey was the youngest member of that body, being not yet
twenty-six years old when elected, and no member rendered more
imjwrtant service, or exerted a wider influence. Governor Kirk-
wood wi-ote the President that he was greatly indebted to Bussey
for the passage of laws which enabled him to comply with his
requisitions for Iowa's quota of troops.
Ten days after the extra session had adjourned, the Governor
appointed Judge Caleb Baldwin of Council Bluffs ; John Edwards,
Speaker of the House ; William B. Allison, of Dubuque, and Sen-
ator Bussey, Aide de Camp on his staff, with the rank of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel of Cavahy. Bussey was directed to adopt meas-
ures to protect the Iowa border in the counties of Davis, Van
Buren and Lee. A company was organized in each county, under
a law authorizing the organization of a mounted regiment, passed
at the extra session. The state was without arms or means of
defense. It was known that the Rebels were organizing for serv-
ice in the Confederate Army in all the border counties of Missouri.
Bussey sent a young Irishman, who had been in his employ, to
Missouri, with instructions to go into the Rebel camps and remain
there until he became convinced they intended to make a raid into
Iowa, when he was to return and give notice. Bussey then went
to Saint Louis to see General Fremont, who had just taken com-
mand of the Department of Missouri. Arriving there, he found
the General alone in his room at the residence of his father-in-law,
156 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Tom. Benton. He there explained to the General that the enemy
■was organizing in northeast Missouri in force; that a raid into
Iowa was probable, and asked arms and ammunition to arm Iowa's
Home Guards. The General replied that he did not have arms
even to arm regiments organized for service in the army, and had
no guns for Home Guards. Bussey then asked for fifty thousand
roimds of ammunition. The General replied: "You have no guns;
what would you do with ammunition ?'' Bussey said he would feel
more secure with the ammimition.
The order was given, and Captain Callender shipped from the
arsenal that evening fifty thousand rounds of ammunition, which
was placed in store. Bussey then represented to Fremont that the
Fifth Infantry, Colonel Worthington, and Sixth Infantry, Colonel
McDowell, were in rendezvous at Burlington, and if they were
moved to Keokuk, their presence there would give full protection.
Fremont, by letter, authorized Bussey to order the two regiments
to Keokuk. He went immediately to the telegraph ofiice and tele-
graphed to Colonel Worthington and Colonel McDowell to move
at once with their regiments to Keokuk, and report to General
John Pope, commanding north Missouri, at Quincy, Illinois. Hav-
ing accomplished all that was possible in one interview, Bussey took
the boat that night for Keokuk, and arrived at his home in Bloom-
field upon the evening of August First. About eleven o'clock that
night, he was called upon by his Irish emissary, who informed
him that General Martin Green, with fifteen hundred Rebels, were
shoeing horses and would leave in thirty-six hours to make a raid
into Iowa to steal horses and rob the banks in the towns on the
Iowa border, naming Keokuk. Bussey left Bloomfield before day-
break next morning, and drove to Keosauqua, twenty-five miles, in
one hour and a half. Taking a train at Summit, he arrived at
Keokuk at noon, warning the people he met to organize for defense.
Having notified the railroad people that their road was in danger,
he went to the law ofiice of Samuel F. Miller, late Justice of the
United States Supreme Court, to ask him to call a meeting of citi-
zens to plan to defend the city. While talking with him, John
Given, well known to many residents of Des Moines as late Super-
intendent of the Iowa Division of the Rock Island, but then ticket
GENERAL CYRUS BUSSEY 157
agent at Keokuk, caane into the room with a bill of lading for one
thousand guns and equipments, just arrived at Keokuk by train,
consigned by the War Department at Washington to Council
Bluffs, to arm the Fourth Iowa Infantry, Colonel G. M. Dodge.
Dodge had gone to Washington in person to secure the guns. They
were to be shipped by boat to Hannibal, Missouri, thence by rail to
Saint Joseph, thence by boat to Council Bluffs. Bnssey notified
Given that he would take possession of the gims, and to hold the
train ready to move in two hours. The ammunition his foresight
had secured fortunately fitted the guns. It was loaded on the train,
except sufficient to arm a company of one hundred men, under
Captain W. W. Belknap, late Secretary of War, and a company
of one hundred men under Captain Hugh J. Sample, both of whose
companies were armed with those guns. About four o'clock, Bus-
sey left Keokuk with the freight train.
At Athens, Missouri, Colonel David Moore was in camp with
about three hundred Union Missourians, who had been driven from
their homes by Green's Rebels, and Moore had applied to Bussey
for ai-ms and ammimition to arm his men. Bussey armed two
hundred of them and supplied them with ammunition. At Farm-
ington, he left one hundred guns with Captain O. H. P. Scott,
and at Summit two hundred guns for H. C. Caldwell, late Judge
of the United States Court of Appeals (who, after brilliant service
in Bussey "s regiment in the war, suc<ieeded him as Colonel, and,
after forty yeai-s' sen'ice on the United States Federal Bench, is
still living in Los Angeles), to ann the company of Captain Maine,
who was later killed in a fight at Kirksville, Missouri, and one
other company. Arriving at Ottumwa, Bussey hired wagons,
loaded three hundred gims and ammimition, traveled all night, and
arrived at Bloomfield, where three hundred men were organized
and armed. After one day, he returned to tie railroad and took a
train for Keokuk.
Arriving at Croton, opposite Athens, a battle was being fought
between Green's forces, with artillery, and the Home Guards,
under Colonel David Moore, who had been reinforced by Captain
Scott and other Iowa companies. Moore had barricaded the streets
and made a gallant defense. Captain Belknap and Sample, with
158 PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
two linndred men and three companies of the Sixth Iowa Infantry,
arrived from Keokuk and soon drove the enemy from the field.
The loss in the engagement was abont sixty men killed and
wounded. The next day. Colonel Moore and his Home Guards,
with several hundred Iowa militia, followed Green's forces forty
miles into Missouri, driving him out of the country. That great
victory, defeating the first eifort of the enemy to raid in Iowa, was
due to the energy and ability of Bussey in utilizing the means that
came in his way. He did not do all that, however, without oppo-
sition. The Governor had wi'itten him : "You have my full
authority to do whatever you may find necessary to do to protect
the lives and property of the people." Adjutant General Baker
got after him, and, with some of his "energetic idioms," sharply
criticised him for doing things which he, as Adjutant General,
should do. Judge Baldwin also rebuked him savagely for stealing
Dodge's grms, but later apologized, saying he did just right. When
the Governor and Baker received Bussey's report and understood
the facts, he was warmly commended.
The battle of Athens was fought on the Fifth of August, 1S61.
On the Tenth of August, Bussey went to Saint Louis and reported
the seizure of Dodge's guns and the use he had made of them.
General Fremont seemed pleased, and requested him to return at
four o'clock, saying he would in the meantime communicate with
the War Department. When he returned, he was handed authority
to raise a regiment of cavalry. He returned to Keokuk at eleven
o'clock on the night of the Eleventh, went immediately to the office
of the Gate City, and had a handbill printed calling for volunteers
for a cavalry regiment, leaving Keokuk with them next morning.
In ten days, he had nearly twelve hundred men in camp at Keoknk,
many of them with horses. So soon as a mustering officer could
be had, they were mustered in as the Third Iowa Cavalry. Thus
came his political evolution.
His regiment was ordered to join the Anny of the Southwest,
where he was gi-eatly needed. To record in detail its great achieve^
nients, which added brilliant luster to the name of Iowa during the
war, would require many pages.
Early in February, Colonel Bussey left Benton Barracks with
his regiment, and with bad weather and terrible roads, in four days
GENERAL CYRUS BUSSEY 159
reported to General Curtis, two hundred and twenty miles away,
making the cavalry march the greatest on record. General Curtis
immediately increased his command to a brigade, with which he
took part in the bloody battle of Pea Ridge.
Referring to that battle, the General said : "The battle of Pea
Ridge, all things considered, the great disparity of the forces,
twenty-six thousand Confederates against ten thousand five hun-
dred Federal troops, the former, on the morning of the Eighth,
occupying a ridge with timber and fences covering much of their
line, while the latter's whole line, from right to left, was in the
open plain, without protection, was the gi'eatest victory of the Civil
War; that to General Curtis belongs the credit of it, and not to
General Sigel, as was persistently stated immediately after the
battle. On the contrary, Sigel was severely criticised by General
Halleck for his action on that occasion. When the battle com-
menced, on the morning of the Seventh, General Curtis' forces
were completely surrounded ; both armies were within musket
range of each other when the fighting ceased that night. General
Curtis ordered Sigel and Davis to move during the night, and form
on the left of Carr's Division at Elkhom, with all their available
forces, and be ready to renew the battle at daylight at that point,
as the enemy would concentrate his whole force there. At daylight,
Davis' whole division was in jjosition on Dodge's left, in front of
the enemy. At sunrise, Colonel Davis opened the fight. At seven
o'clock, when the firing was going on, Sigel, with his two divisions,
was in camp a mile away. At eight o'clock, all the troops and bat-
teries of Sigel's divisions arrived and formed on the left of Davis.
It is but justice to say that had Sigel been in Germany, the divi-
sions of Asboth and Osterhouse would have slept on their arms in
front of the enemy; both were excellent ofiieers and commanded
excellent troops. When our position became critical, General Cur-
tis ordered a charge along the whole line, and, with a universal
shout, our boys moved forward. The Confederates held their
ground until the last moment, when it gave way. General Van
Dorn knew the day was lost, and ordered young Churchill Clark
to withdraw his guns. AVhen about retiring, he fell, decapitated by
a shot from one of our batteries. The enemy's infantry interposed
160 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
with desperate resistance while the gxins were being withdrawn,
and then retreated down the gorges of the mountain into Cross
Timber Hollow. Their whole army was demoralized.
"An hour or two after the battle, I returned with nearly one
hundred prisoners and reported to General Curtis. He was writ-
ing dispatches announcing his victory, and while thus engaged, he
received a message from General Sigel, eight miles north on the
Springfield road, saving: 'The way is open to Springfield; come
on.' General Curtis sent a reply, saying: 'They who sleep upon
the battlefield are known to be the victors; you will return here
with your command forthwith.' General Sigel returned to the
battlefield on the evening of the Ninth.
"March Nineteenth, General Halleek wrote General Curtis : 'I
was by no means surprised at General Sigel's conduct before the
battle of Pea Ridge. It was precisely what he did at Carthage and
Wilson's Creek.' "
On the First of February, 186.5, General Bussey was assigned
t/O command western Arkansas, the Indian Territoiy, and Seventh
Army Corps, with headquarters at Fort Smith, a most trying posi-
tion, his predecessor having utterly failed to govern a very large
and intensely disloyal population, while dishonest contractors had
cheated and swindled the Government, defied its officers, and a
lawless and uncontrollable riff-raff had swanned around headquar-
ters, but he soon had order restored and so maintained it as to
receive high commendation not only from his superior officers, but
the loyal people of that whole section. He held this command
until September Twenty-ninth, 1865.
In December, 1862, his name headed a long list of Brigadier
Generals sent to the Senate at Washington for confirmation, and
to date from November Twenty-ninth, but the Senate adjourned
without action. On January Fourth, 1864, he was promoted to
Brigadier General for "special gallantry," when he received his
well-earned and long-delayed star. March Thirteenth, 1865, he
was promoted to Brevet ilajor General, for gallant and meritorious
service during the war.
At the close of the war, he went into the commission business
in Saint Louis, but deeming New Orleans a better field during
GENEEAL CYKUS BUSSET 161
the Reconstruction period, he went there, and at once took high
rank among business men, was elected President of the Chamber of
Commerce, held the place six years ; was chairman of the commit-
tee which obtained the Government appropriation for the Ead
Jetties improvement of the Mississippi River.
When the new Louisiana Constitution was adopted, he was
strongly urged for Governor and United States Senator, but
declined, preferring to devote his energies to improving the com-
mercial and industrial interests of the city, its railroad facilities,
and the development of trade with Brazil. His labors for the pros-
perity of the city were recognized in many ways by the resident
population.
In 1868, he was a delegate to the iN'ational Republican Conven-
tion, which nominated Grant for President.
In 1880, he was one of the famous "three hundred and six"
delegates in the National Convention who voted for General Grant
for a third term as President. The same year, he was sent as a
delegate to the Ecuminical Methodist Church Conference at Lon-
don, and on the way, by special invitation, attended the great meet-
ing at Liverpool to express sorrow at the death of Garfield, and in
a speech of great eloquence and pathos, presented the resolutions
adopted.
In 1881, he removed to ISTew York and engaged in business, but
kept up his old-time interest in politics, and in 1884, stumped !N"ew
York and ISTew Jersey for Blaine. In 1882, he gave the address
on laying the comer stone of the new Cotton Exchange in Xew
Orleans. In 1889, President Harrison appointed him Assistant
Secretary of the Interior. He now resides in Washington, and is
practicing law, but contemplates making his home ere long in Des
Moines, with his daughter, Mrs. Isaac L. Hillis.
In 1888, he visited Des Moines and was received with great
enthusiasm by the people generally. The Twenty-second General
Assembly was in session, and under a suspension of the rules, the
following resolution was adopted in the Senate:
"Whereas, The Honorable Cyrus Bussey was, at the com-
mencement of the Rebellion, a member of the Senate of Iowa, and
at once resigned his seat in this body for the purpose of serving our
Vol. II— (11).
162 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
common country on the field of battle, to uphold our flag aud per-
petuate the union of states; and,
"Wheeeas, He served with distinguished courage and ability
during the war, receiving promotion to the rank of general ofBcer
for gallant conduct; therefore,
"Resolved, That a committee of three Senators be appointed \a
arrange a reception on the part of the state for the Honorable
Cyrus Bussey."
The reception was held in the Senate Chamber, the members of
both houses being present, with many prominent citizens. The
General was escorted to the dais by Governor Larrabee, and an
enthusiastic demonstration in honor of him as a soldier and citizen
was given.
The General voted for Douglas and Lincoln for President. Since
then he has been a Republican, and says he is now a "Standpatter."
He is nearly six feet high; of erect, rather slender physique;
nervous, sanguine temperament; quick of mental or bodily move-
ment; punctilious in all he says or does; optimistic, looks on the
bright side of everything; has a remarkably retentive memory,
days, dates and events of the war being as of yesterday ; bears well
the burden of his years and strenuous army life; is a very rapid
speaker; vivacious, witty, genial and social. His varied experi-
ences, tJie men and things he has rubed up against, make him a
pleasing and interesting conversationalist.
September Second, 1906.
GEORGE SNEER
GEORGE SNEER
POLK COUNTY was generally the objective point of pioneers
to make a home in a new country and improve their condi-
dition. Some, however, came from the force of circumstances,
and of such was George Sneer, a very prominent personality in the
early days of the city.
He was born in Washington County, Maryland, May Third,
1835, of German parents, who wrote their name Schnerer, in
accordance with German nomenclature. His father died before
his birth, and when he was two years old, his mother married Doc-
tor F. C. Grimmel, a German physician.
In 1839, the Doctor moved to Taylorville, Ohio; in 1840, to
Lancaster; in 1843, to Chapel Hill, Peri-y County, and in August,
1846, to Raccoon Forks, traveling with teams, camping out at
night, and arriving about ten o'clock at night, October Fifteenth.
There was not a place in the little hamlet to get shelter, and the
night was passed in camp. The next day, shelter was found in the
Guard House of the garrison, and there the Winter was passed, the
windows being decorated with iron bars.
The Doctor at once made claims for a large area of land lying
north of what is now Grand Avenue and west of Fourth Street to
Ninth. George was then eleven years old, eight years of which had
been passed in three different Ohio settlements, with little or no
opportunity to attend school. On arrival here, he went to work on
a farm, and it was not until 1850, when fifteen years old, that he
began to acquire an education, by attending the first public school
in Des Moines, with Charles L. Anderson as teacher, and later
under the excellent tutelage of Judge J. P. Casady, Judge Byron
Rice, and Elder J. A. Nash. He cared little for the usual sports
of youthful days; was inclined to the more practical side of life.
He was a close observer of men and things. One of his first and
most impressive astonishers was the big snow in the Winter of
163
164 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
1848, which is remembered distinctly by every pioneer of Polk
County. It began to snow early in November, and continued until
December Twenty-fourth. The average depth of snow was three
feet until February. In the meantime, there were frequent driving
storms, rendering it impossible for settlers to get from one place to
another without danger of getting lost or freezing to death. There
were but few settlers in the county, so there were no beaten paths
or tracks. That was the first and only instance in the county that
the snow was so deep and cold so severe as to cause suifering and
want generally in the country, the settlers being practically snow-
bound in their cabins all Winter.
Referring to the weather and peculiarities of the present Spring
— which is being quite notably discussed as unprecedented — I am
reminded of the record of the county from 1839 to 1870, a period
of thirty-one years. It shows the latest appearance of frost ranged
from April Fifth to May Twenty-sixth; its earliest appearance
from September Second to October Twenty-third. An exception
was the year 1863, when there was a frost each month in the year.
During that year, the latest frost occurred August Twenty-fifth,
the earliest, August Twenty-ninth. During those thirty-one years,
the latest frost occurred twenty times in April, ten times in May,
and once in August. The earliest frost occurred nine times in
September, twenty-one times in October, and once in August.
Except in 1863, no frost was recorded in the months of June, July,
and August.
The Winter of 1856-1857 was an imusually severe one. A rec-
ord kept by John F. A. H. Roberts, near Rising Sun, says :
January Fourteenth, mercury thirty-five degrees below zero.
January Seventeenth, mercury thirty-six degrees below zero.
February Tenth, mercury thirty degi'ees below zero.
April Eighteenth, mercury four degrees below zero.
Robins made their first appearance June Tenth.
Hundreds of immigrants who had come into the county in the
Spring of 1856 were so disgusted with the climate, they pulled up
and left the country.
In opposition to the snow is the rainfall. The largest rainfall
in any one year since the county was organized was iu 1851, when
GEOKGE SNEEE 165
it was seventy-four and forty one-hundredths inches. The least
in 1854, when it was only twenty-three and thirty-five one-hun-
dredths inches. The greatest rainfall in a given length of time was
in August, 1851, when, between the hours of eleven o'clock p. m.,
of the Tenth, and three o'clock of the Eleventh, four hours, the fall
was ten and seventy-one one-hundredths inches. The greatest
snowfall was December Twenty-first, 1847, twenty and fifty one-
hundredths inches. December Twenty-eighth, 1863, the snowfall
in twelve hours was fifteen and ten one-hundredths inches.
The flood of 1851 washed away the west bank of Des Moines
River from near the dam to the confluence with the 'Coon, thus
throwing the channel westward, and causing the difiiculty which
it is now proposed to overcome by cutting a new channel below
"the forks."
In 1857, George purchased a farm in Valley Township, where
he remained imtil 18(50, when he returned to the city, and at once
began doing things in the building and real estate line. Of nerv-
ous, sanguine temperament, with a sound mind and body, active,
energetic, a good mixer, he at once became a prominent factor in
public affairs.
In 1856, when the contest over the location of the State House
was on, he was a radical West Sider, and subscribed one thousand
dollars to the fund to secure its location on the West Side. When
it was announced that the Commissioners had selected the East
Side, George did not hesitate to declare, in loud English, that the
Commissioners had been bribed, and he knew who got the swag,
for he was a man who had the courage of his convictions, and
expressed his opinions in plain, vigorous language.
In 1861, he was elected Alderman in the City Council, from the
Third Ward; in 1869, City Clerk, and in 1870, Street Commis-
sioner. In 1875, he was again elected Alderman, and took an act-
ive part in securing the gi-ant of a charter to the Capital City Gas
Company, in competition with the Des Moines Gas Company,
which strenuously opposed the grant of the charter on the ground
that the city had no authority to give it. After considerable liti-
gation in the courts, the latter won, and the former being seriously
embarrassed by the Allen bank failure, sold out to the latter.
1F,6 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTT, IOWA
George was reelected in 1876, and served until 1878, and proved
a serious obstacle to the multifarious schemes of Michael Drady
and Mike McTighe, who hunted in couples, and run the First and
Second wards for nearly a score of years.
In 187S, he was elected Mayor, and served two years. During
his service, began important city improvements. There were no
pavements and no sewers. He was a strenuous advocate of reform ;
that the city do something to get out of the mud, its stolid indiffer-
ence, and the bad reputation given it abroad. Its streets were
nearly impassable, and flooded during wet seasons. It was a battle
royal, but a beginning was made. Mr. Chesbrough, a noted expert
engineer, was brought here from Chicago to provide plans for pav-
ing and sewerage. His plans were elaborate, but his estimate of
cost staggered the property owners, especially those who were con-
tent to get rich by the rise in value of their holdings without any
expense to themselves. To be touched by a special assessment
according to the improvement made to their property was a dis-
tinction with a difference. But, after a vigorous contest, the City
Council accepted the plans, and a sixty-inch brick sewer was built
along First Street from Locust to 'Coon Point ; then on Mulberry
and Court Avenue. During 1879 and 1880, the streets were in a
chaotic condition. So soon as the sewers were in place, paving
began, and in June, 1882, Walnut Street was paved with cedar
blocks, from the river to Ninth Street.
While Sneer was Mayor, another advance step was taken in
municipal affairs. The facilities for crossing the rivers were grossly
inadequate. More bridges were imperatively needed. What there
was, were tolled, and a nuisance, against which there was constant
rebellion. Those living in the city did not think it just to be taxed
to build and maintain that which was for the benefit of the whole
county. Therefore, a proposition was submitted to the people to
levy one mill tax for eight years to raise a fund to build four
bridges and make them free. It was defeated, but in 1878, was
again submitted in a proposition to levy one mill tax for five years,
and it was adopted, the vote being four thousand, five hundred and
seven yeas, three thousand, one hundred and sixty nays. A com-
mittee was selected on behalf of the city and county to appraise the
GEORGE SNEER 167
value of the bridges at Walnut, Court. Avenue, 'Coon Point, and
Seventh Street, which fixed it at one hundred thousand, three hun-
dred and forty-nine dollars and nineteen cents. It was accepted,
the bridges were made free, and have so remained.
With these manifestations of public spirit, the city took on new
life, made rapid strides, and the Daily Register claimed improve-
ments for the year :
Six hundred aud fifty-three residences built. . . .$ 975,555
Fifteen business blocks 340,000
Improvements and repairs 55,495
City streets, sewers, etc 67,529
Total $1,184,039
Coal trade increase 1,000,000
In all this forward movement. Sneer was conspicuously active.
He had the faculty of boosting in a notable manner, and he gave
to it his time and energy. He was also a large property holder.
Politically, he was a Republican on general principles, but in
local affairs a little dubious, yet, whatever his position therein,
there was no mistaking it. He was plain of speech; sometimes
deemed erratic and cranky; but in all things he strove for the
growth and prosi^erity of his adopted home. In 1884, he sup-
ported Cleveland for President, and subsequently identified him-
self with the Independents.
Socially, he was inclined to good fellowship; cared nothing for
clubs or society fads as they go, but he was a prominent and active
member of the Masonic fraternity, having been raised to the
Thirty-second Degree. He was a member of Capital Lodge, Corin-
thian Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Temple Commandery, Knights
of Pythias, and a past oflScer of all of them. He was also a mem-
ber of Des Moines Lodge and Ebenezer Encampment of the Order
of Odd Fellows, in both of which he passed all the chairs.
He deceased in 1891.
DR^ CHARLES H. RAWSON
DOCTOR CHARLES H. RAWSON
A DUE appreciation of individual worth and all that consti-
tutes manhood of the highest ty]>e must include Doctor
Charles H. Rawson, who held a high place in the affections
of all the people of Polk County in the early days.
He was horn in Craftsbury, Orleans County, Vermont, July
Sixteenth, 1828, of ancestry dating back to Edward Rawson, who
emigrated from Dorsetshire, England, in 1636, joined the Colony
of Massachusetts Bay, and was elected Secretary of the Colony
annually for thirty-five years, until the government was turned
over to Sir Edmund Andros. As such Secretary, he signed the
warrants issued by Charles II of England, and sent by him to
America for arrest of the regicides. A man of superior ability
and force of character, he became very prominent in the Colonies,
and for services rendered the Commonwealth, the Government gave
him five hundred acres of land. The family increased largely, and
among his descendants were able lawyers, skillful physicians,
prominent legislators, and gallant military men. Old Harvard
graduated several of them, and in the War of 1812, they fought
for independence.
On the farm of his father, Charles H. spent his boyhood days.
He attended the common schools, was studious, ambitious to secure
an education, and at the age of twenty-one, he decided to become a
physician. He studied medicine with Doctor A. P. Barber, and
later graduated from the medical college at Woodstock. Imme-
diately after graduation, he went to Canada, where he practiced
two years. He then attended a lecture course at the !N^ew York
College of Physicians and Surgeons, graduating with high honors.
He then joined the medical staff of Bellevue Hospital, in jSTew
York, his first experience being with the Smallpox patients, where
he proved very successful.
170 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
In 1849, when the hegira from Eastern states began toward the
California gold fields, he was selected surgeon for the steamer S. S.
Leivis, on her trip around "The Horn" to San Francisco. He served
on the vessel until it was wrecked near Acapulco; then he joined
the medical corps in the Marine Hospital, in San Francisco, as sur-
geon, where he remained two years. He then returned to his old
home in Vermont.
In 1856, he learned from some friends that Des Moines had
been selected as the new Capital of the State of Iowa, and was a
promising field for a physician. He accordingly came here, in
October, with his yoimg bride, arriving in one of Colonel Hooker's
stages, at three o'clock in the morning. The town did not present
a very attractive apj^earance to them, so great the contrast with
what they had left behind them. The population was sparse. A
few small frame houses and log cabins, some small stores on Sec-
ond Street, constituted the little hamlet. The people, however,
were very soon convinced that the new-comer was a physician of
unusual skill and ability. His practice increased so rapidly, for
he was of that specific temperament which wins public esteem, it
diverted him from all thought of his environments or old Vermont.
When the Civil War came, he enlisted in the Fifth Iowa Infan-
try, and was appointed surgeon of the regiment, which subse-
quently became the pet regiment of the Third Brigade, Seventh
Division, of the Army of the Mississippi, and noted for its gal-
lantry, brilliancy, and bravery — qualities which cost it dearly in
numerous engagements. At the memorable battle of luka, a
slaughterous event, September Nineteenth, 1862, of the four him-
dred and eighty-two engaged, fifteen commissioned officers were
killed and wounded, thirty-four privates killed, and one hundred
and sixty-eight wounded — a total of two hundred and si.xteen men.
Again, at Champion's Hill, May Sixteenth, 1863, of three hundred
and fifty officers and men, nineteen were killed and seventy-five
woimded. At Lookout Mountain, it distinguished itself by stonn-
ing the breastworks of the enemy.
The Doctor's ability and professional skill won him promotion
to the rank of Brigade Surgeon, but the labor was so severe, for he
would, in cases of emergencies and great casualties, leave nothing
DOCTOR CHARLES H. RAWSON" 171
to be done by subordinates that he could do himself, his physical
system broke down and he was compelled to resign. He came home,
and so soon as he had regained his health, resumed his practice
and formed a partnership with W. H. Ward, which continued until
1881.
During the twenty-five years' practice of Doctor Rawson in Des
Moines, I am confident he visited every family in the city, either
in his practice or in consultation, so universal was public confidence
in his skill, and esteem as a citizen. In numerous cases, involving
the exercise of profound knowledge, when prominent physicians of
the state were called in consultation, his decision was the final one.
His practice also extended to several adjoining counties.
In 1865, when the United States Pension Office was established
in Des Moines, he was appointed, without his knowledge. President
of the Board, which place Be held year after year, many times ten-
dering his resignation, which would not be accepted, and he held
the place to the end of his days.
He was a man of high moral sense, an exemplar of right living.
Politically, he was a Republican, always interested in public
affairs, often suggested for some public office, but positively refused
to permit his name to be used for such purpose. Socially, he was
inclined to retic-ence, yet of that temperament which won unwav-
ering friendship. He was optimistic, firm in his convictions, yet
equally respectful of the opinions of others. In those early days,
the code of medical ethics was more rigidly observed than it is now.
The chasm between the different schools of medicine was never
bridged. Though the Doctor adhered strictly to the ethics of his
profession. Doctor Ward, many years so intimately associated with
him, often said he never heard him speak disparagingly or dis-
courteously of the therapeutics of other schools of medicine, or
practitioners thereof, a trait which gained their respect and high
regard. He was a member of the Masonic order and Crocker Post,
Grand Army of the Republic. To the poor and unfortunate, and
especially to families of soldiers, he was a friend indeed, ever
ready to respond to their needs in sickness, without a thought of
fee or reward. In the sickroom, at the bedside of the suffering
one, his very presence was a benefaction, and there it was were
172 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
formed friendships tender and true, which time could not
especially was it so with children and young people.
No instance of his hold upon the hearts of the people could be
more notably cited than that of his last illness. In May, 1884,
several physicians of the city went to Washinijton, to attend a meet-
ing of the American Medical Association. Though his own prac-
tice was quite large, he kindly assumed the care of patients of bis
colleagues during their absence, but the burden proved too great,
his strength failed, and he was forced to go to his bed. Immedi-
ately, Doctors \Yard, Hanawalt, and Swift attended him constantly
- — applying their profoundest skill, prompted also by their broth-
erly affection for the sufferer. Every physician in the city also
visited his residence to express their esteem and sorrow in behalf
of their associate, but, despite all the power of human skill, love
and affection, after many days of anxious watching, on the Twenty-
seventh of June, 188-1, he quietly passed into that slumber which
has no awakening.
Religiously, he was a consistent member of Plymouth Congre-
gational Church.
May Tenth, 1907.
HENRY LOTT
ONE of the greatest difficulties the compiler of history has to
contend with is to get it straight. Especially is this true of
Polk County. The first seven years after its settlement,
release from military control, and organization, its public records
were so carelessly kept or neglected as to be of little or no value
to the histographer. As a rule, the people were more interested in
securing homes and bread and butter than in making history. The
facts and incidents of the community must therefore be gathered
largely from, and depend upon, the memory of the pioneers, who
themselves often disagree concerning some important event or inci-
dent which they were participants in, or were observant of. Of
events occurring in the settlement of the valley of Des Moines
River, those respecting the doings of Henry Lott were pregnant
with horrors and conflicts with settlers and the Indians, culminat-
ing in the Spirit Lake Massacre; yet it is difficult to give, at the
present time, the facts respecting them, so conflicting are the state-
ments of those presumed to be familiar with them.
Periodically, appear in the public press stories of him so at
variance in detail as to render them of little value, especially
respecting his trouble with the Indians, the causes leading to it,
and the killing of Si-dom-in-a-do-tah, a noted chief of a large band
of Sisseton Sioux Indians.
Little was ever known of Lett's early life, but it is probably true
that he was bom in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and
married a widow having a son about sixteen years old, who figured
largely in the subsequent tragedies. He first came to notice in this
section in 1843, as an Indian trader, at Red Rock, then in Keokuk
County. His stock in trade was generally understood to be whis-
key and trinkets, which he disposed of to the Sauks and Foxes, but
the tales told by the first settlers in the country thereabouts, and in
Polk County, disclose that he was a horse thief. Mrs. -Tchu P.
173
174 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Saylor, who was then about seventeen years old, says she frequently
heard the men of her family talk about Lott and his stealings, and
what they would do with him if they caught him.
Tom Saylor, who is now living in Saylor Township, on the
same farm he has cultivated for more than fifty years, says that in
1844, his father, John B., lived on a farm in Van Buren County,
and had a contract to furnish beef and flour to the Sauk and Fox
Indians, and beef and hay to the garrison at Fort Des Moines ;
that Lott roamed over the country south of the Fort, stole the
ponies of the Indians and horses of the settlers, and that his father
and several settlers once caught him and gave him a severe flogging.
Polk County then had no legal existence; there were no courts
accessible, and the few settlers scattered over the counti'y became
their own court and jury, and enforced the un\vi-itteu law of Jus-
tice and Right.
Guy Ayers, who was a small boy then, at The Fort, says he
knew Lott when he was living dovsm at Red Rock, in 1844. He
hunted bee trees, gathered honey, and sold it to settlers all around.
He once came up to the east side of the river and sold some honey
to his father and others around The Fort.
In 1845, Guy says his father had a mare, a pony and some
mules, which one day were missing, and he and his father went in
search of them. They kept going until they reached Lott's cabin,
on the riverside, opposite Red Rock. They stopped with him over
night. The next day, they found the animals, not far from Lott's
place, and brought them home, concluding they had simply strayed
away, but from subsequent disclosures of Lott's doings, Guy now
thinks they were led astray.
Early in the Spring of 1846, Lott came to Fort Des Moines,
and pitched a large tent near 'Coon River, on one of the terraces
or "benches" as they were called. The weather was cold and very
bad. He built a big log fire in it and remained several days. One
day, Guy was sent to collect pay for something Lott had purchased,
and he refused to pay, whereupon Guy pitched into him and had a
regular tilt with him, but he got the money, and said to his father :
"Lott is a mean man." Lott had with him two boys, one about
sixteen and the other about twelve. He next went north, and the
HENKY LOTT 175
first night stopped at McDivitt's Grove, six miles distant. There
he found a big tree well stocked with bees and honey. He came
down and asked Guy to go up and get the bees, and he went. The
tree was cut down, Lott took the honey, Guy scooped in the bees
and brought them home. He saw no more of Lott.
The Sauks and Foxes had been removed to Kansas. Polk
County and the county south of it were rapidly filling up with
settlers. To keep in advance of civilization and to better work out
his depredations, Lott moved up to Pea's Point, so called from
John Pea, the settler, near the mouth of Boone River, where he
resumed his traffic with the Indians in whiskey and trinkets. His
customers were the Sioux, a very different class from the Sauks
and Foxes. He evidently did a very good business, for Mr. Smal-
ley, a pioneer of Dallas County, says he passed his place when
going to Oskaloosa to get a supply of whiskey. On going north at
one time, he and his oldest son stopped with him over night. Behind
his wagon was a cream-colored horse. The next morning, Lott
went on, and the day following, the cream-colored horse returned.
A few days later, Lott came, got the horse, mounted it, and rode
off, saying he was going to Red Rock. A few days after, he returned
with one arm in a sling, looking as thoiigh a cyclone had struck
him. He was badly bruised, stopped a couple of days for repairs,
and then went on. Two days after, a man came from the south,
looking for a cream-colored horse. Smalley told him Lott had
gone north with one answering the description given. He went
north, and three days later returned with the horse.
During the Winter of 1846-1847, Si-dom-in-a-do-tah, a Sioux
chief, with six braves, who were hunting along the river, came to
Lott's place and ordered him to clear out, as he was on their hunt-
ing ground, and gave him five suns (days) to get out. At the
expiration of the time, Si-dom-in-a-do-tah retiirned. At this point
in the tragedies that followed, there are so many conflicting stories
and traditions, some of them evidently greatly exaggerated by
repetition, it is impossible to decide which is correct.
The Union Historical Company, publisher of several histories
of counties in the state, in 1880, says:
"Si-dom-in-a-do-tah, finding Lott still there, commenced an
indiscriminate destruction of proi)erty, robbed his beehives, shot
176 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
his horses, cattle and hogs full of arrows, so that many died, threat-
ened and abused his family, drove him and his son from the house.
Two small daughters fled to the timber, and a small child, which
the mother covered under a bed, was not discovered. After con-
tending with the savages until her strength was exhausted, she was
compelled to submit to all the indignities they chose to heap upon
her."
In fact, there were no children there but the two sons of Mrs.
Lott by her first marriage.
Ex-Governor Gue's "History of Iowa" says :
"In 1848, Lott's marauders stole a number of ponies from the
Sioux Indians. Si-dom-in-a-do-tah tracked the ponies to Lott's
settlement, found them concealed in the woods, recovered them,
and the chief ordered his men to burn the cabin and kill his cattle.
Lott, alarmed, fled down the river with a stepson, abandoning his
wife and small children."
Mr. Smalley, a pioneer, who knew Lott well, says the I'aid on
Lott's cabin was made in December, 1846, thus disagreeing with
Gue.
No authentic statement has been made as to how the attack was
commenced, but it was doubtless in Indian style, with a whoop and
dash, at which Lott fled. He once told Mr. Eslick that he went
across the river, hid in the brush, and watched the destruction, as
he could do nothing.
So soon as it was over, he went down to Pea's Point, and told
Mr. Pea that the Indians had murdered his family, burned his
cabin, and he wanted help. Che-me-use, a Pottawattamie chief,
with several hundred of his tribe, were camped at Elk Rapids, near
the north line of Polk County. He was very friendly with the set-
tlers, who called him Johnny Greene. He was appealed to, and,
with twenty-six of his men, joined with John and Jacob Pea,
James and William Hull, John and William Crookes, and Doctor
Spears, settlers in that vicinity, went to Lott's place, arriving three
days after the raid. They found Mrs. Lott had not been murdered,
assaulted, nor the cabin burned.
C. L. Lucas, the well-known old-timer of Booue County, in an
effort to harmonize the many stories told of the affair, after con-
sulting old settlers and others who were of the rescue party, says
HE]!mr LOTT 177
Mrs. Lott was not assaulted by the Indians, but was completely
overcome by the shock to her nervous system, and exposure. She
told Doctor Spear that the Indians told her boy, Milton, twelve
years old, to get all the horses on the place for them or they would
shoot him, but instead, he went away, without coat or hat, prob-
ably to follow his father, and she did not know what had become of
him. The Indians tried to kill the cattle by shooting them with
arrows, and some did die. They took three horses, but one broke
through the ice when crossing the river, and, unable to get it to
shore, they shot it and left it. They also took all the household
goods of value, a set of silver knives and forks and spoons which
had been given her by her first husband, and went away.
The rescue party having done what they could, with the excep-
tion of John Pea, returned to Elk Rapids. Pea remained to assist
in caring for Mrs. Lott and finding the missing boy. In the snow,
on the ice, Lott and Pea tracked the boy down the river about
twenty miles and found his body frozen stifp, with his two dogs
watching it. The date was December Eighteenth, 1846. Having
no means for carrying it back, or for digging a grave, it was placed
in a hollow log. On January Fourteenth, following, a number of
settlers at Pea's Point went with Lott and gave the lad a Christian
burial near the spot where the body was foimd.
In September, 1893, Mr. Lucas inaugurated a movement to
further commemorate the sad event, but to find the spot where the
interment was made was the problem. Though it had been blazed
on surrounding trees, a lapse of fifty-seven years had changed the
whole valley of Des Moines River. Old landmarks had been swept
away, but, with the aid of John Pea, the grave was located, and in
liovember, 1905, a fitting tablet was erected on the spot imder the
auspices of the Madrid Historical Society, the dedication address
being given by Mr. Lucas.
Mrs. Lott did not long survive the terrible scenes she had passed
through. She was buried on the high bluff of the river, not far
from her cabin. Lott then gathered together his cattle and what
property the Indians had left, and moved down to Mr. Smalley's
cabin, now in Des Moines Township, Dallas County, I think it is,
and built a cabin, where he and his stepson lived during the Spring
Vol. II— (12).
178 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
and Summer of 1847. lu the Fall, he sold his cattle for beef, and
in the carcasses of some were found Indian arrow-heads. He then
came to Fort Des Moines, where he remained until the Spring of
1849. What he was doing during that time, I have been unable
to learn, but he secured another wife, a daughter of a man named
McGuire, living on a land claim on the south side of 'Coon River,
opposite the Murrow Farm, in Valley Township.
With his new wife, he went back to his former place and the
old, deserted cabin at the mouth of Boone River, where he specu-
lated in land claims and traded with the Indians. Three children
were born to them there, two daughters and a son. Immediately
after parturition of the son, the mother died, and Lott was again
without a home.
Gue says Lott left one of his children at T. S. White's, six miles
below Fort Dodge, and the two girls with Doctor Hull, in Boone
County. Lucas says the infant son was adopted by Mr. White, and
the two daughters were raised by a family named Dickerson. They
lived to adult age, were married, and, I think, are still living in
Boone or its vicinity.
Lott having disposed of his three children, determined to avenge
himself against Si-dom-in-a-do-tah, "the old he-devil," as he called
him. The stories of his further movement and his manner of doing
it are conflicting. Andreas' Historical Atlas (1875) says:
"In 1852, Lott and his stepson went up from Webster County
and squatted on the west side of what is now Lott's Creek, and
cleared up an acre or t;wo of groimd in the timber. A short dis-
tance below the mouth of the creek, on the west bank of the east
fork of Des Moines River, Si-dom-in-a-do-tah and his family of
nine ( ?) persons had their lodge. Lott conceived and carried into
execution the horrible project of murdering the chief and his entire
family. The chief was shot a short distance from his lodge, and
two squaws and four children [seven] were murdered at the lodge.
A boy and a girl made their escape to tell of the perpetrators."
Cue's "History of Iowa" says :
"In the Fall of 1853, Lott and a son passed though Fort Dodge
with an ox team, loaded with provisions and three barrels of whis-
key, went into Humboldt County and built a cabin on a creek.
HENRY LOTT 179
since named Lett's Creek, where he opened a trade with the Indians
in goods and whiskey. In January, 1854, he learned that Si-dom-
in-a-do-tah was camped on another creek, since named Bloody Run.
With his son, he went to the camp and made profession of warm
friendship for the Indians. He told the chief there was a large
herd of elk on the river bottom, and induced him to set off to find
them. So soon as the chief was out of sight, they skulked in the
grass, and as the chief returned shot him dead as he rode on his
pony. They then waited until night, when, returning to the tepees,
they gave the war whooj), and as the women and children came out,
butchered them one by one, the aged mother, wife and two children
of the chief, and two orphans living with them [seven]. One little
girl hid in the grass and escaped. One little boy, terribly wounded
and left for dead, recovered. They plundered the camp of every
article of value, biirned their own cabin, loaded a wagon with
plunder, fled down the river, struck westward, crossed the Missouri
north of Council Bluffs, and disappeared on the plains."
A writer of the "History of Humboldt County" (1880) says:
'"In the Winter of 1853-1854, Si-dom-in-a-do-tah was camped
on the east bank of Des Moines River, with his wife, two children,
a yoimg squaw, and her two children [seven]. Lott, loading up his
valuables on his wagon, told his stepson to go to the settlements
south. He then struck off across the river, and on arriving at the
tepee of the Indian, informed him that buffalo were grazing on
high ground beyond, and proposed to go and shoot them. They
started off, and soon after Lott stepped behind the old chief and
shot him dead. He then returned to the camp and slew all the
women and children [eight] except one little boy about twelve
years of age, who hid from him and escaped. Lott then followed
the track of his stepson, soon joined him, stopping that night with
Simon Hinton."
Another report says Lott came south, stopped at the places of
Joseph Smalley, Dickerson and others, showed them the silverware
stolen from his cabin, and said : "That old Sioux devil will never
rob any more women of silverware."
Another report is that Lott, after the killing, took some furs
and the pony Si-dom-in-a-do-tah rode, fled south, and was traced as
180 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
far as Tom Saylor's. Tom recently told me that Lott and his step-
son came to his house for breakfast, and said they had ridden all
night. They immediately left, saying they were going to Red
Eock. They advised the settlers to look out, as there was going to
be trouble with the Indians.
A recent report says:
"The Indians caught and bound Lott ; then they took three tar-
get shots at Mrs. Lott, none striking her. One of the boys escaped
do-wn the river and was frozen to death. Worry over the boy's
fate and scare caused the death of Mrs. Lott. The husband bided
his time, plied the Indians with whiskey, and while they were in
drunken stupor, waded in upon them with a sharp axe, making the
old chief his first victim. He spared neither buck, squaw nor
Ink-pa-du-a-tah, who figured in the Spirit Lake Massacre, was
a brother of Si-dom-in-a-do-tah, and was camped not far away
from him. The slaughter was soon discovered. The Indians were
enraged, and the settlers gTeatly alarmed for their safety.
Ink-pa-du-a-tah, who had always been friendly with the settlers,
went to Major Williams, who had been an officer at Fort Dodge,
but remained after the military was removed to Fort Ridgley, and
was appointed by Governor Grimes to protect the settlers on the
frontier, to investigate and ascertain who did the killing. He
ordered the holding of an inquest. The bones of the old chief
were brought before the jury, and his skull was later taken to
Homer, then the county seat of Webster County, and nailed up on
a house. "Charley" Aldrich has a vivid recollection of it, and
says it was fractured in several places, as though done with some
blunt instrument, and portions of flesh were still adhering. The
Coroner's Jury disagreed, some of them contending that the kill-
ing was done by Indians who disliked old "Si," and nothing came
of it. Suspicion pointed to Lott. Major Williams made further
investigation and reported that he and several Indians had traced
Lott down the river on the ice to the mouth of Boone River, where
he sold the pony, gim, furs, and stuff taken from Si-dom-in-a-do-
tah's camp, but, having so much the start, he could not be found.
The settlers, however, demanded that something be done to pro-
tect them from the vengeance of the Indians. A presentment was
HENRY LOTT 181
made to the Grand Jury at Des Moines, the Polk County District
Court then having jurisdiction of all that section, and an indict-
ment for murder was returned against Lott, who must have been
known to be in the vicinity, for the evening of the day the indict-
ment was returned, the horse of one of the jurors, who resided in
Boone County, was in a stable a short distance southwest of the
Court House, and the next morning was in a stable in Boone
County. When Sheriff D. B. Spalding went up the next day to
arrest Lott, he could not be found. Several months later, his step-
son sent word to Fort Dodge that his father had been killed in some
kind of an affray in California.
I have searched the records of the District Court, but can find
no record of the proceedings in the case, and the Clerk says thei'e
are no records of the doings of that court prior to 1857, a fact of
some importance and singularity.
The Indians were greatly angered because Lott was not cap-
tured, and made raids on settlers along the river. Ink-pa-du-a-tah,
who had always been friendly with the whites, incensed by the mur-
der of his mother and brother, joined in the spirit of vengeance,
which, it is claimed, resulted in the massacre at Spirit Lake.
It is evident Lott was a "mean man," as Guy Ayers told his
father, for children and fools are said to instinctively tell the truth.
Though there was some palliation for avenging the assault against
his family at Pea's Point, which was within the neutral strip, open
to settlement, and on which old "Si," an ugly Indian, under a
treaty made with the Government, had no right to go, yet there
was no justification for killing the chief's innocent family.
August Eleventh, 1907.
CAPTAIN ISAAC W. GRIFFITH
CAPTAIN ISAAC W. GRIFFITH
IN" the early days, very few persons were better known in Polk
County and Des Moines than "Old Churubusco," as Captain
Isaac W. Griffith was reverently and most respectfully called,
to distinguish him from Captain Harry Griffith and Colonel J. M.
Griffith, veterans of the Civil War.
Born in Trumbull County, Ohio, April First, 1820, he passed
his boyhood days with his father, assisting him in his trade as a
carpenter. During that time, he acquired all the education possi-
ble at the district schools, and one term at the academy at Farm-
ington, a branch of the Western Reserve College.
In 1838, when eighteen years old, he decided to come West and
grow up with the country, and came to Fort Madison, in October.
With no capital but a vigorous constitution, energy, and faith in
himself; among entire strangers, he took the first job that pre-
sented, driving team and working on a farm, under a contract for
one year, at the expiration of which he carried on the farm one
year on his own accoxmt, and, after gathering the crops, in 1840,
went to West Point, where he resumed his trade as a cai'penter.
In 1839, there was great excitement throughout the southern
part of the territory respecting the southern boundary line. The
Constitution of Missouri, in defining the boundaries of that state,
had declared her northern boundary to be the parallel of latitude
which passes through the rapids of the Des Moines River. In the
Mississippi River, a little above the mouth of Des Moines River,
are the rapids of the Des Moines. In making their survey, the
Missouri officers found in the Des Moines, just below the town of
Keosauqua, in Van Buren County, some slight ripples in the cur-
rent of the river, which were claimed by Missouri as those referred
to in the definition of her boundary line, and she insisted on exer-
cising jurisdiction over a strip eight miles wide to the Mississippi,
which Iowa claimed as belonging to her. Clarke County was
183
184 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
enrolled iu Missouri, and its citizens listed for taxation, bnt the set-
tlers refused to pay the taxes. The collector levied on their prop-
erty. He was arrested on a warrant issued by a Justice of the
Peace in Van Buren County, and subsequently indicted. The
Governor of Missouri called out the State Militia, and sent one
thousand men to enforce the collection of the taxes. Governor
Lucas promptly responded by calling out the Iowa Militia, and
twelve hundred men were enlisted and armed.
Griffith was appointed a Lieutenant of one of the companies.
There was no difficulty in getting men, for the whole southei-n part
of the territory was in fighting rage. But before hostilities were
commenced, the conservative element thought it best to send a com-
mission to consult the Governor of Missouri. General A. C. Dodge,
of Burlington ; General Churchman, of Dubuque, and Doctor
Clark, of Fort Madisou, were selected. When they arrived, the
order for the collection of the taxes had been rescinded by Mis-
souri, and the Governor had sent a proposition to Governor Lucas
to submit an agreed case to the United States Supreme Court,
which was declined ; but subsequently both territories petitioned
Congress to settle the matter. It was submitted to the Supreme
Court, and there decided in favor of Iowa, and a commission dele-
gated to fix the boundary on the Sullivan Line, and set iron pillars
ten miles apart to permanently mark the boundary. This gave
Iowa all she claimed, and thus was avoided what for a time looked
like bloody war.
In 1842, Griffith was elected Justice of the Peace and Coroner
of Lee County, and served three terms.
In 1843, March Thirtieth, he was commissioned by Governor
Chambers, by "the advice and consent of the Territorial Council,
Captain of Company Three, First Regiment, First Brigade, First
Division, of the Territorial Militia."
In 1S4(), when the first call was made for troops for the Mexican
War, Griffith, on June Twenty-sixth, volunteered. Twelve com-
panies reported for duty, but they were never organized into regi-
ments, for so many regiments had been accepted from Eastern
states, Governor Lucas was notified in November that Iowa volun-
teers would not be wanted. But, in 1847, Griffith enlisted in a
company which became Company K of the Fifteenth Regiment,
CAPTAIN ISAAC W. GRIFFITH 185
United States Infantry, and he was appointed a Corporal. In
July, he was promoted to Sergeant. The regiment was ordered to
report to General Scott at Vera Cruz, where it arrived on May
Twenty-fourth, and from thence went to Pueblo, the headquarters
of General Scott, arriving July Second, later fighting its way
through guerrillas, his company losing its Captain and several
men. The regiment was engaged in the battles of Contreras, Chu-
rubusco, and Chepultepec.
At Churubusco, Grifiith was struck by a bullet which shattered
the bones of his right arm, just above the elbow, necessitating
amputation near the shoulder, but he remained with the company
until it entered the City of Mexico, September Fifteenth, and on
the First of November was discharged. For a time, he remained
at Baton Rouge, on account of his wound. He arrived at his home
in Februarj' following, and was soon after appointed Captain of
State Militia by Governor Chambers.
In August, 1848, he was elected Representative for Lee County
in the second Legislature under the state organization, as a Demo-
crat, in one of the most important sessions ever held in the state.
It elected the first t^nited States Senator and Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court, and was especially notable as the only one which
elected three United States Senators, General A. C. Dodge, General
George W. Jones, and James Harlan.
It was during that session that plans were made for improving
the navigation of Des Moines River by building, at an estimated
cost of one hundred and seventy-seven thousand, three hundred and
fifty-seven dollars, thirteen locks and dams, which, when com-
pleted, would enable freight to be transported from Saint Louis to
Raccoon Forks, at a saving of ninety-two per cent. The land grant
of one million acres, which Congi'ess was to grant, would pay for
the improvement. The people of Central Iowa were intensely
interested in the project and vigorously appealed to Congress to
carry it out. In fact, so intense was the feeling that no man could
get nominated or elected to public ofiice who was not a booster for
it. There were no railroads west of Chicago, and transportation to
and from Eastern markets was the all-absorbing question. The Leg-
islature did its duty in the premises, but the project fell into the
186 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
hands of a lot of iiuscrupiiloiis speculators aud grafters, and, after
a score of years of failures, broken promises, law suits, and litiga-
tion, what was left of the immense land grant was turned over to a
railroad corporation, the navigation project was condemned, uni-
versally damned, and the state retired from the business with three
old scows, a half-completed dam, and a pile of rock left to it as a
reminder of the River Land and Navigation Company, aud the
propriety of state ownership of public utilities.
During that session was also passed the first Homestead Exemp-
tion Law. Griffith introduced the bill and was largely instrumental
in securing its passage. The people throvxghout the West were
poor. The money in circulation was only one dollar and eleven
cents per capita. Men were struggling to secure homes. Loan
sharks demanded forty per cent interest. Thousand had to give
mortgages, at such exorbitant interest they could not pay, and lost
their homes. The law then passed embraced all the principles of
the law as we have it now.
In 1849, Griffith was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Lee County,
and served until November, 1850, when he resigned and was
appointed Assistant Doorkeeper of the United States Senate at
Washington, where he served three years, when he was appointed
on the police force of that city, and served until April, 1858, when
he was appointed by President Buchanan Registrar of the United
States Land Office, and came to Des Moines. He served until 1861,
when he was removed by President Lincoln.
The Civil War came on immediately after. The State of Iowa
was totally unprepared to do anything respecting it, and during the
excitement among the people, a committee, of whom Griffith was
one, was selected to attend to the expenses and other preliminary
preparations for the struggle which was to come, but he soon after
resigned, and in October, 1861, was elected Sheriff of Polk County
and was a candidate for a second term in 1863, but was defeated
by "Hod" Bush, a shrewd politician, which ''Old Churubusco"
was not.
In the Fall of 1864, he was appointed Master Mechanic in the
United States Quartermaster's Department at Memphis, Tennes-
see, where he served until October, 1865, when he was appointed
CAPTAIN ISAAC W. GEIFFITH 187
Deputy United States Marshal for the Western District of Ten-
nessee, and served three years.
In 1868, he returned to Des Moines, and was appointed toll-gate
keeper at Court Avenue bridge, and served until the bridges were
made free from toll, in 1879.
In 1875, he was elected County Coroner, and was elected every
two years consecutively for eighteen years, the longest servitude of
any county ofScer, thus evidencing his popularity, fitness and trust-
worthiness. During his incumbency, occurred the murders of Mrs.
Henry Osborn and Andrew Snedden, in 1880 ; Frank McCreery,
Doctor John Epps and Henry Scribner, in 1881; K. W. Stubbs,
1882; James Eeynolds, 1883; S. H. Wishart, 1890; James F.
Kemp, 1891 ; Mrs. Peter Sutler, 1892.
In 1886, he was appointed Bailiff of the Supreme Court, and
served many years. In 1895, at the May term of the court, he
was accorded the gratifying privilege of unveiling the splendid
Yewell portrait of Charles Mason, the first Chief Justice of that
court, and for whom he had voted as a member of the Legislature,
in 1838.
In those days, the court met in whatever building could be foimd
available. Its first meeting at Burlington was in a tavern. The
judges, lawyers, and attendants upon the court found poor accom-
modations. A bimk of hay full of fleas, spread on the floor of a
tavern or cabin, was the bed of a majority of them, but they made
the best of it. The taverns would be overcrowded, and attendants
dined out of their wagons. The incidents and stories told of the
court in those days by Judge Wilson, James Grant, of Davenport ;
Judge Miirdock, of Elkader, and Judge Wilson, of Dubuque,
would fill a large book. The members of the Supreme Court were
also the District Judges, and held court at different places. At
one place, a log court house had been built of one room. There was
but one other cabin in the place, and it was occupied by a Scotch-
man. When it came night, hay and bedding was brought in by
some farmers and spread on the floor of the court room, after a
careful sweeping. Lawyers, jurors and attendants planted them-
selves on the floor, on which, during the Summer, a farmer's hog
had made a dormitory. Scarcely had the bunkers begvm to doze
when.
188 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
"At once there arose so wild a yell
Within that dark and narrow dell,
As if all the fiends from heaven that fell
Had raised the banner-cry of hell."
Some rushed out on the prairie, but soon came back ; some took
refuge in haystacks, but soon crawled out, declaring flight was use-
less, for there was no escape from the fleas. At another time, the
United States Marshal was behind time, and he stopped at the
cabin of the Scotchman to get dinner. While he was eating, he
opened a warm biscuit, and in the middle of it was a big bedbug,
cooked so that its blood crimsoned half its surface. Turning to
Judge Wilson, he inquired : "What in the world is that ?" "A
Scotch sandwich, double price," was the reply from an interested
sitter at the table. On another occasion, court was held in a log
cabin which had been built for a residence, but was not occupied.
It was in hot weather. There was barely room inside for the court
and jury. Judge Grant was one of the attorneys in a case on trial.
The bailifi', a short, pudgy fellow, with a big, long body, was loung-
ing with the attendants in the shade of some trees, several rods dis-
tant. Old-timers have not forgotten the leonine voice of Grant,
that, when he was in full blast, could be heard a mile. On this occa-
sion, when he was at the climax of his argument to the jury, the
crowd outside thought a row had broken out, and started to see
what was up. The bailiff tried to stop them, but without success.
Standing close against the building, near the doorway, was a hogs-
head of molasses. The bailiff pushed his way through the crowd,
climbed to the head of the hogshead, wheeled about, and, with out-
spread hands, raised to tiptoe, shouted "Silence !" when the head-
ing of the hogshead fell in and he went to the bottom of the molas-
ses. Court was suspended, he was fished out, taken to a nearby
creek, washed and cleaned, when court was resumed as if nothing
had happened.
In 1888, Grifiith was elected a delegate to the National Encamp-
ment of the Grand Army of the Republic, at Columbus, Ohio,
where he had the pleasure of meeting the Colonel who commanded
his regiment at Churnbusco.
In 1896, he was one of the speakers at the Iowa Semi-Centen-
nial Celebration, held at Burlington, when he gave a detailed
CAPTAIN ISAAC W. GKIFFITH 189
account of the Mexian War, in which three hundred and twelve
men enlisted, though but one company was sent to the front ; one
company to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and the remainder joined
regiments from other states. It is unfortunate that no stenographic
report of his narrative was secured.
Politicallv, Griffith was an active Democrat, up to the time of
the breaking out of the Civil War, when he joined the Union party,
and during the four years' strife he was active and helpful in sus-
taining the Government.
Socially, "Old Churubusco" was the friend of everybody. His
genial temperament and constant desire to make others happy drew
them to him like iron to a magnet. Though his life was one of
hardship, he was ever frank, cordial and sunny. 'No person ever
heard him speak evil of another. His sole purpose was to do good
and improve the social life of the community in which he lived.
He was known by more people than any man who had lived in the
county. For more than forty years, his strong, athletic stature was
a familiar figure on the streets of the city. Once seen, he was
always remembered. Plain, unostentatious, quiet, of sterling integ-
rity, he had the confidence and esteem of the community at large.
Handicapped by his armless sleeve, to support his large family,
he accepted whatever service he could get, but public sentiment,
appreciative of his virtues and patriotism, provided him the ways
for a plain, honest living, which was all he desired.
He was an earnest, exemplary member of the Methodist Church,
and for nearly fifty years a highly respected member of the Order
of Odd Fellows, and a faithful, practical exemplar of its tenets.
In recognition of his unbounded love of country and patriotism,
he was appointed by Governors Merrill, Kirkwood and Xewbold
to their military staff, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of
Cavalry.
He was a good public speaker, and popular in all public meet-
ings, especially those of old settlers, for no one could so vividly
portray the pioneer days.
The old Register editorial room was a favorite trysting place
for him, Colonel Xat. ("Pap") Baker, and "Uncle Tommy"
Mitchell, where they often gathered and recounted scenes and inci-
dents of their life and times. They were thrice welcome visitors,
190 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
and three wide-bottomed chairs were always reserved for them.
Their stories were historic, much of which is hidden in the files of
the Register, over at the State Historical Building, as effectually
lost as a needle in a haystack. "Pity 'tis, 'tis true." "Old Churu-
busco" often promised he would put in writing his life experiences ;
so did Baker and Mitchell, but they procrastinated imtil too late.
On his decease, January, 1897, his funeral was a military one,
attended by Company H, Iowa National Guard; Fort Des Moines
Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; Old Settlers' Associa-
tion, Tippecanoes, Grand Army of the Republic, and a large con-
course of citizens. Ministers of nearly all the churches were pres-
ent and gave tribute to his virtues, patriotism, and good citizen-
ship. On his casket, when lowered into the earth, was placed by
Judge Given, a comrade at Chunibusco, a piece of the flag which
was carried through the Mexican War.
October Twenty-first, 1906.
MARTIN L. BURKE
MARTIN L. BITEKE
AMONG the old-timers, none are better conversationalists or
more large supplied with reminiscences than the old stage
drivers, for they went through the country with their eyes
and ears open, and rubbed up against all sorts of people.
I fell in with one of them a few days ago, Martin Lambert
Burke, a full-blooded Hibernian, bom on the "Auld Sod," who
held the reins over some of Colonel Hooker's nags across the prai-
ries and wild wastes between Des Moines and Fort Dodge, when
the latter was in its swaddling clothes.
Born in Ireland, August Tenth, 1830, he came to America when
seventeen years old, and stopped at Columbus, Ohio, the headquar-
ters of the Western Stage Company, operating lines in Ohio and
Indiana, westward on the trail of emigration, slowly retreating
when overtaken by the iron horse. On reaching Indianapolis, in
1854, the company decided to take the field in Iowa. They pur-
chased all the right, title and interest of the Frink & Walker lines,
which were operated from Keokuk to Des Moines and Dubuque,
and, in 1855, sent thirty empty four-horse coaches and drivers to
Knoxville, Illinois. Fifteen of them went to Burlington, and fifteen
to Muscatine. Burke was in the Muscatine assignment, and he
didn't like it, for his chums were all in the Burlington assignment,
so he began working his way to them. Arriving at Ottumwa, he
was put on the box and drove between Chariton and Ottumwa three
months, during which time he got on the warm side of Parmalee,
the road agent, who was transferred to Des Moines to take charge
of what was called the "Fort Dodge Route," from Des Moines to
Cedar Falls, viu Fort Dodge, and brought Burke with him. From
1855 to 1862, Burke drove on that line. In 1862, Colonel Hooker,
superintendent of the company, transferred him to the line from
Des Moines to Indianola, as driver and express messenger, where
he served two years. R. K. McMasters was the agent of the United
States Express Company in Des Moines then.
191
192 PIOJfEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
But facts and incidents are best told in his own way :
"On the Fort Dodge line, we started from here on Third Street,
just across the alley from the Everett House, on the west side of
the street. The Everett House was once called the Marvin House.
We crossed the river somewhere between what is now Court Avenue
and Walnut Street — forded it when it was low, and when it was
frozen, we not only crossed on the ice, but used to come on the ice
from Thompson's Bend clear down. After we got on the East Side,
we went over along the bluff, past the Small House, and went on
out by Thompson's Bend, through Saylorville to Polk City, then to
Bell's Point, which is between Madrid and Luther, then to Boones-
boro. There we met the coach from Fort Dodge, and each driver
turned and went back — I coming back to Des Moines and the other
driver going on to Fort Dodge. At that time there was only tri-
weekly trips. Sometimes, in case of accidents or increase of travel,
I would go on to Fort Dodge. We would leave Boonesboro — that
was before they changed the town over to Boone — go north through
Mineral Eidge to Hook's Point, then cross Boone Eiver in a ferry,
when the river was high, or ford it when low, then to Brushy Creek,
then to a station kept by a man named McNeely, and from there on
to Fort Dodge. The stations for changing horses were at Polk
City, Boonesboro, Bell's Point, Brushy Creek, and Fort Dodge.
The hotels at the stations were kept at Polk City by a man named
Harter ; at Bell's Point, Jesse Hull, who was a fine man ; at Boones-
boro, Eli Keeler, and the first man who kept a hotel there; at
Hook's Point, Isaac Hook; at Brushy Creek, a man by the name
of McNeeley ; at Fort Dodge, it was the Wahkonsa House.
"All the time of my service, the routes were operated by Colonel
Hooker. He had under him what we called "road agents," who
looked after the drivers and kept them straight.
"Tri-weekly trips between Des Moines and Fort Dodge were
made iintil after the railroad reached Boone; after that it was
daily, and sometimes it was two or three coaches a day, depending
upon the amount of travel or the season of the year.
"We delivered passengers in Des Moines at the Everett House,
kept by Absalom Morris, or wherever they wanted to go. I remem-
ber one time taking a passenger so far out on Locust Street, the
MARTIN L. BURKE 193
houses were so scattered and far ajiart, I thought I was making
a trip back again to Fort Dodge.
"There was an old pontoon bridge across the Des Moines,
between Grand Avenue and Walnut Street, but no permanent
bridge. There was no bridge across Raccoon River when I first
came here, but before I quit driving, a bridge at the junction of
the rivers had been built. Alex. Scott started to build a bridge
across the Des Moines, south of Court Avenue, but did not finish
it, and I do not know what became of it.
"The first stage barn was south of where the Rock Island Depot
now is. It was the old barracks the soldiers left, with two or three
wells, etc. The buildings belonged to two brothers, Henry and
Jacob Bunn. The stage company built a fine, new barn and shops,
I think it would be, south and west of where the Union Depot is,
about two blocks. The shops were divided into five departments,
one for building and repairing coaches, another for painting,
another for harness-making, another for ironing coaches, and the
other for shoeing horses. It was near where old Judge William
H. McHenry used to live. It stood on the south side of the street.
We used to sleep right across the street from the Judge's house.
The Judge was a very sociable man, and I knew him well. The
last time I saw him was when he delivered a speech at Madrid,
about a year before he died. I knew the McHenry boys when
they were small. They were fine physical specimens, built for
most anything — good, big, overgrown boys. They had a boy run-
ning with them by the name of Morris, son of the hotel-keeper.
They were around the barn a great deal, and whenever a circus had
been in town, they would come down to the bam and us drivers
would fix up a platform for them, spread dry hay and some blan-
kets over it all, and make a place for them to turn handsprings on,
and one of the McHenry boys — I don't remember which one — and
the Morris boy, were especially good performers. Maybe they have
forgotten it.
"The first office agent under Hooker when I came to Des Moines
was a man named Smith. He looked after the waybills and pas-
sengers, took the fares, and saw that everything was all right before
the stage started. The next office agent was A. T. Johnson. A. B.
Vol.. II— (13).
194 PIONEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
Woodbury had charge of the coaches, and everything at the bai-n
and shops. Whenever a driver came along, no matter whether he
worked for the company or not, Woodbury would take care of him
until he got work.
"Colonel Hooker was one of the grandest men I ever knew, or
had anything to do with. He certainly knew how to handle men.
He was very companionable, and talked to us like he would to any-
body. He often got on the box here in town and drove around, for
there was plenty of room west of the Court House, and he was a
good driver.
"At one time, three passengers, Mrs. Sherman, wife of a banker
at Boone; her child, and the mother of Mrs. Sherman or her hus-
band, I don't remember which, rode with me from Des Moines to
Boonesboro during a cold wet Spring, and I was afraid they would
freeze. I gave them my buifalo robe and overcoat, and tried to
keep them comfortable. They were to take the other coach at
Boone — we always called it Boone — and I told them not to attempt
to cross Boone River, but they were in a hurry to get home, and
when they came to the river, a young man attempted to take them
over in a boat. They had a lot of mail, which was put into the
boat, and so overloaded it that it went down, and the two women
and child were drowned. The young man jumped and left them
to their fate.
"The Winter of 1856-1857 was too cold to talk about. Deer
and elk came into Fort Dodge ; they ran in the streets, driven in by
starvation and cold, and they killed them with clubs. One time
that Winter, an old man was riding with me, and I thought he
would freeze in spite of all I could do. I remembered hearing that
if you could make a man mad, it would warm him, so I slapped
him in the face, and it nearly made the tears come in my eyes
when I did it, but I had to warm him up. When we got to the
station at Mr. Hull's — Mr. and Mrs. Hull were good, kind people
- — I got him in there and warmed him up, but they would not let
him go on that day, and kept him until the next stage came along.
He was quite an old man, from the state of Massachusetts. I was
young then, and never suffered from the cold. I wore calfskin
boots, and would slap my hands around me to warm them up, shift-
ing the lines from one hand to the other, but the passengers inside
MAETIN L. BUEKE 395
in extreme weather would get pretty cold. I had a buffalo robe,
but I soon threw it away, for I could not be bothered with it in
braking. I lost my way one night in the Winter, about three miles
this side of Boone. There was a severe snowstorm from the north-
west. We used to drive past the home of a man named Lucas — he
is living yet — ninety years old. He had some improvements east
of his house, and there was some vacant land between where we
used to travel, and the stonn drove me east of the place. I did not
know where we were, and the storm coming in the faces of the
horses drove the leaders off to the east. I was afraid to rein them,
thinking perhaps they knew better than I did where we were. I
did not know until I drove into some plowed ground, and then came
to the house of William Payne. He had a brother, Thomas, there,
who knew me by my voice, and I knew his voice. They wanted me
to stay all night, but I would not. A light could be seen some dis-
tance away at the farm of the Widow Dycus, and I told them if
I could get there I would be all right and know where I was. I
had a coach load of passengers and I was as anxious to get through
as they were. Mr. Payne said he would stand at the door and
watch the shadow of the coach. If it kept between him and the
light he would know that I was all right. When I got to Boone,
several of the settlers were making ready to go out and see what
had become of me.
"I left Des Moines after breakfast in the morning, as soon as
the passengers could be gathered up, and would get to Boonesboro
— when the roads were good — at three-thirty or four o'clock in the
afternoon; if the roads were bad, it would be eleven or twelve
o'clock.
"The Postoffice in Des Moines was in the Sherman Block, on
Court Avenue, and the Postmaster was Wesley Eedhead. The
Postoffice at Bell's Point was kept by Joseph Cadwallader.
"I had many prominent men ride with me, often beside me on
the box. Among them were Cyrus C. Carpenter, John F. Dim-
combe, Major Williams, John A. Kasson, General Orville Clarke,
John Brown, 'Dan' O. Finch, "Timber" Woods, Judge C. J.
McFarland, and a great many others. I knew Judge Casady inti-
mately, Judge Cole, B. F. Allen, and all the early settlers. I knew
196 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
'Laughing' Hatch well. The Clarksons never rode with me, that
I know of. Governor Gue often did. Old Father Clarkson was,
in his kind of way, sociable on the streets, and sometimes would
reprimand us boys if we did not do right.
"We used to do some horse racing in the vicinity of Madrid.
That was the only kind of gambling I did. Some of the parties
are living yet, among them Cornelius Grigsby and Jacob Murray.
"In those days, the little fields were cleared from the timber, the
early settlers j^referring timber land along the river. There was
not a farm on the prairie from Polk City timber up to the Widow
Dycus' place, where I got lost. It was all imfenced and unfarmed.
"Wild turkeys were plentiful ; there was some deer, and in the
Winter I have seen half a dozen wolves following the coach, but
they would drop off when we came near settlements.
"During my stage days, there were drinking places where liquor
could be had at Des Moines, Fort Dodge, and Boonesboro, and
more or less was drunk by almost everybody. It was for sale in
the grocery stores. Here in Des Moines, at some place on Second
Street, there was plenty of it in the 'groceries,' as they were called.
I remember one nice, old fellow, named Carroll, who kept a 'gro-
cery' in Boonesboro, and had liquor for sale, but would not sell it to
men who were in the habit of drinking or getting intoxicated. The
boys used to get me to go to him and get liquor for them, and I
always had to tell him I wanted it for a sick horse, but I had to
buy with it something that was supposed to be mixed with it later
for medical purposes. I always bought soda, and sometimes I
had my pockets filled with packages of soda, which I distributed
to the women at Bell's Point to make biscuits. The last time I
fooled him, he remai'ked: 'I should think you would get rid of
that horse, he is always sick, and must be expensive.' That was
too much for me, for he was so honest and sincere about it that I
was ashamed to impose on him again. I remember a case where a
fine old fellow named Bowman got drunk, and Carroll had him
arrested and fined. It was on Saturday. Bowman paid his fine,
and on Monday, Carroll had him arrested again for being drunk.
When the trial came on, Bowman pleaded his own case. The state
was represented by John Deidrich. Bowman's defense was that it
MAETIN L. BURKE 197
was the same drunk for which he had been arrested on Saturday —
that he had not yet sobered off — and, as he had been fined once, he
could not be punished twice for the same offense. The Judge
agreed that it was true, and he was released.
"I knew Mr. Ingham, who lived in those days at Algona, and
who, I understand, is the father of Mr. Ingham of The Register
and Leader. A fine man he was, too.
"I quit driving stage, I think, in 1867 ; but while I was driving
I found a piece of land which the River Land Company had not
stolen, in Douglass Township, near Luther, of which I cleared and
cultivated a little, and the boys used to accuse me in a joking way
of farming with the stage horses, but I was never guilty of that.
When I left the stages, I went on my farm, and I have been there
ever since."
Politically, Burke is a Democrat. He says that he went Tip to
Bell's Point. "They were all Hulls and Whigs. The Hulls had
all the girls, so I became a Hull — that is, a Democrat — but I will
vote for Cummins for Governor, anyhow."
Socially, he is genial, companionable, of humorous tempera-
ment, well stocked with the proverbial Celtic wit, a good citizen,
prominent and j^opular in the community where he lives, as evi-
denced by his election for eighteen consecutive years as Roadmaster
and Constable, and would be serving yet, but in 1900, he says,
"The Swedes got scared over the Australian ballot, and didn't know
how to vote for me, and I got knocked out."
He has been vouchsafed a generous length of years, vigorous
health, a clear head ; has lived to see the prairies all "fenced and
farmed," his old station, Boonesboro, gone to wreck, eclipsed by
the railroad city of more euphonious name, and the river, where
he used to cross it in a scow, spanned by a structure of marvelous
engineering skill. Here, in Des Moines, all trace of his stage driv-
ing days is completely obliterated and lost, even the river being
unrecognizable.
October Fourteenth, 1906.
MRS. SOPHIA M. DOLSON-ANDREWS
AMONG the early settlers of Des Moines who became closely
identified with its social and educational affairs was Mrs.
Sophia M. Dolson- Andrews.
She was born in Elmira, Steuben County, New York, April
Twenty-seventh, 1829.
Her father, Johannes Van Dolson, was of Holland and English
descent, and was born in New York in 1752. During the seven
years' struggle for independence, he was at time^ actively engaged
in ferreting out the intrigues of the Tories and Indians. His rec-
ord shows three different enlistments. He was with Washington
at the crossing of the Delaware, Christmas Day, 1775 ; at the battle
of Saratoga, the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, and in other
memorable battles. He was a member of the Masonic order at the
time of the famous Morgan disappearance.
In 1835, he removed with his family to the wilds of Michigan,
traveling from Detroit over corduroy roads in a mover's wagon to
Bellevue, Michigan, and later to South Battle Creek, where many
struggles and privations, unavoidable in a new, unsettled country,
awaited the old soldier and patriot. In 1837, he yielded to the
invincible, and was laid to rest at the age of eighty-five.
Sophia was placed in school, where she developed a fondness
for books and close study, frequently winning the silver medal
bestowed for good scholarship.
At that time, spinning was one branch of home training, and
Mrs. Andrews frequently recurs to the fact that at the age of
twelve, she spun the rolls from which were woven one hundred and
twenty-five yards of cloth.
In the Fall of her thirteenth year, she entered the branch of the
University of Michigan. At the age of fourteen, she began teach-
ing, and continued to teach in public schools and seminaries for
several years. She recalls with pleasure the training of many boys
199
200 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
who, later in life, became noted in business and other careers,
among whom was General Shafter, of Cuban War fame, who, in an
interview in New York, soon after the war, referred to her as the
"gentle, bro-mi-eyed teacher of my early youth."
She also taught in the University of Des Moines (now Des
Moines College), during its opening year, 1866, under the presi-
dency of Elder J. A. Nash.
She became a resident of Des Moines in 1863, where fields of
activity and usefulness opened to her. In the Thirteenth General
Assembly (ISTO), she was given a seat on the floor of the House
of Representatives as correspondent of the Chicago Evening Jour-
nal, under a resolution presented by Honorable John A. Kasson,
which thus conferred upon her the distinction of being the first
woman officially granted a seat in the Legislature. During that
and many subsequent sessions, the Journal contained her faithful
record of Iowa Assemblies. She also furnished descriptive letters
for home papers from the Philadelphia Centennial, in 1876, wrote
sketches from the New Orleans World's Fair, in 1884, and con-
tributed articles on subjects of the day to home papers.
In the early Seventies, she was a member of the Des Moines
Relief Society of Charities, a corps of volunteers organized to dis-
pense charities and relief to the poor, unfortunate, and needy of
the city. She served twelve years as ward visitor and secretary.
Amid the pinching blasts of Winter storm, through deep snows,
and drenching rains, day after day, with her favorite horse, she
sought the homes of squalor, poverty and want, a service requiring
great physical endurance and self-abnegation, for which the con-
sciousness of having carried cheer to many burdened and despond-
ent ones was her reward.
That was during the days of toll bridges, but their gates, by
authority of the City Council, swtmg freely open on her approach-
ment, with a Godspeed from the keeper, who knew well the errand
on which she rode.
At the beginning of her work, she secured, by subscriptions,
fourteen hundred dollars, the first fund raised in the town to be
dispensed by an organized charity system, and she has the subscrip-
tion book in her possession yet. It contains the names of many
who long ago passed to "the other shore."
MRS. SOPHIA M. DOLSON-ANDREWS 201
Of her, it may be said she is strong in her convictions, inde-
pendent in opinions, sweet in appeals for sympathy, charitable, and
kind to the wearied and tried children of this life, her motto being :
"Say thou to each one thou mayest meet,
In lane, highway, or crowded street.
That he and we, and all men move
Under a canopy of love
As broad as the blue sky above."
She is a member of the First Baptist Church. Her religion is
not bounded by creed, but rather dominated by noble and unselfish
deeds. She has been active in church work, also a leader in the
formative club movement; was a charter member of a woman's
club, fifty-five years ago, still in existence, to establish a circulating
library; is a charter member of the Des Moines Women's Club,
which made its advent in 1885 ; organized the Madeline, de Scudery
Club, of which she was chosen President, and has served continu-
ously as President and Leader twenty-one years. She is a member
of the Women's Press Club of Des Moines, now in its eleventh
year.
At a meeting of the Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs, May
Fifteenth, 1907, at Oskaloosa, she was complimented by an unani-
mous election as Honorary State Vice-President. She was the
first Regent of the Abigail Adams Chapter, Daughters of the
American Revolution, organized in Des Moines in 1893, the honor
being conferred upon her by the National Society, Daughters of
the American Revolution, in recognition of her being a daughter
of a Revolutionary soldier.
While she has been active all her life in the efforts to broaden
the usefulness of women, and liberate them from the narrow bounds
in which the customs of ages have held them, and, while a certain
reward, very gratifying, has come to her from the recognition of
her work in that direction, she holds in the most sacred place that
which has come to her in the fulfillment of her duties as wife,
mother and homemaker.
JUDGE JOSIAH GIVEN
JUDGE JOSIAH GIVEN
THOUGH not a pioneer of Polk County, Josiah Given is an
early settler, identified with much of the civic affairs of the
county and state, and is widely known.
Bom in Murrysville, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania,
October Thirty-first, 1828, of Irish parentage, he went, when ten
years old, with his parents to Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio,
where his father settled on a farm and opened a crossroads black-
smith shop as a side line, where Josiah exercised his muscles blow-
ing the bellows, keeping flies from the horses his father was shoe-
ing, stiffened his vertebral column picking stone on the farm, and
did such odd jobs as he could get. He devoted as much time as
possible acquiring an education, but schools were inferior, and
accessories limited, so that, whatever he secured was by persistent
effort under very adverse circumstances.
When the Mexican War broke out, he enlisted as a snare drum-
mer in Company I, Fifteenth Infantry, for recruiting purposes,
and after a short service, being deemed too young for service in the
field, was rejected. But early in 184Y, at the age of nineteen, he
enlisted in Company G, Fourth Ohio Eegiment, imder Colonel
Brough, was appointed a Corporal, went with the regiment to the
front, and served until the war ended.
Returning to his home in Millersburg, he began the study of
law in the office of J. R. Barcroft, who subsequently became a citi-
zen of Des Moines, and well known to members of the Bar for the
past thirty years.
In 1850, upon the motion of Edwin M. Stanton, the famous
Secretary of War, Given was admitted to the Bar of Stark County,
Ohio, and opened an office. In 1851, he was elected Prosecuting
Attorney for Holmes County, served two terms, and gained a high
rank in his profession. His first case as prosecutor was the trial
of a man who was indicted for murder in the first degree. His
203
204 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
opposing counsel were Honorable David Spangler, Honorable John
McSweeney, and Honorable Thomas Armor, three of the most
noted lawyers in the state ; but he secured a conviction.
While he was holding that office, the County Treasurer left the
country between two days, a defaulter to the county for sixty thou-
sand dollai's, and Given was deputized to hunt him up. He trailed
him over the counti-y for over two months, to Switzerland, where
he found he had doubled his track, returned to the United States
on a steamer which met the one on which Given went over, in mid-
(jcean. He immediately returned, got his man, and twenty thou-
sand dollars of the sequestratetl funds.
At the close of his official term, he formed a partnership with
Barcroft, and in 1850 removed to Coshocton, Ohio. One day, while
he was trying a case in court, a telegi'am was given the Judge,
announcing the firing on Fort Sumter. He at once gathered up
his papers, abandoned the case, left the Court House, and did not
enter it again until the close of the war.
He organized Company K, Twenty-fourth Ohio Infantry, was
commissioned Captain of the company, and seiwed several months
in Western Virginia, when he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel
of the Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, with which he was engaged in
the battles of Bowling Green, Nashville, and Stone River, at the
latter being wounded.
In the Spring of 1863, he was promoted to Colonel of the Forty-
seventh Ohio Infantry, to succeed the "fighting parson," Granville
Moody, and went through the Atlanta campaig-n, a portion of the
time commanding the Third Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth
Army Corps. The labor of that campaign and exposure in the
Southern swamps brought on rheumatism, which so disabled him,
and the war being practically ended, he resigned. He was soon
after elected Postmaster of the Lower House of the Thirty-ninth
Congress, his nomination being made, in an eloquent speech, by
James A. Garfield. As a reminder of his service in the House, he
has an album in which is inscribed the signature of every member
of that which was known as "the Reconstruction House." The
first name is that of Schuyler Colfax, the second Thaddeus Steph-
ens, following with those of W. B. Allison, Garfield and others.
After two vears' service in that office, he returned to Ohio.
JUDGE JOSIAH GIVEN 205
In 1868, he perfected a long-cherished plan, and came to Des
Moines. In 1869, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of
Internal Revenue and assigned to the division pertaining to taxes
on spirits and fermented liquors, where he remained two years and
resigned. On leaving the ofBce, a farewell message was presented
him, signed by the fifty-seven clerks of his office, present in a body,
expressing their feelings, which is deemed one of the most highly
treasured souvenirs of his official life. It is artistically engrossed
and elegantly enclosed in a frame 24x36 inches:
"United States Tee.^suey.
''Internal Revenue Department.
"1871.
"By your own volunteer act, you are about to retire from the
position of Second Deputy Commissioner of this Bureau and Chief
of the division in which we are employed. Before you leave us,
we desire to unite in a more enduring manner than by a passing
breath, to bid you a 'good-bye.' Never were the duties of the office
more onerous, difficult, or delicate, than when you entered upon
them ; and never more watchfully, industriously and efficiently dis-
charged, or more satisfactorily, at once to the Government and to
the taxpayer. But not here alone have we found cause for com-
mendation. Amid the severe labors and perplexities of these duties,
you have ever manifested the consideration and kindness toward
your subordinates which mark Nature's true gentleman, and which
have added to our admiration for the faithful officer a glowing
and faithful friendship for the man.
"Your departure for the new field of labor will be followed by
the best wishes of us all, and with the sincere expression of our per-
fect trust that your future will form an uninterntpted justification
of the high opinion and cordial regard you have inspired in us, we
bid you a regretful and affectionate farewell."
Returning to Des Moines, in October, 1871, he was elected
District Attorney for the Fifth Judicial District, and served three
years, when he again joined his old tutor, Judge Barcroft, and
James M. McCaughan in the practice of law.
In November, 1876, he was elected Representative for Polk
County, in the Sixteenth General Assembly. He was made Chair-
man of the Committee on Public Buildings, and a member of the
206 PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
committees on Judiciary, Cities and Towns, and Judicial Districts.
I was reporting for the press during the session, and recall it as a
busy session. I think the House Journal will show Given's name
as frequently as that of any other member, for he took an active
part in the proceedings. It adopted the Woman Suffrage amend-
ment to the Constitution, defeated the effort to restore capital pun-
ishment, to repeal the law giving the Railroad Commissioners
power to fix passenger and freight rates, and repeal the so-called
Granger Law. To secure the latter, there was present the largest
and most formidable lobby ever seen about the Legislature to repre-
sent the railroads, who claimed that the law was inimical to the
prosperity of the state, prohibited railroad building where it was
needed, and would force the railroads into bankruptcy. It was a
strenuous and exciting contest. There was also elaborate amend-
ments to the Code, respecting county and township affairs, and cor-
porations. It also settled the question as to when United States
Senators must be elected. The Act of Congress requires that it
shall be on the first Tuesday after the meeting and organization of
the General Assembly. Governor Kirkwood, and nearly a dozen
others, were candidates, and the contest was a lively one. On Jan-
uary Eighteenth, both houses met in joint convention and elected
Kirkwood. Soon after, the question arose as to the validity of the
election, for, from delay in the proceedings, the organization of the
House had not been fully completed on the day of the election. To
make doubly sure, and forestall any action the Democrats in Con-
gi-ess might be disposed to take, Given presented a resolution pro-
viding that the House, on Tuesday, January Twenty-fifth, proceed
to elect a Senator, to be followed by the joint convention on the
Twenty-sixth. It was adopted, and Kirkwood had the distinction
of being twice elected by the same General Assembly.
Given must have run up against a passenger station on some
road during an Iowa blizzard, for early in the session he presented
a resolution instructing the Committee on Railroads to prepare a
bill requiring depots to be kept open at all reasonable hours, for the
accommodation of the traveling public. If it prepared such a bill,
it forgot to present it to the House.
In November, 1880, Given was elected Judge of the Circuit
Court, the jurisdiction of which was that of a Court of Probate,
JUDGE JOSIAH GIVEN 207
and in November, 1884, was reelected. In 1886, the court was
abolished, the District Court reorganized, and in November, he
was elected Judge of that court. He served until March, 1889,
when he resigned, and was the same month appointed by Governor
Larrabee as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Keed. In November,
he was elected to serve out Reed's term, and in 1885, reelected for
a full term. During his incumbency, he seiwed two years as Chief
Justice of the court. On the expiration of his term, in 1890, he
practically retired from active business, owing to impaired health,
having for twenty years poised the scales of justice on the bench,
and is now living in quietude with his daughter.
Politically, he was originally a Democrat, but when the attack
was made on Sumter, he became a Union man. When he emerged
from the war, he was a strong Republican, and as such has done
valiant service for the party.
His speeches were punctuated with apt stories, and true Celtic
witticisms, which made him one of the best stump speakers in the
state. It is a somewhat singular fact that he never in public, and
seldom in private, refers to his valorous army life through two
wars. He seems studiously to avoid it. I recall one instance, how-
ever, when he was posted to make a speech. A large crowd had
assembled, but he was delayed and did not arrive until near the
close of the meeting. To indicate that he did not intend to make a
long sjjeech, he went on the platform carrying his hat and overcoat
on his arm. The presiding officer arose to welcome him, and
reached out to relieve him of his hat and coat, but he very quietly
placed them over his other arm, saying to the crowd : "Forty years
ago, when I was in the army, some man stole my blanket, and I
have never been able to find him since, but I think I have my eye
on him now." The sally brought down the house.
Socially, he is courteous, affable, companionable, open-hearted,
enjoys a good story, and can tell one himself. His bearing is unas-
suming and dignified, his manner frank, the reflex of characteris-
tics of unimpeachable integrity. As a legislator, jurist, lawyer,
and citizen, he has proved ever the same, faithful, honest and true.
He is a highly esteemed member of the Masonic fraternity, the
American Legion of Honor, and the Grand Army of the Republic.
208 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Eeligiously, he is an exemplar of the faith of the Presbyterian
Church, of which he has for many years been an active member.
He was once elected church treasurer, but declined, saying it was
absurd, as he had never been able to build a home for himself with-
out putting a mortgage on it.*
November Eighteenth, 1906.
*Died February Third, 1908.
SAMUEL SAUCERMAN
SAMUEL SAUCERMAN
THOUGH not a pioneer of Polk County, Samuel Saucerman
has been identified with its business groAvth and prosperity,
and that of Des Moines, for nearly forty years.
Born in Coshocton County, Ohio, February Fifteenth, 1840,
of German ancestry, when six years old his parents emigrated to
Green County, Wisconsin, where his father purchased one hundred
and sixty acres of wild land in a sparsely settled country, and
opened a farm. Being a carpenter and builder, he escaped many
of the discomforts of pioneer settlers. Deer, wild turkeys, prairie
chickens, pheasant, quail, rabbits, and squirrels were abundant,
the streams alive with the most delicious specimens of the finny
tribe, the speckled trout, so that the meat supply only required the
gathering of it when wanted.
There Samuel passed his youth, doing the general utility work
of a farm boy during the Summer; in the Winter going to the dis-
trict school, and chopping wood.
When sixteen years old, his father died, and for four years fol-
lowing, he managed the farm, got it well supplied with grain and
live stock, and then turned it over to his mother, three younger
brothers and a sister, and started off to "find his fortune."
He purchased timber land, hired men to cut down the trees, cut
them into lumber, fence rails, and cordwood, which were sold to
prairie farmers, some of whom came twenty miles to get them.
He thus accumulated several golden shekels, and, in 1868, came
to Des Moines. It was not a very attractive place to a stranger
from the backwoods of Wisconsin. There were no paved streets,
only a few poor sidewalks ; most of the business was done on Sec-
ond Street and Court Avenue below Third. Doctor Tumor was
planting rails and ties in the mud on Walnut Street for his street
cars, drawn by horses and mules, which, most of the time, were
floundering broadside down in the slippery, sticky clay. The
Vol. II— (14). 209
210 PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
county was comparatively unsettled . Unimproved land was selling
at ten dollars to fifteen dollars an acre.
After surveying the field, he concluded the town was bound to
grow ; that with its growth the people must have places to live and
homes. He therefore pinned his faith to real estate. He pur-
chased several small tracts of timber land nearby, hired men to cut
the trees into cordwood, and haul it into town, where it was sold
at five and six dollars per cord, as everybody used wood at that
time for heating purposes. He also purchased several small tracts
inside the town, platted them into building lots, sold them to
mechanics, furnishing them lumber to build a house, on easy pay-
ments, without interest or rent, thus enabling them to get a home.
Later, he purchased a large tract north and west of Drake Univer-
sity, when the mud was so deep on Cottage Grove Avenue and what
is now LTniversity Avenue it was difficult for a horse to pull a
buggy through it. There were also but few houses scattered along
either street.
He platted his large tract into lots, donated to the city eight
acres of it for streets, opened Hickman. Avenue, dug out the trees
and underbrush, and graded the roadbed from Twentieth to Thir-
tieth Street, He also did the same on Thirtieth Street, from Uni-
versity Avenue to a point one-half mile north of Hickman Avenue.
Land that then was purchased for twenty dollars an acre could not
be had to-day for five hundred dollars an acre. That LTniversity
Avenue would ever be adorned with the magnificent university,
with its environments ; the elegant residences that now beautify it ;
that street cars would traverse it, or electricity illuminate it, was
beyond the conception or dream of the most optimistic city booster,
though Saucerman was quite radical, for he always declared that
Des Moines would become what Indianapolis is to Indiana ; that it
would be the one great central, up-to-date city of the state, with
smaller towns sun-ounding and tributary to it; that interurban
roads radiating in all directions, with quick transit and low rates,
would inevitably and rapidly increase its gi-owth and prosperity.
Being thus optimistic, he started in to help build and improve the
town.
After thirty-six years of labor, averaging fourteen to sixteen
hours a day, and for more than twenty years paying annually into
SAMUEL SAUCEKMAN 211
the county treasury as taxes over one thousand dollars; selling
over two thousand building lots ; assisting many laboring men to
secure homes, he can very justly be classed as one of the boosters.
Politically, he is a Eepublican, and votes the national ticket of
that party. He takes no part in politics ; never held a public office ;
would not take one if he could get it. In state, county and city
affairs, he votes for the man he believes will best subserve the public
well-being.
Socially, he is plain, unostentatious, of kindly temperament, a
good neighbor and good citizen. Is not a member of any social
clubs or fraternal organizations, being opposed to secret societies
of every kind, regardless of their object or purpose.
Religioush-, he holds a membership in the Central Christian
Church, but does not accept all its tenets.
A dominant trait of his character is independence of thought
and action. He believes in open, frank, square dealing in business,
politics and religion; that a true American citizen is one of the
highest types of manhood.
December Sixteenth, 1906.
JOHN F. WINTERROWD
OXE of the pioneers of Polk County, closely identified with
its early history, was the venerable and well-known John
Francis Winterrowd.
Bom in Indiana, where he grew to manhood, he came to Polk
County in May, 1850, with a party of twenty-seven, among whom
was John Barlow and family, and ''Uncle Billy'' Dawson and fam-
ily. They came with the proverbial prairie schooners, not so ideal-
istic a group as Blashfield has pictured at the State House, but the
real emigrant outfit. They crossed the Mississippi at Keokuk, and
made their first stop in the county at "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell's
tavern — there were no hotels in those days — where everybody
stopped and rested to get their bearings before entering the "prom-
ised land," for there was no other tavern between what is now
Marengo and Fort Des Moines.
Winterrowd and his family stopped for a few weeks on a set-
tler's claim near what is now Rising Sun, and then moved into
what was known as the old "Uncle Jerry" Church house, near the
mouth of Four Mile Creek. "Uncles" were numerous in those
days, and helpful to newcomers.
Winterrowd purchased a claim of Francis Stewart, two miles
southeast of Rising Sun, on which was a double log cabin, which
consisted of two cabins, with an open space between equal to one
of the cabins. The space was roofed over and used for placing
wagons, plows, harness, saddles, etc. One cabin was used for a
living-room, the other for a stable. The space between the logs was
chinked with clay, the chimney built of sticks and clay, with a
large fireplace, in which all the cooking was done. There was but
one room. At night, the sleepers were partitioned off by curtains.
There was little protection against Winter storms. The Winter of
1856 will long be remembered by that community for its severity
and the suffering it caused. A record kept there shows that in
213
214 PIOXEERS OF POLK COFXTY, IOWA
January the morcurv dropped to thirty-five below zero on the Four-
teenth, thirty-six below on the Seventeenth, thirty below February
Tenth, and four below on April Fourth. The snow was deep and
blizzards frequent. There being little or no protection for live
stock, farms were dotted with hundreds of cattle fro/en to death,
many of them cows, so necessary to family support, their carcasses
affording a good feast to wolves and birds of prey, thus attracting
them to the settlements to commit depredations and destructiveness
in other ways.
Sometimes flour got short, when corn meal and rmcon became a
steady diet, though with a gun and a few hours' time, wild turkeys
and prairie chickens could be substituted for the bacon.
The first lights used in the cabin were "grease lamps," that is,
a twisted rag placed in a dish of grease fried out of bacon, which
did service until a fat steer furnished tallow to make candles, when
candle dipping became a stunt for the youngsters, to furnish them
amusement and keep them out of mischief.
A small flock of sheep furnished wool for family use. Mrs.
Winterrowd washed the wool and prepared it for picking, which
done, the women of the neighborhood would be invited to a "wool
picking," which was made a social gathering, and jolly good time.
With the wool picked, she carded it by hand, spun it into yam,
wove it into cloth, and made the clothes for the boys. She also
wove bedspreads of neat design, and a quality not duplicated in
the stores to-day, even after fifty years' service, and which are
now held as treasured heirlooms by the only daughter, wife of
"Dave" Witter.
Despite the trials and deprivations, the family often declared
they were never happier or enjoyed life better than when in the
old log cabin.
In 1855, the family having increased to the swarming period,
a two-story frame, 18x40, with an "L" 16x18, was begun. Native
lumber, mostly Black Walnut, was used. The boards were all
planed by hand, and Captain Zachery, a well-known character in
the early days, split, shaved and made the shingles. Carpenters
were scarce, and two years passed before the house was completed,
an event recognized by a jollification and "house warming."
JOHN F. WINTERROWD 215
Among its furnishings were nigs and carpets which the good
mother wove from wool she spun. The house is still standing on
the farm in evidence of its good construction.
Contemporaneous with Winterrowd, the Barlows and "Uncle
Billy" Dawson started a settlement farther north, on the prairie.
The prairie settlers very soon manifested a disposition to improve
their social condition with churches, schools and good roads, but
the settlers in the timber belt, who had come in several years before,
were inclined to turn a cold shoulder to them, and not disposed to
give them much assistance or encouragement, but they soon so
increased in numbers as to work out their various enterprises, in
all of which Winterrowd was an important factor. In 1855, when
the Christian Church Society was organized, the first in the county,
he was one of its members, and gave the site on which to build a
meeting-house, on his farm. He also gave the site for the first
schoolhouse in that section, and the first cemetery. The farm of
twelve hundred acres was for many years a notable place, and espe-
cially during the Spring Creek oil excitement, in 1865, when one
Tichenor, a Chicago shari^er, leased privileges to bore for oil all
over the farm, and the chug-chug of the borer resoTiaded over the
prairie until he had drawn in enough suckers to fill his pockets
with about thirty-five thousand dollars, when the doping of the
springs on the creek with crude petroleum ceased, and the bottom
fell out of the whole business.
In 1867, the sorghum craze stnick the farmers, and they started
in to raise cane to supply saccharine enough to sweeten the whole
country, and drive Cuba out of the business ; and they did raise
good cane. It was on Winterrowd's farm the first sorghum was
made in Polk County. He purchased an iron rolling mill, costing
one hundred dollars, with which to crush the cane. Farmers from
all over the county brought cane to the mill to have it crushed by
the tons. For his own use, big kettles were swung to a hanging
pole to boil the juice. A fire was started to run day and night, and
in spite of smarting eyes from the smoke from the wood, and
scorching heat, the scum must be skimmed off every few minutes
by the tenders, from the surface of the boiling mass. Along about
midnight, supper is ready, and such a supper ! Smoked ham and
216 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
eggs, potatoes roasted in ashes, and coffee sweetened with syi'up.
And then a smoke with a corn-cob pipe, and story-telling, or taking
turns in tending the fire, wrapped in a horse blanket take a nap
on a bench. When sugaring-oflf time came, the neighbors and their
children were invited, and a regular jollification was had, an event
which, said Mrs. Witter, a few days ago, "I shall never forget.
We had the time of our lives."
From W^interrowd's first product, he put three barrels of syrup
in the cellar, to sweeten the coming flapjacks.
The greater profit in cattle, hogs and horses, however, soon oblit-
erated sorghum-raising in Polk County.
The energy and the enterprise of that community of settlers
resulted in the organization of the town of Rising Sun, which, in
1860, became a place of considerable importance, and a good trad-
ing-point for the surroimding country. Winterrowd had a contract
at one time for hauling merchandise from Keokuk to the town.
He and his good wife were noted for their generous hospitality.
The latch-string of their cabin door was always outside. They
were fond of society, especially young peopla One occasion, their
children will never forget. There were seven boys and one girl —
"Dave" Witter later captured the girl — and they were told to
invite all the young people in the neighborhood, which meant a cir-
cuit of ten miles, to a Christmas dinner. Promptly on the morn-
ing of that day, about one hundred youngsters put in their appear-
ance at the old log house, bringing their appetites and jollity with
them. They remained during the day and evening, some of them
until the next morning. The turkeys were roasted in the big fire-
place, also one goose, probably the first in Polk County, for a goose
was not then considered very edible.
Their home was also headqiiarters for pioneer preachers and
their families. Among the gospel missionaries who frequently
stopped there was Father Jessup, Father J. P. Roach and P. T.
Russell. Once a week was also hold an old-fashioned singing school,
to wrestle with the old-style square notes and rehearse good, old
Mear, Coronation, Lenox, Dundee, Rock of Ages, and other soul-
stirring tunes.
What old-timer does not recall the fugues, especially the para-
phrase of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Psalm, respecting
JOHN F. WINTEREOWD 217
the pleasure of brethren dwelling together in unity, which was
"like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the
beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his gar-
ments," for when the singers got warmed up, it would be rolled out
something like this, somewhat disjointed, but with force and vigor,
getting all together at the close:
"Ran down his beard, and o'er his head
his robes,
And o'er his robes
His beard, - — — his robes.
Its costly - — — moist
Its-costly-moisture-shed."
Winterrowd was public-spirited, charitable, and took an active
part in educational affairs ; helped organize the first school district
in that section, build the first schoolhouse, and for many years
was one of the School Directors. His home was the home of school
teachers, free of expense.
Politically, he was a Free Soil Democrat, of the most radical
type, but took no active part in politics.
In 1874-1875, having acquired a competency and many broad
acres — he never sold an acre in his life — and admonished by pass-
ing years of the need of rest, he divided up his property, giving
each son a farm, the daughter a fine home in Des Moines, and
became a resident of the city until his decease, in October, 1905,
at the age of eighty-seven, leaving the heritage of a noble. Chris-
tian life, devoted to the betterment of society and the good of pos-
terity.
April Fifteenth, 1906.
NICHOLAS McDonnell
NICHOLAS s. McDonnell
AN old-timer is N. S. McDonnell, or "Nick," as he was best
known thirty years ago. Bom May Eighth, 1842, on the
"Auld Sod," in Tipperary, Ireland, of true Celtic ancestry,
he passed his youth on his father's small farm, abutting the River
Shannon, where he marshaled the ducks to water, looked after the
pigs, burglarized the hens' nest-s for the kitchen supply, and did
such other stunts as fall to a growing lad on a farm. He attended
the National schools, which correspond to the public schools in this
country, until he was fourteen years old.
At Cape May, New Jersey, resided an uncle, who wrote such
glowing accounts of the country on this side of the "big pond," and
told such tales of the chances for a young man to make dollars,
"Nick" decided to try it. Rolling his belongings into a bundle, he
put them into a bag, and in May, 1857, set sail alone for America,
with no mishap en route, except a slight interference with his appe-
tite from Nausea Marina, as the doctor would call it, before he got
his "sea legs," and a slight attack of nostalgia, as the distance wid-
ened between him and father, mother, and the good old Emerald
Isle, but he was a disappointed boy on arriving at Cape May, to
learn that his uncle had left the country — gone West.
Without money, in a strange land, he had to hunt a job. He
learned that Jay Gould had purchased a large tract of timber land
in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and was going to build a big
tannery and town there. "Nick" took the trail, and on arriving
there his iirst job was peeling the bark from the trees as they were
cut down, and cording it up, at two dollars pei- week. His next
job was attending the tan vats — that is, changing the liquids from
one vat to another, according to the time required, a process
demanding promptness, precision, and fidelity.
Meanwhile, he kept his eyes open, and when Gould began to lay
out and plat his town of Gouldsborough, he was placed in the
219
220 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
surveying party. His next job was with the builders of the notable
big tannery.
He remained at Gouldsborough until 1859, when he had an
attack of Western Fever, came to Illinois, looked about a bit, but
did not like the country. He turned his face southward and landed
in Memphis, Tennessee, where he made an engagement to learn
the trade of machinist and boilermaker. He remained there until
the Civil War broke out, in 1861, and not being in sympathy with
the Southern side of the contest, made tracks northward. He came
up the Mississippi to Clinton, thence by railroad to Cedar Rapids,
thence across the country to Iowa City, thence by railroad to
Marengo, then the terminus of the Rock Island Road. From there
he walked to Des Moines, getting the first view of the town one
tine April day, from the top of Capitol Hill, which he declares was
the most beautiful landscape he ever saw. He surveyed it in all
directions and decided to come in and stay. The town was small ;
there were but few houses, scattered over the bottoms on the East
Side; all trade and business was done on the West Side, on Second
Street, and Court Avenue below Third Street.
Not finding suiEcient employment at his trade, he went to work
on a farm in Walnut Township, in the harvest fields, at sixty-five
cents per day. For a short time, he worked in Heminway's foun-
dry, on the East Side, the first foundry in the town.
Charley Van was building and booming a rival to Des Moines
■ — facetiously called "Vantown," on the south side of the 'Coon.
He had built a big mill, several small houses, staked out a promis-
ing city, and he offered "Nick" a good factory site, if he would
locate there ; but it was declined, with thanks.
Soon after, he found a small frame, abandoned building on Des
Moines River bank, near " 'Coon Point," and, gathering a few
tools and other appliances together, he put up his shingle for busi-
ness. In the Spring of 1862, the floods came, and one morning,
when going to his shop, he saw it sailing down the river toward
the Gulf of Mexico.
Discouraged, but not undaunted, he bought a small part of a lot
belonging to the estate of Alex. Scott, at the corner of East First
and Court Avenue, started again, and inaugurated steam boiler
?fiCHOLAs s. McDonnell 221
making in Des Moines, and he is on the same corner now. There
was not much demand for steam boilers then. The first one he
made went into the Heminway foundry; the next into the Daily
Register office, and he has made every boiler used in that estab-
lishment during all its mutations and migrations, to the present
time. As business increased, extensions and additions were made
to the works, until they now occupy an entire block.
In 1866, James Meara, his old shopmate in Memphis, joined
him as partner, the two, and an occasional helper, doing all the
work. In 1879, Meara having died, "Nick" purchased his interest,
and in 1888, organized the Des Moines Manufacturing and Supply
Company, with himself as President and his son, John E., Secre-
tary and Treasurer.
During all these years, "Nick" devoted his spare moments to
the study of mechanics, and the most advanced literature on that
subject. In 1864, he took a course in Muffley's Iowa Business Col-
lege, then in the Turner Building, next east of The Register and
Leader Building, and the first business college in the city. On the
third floor of that building was the first exclusive amusement hall
opened in town.
The works are now making all kinds of engines, boilers, mill,
clay, and mining machinery. A specialty is machinery complete,
of original designs, for gypsum plaster mills, which are success-
fully competing with Eastern manufactories. Five mills have been
put in at Fort Dodge ; others at Syracuse, New York ; Fort Clin-
ton, Ohio; Manitoba, and in California. The machinery for a
mill is massive, and embraces the mining, drying, crushing, grind-
ing, calcining, and mixing of gypsum rock for stucco work, a cal-
cining pan alone weighing one thousand, nine hundred pounds, and
a good mill has four pans.
More than fifty mechanics are employed, and from the first
week in 1864, every employe, on Saturday night, has received his
week's wages. If the cash box was short, as it sometimes was,
"Nick" hustled out and borrowed enough to "pay off," rather than
break his inexorable rule, believing that a well-paid and satisfied
employe is the best helper.
222 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Beginning with nothing but brain, brawn and determination,
by industry, intelligently directed, sterling integrity, and square-
dealing, he has won success, and added to the mechanical industries
of the city until the output of his works is now more than two hun-
dred thousand dollars per year.
Politically, he is a Eepublican. He cast his first ballot for the
election of "Old Abe" to his second term, but he has not time nor
inclination to indulge in politics.
Socially, he is of genial disposition, companionable, esteemed by
everybody, and carries a big, warm heart, pulsating with kindness
and charity. He is not a member of any secret organization, pre-
ferring to keep aloof from all "entangling alliances."
Religiously, he is a Catholic, and active in the church and edu-
cational work of that denomination.
He has good health, is always on deck for business, yet his forty-
nine years of strenuous labor prompts him to let John E. do the
hustling.
December IG, 1906.
GERRIT VAN GINKEL
GERRIT VAN GINKEL
ONE of the most active and successful "boosters" of Dea
Moines thirty years ago was Gerrit Van Ginkel, who not
only helped the town, but accumulated wealth, not by spec-
ulation, but legitimate business enterprises.
Born in the land of the canals, windmills and wooden shoes,
December Eleventh, 1849, he came, with his parents, to America,
landing at ISTew Orleans in 1857. They came up the Mississippi
Valley to Pella, and joined the community of sturdy, intelligent
Hollanders who had settled there. The father engaged in farming,
while Gerrit did what he could find to do, for board and clothes,
and attended the excellent schools which have been the notable
feature of the town since its foundation, until eleven years old,
when he went to learn the printing trade in the office of the Week-
hlad, published by the well-known banker, Henry Hospers, where
he remained imtil 18G7, when, at the age of eighteen, he estab-
lished the Pella Gazette, which he published two years, when, his
health becoming impaired from overwork, he was compelled to
abandon it, for he was a complete bundle of energy and activity, an
omnivorous reader, diligent student, and delver for knowledge, giv-
ing himself little time for the rest and recuperation necessary in
the adolescent period.
He then sought outdoor work of any kind he could get. He
husked corn for one dollar a day. When outdoor work was not
obtainable, he took the road and worked in printing offices in Chi-
cago and other cities. Typesetting in those days was quite differ-
ent from what it is to-day. Instead of sitting in a chair and work-
ing a keyboard similar to that of a typewriting machine, he had
to stand on his feet and pick up each letter with his fingers.
Eventually, he reached Des Moines, in 1869. The best open-
ing he saw for work — idleness was foreign to his nature — ^was
truck farming. He purchased a tract of land south of 'Coon RiveT
223
224 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
and began raising v^etables on a small scale. By industry and
strict attention to business, regardless of sunrise or sunset, excellent
skill and management, his trade so increased that he enlarged his
fields until he became an extensive shipper to other places. In
Winter months, he set tyj^e in the Register office.
While he was running his gardening enterprise, he prospected
for coal on his land, and found, at a depth of one hundred and
tlhirty-five feet, an excellent strata underlying his entire holdings.
He at once sunk a shaft, and in 1882-1883, had three mines in
operation, employing one hundred and fifty men. He opened yards
at First and Court Avenue, and became one of the prominent coal
operators in the town, his trade being mostly local. He was always
on good terms with the minei's and his customers, his rule being to
give everyone a fair deal, and his tons to weigh two thousand
pounds. In 1890, he went out of the coal business, and his yards
were removed to give place to the Brown-Hurley building.
While he was in the coal business, he established a large brick-
making plant, which turned out millions of brick annually. He
also organized and put in operation the Iowa Mineral and Ochre
Paint Works.
In 1885, Doctor M. P. Turner was operating a street railway
under a charter granted in 1866, giving him the exclusive use of
the streets for cars moved by animal power, and he was occupying
several streets in his free-and-easy-going way. He never got in a
hurry, and nobody had to run to catch his cars. They were also
small and narrow, the track being only three feet gauge. Van
Ginkel concluded the service could be greatly improved, and, with
H. E. Teachout, in 1886, applied for a franchise for a road of
four feet eight and a half inch gauge, the cars to be drawn by
horses. At the same time, "Van Ginkel and John Weber applied
for a charter for a road from 'Coon River bridge to Sevastopol,
with the same gauge. Of course, the Doctor vigorously opposed it,
and he found friends enough in the City Council to stave it off for
a year, but in 1887, both were granted. Construction was com-
menced at once and pushed vigorously. On the East Side, track
was laid on Locust Street from Sixth to West Fourth, north on
Fourth to Center, and west on Center. Streets paralleling the
GERRIT VAN^ GIXKEL 225
Doctor's lines were also taken. The cars were up-to-date, larger,
and more comfortable than the Doctor's cars, evidencing the push
and energy behind the enterprise. The Doctor became alarmed
at the apparent purpose to crowd him out of business, and applied
to the District Court for an injunction restraining the use of the
broad-gauge cars. Then it was up to the lawyers — the best in the
town — and the contest was a vigorous one. The Doctor finally won,
Judge Marcus Kavanagh, now one of the most highly esteemed
and popular judges in Chicago, granting the injunction prohibiting
the use of broad-gauge cars on and after May First, 1888.
Van Ginkel and Teachout at once appealed to the Supreme
Court, setting out the claim that the Doctor's charter was for a
narrow-gauge road. After some further delay, the court held that
the width of the gauge did not affect the Doctor's exclusive right,
under his charter, to the use of animal power to move his cars, and
affirmed Judge Kavanagh's decree.
Incidentally, during the hearing — it was not set out in the
appeal — the question arose as to the right to use other than animal
power, but the court, under its general rule not to beg questions nor
express extra judicial opinions, and as the question was not in the
case at bar, declined to give an opinion. It simply affirmed Kava-
nagh's decree. The broad-gauge cars were tied up.
It was then again up to the lawyers. But Van Ginkel decided
to take the bull by the horns, as it were, and electrify the road.
New and larger cars were ordered, the horse cars remodeled, the
track relaid. Electricity for moving railway cars was then in an
experimental stage. Its utility had not yet been satisfactorily
determined, but Van Ginkel, from his study of the subject, was
satisfied it would be a success, and the first contract made by the
now extensive Thomson-Houston Electric Company for an elec-
trical railway equipment was for this Des Moines road.
So soon as the cars were running, the Doctor pounced on them
again for an injunction, claiming he had the exclusive right to the
use of the streets of the city for railway purposes; that the city
could not give the right to another, and thus destroy his business.
Again, the matter went up to the Supreme Court, and to save time,
on an agreed case between the parties. On that appeal, the court
Vol. II— (15).
226 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
held that, while the Doctor's charter of 1866, gave him the exclu-
sive right to the use of the streets for a railway operated by animal
power, the City Council was not precluded from granting the use
of the streets for cars run by some other power. His right was to
use horse cars, with all improvements that could be devised, but
nothing more. "As well," said the court, "might the owner of a
rope ferry forty years ago insist that his exclusive right prohibited
the use of steam." The decision of the court below was reversed,
which sealed the doom of the horse cars, and in 1889, Jeff. Polk
purchased the franchise and property of all the lines, and consoli-
dated them with his own chartered steam roads, in the present
system.
Van Ginkel then sought other fields, and in June, 1890, went
to Springfield, Illinois, and started another electric street railway
system. Though an entire stranger to the people, bis energy and
activity elicited the good-will of the community, and in three
months he had cars running. On the opening day a mass meeting
was held to celebrate the event. There were brass bands, fireworks,
and oratorical pyrotechnics galore. The whole town was out. One
of the speechmakers, named Graham, said he did not know Van
Ginkel, had never seen him before, nor had he ever spoken to him,
but he had just returned from a short stop at Des Moines, where he
learned that he was well known there as a man who does things.
Before they got through with the jollification, Van was called up
and presented with a beautiful gold-headed cane as an expression
of the public esteem of him.
While he was operating at Springfield, he and Colonel M. T. V.
Bo^vman, of Des ]\[oiues, established an electric street car system
in South Bend, Indiana.
In 1894, Van returned to Des Moines, and decided to invest
some of his surplus dollars in a testimonial of his faith in his home
town. He leased, for a term of ninety years, the corner of Fourth
and Locust, and ordered plans made for a ten-story building. Soon
after, he was having a frolic at home with his own and other little
children, when he received a bruise on the temple, causing a blood-
clot on the optic nerve, resulting in total blindness. The baiilding
plans were completed, but he would not allow work to begin unless
GERRIT VAX GINKEL 227
he could see the plans. While he was in darkness, his eldest daugh-
ter sickened and died, thus adding more to his burden of sorrow.
His total blindness extended several months, but suddenly, one
evening, passed away, when his building was pushed to completion,
in the early part of 1896, at a cost of one hundred and seventy-five
thousand dollars, exclusive of the ground rental. It is ten stories
high and contains one hundred and forty business offices. Above
the roof is a cupola five stories high. The roof is encircled with
a guard-rail and fitted up for roof-garden entertainments in Sum-
mer. It is an ornament to the city, and a testimonial of the energy,
enterprise, business capacity, and boosting faith in the town of a
young man who landed in it with just twenty dollars in his pocket.
In 1899, he had another attack of street railway fever, and went
to Dallas, Texas, where he found an embryo city with six horse car
lines of railway in operation, with little system or profit. About
twelve miles distant was Exall Lake, a favorite pleasure resort.
Lakes are scarce in Texas, hence, to him, its apparent prospective
importance. He at once built an electric line to the lake, then pur-
chased the other lines, consolidated them with his own line, and
operated them under a system similar to that in Des Moines, with
great success, until June Eleventh, 1901, when he sold it, having
made preliminary arrangements to build an electric road from
Omaha to Lincoln, in Nebraska.
A few days after the sale, he attended a picnic at the lake, in
the evening. A car was to come after the party, but was delayed
some time, when Van and a friend started up the track to learn
what caused the delay. After going a short distance, Van said he
was very tired, and stopped. His friend said he would go on and
meet the car. Van warned him to be cautious, as it was dangerous.
He went on, met the car, boarded it and it ran to the lake. Being
down grade, it made little noise, the power being cut off. Just
before reaching the lake, it suddenly struck an object, which proved
to be Van. He was badly injured, and death came before the town
coiild be reached.
Politically, he was always a Republican, took an active part in
civic afFairs, yet gave little or no attention to partisan politics.
Socially, he waS public-spirited. His benefactions for educational
228 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
and church purposes were little known, for he avoided public notice
— so much so, that he would never consent to pose for a photo-
graph, and the picture presented herewith was snapped by a kodak
a few hours before his decease. He was a finn believer in the Sal-
vation Army, frequently stopped and listened to their service, but
seldom left without placing fifty cents or a dollar on the drum. He
was fond of children, a sincere friend of the laboring man, and an
active member of the Order of Odd Fellows. He built a two-stoi'y
brick in Sevastopol, and donated it to Lodge Number Sixty-five,
conditioned that the lower story be equipped and permanently
maintained as a public library. It is now a branch of the City
Library. In recognition of the gift, he was made a life member
of the lodge. He was also a prominent member of the Masonic
fraternity, and the Elks. He was plain of speech, reticent, posi-
tive, and highly esteemed by those who new him best.
December Ninth, 1906.
J. K. HOBAUGH
JOHN K. HOBAUGH
IN" the very early days, one of the best known men in Polk County
was John K. Hobaugh, a Buckeye production, though his ances-
try dated back to 1793, in Pennsylvania.
Bom in Washington, Logan County, Ohio, April Seventh,
1820, where his parents resided until 1835, when they moved to
Grant County, Indiana. They were poor, yet with very limited
advantages, John acquired the rudiments of an education in the
log schoolhouses of that section.
When fifteen years old, he was apprenticed to learn the shoe-
makers' trade, at which he worked during the Winter. In Summer,
he did what he could find to do, always industrious and frugal.
On reaching his majority, he turned his back to his boyhood home,
and set out in the world's race for himself. He worked on a farm
for twelve dollars a month during the Summer, and in Winter did
shoemaking, with rail-splitting as a side line. With economy and
industry, he accumulated sufficient money to purchase forty acres
of timbered land, which he cleared for cultivation, and on which
he labored during the growing season. When his crops wei'e gath-
ered and stored for the Winter, he went to his bench and lasts,
where he worked until Spring opened. Thus he continued until
the Spring of 1853, when he disposed of his property in Grant
County, loaded his household goods into a wagon, and, with his
good wife, headed for Polk County. Arriving here, he went up to
the Indian Creek Settlement, in the extreme northeast comer of
the county, through which flows the creek southeasterly across the
county, and from which the settlement took its name. The creek
was skirted with a timber belt, an important factor with a pioneer
settler.
From 1843 to 1845, settlers came into the county and settled
along the various streams of water, for the emigrant from the East
oould not be induced to settle on the bleak, broad, open prairie. He
230 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
must have a house to live in, fuel for heating, fence rails to enclose
his cultivated fields, and water for his live-stock. There were no
railroads to bring lumber from Eastern markets, and no coal for
fuel. Thus the county was divided into settlements, as Big Creek,
Four Mile, Camp Creek (including those on Mud Creek and
Spring Creek), Skunk River, Indian Creek, Beaver Creek, and
Walnut Creek. So it was, the civilization of the county began
along the rivers, and as time passed, spread out over the prairies.
Hobaugh purchased one hundred and sixty acres in the extreme
northeast corner of the county, and entered a claim for eighty acres
more. The land was not far from the creek. It was in what was
originally Skunk Township, which embraced what is now Douglas,
Elkhart, Franklin, and Washington townships, but in 1851, the
settlers petitioned the County Commissioners to change the name
- — it was too odorous — to Elkhart, and it was done.
When Houbaugh arrived there were but four families in the
township, an area of twelve miles square. He built a small log
cabin, with board roof and puncheon floor, turned over the prairie
soil for the first crop of sod com, and began life in true pioneer
style. When Winter came, snow blew through the chinking of the
cabin logs, so that sometimes two inches of snow on the floor was
the greeting for bare feet crawling out of bed to start the morning
fiire for breakfast. Provisions in the culinary department some-
times got scarce, and Fort Des Moines was twenty-five miles away.
A want of bacon, however, was compensated by prairie chickens,
quail, squirrels, and rabbits, which were abundant. Good, whole-
some bread could be made from corn ground in a hand mill. The
hardships and discomforts were accepted complacently by him and
his helpmate, with the firm faith that they would have a good home
some time.
Hobaugh at once became active in civic affairs, and to boost
things. In January, 1854, he went to Keokuk with three teams,
and came back with them loaded with dry goods and groceries,
which were readily disposed of among the settlers, and was the first
attempt at merchandising in the township.
In June, 1856, he laid out and organized, on his own land, the
town of Peoria City. He opened a general merchandise store,
JOHN K. HOBAUGH 231
founded schools and churches, a postofRce was established, mechan-
ics opened shops, and two years after it was laid out, had a popula-
tion of over two hundred. It was in a prosperous, flourishing con-
dition, and the trade center of a large area, when, in 1864, the
Chicago and Northwestern Eailroad started in its wild rush from
Marshalltown to win the big bonus offered in gold by the Union
Pacific to the first road across the State of Iowa that would make
connection with it at the Missouri River. Towns were deemed of
little importance. Even Des Moines, the Capital of the state, was
ig-noretl. Its line was run about a mile north of Peoria City, and a
station named Maxwell established. That fixed the doom of the
ambitious young Peoria City. It dwindled away, lost its postoSice,
and finally its place on the map, which was only one of several
similar instances.
Early in 1856, the settlement had so increased that Hobaugh
wanted to centralize and individualize its government. He, there-
fore, applied to Judge Napier, the County Judge, for a township
organization. The Judge thereupon ordered that Congressional
To-miship Eighty-one, Range Twenty-two, be organized into a civil
township, and an election held March Third, to elect the proper
township officers. He appointed Hobaugh a Constable to give the
notie« of election, and make the necessary preparation. He also
gave the selection of a name to him, and he chose "Washington,"
the name of his old home town in Ohio.
The election was held at Peoria City, and Hobaugh was elected
Justice of the Peace, and held the office for five years, when he
resigned, because the duties of the office conflicted with his more
important business affairs.
In 1860, the Legislature, to get the county government nearer
the people, transferred the control of public affairs from the
County Judge to a Board of Supei^isors, consisting of a repre-
sentative from each civil township in the county, and in 1862,
Hobaugh was elected from Washington Township, and served two
years.
In 1863, he was elected Road Supervisor of the township, his
duties being to keep the roads,* * * in as good condition
as the funds at his disposal would permit, and to place guide-
boards at crossroads, and the forks of the roads, * * * a
232 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
requirement more honored in the breach than the observance in
those days, as the funds invariably failed to materialize.
In 1863, the first fine schoolhouse was erected. He was elected
Township Treasurer, and had charge of the school fund. He held
the ofiice six years.
Politically, he is a Republican, but not a politician. Though
he has held many public offices, it was in response to the will of the
community where he lived, regardless of politics.
Socially, he is the friend of everybody, and held in high esteem
throughout the coimty. He is public-spirited, schools and churches
being special objects of his activities, financial and otherwise.
Whatever promotes the betterment of the social life of those around
him receives his hearty support.
Religiously, he is an active, exemplary Christian, and member
of the United Brethren Church. There being no church of that
denomination near him, he has given aid and support to all others.
Now, at the age of eighty-six, he has accumulated sufficient to
enable him to have a surcease of watching the rise and fall at the
stockyards, the puts and calls of the grain speculators in Chicago,
spends his Winters at ease in California, without a thought or care
for the shoes and soles of his old friends and neighbors, which so
tormented his adolescent years.
JUDGE T. T. MORRIS
JUDGE THOMAS T. MORRIS
APIONEEE of Iowa, and a well-known old settler of Polk
County is Judge Thomas T. Morris. Though a resident of
Des Moines nearly forty-three years, very few people know
tiiat he had a judicial title. I did not ,and I have known him well
ever since he came to town, but so say the records.
Bom in Ciimberland County, Xew Jersey, October Twenty-
ninth, 1822, his ancestry dating back to John Morris, an English-
man, who, in 1635, emigrated to America and settled on Manhat-
tan Island, at Morris' Woods, now Central Park, in ISTew York
City.
In 1837, when Thomas was alxjut fifteen years old, his parents
moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he worked with his
father, who was a brickmaker. At times, when brickmaking was
dull, and the water high, he became a pilot on coal barges down the
Ohio River. In 1840, the brickmaking business went out, and he
went to an iron foundry to learu the trade, but soon afterward the
foundry collai>sed, and he started to learn the manufacture of
cutlery. He was making good progress when the works became
bankrupt. He then took to the water, as second engineer on a river
boat, until 1844, when he learned the trade of mason, plastering
and stucco work in Pittsbiirg, where he worked as a journeyman
until 1848, when he went into business for himself as a contractor.
During the following five years, he built four Catholic churches,
and did the stucco work in seven of the largest and finest churches
in the city. He also built a large number of costly private homes.
Early in 185.5, he concluded he could do much better in the
West, and June Sixth, he and his father loaded their families,
household goods, horses and wagons on a boat, went down the river
to Saint Louis, thence up the Mississippi to Keokuk, where, with
their teams, they started northward, camping at noon to get food
for themselves and their horses, and at night stopping with some
233
234 PIOIs^EERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
hospitable settler. They passed through Des Moines, fording the
river, got dinner at the Avenue House, which stood on a high Indian
mound on the northeast corner of Fourth and Court Avenue, and
kept by John Hays, a pioneer of the county. A can-iage was hired
of Frank Laird to carry the women and children to Panora, ford-
ing 'Coon Eiver at Adel. Thence a bee line was taken for Coplin's
Grove, in Newton Township, which then embraced the south half
of Carroll County, arriving July Third, where they had located a
tract of Government land.
The first move was to get a house to live in. Their land lay
along 'Coon River, on which was a broad timber belt. Morris cut
down trees, scored and hewed on both sides logs for a cabin 18x24,
split lumber for clapboarding, roofing and lathing. To get lumber
for flooring, door and window casings, he had to go to Dunham's
Grove, in Crawford County, forty miles away.
To get plaster, for he proposed having a first-class cabin, he
hauled timber out on the prairie, piled it up, gathered a lot of lime
rock, scattered over the prairie, placed it on the timber, covered the
whole with earth and sod, set fire to the timber and burned the
rock to lime, with which, and sand from the river, he plastered the
ceiling of the cabin. The windows were brought with them, but
they were not of extravagant dimensions.
In eight days, the cabin was ready for occupancy. In the mean-
time, the wagons were used for lodging and the meals prepared on
a cooking-stove, brought with them.
The cabin occupied, the next move was breaking up the prairie,
and securing the first crop of sod corn. If the flour bin got low, it
was a journey of fifty miles to a mill near Redfield, through
sloughs, across bridgeless streams, with wide detours to avoid the
impassable places; not so bad in Summer, but in Winter there were
trials and hardships severe. In Winter, it was usual for three or
four settlers to go to mill together, for mutual aid and protection,
for a blizzard on the open, trackless prairie was something to be
greatly feared; once the trail was lost, in the swirling, blinding
snow, it became at once a fight for life, usually ending fatally. On
one occasion, when Morris, with three other settlers, went to mill
for flour, a severe storm of snow and wind set in and lasted two
JUDGE THOMAS T. MORRIS 235
days and nights. The morning of the third day, they started for
home, going due north, but were able to get only two miles. Then
they called out the Road Supervisor, who, with sixteen men and six
of the Morris party, only succeeded in getting through four miles
oS the deep snow that day. On other ocasions, when delayed by
deep snow and storms, and night came on, far from a habitation,
a cane-break, on which the snow had been piled high, on the border
of some slough, would be sought, a cave dug out in the cane and
snow, into which men and horses would take shelter for the night.
There was no want of meat. Elk, deer, prairie chickens, quail,
rabbits, and squirrels were abundant on the prairie, while one side
of the farm abutted on a lake known as "Morris Lake," which, in
the Spring and Fall, was alive with wild duck and geese, and at
all seasons a good fishing place. On the spot where the Court
House now stands in Carroll County, Morris says he has hunted
elk.
To keep his family larder supplied required some engineering,
for the cabin of a pioneer was always open, with room inside for
"one more." Land-hunters were roaming over the country, with
nowhere to stay, and at one time Morris counted thirty of them
for lodgment and gnib in his little cabin and one like it in which
his father lived. There was no limit to the hospitality of the pio-
neer. If there were not beds enough for the strangers, a "shake-
down" on the floor or on the grass, with the blue sky for a cover,
was provided. They were welcome guests, for through them intel-
ligence was received of the outside world, as there were no post-
offices, and at times for four months they were without mail of any
kind.
In April, 1857, Morris was elected Justice of the Peace, and
served nineteen months, when he resigned.
Early in 1857, he was directed by Governor Grimes, on the
advice of the Judge of the District Court, to organize the county
and make the necessary preliminary arrangements for an election
to elect county officers, the county then being attached to Guthrie
County for judicial purposes, and to Pottawattamie County for
election purposes.
At the election in October, he was elected County Judge. To
make return of the election, he, with the representatives of sixteen
236 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
other counties just organized, had to take the trails over the prai-
ries, one hundred and fifty miles, to Kanesville (now Council
Bluffs), that being the County Seat for that purpose.
His first business was to get records and stationery for his oflBce.
He came to Des Moines, bought them of Mills & Company, pay-
ment for which he drew a county warrant sealed with an impres-
sion of the eagle side of a silver half-dollar, coined by Uncle Sam.
W. H. Leas and a man named Harsh donated a tract of land for
the County Seat, which was accepted. They named it CarroUton,
and that was the first County Seat of Carroll County.
While Morris held the office of Jtidge, he was directed to levy a
tax to meet the expenses of his office. He also employed surveyors
to lay out the swamp lands belonging to the county.
After serving nineteen months as Judge and boss of county
affairs, he concluded there was too much glory, too little pay, and
he doffed the judicial robes.
Always interested in schools, he was elected School Director,
and served several years. He was also elected Road Supervisor,
and served two years, during which period he boosted good roads,
and did that other statutory stunt so generally neglected, by placing
guide-boards at every crossroads and forks of roads across the
county from the Greene County line to that of Crawford County.
In the Spring of 1864, he came to Des Moines, and went to
work at his trade. It was during war times, business was dull,
money was scarce, so were laborers, and wages high. The com-
munity was considerably agitated by rumors current that a mili-
tary draft was to be made in the county, which incited a large num-
ber of able-bodied men to seek a more congenial climate for their
health, in the Far West, notwithstanding Governor Stone's procla-
mation forbidding "* * * citizens of Iowa removing beyond
the limits of the state before the Tenth day of March next. * *"
As business increased after the war closed, he became a con-
tractor. His first job was the Lincoln School building, the second
public school building in the city. He also built the Lucas and
Curtis school buildings on the East Side, the original McQuaid
store building at Seventh and Locust, one of the buildings now a
part of the Foster Opera House block, the Windsor building on
JUDGE THOMAS T. MORRIS 237
Walnut between Third and Fourth, the gas works, the Reinking
Block at Eighth and Walnut, which had the first pressed brick
front in the city, and the Fifth Street side of the Marquardt build-
ing. For tie brick used on the Marquardt building, he paid fifty
dollars per thousand, delivered on cars at Philadelphia. He had
at that time five hundred men in his employ.
He did the plastering and stucco work in B. F. Allen's costly
residence at Terrace Hill. Allen had the stucco work done in Chi-
cago, from special designs. It was brought from Nevada, railroads
not having reached the city, by wagons, over rough roads, and when
it arrived, was broken into fragments. Morris, being a trained
stucco worker, went on and completed the work with acknowledged
greater artistic skill than was shown in the Chicago designs.
He also built hundreds of residences, one of which was that of
U. B. White, the well-known bridge builder in early days, at Sev-
enth and Center streets. It was the first house in Des Moines in
which pine lath was used. He paid ten dollars per thousand for
the lath, eight cents for laying it, and eleven dollars per hundred
pounds for the nails.
In 1876, he was elected a member of the City Council from the
Third Ward, and assigned by Mayor Giles H. Turner to the Com-
mittee on Gas and Water. He secured a liberal axtension of the
service in both those departments, but he had to fight for it. Old-
timers who visited that bear-garden in those days have a vivid
remembrance of "Mike" Drady, "Mike" McTighe, "Mike" King,
"Mike" Kavanagh, and George Sneer, who were always ready for a
scrap. There were no paved streets, the city was in the mud the
year round, and when the skies had a weeping-spell, Levi J. Wells
could be seen riding in a skiff drawn by two horses up and down
Walnut Street, as a gentle reminder that Des Moines sadly needed
a boosting committee. Morris suggested paving the streets, and, to
help out, offered to pave the intersection of the streets at Fourth
and Court Avenue with Mulberry wood blocks, which would never
wear out, as a sample of good paving, but the other fellows couldn't
see it that way, and he was beaten out.
He was the first inspector of brick in the city. It was on North
Street, now University Avenue. While he was doing it, an omniv-
erous municipal functionary came around to inspect his inspection.
238 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
spiced with derogatoiy remarks, which was endured for several
days, when Morris politely told him to keep away ; that if he came
there again he would . The warning was sufficient, and he
probably has not forgotten it yet.
In all business transactions, Morris was noted for his integrity
and honesty. His word was as good as his bond.
Politically, he was originally a Democrat, but when the Repub-
lican party was organized, he united with it. He also took a little
part in the Know-ISrothing craze, which swept over the country in
1853-1854.
Socially, he is of genial temperament, and popular with those
who know him. Always interested in schools, realizing fully the
necessities of childhood and youth which deprived him of seeing
the inside of a public schoolhouse until after he was twenty-one
years old. ,
Formerly, he was a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, but
withdrew for religious reasons.
Religiously, he is a devout Methodist, and a zealous worker in
that faith. On the second Sabbath after his arrival in Carroll
County, he gathered together his nearest settlers, organized a Sun-
day School, and erected an altar for the worship of God, which
remains to this day.
He retired from active business several years ago, but bears well
the burden of his eighty-four years, has good health, and passes
time as Bailiff in Judge McVey's court, satisfied and content, for,
said he, a few days ago : "I know that I am living on borrowed
time, but these days are the best of my life, with the blessed assur-
ance of a home not far hence, in the mansions above."
December Thirtieth, 1906.
DAVID NORRIS
DAVID NORRIS
ONE of the most unique, well-known and popular pioneers of
Polk County was David Norris, or "Uncle Davy," as every-
body called him.
He was born in Frederick County, Maryland, August Third,
1801, of Scottish descent.
He once said : "I have been told that I weighed three and three-
quarters pounds at birth. I don't know much about that, but I was
there."
His youth was passed with his mother, for, when he was five
years old, his father, who was a miller, was killed by an accident
in a mill, and David had to hustle for himself, with very limited
advantages for educational acquirements.
In 1814, when thirteen years old, he went to driving team. In
July of that year, he went, with Frederick K. Biser and two teams
loaded with flour, which was sold for thirteen dollars a barrel.
After the flour was sold, and while he, Biser and the teams were
taking their noonday meal, a United States oSicer came and noti-
fied them that he would have to take the teams for Government
service. Biser objected vigorously, but he took the teams, saying
they would be appraised and paid for. Biser and David then
decided that they might as well go with the teams and they enlisted
in the Government service, David easily passing muster, as he was
of large proportions, weighed one hundred and sixty pounds, yet
was simply an overgrown boy. The War of 1812 had not then
closed.
Their teams were loaded with ammunition and sent to Fort
McHenry, thence to Baltimore loaded again, and sent to Wash-
ington, without being allowed to stop for rest or meals, as the Brit-
ish were making an effort to capture and burn the city. Arriving at
Capitol Hill they met President Madison fleeing the city, which
was then burning. His carriage was loaded with office records,
239
240 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
and he was riding one of the horses. Going up a hill, his horses
got stalled, and David was ordered to hitch his team on and help,
which he did. They were quickly joined hy about three hundred
boys, who were pressed into service, and made an escort to Mont-
gomery Court House. The President said his wife was across the
river, hidden in a cornfield.
The teams were left with guards and the posse ordered to help.
A bucket line was formed to the river, and water carried to an old-
fashioned hand-brake fire engine, and the fire was finally extin-
guished. David remained there five days. Meanwhile, soldiers
were sent to find Mrs. Madison, and escort her to the President.
He was then ordered to go to Baltimore, get ammunition, and take
it to Fort McHenry.
The British left Washington, sailed down Chesapeake Bay,
threatened Baltimore several days, but finally went to Haberty
Grass Landing, five miles above Baltimore, near Fort McHenry.
As they were crossing the Susquehanna River, September Thir-
teenth, Lords Cockerham and Ross were a sort distance in advance,
and two boys who had climbed into a tree shot them both. Cocker-
ham's body was put into a cask of whiskey and sent to England.
A monument now stands where that tree stood.
David was in Government service twenty-nine days, and dis-
charged, one day short of time necessary to entitle him to a pen-
sion. He always said he didn't think Uncle Sam gave him a square
deal, but he was a little proud of the part be took in the scrimmage.
When General LaFayette was in this country, David saw him
at Fredericksburg. There was an immense public reception given
him. Carpets were laid in the streets for him to ride over, but he
would not do so.
In 1820, David's mother removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he
engaged in farming. He remained there imtil 1839, when he moved
to Johnson Coimty, Indiana, where he resided until 1845, when he
came to Fort Des Moines, which contained only soldiers and
officers of the garrison, while outside and not far away were the
Indian villages of Keokuk and his various bands of Sauk and
Foxes.
Norris at once procured a permit from Captain Allen to make a
claim for some land. The land had not been surveyed, possession
DAVID NORRIS 241
was in the Government, and could not be purchased. There were
three or four squatters widely scattered over the county, on clafms
granted by Captain Allen, on agreements to raise grain, forage and
other supplies for the garrison. Norris went up north about five
miles and selected one hundred and sixty acres, which is now a
part of the County Poor Farm. John B. Saylor, who came here
just before Norris, had staked out the claim, and ISTorris traded
him a yoke of oxen for the claim. The sale conveyed no title to
the land, as the entire county was in possession of the Government,
and held as a part of the reservation of the Sauk and Fox Indians,
who had the exclusive right to occujiy it. Captain Allen and his
soldiers being stationed here to protect them against squatters and
their pretlatory enemy, the Sioux, until October Eleventh, 1845,
when the Indian title ceased. But there was a tacit agreement
among squatters and claim-holders that their claims should be rig-
idly observed. Early in 1846, a Claim Club was organized, rules
and regulations prepared by "Old Bill" McHenry, adopted, and
the squatters and claim-holders became a law unto themselves.
In 1847, the Government survey of the land was made, and the
lines rim for to^vnships and sections. It was found that in many
cases the lines staked by squatters did not correspond with the Gov-
ernment lines. All such cases were submitted to the Claim Club,
an amicable adjustment made to conform to the survey, and the
land speculator or "claim-jumj:)er" who attempted to interfere was
made to understand that his immediate safety was outside the
county lines. October Thirtieth, 1848, Norris entered his claim
at the United States Land Office, at Iowa City, and got his title.
He at once, on buying his claim in 1845, began to cultivate and
improve the land. His nearest squatter neighbor was "Uncle
Tommy" Mitchell, whom Captain Allen had permitted, on agree-
ing to raise corn for the garrison, to stake a claim on Camp Creek,
in what is now Beaver Township. The Indians were his frequent
visitors, and he became very chummy with Chemeuse, or "Johnny
Green," as he was known to the pioneers, a Pottawattamie chief,
who, with several hundred of his tribe, roamed over the county,
hunting and fishing. The location of his claim was a beautiful
one, bordering on the timber, and from which is a fine view of the
Vol. II— (IG).
242 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Capitol and prominent buildings of the city. It is also a healthful
location, respecting which, said "Uncle Davy," several years after
he had left it : "Yes, people live up there, and animals, too. One
of my neighbors there, in 1847, during the Summer, went back
to Indiana to visit their old home and be absent about four
weeks. They stored the carriage and some other articles in the
garret. When ready to start, the family dog was missing — couldn't
be found. On their return, during the first night, there was a big
rumpus upstairs. On making an investigation, they were greeted
most vociferously by the missing dog. He had eaten up the leather
top of the carriage, was lank and lean, but he lived."
During the Summer of 1847, Norris opened a butcher shop in a
part of B. F. Allen's warehouse, at Second and Vine streets, and in
the Fall of 1848, built a shop at the corner of Second and Vine
streets. The shop was open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
One "beef critter" was sufficient for a whole week, and families had
to go to the shop to get their supplies.
In the Fall of 1848, the supply of flour in the town became
exhausted, and "Uncle Davy" went with an ox team to Bonaparte,
in Van Buren County, and got a full load. On his return, he
found that not only was everybody out of flour, but out of money.
He loaned out the entire load, the Hoxie House taking a large por-
tion of it. Of the remainder, very little was ever paid for.
In 1855, he sold his farm and moved into Des Moines, and built
a double brick, two-story house at the comer of East Eighth and
Keokuk streets, now East Grand Avenue.
In 1856, he was appointed by Judge Gray, Bailifl^ of Polk
County District Court, and served through the terms of Judges
Gray, Nourse, and Maxwell. It was during Maxwell's term,
December Fifteenth, 1874, that Charles Howard was taken from
the jail by a Vigilance Committee, and hanged to a lamp-post for
the murder of John Johnson.
"Uncle Davy" was also appointed Sherifl^ of the State Supreme
Court, in 1857, and served when Stockton, Baldwin, Wright,
Lowe, Dillon, and Cole were on the Bench, nearly twenty years.
He was appointed Crier of the United States District Court for
life by Judge Lowe, and served twenty-one years, when he
DAVID NOEKIS 243
resigned, in 1888. His memory was remarkable, and his fund of
stories of incidents and happenings in the several courts, embrac-
ing all phases of human existence, was ever a treat, spiced with
his quaint humor, to a group of listeners. He always looked at the
bright side of things. He would never admit that he was growing
old, even after he had jiassed the ninetieth post. He was always
jolly, weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds, and was per-
sona grata with the judges of the State Supreme Court, especially
Baldwin, who weighed over three hundred pounds.
One day, Baldwin lost twenty dollars, and "Uncle Davy" foiind
it. He handed it to Judge Wright, saying, with a twinkle in his
eye, that he had found it under very incriminating circumstances.
Those who knew Wright will appreciate the humor, irony, and
sport of the jibes given Baldwin, as to where and how he lost his
money. Baldwin always declared that "Uncle Davy" had lied a
little to Wright.
Not long after, sitting aroimd their long table in a social way,
Baldwin said to "Uncle Davy" :
"Where were you bom ?" - '
"In Maryland," was the reply.
"I never saw but one honest man born in Maryland,' retorted
the Judge.
"Did you ever see anyone born in Maryland but me?" queried
Norris.
"No-o-o," responded the Judge, with a chuckle."
In the very early days, the rivers abounded with fish, and fur-
nished a generous food supply to the community. When Hall's
dam was built, at the foot of Center Street, it was a favorite spot
for anglers. One day, "Uncle Davy" and Wiley Burton went there
for some sport. Wiley had a dip net, and immediately on drop-
ping it into the water, withdrew it, landing a whopping big pike.
Lowering it again, it stuck. Getting a good brace on himself,
declaring he had got the biggest fish in the river, he landed a small
boy, about four years old. They rolled, punched and pounded
him for a long time, when he recovered himself, sprang to his feet,
and away he went, saying, "I'll go and tell my mamma all about
it." How he came there, or who he was, they never found out, but
244 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
the conclusion was that he fell into the water above the dam, and
was sucked down through the chute in the dam into the net.
One hot day, in August, "Uncle Davy" was sitting on the hand-
rails of the rear platform of one of Doctor Turner's old horse ears,
when the car stopped in front of the old Savery House, and a
pretty young woman got aboard. Just as she was entering the car
door, the mules gave a quick start, which threw the woman back-
ward into "Uncle Davy's" lap. He threw his arms around her, to
prevent her going overboard, and, on righting herself, she thanked
him politely and profusely. When she left the car, she again prof-
fered him thanks; whereupon, said he. "Well, aren't you going
to invite me to dinner ?"
One day, there was a lot of young fellows down rear the river,
and they got to boasting and bantering one another as to what they
could do in an athletic way. Among them was John Elliott, over
six feet tall, and slim as a telegraph pole. After listening to them
a while, "Uncle Davy," who was short in the legs and pudgy, said
to Elliott, "I'll run you a footrace to the Court House for a dol-
lar." The challenge was so absurdly ridiculous, the crowd spurred
it on, for the fun of it. Elliott accepted, and off they went. After
running a few^rods, "Uncle Davy," with Elliott far in the lead,
going like a quarter horse, stopped and went back. Elliott went
over the course, went back, and claimed the wager. "Oh, no," said
"Uncle Davy," "I won. I agreed to run a footrace to the Court
House, but I didn't say I would get there first." The laugh was
on Elliott, and that was all "Uncle Davy" wanted to make out
of it.
That was only one of the many ways the very early settlers
sought amusement. There were no outside sources, and they had
to improvise for themselves with conoerts, dances, footraces, ball
games, etc., as the spirit moved them, but they usually found abun-
dant means for enjoyment, and as a community they declare they
were happier and enjoyed life better than people do now.
In 1856, during the memorable contest between the East and
West Sides over the location of the State House, "Uncle Davy"
was a valiant West Sider, and subscribed five hundred dollars to
the War and Defense Fund. Later, when the East Side made a
DAVID NORRIS 245
strenuous effort to prevent the building of the second Court House
on the West Side, he stood with Judge Xapier and the West Side.
He was a charter member of the Old Settlers' Association.
February Twenty-sixth, 18G8, thirty-two of the earliest and most
influential settlers of the county met in the rooms of the City
Council, and adopted the following resolution:
"Resolved, That we, the settlers of Polk Coimty previous to
January First, 1856, and now present, do form a brotherhood of
the early settlers of Polk County, Iowa, and in furtherance of this
project, now adopt the following constitution:
"Article I. — This brotherhood shall be called "The Associa-
tion of the Early Settlers of Polk County."
This was followed by the usual regulations for the government
of the association. The following are the names of those who
signed and the date of their arrival: Thomas Mitchell (elected
President), 1844; David Norris, Isaac Cooper, F. Nagle, Rever-
end Ezra Rathbun, Thomas McMuUin, H. H. Saylor, 1845 ; P.
M. Casady, Hoyt Sherman, John Hays, R. W. Sypher, J. C. Jor-
dan, William Deford, Peter Myers, 1846 ; R. L. Tidrick, 1847 ;
Reverend Thompson Bird, W. W. Williamson, Thomas Boyd,
1848; Madison Young, 1849; J. M. Griffith, 1850; Reverend J.
A. Nash, Doctor William Baker, W. A. Galbraith, 1851; Harry
H. Griffith, 1852 ; S. F. Spofford, C. S. Spofford, J. B. Bausman,
R. R. Peters, G. W. Cleveland, 1855; J. S. Clark, 1856.
September Twenty-third, 1880, three hundred of the old set-
tlers gave "IJncle Davy" and his helpmate a generous and hearty
house warming, on the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding-day.
The oldest man present was Richard Stanton, aged eighty-four,
robust and sprightly as a youth of twenty-four. The oldest woman
was "Mother" Githen, aged eighty-one. An elaborate banquet was
spread, and the event was the most memorable one in the histoiy
of the association. It was the first golden wedding of any member
of the association.
"Uncle Davy" was always a Democrat. In the early Sixties,
his many friends urged him to become a candidate for Justice of
the Peace for Des Moines Township, against Absalom Morris, a
Democrat, who had been proprietor of the old Marvin House, and
246 PIONEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
a very popular man. "Uncle Davy" did not want the office, but
he did want to beat Absalom, and he won. He, however, refused
to qualify. Morris took it and served until his death, proving to
be a capable and meritorious official.
Socially, "Uncle Davy" was unique in many ways. He was
plain of speech, of genial, happy temperament, an inveterate joker,
a friend with everybody, public-spirited, a highly esteemed neigh-
bor and citizen.
He deceased in 1897, at the age of ninety-six.
January Thirteenth, 1907.
FREDERICK M. HUBBELL
FREDERICK M. HUBBELL
AN" early settler, whose name has been prominent in civic
affairs of the city and county during the past forty years, is
Frederick M. Hubbell, or Fred., as he is universally called.
He came to Des Moines like many another lad, poor in purse, but
rich in determination and ability, and to-day he ranks as Des
Moines' and Iowa's wealthiest citizen. His vast properties are
organized in an estate in trust for ninety-nine years, and their
value mounts up into the millions.
Born in the town of Huntington, Connecticut, from whence
come the proverbial wooden nutmegs, January Seventeenth, 1839,
of English ancestry, he lived with his father, who was a stone-
mason and farmer, milked the cows, fed the pigs, cut the wood,
ransacked haymows for hens' nests, made himself generally useful,
and went to the District School until he was thirteen years old,
when he took a three-years' course in the Derby High School.
When he was sixteen years old, in 1855, his father concluded
that Iowa was a better country, and with him Fred, came to Rock
Island by railroad, thence by steamboat to Muscatine, thence by
stage coach to Fort Des Moines, arriving May Seventh, and taking
quarters at the Everett House, kept by that genial, jolly Falstaffian
boniface, Absalom Morris. There was not much of a town, and
very little doing except speculating in real estate and land hunting.
His pocketbook was sadly collapsed, and bread and butter were the
first problems to be solved.
The next day after his arrival, he got his first job, as clerk with
P. M. Casady, Receiver of the United States Land Office, at eight
dollars and thirty-two cents per month. The job was no sinecure,
for the rush of land-buyers was immense, the daily receipts often
reaching twenty-five thousand dollars in gold, which was the only
money recognized by Uncle Sam.
247
248 PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Judge Casady, on his retirement from the Land Office, formed
a partnership with J. S. Polk, and in 1861, Hubbell became a
clerk in their office. The year following, he became a partner in
the firm, the business of which was law and real estate. In 1864,
Casady retired from the firm, and it became Polk & Hubbell,
which, for more than a score of years, was closely identified with
nearly every public enterprise in the city, as backers and boosters.
Their most important undertaking was in connection with the
building of the Iowa and Minneapolis narrow-gauge railroad to
Ames.
At a meeting of citizens in the Court House, February Sixth,
1866, the Iowa and Minnesota Eailway Company was organized,
articles of incorporation adopted, and 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. B.
Bridges, John Scott, L. Q. Hoggatt, John Porter, John Cheshire,
T. B. Knapp, and M. D. McHenry were elected Directors, who
immediately elected P. M. Casady, President ; B. F. Roberts, Vice-
President ; B. F. Allen, Treasurer, and Hoyt Sherman, Secretary.
The object of the company was the construction of a narrow-
gauge road to the north and south lines of the state. On the
Eighteenth of July, the sur^-ey and location of the road to Ames
and to Indianola was completed. On the Twenty-eighth of July,
the contract for bridging and gTading was let. The contractors
graded a portion of the road to Polk City and some toward Indian-
ola, when their finances got short, and after several delays they
gave up the job. The company struggled along, with frequent
change of officers, the project getting into disrepute, with every-
body trying to let go of it, until November, 1868, when work was
stopped. Creditors then bombarded it with law suits and judg-
ments, imtil there was no hope of resurrection. April Thirtieth,
1869, the road was divided, and that portion from Des Moines
to Ames was sold at Sheriff's sale and purchased by Polk & Hub-
bell. August First, 1870, a new company, the Des Moines and
Minneapolis, was organized, with B. F. Allen, J. S. Polk, J. B.
Stewart, J. M. Walker, A. S. Welch, as Directors, Allen, Presi-
dent; Walker, Vice-President, and Polk, Secretary, for the first
FKEDERICK M. HUBBELL 249
year. Aid from townships was solicited, and subsidy taxes were
voted as follows:
Des Moines Township $ 34,000
Madison Township 16,000
Lee Township 16,000
Washington Township 12,000
Polk County, swamp land 40,000
Total $118,000
Polk & Hubbell then assumed the financing of the project. The
subsidies were offered to the Chicago and Northwestern Railway
Company to induce them to build the road, and repeatedly, during
1871-1872, but the Northwestern did not seem to have much fancy
for Des Moines, and kept dallying with it. Probably it had not
forgotten that in 1864, when it was building across the state, and
had reached Marshalltown, it oifered to build from that city to
Des Moines for a bonus of thirty-five thousand dollars and right-
of-way through the town; the town tiptilted her nose and scorn-
fully replied that the Capital of the State of Iowa was not buying
railroads — a mistaken notion, it is true, but it went, and the
Northwestern steered straight for the Missouri River, leaving Polk
County several miles to the southward.
Meanwhile, more than two hundred tax-payers began a crusade
against the narrow-gauge company, to get court injunctions and
stop the collection of the taxes voted in Des Moines, Madison and
Lee townships, thus reducing the expected aid which, with the
expense of defending suits in the courts, seriously jeopardized the
prospects of the company.
Early in 1873, the company decided to abandon the subsidy
plan and get stock subscriptions, to which citizens of Des Moines
responded with twenty-two thousand dollars, Ames, ten thousand
dollars, and Madison Township, five thousand dollars.
In September, the capital stock was increased to three hundred
thousand dollars. Polk & Hubbell, having got tired of it, trans-
ferred the right-of-way and roadbed situate in Polk and Story
counties to the company. New officers were elected, to-wit : Sam-
uel Merrill, President; J. B. Stewart, Vice-President: F. M.
250 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Hubbell, Secretary ; James Callanan, Treasurer ; Frank M. Pelton,
Civil Engineer.
Track-laying commenced January Twelfth, 1874, Governor
Carpenter driving the first spike. July First, it was completed to
Ames, and the road equipped for business at a cost of three hun-
dred thousand dollars.
August First, 1879, the road, with all its franchises, was trans-
ferred to the Chicago and Northwestern, the gauge changed, and
Sunday, July Eleventh, 1880, the first passenger train of the
Northwestern entered the city on the broad track.
In 1866, Polk & Hubbell, Doctor M. P. Turner, and U. B.
White obtained a charter, and built the first mile of street railway
in the city. It started from the Court House on Court Avenue,
and extended to the foot of Capitol Hill. The motive power was
a pair of horses. Subsequently, the track was extended north to
Walnut, west to Fifth, and south to the place of beginning. It waa
not a very great dividend producer, and in 1868, Polk & Hubbell
got tired of paying bills with no income, and sold their interest
to Turner.
In January, 1867, at a meeting of citizens to form a life insur-
ance company, P. M. Casady and Hubbell were requested to pre-
pare articles of incorporation, which, at a subsequent meeting,
were adopted, and signed by Hubbell, Casady, J. M. Tuttle, Isaac
Cooper, Wesley Eedhead, J. S. Polk, Lampson P. Sherman, B. F.
Allen, E. L. Tidrick, W. W. Williamson, J. B. Stewart, Peter
Myers, F. R. West, J. C. Jordan, H. L. Whitman, and Hoyt Sher-
man. The first oflicers were : Casady, President ; Redhead, Vice-
President; Hubbell, Secretary; Allen, Treasurer; Hoyt Sherman,
Actuary ; Whitman, Medical Examiner. The company was named
the Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa. The first policy
issued was to Hubbell, and is still in force.
In 1868, Hubbell resigned as Secretary, but retained his place
with the Board of Trustees. In 1888, he was elected President,
and so continued until the January meeting in 1907, when he
declined a reelection, having served nineteen years, and leaving the
office with a business, as shown by the annual report, January
First, 1907, of twenty-two thousand and ninety- four policies in
FREDERICK M. HUBBELL 251
force, representing thirty million, eight hundred and seventy-four
thoiisand, three hundred and nineteen dollars, and assets of five
million, four hundred and forty-seven thousand, one hundred and
nineteen dollars and thirty cents. The company has never had
but one suit in court respecting a risk, and in that the judgment
was for the company. Its growth and prosperity evidence its wise
management. Mr. Hubbell, however, remains with the Board of
Trustees.
In 1871, the city had grown to proportions requiring better pro-
tection from fires than was afforded by the system of large cisterns
in the streets, and the voluntary services rendered by two or three
hose companies, and April Third, Polk and Hubbell organized the
Des Moines Water Works Company, with a capital of one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars, of which B. F. Allen was President and
Treasurer, and J. S. Polk, Secretary. May Second, a charter was
granted by the City Council, and the erection of works immediately
commenced, where they now are. The system adopted was that
known as the "Holly," which is in use to-day, and Des Moines is
the largest city in the United States using it. The water is taken
from large chambers excavated deep and broad under the bed of
the 'Coon River, and being thus sand-filtered, gives the city the
purest and best water of any city in the Union. The city is also
provided with an adequate and reliable fire service.
Soon after the company was organized, the works passed into
the hands of Polk & Hubbell, the latter was made Secretary, and
served until 1880, when the works were sold to a joint stock com-
pany.
In 1882, work commenced to build a narrow-gauge road to
Waukee, by "Ret" Clarkson, John S. Runnells, and a few other,
who had organized the combination known as the Wabash Syndi-
cate, to build the Wabash from Albia to Des Moines. Later, Polk
& Hubbell joined, and from Waukee the road was extended to
Fonda, and a branch from Clive to Boone^ It is now a part of the
Chicago and Milwaukee System.
In 1884, Hubbell disposed of a portion of his shekels by pur-
chasing the well-known B. F. Allen property, at Terrace Hill, on
Grand Avenue, the most costly residence in the state.
252 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
In 18S7, Polk & Hubbell dissolved partnership that had existed
twenty-five years, and Hubbell turned his attention to real estate,
since when that has been his hobby, and he has succeeded in get-
ting possession of an extensive valuable area of the fifty-four square
miles of the city. On some of it he has erected fine buildings,
among which are the Victoria Hotel, at Sixth and Chestnut ; Mer-
chants' Transfer Company, three-story warehouse, at Ninth and
Tuttle, and the Hawkeye Transfer Company, at Seventh and Elm.
As an earnest, active member of the Booster Committee, he stands
ready Uy erect other buildings for industries seeking a place in a
city which does things.
I asked him one day how he had accumulated the three million
or more accredited to him. He vei'y frankly and courteously
replied that for several years, as a broker, he handled bonds and
securities for capitalists; took advantage of opportunities for safe
investment in real estate; practiced economy and industry, laying
aside each year a surplus over expenses ; did not make a dollar in
the Water Works deal; made a good investment in Terrace Hill
property, and some of his other holdings ; that he had accomplished
only what was possible to any young man who, for fifty-six years,
would pursue a like course of action.
Politically, Hubbell is what has come to be known as a "pro-
gressive" Eepublican. He is not a politician — was not built that
way. In local government affairs, he gives his influence to what
he deems the best interest of the town, regardless of partisan poli-
tics. He has never held but one public ofiice. In 1857, the money
panic paralyzed the industries of the state, spreading wreck and
ruin in all directions. The year following, the state was flooded
with high water, there were no railroads, the country roads were
in such horrible condition freight hauling from Keokuk was nearly
impossible, farmers could not get into the fields with reapers and
mowers at harvest time, and business languished generally. The
stagnation extended into 1859, and there was little or nothing
doing in Des Moines. Fred, was "on his oars," so to speak, and
wanted to be doing something — he was seldom idle. In 1852,
Judge Casady, as Senator in the Legislature, had engineered the
passage of a bill locating and naming twenty-three new counties,
FREDEKICK M. HUBBELL 253
among which was Sioux. The Judge suggested to Fred, that he
go up there and start something. "There is a whole county," said
he, "just as Nature made it, waiting for civilization." Fred, took
the cue, and with three other wide-awake young fellows, went, got
an order from the courts to organize the county and make the
necessary preparation for an election to elect county officers, and
set the machine going, which was done to their most eminent satis-
faction. They fixed the County Seat, and named it Calliope.
While their project was incubating, prairie chickens, quail, and
rabbits afforded recreation and amusement. At the election in
October, they voted for Sara. Kirkwood for Governor for his first
term, and elected themselves to the county offices, Fred, taking that
of Clerk of the District Court, which he held eighteen months and
resigned.
Socially, Hubbell is courteous, affable, reticent, of positive tem-
perament, has the courage of his convictions, which, once fixed,
ai-e not easily changed. He takes little or no part in social affairs,
as society goes, is not a member of any clubs or fraternal organiza-
tions, is always ready to promote the welfare of schools, charitable
organizations, and the public. The narrow-gauge roads projected
by him and Polk forty years ago were valuable public improve-
ments, the purpose being to connect Des Moines by roads of cheaper
and lighter construction than the ordinary steam roads, with towns
in a radius of one hundred miles, and bring their trade to the city.
It was the same purpose now being more fully developed by electric
interurban roads, electricity as a motive power for railroads not
then being known.
Hubbell is not a member of any religious denomination, but the
records will probably show that he has more or less money accred-
ited to him in all the churches of the city.
January Twentieth, 1907.
THE SAYLORS
THE historian of Polk Comity will find, if lie attempts to
trace the genealogy of the pioneer settlers, that the Saylors
were numerous, quite prominent, and even to-day they, or
their descendants, form a large portion of the body politic. The
stork was very generous toward them. They came here before the
county was organized, or Des Moines had a legal existence. The
first-comer was John B., who arrived in April, 1845. The coimty
merely had a place on the maps, set forth by metes and bounds. It
had no courts, no officers, no civil government. It was under the
military control of a garrison of infantry and dragoons, the terri-
tory being occupied mostly by Indians, who were waiting the expi-
ration of their title to the land they had sold to Uncle Sam.
The garrison was not self-sustaining ; its source of supplies was
hundreds of miles away, transportation difficult, and often impos-
sible. Provisions were necessary for men and horses. Captain
Allen, Commandant of the garrison, issued permits to those who
gave satisfactory evidence of good intention, to select land for home
purposes, provided they would raise hay, gTain, and beef cattle
for the garrison. John got a permit, went up north, at what is
now a part of Saylorville, selected a fine tract, skirted with a belt
of timber and a creek, built a log cabin, and, with his good wife,
started the first settlement north of Des Moines. There was noth-
ing between them and the J^orth Pole. They entered upon their
new life with courage and cheerfulness, endured its hardships and
privations, buoyed with the hope of better days, and the coming of
friends and neighbors. The isolation was a serious trial to the
mother, for John was frequently absent on business. At one time,
she was alone with her little tots six weeks, having to take care of
the live-stock, bring water and fuel for the house, when Indian
bands were roaming about the country, visited the cabin, and,
though apparently peaceable, the uncertainty of what they might
255
256 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
do was a constant source of terror. Wolves were numerous, always
hungry, would chase the house dogs even to the cabin door, and
made night hideous with their howls and prowling about the prem-
ises. To withstand such conditions required courage. Beside that,
housekeeping utensils were scarce. Boxes anl stools had to b^ used
instead of tables and chairs. For a tray in which to mix bread,
one was hollowed out of a log. Bacon was the staple meat, as the
Indians kept the wild game scarce. Wild crabapples were the des-
sert, parched corn or roasted acorns were substitutes for coffee.
From the outset, John was prominent in coimty affairs. At
the election, April Sixth, 1846, to elect the first county officers, he
was elected Judge of the Probate Court, and there is nothing of
record to show that he did not hold the office until the election of
Burbridge, in 1851. He was an active business man, a valuable
citizen, and wise counsellor. He was a devout Methodist, meet-
ings were held regularly in his cabin, and a Class formed long
before a preacher came. He aided in building the first church in
the settlement.
In April, 1846, the stork brought the first child in the settle-
ment, to Addison Michael, who was the first Justice of the Peace in
Des Moines.
In his cabin, in August, 1847, was the first wedding in Savior
Township, that of Tilman Bondurant and "Sis" Kooney, when
Mrs. Savior invited all the friends and neighbors and had a general
jollification. She was a noted promoter of weddings. The second
wedding was that of Benjamin Saylor and Elizabeth, a daughter
of "Uncle Davy" Xorris.
In 1847, the County Commissioners ordered the erection of a
Court House. They had purchased a lot for ten dollars, where the
Union Depot is, and the contract was let to John to build the Court
House for two thousand and fifty dollars. It was tfl be a brick
building, two stories high, with basement of stone walls. It was
to be the bluest and most imposing structure in Central Iowa, and
it made the taxpayers grumble at the extravagant cost of it. There
was to be no jail attachment; prisoners were then taken to Oska-
loosa for confinement. The building was to be completed in 1849,
but material and labor were scarce. January First, 1850, John
THE SAYLORS 257
asked to be released from his contract. It had been completed
except plastering and the woodwork. He was paid five hundred
and fifty dollars due for work done, and the Commissioners com-
pleted the work. The total cost was two thousand and fifteen dol-
lars, a saving of thirty-five dollars from the contract price. When
the second Court House was built, it was sold to the First Christian
Church for eight hundred dollars, including the lot. The building
subsequently became the passenger depot of the Wabash Eoad.
In January, 1848, a section of territory was cut off from Des
Moines Townshijj and named Saylor Township, in honor of the
settlement. It embraced what it does now and the south half of
Crocker Township. At the first election to elect township officers,
the polls were held at John's cabin.
In 1850, John laid out and platted the town of Saylorville, and
in 1855, added more to it. Churches, schools, hotels, stores and
shops were built, and it was one of the most flourishing towns in
the county. It had a powerful influence in political and civic
affairs — in fact, was a formidable rival of The Fort for the loca-
tion of the County Seat, and worried the pessimists of "Raccoon
Forks" not a little. It received a stunning blow, however, when
the railroad was built to Ames and passed it two miles eastward,
since when it has dwindled away.
In 1850, John supplied the garrison at Fort Dodge with beef
cattle.
During the Civil War, John joined the army as sutler, and
died at Vicksburg, July Twenty-sixth, 1863.
Benjamin Saylor came into the county soon after John, and set-
tled near him. He at once entered into all the activities of pioneer
life. He was a home-builder, public-spirited, an enthusiastic pro-
moter and builder of schoolhouses and churches. Like most of the
pioneers, he was a Methodist.
April Sixth, 1846, at the county election, he was elected one of
the three County Commissioners in whom was vested the control
of all county affairs. The board held its first meeting April Thir-
teenth, in one of the log cabins, there being no county offices, and
among the orders issued was one that the eagle side of a half-dollar
should be used as the coimty seal.
Vol. II— (17).
258 PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Ajjril Sixth, 1846, had been selected by the Judges of the Ter-
ritorial Supreme Court for holding the first session of the District
Court in Polk County, but the government machinery had slipped
a cog in some way. The county was practically without any gov-
ernment, civil or judicial, and when Judge Williams arrived, no
preparations had been made, there was no Sheriff, no Grand Jury,
no place provided for holding the court, and he was compelled to
wait the result of an election being held on that day to elect officers
of the county, when "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell was elected Sheriff.
He was sworn into office the next day, and directed by the Judge
to bring before him, at the earliest possible moment, twenty-three
good men for a Grand Jury. Among those brought in was Ben-
jamin. It was the most motley attired crowd ever corraled for a
Grand Jury in the county. The Judge, who was a jolly fellow,
accepted humorously the situation, delivered his charge to the jury,
and sent them away on business, but there was nothing doing,
whereupon they were discharged, and the court adjourned to Sep-
tember, at which term Benjamin was again drawn on the Grand
Jury. Among the Petit Jury was John Rose, who had an action
on file against William Lamb for trespass and damages, in the
sum of five hundred dollars, which, after a hearing, the court dis-
missed and charged the cost to Rose, who soon after went up to
Boone County and got elected Justice of the Peace, that county
then being attached to Polk County for judicial purposes. The
first case brought before him, as it appears on the record, is only
one of many unique cases to be found in the records of early jus-
tices, who were selected for their good sense rather than judicial
qualifications. I have made several efforts to find the record of
Aaron D. Stark, who held forth out at Brooks' Lake, but it has
disappeared from the county vaults in some way. It was rich with
ludicrous lore of pioneer jurisprudence. The Rose case was :
"Dayib 'Noah, Plaintiff, )
"Lewis Rinney, Defendant. )
"On or near the Second day of June, 1851, I, John Rose, sent
Lewis Rinney word by Adam Boies, that David Noah had left a
note with me against him for collection, and said Rinney didn't
THE Sx\YLOES 259
come. So, on the Fourth day of June, I issued a summons com-
manding the said Rinney to apjjear, and on the Eleventh of June,
1851, at one o'clock p. m. of said day, to answer to plaintiff in a
case of debt, which summons was returned previous to the time set
for trial, but on the same day, and as soon as the summons was
returned, I placed the amoimt on the back of the summons previou3
to the defendant appearing. The defendant came, and plaintiff,
on the Eleventh of Jime, 1851, and defendant asked me if I had
issued a venire for a jury and subpoenas for witnesses. I told him
that I had no notice of it. So the defendant asked for a postpone-
ment of trial, also ordered me to venire a jury and witnesses, which
was all done, and plaintiff and defendant amicably agreed to have
the case tried on the Twenty-eighth day of June, 1851. Both par-
ties appeared then ; the defendant asked to see the summons, and
objected to amount on the back, and asked for an unsuit, which I
didn't grant ; then he wrote an affidavit and presented it to me for
a change of venue, which I also denied, but proceeded to trial, and
the defendant withdrew from trial. The jury was duly erected
and sworn, and brought in the following verdict of the jury:
"We, the jury, find for the plaintiff.
"The action on which suit was brought was note given by Lewis
Rinney to David Noah, promissory, for fifteen dollars and fifty
cents, and fifty cents interest from the time it was due until judg-
ment was rendered, making sixteen dollars.
"Constable's fees $ 6.40
"Juror's fees 4.52
"Witness fees 4.42
"Justice's fees 2.43%
"Total $17.77%
"John Rose, J. P.
"July Twenty-fiest, 1851."
Benjamin was an active member of the Settlers' Claim Club,
which was, in fact, a law and order leagaie, and kept the county
free of horse thieves and disreputable persons.
He was also a member of the Old Settlers' Association, and a
very prominent and influential person in school, church and civic
affairs.
260 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
In 1849, he erected a two-story frame building fronting on
Third Street, at the corner of Court Avenue, where the Sherman
Block is.
In the Saylor Settlement, in 1849, occurred the first murder in
Polk County. For some time, a feud had existed between two
men named Smith and Howard. One day Howard was hauling
a load of wood along the highway, when Smith assaulted him. He
turned upon his assailant and shot him, causing death within an
hour. Before his death, Smith made a statement of the whole
affair, and so general was the belief that the shooting was justifi-
able, Howard was never disturbed.
The term, "pioneer," has come to have a broad application, but
as construed by the primitive members of the Old Settlers' Asso-
ciation, it means only those who came to Polk County prior to
1848, and they are very punctilious respecting their titular superi-
ority and distinction. At the reunions, they don't allow any others
to feast at their table, yet they fraternize joyfully with all the later
comers, for pioneering extended well into the Fifties. Its trials,
privations, and experiences were much the same.
In these reminiscences of early days, very little has been written
respecting pioneer women. At the reunions of the Old Settlers'
Association, mention is rarely made of the women — the mothers.
In all the gatherings of the Pioneer Lawmakers' Association for
twenty years, there was fulsome, mutual admiration and glorifica-
tion of self — interesting and instructive, it is true — but no mention
of the pioneer mothers, whose bosom pillowed their heads, who
guided them to manhood, and to whom is due a tribute greater
than to self.
"Their monument — where does it stand ?
Their epitaph— who reads it ?
No nobler dames had Sparta,
No nobler matrons Rome."
The present and future generations will never know what they
owe to the pioneer women. It is true the men toiled from sunrise
to sundown, but the mothers — their tasks had no beginning nor
ending. They carded the wool, spun the yarn, wove the cloth,
did the washing and ironing, kept the house in order, tended the
THE SAYLORS 261
garden, dressed the turkeys, cured and dried the deer meat, pre-
pared the fat for "dips" and cooking, gathered and preserved the
wild fruit — all that they did, and to which was added the endless
burden of maternity.
In the homes of the pioneers were sown the germs, which, fos-
tered and nurtured by the mothers, Beebe, Saylor, Buzick, Barlow,
Winterrowd, Canfield, Cory, and scores of others, culminated in
the foundation of a good citizenship, a prosperous, happy com-
munity.
But the old Spartan mothers have gone, yet they left a heritage
of daughters, who came with them as girls to the new country, and
bore their part in the trials and privations common to all in making
a home where their only neighbors were Indians and wild animals.
As wives, they gave new courage and incentive to the young men
who cleared the forest, turned up the riches of the golden soil, and
constituted the strength and good citizenship of this now goodly
county; as mothers, they, too, have reai'ed children who have
walked in the ways of righteousness and right-living.
The illustration presented herewith is of five of the pioneer
"girls," who represent the highest type of the old-fashioned moth-
ers. With forty-three children to their credit, they have done well
in carrying out Roosevelt's idea of the race question. Reading
from right to left, top row, Mrs. Frances Michael Ball, Mrs. Avis
Saylor McQuiston; bottom row, Mrs. Eliza Saylor Myers, Mrs.
Elizabeth Bales Fisher, Mrs. Martha Bales Saylor.
Mrs. Martha Bales Saylor, daughter of Sarah and Solomon
Bales, was born March Fourth, 1830, in Tippecanoe County, Indi-
ana, on a farm six miles west of La Fayette, near the Wabash
River, in a genuine Quaker settlement.
Her father, through his good faith in humanity, had signed
bonds for forty thousand dollars for a friend, who proved deceitful
and treacherous, necessitating the surrender of his farm. He there-
fore decided to come West, and get Government land. In com-
pany with his sist«r and her husband, Eli Keeler, he came to Polk
Coimty in February, 1846, and located a claim near the claim of
John B. Saylor. During the Summer, they built cabins and began
preparations for a home. Later, her father returned to Indiana,
262 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
and early in Seiitember, gathered together bis family and hous^
hold goods to go to a new country and begin life over again. The
family consisted of her father and mother, her father's mother,
her mother's father, Abram Haines, seventy-five years old, nine
children, and a hired man. The outfit was composed of a large
prairie schooner loaded heavily with household goods, a new plow
swung beneath, drawn by four yokes of oxen, driven by the hired
man ; another big farm wagon loaded with household goods, drawn
by two fine, black horses, driven by the father ; next, a wagon filled
with bedding, cradles, useful articles, and children, drawn by two
fine, large, sorrel horses, driven by the mother; another wagon
loaded with odds and ends, grain, etc., driven by Grandfather
Haines. Following were thirty-five cattle and thirty sheep, driven
by Martha, sixteen years old, on horseback.
On a beautiful day, early in September, Martha gave a linger-
ing farewell gaze upon the big brick house in the center of a large
grass plat dotted with fruit trees and blooming shrubbery, nearby
groves of Oaks, Hickory, Cherry and Crabapples, a little stream
of bubbling spring water winding and shimmering through a pas-
ture where she had passed many happy hours gamboling with pet
lambs, colts and calves ; the big, red barns, the orchards of apples,
peaches and berries ; the old sugar camp, where gay frolics were
had, the barrel of syrup for buckwheat cakes, the barrel of sugar for
gingerbread, doughnuts and pumpkin pies, which made a home of
luxury and childhood's happiness, then, with throbbing heart,
mounted her horse and turned her face to follow the wagons ; the
sheep trailed the cows with little trouble or mishap. Sometimes,
a young sheep or lamb would get under the wagon and be crushed
by the wheels, when, with a cry of alarm, there was a leap from the
saddle, the victim dragged to the wayside, its innocent face and
silky ears caressed amid sobs and sighs, a breath of benediction,
and a hustle to overtake the procession.
Stops were made where good camping grounds and gi'azing for
the stock could be found. With a big fire, long-handled frying-
pans, skillets and kettles, corn meal and bacon and plenty of milk,
generous and api>etizing meals were prepared, and after the long
day's ride, the shake-down bed in the wagon gave rest and refresh-
ing sleep. There was very little variation in the daily movement.
THE SAYLORS 263
Sometimes, a sudden storm would terrorize the live-stock, and hur-
ried measures were necessary to get them sheltered and quieted.
Sometimes swollen, unbridged streams were reached, and in cross-
ing, the household goods were watersoaked, causing delay in unload-
ing and drying them. The cattle could swim, but not the sheep,
so ropes were put around their necks and a man on horseback drew
them across.
The Mississippi was crossed at Burlington, on a ferry, thence
the route was to Oskaloosa, where a short halt was made, thence
via "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell's tavern — the gateway to Polk
County — thence through Skunk Bottoms, where the teams had to
be doubled up, thence to the new home, arriHng October Sixteenth,
1846, where was greeting them a log cabin, with one room, one
door, with clapboard shutter, two small windows without glass, a
clapboard roof, no fireplace or stove, to be the domicile of fourteen
persons. Beds were made on the floor for some, others slept in
wagons, others on the grass, with the dogs on guard, for snakes,
skunks, and wolves were numerovis. A larger and more comfort-
able cabin was soon completed, however. During the Summer,
Keeler had cleared and planted two acres of corn and vegetables,
and raised the tallest corn, and finest pumpkins, they had ever seen.
But sometimes the corn meal and flour got short, and a trip to
Oskaloosa was necessary for supplies. Severe wintry storms, and
waiting at the mill, delayed the return of the father many days,
when a tin bucket was broken up, flattened out, holes punched in
it with a nail, then nailed to a smooth, flat board, and corn grated
for meal and mush, satisfying to hungry stomachs, until the return
of the big wagon from Oskaloosa.
Sometimes, wolves harried the live-stock, stole the chickens,
killed the calves ; prairie fires menaced the cabins, requiring vigor-
ous and hard fighting to save the home. One evening, soon after
Martha's arrival, while sitting near the cabin, thinking of the old
home, a most unearthly scream rent the air from the nearby tim-
ber. The thought of Indians and massacre terrorized her, and she
was only quieted when assured that it was only the wail of a pan-
ther, which the dogs had stirred up, while hunting the cows. Soon
after, seven or eight Indians came galloping up to the door of her
264 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
sister's cabin, and began talking to her, making vigorous gestures,
and signs, wbich so terrorized her that she began to cry, and nearly
swooned, whereupon Martha rushed out into the woods, through
fallen tree tops, over stumps, through brush and briers ,to the
nearest cabin, half a mile away, falling exhausted through the door,
whispering that the Indians were at her home and carrying every-
thing away, only to be greeted with laughter and assured that the
Indians would do no hann, which they did not, and afterward said
to the neighbors : "The new white squaw no brave."
A few years wrought wondrous changes in the new home, and
its environments. Increasing wealth, contentment and happiness
came as recompense for the sacrifice of 1846, on the banks of the
Wabash. ,
Mrs. Saylor acquired a primary education at home, later taking
higher degrees in the public schools of Des Moines.
In November, 1848, she was united in marriage with Jehu P.
Saylor, and, though not the first bride, she claims she is the first
bridesmaid in the county, having served in combing and braiding
the hair and dressing three young brides, and in one case, arrang-
ing and fixing the necktie of one of the grooms, John Myers, while
the Esquire waited on the porch. Ben. Bryant's bride had no maid.
Immediately on her marriage, she went to housekeeping. Ward-
robes, bureaus, and closets were scarce in pioneer cabins, so the
wedding suits of herself and husband were nicely folded and laid
away in a new flour barrel.
In the Spring of 1849, she dropped and covered with a hoe
seven acres of corn. In the Fall of 1850, she planted the first Cur-
rant, Rose, Peach, and Concord grape in Polk County, north of
Des Moines.
In September, 1853, a prairie fire came sweeping along. Hast-
ily placing her two little tots with the faithful dog. Buster, on a
blanket in a plat of plowed ground, and while others were fighting
fire in other directions, she fought its destruction of a rail fence for
more than half a mile, until midnight, when she forged ahead of
it, tore away a section of fence, dug up the earth with her hands
and sticks, which stopped its advance. Meanwhile, the babies and
dog, with apparent glee, watched the moving panorama.
THE SAYLOES 265
Six children have been born to her, four of whom are now liv-
ing. Though past seventy-six years, she is active, has good health,
enjoys life, the society of friends, especially the early settlers o£
Polk County, and is quietly waiting the passing days, conscious
that she has done what she could for the betterment of others.
On the arrival of the family, October Sixteenth, an election was
going on, and the men all went to the polls and voted, as was the
custom in that day, and no questions asked.
Mrs. Frances Michael Ball is a daughter of Addison and Mary
J. Michael. She was bom October Twentieth, 1844, and is the
first white child born in Polk County. At the age of five years, she
was left motherless; then made her home with her grandmother,
Mrs. John B. Saylor, imtil 1864. Mrs. Saylor was the proverbial
godmother to all new-comers. She promoted weddings, comforted
the discouraged, helped the sick, and did her whole duty as a noble.
Christian woman in fulfilling her divine mission to everybody
within her reach. In 1866, Frances was united by marriage with
W. G. Ball, and is now a resident of Des Moines. She has six
children.
Mrs. Ball relates many pranks of the Indians with the settlers
when she was a young tot, which sometimes frightened her nearly
out of her wits. The howling of wolves at night around the cabin
was also a cause of great terror.
Her father came to Fort Des Moines about the first of May,
1844, and was associated with John B. Saylor in furnishing hay
and grain for the dragoons at The Fort. He was the first Justice
of the Peace in Polk County, and as such, ofiieiated, in June, 1846,
at the first marriage of white people in the coimty — Benjamin
Bryant and Elvira Birge. The Esquire was not very well posted
in the legal formalities respecting marriages — in fact, justices in
those days were selected for their good sense and judgment rather
than legal acquirements, and, as the marrying business was mostly
done by the circuit preachers, the justices gave it little attention.
But the preachers were scarce, Ben. was in a hurry, and he called
the Esquire. The Esquire got A. D. Jones, a jovial young lawyer,
and omnivorous functionary in tovra, to coach him and post him
up. The joining was done at the cabin of Perry Crossman, the
266 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
County Clerk, and there was a full house. The Esquire got on very
well until he reached the climax, when his memory forsook him, he
halted and hesitated, whereupon Jones, from the rear of the room,
sang out, "By authority vested in me, I pronounce you husband
and wife," which the Esquire repeated, and sat down, dripping
with perspiration. The couple then went to the Birge cabin, where
a merry dance was had and a banquet spread. Enough flour and
sugar had been scraped together in the settlement to make the
"bride cake," and all was lovely. To escape an evening musical
entertainment which "the boys" had fixed up for them, Ben. and
his bride mounted horses and went to "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell's
tavern at Apple Grove, where they were properly corralled against
further intrusion.
Mr. Michael was the first grocer in Des Moines. He was granted
a license April Seventh, 1846, to keep a "grocery," for three
months, on payment of a fee of six dollars and a quarter. A "gro-
cery" in that day, under the prohibitory law then in force, was
presumed to sell "wet goods," or spiritous frumenti.
He enlisted in Company A, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, February
Twenty-fourth, 1863, and served until May Seventeenth, 1866,
the regiment having taken part in every expedition against the
Indians in the departments of Missouri, Kansas, and the North-
west, fighting and chasing them through a wild, unsettled country
by comijanies — in fact, the regiment was never together as a whole,
finally becoming so decimated as to lose its regimental organization
entirely, and was disbanded in detachments. It did its duty so
well as to receive the title from the Cheyennes of the "Hiowa 'ell
'ounds."
Mrs. Eliza Saylor Myers was bom in Indiana, in 18.34, and
came with her parents to Polk County in 1845. In 1848, she was
united by marriage with John Myers. To them, sixteen children
were born, twelve of whom are now living — six sons and six daugh-
ters. She resided in Iowa until 1903. She is now living at Cha-
nute, Kansas, in the enjoyment of excellent health and the con-
sciousness of duty faithfully done as wife and mother.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bales Fisher was born in Indiana in 1834, and
came to Polk County with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon
THE SAYLORS 267
Bales, in 1846. In 1854, she was united in marriage with William
S. Fisher. Four children were born of that union. Mrs. Fisher
still owns a portion of the land entered by her father, October
Thirtieth, 1848. She is vigorous, active, and has good health.
Mrs. Avis Saylor McQuiston was born in Van Buren County,
August Twenty-seventh, 1837, and when eight years old, in 1845,
moved to Polk County, at a point north of Fort Des Moines, later
known as Saylorville, named from her father, John B. Saylor. In
1858, she joined by marriage D. S. McQuiston, and the twain are
joyfully looking ahead to the celebration of their golden wedding
anniversary in 1908. The stork has brought them eleven "little
chips of the old block," seven of whom passed away in infancy.
November Fourth, 1906.
CONRAD D. REINKING
CONRAD D. REINKING
A PIONEER of good repute, and influential, was Conrad D.
Reinking. Born in ^Yestphalia, Prussia, May Second, 1820,
where he lived with his parents, who were poor, acquiring
such limited education as he could get in the common schools, until
he was sixteen years old, when, in 1836, he came to America, land-
ing in Philadelphia, where he remained imtil 1842, in the mean-
time learning the cabinet maker trade.
In 1842, he came to Iowa, stopping at Fort Madison, where he
started a furniture shop, which soon after was destroyed by fire.
He started again, and again his shop went up in flames. Added to
his misfortune, he was prostrated with severe and dangerous illness,
but the good people of the town, with the proverbial kindliness and
good-fellowship of the pioneer, appreciating his energy and sterling
qualities, generously cared for him during his confinement, and
offered assistance to rehabilitate his business, for all of which he
was exceedingly grateful, but his independent spirit was too strong
to accept charity.
He then went to New Orleans, where he remained a short time,
when a longing for his old home led him back to Philadelphia,
where he disembarked from a sea vessel with one dollar in his
pocket. He started in business again, but it was a losing game,
and early in 1848, he turned his face westward, stopping at Saint
Louis, where he got a contract job. While there, he learend of "the
future Capital of Iowa," and came to see it. So well was he pleased
he made a claim for one-half section of land in the southwestern
part of what is now Delaware Township, on the east branch of
Four Mile Creek. He also purchased, for thirty dollars, two lots
on Walnut Street, now occupied by the Harris-Emery Company's
store. He went back to Saint Louis, finished his contract job, pur-
chased some material for cabinet work, returned to Fort Des
Moines, October First, and opened a small shop on the west side of
270 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
the Court House Square, and there he made the first furniture
made in Des Moines. But it was too far out— the center of busi-
ness and trade was all on Second Street, toward 'Coon Eiver, and
soon after, he purchased a lot on Third Street, where the Harbach
Building is, built a log cabin, and started the first furniture store
and cabinet maker's shop in the town. His push and energy
secured him a good patronage, and his sales extended over a large
area. In homes at Iowa City to-day can be found some furniture
of his making. He used to say that he made all the coffins used
within twenty-five miles of his shop.
The times were hard, but such was his faith in the future, he
took advantage of the low price of real estate, and invested every
surplus dollar he could get in it, for he had the sagacity to see
ahead. October Thirtieth, 1848, he entered the claim he had made
with two land warrants. Subsequently, he added two hundred and
forty acres more, which became his home farm. The county rec-
ords are frequently paged with entries of his purchases. He
relieved "Tom" McMullin, "Jim" Campbell, and others who had
overloaded themselves with more town lots than they could carry
or pay for. In later years, telling of some of his purchases, he
said that, early in 1849, Campbell came to his shop one day and
wanted to buy a bedstead — must have one. He had no money, but
he could put up some town lots. He selected a bedstead the price
of which was eight dollars, costing less than five dollars, for which
he offered two lots at the comer of Eighth and Walnut. Conrad
didn't want them at any price ; they were too far out. It ran along
several days, when j\Irs. Campbell came and urged him to make the
trade, as she had no bed to sleep on.
"But," said Conrad, "I declined. I told her the lots were too
far off ; they were of no use for business, but she said, 'O, the town
may grow sometime, and you can fence them in and use them for
a cowyard.' I shook my head. Finally, she went to my wife with
a hard tale about having to sleep on the floor, so, between them,
I gave it up, and told Mrs. Campbell to come and get the bedstead.
I charged profit and loss with five dollars, and let it go at that."
Several versions of that trade have been given from time to
time, but this is the only authentic one. Reinking built a small
CONRAD D. EEIXKING 271
brick house on the lots, which he lived in for a time, and subse-
quently built the structure now known as Reinking Block.
In 1849, he became a victim of the California gold fever. The
continuous cavalcade, day after day, of gold-seekers, east and west
as far as the eye coTild reach, and the fabulous tales of gold finds,
overpowered him. He turned his shop over to J. E. Jewett, a law-
yer, and, with Isaac Cooper, a wagon and four yoke of oxen, joined
the procession, landing four months later, toil-worn and weary, in
that Eldorado, where he remained until the Spring of 1851, when
he returned with nearly one thousand dollars as the net result of
his venture, but with health greatly impaired. He at once returned
to his shop and resumed a business which gave evidence that Jewett
was a much better lawyer than cabinet maker, where he continued
until 1855, when, with shattered health, he sold to the Harbachs
and went to his farm, having, in 1851, taken a helpmate.
At the April election, in 1852, he was elected a member of the
first Council of the Town of Fort Des Moines, a body of men of
good sense and sound judgment, who, without precedents or expe-
rience — there were no junketings to other cities to get pointers,
they had no money — laid the foundation of the civic government of
what has come to be a city noted for its refinement, good govern-
ment, schools and churches. They had to devise and formulate
measures for a Treasurer, Recorder, Marshal, and make police
regulations. Their meetings were held in the old first Court House,
lighted with a tallow "dip" stuck in the neck of a bottle. They
received no pay for their services. The Council consisted of the
Reverend Father Bird, President ; Jesse Dicks, stove dealer ; C. D.
Reinking, cabinet maker ; P. M. Casady, lawyer — he had not got
to he a Judge; William T. Mar\'in, proprietor of the Marvin
House; Hoyt Sherman, Postmaster, and R. W. Syphei', merchant.
J. K. Dollar was elected Recorder, but not liking the job, resigned,
and W. A. Galbraith, a grain merchant, was put in his place.
"Sammy" Gray, the first plasterer in the town, was made Treas-
urer, and Alex. Bowers, Marshal. He subsequently became United
States Marshal. Of them all, Judge Casady is the only one living.*
'Judge Casady died August 31, 1908.
272 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
The Council served oue year, the people evidencing a very sin-
gular appreciation of their gratuitous, philanthropic labor, by not
electing one of them to the next Council.
Reinking was always active in promoting the interest of farm-
ers. He set apart and furnished a room in his block for the free
use of the Farmers' Exchange, an organization formed to promote
the sale and exchange of farm products — a kind of market, where
farmers could have recorded with the Secretary what they had to
sell, which was at once listed on a bulletin board so that purchasers
could make a selection. Subse<piently, a Farmers' Club was organ-
ized, with headquarters and monthly meetings at that Exchange.
The whole arrangement was of gi-eat benefit to the farmers of Polk
County.
In 1883, he built a fiiie brick residence on East Grand Avenue,
and there made his home during his life.
Socially, he was a kind neighbor, and a good citizen ; charitable
toward worthy objects; of positive temperament, and firm in his
convictions. There was never any ambiguity in his expressed
thought or action. He was not a hero-worshiper. Honesty and
sterling integrity were marked characteristic traits, which won the
most implicit confidence and trust in business circles. He was a
stockholder in the old First Savings Bank, a Director in the Citi-
zens' National Bank, a Director in the People's Bank, and for
many years Vice-President and Director of the Polk County Sav-
ings Bank, and, on the decease of Judge Wright, was tendered the
presidency, but declined. He was one of the oldest and most active
members of the Masonic fraternity, donating largely to its funds.
He was also one of the oldest members of the Order of Odd Fel-
lows in the city.
Politically, he was a Whig, but, under all conditions and cir-
cumstances, an Anti-Monopolist. His antagonism to monopolies
was the dominant trait in his character. The destruction of the
Standard Oil Company, and its burial beyond the possibility of
resurrection, would have given him extreme satisfaction. He was
active in political affairs, and many times tendered a nomination
for important offices, but he would have none of them.
CONRAD D. REINKnTG 273
Religiously, he was not a member of any sectarian denomina-
tion. His creed was, "The Fatherhood of God, and Brotherhood
of Man."
February Seventeenth, 1907.
Vol. II— (18).
HARRISON LYON
ACOXSPICrOUS personage in the early days of the county,
and one of the most portentous boosters of Des Moines, was
Harrison Lyon.
Born in Madison, Jefferson County, Indiana, October Sixteenth,
1811, he passed the years of his youth with his parents, his father,
Jonathan Lyon, having settled there at an early day, when South-
em Indiana was a wilderness. Subsequently, he removed to
Washington County, and, being an enterprising, active man, was
soon recognized by the people as suitable to take charge of public
affairs, and was elected Clerk of the District Court. He served
through several terms with marked ability, and to the satisfaction
of the public and his many friends. He was also an active business
man, and became one of the wealthiest of the county.
Harrison, during his minority, acquired the best education the
common schools of that day afforded. Arriving at manhood, he
engaged in farming and milling, and, like his father, soon became
another of the leading men of the county.
In 1851, he disposed of all his property there and came to Fort
Des Moines. It was the year, says Leonard Brown, the poet laure-
ate of that day, which
"Brought the mighty flood of water —
When poured down the floods from heaven
Till the river was a mammoth,
Swallowing aU the vegetation.
Trees and everything before it —
Eeaching over all the bottoms —
Climbing higher up the hillsides
Than it ever had before climbed —
Moving with tremendous fury.
Irresistible and vengeful."
276 PIOXEERS OF POLK COrXTT, IOWA
The East Side bottoms were strewn with debris, uprooted trees,
wrecks of houses, and farm implements. The landscape was not
very attractive to a stranger seeking a new home, but his good
sense and business sagacity prompted him to stay. Selecting the
highest point he could find, for safety from inundation, he pur-
chased of Benjamin Coffeen four hundred acres, on part of which
now stands the Capitol and State Historical Building. The land
was covered with timber and imderbrush so dense it was nearly
impossible to get through it — in fact, a party of yoimg women,
in attempting to do so, got lost and wandered helplessly about
for several hours, imtil rescued by anxious, searching friends, who
foimd them where what is now Franklin Park, then a slough and
frog pond, and favorite resting-place and feeding-ground for wild
ducks when making their migTatory flights north and south.
There were but two or three log cabins on the bottoms on the
east side of the river — the bottoms being divided into fai-ms — and
Lyon rented a small house on the West Side. He then cleared a
space on his land near what is now the comer of East Thirteenth
and Walker, and built a log cabin, in which he made his home.
In 1853, he cleared another part of his four hundred acres,
where the Capitol stands, and at a point near the northwest corner
of the present edifice, erected a fine cottage for himself and family,
intending it to be his future home.
When he came here, the removal of the Capitol of the state to
a more central location was a topic of general discussion. The
General Assembly took up the subject, when immediately arose an
intense rivalry between Fort Des Moines, Oskaloosa, Marshall-
town, Cedar Rapids, and other localities. The question hung fire
through four sessions of the General Assembly, but through the
influence and persistent effort of Judge Casady, Colonel "Tom"
Bakei", Doctor A. Y. Hull, "Uncle Jimmy" Joi'dan, Alfred M.
Lyon, Doctor W. P. Davis, representatives in the General Assem-
bly from Polk County; Barlow Granger, Hoyt Sherman, Colonel
J. M. Griffith, "L'ncle Tommy" Mitchell, R. L. Tidrick, and other
citizens, Polk County was selected, in January, 1855. In the
meantime, a strife arose as to where in the county the site was to
be. Doctor T. K. Brooks had started a town about two miles east
HAREISON LYON 277
of The Fort, "Uncle Jerry" Church another farther down the
river, and John Saylor had his booming town of Saylorville, all
expectant rivals. They had secured the insertion in the law of a
clause that the site for the Seat of Government "be within two
miles of the junction of Des Moines and Raccoon rivers." That
let in Doctor Brooks and "Uncle Jerry" with their embryo cities.
Commissioners were appointed by the General Assembly to make
the selection of a site. The Commissioners delayed their coming
several months, and before their arrival. Brooks and "Uncle
.Terry" withdrew from the contest, which left it to the east and
west sides of the Des Moines River. Then arose a contest which
was vigorous, bitter and acrimonious, engendering a strife which
continued for more than forty years.
Harrison Lyon, as an inducement to locate the Capitol on the
East Side, offered to donate ten acres. Doctor Brooks and W. A.
Scott offered another tract which is now known as Governoi''s
Square, as a site for the Governor's mansion.
Colonel J. A. Williamson and T. A. Walker offered another
tract on East Walker Street, known as State Square.
W. A. Scott, or Alex., as everybody called him, offered another
tract of forty acres, which embraced a part of the south half of the
Capitol Grounds, and the block whereon is now the Soldiers' Monu-
ment, and further agreed to erect a State House and donate it to
the state.
The East Side won, and so soon as the site was fixed, deeds
were made April Twenty-ninth, 1856, and recorded for the four
several tracts. A Building Association was formed by Scott, who
was the prime mover, a three-story substantial brick building was
erected, which, for twenty years, during the most notable epoch
in the history of the state, was occupied by the state officers,
Supreme Court, and General Assembly. Aroimd its walls cluster
memories of heart-stirring scenes and notable events. When the
new Capitol was ready for occupancy, the old was left to the ele-
ments, tramps and bats, until it went up in flames.
In May, 1856 Lyon having given to the state his cottage-home
grounds, an exceedingly liberal, seldom equaled, donation, he platr
ted fortv acres, making wide streets and allevs. which is now
278 PIOXEEKS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
known as Lyon's Addition to the city, and in 1857, built a large,
two-story frame house on the south half of Block Five, on Keokuk
Street (now Grand Avenue), which for many years was known as
the Lyon homestead. He surrounded it with trees and shrubbery,
and it was deemed one of the finest residences on the east side of
the river. In 1896, the entire half block was sold to the state, the
house moved to East Tweltfh Street, and is now occupied by two
of his daughters. On the old site stands the State Historical Build-
ing, which my good friend, Charles Aldrich, thinks is the best
thing on earth.
Very soon after his arrival, Lyon, in addition to the four hun-
dred acres purchased of Coffeen, bought six hundred and forty
near where the State Fair Grounds are, two hundred on what is
now West Grand Avenue, where are the finest residences in the
city, and several hundred acres near Sioux City. Such was his
judgment and perspicacity, he never made a mistake in an invest-
ment. He was a keen observer of human nature and passing
events. Nothing escaped his observation. A close reader of the
world's doings, he was always posted on public affairs of his own
country.
Socially, he was of quiet demeanor, affable, genial in tempera-
ment, companionable, a good neighbor, public-spirited, liberal, ever
ready to render aid to all laudable enterprises. Besides his gener-
ous donation to the state, he gave the lots and built, at Ninth and
Grand Avenue, the first schoolhouse on the East Side. In that
schoolhouse was organized the first Class of the Methodist Church,
known as Wesley Chapel, and the Reverend E. M. H. Fleming,
then of the Monroe Circuit, preached therein.
During the war period, Lyon contributed largely to the soldiers'
relief fund, to furnish supplies for the "boys in blue," and was one
of their most active and zealous siipporters. He was loved and
respected by all who knew him. Though his name is not yet
emblazoned on lofty and costly edifices, it is indelibly impressed
on the foundation stones, the school, the church, the home, upon
which a civic structure has been built, ennobling and attractive.
Religiously, he was not a churchman, but in 1857, he donated
a lot and contributed liberally to the funds for building the First
HAERISON LYON 279
Methodist Church, on the East Side, for many years known as
Wesley Chapel, of which his wife was an active and beloved
member.
Politically, Lyon was a firm disciple of General Andrew Jack-
son, but took no part in politics. If he voted at all, it was the
Democratic ticket, but after 1S59, Democratic votes didn't avail
anything in Polk County.
He deceased March 20, 1885.
March Third, 1907.
CHARLES GOOD
CHAKLES GOOD
AXOTAJBLE character among the pioneers was Charles Good,
or "Uncle Charley," as those who knew him best called hm.
He was one of the most widely known men in Polk County,
and the least known, his eccentricities giving him great publicity,
quite contrary to every element of his nature.
He was bom on a farm in Coshocton County, Ohio, Xovember
Twenty-eighth, 1S03. His parents were very, very poor. The
suffering and deprivation enforced by poverty during his childhood
days made a deep impression upon him, and early he resolved to
place himself beyond its reach if industry, firmness of purpose, and
good health could accomplish it.
When sixteen years old, he learned the trade of blacksmith, and
worked fifteen years at the anvU and forge. He removed to Logan,
Ohio, where he built the first brick building in the town. It was
two stories high. On the lower floor, he kept a general store. The
upper floor was tised for a schoolroom.
In 1847, he concluded the Western coimtry afforded a better
opportunity for business, and starting overland in a buggy with a
man named Jewett, he came, by the way of Burlington, to Fort
Des Moines, and spent some time prospectuig for a permanent loca-
tion. He visited Monroe City, the "future Capital of the state,"
which the Legislative Commission of Quakers had located in Jas-
per Coimty, where he found a splendid array of stakes set for lots,
streets, botdevards, parks, etc., but no water within three miles, and
the nearest house of a settler six miles away. He did not think it a
good place for investment. He finally decided to cast his lot at
The Fort, though it was but a mere hamlet, with little to attract a
stranger.
While he was thus prospecting, his wife sickened and died.
There were no railroads nor telegraphs, the mails were slow and
far between, preventing communication with him, and he knew
281
282 PIONEERS OF POLK COUITTY, IOWA
nothing of his loss until he arrived at Portsmouth, near his home,
and found she had been buried out of his sight.
In 1849, he married again, and with his family and spring
wagon, drawn by two horses, he came back to The Fort, took a log
cabin at the corner of Second and Elm streets, and started in the
grocery and drug business, the grocery being on the same lot with
his cabin. Later, he started a bakery on Second, just north of
Market. Among his special customers were the Indians. They
came into the store one at a time, Indian fashion. The first one
would make his purchase, go out and tip another, who would fol-
low and repeat the process. Thus they kept it up until the very
last one filed in and out. Some of them were pretty good judges
of pastry. They were always orderly and quite friendly. It was
a novelty with "Uncle Charley," yet they were Indians, all the
same, and a little uncertain.
Later, he built a two-story bTiilding on Second Street between
Vine and Market. The lower floor was used as a merchandise and
drug store; the upper floor for religious meetings.
I don't think he was ever suspected by anybody of being very
worldly-minded, given to fashion, or faddish, but while he was
selling drugs, a hair-dye agent came along one day, and, after
exploiting its superior virtues, he stimulated "Uncle Charley's"
vanity a little, by caressing that patriarchal beard, familiar to old-
timers, and suggesting that as it was getting a little gray around
the edges, it would look much better if dyed with his incomparable,
non-tellable preparation, and restored to its original color. "Uncle
Charley" yielded to his persuasiveness, and the whiskers were duly
doped.
It so happened that a few days after, he started for Dayton,
Ohio, to attend a very important meeting of his church people, who
were very plain, zealous, religious folk. When he got there, hia
whiskers had changed to a sky-blue. A faithful brother church
member, seeing them, reproached him rather sharply for showing
such evidence of pride and vanity. So chagrined and mortified
was "Charley," he whetted up his pocket knife — ho had no use for
a razor — and ciit them off clean. No agent ever had a chance to
say "hair dye" to him again.
CHARLES GOOD 283
Considering the time, he possessed a good knowledge of drugs
and medicines, was well read in the United States Pharmacopoeia
and United States Dispensatory. He had a private book of for-
mulae, originated by himself, from which he compounded and sold
a liniment and cholera cure for many years. There was a big
demand for cholera cure in the early Fifties all over the West. I
remember going one day with my uncle, a physician, in Michigan,
to see some cholera patients in the coimtry. Of nearly a dozen he
had visited the day before, he found all but one or two had died
since he left them. The streets in Chicago were crowded with
carts carrying away the dead.
In 1855, a law went into effect pi'ohibiting the sale of spirituous
liquors, except by an agent appointed for the entire county, by the
County Judge, and then sold only for medical, mechanical, and
sacramental purposes. Doctor D. V. Cole was appointed the agent
for Polk County. Officers were detailed to enforce the law. Sev-
eral seizures were made. One day, officers swooped down on a
room north of "Charley's" drug stoi-e, where they found forty bar-
rels of high wines, which he had just purchased in Cincinnati for
a vinegar company, to be made into vinegar.
The barrels were rolled down on 'Coon Bottoms, and set up on
end in an imposing row. A large crowd quickly gathered to see
what was up. Brandt, whose "front" name is Isaac, the well-
known apostle of Father Matthew, and a Big Sachem of the Good
Templars, happened to be at Perkins' store, next door to Good's,
doing some trading, and he joined in to witness the onslaught.
When the officer's sledge smashed in the head of a barrel, the spir-
its flew in all directions, and Isaac got his share of it. When it
was all over, Isaac went home, and one of his little tots climbed
into his lap to greet him, but soon, with a sniff or two, backed off,
and said: "Papa, where have you been; I smell something like
whiskey."
The seizure was the talk of the town, and troubled Good consid-
erably, as the contraband stuff was found on his premises, though
it was not his. On the records of the County Judge is an entry
that, "James Stanton, Constable, be allowed seventeen dollars and
thirty-five cents for prosecuting, drayiag, stowing, handling.
284 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
beheading, and burning forty barrels of red-eye belonging to the
Des Moines, Polk Connty, Vinegar Association."
Good was one of the most optimistic men in Des Moines respect-
ing its growth and prosperity. He firmly believed — and often
said — that it had more real merit, and natural resources, than any
other town in the Middle West, but he was often greatly displeased
with the uubusiness-like, disjointed system of its municipal govern-
ment. He verified his faith by early investments in town lots, tim-
ber and farm land. He purchased the block on what is now Grand
Avenue, from Second to the river, and on Second, built a two-story
residence for a home, where he resided during his life. His wife
deceased in 186.3, and it was lovingly cared for for twenty-three
years by his youngest daughter, now the wife of Doctor C. Nyse-
wander.
Subsequently, he purchased the old German Methodist Church
building, on Locust Street, moved it to the comer of Second Street
and Grand Avenue, repaired and fitted it up for a Mission Sunday
School and other religious purposes.
On the eastern portion of the block, near the river, he planted
an orchard, in which were apples, grapes, pears, jieaches, plums,
cherries, crab trees and berries, an overweaning temptation to the
"small boy," and a source of trouble to "Charley."
About two years ago, the old home and the Mission School lots
were sold to J. S. Polk, and will be the site of the new splendid
passenger station of the Interurban Railway.
In May, 1850, he made the contract for thirty-one acres on Uni-
versity Avenue, between Fourteenth and Seventeenth, of Benjamin
Saylor, for which he traded the two horses and wagon which had
brought him from Ohio. The wagon was pretty wobbly and weak
in spots, and one horse was so short-necked he had to get on his
knees to drink from a brook. The land was bought for timber pur-
poses, it being deemed too far away for residences. Later, he
planted one-half of the tract in fruit trees and grapes. There are
several "middl^aged boys" in Des Moines to-day who could certify
to the quality of the grapes they "swiped" when "L^ncle Charley"
was not around. Said one of them, a few days ago: "I pulled
some of the largest and finest bunches of grapes I ever saw out of
CHARLES GOOD 285
that vineyard. The temptation was too much for a boy, with his
usual appetite. I knew very well 'Charley' would have given me
all I wanted by asking, but that is not the boy's way of doing, gen-
erally.'' One-half of the tract is now owned by the Park Board.
The east half is divided into residence lots as "Xorthwestern
Heights."
In 1853, Good purchased the block which now bears his name
at Fifth and Walnut. When the Des Moines Improvement and
Navigation Company was engaged in obstructing the river beyond
all hope of navigation, Colonel George Gillaspy, Treasurer of the
company, frequently visited Fort Des Moines, the head of naviga-
tion, and Judge Casady persuaded him to make an investment in
the growing town. j!^ovember Twenty-fourth, 1849, Obadiah Hig-
bee purchased from the County Commissioners Lots Four and
Five, in Block Thirteen, at the comer of Fifth and Walnut, for
forty-tive dollars. In July, 1851, Gillaspy purchased the lots for
one hundred and fifty dollars, remarking that possibly he could sell
or give them away some time. All west of Eighth Street was
fenced in with rail fences and planted with corn. October Fif-
teenth, 1853, Gillaspy sold them to Jenkins W. Morris for five
himdred dollars, and ISTovember Fourth, following, Morris sold
them for six hundred and fifty dollars to Good, who bought them
for an investment, pending the growth of the town. In 1881, he
erected the block bearing his name, now valued, I imderstand, at
four hundred thousand dollars.
When the Original Town was jilatted, all lots ran east and west,
and fronted on the streets running north and south, except those on
Court Avenue. The lots were 66x132 feet, two lots making a
quarter block, or 132x132 feet.
All Good's investments proved highly remunerative, and he
became quite wealthy.
A marked trait of his character was his deep religious convic-
tion. While he read many other books, he read the Bible whenever
opportunity offered, and committed much of it to memory. Several
well marked and worn Bibles now in possession of his childi-en
evidence their use by him. It was his custom to write references
and his thoughts thereon. Thousands of pages of such writing
286 PIONEERS OF POLK COUXTT, IOWA
were found among his papers. He preached ocasionally at differ-
ent points in Polk and adjoining counties, also in sonthwestern
Iowa, Ohio and other states. Every four weeks, he held religious
service in his Second Street home, lodged and fed those who
attended from abroad, until he purchased and fitted up the old
German Church building. He espoused the faith and doctrines of
the Brethren in Christ, and so zealous was he, he once went with
his wife in a carriage to Dayton, Ohio, so that they might join that
church, there being none of the faith in the West. Here he per-
fected a church organization, and after his death, his old home on
Second Street was sold and three thousand dollars given to the
church. Another lot has been purchased on jSTinth Street, and
preparations are being made to erect a new building.
While many thought him close in dealing, and somewhat penu-
rious, he gave many thousand dollars for church and charitable
uses, and always with the strict injunction to say nothing about it
— to "keep it dark."
He was passionately fond of children. He could not see them
in want or suffering. When the Mormons were going through Des
Moines, hauling their household goods in push-carts, accompanied
with their hungry children, whose bare feet were bleeding from
contact with the frozen ground, he gave them shoes and provisions
from his store, remembering vividly his boyhood days when he had
but a crust for a day, and the Sheriff carried away hoiisehold goods
and kitchen utensils his mother so much needed. Every Sunday,
so long as he was able, he visited his Mission School and took pres-
ents to the children.
He was industrious, and greatly pleased when he was most
busily engaged. He could do blacksmithing, carpentering, stone
or brick laying, and was an enthusiastic fruit grower. He had
great physical vigor and streng-th, at the age of seventy-eight assum-
ing the task of building the Good Block. At one time, with little
to do, when the foundation of his block was being put in, he laid
some of the stone under the Rogg portion. Sometimes, if hired
hands had little to do, he would have them move a pile of lumber
or stone from a spot they had placed it the day before to another
place, just to keep them at work and not lose their time and pay,
which was onlv one of his eccentricities so much misunderstood.
CHARLES GOOD 287
In business affairs, he guided himself by the strictest moral
principles, living by a law which permitted no compromise with
honor. At times, it gave to his character a severity which led many
to misjudge him.
Socially, he was genial and companionable with those who got
on the warm side of him. He entertained many from far and near
who came to the old home to see "Uncle Charley." He was not a
member of any clubs or fraternal organizations.
Politically, he was an Abolitionist, but not a partisan. He
voted for the best men of all parties. He was opposed to all wars,
and, as a matter of religions belief, took no part in the Civil War.
He deceased March Twenty-seventh, 1898.
March Tenth, 1907.
290 PIONEERS OE POLK COUNTY, IOWA
wee tot the stork had brought them. It was not a verv inviting
place, as all that section was dense timber and brush. From Keo-
kuk Street (now Grand Avenue) there was a road cut through just
the width of a wagon, to town, and that was the only way to get
there. In wet weather, it was nearly impassable. One evening, he
and his wife went out to visit a friend, and going home she left
both her overshoes in the mud.
Society in the very early days was very different from what it is
now. Everybody knew everybody in town. Referring to it a few
days ago, Christy said : "We were all good neighbors. One night
I was called out by a neighbor whose wife was taken suddenly ill,
to go for a doctor. When the doctor reached the woman, he found
the case required the use of surgical instruments, which he did not
have with him, and sent me to a drug store to get them. It was
after midnight, and no one was in the store when I reached it, but
I crawled in through a window and found them. The next day, I
told the druggist what I had done, and he said it was all right.
The pioneers were always ready to help one another. If I should
attempt the doing of the same thing now, I would probably get
my bead shot off, or land in jail."
In 1859, his house was burned, but he rebuilt it and has resided
there since.
Being a versatile genius, he sometimes worked side lines. He
was acting as Constable on one occasion, and went in pursuit of a
man who had assaulted an old man who lived alone in the brush,
near what is now the corner of Des Moines and Twelfth streets.
Learning that the fellow was at a house on the outskirts of town, he
went after him, and on nearing the house, the fellow saw him and
skedaddled through a back door, for the brush. Christy followed
him to the bluffs on the bank of the river, where he lost him. See-
ing foot tracks pointing inward at the mouth of one of the aban-
doned coal mines along the bluff, he followed them, and, after a
long search, failed to locate him, yet was certain he was there. He
built a bonfire of leaves and brush and smoked him out. There
being no jail in Polk County, all prisoners having to be taken to
Oskaloosa or Ottumwa, he was taken direct before Esquire R. W.
Clark for trial. Doctor A. Y. Hull api>eared as attorney for the
WILLIAM CHRISTY 291
old man, and Will. Porter for the cnlprit. During the hearing, the
two attorneys got mad, and sailed into each other, but were sep-
arated before blood was drawn, the Esquire threatening to take
them both outside and thrash them if they didn't behave, and he
was able to do it. I don't think Will, has forgotten it.
Christy continued to work at his trade until August, 1862,
when, in response to the bugle call of his country, he enlisted in
Company C, of which Congressman Hull was Captain, in the
Twenty-third Infantry, to help put down the Eebellion. The regi-
ment went into camp east of the Capitol, near where Mrs. Redhead
now lives, and September Eighteenth, was mustered into sei-vice,
the roster showing nine hundred and sixty men and officers. It
marched to Keokuk, thence went by boat to Saint Louis. Its first
service in the field was in Missouri, in hard marches and skir-
mishes for two months, when it was ordered to make a hard march
to Iron Mountain, where it went into winter quarters, but soon
after was ordered to break up a Confederate camp on Current
River. While on that expedition, Colonel Dewey selected Christy
to carry a special message to General Boyd, a hazardous under-
taking, for the route was through dense forest, in an unknown
country, infested with guerillas, but after a three days' journey,
sleeping at night on the bare earth, he delivered the message. The
General asked where the regiment was, and on being told it was in
Arkansas, he replied, "Those d — d Iowa boys would follow the
Secesh to the devil, if they were allowed to go."
The regiment was engaged in the battles of Port Gibson, Jack-
son, Champion's Hill, and Big Black River Bridge. At Port Gib-
son was its first battle engagement. After the battle at the bridge,
it was detailed as guard to remove several thousand captvired pris-
oners to Memphis. Returning, it was sent to Milliken's Bend,
where, June Sixth, 1863, it had a desperate encounter with the
Confederates, losing fifty out of two hundred men. It then joined
the army investing Vicksburg, and was the first regiment to cross
the river for attack on the rear. After the fall of Vicksburg, it
was sent to reinforce Sherman at Jackson. At the close of the
campaign, it returned to Vicksburg, and was sent to Texas, on the
Brownsville Expedition. Then returning to New Orleans, in the
292 nOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
Spring of 1864, it was sent to reinforce the defeated army of Gen-
eral Banks in its retreat down Red River. Early in 1865, it
returned to New Orleans, and joined the expedition around Mobile,
and in the siege and assaults of that campaign, bore a notable part.
At the storming of Spanish Fort, it met again the Twenty-third
Alabama, which it had met at Port Gibson, when under fire for the
first time. After two months' stay around Mobile, it was moved to
Harrisburg, Texas, where, July Twenty-sixth, 1865, it was mus-
tered out, came to Davenport, and August Eighth, disbanded.
On release from military service, Christy hastened home, only
to begin life anew. His little child had died, his Government pay
had barely supplied the needs of his family during his absence, he
was poor in purse, but rich in courage, determination, and faith in
the future. He built a small shop and entered the field as a build-
ing contractor. His competency, integrity, and business capacity
soon brought him success. He made most of the plans for build-
ings, as architects were not so numerous as they now are. He built
several hundred buildings on both sides of the river, mostly resi-
dences, for the town had not reached the steel-construction-sky-
scraper stage. Prominent on the East Side was the bank building
at Fifth and Locust, for I. !N". Thomas; the Bolton Block, on
Sixth ; the store on Locust for R. C. Webb ; the Goldstone stores,
and the Odd Fellows' Hall. He did the interior work for Jule
Parmlee's jewelry store, in the comer of the old Savery, where
Joseph now is, the first room occupied on the ground floor. Lum-
ber was scarce. There were no railroads. Store boxes was all the
pine lumber he could get, and with that he did all the work. So
well pleased was Jule, he not only paid for the job, but gave
Christy a handsome present as a token of satisfaction. I think
Joseph ran up against some of that work in remodeling the room to
meet a more up-to-date fastidiousness. What a tale that hotel
building could tell of transmogrifications it has passed through to
keep pace with the progress of events and the public demand !
In 1873, under a change in the law, Polk County was divided
into five Supervisor Districts, and Lee Township was made the
second district. Christy was elected for that district, and reelected
each term to 1897, when he got tired of it and quit, having served
WILLIAM CHEISTY 293
twenty-four consecutive years, an unprecedented record, indicating
not only his fitness for the place, but his popularity with his own
townsmen. His business capacity and long experience in the man-
agement of county affairs, in fact, made him the burden-bearer
of the Board work. It was a case where the minority ruled the
majority.
In 1878, having acquired a competency, he retired from the
building business.
In 1881, he was elected Overseer of the Poor of the city, and
reelected every year to 1894. It was a thankless office, requiring
the exercise of good judgment — a place where was constant struggle
between deprivation, want, his heartfelt sympathy, and the limited
funds placed at his disposal.
In 1878, he was elected a director of the Capital City Bank,
and held the place five years.
In 1885, he was elected a member of the East Side School
Board, and served nine years, aiding materially in advancing the
schools to a higher and more gratifying position.
In 1890, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and is still on the
bench, with a well-filled record that shows very few reversals of his
decisions in the higher courts.
Politically, he is a Republican. He cast his first vote for Presi-
dent for Lincoln. He generally has a hand in all the political
movements in Lee Township, and thoroughly understands the
game, yet he is in no sense a place-seeker, his greatest difiiculty
being to avoid having places thrust upon him.
Socially, he is of kindly temperament, inclined to be demure,
yet is companionable, and a good neighbor. He was formerly a
member of the Order of Odd Fellows, but there being no lodges
here when he came, he has dropped out. He is an active member
of the Grand Army of the Republic.
March Twenty-fourth, 1907.
ALFRED D. JONES
OXE of the liveliest, best known and most versatile geniuses
of pioneer days in Fort Des Moines was Alfred D. Jones.
He hove into the little community of log cabins and scarce
a dozen families of settlers the Thirteenth of February, 1846, and
put up at "Father" Meacham's log tavern, near what is now the
east end of Grand Avenue bridge. The infantry of The Fort had
removed a portion of the Indians to Kansas, but the Dragoons were
here, rounding up several bands of the red fellows, who had strag-
gled away up the rivers. The settlers were preparing for civil
government. An election had been ordered to elect officers to organ-
ize the county, April Sixth. The next day after Jones' arrival,
there was a meeting on the west side of the river to select candi-
dates for the county offices, and Jones joined in. He was a bright,
active-appearing fellow, was elected Secretary of the meeting, and
nominated for County Surveyor. The pioneers didn't stand much
on technicalities. A man didn't have to wait long for an office or
to vote. Jones pleased the West Siders, and that was sufficient.
April First, the first United States mail bag reached The Fort
by a special messenger. Jones had once been a postoffice clerk, and
he was requested to open the bag. In it was found the commission
of Doctor Thomas K. Brooks for Postmaster, and his bond, which
was approved by Peter Newcomer and Jeremiah Church, who had
come here in 1845.
The county had been divided into three voting precincts. Fort
Des Moines, Camp Creek, and Allen's Mill. Jones' opponent was
E. A. Woodward. The only real question at issue was the location
of the County Seat. Brooklyn, a town which had been laid out
about two miles east of The Fort, was a competitor for it. It was a
vigorous scrap. Jones pitched in for The Fort, and on election
day spent the whole day at the polls in Camp Creek precinct, which
embraced the whole eastern half of the county, working for the
295
296 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
whole ticket, he said, but probably more especially for himself.
The ballots were cast in "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell's hat, and any-
body voted who wanted to, regardless of where he came from, or
how long be had been in the county, one fellow being frank enough
to say he had "just got in about thirty minutes ago." Jones being
dressed in "store clothes" and white shirt, the countrymen looked
at him askance, and he didn't get a vote in the precinct. The total
vote of the county was :
Fort Des Moines 70
Camp Creek 42
Allen's Mill 63
Total 175
On the face of the returns. Woodward had the most votes, but
Jones disputed the count, and, being good at figuring, and with the
help of "Tom" Baker, won the place. The processes for deciding
elections in the early days were somewhat peculiar, especially when
"Tommy" Mitchell, Barlow Granger, Pete. Myers and Granville
Holland took a hand in the game.
On June First, 1846, the first Board of CoTinty Commissioners
ordered Jones to "proceed, as soon a.s practicable, to lay off a town
at the site selected for the County Seat of Polk County." It was
also further ordered that notice of the sale of town lots be pub-
lished for three weeks in the Burlington Hawk-Eye, Iowa City
Reporter, and Democrat, at Keosauqua. From present outlook,
the advertising of such a sale in the one-horse town of Keosauqua
would be deemed queer, but at that time Van Buren County was
one of the most important counties in population, great men and
wealth in the territory, and the Democrat had the largest circula-
tion. According to instructions, June Fourth, Jones and Doctor
Fagen began laying out the town. Jones had no surveyor's chain,
and he used a long rope. The survey was hurriedly made, the site
was covered with trees and hazel brush, there were showers, the
long rope stretched and shrank. On July Eighth, he made return
of his survey as follows :
"The bearings of Water, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth,
Seventh, and Eighth streets, is north fifteen and one-half
ALFRED D. JONES 297
west, and one chain in width, except Water Street, which extends
to the River Des Moines. The bearings of Elm, Market, Vine,
Cherry, Mulberry, Locust and Court Avenue is south seventy-four
and one-half degrees west, and are all one chain in width, except
Vine and Walnut, which are one chain and twenty-five links in
width from Water Street to Fifth, and from Fifth to Eighth Street
they are one chain in width ; and Court Avenue is one chain and
a half in width.
"The alleys all extend parallel and at right angles with the
streets, as represented on the plat, and are twenty links in width,
except Number Three (now Plum Street), which is fifty feet in
width.
"The whole number of lots in said town is thi-ee hundred and
twenty-four, and are one chain in width, and two chains in length,
and lie as represented on the plat.
"The Public Square is four chains and a half in length and four
and a quarter in width, and lies within the block numbered Nine,
Fifteen, Twenty, Twenty-one, and Fourteen, and enclosed and des-
ignated as 'Public Square.'
"The Market space is four chains and twenty-five links in
length, and one chain in width, and lies between blocks numbered
Twenty-six and Twenty-seven, and designated within enclosed lines
as 'Market Place.'
''The Public Ground lies between Raccoon River and Block
Number Thirty-seven, and west of and adjoining Des Moines
River, and designated as 'Public Ground.'
"The stone planted by the County Commissioners of Polk
County, from which to make future surveys, is placed at the south-
east comer of Lot Number Five, in Block Number Thirty-seven,
at the corner of the Public Ground, and is marked this : O.
"The survey of the above town was made from the extreme
southwest comer of said stone."
It is proper to say the area embraced in the survey extended
from Des Moines River to West Eighth Street, and from 'Coon
River north to Locust, and is known as the "Original Town" in all
real estate transactions.
On the same day Jones filed his plat of survey, the County Com-
missioners donated all the "streets, alleys and public grounds in
298 PIONEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
the town of Fort Des Moines, as shown on the plat, to the public,
with the proviso:
"That all the streets, alleys and public ground in said Town of
Fort Des Moines which now have public buildings upon them shall
not be considered highways until the expiration of one year, or
until the Commissioners of such county shall declare them high-
ways. The Public Square, as represented on said plat, is reserved
for the purpose of erecting a Court House thereon, and such other
public building as the County Commissioners may deem proper
for the use of the County of Polk. The Market space, as repre-
sented on said plat, is reserved for the purpose of building a mar-
ket house thereon, for the use of the general public, which shall be
under the control and management of such officers as may have
control, management and government of the Town of Fort Des
Moines, the above platted town. The Public Ground is bounded
and described as follows : ISTorth by Block Thirty-seven, west by
a line parallel with the east side of Block Twenty-eight, extending
to Raccoon River, and east by Des Moines River."
For surveying and platting, Jones was paid eighty-nine dollars
and iifty cents. His flagbearers, stake drivers, axe-men and team-
sters were paid fifty-five dollars, a total of one himdred and forty-
five dollars, which, in those days, for three days' work, was con-
sidered enormous — scandalous — as some of the rural settlers put it.
There is another monument stone, or ought to be, which I saw
set by Professor Harkness, of the United States Observatory, and
several other Government officials from Washington, who came to
Des Moines in August, 1869, to observe the total eclipse of the sun.
They set the stone, a cut cube, near the southeast corner of the
Court House yard, from which they fixed the exact location of the
center of the Court House dome at longitude sixteen degrees, forty-
three minutes, fifty-two seconds west; latitude forty-one degrees,
thirty-five minutes, forty-five seconds north; elevation of the stone
above the sea level, eight hundred and forty-nine feet; difference
in time at Washington, one hour, six minutes, six seconds.
The stretching and shrinking of the ro]>e used in the survey
caused crookedness and shortages — in fact, the plat did not cover
the one hundred and fortv-three and one-third acres donated bv
ALFRED D. JONES 299
CongTess for the site. It was also found that it lapped over oa
preemption claims held by settlers. A re-survey was made and the
discrepancies finally adjusted satisfactorily to all concerned.
Immediately after his arrival, Jones began reading law with
"Tom" Baker, who was the Representative from Polk County in
the Legislature, and after his admission to the Bar, became a part-
ner of "Tom's" in business. So soon as the town lots were ordered
sold, speculation was rife among real estate men, but the uncer-
tainty of the location of the State Capital made it risky. Jones
concocted a scheme to help out, which he confided to a few close
friends. He wrote a long letter to himself, dropped it in the Post-
office. When the next mail day arrived — the mail came but twice
a week — a large crowd was present. He received the letter, went
off in a corner to read it, which done, the crowd wanted to know
what it was about (so long, it must be important). He replied
that it was quite certain the Capital would come to Fort Des
Moines, and that there would be money in town lots. A day or
two after, "Tom" McMullin and a few of his friends saw Jones
and Wall. Clapp, a brother of ovir Ed., leisurely looking over the
town lots, plat in hand, which was construed as certain that Jones
had received a tip from "Tom" Baker. They immediately bought
all the town lots they could pay for, and more, too; but Jones
bought none, which was to them a suspicious circumstance, and
when the trick was made known, they anathematized Jones with
the most energetic idioms known to men not very circumspect with
their vocabulary, but they held on, and made a pile of money, and
also made Jones the butt of their jibes at his joke, by which he
tricked himself out of a good thing.
In March, Jones was appointed Deputy County Clerk, and July
Twenty-fourth, his record showed he had issued four marriage
licenses, one of them to a fellow who said he had no money, but
would pay for it in splitting rails, which the county did not need.
He was, however, donated the license.
July Eighteenth, Jones took the first census of the town, and
returned as his count of the population, one hundred and twenty-
seven, consisting of twenty-three families and thirty-one houses,
all of them log garrison buildings. He also returned thirteen young
300 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
men and eleven women as proper subjects for matrimony. They
all subsequently married, except Jemima Scott, an old maid, who
proved invulnerable to Hymen's chamis.
He was paid a dollar and a half out of the county treasury for
taking the census.
In August, he was nominated by the Whigs for Constable, and
by the Democrats for Justice of the Peace, was elected to both and
got his certificate. He was also Deputy County Clerk. As Justice
of the Peace, he went into the marrying business. On one occasion,
he was present at a wedding when another justice officiated, who
did not know his business, and got balked. Jones helped him out,
and then, to further instruct him, called one couple after another
of those present and put them through the marriage stuut until
they all could go through the ceremony without prompting. It was
a hilarious crowd.
In September, 1846, he was appointed by Judge Williams, of
the Territorial Court, County Clerk, to succeed Crossman, and
held the office until the next election, in April following.
After his retirement, he presented a bill of nineteen dollars and
forty-five cents, for eighty-eight bushels of coal he had furnished
the Clerk's office during the Winter period. It was not allowed.
Why, the records do not state, nor where the coal was obtained, but
coal was then dug out of the bluff at Hall's mill, at the foot of
Center Street, and the soldiers got what they claimed was better
and harder coal down the river, at the southeast corner of Barlow
Granger's farm. That is the earliest record of coal dealing in the
county.
Jones did not remain here very long, but while he was here he
was a hustling booster of everything going on to promote the town,
politically or otherwise. In 1849, the site for the County Seat of
Madison County having been located by a commission, of whom
Isaac Cooper, of Fort Des Moines, was one, Jones went down
there to help organize a town and give it a boost. At one of the
preliminary meetings, on a very cold day, a name for the town was
considered, and "Summerset" was suggested, when Jones retorted:
"Better call it Winterset," and so it was named.
Politically, he was a Whig, and very popular. He was such an
all-pervading s])irit in the early days that he could get any office he
ALFRED D. JONES 301
wanted or would take. He failed but once. He ran for County
Clerk in Madison County, against Colonel Houck. It was a close
contest, and one of his friends in the north part of the county
thought a little whiskey would help out. He went to town and
bought a big jug of the "Oh, be joyful," but filled himself so full
of it, he didn't get home until after the polls were closed. The
vote was a tie, and Jones lost. Afterward he and Houck drew lots,
and Houck won.
He laid out the town of Adel, then called Penoach, and organ-
ized Dallas County.
He surveyed the first railroad across the state, the Air Liue, or
"Ram's Horn," as it was called, but never built.
In 1854, he laid out the town of Omaha, was the first Mayor
of the city, was elected Judge of the County Court, was several
times a member of the Legislature, and once Speaker of the House.
He became a very wealthy man.
June Seventeenth, 1906.
GEORGE BEEBE
A PIONEER who was quite prominent in the early days was
George Beebe. He came to Polk County in May, 1846, and
made a claim not far from that of L. M. Burke, on the west
side of Big Creek, near what is now Polk City. He put up a log
cabin, without "chinking" between the logs, thus giving it abun-
dant ventilation and affording space for wolves to thrust their
noses through when prowling about for food, but when heavy rain-
storms came, vigorous sweeping was necessaiy to prevent putting
out the fire in the hearth. The Winters were cold, and against
which the cabin was a poor protection. In Summer, the mosquitoes
were a perfect terror. No one could go out in the evening without
mittens and coats, and often veils. Mrs. Beebe said if she sat down
in the doorway of the cabin to rest at twilight, she had to wrap her
hands and protect her face, or be bled and toinnented beyond any
endurance.
Beebe was an energetic business man, and soon had his family
in more comfortable surroundings. He improved his land and
erected buildings. He was the first Justice of the Peace elected in
Madison Township. In 1850, he laid out the town of Polk City.
It was the site of a former Indian village, called Wa-kon-sa, and a
very attractive place. There was no competing town nearer than
The Fort, and he at once set in motion plans for a trading center.
He built a much-needed mill on the creek, opened a general mer-
chandise store, sold lots, and invited people to come in, and they
did so, the earliest ones using poles left by the Indians to construct
temporary shanties. It was a rival of The Fort for the State Cap-
ital, of some importance at one time, when Beebe was running
things.
Beebe's cabin was one of genuine hospitality. Its doors were
always open. He and his wife were fond of society, and their
home was a favorite place for gatherings of early-comers. There
303
304 PIOXEERS OF POLK COFXTY, IOWA
was no dress parade, nor formality, about it; it was just a getting
together to give vent to the overwhelming desire for sociability.
Mrs. Beebe's vivacity and conviviality was a sure cure for the
blues, resulting from the isolation of their every-day life. Father
Bird made it a resting-place, and preached in it when making a
circuit of the county.
In 1860, the county having got tired of the system by which its
affairs were managed by one man, the County Judge, at the Octo-
ber election of that year there was elected a Board of Supervisors,
consisting of sixteen members, to represent each township in the
county. Beebe was elected for Madison Township, and for ten
years, during the formative and most critical period of the county
history, that body had control of public affairs.
In 1868, when the Old Settlers' Association was formed, Beebe
was the first to sign the compact, and he was elected one of a com-
mittee whose duty it was to report the names of old settlers who
deceased or removed from the county, the purpose being to keep
a record of them.
April Twenty-eighth, 1907.
DR. DAVID D. SKINNER
DAYID D. SKINNER
APIOXEER of Iowa, and very early settler of Polk County,
was David D. Skinner, or "Uncle Dave," as he was famil-
iarly called. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in
1S24, and when nine years old, came with his parents, in 1833, by
ilatboat do\vn the Ohio, and up the Mississippi, to Montrose, near
the mouth of Des Moines River, where his parents settled. What
is now Iowa then had no legal existence, for when the State of Mis-
souri was carved out of the Louisiana Purchase, Uncle Sam seems
to have forgotten what is now Iowa and Minnesota, along the Mis-
sissippi, and the Dakotas, and from 1821 to 1834, there was no
govermnent, no courts, and no laws, except such as the settlers who
had come into the territory made among themselves. An incident
illustrating the fact was that of the murder of one George O'Keef,
by Patrick O'Connor, at the Mines of Spain, a lead mine operated
near where Dubuque now is. The murder was without provocation,
and the friends of the victim sought to have the murderer tried.
The nearest court was at Galena, in Hlinois, but that court declared
it had no jurisdiction west of the Mississippi. The settlers decided
to have a trial. A jury was formed, who, after hearing the evi-
dence, rendered a verdict of murder in the first degree, and fixed
the penalty at death. He was sentenced to be hanged.
O'Connor's friends then applied to the Governor of Missouri
for a pardon, to which he replied that he had no authority to act in
the matter at all. Application was then made to President Jack-
son, who decided that, as the laws of the United States had not
been extended over the territory west of the Mississippi, he could
not interfere. He suggested, however, that the settlers were the
proper persons to exercise the pardoning power. But the settlers
were not so inclined, and O'Connor was duly hanged. The incident
was so glaring that Congress sat up and took notice, and divided
what is now Iowa into two counties, the north half was named
Vol. II— (2U). 305
306 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Dubuque, the south half Demoine — not Des Moines, as it is now
written — and attached it to Michigan Territon- for judicial pur-
poses.
That was the state of affairs when the lad, David, came to Iowa.
In 1824, under a treaty made with the Indians, the United States
acquired possession of land in the northern part of what was then
Missouri, which was reserved for the use of the half-breeds of the
Sauk and Fox Indians. The north line of the tract was near what
is now the north line of Lee County, and was known as the Half-
breed Tract. The Indians had the right to occupy it only. But
settlers began to come in, and in 1835, Congi'ess gave the Indians
the right to sell claims as a class, but not as individuals. That
opened the door for speculators to rush in, and buy claims with a
quart of whiskey, a pony or a blanket, and trouble began. There
was no survey nor boundary lines, and, as a consequence, there was
frequent clashing on both sides, and sales of claims to which there
was not a shadow of title. The Indians still occvipied the territory
and the actual settlers were, of course, anxious to keep on good
terms with them. Young Black Hawk, son of the famous old chief,
had his tribal headquarters not far from Montrose, and was a fre-
quent visitor at the Skinner cabin, and quite friendly with the
family. As a matter of policy, the settlers made it a point to get
the good-will of the Indians, though they were satisfied that,
through the influence of whiskey and irresponsible sharpers and
land speculators, the Indians sometimes imposed upon them. Fre-
quently, they would get restless and threaten to drive the whites
out of the coimtry, would gather around the settlement and act
ugly, terrorizing the women and children especially, but some
friendly Indian would always give warning to the settlers that
they might be prepared, so being forewarned, they were forearmed,
and but few collisions occurred.
All about the vicinity of the Skinner cabin were positive indi-
cations that at a period long passed, a large Indian village had been
located there, though overgi'own with grass and shnibs. The old
men of the Sauk and Foxes had a tradition agreeing with the nar-
rative of the discovery of the Eiver Moingona (Des Moines) by
Marquette. The site of the deserted village corresponded with the
DAVID D. SKIXXER 307
statement of Marquette that it was three leagues from the ^Massis-
sippi ; that there was a beaten path leading to it; that six hundred
Indians returned with him from the village to his canoes on the
Mississippi. The children of the settlement were fond of hunting
for relics on the site of the deserted village, which extended over a
large area, and was strewn with them. Often those of value were
gathered. Young Dave one day found an Indian tomahawk which
had evidently been in use a long time before it was dropped where
found. It was treasured by the family, and is now in possession of
a daughter, the wife of W. B. Keffer, or "By." as aU old-timers
called him, when, as a kid, he used to hunt and stab bullfrogs in
that old slough where the Cownie glove factory is, played hookey
Avith the Sherman boys, and sampled strawberries found in back
yards of residences of aristocrats scattered around the "Coromons,"
"Uncle Dave" used to say that the first settlers around that old
village site were satisfied it was the identical spot visited by Mar-
quette in 1673. It was about eight miles from Montrose, west on
the prairie. There was evidence of a well-traveled road or trail, at
some former time leading from the mouth of the Des Moines west-
ward, and on byond. Arrowheads and flinty fragments were found
over a large area. It is the only one in that vicinity which agrees
with Marquette's narrative.
Gradually, the Indians gave way to the encroachment of civ-
ilization, and the country developed rapidly. David learned the
trade of blacksmith, and, after reaching his majority, went to Dav-
enport, where, with a brother, he engaged in making plows until
1855, when, learning that Fort Des Moines was to become the Cap-
ital of the State, and, prospectively, a better place for business, he
came, with his family, and formed a partnership with John H.
Given, who was making plows on Vine Street, between Second and
Third.
He took up his residence in a log cabin near the shop, but soon
after moved to Third, between Vine and Court Avenue.
In 1857, he withdrew from Given and joined John R. Rollins
in the grocery business, on Second, until 1861, when his brother
came to Des Moines, and, with him, he resumed the making of
plows, first at the comer of First and Market, but a few years later
308 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
larger shops were built at Second and Sycamore (now Grand Ave-
nue,) where a large business was done. For more than thirty
years, the Skinner plow was famous all over the country. It was
deemed superior to Eastern plows because it would "scour" in the
black drift soil of the prairie, and not break at the mold board. Its
superiority was in an invention of Skinner's, whereby the front of
the old mold board was chilled or hardened on the front side, and
made softer on the back side, so that it would "scour" or polish on
the front side, and the back, being softer or flexible, would not
break across the center, as in Eastern plows. Skinner's plows are
now to be found in use on farms in Polk County.
Unfortunately for him, he neglected to get a patent for his dis-
covery, and protect himself against piracy. His plows became so
successful, it worried the big factories at Moline and Rock Island,
and they sent secret agents here to see how it was done. They
visited the shops daily for several weeks, on various pretenses,
until they gained the whole secret, which was swiped by the East-
ern makers, and it made them millionaires. The Skinners were
doing business on capital borrowed at ten per cent, and when the
hard times came, reverses followed, the shops were closed, and
Skinner retired from the plow business.
Among the pioneers of Des Moines were some having the reli-
gious faith known as Carapbellite, or Church of Christ. Meetings
were held in their cabins, and Reverend P. T. Russell occasionally
preached to them when making the tour of the county. In the
summer of 1858, they organized a church society, consisting of
"Uncle David," Charles Nichols, J. L. Scott, Samuel Bell, Samuel
Van Cleve, Thomas Hendryx, B. F. Jones, and their wives, fifteen
persons. B. F. Snook was elected pastor. Their first meeting-
place was in a two-story brick building erected by Alex. Scott near
Des Moines River bank, between the present Rock Island and Keo-
kuk railroads. The lower floor was used for pork packing. The
entrance to the upper floor was by an outside stairway. Soon after,
the little band met in a room in the uncompleted Savery (Kirk-
wood) House, but were soon crowded out, and went over to the
GriSith Block, on East Locust, now the Columbia Hotel. In 1863,
the society was reorganized as the Central Christian Church. The
DAVID D. SKII^NEE 309
old Court House was purchased, where the Union Depot now is,
and James B. Gaston became pastor. The church has kept pace,
by frequent removals, with the growth and prosperity of the city,
until it now occupies the magnificent structure at Ninth and Pleas-
ant, and has a membership running into the thousands.
"Uncle David" and his helpmate were zealous, active members
of the church from its inception. His cabin was the favorite stop-
ping-place for the brethren in the early days, and they were always
given a hearty welcome, for he was a genial, warm-hearted man.
In 1862, he purchased three acres where the West High School
building is now, at Fifteenth and Center, built a large, two-story
frame house, surrounded it with blooming plants, shrubbery, and
grapes, making it an ideal home. It was always open. The latch-
string was never dravra in. The table was always spread. It was
a home of generous hospitality and good-fellowship. It was a
favorite resort for children, of whom "Uncle David" was very fond
— and he had twelve of his own. His greatest pleasure was in
being surrounded by yoimgsters, and aiding them in their sports
and happiness. His big heart took them all in, and he was their
friend indeed. That old home was a delightful place for old and
young.
After retiring from the plow business, he turned his attention to
helping suffering humanity by what is known as magnetic healing,
and for several years had a very successful practice.
In 1887, I think, he removed to San Jose, California, where
he continued his practice until 1890, when he was suddenly
stricken down by an affection of the heart.
April Twenty-first, 1907.
L/
GENERAL JAMES M. TUTTLE
GENERAL JAMES M. TUTTLE
A PIONEER of Iowa, and an early settler of Polk County,
was James M. Tuttle. He was bom in Monroe County,
Ohio, September Twenty-first, 1823, and passed his youth
assisting his father, and acquiring an education in the "People's
College," the common school.
In the Winter of 1833, his parents removed to Fayette County,
where he worked with his father until 1843, when he engaged in
business for himself until 1846, when he came to Farmington, Van
Buren County, and engaged in mercantile business and farming.
In 1855, he was elected Sheriff of that county; in 1857, he was
elected Treasurer and Recorder of the County, and reelected in
1859.
He was a very quiet individual, no fuss and feathers about him.
His office-getting was secured more by the efforts of friends, who
appreciated his slow-going, sturdy, honest ways, than his own.
When Fort Sumter was fired upon, and the President called
for men, Tuttle raised a company for the First Iowa Regiment,
and was elected its Captain, but the Eastern states being nearer
Washington, filled the quota quickly, and no Iowa soldiers were
needed. The following May, his company was assigned to the Sec-
ond Regiment. At the rendezvous he was chosen Lieutenant-Colonel
of the regiment, and on September Sixth, following, was promoted
to Colonel, to succeed Curtis, promoted to Brigadier-General.
Few oflScers have a better record than Tuttle, and few regiments
won greater fame than the Second Iowa. It and the glory incident
to the capture of Fort Donelson are inseparable — an incident that
is known all over the Union.
It is not generally known that on that ocasion a crisis had come
— a "forlorn hope." It was tendered to several regiments by
General Smith, the commanding officer, but declined. When it
reached Colonel Tuttle, General Smith said to him :
311
312 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
"Will you take those works ?"
"Support me promptly, and in twenty minutes I will go in,"
was the reply, and he went in, but at fearful cost.
It was unquestionably the most gallant, reckless and successful
charge of the whole war. The Colonel was a man who had no con-
ception of fear. The whole Federal force had been sadly worsted.
McClemand and Wallace had been defeated. The Second Iowa
held the extreme right of Grant's forces, some six hundred yards
from a point where a whole brigade the day before had made an
assault and were repulsed.
General Smith, in giving his orders to Tuttle, said in loud voice,
which every man in the regiment could have heard :
"Advance with the left of the regiment in front, with the right
following about fifty yards in the rear. Half of the regiment is
enough to be sacrificed at once." Passing along the line, he said :
"I have selected this regiment to storm the enemy's works. It is a
perilous undertaking, and I want to caution you young men that if
you halt, if you hesitate, if you stop to fire a single shot between
here and those breastworks, every man of you will be killed, every
one, and for that reason, I cannot aiford to sacrifice more than half
of this regiment. Be cool, dispassionate, and reserve your fire."
The character of the groimd intei^vening between the Second
Iowa and the entrenched line of the enemy was such as to give all
the advantage to the enemy. In front of the regiment, and just
beyond an open field in which it formed for the charge, was a
ravine whose sides, thickly lined with tangled brush, were very
diflicult of passage. Beyond was the steep, obstructed hillside,
along the crest of which, and parallel to the ravine, were the earth-
works of the enemy. Not more than one hundreds yards in front
of these works was a formidable abattis, to pass which an assault-
ing column must break its line of battle and move by the flank.
Beyond the abattis there were no obstructions except the enemy's
breastworks. When all was in readiness, the order to advance was
given, and Colonel Tuttle, with the left wing of his regiment, forc-
ing his way through the ravine, beg'an scaling the hillside. The
abattis was reached, and that obstruction was passed without the
firing of scarcely a gun, but the instant after, and before the
GENERAL JAMES M. TUTTLE 313
gallant band had again come into line, it received the concentrated
fire of three Rebel infantry regiments — not less than two thousand
men. The slaughter was terrible. At the first fire, one hundred
and fifty of those gallant three hundred men fell, either dead or
wounded. Without a perceptible halt, the assaulting party closing
up its ranks, moved steadily on, a daring which was too much for
the enemy, and two whole regiments fled from their defense in pre-
cipitate flight. A Mississippi regiment to the right still remained,
but the right wing of the Second coming up, that also fled to the
ravine below.
Though the key to the Rebel jxisition had been wrested from the
enemy, the fighting was not half done. Between the main fort and
the position held by the Second was a deep ravine, though which
the enemy having passed, had taken up a position on the high
groimd, which bounded the opposite side. Colonel Tuttle promptly
formed his regiment and moved against them. He had reached
the ravine, and was engaging the enemy, when an Indiana regi-
ment, having just gained the hill, commenced pouring severe mus-
ketry shot into his rear, causing momentary confusion. The Col-
onel waved his sword, and in other ways endeavored to signal the
Hoosiers to cease firing, but believing they were engaging the
enemy, they kept on. Alarmed for the safety of his regiment, the
Colonl started to run back to it, when suddenly, he wheeled about,
faced the enemy, and began moving backward, a maneuver it was
afterward learned was to avoid being shot in the back, which he
had declared should never happen.
When climbing the hill, he was grazed by a ball which passed
through his coat sleeve and glove, hitting the hiit of his sword,
wrenching it out of his hand, and knocking it over his head with
such force as to paralyze his arm during the remainder of the
engagement. A little later, he was standing on a log beckoning his
men to come on, when a cannon ball struck the log, forcing it from
under him, and he fell backward against a tree, causing an injury
to his back from which he never fully recovered.
Colonel Godfrey, then a Lieutenant, who had a part in the hill
climbing, says "Bill" Brenton, a private from Dallas Coimty, came
to him and said : "Liteutenant, if you will take my gun and fire,
314 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
I have lots of ammunition, and will help you load, and we will
give them h — 1." Godfrey asked him what the trouble was, and
holding up his gun, he saw it had been hit with a shot and broken
into pieces. "We've got lots of ammunition," he repeated, "and
we'll give them h — 1 yet."
That was the stuff the Second Iowa was composed of. Every
man of it was as ready for the charge as their Colonel, and they
knew as well as he what it meant.
Fifteen thousand prisoners, many ordnance stores, and much
other property was the result of the victory. More than that, it
forced back the Confederate line from the Potomac to the Missis-
sippi, and was the beginning of the end of the war. The Second
Iowa also truly made Grant, Smith, McClernan, and Wallace
Major Generals, and ten others Brigadiers.
At Shiloh, April Sixth, 1862, the bloodiest battle of the war,
considering the number of troops engaged. Colonel Tuttle com-
manded what was known as the "Iowa Hornet's Nest Brigade,"
consisting of the Second, Seventh, Twelfth and Fourteenth regi-
ments. It held, for a whole day, the pivotal point of battle, and
by heroic resistance, valor and sacrifice, stayed the progress of the
enemy and saved Grant's army from destruction. For his skill
and excellent judgment shown in the management of his brigade,
in that hornet's nest of fusillade, Tuttle received high commenda-
tion from Grant, Sherman and Halleck.
On June Ninth following, he was rewarded with the star of a
Brigadier-General. During the Fall of 1862 and Winter follow-
ing, he was in command of a Division at Cairo. In the Spring of
1864, he was placed in command of the Third Division, Fifteenth
Army Corps.
In September, 1864, he resigned, returned to his home, and soon
after came to Des Moines, and for two years engaged in farming,
until 1867, when, with his brother, Martin, he purchased the Mur-
phy packing house, enlarged it, added a basement story, tanks, etc.,
for pork packing on a large scale. In 1873, the buildings were
demolished and replaced with a massive stone structure, equipped
for disposing of fifteen hundred hogs per day, and he continued in
the packing business several years.
GEKERAL JAMES M. TUTTLE 315
In his packing business, the want of transportation facilities
was a serious drawback. However extensive his business, to get a
market for it was an important item. In 1866, when at a mass-
meeting of citizens, the Iowa and Minnesota Narrow-Gauge Kail-
road Company was organized, he was chosen one of the Board of
Directors.
In April, 1871, when the Water Works Company was organ-
ized, he was one of the incorporators.
In October, 1871, he was elected Representative to the Four-
teenth General Assembly, and displayed some of his fighting ability
in the third, last and most important contest to secure the perma-
nent location of the Capital in Des Moines. Another important
measure before that Legislature was a radical change in the law
respecting the taxation of the property of railroads, which, prior
thereto, had paid to the state treasury a percentage of their gross
earnings. The change was to tax such property the same as that of
individuals, and substantially what the law is now. John H. Gear,
who afterward became the popular Governor and known as "Old
Business;" Ed. Campbell, of Ottumwa; John P. Irish, of Iowa
City; Fred. O'Donnell, of Dubuque; John A. Kasson and John A.
Greene, of Davenport, able debaters, opposed the measure, backed
by a powerful lobby, at every step, and after it had passed the
House, put on record a strong protest against it, but the General
took the side of the people.
Politically, the General was a Democrat, but in no sense what-
ever a politician. When the tocsin of war was sounded, he joined
with Baker, Crocker, Bussey and others to save the Union. In
1863, when he was in the field, he was nominated by his party for
Governor, without consulting him, or his knowledge. He assented
to the honor conferred, and issued an address to the people, declar-
ing his position respecting the all-absorbing political questions then
before the people :
"I am in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war to the full
extent of our power, until the Rebellion is suppressed, and of using
all means that may be in our possession, recognized by honorable
warfare, for that purpose. I am for the Union without an if, and
regardless of whether Slavery stands or falls by its restoration;
316 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
and in favor of peace on no other terms than the unconditional
submission of the Rebels to constituted authorities of the United
States."
His opponent was William M. Stone, and the Republicans being
so largely in the majority in the state, he was defeated.
In 1866, he was nominated by the Democrats for Congress,
against General G. M. Dodge, but the district being overwhelm-
ingly Republican, he was ag'ain defeated.
In 1882, he had become a Republican, and he was again elected
Representative to the Twentieth General Assembly, and was the
leader in the House in support of, and securing the passage of, the
Prohibitory Law, which placed ale, wine and beer in the class with
intoxicating liquors.
His last civil office was in 1886, as President of the Board of
Commissioners of the Iowa Soldiers' Home, which stands a fitting
testimonial of his patriotism and fidelity, for to his untiring deter-
mination and wise legislative management, was it secured.
When he closed his packing business, he held a large stock of
meats, and soon after, the market fell away until it forced him to
sacrifice nearly all he possessed except his home, to hold it for an
upturn, which did not come until too late for him. He then sought
to recuperate his losses by engaging in gold and silver mining at
Casa Grande, Arizona.
October Twenty-second, 1892, he received a paralytic stroke,
which terminated fatally on the Twenty-fourth.
As a citizen, he took an active interest in public affairs, and
was helpful in many ways to the community, all unknown to it.
He was of sanguine, bilious temperament, large physique, slow of
action, but sure ; unostentatious, cared nothing for public eclat, or
the tinsel and show of fashion ; belonged to the plain people ; was
direct and decisive in speech; brusque in manner, but his heart
pulsated with good-fellowship toward those who got on the warm
side of him, or who were worthy his regard and confidence.
His dominant trait was persistency, even to obstinacy. He
knew no such thing as defeat, whether as a soldier or in civil life.
Socially, he was, to the masses, reticent, and not what is termed
a good mixer. He was not a member of any fraternal organization
GENERAL JAMES M. TUTTLE 317
so far as I know, except the Grand Anny of the Republic, to which
his attachment and fidelity was only equaled by his loyalty to the
Union, a fidelity notably demonstrated at the National Encamp-
ment at Saint Louis, by his vigorous and successful effort to pre-
vent the perversion of the encampment to partisan purposes, and
his emphatic opposition to a return of Rebel flags captured during
the war. He could never compromise with rebellion against the
Government ; he could not forget nor forgive it.
He was emphatically domestic. His home was to him all in all.
Therein lay his happiness. With his wife, children, neighbors, and
congenial friends around him, he was content, and it was there he
was seen as he was, genial and happy in striving to make them
happy.
It can be truly said of him that as a soldier, he won a fame
that will remain so long as the victory at Donelson shall have a
place in the history of the Republic. Very singularly, he seldom
spoke of what he did during his service, yet often referred to acts
of heroism and gallantry done by some of "his boys," for whom he
had the closest attachment. Though sometimes apparently reck-
less, he exercised excellent judgment, was considerate of them, had
implicit confidence in them, and they in him. He had only to give
the sig-n for them to go in, and, mimhile dictii. how they would
fight.
He died in Arizona, October Twenty-fourth, 1892.
May Fifth, 1907.
3ARTRUM GALBRAITH
BARTRUM GALBRAITH
APIOiSIEER who made considerable noise in this community
in the early days was Bartrum Galbraith. He was bom
Aug-ust JSFinth, 1832, in Jefferson, Greene County, Pennsyl-
vania, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His father was a physician. Bar-
trum passed his boyhood days going to the common school ten hours
a day, and doing the usual boy's stunts about the home.
In 1849, when seventeen years old, he went to Brownsville,
Pennsylvania, to learn the trade of blacksmith, and served an
apprenticeship of three years. In 1852, he returned from Browns-
ville and worked until 1853, when he was attacked with the West-
ern fever, his brother, William A., a merchant, who had preceded
him, having sent to the old home glowing accounts of the business
prospects at Fort Des Moines, and, with Doctor A. B. Shaw, the
noted florist and one of the foimders of the State Agricultural
Society, came by steamboat to Keokuk, where they arrived June
Thirteenth. There they, with William T. Marvin, boarded a Frink
& Walker "jerkey," and the first day reached Fairfield, the second
day Oskaloosa, the third day Fort Des Moines, Marvin landing at
the Hoxie House, which he subsequently purchased, and it became
the well-known Marvin House, and Galbraith, at the corner of
Fourth and Walnut, where the Northwestern Railroad ticket office
is, then ovsrued by his brother, W. A.
His first job was in the plow shop of John H. Given, on Vine
Street; his second, with P. H. Buzzard, on Market Street. The
coal in the shop was pried up with crowbars from the bed of the
Des Moines River, down at Rattlesnake Bend, and hauled in
wagons.
His last job as a journeyman was with Hutsonpillar & Dil-
linger, who had a shop in one of the double log cabins of the gar-
rison on First Street, a little south and rear of the old Demoin
House. It was in one part of the cabin "Uncle" Thomas French,
319
320 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
a well-known bachelor old-timer, made his home for several years.
For that shop, the coal was got out of the river bank on the old
Thompson farm. *
In the Spring of 1856, Galbraith formed a partnership with
Isaiah Maple, father of Doctor W. W. Maple, now a resident of
the city, and they built a shop on Third Street, between Walnut
and Locust, on what was called the Kellogg property, owned by
Samuel Kellogg, a private in the infantry regiment of the garrison.
In 1857, Galbraith concluded to go back to the old home and
get the girl he left behind him in 1853. He had accumulated
three hundred dollai's of Agricultural Bank notes, which were not
worth much outside of Polk County — in fact, there was very little
good bank cun-ency in the whole state of Iowa, for the entire West
was greatly embarrassed with a financial panic. He went to Hoyt
Sherman & Company's bank and exchanged his Agricultural
money for such of Eastern currency as would be good until he
could get to Pittsburg with it. When he got back to Fort Des
Moines with his bride, the Agricultural Bank had collapsed, and
he congratulated himself that in the transaction he had escaped the
loss of his three hundred dollars and secured a good wife.
Referring to the event a few days ago, he said: "We went to
housekeeping in a three-room house on Fourth Street, owned by
William Minson, at thirteen dollars a month rental. Living was
nut very high; porterhouse and loin steak was eight to ten cents
a pound ; a hind quarter of beef, four to five cents ; butter, ten to
fifteen cents; good wood, two dollars and fifty cents to three dol-
lars a cord. Everybody burned wood in those days. Our principal
fruit was wild crabapples and wild grapes. Our bill of fare would
not compare very favorably with that of to-day, but it was health-
ful and went right to the spot."
In 1858, a lot was purchased at the northeast corner of Third
and Locust, known for many years as the "Church Property."
While negotiations were being made for the lot, one Mercer, who
was somewhat eccentric, got it into his head that Galbraith and
Maple were working a swindling scheme against his wife, who was
interested in the property, and he went to Esquire Madison Young
— the well-known old bachelor lawver and Justice of the Peace —
BARTRUM GALBRAITH 321
and asked him to "read him up on the Law of Frauds." The
Esquire listened to his story, said to him : "If you want to know
anything about frauds, go to some schoolma'am," turned to his
desk and closed up like a clam.
"Jim" Campbell and other old-timers used to tell the tale of the
Esquire that at one time there was a flood, the rivers were rising
very rapidly, and the Esquire, to satisfy himself as to how high
they were getting, drove a nail into the side of the ferry boat, and
frequently went to inspect it.
The eastern portion of the lot was sold to the German Lutheran
Chiirch Society, and the shop moved to the corner, and there Gal-
braith swimg the hammer and pounded the anvil until 1807, thirty-
nine years' occupation of the same spot. In the early days, his
customers came from a radius of iifty miles, for he was consid-
ered the best workman in these parts.
One day, in 1858, Galbraith wanted some alcohol. The cast-
iron prohibitory law was in force, and intoxicating liquors could
be got only from Doctor D. V. Cole, whom Judge Napier had
made the County Liquor Agent. The Doctor told Galbraith he
could get the liquor for medical, mechanical and sacramental pur-
poses only. As Galbraith wanted the stuff for his boots, he thought
it would come under the rule for mechanical purposes, and the
Doctor let it go.
In the Winter of 1861, William A. Spruance, a young fellow
of seventeen years of age, known by Galbraith, wandered off to
Denver to grow up with the country, but concluding Iowa was a
better country, began working his way back, doing what jobs he
could get. He stopped at Dennison, in Crawford Coixnty, to work
in a saw mill, but didn't like it, and started for old Carroll on foot
across the wild prairie. A blizzard came up, he got lost in the
whirling storm, and wandered around from Eriday morning until
Sunday afternoon before he found shelter. One leg was frozen
badly. Galbraith was notified, and went after him, but when he
got to him, his leg had been amputated, for which he paid the man
who sawed it off sixty dollars. He left the young man to come
on when convalescent, but he brought the severed leg home, packed
it in a box, and with a bottle, in which was an explanatory note,
Vol. II— (21).
322 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
buried them in the lot east of his shop. When the cellar was dug
for the brick building a few years ago, the diggers unearthed the
box and bottle, read the explantory note, turned the whole over to
Galbraith, who took jwssession of the leg bones, which were per-
fectly preserved, and he has them yet, a gentle reminder of an
Iowa blizzard.
Politically, he is a Republican. He cast his first vote for Pres-
ident for John C. Fremont, and has not changed his politics. He
has never taken any part in politics as a politician; is content to
be classed with the common people. When he laid down his ham-
mer in 1897, he retired from active business.
Socially, he is companionable ; inclined to reticence ; is of posi-
tive temperament and fixedness of purpose; is not a member of
any club or fraternal society.
Religiously, he aifiliates with the Baptist Church.
Mav Nineteenth, 1907.
E. J. INGERSOLL
E. J. INGERSOLL
OF the many old settlers of Polk Covmty who impressed them-
selves upon the community, few were more conspicuous
than Ebenezer Jared Ingersoll.
Born in Pulaski, Oswego County, New York, March Twenty-
eighth, 1828, of English ancestry, which embraced the names of
men eminent as ministers, lawyers, and statesmen. He lived with
his parents until twenty-one years old, and acquired a thorough
academic education. After reading law in the office of Judge
Huntington, of Pulaski, he entered the United States Law School
at Balston Springs, and was graduated in 1852, with the degree
of Bachelor of Law, and was admitted to practice in the state and
federal courts. He opened an office in Adams, Greene County,
i^ew York, where he secured a large and profitable practice.
In the Fall of 1858, he joined the tide of emigration westward
and came to Des Moines, where he was admitted to the Bar and at
once took high rank with the members of the profession. A man
of optimistic temperament, remarkable force and energy, he soon
discovered greater possibilities for the Capital City, and became a
booster and promoter of business enterprises, not only in the town,
but throughout Central Iowa. He demonsti-ated his faith in their
growth and prosperity by engaging in several business enterprises.
He also purchased several farms and engaged extensively in rais-
ing thoroughbred stock.
One day, in 1860, Ingersoll, S. R. Ingham, J. M. Elwood, and
John Browne were sitting in a social game of whist in the old
Exchange Building, at Third and Walnut. Brovme had been the
Western agent of the Globe Insurance Company, of Utica, New
York. During the play, insurance was discussed, quite naturally,
as the Globe Company had just collapsed, and Browne said to his
friends: "Why don't you start an insurance company?" Inger-
soll at once began to consider it, but the Cival War came on,
323
324 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
during which there was little inducement to undertake enterprises
of that kind. He, however, with his usual pertinacity, stuck to it,
and Mai-ch Sixth, 1865, with B. F. Allen, Frank W. Palmer,
James Callanan, and J. B. Tiffin, organized the Hawkeye Fire
Insurance Company. For three years, the company did business
as a partnership. IngersoU was elected President, and held the
office until his death, in 1891. He was the pioneer in a business
system which has expanded until Des Moines is now known as the
"Hartford of the West."
April Seventh, 1868, the company was incorporated under the
laws of Iowa, the following persons signing the Articles of Incor-
poration : F. W. Palmer, J. B. Tiffin, B. F. Allen, James Calla-
nan, Junior, W. S. Pritchard, and E. J. lugersoll. Mr. Callanan
was elected Treasurer, and held the place several years. The cap-
ital stock was fixed at one hundred thousand dollars.
In 1870, Mr. IngersoU abandoned his other enterprises, and
devoted his time and energy to build up the Hawkeye. It was
uphill work. The older Eastern companies, represented by agents,
interposed every possible obstacle to his progress, but they reck-
oned without their host when they struck IngersoU, for he was a
man of indomitable will and courage, denoted in every line of his
face, which, like an electric current, became stronger as resistance
against it increased. Opposition only intensified his force. The
Hawkeye was his creation. He was the moving spirit of it, mak-
ing it one of the strongest financial institutions of the state, but
he had to fight for it, step by step.
As a business man, he was eminently successful. He was a
person of athletic build, nervous, lymphatic temperament, brusque
and plain of speech, often using very vigorous swear-words; was
no hero-worshipper; was strong in his convictions, which, once
fixed, were not easily removed. I remember an incident which
occurred soon after the Legislature had made a change in the
insurance laws, tending to protect the public against the watering
of stock, and among other requirements was one that joint stock
companies must have the words, "Stock Company," prominently
printed on the face of their policies. His supply of blank policies
having become exhausted, he ordered several thousand printed by
E. J. INGERSOLL 325
Mills & Company, and one day when they were running through
the press I called his attention to the omission of the words, "Stock
Company," which the statute required put in, supposing that it
was an error which sometimes occurs in the best-regulated printing
offices, and that he would order the presses stopped to make the
correction, but, instead, he retorted: "I don't care a d — n what
the d— n fools over at the State House require. I'll have my poli-
cies printed the way I want them." The job was finished, but a
few days after, he ordered another lot printed, with the required
words in place, but he never changed his opinion resijecting the
Legislature.
Politically, he was a Democrat, of the ultra variety, but abjured
politics entirely. He was not built for a politician, and would
have failed had he attempted to play the game.
Socially, he was a person of high ideals. Brusque and blunt as
he was, his heart pulsated with tenderness and sympathy for those
in want or suffering, and his purse was always open to such for
relief. He was not a good mixer, but his friends were those who
knew him as he was, a man of probity, honesty of purpose; and
they never faltered in their attachments. He was not a member
of any clubs or fraternal organizations.
He died in 1891.
June Ninth, 1907.
COLONEL GEORGE L, GODFREY
COLONEL GEORGE L. GODFREY
AN old settler who has been largely identified with public
affairs of the city, county and state is Colonel George L.
Godfrey, a Green Mountain State boy, born at Hardwick,
Vermont, November Fourth, 1838.
He passed his boyhood days on a farm in that rock-ribbed sec-
tion, attending the common schools, and as he advanced in years
attended Barre Academy. In Winter, he taught school in the
country, and in Summer worked on a farm.
In 1855, his brother gave him money to pay his expenses to
Dubuque, where he taught a district school during the Winter,
and in the Spring of 185G, he came to Des Moines, and soon after
went to Sioux City. The United States Land Office had just
opened there, and the town was crowded with land-seekers. He
got on the warm side of the Chief Clerk of the Land Office, who
gave him some pointers. He traveled over the country to get the
"lay of the land," and mapped it out with field notes, so that when
a settler wanted to make an entry of land, he was prepared to
direct him to what he wanted, for which they were ready and will-
ing to pay a liberal fee. In this way, he accumulated about one
thousand dollars. In the meantime, he entered one hundred and
sixty acres of land for himself, sold one-half of it for what the
whole cost him, and had eighty acres left. He then came back to
Des Moines, and in 1859, began reading law in the office of Judge
Cole.
One day, in 1861, he and the Judge went to Indianola on busi-
ness, and on their way home were met by a man who informed
them that Fort Sumter had been fired upon. Both were Demo-
crats. They started on, and the Judge said : "Well, Godfrey what
is to be done ?" "We must save the country," replied Godfrey.
"I think that is so," responded the Judge. "I know what I shall
do," said Godfrey. The next morning he learned that M. M.
327
328 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Crocker had organized a company the night before, and he went to
his office to enlist. Crocker told him the company was full, and,
further, that he did not think Godfrey wanted to enlist as a pri-
vate and sweep cigar stTibs from an officer's headquarters. Godfrey
said he didn't know the difference between an officer and a private,
and insisted on being enlisted as a private. May Twenty-first, he
signed the enrollment, and was elected Corporal of the company.
The company was assigned to the Second Regiment, as Company
D. December Fifth, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant;
June Twenty-second, First Lieutenant, and the same day. Adju-
tant of the regiment. The regiment was attached to the Third
Brigade, District of Southeast Missouri, where it served until
February, 18G2, when it was attached to the First Brigade, Sec-
ond Division, Army of the Tennessee.
His company took part in the memorable charge at Fort Don-
elson. In that engagement, Godfrey was seriously injured by a
Rebel bullet, which struck him on the breast.
He was in the "Hornet's Nest" of shot and shell at Shiloh, on
the Sixth and Seventh of April, 1862. On the afternoon of the
first day's fight, when it was supposed General Tuttle's brigade
was holding its position — a very important one — successfully, at
the right of the brigade, along a ridge, Godfrey saw the Rebs.
pouring down a ravine to the right like a flock of sheep. He
instantly suspected it was a move to get around the Second and
Seventh regiments by the right flank, and he reported it quickly
to Colonel Mills, who ordered him to report to General Tuttle,
which he did with a rush. "Oh, you're rattled," responded the
General. "Well, by G — d, you'll get rattled pretty soon if you
don't get a move on you," retorted Godfrey. The General soon
discovered the objective point of the enemy's movement, and
ordered the Second and Seventh to fall back. The Rebs., seeing
their plan was frustrated, withdrew, and thus the Second and Sev-
enth regiments were saved from certain capture by the sagacity
and quick action of Godfrey. As Adjutant of the regiment, he
was in the thickest of the fight, and stood where he could have
placed his hand on General W. H. L. Wallace when that gallant
officer fell. The last gun was fired before two o'clock on the
COLONEL GEORGE L. GODFREY 329
afternoon of the Seventh, and Grant's army marched back victor-
ious to their previous encampment, and took a rest.
Godfrey was also in the battle of Corinth, October Third and
Fourth, 18G2, where was fought one of the most decisive contests
of the South and West. The Confederates numbered over forty
thousand men, and as their ranking officer, Van Dorn, said, suf-
ficient to capture the city.
The Second Iowa was among the troops sent out to encounter
the enemy, and formed a line of battle at the front. Frequent
changes were made in position to checkmate the advances of the
enemy, and it finally became hotly engaged near what was known
as the White House. It was stationed on high ground, on the edge
of timber. In its front, the country was open, affording an almost
unobstructed view for a mile or more to the right and left. In this
position, it was assaulted in force by the enemy, who, by a charge,
endeavored to break the Federal line, but they were repulsed. They
did not renew the charge, but came back to within musket range,
and from behind stumps and old logs, opened fire with the rifles.
The fighting continued for an hour, when heavy columns of Rebel
reinforcements were seen coming in the distance. For the regi-
ment to remain where it was, and allow the enemy to hold their
position in the immediate front until the reinforcements arrived,
would result in certain defeat. Colonel Baker ordered a charge,
and, as the enemy was being routed, he fell from his horse, mor-
tally woutnded.
On the morning of October Fourth, there was little hope for
the Union army. Its lines on every hand had been forced back,
and on the northwest and south sides of the city, the enemy had
taken the outer defenses. The contest which would decide the final
issue would be of short duration, fierce and vigorous. Soon after
daylight, the enemy resumed their advance, and a few momenta
lat«r the battle was raging in every quarter. On the north side,
Battery Robinette was repeatedly charged by the enemy, and
repulsed with dreadful slaughter. Failing there, the enemy massed
their forces on the south side, and, with an appalling yell, at
double-quick, came dashing into the town, many even reaching the
Tishmingo House. At that critical moment, when victory was
330 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
almost within their reach, the Second, Seventh and Seventeenth
Iowa sprang to the rescue, and, with an answering jell of deiiance,
charged upon the Rebel legions and drove them back in utter con-
fusion, thus repelling the final assault of the enemy at Corinth.
In that final charge, Lieutenant-Colonel Mills of the Second was
shot, from which he died a week later. General J. B. Weaver was
then Major of the Second, and in his official report of the fight
said:
"Among those who distinguished themselves was Adjutant
George L. Godfrey, who could always be seen and heard charging
along the line upon his horse, shouting to the men to be cool and
steady. He is one of the most valuable young officers with whom
I have ever met."
Godfrey had two horses shot from under him in the battle, and
had several narrow escapes, but singularly received no injury. The
second had six different Colonels as a testimony of its valor.
Adjutant Godfrey took part in the expedition to intercept For-
rest, in December, and Dodge's expedition into North Alabama, in
the Spring and Summer of 1863.
In Alabama, there was a strong Union sentiment. The success
of the Federal forces at Corinth gave encouragement. A regiment
of cavalry was formed, and Adjutant Godfrey, who had shown his
valor and competency, was commissioned its Major, October Eight-
eenth, 1863. The regiment was attached to the First Brigade of
Cavalry, Sixteenth Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, and was
engaged in the operations on Memphis and Charleston, against
Lee's attack, in November and December; the operations against
Forrest, in Tennessee, from February Sixth to April Fourteenth,
1864; the advance on Dallas; the two days' battle of Resaca, May
Thirteenth and Fourteenth; operations about Kenesaw ^lountain,
in June; the siege of Atlanta, July Twenty-second to August
Twenty-fifth; the battle of Jonesboro, August Thirty-first; the
March to the Sea, in November and December, and the campaign
of Carolinas, until the surrender of Johnston's army, on April
Twenty-eighth, 1865.
During the siege of Atlanta, Major Godfrey was promoted to
Lieutenant-Colonel, May First, 1864.
COLONEL GEORGE L. GODFREY 331
On the March to the Sea, the Colonel's regiment was at the head
of the column, and one company was assigned as body guard to
General Sherman. One day, his regiment was moving quietly
along a road where the sand was very fine and deep, when sud-
denly there was an uproar of shots. The air was filled with dust
and sand, the horses went into confusion, and the Colonel thought
they had run into a Rebel ambush. Quickly spreading out the
regiment, he halted and made investigation. The Rebs. had planted
the whole roadway for a long distance with torpedoes. He called
General Sherman to the spot, who at once, in not very refined
language, ordered them cleaned out. One fellow, while scraping
away the sand with his foot, hit a torpedo, which exploded and
tore his leg off. Several horses had also been severely injured.
When Johnson surrendered, Godfrey was assigned to carry a
message from General Sherman to him. Arriving at Johnson's
line with a flag of truce, he was halted, asked his business, and was
tendered an understrapper to carry his message to General John-
son, to which Godfrey replied that he would deliver it in person or
return with it to General Sherman, whereupon they began to stand
up and take notice. He demanded an escort, and they brought
him a Lieutenant. Godfrey wanted proper recognition of his mili-
tary rank — he was a little inspired with the bigness of his mission
— and he refused to accept the Lieutenant as escort. The Rebs.
scurried away and brought Colonel Rhett, who subseqiiently came
to be a strong Union man and Federal officer. Godfrey was received
by General Johnson with the utmost cordiality. When the reply
to Sherman's message was prepared, Godfrey was escorted by Col-
onel Rhett back to the line.
When the Confederacy collapsed, Godfrey was near Raleigh,
North Carolina. Wade Hampton, who occupied the city, moved
out, and sent word to Godfrey that he might enter the citv and
protect the Government and citizens. Selecting a few of his staff
officers and several line officers, Godfrey started in advance of the
cohimn to prepare the way, and also to hoist the stars and stripes
over the State House. As they were riding through the streets,
they were fired upon by a band of desperadoes, who had broken
loose from Hampton's army. Godfrey gave an order to catch the
332 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
devils. They all escaped except one, but when the regiment entered
the State House yard, the assassin was swinging from a tree.
Entering the State House, Godfrey foimd the janitor, an old
negro, who was nearly white with fright.
"Uncle Sam," said Godfrey, "where are the flags?"
"Dunno, massa ; 'spects dey's all toted off," was the reply.
"The Yanks, are here; the Rebs. are all gone, and we want the
flags," said Godfrey.
"I reckon you'll find suthin' in dat ar' old box," pointing to a
long, narrow box.
"Well, ojjen it, quick," said Godfrey.
The old darkey hustled, with a broad grin on his face, opened
the box, in which were twenty-one Union flags which had been cap-
tured, and several tattered and torn Rebel flags. The Union flags
were quickly spread along the fence about the State House, to
greet the Union column as it marched in.
The war being ended, the Colonel's regiment preferred to go to
their homes and friends rather than to the final review at Wash-
ington. The consent of General Sherman was given, and with it
they marched to Huntsville, where the men were paid off. He was
mustered out and honorably discharged October Twentieth, 1865.
While he was in Huntsville, in October, closing up the affairs
of his regiment, he was elected Representative from Polk County
in the Eleventh General Assembly. Although political preferment
of high degree was offered him in Alabama, he preferred his old
home. He served through the legislative session and took an active
part in its deliberations. He prepared and secured the passage
of a bill providing for the building of the State Arsenal and head-
quarters of the Adjutant-General, which stood for many years at
the corner of Walnut and First streets. He also prepared a bill
for the erection of a Home for Soldiers' Orphans, at Des Moines,
and in support of it he made the first public speech in his life.
There was strong opposition to it, on the ground that a permanent
institution for such a purpose was extravagant and unnecessary, as
the lapse of a few years would show no use for it, the children
would be gi-own to manhood. But after forty years, the increase
of inmates has been ten to one, evidencing his foresight and his
wisdom.
COLONEL GEORGE L. GODFREY 333
He also prepared a bill for the establishment of a School for
the Deaf and Dumb, at Des Moines, but the rivalry of other towns
and the scatteration policy, that Des Moines should have no state
institutions except the Capitol, prevailed, and Colonel Sapp won
the school for Council BluflFs.
At the close of the Legislature, the Colonel entered the first
class of the Law Department of the State University, graduated
December Seventh, 1866, and was admitted to practice in the State
and Federal courts.
In 1880, he was elected City Solicitor, and served two years;
was appointed assistant to Joseph Lane, as United States District
Attorney, and served three years.
In 1882, he was appointed a member of the Federal Commis-
sion, under the Edmunds Law, to wipe out polygamy in Utah, and
in 1889 was made Chairman of the Commission. His experience
in that contest would fill a book. Under the limited powers of the
Commissioners, they failed to wring the neck of polygamy, but
they scotched its tail.
Politically, he was originally a radical Democrat, and cast his
first vote for President James Buchanan, but he was also a patriot.
He abandoned partisanship and gave himself to save the Union,
since when he has been a stalwart Republican. He voted for "Old
Abe," and in 1876, was one of the state electors who elected Ruth-
erford B. Hayes President. He is now United States Collector of
Customs, the importation of merchandise direct from foreign coun-
tries by merchants of Des Moines making such an office necessary.
His political honors have come to him by common consent, rather
than from political "pulls."
Socially, he is genial, companionable, of positive temperament,
unostentatious, has no taste for fuss and feathers ; is an active
member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Grand Army of
Tennessee, the Loyal Legion of the L^nited States, the Grant Club,
the Pioner Lawmakers' Association, and the Pioneer Settlers'
Association of Polk County.
Religiously, he is a Congregational ist, dating from the first
little church, which stood near the southeast corner of the present
Postoffice, on Court Avenue.
May Twenty-sixth, 1907.
LEWIS M. BURKE
A VISITOR traversing Polk County to-day and seeing the
splendid farms, with their luxurions environments, would
have little conception of the trials and deprivations endured
by the pioneers, who took them from the hand of Nature and made
them what they are. One of the hard-luck pioneers was Lewis M.
Burke.
He was born in 1797, in Maryland, and in 1802, his parents
moved to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where he grew to man-
hood, and acquired the best education aiforded in the common
schools of that period and location. When a youth, he learned the
milling trade with Joseph Mentz, and remained with him until
he was twenty-one years old. He then went to wagoning on the
turnpike, and stage driving, which he followed fifteen years. In
18.33, he removed to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he again
engaged in stage driving and farming. In 1834, he removed to
x\dams County, Hlinois; in April, 1846, came to Polk County,
and made a claim on what is now Section Thirty-three, in Beaver
Township, then called Camp Township. The Indians had left
the country in October prior, and there were but a few white
people in the county. The Government had not surveyed the
county ; there were no metes and bounds. Each new-comer selected
his desired location, paced it off, and stuck stakes for the corners,
or blazed ti'ees, to mark his claim. That was all the title he had,
all he could get, but it was respected and held inviolate by all other
settlers.
He built a log cabin, 12x16, near Mud Creek, in a timber
grove, which still bears his name. In the cabin was housed four-
teen persons, the furniture and dogs, the latter a very useful and
necessary concomitant of pioneering. Mrs. Burke once said they
were a little crowded; there was but one bedstead, on which was
piled all the beds during the day, and under it was crowded trunks,
335
336 PIOXEEES OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
baskets, bags and bundles. The walls were hung with coats, cloaks,
shawls, dresses and household utensils. On a long board shelf stood
a mirror, clock and candlesticks. At night, the beds were made on
the floor, the one table and chairs set outdoors. A large fireplace
occupied most o£ one side, and fiirnished heat for cooking in pots,
kettles and skillets, meals not such as would tempt an epicure, but
which gave the most healthful nourishment for a people driven to
hardships and exposure — meals that had no dyspepsia in them.
Around the big fireplace the sovereign lords of the household
stretched their pedal extremities while they indulged in the luxury
of a corncob pipe and discussed the prosjiects of the crops and the
doings at The Fort.
The country was wild, unsettled, and Burke had hard sledding.
If flour and corn meal got short, Oskaloosa was the nearest milling
point to get a supply, requiring an absence from home of several
days, while wolves and rattlesnakes were abundant to terrorize the
wife and twelve children.
During 1847-1848, money was scarce. He kept a diary in
which he made a record of many of his trials and deprivations. In
October, it says : "Have no shoes ; am going barefoot, so are the
children; no money to buy shoes." In another place: "Meat and
meal all out. Swapped a bushel of buckwheat for a pound of
salt." He was not so much troubled about the meat, for wild tur-
keys, prairie chickens and elk were numerous. His diary says:
"This morning saw fifty elk foraging on the buckwheat patch." A
man named Ballard was hired to haul com to the garrison at The
Fort, to be paid every alternate load as compensation for the
hauling.
In 1848, claim-jumpers and land sharks were harrassing the
squatters, as the settlers were called, necessitating some measures
for protecting their rights. In each township was selected a Vigil-
ance Committee for that purpose, and Burke was selected for his
township. A claim-jumper or land speculator was to be treated
like a highway robber if found tramping over the county, and sev-
eral so found it to be.
In 1849, Burke made an entry of his claim, paid one dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre to the United States Land Office for it,
LEWIS M. EFRKE 337
and in 1852, received a Government patent. He improved it,
erected fine buildings, and made it a home of profit and content
for himself and children for thirty-four years, but, unfortunately,
it lay at the extreme eastern limit of the land grant made by the
Government to the River Improvement and !N'avigation Company,
who, deeming it a good thing, claimed it, dispossessed him, and
turned him out in his old age to begin over again, with no recourse
from the Government for the bh;nders of its own agents, who had
taken his money and given him a pretended title. And therein
lies a general misunderstanding respecting a Goverament certifi-
cate for land. It conveys no absolute title. It is simply a certifi-
cate that a certain amount of money has been paid for a certain
tract of land, named therein. It was not uncommon that two per-
sons held a patent for the same tract, thus involving a lot of trou-
ble, delay, and often litigation, to get the matter settled. In the
Burke case, the State of Iowa was most shamefully derelict in its
dealings with the River Improvement Company, by which not only
were settlers I'obbed of their homes, but it-self most outrageously
swindled.
April Twenty-eighth, 1907.
Vol. TI— (23).
WILLIAM H. LEHMAN
WILLIAM H. LEHMAN
SOME of the pioneers of Polk Coimty pulled up stakes, deserted
their Eastern homes, kindred and friends, and plodded their
way to this wild and desolate country for pecuniary reasons.
Some came from the force of circumstances ; they could not prevent
it. Such was the case with W. H. Lehman, or Will., as everybody
knows him best.
Born in 1842, in Lancaster, Ohio, from whence came the pio-
neer Shermans, "Jim," Hoyt and Lamp., also their brothers, John
and Tecumseh, James G. Blaine, the pugilist Jeffries, and the air
sailor Knabenshue, he came to Fort Des Moines early in 1848,
with his father, who was attracted hither by the glorious accounts
sent back East by the Shermans of the prospects and possibilities
here in the passing of time.
Packing his family and household goods in wagons, the trip,
reijuiring nearly four weeks, was made without mishap. The pop-
ulation of the town consisted of about one hundred jwrsons. Houses
were scarce. A log barrack building down on 'Coon Point, left
by the departed garrison of The Fort, was the only available place
he could get for a domicile — in fact, the entire town was housed
in log cabins.
Soon after his arrival, he started a shoemaking business, but in
a few months he had an attack of ISTostalgia ; wanted to see the old
Buckej^e State again; nothing doing here, he declared, and he
decided to go back while he had the means to do so. But while he
was here, he made a little investment in comer lots.
In 1846, when the town of Fort Des Moines was surveyed and
platted by A. D. Jones and "Wall" Clapp, the question of re-loca-
tion of the State Capital was being extensively agitated. When
the town lots were sold, "Tom" McMullin and several others
bought everything in sight, and loaded themselves up with them
at "one-third dovm, the balance on time."
339
340 PTOXEERS OF POLK COUN'TY, IOWA
One day, "Tom" was rummaging around some household goods
Lehman had stored away, having no place for them in his small
cabin, and in a barrel discovered the movements or working parts
of an old-fashioned, wooden-wheeled clock. He declared it was
just what he wanted. Clocks were mighty scarce at The Fort in
1848. Even four years later, Lamp. Sherman, in his Gazette.
petitioned the County Commissioners to have the Court House bell
rung on Sundar morning so the people might know when it was
time to go to church, "so few families have clocks, and there are
no church bells." "Tom" bantered Lehman for a trade on a cor-
ner lot in "the future Capital of the state" — he was overloaded
with corner lots — and finally persuaded Lehman to take the lot on
the northwest corner of Third and "Vine, 66x132 feet, where the
Rock Island new passenger depot is now, for the old clock.
In 1857, Lehman returned to Des Moines with his family, and
started a grocery store at the corner of Second and Walnut. The
Capital had been fixed at Des ]\Ioines, and prospects were brighter
than in 1848. But the financial panic had struck the state, and
was desolating the whole country. Business was demoralized ; there
was no money in circulation except the notes of "wild-cat" banks.
There was no gold nor silver money except what percolated occa-
sionally through the Government Land Office. Real estate specu-
lators could not sell enough to pay their taxes, and scores of lots
were sold for delinquent taxes. Skilled mechanics were compelled
to take pay for their lab<ir in "store orders," and were glad to get
them.
Under such conditions, Lehman decided to go back again to
Ohio while be had money enough to pay expenses, and there were
several other Lancaster fellows here who would have followed him,
but they couldn't raise the money to go with.
During all those years. Will, was growing and getting what
education he could in the public schools. Being of musical tem-
perament, he took a course of stiidy in music with Professor Sny-
der, a prominent teacher in Lancaster, Ohio. When the Civil War
came, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the band of the Seven-
teenth Ohio Infantry, and served thirteen months, when he was
mustered out, with his band, under a change in the army regula-
WILLIAM H. LEHMAN 341
tiona, whereby, instead of a band with each raiment, only one
band with a brigade, or four regiments, was allowed.
On leaving the army, more optimistic than his father, he headed
straight for Des Moines, going down the Ohio River, up the Missis-
sippi on the steamer Frank Steele, to Keokuk, thence on the
steamer Alice to Des Moines, landing at 'Coon Point. He soon
after started the marble business, maintained it successfully for
some time, and in Woodland Cemetery can be seen several fine pro-
ductions from his establishment, notably that in memory of the old-
timer. Captain Gustavus Washburne, who for many years kept
what is now the Sabin House.
In 1863, I think it was, Ed. Clapp, who was a purchasing agent
of the Rock Island Railroad Company, began reconnoitering for a
site for a new passenger depot; their depot, a two-story, wooden
residence building, owned by Hy. Hatch, at the corner of Third
and Vine, was too small. They wanted more room. He selected
the wooden clock lot at the corner of Fourth and Vine. Will,
thought it a good opportunity to make a little profit on the old
clock, but his father was in Ohio, and Ed. was in a hurry to secure
a site; so Will, negotiated a sale whereby eighteen hundred dollars
was to be paid for the lot, one hundred dollars spot cash. Will.
took the one hundred dollars and made a written contract for the
remainder. His father objected to the trade; thought there was
something wrong about it — some chicanery — it was too miich to be
expected for an old wooden clock ; but after considerable corre-
spondence, in which Will, convinced him the town had grown some
and was still growing, he acquiesced. That is how the company
got its site for the new passenger depot.
But Will.'s head was full of music. Mills & Company were
running a large printing house and book store at Third and Court.
Avenue, and they added a music department, the first in the town.
Will, was selected to manage it. He disposed of his marble busi-
ness; devoted his entire time to music, and has been in it since
then, over forty years.
In the early days, musical entertainments were the chief sources
of amusement, and some of the concerts given could not be dupli-
cated to-day, for there were splendid musicians here. The time,
342 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
labor and enthusiasm given to preparation for a musical event was
prodigious — not for profit, but pure love of it, as the proceeds
usually went to some charitable object. One of the best organiza-
tions was the Timbuctoos, consisting of some of the leading busi-
ness and professional men of the town. Its entertainments took a
wide range, from sedate to humorous, and were of the highest excel-
lence. There was also considerable dramatic talent here, and exhi-
bitions of that character were frequently given ; also operas.
Traveling shows had not reached the town, and the only amuse-
ments were such as were improvised by local talent. The only hall
in town was in the third story of the Sherman Block, at the corner
of Third and Court Avenue. Whatever the exhibit was, the hall
was always crowded, for the town was like a large family, everyone
knew everybody ; they helped each other.
I recall a tableaux entertainment given in that old hall, in which
a devil and an angel were personified among other things. "Char-
ley" Spofford, son of Colonel Spofford, represented the devil, and
Miss Lucy Love, daughter of the President of the First National
Bank, represented the angel. "Charley" Nourse — he hadn't got
to be a Judge then — was general manager, and run the show. Spof-
ford was promptly togged out with satanic horns, hoofs and forked
tail, but there was a long delay with the angel ; they couldn't get
the wings on straight. The audience got uneasy, whereupon the
general manager began to expostulate, saying: "It seems to take
a long time to make an angel out of a woman ; the devil has been
waiting several minutes." "It don't take very much time to make
a devil out of a man," quickly retorted Mrs. Frank Allen.
Will, was for many years a member of the well-known Hartung
Orchestra and Collard's Instrumental Brass Band, which kept him
busy, for there were parties, receptions, banquets, etc., nearly every
night, which so encroached on his sleeping hours he engaged "Char-
ley" Rogg, who clerked in "Ham" Bush's drug store, in the Kirk-
wood Building, where Wright is now, to hustle him out at half-
past six every morning in time to go on duty at Mills & Company's
— they didn't have any eight-hours-a-day labor in those days. On
Sunday, he played the pipe organ in some church, a service he per-
formed for thirty-six consecutive years, in the diflferent churches of
the city.
WILLLOr H. LEHMAN 343
In 1869, he purchased the music stock of Mills & Company, and
opened a store in the one-story frame building which stood next
west to the Kirkwood, where Harbach erected his big furniture
store, and it became the musical center of the city for many years.
He is still in the business. So it is, he is one of the pioneer musi-
cians, helped to lay the foundation, promote and foster the musical
element which has culminated in the excellent schools and talent
which prevail in the city to-day, and given the town a fine, notable
reputation abroad. He was ever ready to assist with his talent for
all social and charitable objects.
Politically, he is a Republican, of the Roosevelt persuasion, but
takes no part in politics.
Socially, he is genial, courteous, affable, and popular. He is a
member of Capital Lodge, A. F. A. M. ; a charter member of
Myrtle Lodge, Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United
Workmen, and the R. E. C. A., a secret organization formed sev-
eral years ago for good fellowship by Hy. Smith, "Ret" Clarkson,
and Ed. Whitcomb. Wha.t its real name was, where it met, what
its object, was never known, except to its members, and they would
tell nobody. They bad signs, grips and a ritual similar to the
Masons. The membership at one time was about two hundred. Its
public appearance was only on New Year's Day, when every dollar
in the treasury was taken, and they went silently about the city,
depositing at the door of the deserving poor a well-filled basket of
family supplies.
October Seventh, 1906.
RICHARD T. WELLSLAGER
RICHARD T. WELLSLAGER
AN early settler of Des Moines who became actively and prom-
inently identified with its business enterprises was Eichard
T. Wellslager.
Bom in Washington County, Maryland, April Eighteenth,
1834, of German ancestry on the father's side, and Irish on that
of the mother, when two years old, his parents removed to Rich-
land County, Ohio, where his boyhood days were passed acquiring
such an education as the common schools of that period afforded
during the Winter months, and in Summer helping to fell the for-
est and open up a few more acres to cultivation in that then densely
timbered country.
In 1852, when eighteen years old, he began teaching school dur-
ing Winters for eighteen to twenty dollars per month, and board
among the patrons. In Summer, he continued farm work.
In February, 1855, he concluded Iowa was a better country,
and, by railroad, came via Chicago to Davenport, thence by stage
to Oskaloosa, arriving February Thirteenth, after four days'
bouncing over the frozen ground — the first day to Muscatine, the
second to Iowa City, the third to Fairfield, the fourth to destina-
tion. He imme<liately secured a clerkship in the Postoffice, where
he so thoroughly gained the good-will and favor of the people he
served for two years as Deputy, that, regardless of politics, he was
unanimously recommended for Postmaster, and in July, 1857, he
received the appointment from President Buchanan. He served
until April, 1861, when he resigned. While he was Postmaster, he
edited and published the Oskaloosa Times one year.
Governor Kirkwood having, at the time of his resignation, called
a special session of the Legislature to provide ways and means to
put the state on a war f(X)ting, he, with a few friends, came to
Des Moines to be in at the opening, and while he was making
nations in the town one day, he was greatly suqirised with a
345
346 PIOXEERS OF POLK COFXTY, TOWA
notification that he had been elected Assistant Secretary of the
Senate, a favor entirely unexpected. He accepted, and ser\-ed to
the close of the session, May Twenty-ninth.
Warren Hussey, having resigned as Cashier of B. F. Allen's
Bank, the place was offered to Wellslager, and accepted. Being a
bachelor,, "heart whole and fancy free," with no "strings" attach-
ing him to Oskaloosa, he decided to make Des Moines his future
residence, and in October, 1S62, he became a victim of the charms
of Anna, eldest daughter of Harmon Beekman, a leading merchant
and prominent citizen from 1857 to 1868, and he joined the ranks
of home-builders.
In January, 1865, he resigned the cashiership and went to Xew
York with "Deacon" S. V. White, to join the bulls and bears of
Wall Street, but an experience of twelve months brought the con-
viction that it was not the place for him. March First, 1866, he
returned and joined Wesley Redhead in the book and stationery
business in Sherman Block, on Court Avenue.
In 1867, Redhead retired from active membership in the firm,
to devote his time to developing his extensive coal properties, leav-
ing Wellslager and his yoimger brother, Marion, whom old-timers
will remember as a young man of most sterling qualities, to build
up the business, which continued until 1877, when Marion found
that to keep step with Richard was "the pace that kills," and he
withdrew, went to Kansas, where he deceased in 1894, leaving a
record of highly meritorious and exemplary character.
By the exercise of vigorous enterprise and energy, the business
grew, so that in 1871, to secure better facilities, it was moved to a
three-story brick, erected and equipped for the business at Four
Hundred and Eleven Court Avenue, near the present PostofBce.
In 1876, the firm purchased forty-four feet at Four Hundred
and Seven and Four Hundred and Xine Court Avenue, where was
erected and equipped the largest and best book, stationery, and wall
paper house west of Chicago. Wall paper trade was made a spe-
cialty, to handle which a large storage and shipping warehouse at
Eleventh and Vine was required, and the firm was recognized as
the third largest wall paper jobbers in the Ignited States, their
trade extending to Minnesota, South Dakota, Missouri, Xebraska,
RICHARD T. WELLSLAGER 347
Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming, necessitating the employment of
thirty to forty men on the road and in the house.
As an evidence of the impetus given the jobbing trade of the
city at that comparatively early day, the business of the firm, in
1866, amounted to thirty thousand dollars. In 1882, seventeen
years later, it was nearly half a million dollars, the result of unre-
mitting hard work. The name of Redhead & Wellslager became
familiar throughout Iowa and adjoining states, and Des Moines
gained some prestige as a trade center.
Had there been more firms in those days like that, and Mills &
Company, to bend their energies in building up a jobbing trade,
"manifest destiny," the pride and boast of the town in the early
Sixties, would now be an accomplished fact. There would be no
necessity for a "Committee of Three Hundred" to boost it out of
the Slough of Despond.
In 1883, after seventeen years of strenuous effort to crowd
twenty-six hours' labor into twenty-four, Wellslager found there
was a limit to nerve strain and human endurance. His physician
advised him to cut loose, relax, and take a rest in a climate more
favorable to an indicated pulmonary diathesis, which he did, going
to Florida and California during the Winter months.
The business was removed to Six Hundred and Seven and Six
Hundred and ISTine Locust Street, and continued under the name
of Redhead, I^orton, Lathrop & Company until after the decease
of Mr. Redhead, in 1891, and was closed in 1894 or 1895.
In September, 1887, Mr. Wellslager having fully recuperated
his physical condition, accepted the cashiership of the Des Moines
National Bank, succeeding the following January to the presidency
— with the deposits one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. By
his sagacious management, in 1892, the bank reported to the Comp-
troller of the Currency, its deposits were one million dollars, the
first statement of the kind made up to that time by any bank in Des
Moines, showing deposits of one million dollars.
In May, 1891, Mr. Wellslager sought and was instrumental in
securing an order from the Comptroller of the Currency, making
Des Moines a Reserve City for national banking associations, an
acquisition of immense advantage to the city and its business activi-
ties. Under the national bank statutes, every national bank is
348 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
r«juired to keep at all times a certain per cent of reserve, and three-
fifths of such reserve may consist of balances due from banks in
reserve cities. All national banks in Iowa had to keep their reserve
balances in banks in Chicago, Omaha, Saint Paul, and Eastern
money centers. By this change, they could keep such balances on
deposit with the banks in Des Moines. It was also of great benefit
to the national banks of the city, and added many thousand dollars
to their deposits. It also gave Des Moines special advantages in
times of money stringency, for it is then miscellaneous bank bal-
ances are closely drawn and centered in cities where they can be
counted as reserve.
The year 1893 was a panicky one for banks and bankers, and
after safely piloting his bank through the breakers, Wellslager
determined to avoid for all time a repetition of his experiences
of the year, and on January Eighteenth, 1894, he resigned the
presidency.
During his active business career, he helped to organize several
financial institutions, among which were the Des Moines National
Bank, Polk County Savings Bank, Security Loan and Trust Com-
pany, German Savings Bank, Central State Bank, Cooperative
Bank of Iowa, Polk County Loan and Building Association, and
with the management he was prominently identified. For many
years, he was a large stockholder in and until recently a Director
in the State Insurance Company. During recent years, he has
been less strenuous and aggressive — is more inclined to let others
stand the brunt of things; but he is not on the retired list. He is
closely identified with the Central State Bank, where he has private
quarters, devoting his time at his ease, mainly with his (lersonal
affairs.
As a business man, integrity, strict exactness, method and relia-
bility are noted features of all his business transactions. His word
always is as good as his bond.
He is of nervous, sanguine temjierament, positive, slow to yield
convictions once fixed — in fact, his phrenological bump of firmness
is pretty fully developed. He is quiet, unassuming, inclined to
taciturnity, shuns notoriety, has no ambition to be "in the public
eye;" yet, withal, he is affable, genial, and agreeable in contact
RICHARD T. WELLSLAGER 349
and maimer. He is not a member of any clubs or fraternal
organizations.
A marked characteristic of him during his mercantile business
career, was his strict regularity. His home was two doors from
my residence, and as "rapid transit" means to his store he had a
favorite pacer, and so regular and precise was his going and com-
ing, the neighbors and residents along the way used to say they
could set their clocks by it, and so it was at the store, where he was
the first to arrive and the last to leave.
Politically, he was a War Democrat, but since he came to Des
Moines has not sought nor held any political ofSce, yet has taken
an interest in political affairs, and, in a quiet, but not less effective
way, has exerted a potent influence in behalf of the dominant prin-
ciples of the Republican party and good civic government.
Religiously, he is not a member of any denominational church,
but is broad and catholic in his views.
The stork has brought to his home but one child, a daughter,
the wife of J. D. Whisenand, of the Central State Bank, a promi-
nent and active citizen.
June Thirtieth, 1907.
I
I
FRANCIS GENESER
FRANCIS GENESER
AWELL-KXOWX old-timer, eligible to a place in a history of
Polk County or reminiscences thereof, is Francis Geneser.
Born on the Ehine, in Bavaria, Germany, he passed the
years of his minority with his father, who was a stone mason and
cutter, the two trades being combined in that country. He attended
the common school, which corresponded with the district schools
of the United States, from the age of six until he was thirteen.
A revolution having broken out in several of the provinces in
1848, and having arrived at his majority and liable to six years'
Government military service, his only means of escaping it was in
leaving the coimtry. In ISJ'ovember, 1849, with two comrades, he
set sail from Havre for New York, where they landed twenty-nine
days later. They looked the town over, and thought it too large a
place for them, and they went to Albany, where the two comrades
had friends. There he got a job on a farm at four dollars per
month and board. He worked four months, and in the Spring fol-
lowing went to work at his trade in the country surrounding
Albany at one dollar a day and board, which he thought was good
wages. A day's work was from sunrise to sundown — there were
no labor unions in those days.
In May, 1856, his brother, Joseph, having preceded him, he
came to Des Moines, by rail from Albany to Iowa City, where he
hired a team to bring himself, wife, and three children, Mary, Joe
and John, to Des Moines. Houses were scarce ; the only available
one was a small log cabin near Aulman's Brewery, on Elm Street,
between Second and Third, in which he lived until he built a small
frame house on Sherman Street, between River (now Crocker) and
Mill (now School).
His first job was on the old Grout House, at Sixth and Walnut,
East Side. He also worked one hundred and twenty-three days
on the Hierb Brewery, in 1857, at Seventh and Center.
351
352 PIONEERS OF POLK COFXTY, IOWA
In 1858, he took his first job as a contractor, and built the foun-
dation walls of a drug store for G. M. Hippee, at the southeast
comer of Second and Court Avenue, the first brick store building
on the avenue. The stone was quarried out of the bhiff along Des
Moines River, on Barlow Granger's land, and was a good quality
of sandstone. It was hauled in with teams.
His fidelity, fair dealing, energy and honesty soon secured for
him all he could do. Among the buildings he erected was the Good
Block, at Fifth and Walnut, where the Casady bank is ; the Charles
Hewitt wholesale grocery building, at Third and Walnut ; the
Judge Byron Rice building, next west of the Equitable Building,
at Sixth and Locust ; St. Ambrose Church, at Sixth and High, and
numerous smaller business blocks and residences. He built the
abutments and piers of Court Avenue bridge more than twenty
years ago, and they have withstood the pounding of floods and ice
gorges without protection of ice-breakers.
In his building business, he found brick very scarce. He secured
land and began making by hand what was known as sand brick,
and for twenty-three years it was a large jjart of his business. Over
three million, eight hundred thousand of his hard-burned brick
were put in the new Capitol, and of their quality it is only neces-
sary to say they passed the lynx-eyed scrutiny of "Bob" Finkbine,
who was a holy terror to contractors for material furnishe<l that
structure. They were what is called "nigger heads," and hard as
flint rock. Vitrified brick was then an unknown quantity.
He, with Conrad Youngerman, built the porticos and steps of
the old Court House, which was torn down to give place to the
present one. The stone was quarried at Elk Rapids, on Des Moines
River, in Boone County, about thirty miles north. They would
go up there and quarry a lot of stone, haul it down here with teams,
and then cut and put it in place. It was a job which tried their
very souls to the breaking-point, and required three months' labor.
He employed a large number of men and teams, and for more
than thirty yeai's was an important factor in the industries of the
town. In 1890, he retired from the contracting business.
For comparison of the wages paid bricklayers in the early days
and that at present, when building the Good Block, he paid two
FRANCIS GENESEE 353
dollars and a half per day, a day's work being from seven to six
o'clock — ten hours.
In 1893, he organized the German Savings Bank, was a heavy
stockholder, one of the Directors, and its President until 1897,
when financial reverses to some of its patrons, overdrafts, and his
personal securities given to aid in developing infant industries in
the town, necessitated the closure of the bank, with a total loss of
seventy-two thousand, four hundred dollars, and which he had to
make good to the bank, thus sweeping away the emoluments of his
many years of toil.
As a business man, he was noted for his integrity, honesty and
fidelity. A contract made with him required no bonds or collaterals.
Socially, he is plain, quiet, unostentatious, benevolent, has an
unbounded faith in humanity, is a good neighbor and an exemplary
citizen. Is not a member of any clubs or societies.
Politically, he is a Democrat, but takes no part in the game of
politics.
Religouisly, he is a member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church.
July Fourteenth, 1907.
Vol. II— (23)
LAMPSON P. SHERMAN
LAMPSON P. SHERMAN
OXE of the pioneers of Des Moines was Lampson P. Sherman,
or Lamp., as everybody called him, who came hei*e in 1849
— the pioneers don't admit any person to their class who
came here after 1849 — a Buckeye by birth, a printer by trade, hav-
ing served an apprenticeship in the office of the Cincinnati Gazette.
He was a brother of General William Tecumseh Sherman, John
Sherman, Secretary of the Treasury under President Hayes, and
Hoyt Sherman, well known to residents of the city for the past
iifty years.
Soon after his arrival, the Whigs stated a movement to secure
a newspaper of their own faith. Judge Curtis Bates and Barlow
Granger were publishing the Star, as the organ of the Democrats.
A proposition was made to Lamp, to give him a certain bonus in
cash, and secure him a good list of subscribers, if he would start a
newspaper. He accepted the proposition, went to Cincinnati, pur-
chased presses, tvjie and material necessary for that purpose, ship-
ping it by boat to Saint Louis, thence to Keokuk, and with teams
hauled it to The Fort, himself coming with it.
He was to be given one-half of the bonus on his arrival at Cin-
cinnati, and the list of his subscribers on his arrival with the outfit,
neither of which materialized. ISTevertheless, he started the paper in
one of the barrack buildings opposite the Star office, on Second
Street, near Vine, and named it the Gazette, in honor of his alma
mater. The first number was issued January First, 1850. It was
seven columns to a page, and showed the skill of a good printer,
quite in contrast typographically to the Star.
The price of the paper was two dollars per year in advance, bvit
the "advance" was what troubled him. It seldom or never came,
but he gave the people a good, wide-awake paper, devoted largely
to local matters, which so cut into the circulation of the Star that
355
356 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
witliiu two months Barlow quit aud Judge Bates assumed control
of the paper.
The gi'eat stress with the people then was to get transportation
facilities. Several columns every week were given to railroad pro-
jects. February First, a call was published for a mass meeting of
citizens to select a committee to go to a convention at Iowa City
and defeat a scheme to have a road from Davenport to Council
Bluffs cross the Des Moines Eiver fifty miles south, and follow the
old Mormon Trail to the Bluffs. The committee went, and the
scheme was frustrated. The River Improvement project was vig-
orously boomed, aud the company severely prodded for their pro-
crastination. The Loco Focos, as the Democrats were called, were
bombarded with terms hardly comj^atible with Twentieth Century
ethics. There were only four columns of advertising. There must
have been a poet in town, for several merchants extolled their
wares in rhyme, E. A. Wise <t Company, "east side of Second
Street, below Market," had this to say:
"LET HEK RIP SHe's ALL OAK.
"Up rose the sim, and in majestic splendor
Climbed the Eastern slope. The white frost
Glittering upon her pendant grass.
Reflecting back her slanting rays,
Till all the broad prairie in mirrored beauty
Glistened. Far in the distance, dragging slow.
Like a woimded snake, its length along.
With poudrous strength, on slow-revolving wheels,
Its snowy canvas shining in the sun.
Is seen a mighty train of four ox teams.
Loaded to the guards with a most rich freight
Of dry goods, gi'oceries and hardware."
February Twenty-second. — "In the north part of town the
workmen are getting timber for a female seminary. In the west
end of town the foundation of the new Presbysterian Church is
laid."
That female seminary stood at the corner of Second and Locust
streets, where the street ear barn now is, and for many years was
used as a cooper shop and blacksmith shop. The timber for it was
LAMPSOX P. SHEEMA^T 357
cut along the river. It was built by Father Bird, and in its Mrs.
Bird taught the school. She was, indeed, a "mother in Israel'' to
the youth of that day. Many young men of the city in later years
were proud to acknowledge her as a teacher.
Simon Casady received some of his first lessons in good behavior
under her tutelage, but he could never understand why he was sent
to a female seminary — he was only four years old — unless it was
to keep him out of mischief.
The church stood on the lot next to the Western LTniou Tele-
graph office, on Fourth Street. It was burned in 1867. The semi-
nary and church were the two extremes of the town.
March Fifteenth. — "The first barber has opened a shop.''
April Sixth. — "The ferry across Des Moines Eiver is in good
order. Ropes have been put across, and teams can now cross in
good order."
April Twenty-sixth. — "The first Whig Congressional Conven-
tion is called to meet at Ottumwa."
Early in April, the rush to California began. There was a con-
tinuous line of wagons from east to west, as far as the eye could
reach. The gold-hunters from Polk County crowded into gaps in
the train, many of them never to be seen again. If a wagon broke
down or a horse or ox was sick, they dropped out of the line, and
the gap was quickly closed. If a person sickened and died, without
shroiid or cofiin the remains were laid in a shallow hole by the way-
side, a benison to the wolf and coyote. All along the route, Small-
pox was scattered among the settlers, game cards strewn, fragments
of glass bottles, which, emptied of their "hell broth," were dashed
against a wagon wheel. The ferry here was crowded, excitement
was intense, as everybody wanted to get across first. For the week
ending April Seventeenth, six himdred and seventy-five persons and
two hundred and fifty-two wagons had crossed ; the next week, one
hundred and ninety-nine teams and five hundred and forty men ;
the next week, one hundred and fifty-six teams and four hundred
and fifty-nine persons ; the next week, one hundred and thirty teams
and three hundred and sixty-three persons ; the next week, seventy-
three teams and one hundred and eighty-four persons, when there
was a falling off. The total record kept was one thousand and
358 PIONEERS OF POLK COCXTY, IOWA
forty-nine reams and two thousand, eight hundred and thirteen
persons.
May Twenty-fourth. — Xotice is civeu that because "no teams
can be got to haul the paper from Keokuk, there will be no Gazette
next week."
Lamp, wa.s preeminently jiractical, never a star-gazer. The dila-
toriness of church-going people on the Sabbath troubled him. He
ascribed it mostly to the family clock, of which many families had
none at all. Some attendants would get to church barely in time
to receive the "benediction." There were no church bells, and he
recommended the ringing of the tavern bell to call out the people.
June Eighteenth. — "The hunters who went up 'Coon River for
elk calves, returned with five calvet^. They captured nine, but four
escajied. They say deer and elk are plenty, but no buffalo."
November Fifteenth. — Lamp, called vigorously for money. Said
he had not received enough to pay for the white paper he had used.
December First. — He became the apostle of good seed corn, for
he says, "With plenty of good seed and well cultivated, no part of
the world can beat Des Moines Valley.'" Thus he ante-dates "Dick"
riarkson as an ajwstle of seed corn.
At the expiration of six months, ])aying expenses with an income
from only four columns of advertising, payable in store orders and
elastic promises. Lamp, concluded he must have help. A meeting
of citizens was held, at which it was agTeed to assume one-half the
indebtedness of the establishment and furnish an outside business
manager. Tnder the reorganization, the name of the paper was
changed to State Journal. The patronage was small, the popula-
tion of the tovm being less than five hundred. The Democrats held
all public offices and took the spoils, but the paper was continued
to August Twenty-sixth, 1852, when it was suspended, and Lamp,
retired, having lost every dollar he had invested in the enterprise.
I asked him once how he got along with a newspaper in those
early days without the means and conveniences necessary to that
business, to which he replied: "Very well during Summer time,
but when Winter came, and the snow blew in through the cracks
between the logs, filled the tvpe with snow, froze the ink and paper
'heap' which had been dampened for printing, it was rather dis-
couraging. With kettles of live coals set under the press to keep it
LAMPSON P. SHERMAN" 359
thawed out, we could get out the paper, then they would come over
from the Star office — they preferred to sit around the grocery fires
and swap yarns than keep their own office running — ^borrow the
'forms' of our paper, take off the heading, put on that of the Star,
and print their paper. No, they didn't take my editorials; they
cut them out. The greatest trouble we had was with the mails.
Sometimes we could not get an Eastern mail for two or three weeks.
There were no railroads ; the river was frozen ; no regular stage
lines ; money was scarce, and at times it was hard sledding to keep
things moving. It took forty days to get news from Washington."
In 1851, the people at The Fort petitioned the County Judge
for an election to determine whether or not the town should become
incorporated. The petition was granted, and an election ordered
to be held Septembr Twenty-third. Lamp, was named as one of
the clerks of the election. The vote was forty-two for, and one
against incorporation.
September Twenty-seventh, another election was held to select
three persons to form a charter for the to\vii, and Lamp, was
chosen one of the three. October Eleventh, they made return to the
Judge that they had prepared a charter for the '"Town of Fort Des
Moines," and fixed three boundaries of the town corporation. Octo-
ber Eighteenth, another election was held, at which boundary Num-
ber Two, which had been fixed by the survey made in Jiily, 1846,
and known as the "Original Town," was adopted by a vote of
twenty to six. What would ]>eople now think <"if three city elections
in one month '(
At the organization of the first Town C'liuucil, Lamp, was elected
one of the Councilmen. There being no wards, the Councilmeu
were elected from the body of the people. Father Bird was made
President of the Council. The meetings were held in the Court
House, where the Union Depot now is. The first meeting was held
October Twenty-fifth. The labors of that Council were such aa
required the exercise of gTeat deliberation and good judgment.
There were no bridges, and no money to build them with; ferries
had to be provided, and the foimdation laid for the government of
a civic community. It must be conceded they did their work well.
They served one year and four days, without fee or hope of reward,
360 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
and, singiilarly enough, not one of them was elected to the next
Council.
In 1S51, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and served one
year.
In December, 1851, he took a helpmate and began married life
in a two-roomed house at northeast corner of Sixth and ]\Iulberrv,
opposite the street car waiting-room. In 1856, they bnilt a house
on Ninth and Pleasant, the place being now occupied by the Cen-
tral Christian Church. This was long known as the Sherman home.
Its associations and the memory of its hospitality are dear to the
hearts of many of the old settlers of Des Moines and Polk County.
In 1854, he was elected Mayor. The town had begun to grow
in self-esteem, and the Council to put on dignity. At the first
meeting it ordered that "members who fail to attend the regiilar
meeting of the Council shall pay a fine of fifty cents, imless excused
by the Council."
In 1854, he became connected with the Hoyt Sherman & Com-
pany Bank, remained with it and its successor, the Iowa State
Bank, for several years.
In 1856, when the Statu House scrimmage came ou, he stood
uj) for the AVest Side, and subscribed three hundred dollars to the
"war fund."
In 1867, he was appointed United States Revenue Collector for
the Fifth District, and held the office several years.
When the Equitable Life Insurance Company was organized, in
1867, he was one of the incorporators, and was elected its first Vice-
President. He took the eighth policy issued by the company.
On leaving the Revenue Ofiice, he retired from active business.
In 1858, he was elected City Treasurer, and served one term.
On Christmas evening, 1867, was celebrated his silver wedding,
with that of "Billy" Moore, a pioneer merchant, and Doctor W. H.
Ward, a pioneer physician, at the residence of "Billy," who was
married by Elder J. A. Nash, a pioneer, in the old Winchester
House, which stood where the Valley National Bank now is. Sher-
man was married by Father Bird, the first preacher in the town,
at the residence of James Hall, corner of Court Avenue and First
Street. Doctor Ward was married in Warren Coimty, by Sanford
Haines, a pioneer Methodist preacher.
LAMPSON P. SHERMAN 361
The 01(1 Settlers' Association completely surprised the cele-
brants with the presentation of a silver set to each couple, Judge
W. W. Williamson making the presentation to Sherman and wife,
Judge William Phillips to "Billy" and wife, and Judge Casady to
Doctor Ward and wife. Father JSTash — Father Bird and Elder
Haines having deceased — responded in behalf of the recipients, for
such expression of esteem and favor from the old settlers.
Politically, Lamp, was a Whig, without frills or isms. He
fought the battles of the party in the ranks, when there were no
spoils or emoluments, and sought no offices, yet the records show he
was often called by the people of the town to places of trust and
importance.
Socially, he was reserved, genial, and popular. He was actively
interested in and identified with the inauguration of the public
school system, and during the early Fifties was one of the oflBcers
of the School Board, who erected the first school building, at the
corner of Ninth and Locust streets. Lamp, believed the newspaper,
the school, and the church were the most important factors in form-
ing the character of a civic community. He was not a member of
any secret society.
Religiously, he was educated in a Catholic school, but he never
united with any church. His wife being a zealous member of the
Baptist Church, of which Elder Nash was pastor, he regidarly
attended that church.
He died in November, 1900, leaving a widow, the only survivor
of the Sherman family of four brothers.
December Seventeenth, 1905.
COLONEL GEORGE C. TICHENOR
I DO not thiuk old-timers, especially those who had anything to
do with politics, have forgotten George C. Ticheuor. He was
born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, October Eighth, 1838, During
his minority, he attended the common school and learned the trade
of house painting. At the age of twenty, he decided to strike out
for the West, and early in March, 1858, taking the usual route of
Kentuckians, by rail and stage coach, he went to Saint Louis,
thence by steamboat to Keokuk, where he tarried for a time hunt-
ing for a job, his money getting short, but there was nothing doing.
Strolling along the river one day, he discovered a steamboat which
he was told was bound for Fort Des Moines. Bantering the Cap-
tain very urgently to take him on and "work his passage," without
success, he planked down ten dollars and became a passenger,
entitled to all the rights and privileges thereof. His further prog-
ress is best related in his own words, as printed in the Annals of
Iowa:
"There were tive passengers beside myself. We were eight days
and nights making the trip from Keokuk to Des Moines, and we
had to nm very slowly, particularly nights, uot only to avoid snags,
but also overhanging limbs of trees when we had to hug the cur-
rent along the banks, which was frequently the case. We anchored
time and again to cut away the limbs of trees to keep them from
carrying away the little smokestack, the pilot house and the cabin.
"We landed at 'Campbell's Point,' just at sunset, April Nine-
teenth, 1858. Runners for the 'Demoin House,' 'Collins House,'
and the 'Morris House' rushed aboard the boat as soon as she
landed, and loudly solicited the patronage of the passengers for
their several hostelries, each declaring that his was the principal
hotel in the city. After some haggling with the representative of
the Collins House, he agreed to take my trunk to his hotel for 'two
bits,' and to board and lodge me for two dollars and a quarter a
363
364 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
week, if I -wmild remain a week or longer, or at the rate of seventy-
five cents a day if I only stayed a day or two. The Collins House
was a long, narrow, low, two-story, white frame honse, with adjoin-
ing office and parlor, dining-room and kitchen on the lower floor,
and about a dozen sleeping-rooms, about 6x8 feet square, on either
side of a narrow hallway on the second floor, and was situated
l)etween Third and Fourth streets, near 'Coon River. After eating
supper that evening, I took an account of my purse, and found that
after pa\'ing the 'two bits' for carrying my trunk to the hotel, I had
exactly an old-fashioned two-cent piece left, which T invested in a
'Principe' cigar I found in a little showcase about two feet square
on the counter in the hotel 'office.'
"Thus I found myself, a youth in my twentieth year, with not
a cent in my purse, with two very fair suits of clothing, in a
strange place, 'a thousand miles from home.' Des Moines was then
in the midst of a depression resulting from the panic of 1857, and
was about as dead a town as one could imagine. It had been made
the Capital of the state a year or so before, and the principal
employment of the peojjle on either side of De,s Moines River was
to abuse each other, according as to whether they resided on the
East Side or the West Side. The river was spanned near the foot
of Locust Street with a primitive and quite unsuitable sort of pon-
toon bridge, which was the only means of passage, e.xeept by a small
skiff or canoe. During a part of that Spring, and in the eai-ly
Spring and flood season of 1859, the river readily extended from
the western shore, or Front Street, in West Des Moines, to the
bluffs or Capitol Hill, on the East Side. I remember having made
the passage time and again in a skiff from the landing at the
Demoin House in West Dest Moines to the Walker House in East
Des Moines."
After his arrival at The Fort, Tichenor engaged in clerking.
Being wide-awake and a good mixer socially, he soon became quite
popular. When the Civil War came, in September, 1S62, though
a Southerner and a Democrat, he joined the Thirty-ninth Infantry,
the second regiment organized at Des Moines, and was commis-
sioned Adjutant of the regiment. The regiment rendezvoused at
Davenport to receive equipments. Soon after, an epidemic of
Measles ju-ostrated the regiment until December Thirteenth, when.
COLONEL GEORGE C. TICHENOE 365
not fully convalescent, it was ordered to report to General J. M.
Tuttle at Cairo. It disembarked at Columbiis, spending its first
night in mud and rain. Thence, after a few davs, it moved to
Jackson, and from there marched to Trenton, where it joined the
forces to move against General Forrest. On the Thirty-first, they
suddenly came upon Forrest's ai'my, at Parker's Crossroads, with
his six thousand men, while the Union forces numbered but sixteen
hundred. A battle was at once begun, and waged for six hours.
The Thirty-ninth, only raw recruits, was in the thickest of the
fight. It was engaged in driving back a flanking party of the enemy,
and succeeded in repulsing them, winning great praise for its brav-
ery. It was its first engagement. Ticheuor received high com-
mendation for his gallantry.
The regiment fought to the close of the war ; was at the general
review at Washington, and there mustered out, June Fifth, 1865.
Tichenor, by his soldierly qualities, activities, and good judg-
ment, so won the favor of General Dodge that he was promoted
to Major and Aide-de-Camp to the General, and subsequently he
was given the star of a Colonel by brevet.
At the close of the war, Tichenor came back to Des Moines, and
went into the lumber business with "Charley" Getchell, on Seventh
Street, between Locust and Walnut. The firm was popular, and
did a successful business.
In April, 1867, the military service of Tichenor was recognized
liv his appointment as Postmaster. The office was then in the Sher-
man Block, on Court Avenue, but soon after his appointment was
removed to a two-story frame building in the rear of the Sherman
Block, on Third Street. In 1870, when the present Postoffice
building was ready for occupancy, Tichenor dedicated it to the
service. In 1871, he was reappointed, but soon after resigned, and
was succeeded by J. S. ("Ret") Clarkson.
In 1868, John A. Kasson was a candidate for a third term in
Congi-ess. The military spirit of the coimtry had not subsided,
and General G. M. Dodge was named by friends as his opponent.
Frank Palmer, editor of the Daily Register; "Tom" Withrow,
attorney for the Rock Island Railroad, and several leading Repub-
licans, were opposed to Kasson. The contest grew hotter as it pro-
gressed, until it became one of the most acrimonious ever known
366 PIOXEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
in the state. '"Lafo" Young- says polities is a great game. It was
played to the limit then. Personal animosities were engendered
between long-time friends, even kindred and families. Social per-
sonal correspondence between individuals at that time would now
be interesting reading. I have some of it laid away, gathered
together as a newspaper reporter.
Tichenor, who was a shrewd politician, and took a hand in the
game whenever it was played in Polk County, naturally, for per-
sonal reasons, gave his preference to his old war friend, General
Dodge, who finally won out, but after serving one term so disliked
the place he refused a renomination, and Palmer was elected.
In 1871, Tichenor was elected Alderman for the Second Ward
in the City Council, and reelected in 1872. The city was theai
agitated by a movement to secure bridges over Des Moines and
'Coon rivers. It involved the expenditure of a large sum of money,
which entered largely into the controversy, but Tichenor, as chair-
man of the Bridge Committee of the Council, with his energy and
business ability, engineered the project to success, and the first iron
bridge across the Des Moines was erected at Walnut Street, and a
wooden truss bridge over the Voon at Seventh Street.
In 187.'), Tichenor went to Chicago and engaged in business. In
1878, the failure of a bank left him penniless, and he returned to
his first love, politics. President Hayes appointed him a special
agent in the Treasury Department at Washington, and he served
in some official capacity in that department until his death, in
1902. At one time, he was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
He proved an active and efficient official.
When a resident of Des Moines, Tichenor was an active booster
in every public-spirited movement, and being a good mixer socially,
he helped materially in the progress of the town. In 1867, when
the voters of the city rejected a proposition to purchase a fire
engine, and protection was greatly needed, Tichenor, with a few
other public-spirited fellows, organized the Rescue Hook and Lad-
der Company, and they did good service in saving property from
destniction.
April Fourteenth, 1907.
JEHU P, SAYLOR
JEHU P. SAYLOR
AMONG the early comers was Jehu Perkins Sayloi-, bom Mav
Eleventh, 1823, near Valparaiso, Indiana, of German
descent on the father's side and English on that of the
mother. He came with his father, Benjamin, to Van Buren County
in 1836, and helped to clear and improve a small farm. His father
was a brick mason, and Government Trader, living always a fron-
tier life. Jehu's youthful days were therefore a part of it, with
very limited advantages to acquire an education, two months in a
common country school being all that was afforded him.
In 1844, he formed a partnership with John B. Saylor to fur-
nish beef and hay for Government supplies for the garrison at Rac-
coon Forks, as Des Moiue.s was then called. He arrived February
Twentieth, with Thomas Saylor and Austin Branen. The first
white mau to greet them was Alex. Scott, who was a distingviished
personage in those days. The trio secured quarters in a cabin near
the officers' headquarters, and did their own cooking and washing.
As the time for the removal of the Indians to Kansas, and the
abandonment of the garrison api^roached, Jehu began prospecting
for a land claim. He selected a tract about one mile west of what
is now Saylor Gro^•e, skirted with heavy timber on the north, and
extending across the valley to Des Moines River, as an ideal loca-
tion for a farm and home.
At midnight, October Eleventh, 1845, was the hour set for the
expiration of the Indian title to land in Polk County. Many
"squatters" had come in to wait the event, and an eager crowd was
scattered around the country that day, making elaborate prepara-
tions to secure the coveted tracts which had been prospected. Land-
grabbers and claim-jumi^ers were also watching their chances to
outwit the bona fide settler. Sentinels were stationed at different
points, instructed to begin the measurement of claims so soon as
the cannon boom at The Fort should sound the tocsin, or the min-
ute hand of the clock reached the midnight hour.
367
368 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Jehu often related his experience of that event. So intently
was his mind fixed upon it, and so uncertain the outcome, that all
through the day of the Eleventh he did not lie down to rest, as was
his custom, but got candles and tallow dips ready, his hatchet sharp-
ened and in good order, and anxiously counted the laggard passing
hours. When the hands of the clock passed the twelve spot, he
plunged into the darkness and heavy timber, cutting and blazing
the trees, or driving a stake to mark the boundary of his claim.
Away in the distance, in all directions, coiild be seen the dancing,
flickering flare of candles, lanterns and torches of those on the same
rushing errand, a weird, fantastic spectacle. It was no child's play
nor frolic. It was serious business, with brain and nerve under
severe tension. Before the rising sim appeared, thousands of acres
were staked out, to be immediately occupied by families and house-
hold goods, which had been waiting nearby therefor. The plow-
share took the place of the sword, and Civilization was commenced.
Under the land laws, no title to the claims made could be
obtained until the Government survey had been made, which was
(lone in 1S47, and Jehu's claim became, in Land Office parlance,
the "uw qr of nw sec 3, the s hf of ne qr and ne of ne qr sec 4, T
79, R 24." It embraced one hundred and sixty acres.
To understand this description, an explanation of the Govern-
ment survey is necessary. As a starting-point, or base line, the
mouth of the Arkansas River was selected, from which a line was
run due north and south, to be known as the Principal Meridian.
Six miles west of it another line was rim parallel to it, and the land
between the two lines was called "One West," and so on. By that
rule, the east line of Polk County is twenty-two west, or one hun-
dred and thirty-two miles west of the Principal Meridian.
Starting at the same point, a line was run due east and west as
a base line. Six miles north of it, another line was run. That
divided the land into squai-es of six miles on each side, which were
designated as Congressional Townships, and numbered from the
base line, the south line of Polk County being the seventy-seventh.
Jehu's land, therefore, was in the forty-ninth range of townships
north and twenty-four west. The townships were again subdivided
into thirty-six sections, or squares, coutaiuing six hundred and
JEHU P. SAYLOR 369
forty acres each, and, beginning at the northeast corner, numbered
alternately west and east, so that, knowing the number of a section,
the location of a man's farm could be easily determined and found.
The land was sold by the Government in tracts of a whole, half or
quarter section.
When the midnight race for land was made, the course was, in
some cases, decidedly crooked, and the strides in pacing off the
rods, not a little stretched, but under the by-laws of the Claim-
Holders' Club, all irregularities, overlapping of claims, and dis-
crepancies disclosed by the survey were amicably adjusted. There
were no courts, the settlers being a law unto themselves.
Early in 1848, Jehu began cutting logs for a cabin. They were
then hewed, an innovation in cabin building in those days. It con-
tained but one room. There was a fireplace, with a chimney built
of sticks plastered with mud. The floor was of the puncheon vari-
ety, laid on the ground. The roofing was long shingles rived out
of timber by hand. For a door, a heavy wool blanket was himg.
The windows were latticed with narrow strips of wood, without
frames or glass. The cooking was done in a fireplace, in pots hung
on an iron crane, and in shallow kettles on the hearth, covered
with hot coals. The walls were plastered with clay mud, and made
smooth with a trowel. When completed, it was the largest and
most pretentious cabin in the settlement. To secure a mistress of
it, Jehu wedded Martha A. Bales, who came t« the county in 1846,
with her father, Solomon, on horseback, driving a herd of cattle
and sheep. (See page 261, Volume II.)
The cabin was not very elaborately furnished. Jehu made a
table out of rived boards, also several stools and benches. A "one-
post" bedstead was planted in one comer, composed of a post from
which a rail was fastened to the wall at the foot, and another rail
at the side made fast to the wall at the head. The slats were rived
from timber. Spring beds and mattresses had not materialized
then. There were no wardrobes nor bureaus. Clothing was hung
on the walls, and covered with a sheet. The young wife's wedding
gown and lingerie were carefully folded, and laid away in a new
flour barrel.
Vol. II— (-24).
370 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
The passing of a few years brought a wonderful change. A new
house, bams, sheds, fruit trees, ornamental and flowering shrub-
bery, added comfort and beauty to the place, for Jehu was a man
of good taste, a generous provider, energetic and active. He raised
fine stock, especially horses. A fine, well-matched team was his
ideal, and he usually had them ready for delivei-y, and sale. Isaac
Kukn, who was selling clothing down on Second Street, used to
say: ''If you want to buy a good horse, go iip to Jay Saviors
farm. He can give you the pedigree of it so close as to give the
number of white hairs in its forehead and on its hoofs."
In 185-1, Jehu built a store and stocked it with dry goods and
groceries basiled by teams from Keokuk, and joined the boosters of
the settlement, which was assuming some consequence. Manifest
Destiny was in the air. The removal of the Capital from Iowa City
was stirring the public mind. The activities of the Saylors, who
gave notice that they had provided a site for the Capitol — a beau-
tiful spot, etc., and so forth — disturbed the staid and stately old-
timers at The Forks considerably, and caused hurried conferences
with Judge Casady, the State Senator from this district, with a
warning to keep his eye on the Saylors.
In 1861, when the Civil War came on, Jehu, conscious of his
physical weakness, yet desiring to do what he could to aid the Gov-
ernment, traversed the country to raise recriiits for the Tenth Iowa
Infantry, but after four weeks' exposure and toil, broke down, and
was confined to his house for four months.
In 1864, under a call for more troops, it was found that some
of the townships in Polk County were short of their quota, and
that a draft would be necessary to fill it. Immediately, there was
a hegira of able-bodied men to other states. Government ofiicers
were sent here to corral the delinquents. Jehu was caught in their
net as a reserve for a fellow who had skedaddled. He promptly
presented himslf at the oflice of the Government Enrolling Board,
in the building adjoining the Register and Leader ofiice, to wait
further orders. The army surgeons, however, rejected him for
physical disability, and he went back to his farm.
In 1870, he sold out and sought a location more congenial to
his health, in Kansas, but the drouths and grasshoijpers were too
JEHU P. SAYLOK 371
much for him. In 1873, he returned and bought the Carpenter
fami, one mile south of the Army Post, where he lived until 1882,
when he was laid to rest in Woodland Cemetery.
Politically, he was a Republican, but not a politician. He had
no taste for politics, nor desire for public ofSce. He used to say :
"You cannot get an office, from Road Supervisor to President of
the United States, without having your pedigi'ee published all over
the country," yet so actively and zealously interested was he in the
school and church he was several times unanimously elected School
Director.
Characteristic traits of him were public spirit, integrity and
honesty. His word was as good as his promissory note.
Socially, he was of nervous, sanguine temperament, so acute it
ovei-worked the physical supply of force to keep the machine run-
ning. He was benevolent, genial, social, and companionable; ever
ready to aid in all good works. He was a special favorite with
young people. Nothing gave him more pleasure than, with his
smart teams, carry them to church on Sunday, to singing and
spelling-schools in the neighboring districts, and, in bad weather, to
gather up the little tots and carry them to the day school. His
home life was an ideal one. To promote the weal of his family and
neighbors was his paramount object.
Religiously, he was an active and exemplary member of the
Methodist Church.
July Twenty-eighth, 1907.
A. S. KINGMAN
A. S. KINGMAN
IT is a pleasure to historize a pioneer of Polk County who so
impressed his personality on the body politic and left a name so
imperishably stamped upon it as Albert Smith Kingman, the
founder of one of the beauty spots of the city — "Kingman Place."
He was born in Riga, Monroe County, New York, October Elev-
enth, 1827, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who emigrated to America in
1500, and settled in J^ew York.
His jjarents were bom in Hampshire County, Massachusetts.
His mother, whose maiden name was Sophia Smith, was one of
the family from whom the historic ''Smith Ferry" was named.
Albert's father was a farmer and a man of considerable promi-
nence. He was a member of the Legislature of New York one
term, declining a second term because of impaii'ed health.
Albert passed his boyhood days on a farm, doing whate^■er he
could, his principal stunt being to ])iek u\> stones and pile them up
in fence rows to get them onr (if the way, which, in some of the old,
rock-bound states was a continuous performance, for so srM)n as a
field was cleared it was again covered. For variety, his father
would send him to the woods to cut timlier. One day, he found
Albert's dinner pail hanging on a ]ieg in the bam, empty. When
he came back at night, his father said to him : "You had no dinner
to-day." "Oh, yes, I did ; I ate it l>efore T started, to save carrying
the pail," was the rejoinder.
When fifteen years old, he went to iivr- with his grandparents,
in Massachusetts, where he worked for his board and attended the
common school, supplementing his studies with diligent reading
and close observation of things in general. Later, he attendetl
Williston Academy for Boys, where an ambition seized him to
gf) to college. He tramj^ed over the country, selling maps and
charts, to earn money to pay his expenses while preparing to enter
Amherst College.
373
374 PIONEEKS OF POLK COU^fTY, IOWA
When he became twenty, he said to his father one day: "Your
father gave you your time long before you were twenty-one; can
I have mine?" "Young man, any time you think you can do bet-
ter away from home, you may go," was the response. He packed
his belongings iu a little satchel, and, with what money he had — his
father gave him none — set his face toward Amherst. A younger
cousin joined him, and together they did janitor work or whatever
they could get, to earn means to defray their frugal expenses. They
prepared their own meals, and often said they managed so as to
have crackers and cheese, if nothing else.
When Albert had reached his majority, the whole country was
stirred with the gold discoveries in California, and he bad a strong
desire to join the vast caravan headed that way, and see more of
the country, but the cost was beyond his means. He had two uncles
who were practicing law in Kentucky, and there he decided to go.
He worked his way to the Mississippi River, where he got a job
on a river boat and worked his passage to Hickman, Kentucky. A
brief stay there convinced him that the South was not the place for
him. Noticing his unsettled state of mind, his uncle said to him
one day:
"Young mau, you are just starting out in life. Let me give you
some advice — the advice of L. A. Bruyert, an eminent Fi'ench
lawyer. If you want to succeed, avoid law suits beyond all things ;
they influence your conscience, impair your health, and dissipate
your property."
Albert thought there was gooil in it, and he made it the rale of
his life.
Unsatisfied with the South, he decided to come West. Arriving
at xVdrian, Michigan, he foiand, when searching for work, two
schoolmates of boyhood days, and they made a compact to go to
California and get rich. They started on foot. The second day
out, one of them said to Albert : "Suppose you are taken sick ; you
have no money. I have some, and I would have to pay your
expenses ; T will go no farther." He turned backward, and his
chum joined him. Albert, imdaimted by this showing of the white
feather, went on, working a few days in different places to earn
some money, until he reached Chicago. After a short respite thei'e.
A. S. KINGMAN" 375
he again started westward, and walked to Fort Des Moines, arriv-
ing April First, 1850, with only fifty cents in his pocket. His
gold fever had somewhat subsided, his purse was empty, his shoes
worn out, his clothing dilapidated, and he decided to stop awhile
and earn more money. His first job was with "Billy" Hughes, out
on Four Mile Creek, at thirteen dollars a month and board. The
board was far removed from the doughnut-and-pie variety of his
l)oyhood days, for in those days there was very little to be had in
Polk County but bacon, corn meal and dried apples. To add vari-
eiy to the menu, one day, coming to The Fort for mail, he pur-
chased a bottle of molasses, stuck it in his pocket, and when at the
Table would use a little of it, pass it to the next fellow, and then
pocket it.
His next job was attending the ferry, just north of where Locust
Street bridge is — there were no bridges. The rush of emigi-ation
was prodigious, the ferry often being so overcrowded that only the
\ehicles and people could be taken over, the cattle and horses hav-
ing to swim. One day, the boat was so crowded he was knocked
overboard. Pie could not swim, and came near d^o^^■^ling, but he
grabbed the tail of an ox, which pulled him ashore.
He stuck to the ferry job until he had earned enough to pur-
chase a small tract on the East Side— land was cheap then- — and
liuy a yoke of oxen. He then hired with Eli. Mosier to break
prairie, which business he followed until August, 1851, when ho
sold his East Side tract, and, with the money earned by prairie
breaking, purchased from W. W. Williamson the tract now known
as "King-man Place," lying between Universit-y Avenue and Center
and Twenty-eighth and Thirtieth streets, consisting of nearly one
hundred acres, for which he paid four hundred dollars. He at
once began clearing his land and preparing it for cultivation. When
in suitable condition, he planted a nursery and fruit orchard, and
for many years did an extensive and lucrative business in the nurs-
ery line. It was not long, however, before the westwai"d progress
of the tovni began to encroach upon his farm, and in 1887, he sold
to Frank Shennan, who knew a good thing when he saw it, forty
acres for forty thousand dollars. The same year, he donated a strij)
eighty feet wide through his entire farm, which is now Kingman
376 PIOXEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Boulevard, soon to be extended U> Waveland Park, making one of
the most splendid driving places in the city.
Sherman's purchase was platted into residence lots, streets and
alleys, and thus was begun one of the beauty spots of the towTi.
Mr. Kingman selected two acres, now lying along Cottage
Grove Avenue, and west of Twenty-eighth Street, for a home place,
on which he had, soon after his purchase of the fann, erected a log
house. In July, 1854, he wedded a niece of Eli. Mosier, and began
housekeeping in the log house, with very little to satisfy an ambi-
tious housekeeper. He made a table of plain boards on which they
ate their frugal meals, two chairs given them by Mr. Mosier. a few
dishes, a stove, and corn-shuck bed constituted the equipment.
Later, the log house was supplanted by a fine residence, where he
l>assed the remainder of his days, until his decease, in March,
1905.
It was not uncommon for him to shoot deer from the door of his
log house, his gun always hanging on the wall ready for emer-
gencies.
He was a diligent reader of good books. He loved nature, the
waving fields, trees, flowers, birds, and music. The show and glit-
ter of town life had little attraction for him, but the beauties of
Art and Jfature touched him deeply. Early, he set apart fifty acres
remaining after the Sherman purcha.se to be kept for his children.
He planted thereon the most beautiful trees he could find, the hard,
or Pock Majjle (Acer saccliarinum) , being his special favorite.
Happily, he lived to enjoy the fruition of his labor, in the produc-
tion of one of the most attractive residence tracts in the city, and
it is charted on the map of the city as Kingman Boule^-anl Addi-
tion. On his decease, it was divided among his children.
Politically, he was a Republican, but he was not made up for a
jxilitician by taste nor adaptation.
Socially, he was of pleasing personality, thoroughly domestic in
taste and habit. Love of home, family and friends were his chief
incentives of action. His children were his confidants, and it was
his dominant thought to make them feel that home was the best
place on earth. He was genial, benevolent, and sympathetic. An
incident characteristic of his sympathy, especially for the needy.
A. s. e:ingma:n' 377
was manifested when he was working for Mr. Mosier, in the Win-
ter of 1852. Mrs. Jane Swan, a widow, and daughter, Lucy, lived
at an isolated place, at what is now the comer of Thirty-fifth and
University Avenue. The weather was severe, and he discovered
that they had great difficulty in getting fuel, and needed other
assistance. He suggested to the mother that he make his home
with them, and render them such help as he could. The following
AVinter, he was prostrated for many weeks with a severe attack of
Tj-phoid Fever, during which he was carefully and tenderly nursed
to convalescence by the mother and daughter. With them, he
remained until his marriage. Later, the mother left town. Lucy
married O. R. Jones, and went to Texas. In March, 1SS5, she
returned, a widow, far advanced in years, without visible means of
support. Kingman at once took her to his home, and during the
Summer, built a small, comfortable house for her on his farm,
where she lived care-free until the Spring of 1901, when she acci-
dentally had an arm broken. He then secured a place for her in
the Home for the Aged.
He was a liberal supporter of the church and school, and nearly
continuously a Director, Trustee, or Treasurer of a School Board.
He was not a memlier of any clubs or fraternal organizations.
Religiously, he had been trained by his parents in the faith of
the so-called Orthodox Congregational Church, with which he uni-
ted when young, but after coming West, did not place his member-
ship with any church, for in his latter days he believed that true
I'eligion depends on facts; not on theory, bvit on acts. He was a
Christian man, of most exemplary character, and a true type of the
pioneers who lived and labored for the good of their posterity.
June Twenty-ninth, 1900, he divided among his twelve children
five hundred and sixty-two acres of land, all in Polk County, and
not a part of Kingman Place, reser^'ing amply sufficient for him-
self and his mother, and, with contentment, waited the coming of
the night which has no to-morrow.
August Fourth, 1907.
GEORGE A. JEWETT
GEORGE A. JEWETT
AN old settler who has had part in the development of Polk
County and Des Moines in a quiet, yet none the less poten-
tial way, is George A. Jewett, a Hawkeye by birth.
Bom in Red Rock, Marion County, September ISTinth, 1847,
of mixed ancestry (to be precise, three-eighths English, one-fourth
Scotch, one-eighth Welsh, one-eighth French, one-eighth Hollander)
— be passed his first ten years on a farm, and attended the common
school. A favorite camping-place of the Indians was near Red
Rock, and George made himself chummy with the Indian boys.
While they could beat him shooting with bows and arrows, and
riding ponies bareback, he could beat them at marbles, but they
soon taught him to become a very good arrow-shooter, and he does
not believe he ever had more real enjoyment than he had with those
children of the forest. Referring to the sources of amusement in
his youth, a few days ago, he said his Uncle, Simpson Matthews,
had a team of buffaloes %vith which he used to haul heavy loads
from Keokuk.
Following the failure of the river improvement scheme, came
The project, in 1857, for a railroad from Keokuk to Fort Des
Moines, with its hopes and expectations intensified by the money
panic and procrastination in building it. Great was the discom-
fiture of the Red Rockers when the road went to Pell a, and left
them out in the cold, it being so contrary to all custom.
In 1857, when George was ten years old, his mother removed
to Pella, so that he and a brother could attend the University there.
He entered the Primary Department, and later took a regular
course. Dean A. N. Currier, who, for forty years, was one of the
professors in the State University, was one of his teachers.
In 1861, when the Rebel shot fell on Fort Sumter, nearly the
entire school enlisted in the army. Dean Currier going with his
boys. George offered himself, but was rejected because he was
379
380 PIONEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
four years short of the age limit. His brother went through the
war, and at the close mysteriously disappeared, and was never
heard of afterward.
On his rejection from the army, George left the school and went
to work on a farm, where he remained imtil 1865, when he went
to a commercial college in Chicago for a six months' course in book-
keeping, and in August of that year came to Des Moines, walking
from Pella, as Colonel Ilooker charged ten cents a mile to ride in
his coaches, George's purse being short on dimes. Arriving at the
Top of Capitol Hill, he looked westward over the landscape, as did
Harrison Lyon, in 1852, and was so well pleased, he decided to
make it his future home. He crossed Court Avenue bridge, paid
an entrance to the West Side of one cent toll, and became a denizen.
His first movment was for a job as bookkeeper. After search-
ing the town over for several days, and finding none, he footed it
to Boonesville, where his uncle, Joseph M. Thrift, father of Adju-
tant General Thrift, resided. After carefully quizzing him a few
days, his uncle advised him to go back to Des !Moines and stick,
and he walked back again. A few days later, he sauntered into the
store of I. & .T. Kuhn, when a man named Wolfe, an entire stran-
ger, asked him if he wanted a job. George informed him that was
just what he was very much in need of. As was the custom of the
pioneers, to help one another, Wolfe gave him a letter of commend-
ation to Brown, Beattie & Spofford, agricultural implement deal-
ers at First and Court Avenue. He got the job at twenty dollars a
month and board, and remained with the house eight years, the
business having finally passed to William Dickerson, whose daugh-
ter, Jennie, became famous a.s an opera singer.
In April, 1872, he assisted Coryden E. Fuller, John A. Elliott.
James Callanan, Samuel Merrill, John W. TJlm, James B. Heart-
well, John M. Coggeshall, John M. Owens, M. T. Eussell, C. C.
Carpenter, Brown & Dudley, I. K". Thomas, and J. G. Weeks in
organizing the Iowa Loan and Trust Company, with a limited
capital of one million dollars, to make loans on real estate securi-
ties, with which he remained until he went into the lumber busi-
ness. The company is still doing an extensive business, having, as
shown by its last official report, deposits amoimting to two million.
GEORGE A. JEWETT 381
five hundred and fifty thousand, seven hundred and ninety-one dol-
lars and forty-eight cents.
In 1873, George, as everybody called him, abandoned threshing
machines, plows, and harrovFS, and became bookkeeper for H. F.
Getchell & Sons, lumber dealers, at Eighth and Vine, where he
served until 1879, when he formed a partnership with D. E. Ewing
and Ed. S. Chandler, in the lumber business, at Sixth and Cheri-y,
until 1881, when the Wabash Railroad Company wanted a station,
and got possession of the lumber yard site under condemnation pro-
ceedings. The lumber company then purchased the block at ^inth
and Grand, which, two years prior, had been offered the city for
a park for ten thousand dollars, but the lumber company had to
pay twenty thousand dollars for it. In 1906, George purchased all
the interest of the Ewing Estate, Ewiug having died, and organ-
ized the Jewett Lumber Company.
His life work thus far had been of a clerical or mercantile
nature, but his dominant thought had always been toward mechan-
ical industries. He wantefl to do things, to see the wheels go
round. In 1871, he organized the Des Moines Scale Company,
with F. E. West, President ; S. F. Spofford, Vice-President ; Wes-
ley Redhead, Treasurer, and himself Secretary. Its business was
the manufacture of hay and stock scales, and did a good business,
and, though it has passed through several changes, it is still ia
operation.
In 1888, he became interested in an inveution for the applica-
tion of a new principle in the construction of a typewriting
machine, known as the "Duplex." He organized a company to
manufacture it, and was made President. It was soon discovered
that the keyboard of the "Duplex" was so unlike that of other
machines with which users had become accustomed, the company
devised another machine, and named it the "Jewett." It was well
received, and took the highest award at the World's Fair in Chi-
cago, and the first gold medal at the Paris Exposition, in 1900.
During the past fifteen years, George has traveled over Europe in
the interest of his machine, until there is not a civilized country
on the face of the globe in which it is not in use, thus carrying the
name of Des Moines to all parts of the world. As there is but one
382 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Des Moines, there can be no question as to identification. The com-
pany has paid to labor in Des Moines over one million, five hun-
dred thousand dollars.
Unfortunatelv, some time ago. Eastern capitalists, deeming it a
good thing, began purchasing a controlling interest in the stock of
the company, so as to remove the plant to their territory. For sev-
eral years, George has been resisting their scheme, which has neces-
sitated some litigation in the courts and retarded the growth of the
company, but it is his aim yet to build a large factory in Des
Moines.
Politically, he is a Republican. Before the War of the Rebel-
lion, he was an Abolitionist, and as a driver, he once made two
trips from the "station," at Nine-Mile House, between Pella and
Oskaloosa, to a point near Monroe, on the "Underground Rail-
road," with runaway slaves going to Canada.
He never held any public ofiice, except in 1866, Frank Palmer
had him appointed a representative of the Smithsonian Institution,
which then had charge of the weather service. Instruments were
sent to him, and thi'ee times a day he took the state of the weather,
which was printed every morning in the Daily Register, and evei-y
week he made his report to Washington. He was the pioneer of
the Weather Bureau Service in Des Moines.
Socially, he is genial, courteous and of generous temperament.
He has always been actively identified with the church and school
life of the community. In 1878, he was one of the organizers of
the Young Men's Christian Association, and was its first Secre-
tary. Its meetings were held in the City Council chamber, in
Sherman Block, at Third and Court Avenue.
He was an active participant in the founding of Drake Univer-
sity, in 1881, was elected one of the Trustees, and soon after Sec-
retary of the Boai'd, and holds both places yet. He has been a
vigorous worker with General Drake, Carpenter, and Bell in the
upbuilding of the institution.
He is a member of the Grant and Commercial clubs, but not of
any fraternal organizations.
Religiously, he is a member of the Centi-al Church of Christ.
In 1866, he was elected Church Clerk; in 1881, Church Treasurer,
GEOEGE A. JEWETT 383
and has held both offices since those dates. In 1868, he was chosen
Deacon, and in 1887 an Elder.
In 1887, he started a Mission Sunday School on the East Side,
which culminated in the erection of a chapel at Twelfth and Des
Moines streets. The same year, he, with the Reverend Doctor
Breeden, founded the Christian Workei; a monthly paper devoted
to the interests of the Christian churches of the city. Upon the
departure of Doctor Breeden from the city, the Reverend Finis
Idleman, his pastoral successor, has assumed the editorial chair of
the paper.
September Fifteenth, 1907.
SOLOMON BALES
SOLOMON BALES
A MARKED characteristic of the pioneers was conservatism,
industry, frugality, integrity, and helpfulness. They came
hither to make and build homes. A religious element also
largely permeated the different settlements, which induced early
movement to establish the church and school. A tyjDical represent-
ative of this element was Solomon Bales. He was bom in Guilford
Coimty, North Carolina, February Twenty-eighth, 1807. His
father, Uilman Bales, whose sister married Aaron Burr, was a
Virginian, of Welsh and English descent. He was a soldier in
the War of 1812, and so noted as a sharpshooter as to gain the
soubriquet of "Sure Shot Dill." Solomon's mother was of Scotch-
Irish parentage.
While the father was away in the ai-my, Solomon, then five
years old, with his mother, in the blockhouse, could hear the roar-
ing of the cajmon. He often told his children how his mother
wept, and exclaimed: "O, that wicked war!" she being a Quaker-
ess. Solomon amused himself carrying water for the wives of the
oflScers, and in that way earned his first shilling.
Soon after the close of the wai-, Solomon and his mother, in a
small wagon, his father walking with gun in hand, crossed the
Cumberland Mountains to Kentucky, where they remained for a
short time, and then removed to Tippecanoe County, Indiana.
There the father located a large tract of land, and Solomon passed
his boyhood days in helping to improve it. On reaching his major-
ity, he engaged in farming and raising, buying and selling live-
stock. He was very successful, and accumulated considerable
wealth. He built the fii-st large brick house west of La Fayette, in
1834, also two lai'ge barns, and had one of the finest homes in the
cotmty.
In 1838-1839, he became surety on bonds for some of his busi-
ness friends, who failed to meet their obligations, and he was
Vol. II— (25). 385
386 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
obliged to make good their failure, which took nearly all hi^ prop-
erty, with nothing to show for it.
He came to Polk County in February, 1846, and purchased a
claim for several hundred acres of land in what was known as the
Saylor Settlement. The county had not then been surveyed, and
there was no title to land except that of a claim-holder, which was
held inviolable by the squatters and early settlers. A person who
had preempted a claim in good faith, could sell his interest and
claim rights therein for what he could get. Solomon's claim lay
along the east side of Des Moines River, west of Saylor Grove. It
was densely covered with timber, consisting of Walnut, Hickory,
Black Cherry, Wild Locust, Cottonwood, Linn, and several kinds
of Oak. There were about two hundred Rock Maple trees, from
which many barrels of sugar and syrup were made.
The first work done after his arrival was to cut away trees, dig
out the stumps and brush, roll up the logs and brush, and burn
them over a space sufficient to put a cabin, surroimded with a yard
and garden, near an ever-flowing spring of sparkling water, saving
enough Linn and Cottonwood trees from which to cut the clap-
boards and puncheon floor for the unhewed log cabin, 10x12 feet,
with two six-light windows, and one door. The garden was early
planted for Summer vegetables.
After getting his oldest daughter, Susannah, and her husband,
Eli. Keeler, comfortably settled in that cozy cottage, he returned
to Indiana, and, gathering together what was left of his once valu-
able holdings, in September, with a family of fourteen, started for
his new Western home. The incidents of the journey are related
under the title, "The Saviors,'' Volume II, page Two Hundred and
Fifty-five.
Soon after his aiTival, Solomon built a large, comfortable cabin
and made extensive improvement. He also built the first saw mill
in the county, on Des Moines River, and furnished lumber for
many of the first frame buildings at The Fort.
One day, he came to the shop of Conrad D. Reinkiug, the first
cabinet maker in Des Moines, and said to him : "If thee will make
a table and cupboard from Cherry lumber for my daughter, I will
give thee what boards thee wants for thy work." The work was
done, and the gift was duly appreciated by the daughter.
solomo:jt bales 387
Solomon had been strictly taught the religion of the (Quakers,
and during his early life attended regularly meetings of the con-
gregation on First Day, and often the Fourth Day of each week.
He was all his life a devoted Christian man. There being but few
Quakers in his vicinity, and no organized Society of Friends, he
took great interest in promoting churches and schools of all denom-
inations. His generous, kindly nature embraced all human kind.
His isolation from jieople of his faith was a sore grievance to him,
and he frequently went to Oskaloosa to attend the Yearly Meeting
of the church.
In 1869, he decided to dispose of his holding and go to Kansas,
where land was cheajier, and settle his younger children. After
locating and helping to improve three farms there, in 1886, he
purchased a fine home in Lawrence, and there passed the remain-
der of his days in ease, comfort and enjoyment of the privileges of
his church, until 1887, when he was laid to rest in the Friends'
(Jemetery.
Politically, he was a Henry Clay Whig until the Republican
party was organized, when he joined that, but he took little part in
partisan politics, and never held a public office.
Socially, he was of genial, generous, kindly temperament. He
was a Friend in all that term implies, and for which he paid a
costly price, in one instance, over forty thousand dollars.
June Second, 1907.
WILLIAM LOWRY
WILLIAM LOWRY
APIOXEER who tasted the Cup of Misfortune and j^assed
through the Valley of Trouble was the well-lmowu William
Lowry.
He was bom in the county of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Febru-
ary Fourteenth, 1835, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grandfather
came to xVmerica from Ireland in 1798, and settled in Lancaster.
Later, four brothers came and settled in different parts of the coun-
try, but he never saw them after they reached America.
William passed his boyhood days with his father, who was a
hatter, and acquired such education as he coidd in the public school
of that day, which was supplemented with a course in Franklin
College.
In 1851, when sixteen years old, he was apprenticed for four
years to learn the trade of carpenter. At the close of his appren-
ticeship, he worked one year as a journeyman.
In 1855, he came to Iowa, reaching Davenport July Seventh,
registered at the Ohio House, kept by the Howell Brothers, and on
Xinth Street secured his first job. There and in Moline he worked
at his trade until October, 1856, when, hearing that the new Cap-
ital of the state was a good place for a young man with aspirations,
he packed his cai-jjet-bag, mounted one of Colonel Hooker's stage
coaches, at three o'clock on the morning of the Ninth, deposited his
luggage at the Everett House, kept by the jolly .Vbsaloni Morris,
who, he says, furnished good meals, filled the dinner pails, and
made everybody feel as though he had known them all their days,
then went to bed. The house was crowded with travelers and land-
seekers.
The next morning, after one of Absalom's satisfying breakfasts,
he sailed out for business and to make observations. There was not
much to attract a new-comer. There was but one bridge, a pon-
toon, floating, at Keokuk Street (now Crnnd Avenue), operated
389
390 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
by Father McClelland, as he was called. On the East Side, the
only building was a frame about twenty feet square, on the south-
east corner of Ninth and Keokuk, used for religious and school
purjioses. Reverend William Remsburg, a saintly old man, did
the preaching, and his wife did the school teaching therein. Many
of our prominent men received their early tutelage in that school,
among them Congressman J. A. T. Hull.
The State House was then in process of construction on East
Walnut. That was Lowry's first objective point. He took the
narrow plank walk laid on stilts above high-water mark, through
grubs, thereto. The walls of the building were up ready for the
rafters and roof. He interviewed John Bryan, the contractor, and
John P. Huskins, his foreman, secured a job, and on the Eleventh
of that month went to work, and so continued until the building
was completed and ready for the Legislature, in January. 1S5S.
The Pine lumber used was hauled by teams from Davcnjiort, and
cost one hundred dollai's per thousand feet, delivered to the build-
ers. About twenty caqwutei-s were employed, all good fellows,
who got the roof on and floors laid ready for the plasterers in the
Spring of ISoT. On the Fourth of July, "the boys" decided to
celebrate, but there was not a flag in the town. Lowry purchased
material, and hired John Morris, a one-legged tailor, or "Peglog
Morris," as he was usually called, to sew it together. A tall Hick-
ory pole was cut on the Capitol grounds, and on the morning of the
Fourth, Lo-m-y flung to the breeze the first flag to float from the
Capitol in Des ]\foine-s. A ])latform was erected on the site of the
present Capitol, and orations were made by "Dan" Finch, W. H.
McHenry ("Old Bill"), Colonel "Tom" Walker (a "Kentucky
Colonel"), J. A. Williamson, and others. A fat ox was roasted,
garnished with the nwessary fixings, and a grand mation in gen-
uine pioneer style was had.
When the building was ready for the seating, desks and furni-
ture, a verbal agreement was made between Governor Grimes, other
state officers, and Bryan, whereby the latter was to make the neces-
sary furniture. He fulfilled the agreement under many diffieul-
ties. The coimtry was new, seasoned Black Walnut lumber was
high in price, the roads were bad, and expenses for hauling exorbi-
tant. His bill was presented to the General Assembly, where it
WILLIAM LOWRT 391
was declared extortionate, but, after a long delay, and emasculating
it of fourteen hundred dollars, it was allowed, but never accepted
by him during his life. Since his decease, his heirs have made
repeated application for a settlement of the claim. Referring to
the incident a few days ago, Mr. Lowry said: "The bill was a
just one. Bryan had great difficulty in procuring material, and
expended all his surplus money to get the building ready for the
Legislature on time. It is a just claim, and the State of Iowa
owes it to Bryan's estate."
January Fourteenth, 1884, the new Capitol having been com-
pleted sf) as to accommodate the General Assembly, at two fourteen
V. ,\i., the members of the Senate and House of Representatives
formed in line, marched to the new building, and the old one was
abandoned to rats, bats, the elements, and ruin, until September
First, 1892, when it went up in a cloud of fire, supposedly started
by tramps and hoodlums, who had made it a common resort.
In .January, 1858, a branch Postoffice was established in East
Demoine, as the East Side was then called, with Doctor Alex.
Shaw as Postmaster. Lowi-y was appointed Deputy, and served
until the following March, when, hearing- of what he considered
was a better thing, resigned, and recommended George Tichenor
as his successor, who was apijointed. Hyde & Huskins, who had
been contractors for the State House, had made a contract to build
a Court, House at Webster City, in Hamilton Coimty, and wanted
Lowry to go with them, all to be on the groimd at a fixed date.
Accordingly, Hyde and Lowry left Des Moines early the morning
of March Fifteenth, on horseback. The weather was clear and
cold, and all went well until about ten o' chick, when a blizzard came
ujTOn them. The wind increased, the snow fell heavily and drifted.
It soon became impossible to see fifty yards, and they were lost —
did not know what direction they were going. The horses floun-
dered through the snow di'ifts, the storm continuing until far into
the night. During the day, they saw no living thing. They kept
the horses moving, however, and during a lull in the wind, a dim
light was seen in the distance, for which they steered. Reaching
a cabin, they found it occupied by a Norwegian alone, and learned
they were near Squaw Creek, in Story County. They had eaten
392 PIOXEEKS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
nothing since early morning, and were nearly frozen. The ?for-
vvegian put their horses in his shack stable, gave them a good feed-
ing, made a good fire in the cabin, and cooked them a hot meal,
consisting of coni bread and Pennyroyal tea, which Lowry says
was the best meal he ever ate. A bed of hay was made on the
ground floor, and after a refreshing rest and sleep, they resumed
their journey through the drifted snow, reaching Webster City lat«
at night. They remained there eighteen months, making earnest
effort to complete the Court House. Through some irregularity in
the issuance of the bonds, their time and money were lost. They
were "dead broke," and returned to Des Moines.
Pike's Peak was then the objective point of gold-seekers. Lowry,
John and Joe Hu skins fited up a two-horse team, with the neces-
sary outfit, and IMay i^ineteenth, 1860, startetl for the Peak,
reaching Denver five weeks later, in which was but one brick build-
ing, the United States Mint. There they changed their plans, and
went to California Gulch, one hundred and fifty miles distant,
where they worked until October First, and, having panned out
but little gold dust, sold out for what they could get, and returned
to Des Moines, long on experience, but short on cash. Physically,
however, they had gained in adipose tissue, avoirdupois, and
appetite.
Lowry then resumed his trade until the Spring of 1861, when
he became a clerk in the grocery store of J. M. Moody, where he
remained eleven years.
In 1865, he was elected Secretary of East Demoino School Dis-
trict Board. By considerable good financiering, what is now Bry-
ant school building was erected at Penn and Keokuk avenues. It
was the boast of the time that it was suificient for the next genera-
tion, but soon after another building was neeessaiy. Four lots were
purchased at Twelfth and Lyon, and what is now the W^ebster
building was erected. In 1870, he declined further election as
Secretary.
In 1871, he was elected City Treasurer, aud was twice reelected.
During the last quarter of his third term, in l^ovember, 1875, he
was elected County Treasurer, and December First, resigned the
city office to qualify as County Treasurer. So satisfactorily did he
WILLIAM LOWEY 393
fill the office, and so implicit was the tinist and confidence of the
people in his integrity, he was reelected and sei-ved a second term.
Enos B. Hunt was his Deputy. They were often overworked, and
had to burn midnight oil in that pestiferous old rookery to keep
their records clear, for they did not have a corps of clerks to aid
them.
Lowry being a veiy cautious man, and the Court House having
no vaults nor place he deemed suitable or safe in which to keep the
large amount of money frequently received, placed it in the bank
of F. R. West & Son for safe keeping. During his second term,
July Seventeenth, 1877, the bank was crushed, through the failure
of B. F. Allen, and the doors were closed against him, with seven
thousand, one hundred and seventy-seven dollars and ninety-three
cents of county funds therein. The failure was a terrible blow to
him, as it was to thousands of others, and created intense excite-
ment in the community. In a reminiscent mood one day, not long
ago, he said: "On my way home that night, my thoughts were of
the sorrow it would be to my wife and children, and of the parting
words of my father when I left home to come West. I never have,
and never shall, forget them. Said he : 'William, keep your integ-
rity and you will always have true friends in time of need.' There
was no sleep in our house that night. My wife and I sat under the
trees and counseled of the loss, and the effect it would have upon
the children and ourselves. Our conclusion was to surrender all
we had, begin anew, and we did so." Their property was turned
over to the assignee of the bank, for the benefit of the county. Sub-
sequently, an effort was made in the courts to exempt from the
attachment of the property of the bank the county funds, on the
ground that they were placed in the bank only for safety accommo-
dation, the county not having any proper place therefor, but the
courts hold that money when placed in a bank became the property
of the bank, subject to all laws relating thereto; that the county
was presumed to provide a suitable place to keep its funds ; that if
the County Treasurer placed them elsewhere or in a bank, he did it
at his own risk.
The numerous friends of Lowry then rallied to his aid. A peti-
tion was presented to the Twentieth General Assembly for his
394 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
relief. The matter was referred to a special committee, who, after
a thorough investigation, reported that Lowry had made good to
the county by the payment in full of the amoimt he had deposited
in the bank ; that it was an entire loss to him except a dividend
received from the assignee of the bank of six hundred and forty-one
dollars and ninety-one cents, leaving a loss of six. thousand, five
hundred and thirty-two dollars and two cents. The General Assem-
bly then passed a bill authorizing the Board of Supervisors of Polk
County to submit to the voters of the county a proposition to refund
his loss. The proposition was submitted at the election in Novem-
ber, 1884, and carried by over four thousand majority.
Soon after the expiration of his term, in 1879, Lowry opened a
small grocers' store, and remained in that business until October,
1886, when he was elected Superintendent of Union Park, which
place he now holds, with eminent satisfaction to the thousands of
visitors to that favorite resort.
Politically, he is a Democrat, but in local affairs he always
votes for the man he deems best qualified for the office. He cast
his first vote in Des Moines for James Buchanan for President. At
that election, there was but one voting place in the town, the old
Court House, which stood where the Union Depot now is. The
total vote of the town at that election was eight hundred and nine.
Socially, he is quiet, imassuming, genial, courteous in manner,
and deservedly popular. Domestic in taste and habit, he finds in
his home more satisfaction than in the usual society events. He is
one of the oldest members of Capital Lodge, of the Order of Odd
Fellows, and Capital Lodge, of the Masonic order, and was the
second Master Mason passed in that lodge. He is also a member
of Lodge Numlier Ten, Ancient Order of L^nited Workmen.
Religiously, he was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian
Church, but in 1884, he united with the Roman Catholic Church,
of which his estimable wife had been a member from girlhood to
her death, Augrist Ninth, 190.5.
November Third, 1907.
JOSEPH B. STEWART
J. B. STEWAR r
CALLING the roll of pioneers of Polk County, none would
receive greater meed of praise and esteem than Joseph Buf-
ton Stewart, who, for nearly half a century, was a prominent
personage in the civic and social life of the community.
Born August Twelfth, 1821, near Saint Charles, Missouri, he
])assed the days of his boyhood with his parents, subject to the
somewhat predatory life of his father, who was a surgeon in the
Fnited States Army, where he served many years. In 1805, when
the United States acquired the Territory of Missouri, he was
located at Saint Louis. He served in the War of 1812, and in
]S14, while on his way to Prairie du Chien, was wounded by the
Indians at Kock Island. He deceased in 1834.
In 1835, when fourteen years old, Joseph removed with his
mother to Fort Madison, then in the county of Demoine, and being
:i part of Michigan Tei-ritory. The following year, the county of
l.ee was carve<l out of Demoine ('ounty, and what is now the State
of Jowa was made a part, of Wisconsin Territory. In 1838, the
Territory of Imva was carved out of Wisconsin, so that Joseph had
the distinction of having lived in three territories and two counties
without having changed his residence. When he went to Fort Mad-
ison it was in what was known as the Black Hawk Purchase, and
contained more Indians than white jieople.
During his early manhood, Stewart engaged in pioneer farming,
until 1840, when he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1851, he
was running a warehouse on Des Moines River at Croton, when
the State Boai'd of Public Works was improving the river by a
system of locks and dams, and who succeeded, after a miserable
failure, in getting the most vigorous damning ever vouchsafed by
an outraged people to public officials.
At Croton was one of the dams. The steamboat Add. Tline.
Iwuiul u]) for Fort Des Moines with a cargo consigned to B. F.
395
396 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Allen and Jonathan Lyon, who were running a general merchan-
dise store on Second Street., arrived at the dam. The river was so
lo\v it eoiild not get over the dam, and it was necessary to unload
and put the cargo in storage imtil another rise in the river, for
there were no railroads, a delay which involved much discomfort
and want to the people at The Fort, Part, of the freight was a
large lot of wooden shoes consigned to the Hollander town of Pella,
which was stored in a blacksmith shop. The next Spring, came
the biggest flood ever known on the river. The shop and wooden
shoes floated oif to the Mississippi.
In 1853, Stewart was induced by friends and relatives of T. A.
Walker, Receiver of the United States Land Ofiice. to come to Fort
Des Moines, as Chief Clerk in the Land Office. In May, 1854, on
the resignation of R. L. Tidrick as Register of the oiBce, Walker
was appointed as his successor, and Judge P. M. Casady was
appointed Receiver. Stewart was defacfo Chief Clerk of Walker,
but so implicit was Gasady's trust in him, he made it a rule of the
office that Stewart should receive and handle all the money which
came into the office, whereas Walker was an active politician, and
sometimes, on convivial occasions, "lost his bearings." All money
received was gold and silver. The rush of land-seekers was so great
that the daily receipts were often twenty-five thousand dollars, for
which Casady was personally responsible, under heavy bonds, with
no safes nor safety vaults as are made now, the office being in
Exchange Block, at Third and Walnut. It was the custom, when
the receipts reached twenty-five thousand dollai's, to send it by spe-
cial messenger and guards to the sub-treasury at Saint Louis, a
trip fraught with weariness and danger, but not a dollar was ever
lost by the Des Moines office. The hotels were crowded day and
night by land-buyers and speculators, the latter doing a big busi-
ness traveling over the coimtry, making "selections" of unentered
land, and then selling them at good figures to those who wanted to
enter them at the Land Office, the buyer preferring to pay a good
price rather than make the search. It developed, however, that
sharpers were selling "selections" they had not made, and of which
they knew nothing. Stewart, having familiarized him-self with the
field-note:^, majis and business of the Land Ofiice, opened an office
J. B. STEWART 397
for selec'tinji' and euteriiig laud for settlers, who were willing to
pay good fees for the exercise of his good judgiuent and honesty
in selecting land for them. He also engaged largely in buying and
selling real estate, and soon accumulatetl considerable wealth. He
was optimistic, had firm faith the town would grow and become of
some importance.
September Eighth, 1857, he laid out and platted three hundred
and sixty acres on the East Side, northeast of Governor's Square,
and made it an addition to the city, but the financial crash of that
year caught him with a heavy indebtedness, yet he never faltered,
and with good management until the coming of the flood-time of
business, he canceled all his obligations and was the ])osses3or of
considerable wealth.
In February, 1858, when the I^egislative Committee met to
investigate the charges made by West Siders that the Commission-
ers who had located the State House in 1855 on the East Side had
been bought with bribes of money and town lots given by East
Siders, Stewait was called before the committee to show how Guy
Wells, of Lee County, one of the locating commissioners, came in
possession of certain lots on the East Side, near the State House
grounds. The lots disclosed in his testimony could not now be got
for several hundred thousand dollars. On being sworn, he testified
as follows :
"Question. — Did you appear before the Mayor and Aldermen of
Des Moines City some several months ago, to have a change made
in the assessment of lots on the east side of the river that had been
made to you ?
"Answer. — I don't think I e\er ajijieared before the Mayor and
Aldermen when they were in session. I can say, however, that I
requested one of the Aldermen — Tidrick, I think — and the Treas-
urer, to see if the change coiild not be made. My reason was, the
land had been assessed by the acre in one tract to myself and oth-
ers. Several undivided intei-ests had been conveyed to other parties
prior to that time, some p.erhaps a year before, and, as the tax
amounted to about one thousand dollars, I desired to have the
change made so that I could pay my part, and not pay for all the
entire interest or assessment.
398 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
"Question. — Was Mr. Wells interested in any part of the prop-
erty you had so assessed i
"Answer. — He was.
"(Question. — To what extent was he interested ?
"Answer. — To the extent of ten acres, from the Twentieth day
of December, 1854, which was the date of the bond. It was not
conveyed to him by deed till it was divided. It was conveyed since
the first of Septembei", 1857. He paid for it some time before —
one-half on the Thirtieth of December, 1854, and the other half
on the First of November following. The price he paid was thirty-
five dollars an acre — a good price at that time.
"Question. — Where did that ten acres lay, in reference to the
Capitol ?
"Answer. — It was an undivided interest in what was known as
Stewart's Addition.
"Question. — Was that land sold to Wells at the time of the ])as-
sage of the Act for the removal of the Capital ?
"Answer. — It was during that session of the Legislature. A
verbal agreement was made before.
"Question. — How smm after that was Wells appointed one of
the Commissioners ?
"Answer. — I don't know exactly about the appointment.
"Question. — Was there any contingency in the verbal agree-
ment ?
"Answer. — None.
"Question. — Did yoti kmiw, or was it not the talk before he was
appointed, that he would be appointed ?
"Answer. — If so, not more than a week or so. I think not.
"Question. — Did no one so state — no one from Iowa City?
"Answer. — I don't know that I heard his name mentioned.
"Questiou. — Do you know of any other property that Wells
claims to have an interest in ?
"Answer. — I do not.
"Question. — When the land was sold to him, did you suppose
he would be appointed ?
"Answer. — I had not the least idea of it.
"Question. — Did you not exjject that Wells would use his influ-
ence with the legislative delegation ?
J. B. STEWAET 399
"Answer. — I did. I supposed it would result in that."
On cross examination :
"Question. — Did not Wells pay full price, and even higher than
others who purchased interest in that land ?
"Answer. — Pie did pay as high or higher than some land in the
same tract sold for.
"Question. — Did Judge Wright pay as much as Wells ?
"Answer. — No; he had it five dollars per acre less.
"Question. — When did Wright get it ?
"Answer. — About the time of the passage of the law."
On re-direct:
"Question. — State if any of the Commissioners owned any part
of the addition in which you spoke of Wells as being interested in.
"Answer. — Yes; I believe I made a conveyance of some lots to
the extent of five acres. That interest he purchased of Van Bus-
kirk, at about four hundred — or from three hundred to five hun-
dred per acre. The purchase was made by Goodrell, in the Sum-
mer or Fall of 1856.
"Question. — Did you see the money paid ?
"Answer. — I did not. The interest had been owned by Bald-
win, of Fairfield, and by him sold to Van Buskirk. The deed was
made to me by Baldwin. The reason why I know it was purchased
by Van Buskirk was that he got the deed and gave it to me, and I
gave him, I think, a bond for two and a half acres. There was a
bond given by Van Buskirk to Goodrell for five acres. I lifted
that bond, and gave Goodrell a bond agTeeing to convey the lots to
him when the tract was divided.
"Question. — ^What was the date of the bond from Van Buskirk
to Goodrell ?
"Answer. — I think it was in the Summer of 1856.
"Question. — Is this Baldwin of Fairfield a brother of the one
who testified here the other night ?
"Answer. — I have heard so.
"Question. — Do you know who Baldwin bought the land of?
"Answer. — He bought it of me.
"Question. — ^What time did he pay for it?
"Answer. — Some time in 1854 or 1855 — in the Winter or
Spring.
400 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
"Questiou. — Was it after the law passed for the re-location ?
"Answer. — It was in the Spring of 1855. He paid me thirty-
five doUai's per acre for it.
"Question. — Had Van Euskirk any other property on this side
of the river ?
"Answer. — I don't know of any, except in the three hundred and
sixty-two acre tract lying northeast of Capitol Square, in Stewart's
Addition.
"Question. — What interest had Van Buskirk in that tract ?
"Answer. — I know of his having fourteen acres at one time. He
bought and sold a great deal in it.
"Question. — What interest had he at the time of the location of
the Capitol ?
"Answer. — I think iive acres — I don't know.
"Question.— Do you know of Street having any interest here
since the location of the Capitol ?
"Answer. — No, sir.
"Question. — Do you know of the Commissioners receiving any-
thing, either directly or indirectly, for locating the Capitol on the
east side of the river ?
"Answer. — I do not."
At the close of the examination, Mr. Stewart explained to the
committee his reply to a query the first day, as follows :
"When Miller asked if I expected Wells to use his influence to
remove the Capitol [State House], I will reply further that he.
Wells, never made any proposition t^ use his influence, and that I
never required it or spoke of it at all as connected with that trans-
action — that all our conversation on the subject of the removal of
the Capitol at that time, and before, was his conviction that the
Capital [Seat of Govei-nment] would eventually come here, at this
town or near it."
The committee decided that the fact that Wells owned a small
tract of land near where the location was made had no force, inas-
much as he purchased it long before the location was made or the
law passed under which he was appointed a Commissioner.
In 1S64-, the First National Bank was organized, with Stewart
as President. It had a capital stock of one hundred and fifty
J. B. STEWART 401
thousand dollars, and was made a United States Government Deposh
itory. In 1868, he sold his interest to B. F. Allen, and retired from
the bank. During his presidency, the bank, at two different times,
cashed a check for iive hundred thousand dollars, a notable occur-
rence in those days.
In 1886, when the Iowa and Minnesota Xarrow-Gauge Railway
Company was organized by B. F. Allen and sixteen other promi-
nent business men and projserty holders, for the purpose of getting
better transportation connection with the surrounding country,
Stewart was one of the incorporators. In 1869, the road was
bisected, and a new company, the Des Moines and Minnesota Rail-
way Company, incorjxtrated, who took the north half from Des
Moines to Ames. Stewart was one of the incorporators, and was
elec;ted one of the first Board of Directors. In 1873, he was elected
Vice-President of the company. Later, J. J. Smai-t, a railroad
builder, which Stewart was not, was elected Vice-President and
Superintendent, and Stewart Secretary, as more in line with his
]u-actical experience.
In January, 1867, when the Equitable Life Insurance Company
was organized, Stewart was elected one of the Board of Trustees.
In 1869, he was elected a member of the City Council, to rep-
resent the Second Ward, which then embraced all the West Side
between Vine and Locust streets. In 1871, he was i-eeleeted, but
he was not adapted by nature or inclination for the vexations of
such a thankless ofBce, and two terms were enough for him.
In 1S72, the first organized efFort to "boost" Des Moines was
made. The business men of the town came to the conclusion that
■'Manifest Destiny" did not build cities. The Chicago and North-
western Railway Company turned a deaf ear to it, and built its
main line westward forty miles north of the city, which caused the
j>et>plo to sit up and take notice. A meeting of citizens was held on
the Twenty-fourth day of May, in that year, at which a Citizens'
Association was organized, with "Tom" Hatton as President; L.
W. Dennis, Vice-President ; Albert L. West, Treasurer. Standing
committees were elected, with the following as chairmen of each:
Finance, Hoyt Sherman ; Municipal Affairs, IST. B. Collins ; Taxes,
J. B. Stewart; Railroads, Samuel Merrill; Home ilanufactiires,
Vol. II— (26).
402 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
J. A. Ankeny ; Publications, R. S. Tuness ; Improvements, John
A. Elliott.
That organization gave a fresh impetus to business, and secured
valuable improvements, but it lacked the vitalizing power of the
present booster aggregation. It was bounded on the east by Des
Moines River, a distinction with a difference. The ghost of the
State House fiasco, and the Court House scrimmage, still hovered
in the gloaming.
Socially, Mr. Stewart was genial, unobtrusive in speech or
action, companionable, fond of society, highly esteemed, and always
actively interested in social affairs of the community. He was one
of the coterie — the Shermans, Spoffords, Inghams, Reeds, Terrys,
Kassons, Loves, Keyes, Tuttles, Robertsons, Wests, Polks, Syphers,
Hijipees, Deweys, Mills, Nourses, Withrows, Hookers, Finches,
Rices, McKays, Aliens et al— in their improvised entertainments
and amusements. There was always something doing to kill time
and drive away the bhies, for they were a jolly crowd, very few of
whom are with us now. Mrs. Bina Wyman — she was then popu-
larly known as Miss Lunt, a very demure schoolma'am, with mirth-
ful proclivities, one day, when scanning the pictures that hang on
Memory's walls, recalled one of the notable social events. It was
a sui'prise party, given one cold Winter night, to Reverend Doctor
Peet, the beloved pastor of the Episcopal Church, who lived on his
little "farm," on the river bottoms about opi>osite the ])resent City
Railway power house. The snow was deep, the road very narrow,
with a steep bank on either side, so that the least swerve meant an
upset. With her in Mr. Hoji-. Sherman's big sleigh, drawn by a
span of high-steppers, was Mr. Sherman, his driver; Mrs. Sher-
man, and Mrs. B. F. Allen. Mrs. Sherman was very carefully
carrying a pail of cream, closely watching the track, and all was
going on merrily, though a little scary, when Mrs. Allen was sud-
denly missed. A halt was made, and she was found sitting in the
snow in the middle of the road. "After some argaiing and coax-
ing," said Mrs. Wyman, "we got her back into the sleigh, and drove
on, reaching oiir destination in safety. The house was brilliantly
lighted, a great wood fire in the fireplace, and a group of friends
present who welcomed us with old-fashioned hospitality. How we
J. B. STEWAET 403
did enjoy that supper — every ouo hi'ought their supper — and the
games and ehai-ades that followed ! There were Colonel and Mrs.
S. F. Spofford, Colonel and ilrs. E. F. Hooker, Mr. C. W. Keyes,
Mr. and Mrs. John Mitchell, Misses Ella and Abbie Mitchell, Miss
Kate Stanley, Mary and Lucy Love (Maiy was Miss Ella Quick's
mother). Judge Byron and Mrs. Eice, Mr. and Mrs. 'Dan' Finch,
Miss Mary Calder (Mrs. Rice's sister), Mr. and Mrs. John A.
Kasson, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Cook, Warren and Tac. Hussey, Libbie
and Abbie Clea\elaud, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Withrow, Mr. J.
B. Stewart, AV. S. Pritchard, the Callanans, Inghams, Reeds and
Terrys."
Mr. Stewart was a liberal giver to all worthy objects in civic,
church, or school affairs, and especially fru- the relief of soldiers
during the war period. It is a fact that so generous and abundant
were the donations to "the boys" at the front, they requested it to
be stopped and turned toward their families at home, but the people
at home kept the soldiers' families supplied with gTeat liberality.
At one festival, December Thirty-first, 1864, there was received
seven thousand, two hundred and sixty-one dollars and thirty-five
cents for the relief fund.
Politically, Stewart was a Democrat, but in no sense a politi-
cian. He was not a member of any fraternal organization, his
strong domestic temperament being better satisfied with the attract-
iveness of home and its inmates, than with clubs and societies. He
was not a member of any church, believing that ti-ue religion con-
sists in right living rather than loud professions.
He deceased May Tenth, 1899.
September Twenty-second, 1907.
ADDISON J. HEPBURN
ADDISON J. HEPBURN
AN early settler who, by his presence alone, through the efful-
gence of his sunny natiu-e, added to the cheer taid pleasure
of Fort Des Moines, was Addison J. Hepburn, or Add., as
everybody familiarly called him.
He was bom iu Olean, Xew York, April Twenty-second, 1827,
of Scotch-Irish ancestry on his father's side, and English on that
of his mother. His father was a cabinet maker and furniture
dealer. Add. passed his youthful days with his pai'ents, attended
the common school, and, during school vacations, served as a clerk
in dry goods stores, preferring the yardstick to the jackplane and
hammer in his father's shop.
When nearing his majority, he entered a dry goods store at
Ironton, Ohio, as salesman, where, for several years, he was a great
favorite in the exclusive social circles of that city.
In 1853, he came to Denmark, Lee Coimty, his parents having
removed there, and after a short time returned to Ironton, where
he remained until 1855, when he came by stage coach to Fort Des
Moines, to visit his sister, who was the wife of the pioneer Baptist
preacher, J. A. ISTash. He decided to remain, and his first job was
a clerkship in the store of "Uncle Jimmy" Crane, a genial, good-
hearted soul, familiar with everybody, who had a stoi-e on Second
Street. He took his bed and board at the Avenue House, kept by
John Hays, a long, low, wooden hostelry on the northeast comer
of Fourth and Court Avenue.
Add. used to relate, with a humorous chuckle, au incident which
happened soon after he entered the service. It was on Saturday
evening, after an unusually brisk trade through the day ; "Jimmy"
took the cash book, went off by himself to figure up the sales. After
))oring over it some time, he wheeled about, saying: "Boys, I've
been robbed." The clerks were suq^rised, and Add. not a little,
for he was comparatively a new-comer. They told "Jimmv" he
405
406 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
must be mistaken, for there liml not been any suspicions persons
about the premises during the day.
■"Well, the cash is short eighteen dollars and tifty-five cents, and
if you don't l^elievo it, come and see, and count it nj) yourselves.
There it is," jnitting his finger on the spot.
Add. asked if he suspected him.
"Xo," said .Tinuiiy. "I don't know who to suspect, but the
money is gone, and sonicliody has got it. You can see that your-
self. Just figure it up."
Putting on his hat, and as was his custom when perplexed with
business affairs, or in trouble, he went over to the grocery to quell
his mental disturbance with s/>ii-Hous frumcnti, which, in those
days, was a ]3art of the sfnrk in trade in a licensed grocery.
Add. ran his eye ca-sually over the column of figures in the cash
book, and discovered the "roljbery." On the margin of the page,
over the dollars and cents column, had been written the date and
year, 18.5.5, and "Jimmy" had counted the year in the cash receipts.
Add. laid the bcwk aside, and when "Jimmy" turned u]i about noon
on Monday, he ('X])laiued the apparent discrepancy to him. It was
some time befnre "dimniy" was fully satisfied, but when he got it
fairly through his head, he went to the assuager of his sorrows
again tn get some more <>f the same medicine to help celebrate his
narrow esca]ie from roljbery, and did not appear at the store again
until Tuesday evening. The genial, good fellow was his owni worst
enemy, and not long ago, his mangled form was found along the
railroad track, the victim of cruel car wheels.
Subsequently, Add. formed a partnership with "Aleck" Wood-
ward in the dry goods trade, and did a good business until the
financial panic of 18.57. which closed the doors of many business
houses, caught "Aleck" and Add. unprepared for the squeeze. After
closing up their business, Add. became head salesman with Keyes
& Crawford, on Court Avenue, next east of The Begisfer ami
Leader building, where he served several years. Later, he was with
Knight Brothers in the same building, the headquarters of fash-
ionable dry goods trade. In IST?*, he formed a partnership with
"Charley" Morris, in exclusive dry goods trade, on Fifth Street,
M-here the Younaerman Building now is, and there some of the
ADDISON J. HEPBUEJiT 407
oldest residents of the city purchased their first laces and table
linen, for jVdd. was an expert caterer to feminine taste and fancy,
and never more happy than when he could gratify them.
Ilis last business venture was in 1885, under the firm name of
Hem])hill, Hepburn & Traversy, who opened a store in Clapp's
Block, but it ]>rove(l an improfitable undertaking, and the business
was closed out.
Tn 1888, the re-appearauee of an affection of the right leg,
which originated when a youth, completely prostrated him, yet,
with his usual optimistic spirit, he patiently bore his pain and suf-
fering, looking hojiefully ahead for recovery, until the surgeons
informed him that to save his life he must lose his leg. With a
smile of resignation, he accepted the ultimatum. But the disease
had got aliead of the surgeon's knife. In a short time, the scalpel
and saw were again applied, then a third time. After months of
suffering, which would have crushed many stronger men, he was
able to get about on crutches, an object of the most profound com-
miseration to his thousands of friends, but, wiih his old-time cheer-
fulness, he did what he could for the support of his family.
So profound was public sympathy for him, and so universally
was he highly esteemed, in 1892, he was nominated by the Repub-
lican County Convention for Coimty Recorder. So popular was
he with the masses of the people, the Democratic Convention made
no nomination for the ofiice against him, and he was imanimously
elected at the November election, entered upon his oificial duties
January Third, 1893, and on May Third following, wasted and
worn by the ravages of the ailment which had sapped his vitality,
his life went out, peacefully as slund)er comes to the Imbe in its
mother's arms.
As an expression of public esteem of him, his good wife was, on
May Sixteenth, appointed his successor, to fill the vacancy, and in
November, 1894, was elected for a full term. She filled the office
with credit to herself and satisfaction to the public.
Socially, Add.'s sunshiny temperament was a bennison to the
whole community, for he was always cheerful, encouraging, hope-
fulness personified; smiled when tormented with pain; knew no
guile; was honest in everv fibre of his being. He was the favorite
408 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
and, idea] tradesman for the young women, now wives of promi-
nent business men, for they knew him. He took part in their per-
plexities in solving the problems of selections and quality. If he
could not serve them, they would wait another day, was proverbial.
He was as sincere as a child. Thei'e was no concealment in his
nature. He was filled with generous impulses, and ever ready to
aid the sick and needy, to the full extent of his means. His heart
pulsated with love for all humanity. It was in the social life of
the community his influence was most effective, for he exemplified
not greatness, but goodness. He was a member of the Masonic
order and several social clubs.
Politically, he was first a Whig, and then a Republican, but took
no part in politics, as politics goes.
Religiously, he was a Baptist, and member of the First Baptist
Church.
September Twenty-ninth, 1907.
JOSIAH M^ THRIFT
JOSIAH M. THRIFT
AN old-timer who came to Polk County wheu it was inhabited
only by Indians, and who figured quite prominently, was
Josiab Moffit Thrift. He was born in Virginia, in the year
1815, of English ancestry. His father was a planter, and slave-
holder, who devoted most of his time to preaching at isolated sta-
tions. When Josiah was five years old, his father disposed of his
plantation, and purchased a large tract of land in Knox County,
Ohio, on which he opened a farm. He gave his slaves the privilege
of going where they pleased, or remaining with him as free pei*sons,
to be paid for their services, as were other employed persons.
On this farm, Josiah passed his boyhood days, with very limited
opportunity for attending school. When sixteen years old, he
became a clerk in the store of an elder brother, where he remained
about two years. He then went to Mount Vernon, Ohio, and was
apprenticed to learn the trade of tailoring, which acquired, he went
to Cincinnati, where he entered the employ of a large tailoring
firm, and there worked on the same bench side by side with the
once Presideut, Andrew Johnson.
In those days, to military posts or garrisons, were assigned
tailors. Thrift, through friends, ajiplied for an appointment as
Garrison Tailor, a defacto Government officer, subject to change
from post to post in like manner as any person in ai-my service. He
was appointed, and sent to Fort Madison, Iowa, an'iving there in
1842. In 1843, he was transferred to Fort Des Moines, and arrived
May Twentieth, with a detachment of soldiers, consisting of two
companies of cavalry, or Dragoons, as they were then called, and
two companies of infantry.
In November, he went to Libertyville, Jefferson County, Indi-
ana, got married, and returned December Twenty-fourth.
At the close of that year, beside the officers and soldiers, there
were the Indian Agent, Beach, and his interpreter, Josiah Smart;
409
410 PIOXEERS OF POLK COXT^v^TT, IOWA
the Indian Traders, Washington George and George Washington
Ewing, and Ben. Brvant, their clerk ; Phelps & Company, fur deal-
ers; J. B. and W. A. Scott, William Lamb, and Alexander Turner,
contractors to furnish hay and other farm i^rodncts for the garri-
son, all of whom were stationed near where the packing-houses now
are, and eastward. Of the gai-rison were Charles Weatherford and
a man named Baker, blacksmiths ; Thrift, tailor ; John Sturdevant
and John Drake, gunsmiths ; Robert A. Kinzie, sutler. So far as
civilization was concerned, such, then, was Des Moines and Polk
Coimty. Eddyville and Ottuniwa each contained about a dozen
families. Between them and Fort Des Moines, the axea was as
Xature made it, except trails made by Indians, while north of The
Fort, no white man had made his abode, so that Mr. Thrift may
be truly called the first white settler of Polk County and Des
Moines, for he was the only man of the garrison who remained and
became a citizen. In fact, he became a squatter at the start, for he
secured a claim adjoining the so-called Thompson farm, both of
which are now pai-t of L'nion Park, on which he built a log cabin,
wherein he began hovisekeeping with his yoimg wife, and where,
JIarch Fifteenth, 1845, the stork brought them a daughter, Hannah
Jane. The second birth in the same log cabin was that of a brother,
William Hurlbut, the present Adjutant General of Iowa, who
caught the first glimpse of this curious world of ours October Fif-
teenth, 1847, but kaleidoscopic have been the changes he has wit-
nessed since, I think be will admit.
In July, 1845, young Black Hawk, with whom Thrift was on
very friendly tenns, was camped on the bottoms west of Thrift's
cabin, where the Gun Club groimds now are. A few days after
the murder of Colonel George L. Davenport, at Rock Island, July
Fourth, eight men rode up to Thrift's cabin and requested lodging
for the night. Thrift was suspicious of them, as their appearance
did not indicate they were ordinary land-seekers, as they claimed
to be, but he gave them permission to remain over night, with the
understanding that they were to deliver to him their arms, which he
would lock up in his smoke-house, stating to them that if they kept
their arms, the Indians, who were nearby, would give them trouble.
After disarming them and seeing they were comfortably quartered,
JOSIAH M. THRIFT 411
he quietly went down to the Indian camp and told Black Hawk of
the circumstances and his suspicions, and requested that he have
some of his young Indians guard his wife and child while he went
to the garrison to consult with Caistain Allen. He presented the
matter to Captain Allen, and expressed his suspicion of the eight
men, bxit was unable to convince him that there was anything
unusual in their coming there. He therefore declined to interfere
with their proceeding on their way. Thrift returned to his home,
found the faithful Indians on guard, dismissed them, and retired
with his family. He arose at a very early hour the next morning,
his wife ]irepared breakfast, and after the meal, one of the leaders
said to Mrs. Thrift:
"What are we indebted to you for your trouble?''
"Yon owe us nothing," she replied, with the generosity of all
jtioneer women.
"Hold your apron, then," said the fellow, and he pitched a
Twenty-dollar gold piece into it. The eight theu uKinuted their
horses and rode away to the north.
-Vt eleven o'clock the same day, news came describing those men,
and later it proved they were the murderers of Colonel Davenport.
Immediately prior to the Eleventh of October, 184.5, when the
country would be opened for settlement, squatters had come in and
made selections of land on which they wanted to make their homes.
Land speculators and shaqiers, or claim-jumpers, as they were
called, were also present, watching an opportunity to get possession
by sharp practice of the selections made by squatters. For self-
])r(jtection, the squatters held a meeting at John B. Scott's trading
house, ou Tuesday, October Fourteenth, the third day after the
Government title expired, to organize a Claim Clul), at which
Thrift was elected Secretary. A committee was appointed to pre-
]iare By-Laws for the club. On Thursday evening following, the
committee reported a code, consisting of ten sections, which will be
found in the sketch of W. H. Meacham, page 245, Volume I. Cap-
tain Allen offered the following as Section Eleven, which was
adopted :
"The Citizens' Claiuuints having met du October Fonrfeenth, 1845,
])ursuant to resolution of a jirevious meeting, hei-(M"u mentioned.
412 PIONEERS OF POLK COUIN^TY, IOWA
do here, in full meeting, fully adopt all of the foregoing resolu-
tions, and wo do hereby resolve and proclaim that we will submit
to and abide by all of these resolutions, and will protect and defend
one anothei-, each and all of us, in all that we have herein resolved
and said."
Thrift followed the Captain with another section, to-wit :
"Resolved, By this meeting, that any Citizen Claimant who
shall subscribe his name to these resolutions shall be adopted as one
of the Community, or Neighborhood, who have made them, and he
will be entitled to all privileges herein guaranteed, and also to our
mutual and joint protection."
The entire code was adopted, with the understanding that it
involved a vigoroiis fight against unscrupulous rascals and wily
speculators, with ))robable shooting. Seventy names wei-e subscribed
to the Bill of Rights on the spot. A standing Executive Committee
was elected, of whom Thrift was one, to put the machinei-y of gov-
ernment in motion, and thus civilization and civic government in
Polk Coimty was bom. So just and equitable was this code, it
was later confirmed by the Government and courts of the state when
state government was established.
April Seventh, 1846, was convened the first District Court in
Polk County, the county having been organized the day previous.
Thrift was brought in by "Fncle Tommy" Mitchell, the Sheriff, as
one of the Grand Jury. The Judg-e's docket for that day shows the
following record :
•'Tekiutoky of Iowa, Polk CorxTv Distkict Court. April
Term, ^Yed»esday. Two 0' Clock P. M.. April Seventh, ISJtG.
"And now, on yesterday, the Marshal of said territory returned
his venire for a Grand Jury, on the part of the United States, in
and for said County of Polk, together with the jurors aforesaid,
all good and lawful men, and said Grand Jurors, on the part of the
United States and the Territory of Iowa, retired in charge of Lewis
Whitten,a sworn officer for that purjx)se,to consider of such matters
as may come to their knowledge according to their charge, and,
after being absent for some time, returned into court, and informed
said court that they had no bills or presentments to make, and that
JOSIAH M. THRIFT 413
they had uot further business to engage their attention. It is there-
fore ordered by said court that said Grand Jurors be discharged.
•'And, there being no further business for this court at this term,
it is ordered that this court adjourn till the next terai in course of
law.
"J. WiLLi.\MS, Judge."
In 1850, Thrift resigned as Garrison Tailor, the Government
uot having assigned him to another garrison, possibly had forgotten
him entirely as one of its adjuncts, and he joined the vast caravan
going overland to the gold fields of California. Two years later,
he returned via I^ew York to Fort Des Moines, arriving in the early
part of the Winter of 1852-1853. He then re-opened his tailor
shop on Second Street, where he remained until 1850, in the mean-
time giving, as the "old boys" now say, better clothes than are made
in these days.
In 1856, he removed to a farm, about three miles north of
Boonesboro, the County Seat of Boone County, where he cultivated
the soil until 1860, when he went to Pike's Peak, where he engaged
in mining for a year, then returned, purchased a farm adjoining
Bot>nesboro, and soon after moved into the town and became one of
it,s leading citizens.
In 1861, he was commissioned by Governor Kirkwood to recruit
volunteers to put down the Rebellion. He succeeded in recruiting
two hundred and fifty men. He paid, from his own purse, for their
subsistence and transportation from their homes to the rendezvous
at Davenport, amounting to several thousand dollars. Subsequently
— when requested by the Governor to file a claim for his disburse-
ments, he refused, declaring that he was willing and able to do that
much for his country.
He went \vith his recruits, was mustered into the service, and
was assigned to the Sixteenth Iowa Infantry. Its first engagement
was in the battle at Shiloh, April Sixth, 1862, where, not having
been attached to any brigade, it, with the Fifteenth Iowa, fought
on their own hook, and on the first day, when the flanking swoop
of the enemy swallowed up the Eighth, Twelfth, and Fourteenth
Iowa, and stampeded several others, the Sixteenth suilered very
414 PTOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
severely. Thrift was severely wounded, taken prisoner, and con-
fined as a prisoner of war until April, 1863, when he was dis-
charged, a physical wreck, from which he never recovered. It is
somewhat singular that only a meag-er history of the Sixteenth is
extant, but sufficient is of i-eeord to show that it proved one of the
most valorous of the entire army.
Uljon his discharge, Thrift returned to Boonesboro, was elected
Mayor, and proved a capable and popular official. Ilis retiring
message to the Town Council was considered by citizens as valuable
and is still carefully presen-ed.
In 1873, he removed to California, hoping to benefit his health,
but his wounds and the vicissitudes and exposures of his army life
had so sapped his vitality, he deceased in SacramentK, in July,
1881.
Socially, lie was of gviieroiis temperament, amiable, iminilar
with the masses, whu esteeineil hiin for his strict integrity and hon-
esty. Domestic in taste, he was devoted to his family, and a most
earnest lover of children. He was always greatly interested in
public schools and i-lmrchcs. TIandieapix>d by his physical dis-
ability, he was fdrced to foi'cgo much activity in social affairs of
the commimity which his public spirit prompted. He was a mem-
ber of the Masonic order, and his descendants believe he was a
charter member of the first lodge instituted in Des Moines.
Politically, he was first a Whig, but when the Eepublican party
wa-s organized, he joined it and remained a member all his days.
The only public office he held, so far as I know, was that of Mayor
of Boonesboro.
October Thirteenth, 1007.
JUDGE JOHN MITCHELL
JUDGE JOHN MITCHELL
RESIDEXTS of Polk Coimty a score of years ago cannot have
f(jrgotten Judge John Mitchell, a nephew of the venerable
pioneer, "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell.
He was bom near Claremont, j^ew Hampshire, on Febraurv
Twenty-eighth, 1830, of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
His father was a farmer, and on a farm John passed the days
of his youth, devoting every opportunity to acquiring an education.
He took college preparatory courses at Kimball Union Academy,
in Meriden, entered Dartmouth College, and at the end of his
Sophomore year was compelled to suspend his studies because of
impaired health, and seek a more favorable climate. In the Winter
of 1S.55-1S5G, he had so far regained his health, he passed the Win-
ter reading law in the office of Freeman & McClure, in Claremont.
In the early part of 1856, he came to Foi-t Des Moines, and finished
reading law in the office of "Dan" Finch and M. M. Crocker,
then two of the ablest lawyers in the state, and in August, was
admitted to the Bar of Polk County. He continued with his tutors
as an assistant until 1857, when he hoisted his shingle on his own
account.
Soon after the breaking out of the Civil War, in the Spring of
1861, there was unmistakable evidence of hostility on the part of
Indians in the northern and northwestern part of the state. Horses
and cattle were stolen, fields of grain robbed, and within three
miles of Sioux City, two settlers were killed and their horses taken
from them. These raids seemed to be made along the Little Sioux,
from Peterson to Correctionville, and up the Big Sioux and the
Floyd.
There was great anxiety and unrest among the settlers, for it
was known that the Indians on the reservations along Minnesota
River, farther north, were in an ugly state of mind, which also
intensified the premonition of coming danger.
415
416 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
No one had a greater realization of the importance of protecting
the frontier settlements than Governor Kirkwood. There was quite
prevalent a suspicion that emissaries from the South were among
the Indians, endeavoring to incite hostilities ag'ainst the white
]>eople. Early in July, on reports made to him of the threatening
attitude of Indians along the border, the Governor ordered the
enlistment of a company of cavalry in Des Moines, and Mitchell
was made Captain. It left Des Moines on the Seventeenth, and
went to SioTix City, where it was furnished arms, tents and camp
equipage. Thence it went to Cherokee, where headquarters were
established, and from which scouting parties were sent in every
direction. Captain Mitchell going north, also to the lakes and vari-
ous points along the Little Sioux. The company remained at Cher-
okee until September, and returned to Des Moines, Captain Mitch-
ell having been in the saddle three months. The trouble continued,
and on September Third, the Governor convened the Legislature
in special session to provide for putting a volunteer force in the
field. It was done, and companies of Home Guards were formed
in Emmet, Kossuth, and Palo Alto counties, at Fort Dodge and
Webster City. The prompt action of the Governor saved the Iowa
border settler from some at least of the terrible events which cul-
minated in the massacre at Mankato.
In November, 18G1, Mitchell was elected Representative for
Polk County in the Ninth General Assembly, and served during
the troublesome and stirring times of the following two years. A
remarkable incident of that General Assembly was that one-half of
its members enlisted in the army and went to the front, a fact
which troubled the Governor not a little, for the state was not pre-
jjared for war. It had no organized militia, and no money with
which to comply with the evident demands of the times. He said
one day, if an extra session of the General Assembly should be
necessaiw, he would not know what to do, as so many of its mem-
bers had gone into the army, there would not be a quorum to trans-
act business. The General Assembly, however, had voted for war
bonds to meet all demands, and even more than the Government
at Washington asked for.
JUDGE JOHjST MITCHELL 417
In 1865, Mitchell was elected to represent the Second Ward in
the City Council, and by the Council was elected President pro tern.
He served one tei-m.
In 1866, the General Assembly abolished the county commis-
sioner system of three commissioners, and provided for a Board of
Supervisors, comj>osed of a representative from each township in a
county. Mit^'hell was elected to represent Des Moines Township,
and on the organization of the Board was elected Chainnan, the
first person to hold that office in the county. He served one year.
In 1867, he was appointed Register in Bankruptcy, and held the
office some time.
In 1868, the Twelfth General Assembly abolished the old
(!'ounty Court, and created a Circuit Court, having jurisdiction in
probate matters, together with all the powers previously exercised
by the County Court., and exclusive jurisdiction on appeals from
Justices' Courts, Mayors, Police Courts, and all inferior courts, in
criminal and civil actions. In November of that year, Mitchell
was elected Judge of that court for the First Circuit, comprising
the counties of Dallas, Polk, and Warren, counties of the Fifth
Judicial District. The duties of his office were multifarious,
embracing the settlement of estates of decedents, laying out roads
and highways, building bridges, and issuing marriage certificates,
requiring great judicial versatility, and the exercise of good judg-
ment, yet he proved himself master of the situation. He was a
prodigious worker, and so burdened were all his judicial acts with
a pervading sense of justice, equity, and responsibility to the pub-
lic, he was reelected without opposition three times, for terms
of four years each, and served twelve years, the longest official
term ever held by any officer of Polk County. During his long
service, so painstaking were his decisions prepared, very few were
reversed by the Supreme Court. At the close of his judgeship, he
returned to the practice of his profession, and later became a
co-partner with L. J. Brown and C. A. Dudley, forming a trium-
virate which did an extensive and lucrative business.
In 1890, his physical system gave way under the pressure of his
zealous ambition, and on the Twenty-ninth of October, his spirit
took flight to a world unknown.
Vol. II— (27).
418 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
At a meeting of the Board of County Sui:)ervisors, December
Thirtieth, 1890, the foUowing was unanimously adopted:
"Whereas, Judge John Mitchell, whose honorable and upright
life has now closed in death, was the Chairman of the first Board
of Supervisors organized in Polk Coimty, Iowa, January, 1861,
and held other positions of ]iublic trust with marked ability and
faithfulness ; therefore, be it
"Resolved, by the Supervisors of Polk County, Iowa :
"First. — That the quiet and kindly nature of John Alitchell,
his cultivated mind, the excellence of his character, and the con-
scious rectitude of his life will linger always in the affectionate
memory of those who knew him in life.
"Second. — That his dignity, learning and integrity as a law;v'er,
high-minded, and always actuated in professional as well as public
affairs by principles of honor, command the confidence and admira-
tion of his fellow-men.
"Third. — That the virtue and ability he displayed in public life
and the faithfulness and diligence he brought to the discharge of
public duties, dignified and honored every position of trust to
which he was called.
"Fourth. — That in his death, we, as individuals, suffer a per-
sonal bereavement, and extend to his family and relatives, to whom
this grief is so near and keen, the assurance that we sorrow with
them for the loss of so pure, so kind, so upright and honorable a
citizen and judge, father and friend.
"Fifth. — That a copy of these resolutions be sent to his family,
and be given to the press for publication, and that they be spread
upon the record of the pi'oceedings of this Board."
Socially, his dominant characteristic trait was uprightness. He
believed a lawyer should be a representative of the highest type of
citizenship. He scorned shystering and technicalities. If a case
did not bear the scrutiny of justice and right, he did not want it.
He was of quiet temperament, never obtrusive, amiable, carried a
heart which pulsated with generous impulses, and the best offices
for the improvement of the community in which he lived. He
gave little attention to every-day social functions, though in the
very early days, before the coming of predatory concert troupes
JUDGE JOHN MITCHELL 419
and barnstormers, lie was a favorite integral part of the various
amusements improvised by the yoxing people of the town to enliven,
the passing hour. Of domestic taste in his home, he sought and
found the rest, and comfort his nature craved. So far as I know,
be was not a member of any fraternal organization or club.
Religiously, he was a devout and active member of the Epis-
copal Church.
Politically, he was a Kepublican always, but not a politician.
Though he held several public offices of gi'eat responsibility, it was
in response to a unanimous demand of the masses.
October Twentieth, 1907.
MARTIN TUTTLE
MARTIN TUTTLE
A FAMILY closely identified with the industrial and financial
affairs of the early days of Des Moines was the Tuttles —
James, the father, and his three sons, Martin, James M.,
and Samuel B. Martin was born in Monroe (now Noble) County,
Ohio, November Twenty-seventh, 1824, of English ancestry on
the father's side and German on that of the mother. His father
was a large farmer, and also did an extensive business in live-stock,
grain and land. Martin passed his boyhood 'days on a fai-m in the
usual manner, and acquired such education as common schools of
that period afforded, until he was eighteen years old. In later
years, by diligent reading of good books and extensive traveling,
wherein nothing escaped his observation or memory, he stored his
mind with a wealth of treasure.
During his life, he visited Cuba several times, and eveiy state
and territoiy in the country, except, rather singularly, the state
of Maine, the home of his ancestors, who settled there soon after
the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Kock, and the territory of
Alaska. In 1848, with another young man, he came to Iowa, via
Chicago, from Indiana, on horseback. His object was to select a
place for a future home. His choice was Farmington. He then
returned to Indiana on horseback.
Asked once why he did not stop in Chicago, he replied that he
did not like the location. While floundering through the wet,
swampy land, he was offered a large piece of it for a pair of mules,
but he refused, for the very good reason he didn't have the mules.
In the Spring of 1849, he married, and with his bride returned
to Farmington, taking in Fort Des Moines for a short stop, where
he met a young German ai'tist who was malting drawings from
nature of birds and animals for a publication by the celebrated
naturalist, Audubon, I think it was. Martin joined him for several
421
422 PTOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, TOWA
weeks aud greatly assisted him in his quest of birds. In apprecia-
tion thereof — he was also a good portrait painter — he made a water
color portrait of Martin, which is to-dav as fresh and clear as when
made, and is a highly prized treasure of the family.
Immediately on his settlement in Farmington, he engaged in
general merchandise business. With his brother, James M., they
built a small double brick house, the first brick dwelling in the
town, in which they made their home several years. It is still
standing, I believe.
Physically, Martin M'as not robust — in fact, there was not an
excess of robustness in the entire community, for that most aggra-
vating and contemptible of all human ailments, "fever'nager," was
frequently epidemic, and the two Tnttle families suffered severely.
In IS.")], he made a trip to California overland, more for his
health, aud to sec what was to see, than for guld.
In ISJG, he went to Pike's Peak, also for his health, iuid drove
an ox team. He was three months on the journey. He I'otumed
on horseback, camping each night wherever night overtook him.
The sparsity of population interfered with the regularity of his
meals somewhat, and sometimes eggs cost him two dollars a dozen.
He also wandered over the old Nicaragua and Panama routes, and
his descriptive rehearsals of the incidents aud adventures of his
travels were interesting and instructive.
In 1861, he came to Des Moines with his family, and made his
home at the northeast comer of Fifth and Locust. Later, he took
the brick house built by his father, on the site of the present Wel-
lington Hotel, and built a brick block on the comer at Locust, for
some time occupied by the Chamberlain Medicine Company.
Soon after his arrival, ho oi>ened a grocery stove with his father
iu Sherman Block, at Third and Court Avenue. During the Win-
ter months, they cut and packed poi-k in the cellar. In the Winter
of 1861-1862, they, with Martin Winters, James Miller, and Doc-
tor M. P. Turner, leased a brick building in the reai- of Exchange
Block, on Third Street, and fitted it for cutting and packing pork,
where they handled about three thousand porkers, at a cost of
one dollar and ninety-one cents per one hundred pounds net, or an
average of less than four dollars per head. The ])roduct went to
MARTIN" TTTTTLE 423
Xew York, but so diflScult were the means of getting to market, the
highest price in New York for the season being two dollars and a
half for the best net pork, their profit for the season was fifty-six
dollars, or eleven dollars for each partner. The partnership was
t<K> large, the profits too small, and they quit.
In 1S62, Martin built the first exclusive meat packing house
in the town. It was the building now occupied in part by the
Central State Bank, on Fifth Street. The war demand for provi-
sions began to be felt, and prices were more remunerative, the long
distance to railroads, bad roads, and cost of transportation, how-
ever, absorbed nearly all of the profit. The father, Martin and
Sam., were all in it. They bought hogs on foot, and the killing
was done by Albert Grefe, at his slaughter house. They also
bought from farmers hogs that had been killed and dressed on the
farm. They cut and packed that season about thirty-five hundred
hogs, and Sam. Coi>e, who was a clerk in their store, bossed the
job. Sam. Tuttle concluded pork packing was mighty poor busi-
ness. He quit and went back to Farmington for a time, but finally
drifted back again to Des Moines, and went into the artificial stone
making business.
In 1870, Martin formed a partnership with S. A. Robertson, in
the stone and lime business. Their quarry was at Earlham. They
made a contract to furnish stone for the foundation of the new
Capitol, and did a heavy business until 1880, when Martin retired,
and became a contractor for public work of the city, which con-
sisted mostly of paving.
In 1871, he was elected Mayor of the city, and soi-ved one term.
He was a Democrat, yet the popular vote of the city was Repub-
lican, as evidenced in the election of Captain M. T. Russell, a
Republican, for City Marshal. He verified the faith of business
men and taxpayers, in his business capacity, honesty and integrity,
by giving them a sample of good civic government.
In 1881, he formed a partnership with B. C. White in the Cap-
ital City Flour Mill, at Third and Market. In 1883, he retired
from active commercial business, and devoted his time to the super-
vision of his various investments, and living on Easy Street.
In 1888, he was appointed by Mayor W. L. Carpenter a mem-
ber of the first Board of Public Works, for the term of three years.
424 PIONEERS OF POLK COimTY, IOWA
In 1895, when the Central State Bank was organized, Tuttle
was elected President, and held the place until the end of his life,
in November, 1902.
As already stated, he was a Democrat, but not a politician. He
sought no public office. The only two he held were in response to
an expressed public sentiment, regardless of polities. During the
later years of his life, he was a member of the Grant Club.
Socially, he was strongly inclined to domesticity. His home
was an ideal one. To be a blessing to it, to his children, to tJie
community in which he lived, seemed to be the sole purpose of his
life. Firm in his convictions, he was also broad-minded and tol-
erant respecting the opinion of others. As a citizen, he was highly
esteemed for his sterling integrity and reliability in word and deed.
He was an enthusiastic lover of Nature in all her multifarious
fonns. The woods and riversides were favorite resorts ; birds and
animals his coveted companions. The most treasured memories of
him by his children and grandchildren are of frequent, often daily,
rambles with him in the woods and fields, during his later years,
and the interesting stories related of liirds, animals and the various
interesting scenes met in his travels.
Religiously, in early life, he was a member of the Methodist
Church, but in later years he abjured all denominational creeds,
yet he was of reverent spirit. He abhorrefl hypocrisy and falsity in
all their forms. He measured character by truth. The Fatherhood
of God and Brotherhood of Man was good enough religion for him.
October Twenty-seventh, 1907.
SAMUEL GRAY
DESERVING of mentiun as an old-timer, who camo to Polk
County at the beginning of things, was Samuel Gray, or
"Uncle Sammy," as everybody called him.
Bom in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, June JSTineteenth,
1811, of Cork Irish parentage, on the father's side, he passed the
years of childhood with his parents, who removed to Jefferson
County, Ohio, when he was quite young. His father was a weaver,
and Samuel had little to do but attend the common school. When
nearing his majority, he learned the trade of plastering, which he
followed in Ohio until 1848, when, in the Summer of that year,
with his wife and eight children, and a friend whose family con-
sisted of twelve, started with horse teams for Fort Des Moines.
The journey required forty-three days. Their arrival was equal
to one-fourth of the population of the little hamlet, which consisted
of one hundred and eighty-five persons, largely children. With
the exception of three small wooden frame buildings, all the resi-
dences wei'e the log cabins which had been occupied by soldiers of
the garrison. Two merchandise stores, one that of E. W. Sypher,
who had been selling goods at the Trading Post and moved to Sec-
ond and Vine, and the other that of B. F. Allen, constituted the
biisiness of the town. There were several so-called "groceries," run
under permits granted by the County Commissioners, in which
spiritous liquor was the principal stock in trade. Martin (X)
Tucker's log tavern on Market Street afforded rest and sustenance
for strangers "in the most hostile manner," as he used to say.
"Uncle Sammy's" first job was j^lastering Doctor F. C. Grim-
mel's house, which he had erected whei-e Saint Ambrose Church
now is, then far outside the limits of the town, surrounded with
heavy timber and ha^elbrush, and in which he had been living sev-
eral months unfinished, to get out of the old Guard House of the
garrison, his first home.
425
426 PIOXEERS OF POLK COF^'TY, IOWA
There was a rapid influx of settlers and increase of buildings, so
there was a brisk demand for plastering, but "Sammy" was hamp-
ered seriously by the scarcity of lime, as it had to be hauled by
teams from Keokuk, or wait the desultory ai'rival of a river steam-
boat. His large family necessitated hustling for support, but he
was active, energetic, companionable, a true type of the pioneer, a
good workman, and soon got into favor with the community.
In January, 1850, he made a contract to plaster the first Court
House, which stood where the Union Depot is now, for one hun-
dred and f<n-ty-five dollars, the work to be done before April fol-
lowing.
In September, ISoO, at a meeting of citizens to organize the
iirst school district in Des Moines Township, he was elected one of
the School Directors, and at a meeting of the Board of County
Commissioners, ;N"ovomber Twenty-first, an order was made that,
"For the purpose of keeping a district school, the court-room of
the Court House belonging to Polk County, William Jones and
Samuel Gray take possession of said room on the Twenty-fifth day
of 2^ovember, A. D. 1850, and to retain the same four months,
and deliver said nwm to the Board of Commissioners in as good
order as it shall be received, said Jones and Gray to pay for the
use of said room the sum of four dollars per month." That is the
first record of a township district school in the county. Charles
L. Anderson was employed to teach the school. The amusing
incidents of his engagement and examination for fitness will be
found in the sketch of Madison Young, Secretary of the School
Board. (Volume II, page Fifty-three.)
In 1850, ''Uncle Sammy" also ran for Justice of the Peace,
against L. D. Winchester. Both were Democrats, but the latter
won out. The vote was:
Winchester 99
Gray 86
Total 185
At the August election, 1851, Gray was elected County Treas-
urer and Recorder, the two offices being then combined, and on
the Eleventh, entered upon the duties of the office as the third
Treasurer in succession.
SAMUEL GRAY 427
In those days, a public office was deemed more an honor than
an emolument. There were not Whigs enough in the county to get
an office, anyhow. As an indication of the salaries of the county
offices, the recoi-d of the qiiai*terly accoimting in January, 1852,
between B. Rice, County Judge; Samuel Gray, Treasurer and
Recorder, and Hoyt Shennan, County Clerk, shows the salary of
Rice, November, 1851, to January Fifth, 1852 $ 84.40
Gray, October Sixth, 1851, to January Fifth, 1852.. 137.00
Sherman, October Sixth, 1851, to January Fifth,
1S52 137.00
Total $:!58.40
Cash received in jiart ])ayment for services :
Gray 68.95
Sherman 68.95
Total $ 176.50
Balance still due them on salaries is as follows:
Rice $ 45.80
Gray 68.05
Sherman 68.05
Total $181.90
From this report, it will be seen that the salary of the Treasurer
was less than six hundred dollars a year. The difficulty in those
days was to get men to take the offices, and they were mostly
selected on their qualifications and popularity. The three officers
reported here were well known and personally very popular. Hoyt.
Sherman was a Whig, and was selected because of his superior
clerical ability. Rice because of his excellent business capacity, and
"Sammy" because everybody was his friend.
Octolxn' Twenty-fifth, at the first meeting of the first T<nvn
Coimcil of Fort Des Moines, and held in the old Court House, he
was elected Town Treasurer. In 1853, he was reelected, but soon
after resigned, as he was getting too many irons in the fire.
428 PIOXEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
At the August election, 1853, he was reelected County Treas-
urer and Recorder, and put on record the original deed of the Uni-
ted States Government to the County Commissioners for the land
in which the "Original Town of Fort Des Moines" was located.
Although dated April Tenth, A. D. 1849, it was held up pending-
disputes arising from the platting of the town in July, 1846, and
selling of town lots immediately thereafter, for it was discovered
that the town plat, the west line of which was Eighth Street, lapped
over on the preempted claims of Richard Holcomb, Doctor P. B.
Fagen, "Jim" Campbell, and others; that the Commissioners had
given the town land lying west of Seventh Street embraced in those
claims, and to which the Commissioners had no right nor title.
Many of the lots had been sold, and before legal title to them could
be given, the pret-mption claims must be confirmed by the entry
and sale, through the United States Land Office, which, being done,
the Commissioners purchased the preemption claimants' interest in
the overlapping lots, and secured title to the town plat, all of which
required time. ^Yhen done, the Government deed was recorded. A?
the town is still growing, and business encroaches upon land set
apart in the plat for "Market Square," and "Public Squai-e," and
the title to some of the reserved places has been questioned, I give
the deed us shown by the record :
"The Usited States of Ameeica.
"Preemption Certificate l^umber 11924.
''To All to Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting:
"Whereas, Andrew Groseclose, James Mount, and Thomas
Black, Commissioners of Polk County, Iowa, have deposited in the
General Land Office of the United States a Certificate of the Regis-
ter of the Land Office at Iowa City, whereby it appeai-s that full
payment has been made by the said Andrew Groseclose, James
Mount, and Thomas Black, Commissioners aforesaid, according to
the provisions of the Act of Congress, of the Twenty-fourth day of
April, 1820, entitled, 'An Act Making Further Provision for the
Sale of Public Lands,' for the Lot N^umber Five, of Section Four,
Lot Xumber One, and the northwest quarter of the northeast frac-
tional quarter of Section Xine, and Lot Xumber Five of Section
SAMUEL GRAY 429
Ten, in To\\^lsllip Seventy-eight, north of Range Twenty-four, west
of the Fifth Principal Meridian, in the district of lands subject to
sale at Iowa City, Iowa, containing one hundred and forty-four
acres and thirty-three hundredths of an acre, according to the Offi-
cial Plat of the survey of the said lands, returned to the General
Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been
purchased by the said Andrew Groseclose, James Mount, and
Thomas Black, Commissioners aforesaid; now
"Know Ye, That the L'nited States of America, iu consideration
of the premises, and in conformity with the several Acts of Con-
gress, in such case made and provided, have given and granted, and
by these presents do give and grant unto the said Andrew Grose-
close, James Moimt, and Thomas Black, Commissioners aforesaid,
and to their successors, the said tract above described ; to have and
to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immuni-
ties and ajipurtenances of whatsoever nature thereunto belonging,
unto the said Andrew Groseclose, James Mount, and Thomas Black,
Commissioners aforesaid, and to their successors and assigns for-
ever.
"In Testimomj ]V]icreof, I, Zaehary Taylor, President
of the United States of America, have caused these letters
[seal] to be made patent, and the seal of the General Land
Office to be hereunto affixed.
"Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the Tenth
day of April, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hun-
dred and Forty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States
the Seventy-third.
"By the President:
"Z. Taylok.
"By Thos. Ewing, Jij.,
"Secretary.
"S. II. Laughlin^
"Recorder of the General Land Office.
"Recorded, Volume Three, Page One Hundred Seventy-two.
"Filed May First, 1855, at Two O'Clock p. m., and recorded
same day in Book G, and on Page Five Hundred Sixty-five.
"Samuel Gray,
"Recorder Polk County, Iowa."
430 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
.Vt the close of his second term as Recorder, in 1856, Gray
entereil eighty acres of school land and forty-three acres of the so-
calle<l river land in Bloomfield Township, laid aside the trowel,
and began the building of a home. He erected a good dwelling-
honse, bams and sheds, cultivated the land, invested in about eighty
lots on the East Side, and was prosperous.
The Eighth General Assembly, by an Act passed March Twenty-
second, 1860, abolished the County Commissioner system, under
which county aifairs had been managed, and jirovided for a Board
of Supervisors, to bo composed of one representative from each
towTiship in the county. At the November election of that year,
Gray was elected the first Supervisor from that townshij). Tnder
the provisions of the statute, the Board was required to decide by
lot, at its first meeting in .Tanuary, the term of each member, one
part to hold one year, the utber two year> : in the shuffle, "Sammy"'
drew a on^yeai- term.
In 1883, it was discovered that a large body of stratified coal
existed beneath his farm. He therefore leased to a coal company
the right to dig the coal for twenty years, which put him in affluent
circumstances, and he retired from active business to enjoy it.
Politically, he was a Democrat of the Jacksonian variety, ami
always ready for a tilt in any political scrimmage that came up.
Socially, he had the temjjerament of the typical Corkonian : was
jolly, always bubbling over with humor and Celtic wit: open-
hearted, public-spirited, and esteemed by everybody who knew him
— and that embraced the entire cotmty.
July Twenty-first, 1907.
EVAN MORGAN BOLTON
EVAN M. EOLTON
AN early settler who was quite prominent iu the early Fifties
was Evan Morton Bolton. lie was born on the Third day
of August, 1813, of English ancestry, his father being a
fa 1-111 er, bom in the town of Bolton, England.
When Evan was two years old, his father emigrated to America
and settled in Connersville, Indiana, where he engaged in farming
and dealing in live-stock. There Evan passed his boyhood days,
doing the multifarious tasks which are the usual lot of a boy on a
new farm.
His opportunities for attending school were very meager. ISTot
more than six months' schooling was he able to get, and that in the
Winter, in a log schoolhouse. During his minority, there lived
nearby Phoebe Hannah, a comely country lass, whose father, in
1833, came to Iowa with his family and settled in Burlington.
When Evan attained his majority, he went to farming for him-
self, and one day, three years later, in 1837, he saddled a horse,
filled well a pair of saddlebag-s, and started on a journey of nearly
a thousand miles, through an uninhabited wilderness, to find Phoebe
Hannah. As all things are possible to him who wills, he succeeded.
They were married, and he retui-ned to his home in Connersville,
his bride accompanying him, also on horseback, an unusual, but
truly a "bridle" tour.
In 1849, he had an attack of Gold Fever, which induced him
to sell his farm and start for California, which he did in 1851, but
after shipping his goods to New York for the water route around
"The Horn," he switched off and landed in Cincinnati, where he
went into the hotel biisiness, first in Camp Washington House, and
later the Eight-Mile House, on the Coleraine Turnpike. He soon
tired of that, sold out, went to Indianapolis, and bought a farm.
In 1856, the new Capital of the State of Iowa was attracting
the attention of the people iu Eastern states as presenting good
431
432 PIOJTEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
opportunities for the farmer and meebauic. Bolton, therefore,
decided to join the procession thitherward. He again sold his farm
and, with his family in a light two-horse spring wagon, by easy
drives each day, arrived at the Mississippi opposite Burlington, in
May. The river was high and covered the bottom land over a space
nearly ten miles wide. His early training, however, had taught
him to fear nothing, and he plunged forward, fording the rushing
current until he reached the ferry-boat landing, from which he
was taten safely to the Iowa shore. Leaving his wife and children
with her relatives in Burlington, he came on to Des Moines, arriv-
ing in May, and stopped at the Walker House — named after Colonel
"Tom" Walker, a "Kentucky Colonel" by brevet, and Registrar of
the L^nited States Land Office by favor of President Buchanan —
which stood alone on the north side of Locust Street, occupying all
the ground from East Fifth to the present ISTorthwestem Railroad
tracks, and north to the alley. In July, he purchased the hotel and
became its manager.
When the river was high, and the floating bridge at the foot of
Sycamore Street became tw:> short at both ends and swung around
to the east bank, the Walker House was perforce the headquarters
of the Western Stage Company, and did a land office business.
In 1857, Bolton took the mail route from Nevada, in Story
Coimty, to Des Moines and return, three times a week, and kept the
route until 1862. It was during the famous Skunk River bottoms
era. With the river several miles wide, sometimes he was ten days
getting ten miles of the distance. Governor Kirkwood, C. F. Clark-
son, father of "Ret" and "Dick," and many other notable men were
"cooled" on those twenty-mile prairies in Winter, or stuck in the
mud of sloughs and Skunk River bottoms. I have a very distinct
remembrance of a ride over that route the last night of a bitter cold
December, when I made my advent to Des Moines.
In 1857, Bolton started the first lumber yard on the East Side,
im the south side of Walnut Street, where the Gilcrest yard now is.
The lumber was brought from Keokuk on the steamboat Clara
Hine, Captain Hill. As steamboats came only when the river was
high, he was obliged to haul considerable lumber by teams from
Keokuk.
EVAX it. BOLTON 433
In 1862, during the Civil Wai', a large number of soldiers were
detailed for garrison and post duty when they were greatly needed
for active service in the field. To relieve them, the War Depart-
ment called for a regiment of able-bodied men, forty-five to sixty
years old, to relieve the younger men. Iowa quickly responded and
raised what was rostered as the Thirty-seventh Infantry, but was
known all thi-ough the army as the Gray Beard Regiment. Mr.
Bolton made strenuous effort to enlist therein, but the doctors
refused to accejit him as an able-bodied man, to his great disappoint-
ment. Every congressional district in the state was represented in
it. It became one of the most notable features of the service, yet,
singularly, veiy little was ever said of it in army reports. It ren-
dezvoused at Muscatine, was mustered in in December, aad in Jan-
uary, 186;"], was sent to Saint Louis, where it served to giiard rail-
road trains and military posts until January, 186-1:, when it was
sent to Rock Island, thence, in June, to Memphis, whei-e it had its
only engagement with the "Rebs." A detail was sent to guard a
train on the Memphis and Charleston Road, and when about thirty-
six miles out, the train was fired on by a lot of bushwhackers con-
cealed behind brush and fences. The guard being on top of the
ears were fully exposed, and two men were killed. The fire was
quickly returned, and it was reported with good effect. From
Memphis, the regiment Avent to Indianapolis, where it was divided,
live companies going to Cincinnati and three companies to Gal-
lopolis, Ohio. May Fifteenth, 1865, it was reunited at Cincinnati,
and on the Twentieth, stai'ted for Davenport, where it was mus-
tered out on the Twenty-fourth. During its service, it lost by dis-
ease, one hundred and thirty-four; battle, two; woimded, threa
Most of the men were broken down from hardship and exposures,
and did not long survive.
Mr. Bolton was one of the first Justices of the Peace in Lee
Township. The prohibitoiy law was in force then, and no one
was allowed to sell spiritous liquor except the authorized agent of
the county, who was Doctor D. Y. Cole, but there were numerous
"holes in the wall" where it could be purchased "on the sly."
[NTumerous seizures were made of the contraband stuff, which helped
the lawyers, and some of the best, Jefferson Polk, Judge M. D.
Vol.. II— (28).
434 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
McHem-y, W. H. McIIeuiy ("Old Bill"), "Dan" Finch, Judge
Cole, John A. Kasson, and others, twisted the statutes, circum-
stances and facts before his Bar. His decisions were rarelv reversed.
Politically, he was a Whig, a strong Abolitionist, a personal
friend of old John Brown, and, with Isaac Brandt, was one of the
Directors of the "Fndergi-ound Railroad" from Missouri to Can-
ada. During the Know-jSTothing craze, he was suspected of know-
ing what to sav when asked, "What time is it ?" bv a man with the
second digit of his right hand thrust between the buttons of his
waistcoat, or where to go when the sidewalks were strewed with
small diamond-shaped pieces of white or red paper.
Socially, he was of positive temperament, inclined to taciturn-
ity, a kind neighbor, a zealous friend of the poor, and a popular
citizen. He was not a member of any societies or clubs.
Religiously, he aiBliated with the Methodists. Though not a
church member, he contributed liberally to churches and for educa-
tional purposes.
He died in 1874.
November Twenty-fourth, 1907.
MOSES STRAUSS
MOSES STRAUSS
AN old settler of Polk Connty who has been a potent, fact-or in
business and religious affairs in the city, and yet one of the
most quiet and unostentatious, is Moses Strauss. He is
known principally as a successful merchant, but he is more than
that. N^ot only is he an early settler, he is the founder and builder
of an element in the body jxtlitic of great helpfulness to the com-
munity, thereby adding further graces to its social fabric.
He was born March Sixth, 1833, in Bavaria, Germany. He
passed his youthful days with his father, who was a merchant, and
attended the common schools.
In 1848, not quite fifteen years old, he set sail for America, and
landeti at New Orleans, where he found employment in a store as
clerk, at fifteen dollars per month.
In 18.52, he went to j^ew York, and took ship for Australia, and
engaged in business in Melbourne ab<iut two years. He then went
to the Mountains, where he remainetl for a time, when another rov-
ing impulse took him to Africa, and thence to South America.
In 1857, he returned to Xew Orleans, and the same year came
to Des Moines and engaged in business with L. Simon and his
brother, Leopold, on Second Street, occupying two small stores.
Later, when trade and business began to move west, Strauss
moved to Court Axenuc, between Second and Third street.s, to the
Sherman Block.
In 1886, Alexander Lederer, a man of very courtly manner and
dignified personality, fonned a pai-tnership with Strauss, imder
the name of Lederer & Strauss, which name has been continued to
the present day. The firm opened a dry goods and clothing store
in Exchange Block, at Third and Walnut streets. In 1871, the
City Directoi-y places them at Forty-nine and Fifty-one Walnut
Street; in 1873, they opened up a stock of millinery and fancy
goods at Ninety-one Walnut Street, still retaining the dry goods
435
436 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
and clothing at the old stand. In 1875, they sold out their dry
goods stock and moved their clothing stock to where Evans' restau-
rant is now. The following year, they moved the millinery stock
from Walnut Street to the old Cooper Building, on Court Avenue,
and this business continues to-day, under the firm name of Lederer,
Strauss & Company, Incorporated.
In 1872, Mr. Strauss, desiring to invest some of his surplus
shekels in banking, became a stockholder and Director in the Citi-
zens' National Bank, and has been reelected each year since.
In 1887, he was one of the organizers of the State Savings
Banlv, was elected one of its Directors, and in 1889 was elected
President, which place he has held continuously since.
During the present year, he, with Carl Kahler, built the Majes-
tic Theater, at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars, each invest-
ing fifty thousand dollars. It is the finest amusement structure
west of Chicago, and its interior arrangement not surpassed by any
in the United States.
As a business man, he is conservative and optimistic, exercising
always those business principles which have given the coimty and
city an enviable financial reputation.
But it is in another field of helpfulness he has been conspicuous,
and in which he was the pioneer. Trained and educated in the
religious belief of the Hebrews — a religion dating back to the days
of the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — at the earliest oppor-
tunity, he became one of the leaders in organizing the first Hebrew
Church, or S^magogue, in Des Moines.
On Saturday, September Fifth, 1873, at the residence of David
Goldman, a meeting was held and the congregation of B'Nai Jeshu-
rum, which means "Sons of Peace," was organized, with eighteen
members. Joseph Kuhn was chosen President; Julius Mandel-
baum, Vice-President; Samuel Redstone, Secretary; L. Hirsch,
Treasurer. The Trustees were David Goldman, ISTelson Goldman,
Alexander Lederei" ; members, S. Joseph, Morris Riegelman, Henry
Riegelman, Isaac Hyman, Moses Strauss, L. Samish, Louis M.
Doctor.
For six years after the organization, its meetings were held in a
hall in the store of Joseph Kuhn, on Court Avenue, between Sec-
ond and Third. In 1879, a building at Seventh and Mulberry was
MOSES STRAUSS 437
purchased and remodeled for the use of the congi-egation. In 1886,
a lot at the comer of Eighth and Pleasant was purchased and a
temple erected thereon the following year, in which services have
since been conductetl. The congregation has slowly but steadily
increased in nimibers, and has become a beneficent factor in the
religious and social life of the community.
A large Sabbath School is maintained by the cougTegation, in
which there are four divisions, for instruction in Jewish History,
Religion, and Hebrew, by competent teachers.
Beginning with his little store on Second Street, Mr. Strauss
ha.s, by enterprise, integrity, and public spirit, become one of the
solid, substantial men of the city.
Politically, he is a Democrat, but not iu any wise a politician.
Socially, he is quiet, taciturn, imostentatious, eai-es very little
about ordinary social functions, is coui-teous and affable; in tem-
perament, decidedly positive. I would classify him with the home-
builders. He is a member of Pioneer Lodge, Number Twenty-two,
of the Masonic order; Corinthian Chapter, Xumber Foui-teen,
Royal Arch JMasons ; Des Moines Consistory, S. P. R. S., Thirty-
second Degree; a chai-ter member of Lazai-us Samiseh Lodge of
K. S. B., organized JSTovember Seventeenth, 1876, and was elected
its first Vice-Pi'esident.
December First, 1907.
DAVID B. MURROW
DAVID B. MURROW
APIOjSTEER of Polk County who has been a resident, for sixty
years, and prominently identified with it« development, is
David B. Murrow.
Bom in Parke County, Indiana, March Second, 1832, of Scotch-
Irish ancestry on the side of his father, and Welsh on that of his
mother, he passed the days of his youth on the farm of his father,
who, in addition to farming, dealt in live-stock.
During the Winter, he acquired such education as the common
school of that time afforded, in a log schoolhouse with puncheon
lAmr and slab seats, without back or desk.
lie attended no other school, but by keen observation and dili-
gent reading, stored his mind with such intelligence as made him
successful in business, a good and helpful citizen.
In the Fall of 1843, having a family of children and a very
small farm, his father decided to come to Iowa, where there was
more land to the acre and more acres to be had, not only for him-
self, but prospectively for his children as they reached their major-
ity. Accordingly, with the proverbial "prairie schooner," loaded
with bedding, a few household utensils, and clothing, with his fam-
ily, he came to Hem-y County, driving also a herd of cattle and
sheep, camping at night, or seeking the shelter of a convenient set-
tler's cabin, and located about eight miles west of Mount Pleasant,
where he remained one year, when he removed to Jefferson Coimty,
near Faii-field. In the Fall of 1846, he came to Polk County, and
located a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of Government land
four miles west of Fort Des Moines, on which are now the railroad
shops at Valley Junction. He hired a man to build a log cabin
with puncheon floor, on the claim, and returned to Jefferson
County. In March, 1847, he sold his holdings and came to Fort
Des Moines, bringing with him a drove of cattle, sheep and hogs.
He crossed the Des Moines River on the ice. There was not a
439
440 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
fraxae building in the village. Everybody was living and doing
business in log cabins.
He took possession of bis log cabin and began the cultivation of
his claim. As the yeai's passed, the Mnrrow fami became conspic-
uous for its improvements, magnificent grove of timber, and adja-
cent highly cultivated fields. The stork very generously brought
him six girls and seven boys, who are married and all living on a
farm excejit David.
David remained on the fann until he was twenty years old,
when his father oft'ered him his time if he so desired, as there was
little doing, and he went to w(n-k for Davis Boone, at Booneville,
at twenty dollai's ])er month. At the expiration of the second month,
his father sent for him to come back to the farm. Though Boone
offered to largely increase his wages, he considered his services
more naturally due to his father. He went back and worked two
years for nine dollars per month. He then rented twenty acres of
Alex. Scott, on the East Side, where the Rock Island Depot now is,
plowed it with one horse and a shovel plow, having to go three
times across the field for a furrf)w, so small wa-s the plow ; planted
the field to corn, cultivated it carefully, had a big crop, and sold it
to Alfred Lyon for twelve dollars an acre in the field. With the
proceeds, and that from the sale of his horse, he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres four miles west of his father's farm, in
Walnut Township. On his father's farm, he cut down trees and
got logs for a cabin. For lumber for flooring, sheathing, and raft-
ers, he hauled logs to a sawmill two miles east of Adel, and had
them sawed. At one end of the cabin was a stick and mud chim-
ney, with a big fireplace to take in four logs five feet long, to fur-
nish caloric to keep the cabin comfortable in Winter and do the
cooking. For glass in the windows, oiled paper was substituted.
He put a family in the cabin, and boarded with them. His land
was open i^rairie. The first crop raised was sod com.
Sometimes, the flour and corn meal became exhaustefl. The
weather and roads were bad, mills far away, and corn meal could
only be got by grating the corn on the cob. The meal was a little
coarse, but it satisfied the hunger and bred no dyspepsia. From
the first crop of wheat he raised, he took a load to Oskaloosa, the
DAVID B. MURROW 441
milling place, and had to wait eight days for it to be ground
— camping under the wagon at night. At another time, in Winter,
he took a load of com to Three Rivers, and waited eight days for
his grist- — sleeping in the mill at night, with the crowd of other
waiters for grists.
In 1859, he man-ied, and soon after sold his farm and went to
Kansas, where he remained until 1865, when he returned, pur-
chased his fathei''s farm, and at once entered into the social and
industrial activities of the community. He still owns the farm,
which he has made a very attractive plaee, and will ere long be
needed to provide westward expansion of the city.
When the Iowa ^N'ational Bank was organized, he became a large
stockholder. He is also a heavy stockholder in the Des Moines City
Railway Company and the Inter-Urban Railway Company, and
has always been an enthusiastic supporter of Mr. Polk in his
endeavors to develop a system of intenirban roads, believing them
to be potent factors in the upbuilding of Des Moines.
In 1889, having, by industry and business sagacity, acquired
nearly eight hundred Iowa golden acres, divided into four farms,
to give his children of minor age better educational advantages, and
himself more ease, he built an eleg'ant residence on West Twenty-
second Street, and there, imdisturbd by the frenzied financiers of
Wall Street, is passing his days in contentment, with the conscious
assurance of the highest esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens.
He is of frail physique, nervous sangniine temperament, opti-
mistic, seldom indtilges in retrospection, keeps daily posted on what
is going on in the world at large, has positive opinions of his own,
to change which would necessitate the showing that you '"are from
Missouri."
Politically, he has always been a Republican, though his father
was a Democrat, but a strong Union man through the war period.
He cast his first vote for President for ''The Pathfinder," John C.
Fremont. He is not a politician by inclination or adaptation, and
would never master the game.
December Fifteenth, 1007.
REV. SANFORD HAINES
PIONEER PREACHERS
SCAECELY had the pioneers of Polk County begun to turn
over the sod of the wild, unbroken prairie, when the pioneer
preacher began work in the new field. In the rude log cabins
and huts of the pioneers, they proclaimed the same gospel that is
jireached iu the gorgeous temples of to-day, but somehow it seemed
to have gained a firmer discipline, and wielded a wider influence
amid the simple life of the pioneer than in these latter days, amid
the surroundings of wealth and fashion.
Going from place to place, hunting up Christians scattered in
the wilderness, getting together a few of the faithful — often only
the father and mother — in the cabin, or perchance in the shade of
some wide-spreading tree, the Word would be expounded, a song of
Zion sung, a prayer uttered, words of cheer, hope and consolation
spoken. Thus they went about, founding societies, toning up moral
sentiment, directing public thought, and made the advancing line
on Christian civilization as it pressed upon savage life and the
wilderness.
Of such a type was Sanford Haines, bora in Champaign County,
Ohio, December Sixteenth, 1816, of Scotch-Irish descent His
father was a farmer, and on a farm he remained until 1841.
During his boyhood days, he acquired such an education as was
]iossible in the common schools of that time and place, which he
supplemented with imtiring eifort at self-education during early
manhood. At the age of fifteen, it was necessary for him to leave
his home and fight the battle of life on his own account, and he
lived mostly among strangers, his associations not being very favor-
able to good morals, but the early training of his Christian parents
was a good guidon for him. In 1840, be attendetl a prayer-meeting
in Union, Ohio, was converted and united with the Methodist
Church. He was very methodical, and kept a diary in which he
recorded eveiy day its events, showing the place, time and Bible
443
444 PIO:f^EERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
text of even' sermon proaehed. Of his convevsioii, he wrote, in
1855:
"I made it a point to do my duty from the hour of my conver-
sion. I bless the name of the Lord, that He has gi\'en me the grace
to help in every time of need."
Immediately after his cou\-ersion, he attended school three
months, to stnily Arithmetic, Euglish Grammar, and Natural
Philosophy.
The Church, in recognition of his zeal and consistent life, in
1841, gave him license to exhort in schoolhouses in the vicinity of
his home. September Third, he was admitted to the Conference
and licensed to preach. For three years, he preached in school-
houses on the Sabbath, and worked on the fann during the week,
devoting every spare moment to study and mental improvement.
His license to preach was a surprise to him, as married men were
not then generally admitted to preach under the itinerant system,
the wife being deemed an obstruction.
At the Ohio Conference, in 1S4S, he was ele<^'ted to Deacon's
Orders, and ordained to that office. In 1850, his health and that
of his wife lieing impaired, and their parents having settled in
Henry County, Iowa, he decided to come West. In the Spring of
1850, he shipped his household goods from Zanesville to Keokuk,
and, with his wife and children, drove overland, crossing the Mis-
sissippi at Burlington, June Twenty-sixth. On tbe Twenty-seventh,
he reached his father's family in Heniy County, where he passed
several weeks with relatives and driving over the country with his
wife. In his diary, he wrote :
"We saw much at which to wonder, and much to admiro. The
prairie scenery at this season of the year is beautiful and lovely
beyond description. The rolling praii-ies, the gi-oves of timber, the
rich soil, and the running brooks threw around ns a charm such as
Nature alone can do. We were spellbound."
In August, the Iowa Conference met at Fairfield, at which he
was ordained as Elder. He wrote in his diary :
"I was vei-y forcibly struck with the appearance of the Confer-
ence, both as to number and age of the ministers. They were truly
a band of bovs, and onlv about fifty in number, while the Ohio
PIONEER PEEACHERS 445
(^'ouference had about three himdred, and maiiy of them fathers iu
Israel."
He was assigned to the Maqiioketa Circuit, and met there a cold
reception, the f)eople having got the impression that he lacked force
in Ohio, and was therefore sent "Out West." But during the year,
he so ingratiated himself into the hearts of the people, at the next
Conference thev unanimously petitioned for his retention another
year, which was supplemented with his personal request, because
of the rapidly failing health of his wife, who desired to be near
her relatives. Great was his surprise and disappointment when the
apjtointments were read in the Conference that he was assigned to
Fort Des Moines, a distance of one hundred and twenty-fi\-e miles.
His strong, sympathetic temperament and a little of the Old Adam
was aroused thereat, for he wrote in his diary:
"I confess I thought it was an outrage upon the rights, claims
and feelings of humanity. My friends in Maquoketa were afflicted
and grieved."
He, however, decided to take the assignment, and ten days later,
his diary says:
"We stai*ted, Mrs. Haines scarce>ly able to sit up in the carriage.
We traveled as best we could. About three o'clock on Saturday,
we reached a prairie twelve miles wide which we had to cross, but
night overtook us, we got lost, and were compelled to remain in that
open field all night, without anything for ourselves or horse to eat,
my wife sick, with paroxysms of coughing that are indescribable.
The caiTiage was so constructed, she could not lie down. The next
morning, we reached Mr. Rice's, her uncle, safely."
There he halted to consider the situation with friends. His wife
in the last stages of Consumption, with two children to be sup-
ported, fifty dollars expenses for moving, going to a new, sparsely
settled coimtry ; he declared it would not be done. It was a case,
he recorded, "of a kind which did not occur in the history of Meth-
odism." His wife, however, advised him to go and see the people
iind tell them plainly the circumstances, which he did. The good
people at The Fort gave him a hearty welcome, and he decided to
remain. In his diary, he wrote:
"To my utter astonishment, they met the claim for the first
quarter. They told me I might remain with my family all the time
446 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
necessai-y, and preach for them whenever I could consistently, and
they would be perfectly satisfied. Nine weeks previous to my
wife's death, I was with her night and day. The year was one of
the most prosjierous of my ministry. I received all my claim, and
a number of presents beside."
During that year, he went to Saylor Grove, gathered together
a few of his faith, and organized a Class in one of the log cabins.
In 1852, he was again assigned to Des Moines. At that session of
the Conference, there was a vigorous tussle with secret societies,
the Council being detennined that no member of a secret society
should fill the office of Presiding Elder, which stirred up a hornet's
nest, but Bishop Ames ap]iointed two, which pleased Elder Haines,
who was an Odd Fellow.
In 1853, he was assigned to Keosauqua. His diary says:
"Had to move one hundred and fifty miles, foundered one horse
on the way, had to leave it. and it died soon after. She was an
excellent animal, worth one linndred and fifty dollars."
Of his new charge, he wrote:
"The place is cui'sed with infidelity, politics and whiskey. Abner
Kneelaud's influence hangs over it like an incubus on the peojile."
In 1854, he was sent to Keokuk, where he remained three years,
and did good work, bringing peace and hannony in a charge he
found in disordered and factional strife.
In 1858, he was sent to Fairfield, where he gave such satisfac-
tion, an unanimous petition was sent to the Conference for his
return there, and he also received his full salary of five hundred
dollars for the year, but he was again sent to Des Moines, and his
salai-y increased to seven hundred dollars. During the year, the
National Confei-ence divided the state, and he fell into the Western
Iowa Conference, which, at its first session, in August, 1800,
assigned him to the Des Moines District, with eleven charges, in
which he passed the remainder of his days.
I do not think any person throughout Central Iowa was more
generally known than Elder Haines, and wherever he went, he won
the highest esteem, for he possessed that temperament which made
and held friends. As a minister, his dominant trait was earnest-
ness and sinceritv. His sermons were logical, forcefnl, and often
PIONEER PREAOHEES 447
pathetic. As a pastor, he was untiring in watchfulness for the
welfare of his charge. jSTatnre so endowed him with tenderness of
heart and sympathy, his visitations to the sick room and sorrowing
were blessings treasured long after. As a man, he was an ideal
citizen. Righteousness, right-living, and no compromise with
wrong-doing was his rule of action. I recall a prayer he made in
the old Methodist Church, on Fifth Street, during the excitement
which prevailed throughout the covmtry respecting the impeach-
ment pi'oceeding against President Andrew Johnson. Johnson had
been sustained. lie said: "Oh, Lord; bless and preserve our
Nation, bless our rulers, keep them sober; but if they must get
drunk, don't let them all get dnmk at the same time."
The Elder was vivacious and social. At social functions of
yoimg or old, he was usually the mirth-provoker. In 1850, while
he was on the Maquoketa Circuit, he joined the Odd Fellows,
which, says his diai-y: "Highly offended two or three old fogies.
I paid no attention to them — jiist let them flounce and flounder
as they pleased. They were not able to effect anything." In later
years, he let his membership lapse.
He was an enthusiastic lover of the beautiful in nature and art.
He found much pleasure in a fine painting, a landscape, the bab-
bling brook, the majestic river, the warbling of birds, and the flow-
ers of the field. He exemplified that temperament in his home-
stead and its surroimdings, with blooming shrubl>ery, trees and
vines, just south of the Windsor place on Grand Avenue, where he
deceased in 1871.
The first preacher I have Iieen able to locate was a Methodist
missionary named Pardee, who occasionally preached in the cabin
of "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell, in 1844, at Apple Grove, in what is
now Beaver Township. He was considered the first preacher in
the coimty. There wore then but three or four families in the
county, outside of Fort Des Moines.
In 1845, a few more families came iu, and, simultaneoTTsly,
Ezra Rathbun, a ilethodist preacher. He traveled on foot over
the county, preaching wherever he could get two or three Christian
people together.
He was a college graduate, an eloquent speaker, very unostenta-
tious, gained friends wherever he went, and did much to establish
448 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
Methodism in the coimtv. The people were pool', and for support
he did manual labor on week days. On Sundays, he went to
preach in the settlements. He preached the first sermon delivered
in Fort Des Moines. It was at the funeral of a child of Colonel
Grier, of the Garrison, in September, 1845, and that death was also
the first in the town.
He was active in civic affairs, became quite pi'ominent, and was
greatly esteemed as a person of high ideals and excellent character.
He was never pastor of any church organization. It may truly be
said he helped to lay the foundation of the Methodist Church in
Des Moine*. Very early in the Spring of 1845, he, with Benjamin
T. Hoxie, formed a Sunday School of seven children and a few
adults. Under their fostering care, and aid of Mr. Rathbun's
daughters, the school increased in numbers, and with it as the
nucleus, the church was organized. To that school was presented
the first Sunday School library in Des Moines.
He was an active helper, being a carpenter, in building the first
Methodist meeting-house. It was a frame building, on Fifth Street,
where the Iowa Loan and Trust Building is now. It soon became
so overcrowded, a larger one was necessary. The frame building
was removed across the street, and used for a caipenter shop, and
one of brick commenced later in 1856. The people were poor,
money was scarce, and progress slow. Early in 1857, the walls
were up and the floor laid, when A. J. Stevens, James Callanan,
and S. R. Ingham loaned the Trustees three thousand dollars with
which to complete the basement for use, and the last week in Sep-
tember, the first Quarterly Conference was held there. Bishop
Ames presiding.
During the sessions, among those asking license to preach was
a Southerner, who did not hesitate to declare that slave-holding was
a Divine right, and that he preached it. There was strong opposi-
tion to him, but after a protracted contest, he was granted a license
to "preach against sin," thus leaving the sinfulness of slave-holding
a mooted question. During the examination of candidates, one
was found who did not meet the requirements and was rejected,
whereupon he expressed his indignation by saying, in contemptuous
tones: '"T ho{>e the fathers in Israel will not forget their own
PIONEER PREACHERS 449
examinations." The Bishop was a large, portly man, of quiet man-
ner, very like Samuel Miller, a Judge of the Federal Court, who
had a habit of sitting with closed eyes, as if asleep, while lawyers
were making argaiments. So had the Bishop, but on hearing the
outburst of the rejected candidate, slowly opened his eyes and
quietly said: "Brother, we have no e\-idence yet that they have
forgotten them."
The church being unable to pay the loan, Ingham foreclosed the
mortgage, took possession, and fitted up the upper story as a public
hall, for conventions, concerts, lectures, etc. It was known as
Ingham's Hall. One day, Isaac Brandt and J. M. Dixon, the
ubiquitous local editor of the Daily Register, went there to attend
some kind of a show. As they entered the vestibule, Reverend
George B. Jocelj-n, pastor of the church, met them and very cor-
dially invited them to go into the basement and attend service.
■'Oh, no," they replied, "oiir entertainment is above."
"I fear it will Ije reversed in the future," quietly responded the
jiastor.
The onlooker from a street corner could never tell whether a
crowd headed in there was going to prayer-meeting or a rag-time
show, and it became a matter of town topics. Often, both floi>rs
were occupied at the same time, and the jjarting ni the "sheep" and
"goats" in the vastibule was amusing.
Subsequently, the church purchased the property from Ingham.
Under the first Constitution of Iowa, a negro could not vote
at any election. There was a strong pro-slavery element in the
county, and on one occasion Rathbun went to the polls to vote,
which he rarely did, and was challenged on the ground that he was
u "nigger." He was, however, unquestionably of Portuguese and
French descent, running back to Joshua Rethbun, a full-blooded
Portuguese, recorded in the ilayflower list of Puritans. He was
tall, slim, of swarthy complexion, and had thin lips. His hair and
eyes were distinctly of the Portugviese type, seen every day on any
of the ocean vessel docks along the Atlantic Coast. He certainly
was not a negTo. Politics was a great game in those days, and
everything went that would win a victory.
Vol. II— (29).
450 PIOXEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
In October, IS-iS, he entered eighty acres of land in Valley
Township, and became a land-holder.
When the northeast corner of Sixth and Grand was sold to the
Catholics for school purposes, the frame drug store of Doctor Grim-
mel thereon was purchased by Rathbun, moved to the comer of
JSTinth and Mulberry, remodeled for a residence, and there he
resided until his death, in 187!>.
Immediately following Rathbun came Reverend B. II. Russell,
a missionary rider of what wa.s called the Fort Des Moines Mission
of the Christian Church, which embraced the counties of Polk,
Madison, Warren, half of Marion, Jasper, Boone, and Dallas. He
traveled on horseback, his outiit consisting of a jiair of saddlebags,
one-half of which would be filled with com bread and bacon — per-
chance a piece of chicken, quietly interpolated by the good mothers
of the cabins where he tarried; the dther half with a clean, coarse
shirt and well-worn Bible. A trip of the circuit re((nired several
months, over trackless prairies and bridgeless streams, a ui>t
unpleasant task in Summer, but in Winter the danger from bliz-
zards and severe cold was great, for the cabins of settlers were far
apart.. Means of communication from one section to another was
limitetl to the chance passing of some person. Frequently, his
family were in dire suspense from lack of tidings of him, and
sometimes in absolute want of food and fuel. He was given a
hearty welcome wherever he went, and did a good work in the vine-
yards of the Master. He was a man of great physical endurance.
While Russell was riding the Circuit, George W. Teas came into
the field. He was very pretentious, effusive, and a little wobbly
in his Methodism — in fact, he left the church and joined another
denomination, declaring his change with the cou]ilet :
"Let the news spread from shore to shore,
George W. Teas is a Methodist no more."
He soon discovered he had got into the wrong i^lace and returned
to the fold, whereupon an enthusiastic brother, in a gladsome pr>ctie
effusion, exclaimed :
''Let the news spread from Georgia to Maine,
George W. Teas is a Methodist again."
PIO^TEER PREACHERS 451
Re\-erencl D. C. Marts, a Ilai-dshell Baptist, came into the
coimty and began iireachiug in the cabins in the Saylor Settlement.
He was an earnest. Christian man, more noted for the force of his
jireachment than the elegance of his diction. He was emphatically
a frontiersman. Dressed in Kentucky jeans, Bible in hand, his
red hair standing pompadour all over his head, he would commence
service singing at the top of his voice, and very likely close with
the declai-ation that, "Religion is a mighty good thing — as good as
a Fourth of July dinner." He was a zealous worker, but to get a
living, he located in Polk City, set up a turning lathe, went to
making chaii's with bark seats, and finally drifted into the tavern
business, giving meals of corn bread and bacon for twenty-five
cents, but if of wheat bread and chicken fixin's, it was fifty cents.
A circuit preacher in 1847 was J. Q. Hammond. As his circuit
embraced about one hundred miles, he preached at The Fort only
once in four weeks. His home was in one of the vacated soldier's
log cabins, 12x14, heated only by a fireplace at one end. It was a
2>oor protection against the Winter storms, and his wife and yoimg
daughter endured much suffering. Snow drifted in through the
cracks in the walls. There was no woodshed, and often they had
to shovel paths to the woodpile and dig it out of deep snow. They
were not disheartened nor discouraged. They were an integral part
of the zeal, energy and high purpose of pioneer life, which was lay-
ing the foundation for better conditions and future greatness — for
what we have to-day.
Among the very early preachers was Matthew Spurloch, a Meth-
odist exhorter, who traveled over the coimtry preaching in the little
settlements, and at camp-meetings. He was fond of yellow-legged
chickens, fast horses, and lucre. He finally "squatted" on a land
claim of three hundred and twenty-five acres, where Siimmerset
now is, on the Winterset Branch of the Rock Island Railroad, put
up a log cabin, where he sold groceries, tobacco and whiskey. He
was very loquacious, and a story-teller. It was related of him that
he would get into a crowd of stoiy-tellers, flip up a gold or silver
coin, saying ; "I can make you one hundred dollars of that kind
of money for twenty dollars," and he would show some specimens.
The bait was taken ; ho gathered in the gold and silver, and when
452 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
the victims clamored for their returns, he snapped his fingers at
them, and told them the best thing they could do was to keep their
mouths shut, which they did. With the gold and silver thus
obtained, he paid for the land, and that is how Summerset was
started. He wa.s arrested several times for counterfeiting, but
nothing could be proven against him. His victims would not
"squeal."
In June, 1847, he borrowed sixty-five dollars and sixty-six cents
of "Wall" Clapp, who kept a grocery on Second Street, and gave
his note, payable on Christmas Day following, "in pork, at the cash
price at said Spurloch's," to secure which he gave a mortgage on
his land claim of thi-ee hundred and twenty-five acres, the title to
which was still in the Government. It was the first mortgage placed
on record in Polk County.
In 1846, the Whigs persuaded Doctor T. K. Brooks to become
a candidate for Senator in the First General Assembly of the state,
at the October election, to represent the counties of Polk, Dallas,
Marion and Jasper. The Democrats put up "Tom" Baker, the
United State-s District Attorney. It was a lively campaign, for
Imth men were wide-awake. As it progressed, they decided to hold
a joint debate over the district. Spurloch invited them to come to
his place, and they went. After the debate, he kept them up imtil
one o'clock, story-telling, and then put them to bed. In the morn-
ing, he went to them very solemnly, saying he had bad news for
them ; a member of his family had died suddenly, and they must
arise as quietly as possible. The sympathies of "Tom" and the
Doctor were aroused, and the breakfast was eaten in silence. Then
he told them the grave had been dug, the cofiin made, and the f imeral
would be held at once. Headed by Spurloch, abjectly solemn, ann
in arm, "Tom" and the Doctor marched to the gi'ave of — a big pet
Tomcat. The two mourners choked down their mirth as they
turned away from the scene, seeing that Spurloch was in dead earn-
est, btit "Tom's" smile was so effusive Spurloch heard it, and he
pitched into him vehemently for his gross disregai-d for the pro-
jjrieties of the occasion, and declared he would do all he could to
defeat his election. Whether it was through his influence, or the
personal popularity of the Doctor, "Tom" was elected by only thi"ee
PIOXEER PREACHERS 453
majority in a strong Democratic district, and be was elected Pi-esi-
dent of the Senate.
In 1848, came Father Thompson Bird, a missionary of the new
school Presbyterian Church. (See Volume T, jiage Seventeen.)
The same year, the Reverend Mr. William Coger came into the
McClain Settlement, in what is now Madison Township, and was
co-laborer with Rathbiin. The Winter of that year was that of the
"big mow." One Sunday, he was plodding through the snow, after
sen-ice in one of the cabius, when he saw a lai'ge prairie wolf. His
"Old Adam" got the better of him, and he plunged after it, caught
it and cai*ried it in his ai-ms eight miles to his home.
Reverend William Busick also came in 1848, preached in the
cabins in the settlement about where is now Avon, and, being of a
business temperament, he laid out a town with pai"ks, broad streets,
churches, railroads, and a steamboat landing on the river t« facili-
tate the business of his embiyo city. He called it Circleville. Sev-
eral lots were sold, one log house erected, and a schoolhouse, but the
town got lost in the shuffle of civilization.
In 1849, Reverend William Cory located neai- a timber belt at
what is now known as Cory's Gi'ove, in Delaware Township He
did missionary work among the settlers, organized churches, and
became a very influential citizen.
In 1851, Reverend J. A. Nash came to Fort Des Moines, as a
missionary of the Baptist Church. (See Volume I, ])age Thirty-
three. )
In 1849, a Methodist preacher named Ra^Tior preached in
"Uncle Jimmy" Jordan's cabin, in the Walnut Creek Settlement.
His coming was always greeted with great cordiality, for "Uncle
Jimmy" was a devout Methodist. It was his custom to make prep-
aration for the visits, and among other things to have hymn books
and a Bible in place for the preacher. On one occasion, the preacher
wanted the Bible, but it was not there. "Uncle Jimmy," seeing his
omission, quickly picked up a large book — he was a little near-
sighted — and gave it to the preacher, who turned over a few leaves,
and laid it on the table. "Uncle Jimmy" thought it strange he did
not read a chapter from the Bible, as iisual, and on his departure,
examined the book, and found it was a copy of the "Congi-essional
Globe."
454 PIOXEEES OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
111 1855, Reverend E. M. H. Fleming organized a IMethodist.
class and began preaching Jfovember Fourth, in the Lyon School-
house, on the East Side. Mrs. A. Y. Hull, mother of Congressman
Hull, was the only Methodist on the east side of the river. Subse-
quently, he became pastor of Wesley Chapel, and very prominent
ill church work.
T il<< iK't think old-timers have forgotten Morgan Edwards, the
revivalist, who occasionally came to Des Moines to stir up the lag-
gards and lethargists in the churches, and increase their member-
ship. He was an earnest worker, sincere in his belief, companion-
able, made friends easily, and noted for the spontaneity of his
speech. He spoke just as he happened to think. At one time, the
whole Western country was suffering from drouth. The land was
parched and dry. Fainners were troubled over the prospect of their
crops. Water was scarce, even for domestic use. In one of his
prayers, he asked for rain, "Not a freshet, good Lord, but a gentle
sizzle-sozzle." At another time, in his requests for Divine favor,
he said : "Thou knowest, O Lord, that I am in need of a pair of
shoes, and Doctor Dickenson is the man to give them to me." The
Doctor furnished the shoes. He was a firm believer in Divine
Providence — that the Lord would provide for His own. One morn-
ing, a poor woman came to his door begging. He gave her his
wife's shoes, leaving her shoeless. During the day, a man gave
him a five-dollar bill, with which he purchased his wife a pair of
shoes.
He was accustomed to go about town, visit families, have a
social chat, and invite them to attend his meetings. In one family
was a woman who expressed a desire to attend, but she had no bon-
net. Edwards, at the next meeting, did not forget it, and in his
prayer said: '"And, O Lord, send Jennie Sanford a new bonnet,
so she can go to church."
His personal allusions were received without affront, for his
sincerity, kindness, and true Christian spirit disarmed them of all
sting.
December Eighth, 1907.
SAMUEL B. GARTON
SAMUEL B. GARTON
APTOISTEEE of the county who has been closely identified
with the growth of Des Moines, more especially that of the
East Side, is Saimiel B. Garton, or Sam., as he is familiarly
called by old-timers. He was born in Wisley, County of Surrey,
England, February Third, 1848.
His father lived on a small, rented farm, raised wheat and table
vegetables, which he took to London and sold in a market stall.
Ha\'ing a family of four boys and three girls, he found it difficult to
make both ends meet at the end of the year. Heai-ing so much
of the possibilities for a poor man in America, he decided to come
and try it. Accordingly, May Twenty-third, 1854, with his family,
he left London on the sailing vessel, Christiana, and arrived at
ISTew l^ork on the evening of July Fourth, amid the glare of fire-
works and hubbub of the celebration of the anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence by the New England, a strange greet-
ing to an English-born citizen.
Immediately on landing, he went to Centerville, Indiana, where
a sister had for some time resided. There he rented a farm for a
time, but later opened a grocery on the Pike. The children attended
school and assisted in the store and on the farm.
i^earby resided a wealthy fanner, who owned a farm on what
was known as Saylor Bottoms, north of Des Moines. He made a
proposition to Garton to go there and operate the farm, which was
accepted, and in October, 1856, Garton, with his brother-in-law,
Anthony Tilley, well knowm in Des Moines in the early days, and
their families, stai'ted for Saylor Bottoms with two two-horse wag-
ons, two one-horse wagons loaded with the usual outfit of clothing,
liedding, housekeeping articles and a coop of chickens "on behind."
The route was through Indianajwlis, Bloomington, and Burlington.
Illinois was a trackless prairie, not a house was seen. At Bloom-
ington, they had to l)uy water for their horses, a severe' drouth
455
456 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
having dried up iill the sources of water supply, and water was at a
premivun.
They arrived at the farm late in the month, and found a renter
in possession, with the right thereto until March. Their only resort
was an iinoceu2)ied log cabin with two rooms. Each family took
one room. Poles were cut, and a lean-to, with thatche*! roof, for
sheltering the horses was attached to the cabin, and preparation
made to pass the Winter. Flour was sixteen dollars u barrel, and
Garton often said that had it not been for wild turkeys and prairie
chickens which they shot, they would have stiirvod. Tilley being a
butcher, bought cattle, killed them, sold the carcasses in Des
Moines, and with the proceeds puri-ha<ed ]U'(i\isi(jns for the faniilie-^
in a very limited way.
The next year came a big tlodd, in .July, wheat and cats in the
shock floated off dowTi the river, and the corn was ruined. They
therefore abandoned the bottoms, and rented land where the Dan-
ish College, (Children's Home, and D. H. Kooker's I'esidence now
ai"e, north of Union Park, and began farming again. They lived in
a log cabin which stood where is now the pavilion at Union Park.
During the Winter, the boys and girls attended the Alfi-e<l Harri-;
School, three and a half miles distant, walking it every day. Sub-
sequently, Samuel, and an older brother, William T., supplemented
their education with a course in the business college of C. B. Worth-
ington and J. W. Muffly, the first school of the kind in Des Moines.
In the early Sixties, Father Garton. a~ he was usually called,
purchased an interest in the Carlisle flour luill, and, with his fam-
ily, went into the milling business, where he remained several
years, when his taste for farming induced him to purchase forty
acres neai" Avon, and, with Samuel, turned over the wild prairie,
fenced it, and put it under cultivation.
William T. also left the milling business and learned that of
making bread and cakes, and early in the Spring of 1865 rented a
small, one-story frame biiilding of "Billy" Moore, and opened a
bakery. It was on Walnut Street, at the southeast corner of Fourth,
"Billy" having the year before moved his Iloosier Store up from
Second Street. The bakery was on the third lot from the corner,
next east of "Billv's" store, a two-story frame; next east, on the
SAMUEL B. GAETOK 457
alley, where Kurtz's store now is, was "Billy's" residence, a small,
two-story frame. On the opposite comer north, the Lairds had a
grocery. On the northwest comer, where the Valley J^ational Bank
now is, Anthony Tillej' opened a butcher shop in a log cabin, and
Harry Stephenson, who owned the corner, had his i-esidence in the
rear and west from the cabin. On the southwest comer was the
old Savery House, now Kirkwood. In 1867, William T. leased
ground of Judge Casady and built a two-story frame on the second
lot west from the hotel (the lot next to the alley being occupied by
ilrs. O'Toole, a milliner, in a one-story frame), moved his bakery
into it, and, with his wife, lived on the upper floor. Xext westward
wa.s W. A. Galbraith's grain and feed store, next Martin Tuttle's
grocery, and on the corner Weaver & Maish's dmg store, all in two-
story frame buildings, trade then having only just begun its move-
ment west of Fourth Street.
In 1869, Samuel quit farming and joined his brother, William
T. In 1873, they opened a branch on the northwest comer of
East Fifth and Locust streets, in a two-story frame building, and
Sam. became the manager.
When the big fire occurred in Chicago, in 1871, and a cry went
out for help, John J. Williams offered to fumish the Gartens all
the flour they could make into bread, and four men worked two
days and nights making bread, which was carried free to Chicago
by the Rock Island Eoad.
In 1876, the partnership having been dissolved, Samuel leased
the ground at Three Hundred and Thirty-one East Locust, built a
two-story frame thereon, moved his bakery there, and lived in the
upper story. In 1882, a boom having stnick the East Side, he
bf)Ught the ground at Five Hundred and Twenty-three East Locust,
and built the brick building in which he still has his bakeiy and
lunch room. He then built a three-story brick at Three Hundred
and Thirty-one East Locust, in which is now Graber's dry goods
store.
There is not now a merchant in business on the Ea.st Side who
was there when he commenced business, and in all those years his
store has been open for business six days in the week, and has
received his personal attention.
458 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Politically, he is a Republican, though his father was a Demo-
crat imtil the Civil War came. He gives little attention to the
game of politics, and in local affairs votes for the man deemed best
fitted for the place.
Socially, he is affable, of sanguine-lymphatic temperament,
somewhat stubborn in opinion, takes little interest in society fads,
is a zealous supporter of schools, churches and industrial affairs,
public-spirited and highly esteemed for uprightness and integrity.
He is not a member of any clubs or societies except the Ancient
Order of Ignited Workmen. He contributed liberally to the fund
which purchased and presented to the State Agricultural Society
the grounds for the State Fair, and also to the fund for building
the first ii'on bridge at Locust Street.
Religiously, he is a Baptist and an enthusiastic member of Cal-
vary Church. He is the church Treasurer, and financed the build-
ing of the edifice dedicated June Twenty-fifth, 1905, free of debt.
For twenty years, he has been a church Deacon.
December Twenty-second, 1907.
CALVIN THORNTON
THE early events of Polk Coimtv were very frequently punc-
tured with the doings of Calvin Thornton. Born January
Seventh, 1830, in Vei-million County, Illinois, of Scotch-
Irish ancestry on his father's side, and English on that of his
mother, he passed his boyhood days on the farm of his father, and
helped his mother with her weaving by doing the sjxioling and quill-
ing. His education was a tussle between his animal propensity for
--]iort and book learning. I asked him about it, and he replied,
rather f acetiouslj' : "The most schooling I got was learning to
jilay what was called 'Townball,' 'Bullpen,' and other games. To
lie sure, we had a log schoolhouse, with puncheon floor, and slabs
fi:>r seats. In the Summer, the teacher would lie do\na on one of
the slabs, go to sleep, and either fall off accidentally, or with the
assistance of some passing pupil, but in the Winter, there were boys
as large as the teacher, and you bet they kept him awalve."
Calvin, however, secured an education sufficient to fit him for
successful business, and when seventeen years old, he concluded he
could do better than living on a farm — that he would learn a trade.
His father attempted to dissuade him, telling him that it was his
intention to give each of his children a fann or set them up in busi-
ness ; that if he left his home, he would get no farm, and no start in
])usiness from him.
Despite the wishes of his father, he apprenticed himself for
thirty months to learn the trade of cabinet-maker. At the end of
rhc first year of his apprenticeship, in 1848, he got a ticket-of-leave
to visit his father, who had removed to Polk County. His visit
completed, he returned and served the remainder of his apprentice-
ship. In September, 1850, he returned to Fort Dos Moines, in a
]>rairie schooner, stopping at ''Uncle Tommy" Mitchell's tavern to
take a rest and be ready to wrestle with Skunk River bottoms. He
forded Des Moines River between Grand Avenue and Walnut
459
460 PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Street, and landed on the West Side with a good suit of clothes and
but a few dollai-s in his pocket. lie at once began work at his trade,
but soon after rented the small frame shop and tools of John Reich-
necker, which was on the west side of Fourth Street, where the
Munger Hotel nmv is, and, with resolute spirit, took up the bur-
den of life, often l)eing reminded of the "no farm" decree of his
father, which was faithfully kept, aud which he later in life often
said was a real teiefit, for it forced him to I'ely upon his own
resources.
One of his earliest ciistdiiicrs was Elder J. A. Nash, whose first
wife died of Consumption, and he had Calvin make the coffin — •
there were no bviriaJ caskets in those days. The Elder visited the
shop several times, desirous that the coffin should be good and
strong, as her father might decide to send the body East, and he
wanted it safe for the journey. The incident ripened into a firm
iuid lasting friendship between the twf).
One day, when standing in the door of his sho]^, he saw some
rabbits frisking about in the grubs where Brinsmaid's stoi'c is, and,
taking his gun from the rack, shot one of them.
At another time, he, Iloyt Sherman and some other fellows went
up on the bluff in the timber and dense imderbrush where the
Victoria Hotel is now, to hunt for wild plums. They got lost, and
wandered about some time before they got their bearings and found
their way out.
In January, 1851, having reached his majority, he decided to
invest in fanu land. Judge Casady entered forty acres for him
with a military land warrant, which was paid for mostly in furni-
ture. Every dollar he could spare fnmi his biisiness he invested in
additions to his forty acres, until he had acquired two hundred and
forty acres.
In April, 18.31, he was elected Clerk of Delaware Towushiji, aud
soon after Township xVssessor, Director of the School District, and
President of the School Board, and held one or more of those offices
so long as he lived in the towmship. In 1854, he married, built a
house, and went to farming.
In 1857, Douglas Township was carved out of Delaware Town-
ship, and Calvin was apixjinted by the County Court to organize
CALVIN THORNTOIJ" 461
The township for election, revenue and judicial purposes. He was
elected the first Justice of the Peace in the township, and held the
]dace so long as he resided there. He was also a School Director.
A few years later, his father-in-law died, leaving a fai-ni which he
entered in the Government Land Ofiice in 1848, and which is now
the State Fair Grounds. Calvin sold his farm, settled ^vith the
heirs of his father-in-law, took possession of the farm, and lived
thereon until he sold it to the State Agricultural Society, in 1886.
In October, 1862, he was elected a member of the Board of
County Supei-\'isors, to represent Douglas Township, and reelected
in 1864. During the war period, the Board was an active and
busy body, for the demands of families of the men who were in
the army were numerous and imperative, requiring almost daily
sessions. It was an intelligent, patriotic body, and the soldier
boys from Polk County and their families were cared for with
fidelity and liberality.
When the second Court House was built, bonds of the coimty
were issued in 1859 to raise funds therefor. A lai-ge number of
the bonds were sold to Clarke, Dodge & Company, ISTew York. At
the January meeting of the County vSupervisors, they put them-
selves on record, to-wit :
"WiiEUE.v.s, It is belie\'cd that a large share of the bunds known
as Court House Bonds are owned by parties in rebellion against
the Government; therefore,
"Resolved, That the Treasurer is hereby instructed not to pay
interest on said bonds unless he is well satisfied that the owners are
truly loyal."
April Third, 1805, the Board was iu session when the report
came of the STirrender (if Lee's army, whereupon it was imme-
iliately
"Resolved, That the Clerk of the Board is hereby authorizetl to
illuminate the Court House at the county's expense this night, in
honor of the capture of Richmond by the armies of the Republic
of the LTnited States.
"Resolved, That the Clei-k be and is hereby authorized to have
thirty-six guns fired this evening in honor of the recent victories
of the Union army near Richmond."
462 PIONEERS OF POLK COUXTY, IOWA
Captaiu Jlavry Griffitli. Clerk of the Board, who had served
two years as Commander of the First Iowa Battery in the field, on
hearing the resolution read, leaped to his feet, railed Pete. Myers
to take his place, and, before the Board had adjourned, he had a
twelve-pounder belching fire, smoke and noise down at 'Coon Point.
His thirty-six guns were sup])lemented with one hundred more
ordered by the state. The whole town was wild with exubei-ant
cheering.
In 18(59, the county was infested with horse thieves and perpe-
trators of other robberies among the settlers. The Vigilance Com-
mittee of Allen and Four Mile townships determined to put an end
to it, within their jurisdiction at least. Suspicion fastened upon
"Jack" Hiner a.s one of the gang, and he was brought before
Esqtiire Prentice, an old settler, a few miles east of the Capitol.
Hiram Y. Smith, a young lawyer, who subsequently became Prose-
cuting Attorney for the county, and Congressman, appeared as
Hiner's attorney. There was a large gathering of farmers present,
and considerable excitement. After a long hearing, which lasted
imtil night, the court decided there was not sufficient evidence to
hold the defendant, and he was discharged. He was immediately
taken in charge by a number of men. Smith's horse was brought
up; he was told that his services were no longer required there;
that further attempt to save his client would be futile, and the best
thing he could do would be to get back to Des Moines and stay
there. The advice was given with emphasis, which received prompt
attention. That was the last known of "Jack" Hiner. What became
of him has since been a mystery. Knowing that Calvin was familiar
with all that was going on in those days, I asked him not long ago
if he knew what became of him, to which he rejilied :
"The last I heard of 'Jack' Hiner, he got into a deep hole in
Des Moines River, between Mrs. Henderson's and Rees Wilkins"
place. Of course, I was not there, but some of 'the boys' told me a
committee was appointed to take him to jail, but when they got
along in that timber on the river bank, he got away from them,
and made the highest jump they ever saw a man make — fully as
high as their heads — and into the river. You certainly know that
is a dangerous place to get into on a very dark night. A person is
CALVIX THOENTOX 46a
likely to find a watery grave, and uo one wonld feel in duty bound
to risk their life at such a time in trying to save him. 'Tis sad, 'tis
pity, 'tis true. But it was a weak committee, composed of such men
as 'Tom' Mattocks, Jarvis Hougham, J. C. Taylor, and some others
I might mention not yet dead."
If Calvin's explanation is correct, that committee must have
(-hanged their plans, for on the night Hiner disappeai-ed, "Jim"
^liller says the sixty feet of I'ope in the well on his farm, not far
from where the committee took charge of Hiner, was taken by a
group of men who would not let him get near enough to identify
them.
Politically, Calvin is a radical Republican. Pie was a charter
member of the party, in 1853. So jwpular was he in the party, he
was selected as a delegate to nearly every Republican county con-
vention during his residence in the county, and so much faith had
the people in his business capacity, honesty and integi-ity, he was
elected Justice of the Peace, Director, President and Secretary of
a school district, To\vnship Supei'visor or Assessor continuously in
the several townships of Delaware, Douglas, Lee and Grant, which,
by the changes of geographical lines, his farm fell into, from the
time he was twenty-one years old until he left the county, in 1886.
Some of the time he was Director, President and Secretary of the
same school district, until the Legislature prohibited the office of
Pi'esident and Secretary being held by the same person. He was a
charter member of the Tippecanoe Club. He was a man of affairs
in the early days. Socially, he was affable and companionable. He
was a finn and active helper of the church and school. Reared
as a Quaker, be abjured all fratenial organizations, except the
Grangers.
When the Des Moines Plow Company was organized, he became
a stockholder, and later President, until it was changed to a barbed
wire company. In 1875, the company made a contract to manu-
facture and supply the State Grange (Patrons of Husbandry) at
reduced price, barbed wire, in opposition to the Washburn, Moen
trust. Immediately, a big fight was on in the courts. Calvin was
an active participant in the scrimmage fi-om start to finish. There
were thirty-one subordinate granges in the county, and Calvin was
464 PIOXEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
a chai-ter member and Master of Grant Township Grange. He
showed the eourag'e of his conviction by affixing his signature to
the fiftv-thonsand-doUar bond which carried the contest to the Uni-
ted States Supreme Court and victory. Then he was satisfied.
When the Iowa National Bank was organized, he invested four
thousand dollars in its capital stock.*
Januaiy Fourteenth, 1907.
"He died in Pasadena, California, September Third, 1908.
MRS. L. F. ANDREWS
LOKENZO FRANK ANDREWS
A COLLECT! OX oi sketches of the early settlers and city
buiklers of Des Moines would seem to be incomplete without
that of the author of them, especially when he was so impor-
tant a factor in the upbuilding and in preserving and recording the
history of the making of the city, and of the men who made it.
As the person most responsible for his coming to Des Moines,
the one who has known him longest and been most intimately con-
nected with his earlier years therein, I have been asked by his
friends and parties interested in this publication to prepare a
sketch concerning him, to be printed in this volume.
Having no personal knowledge of his life before coming to the
city, I have managed to worry from him, by a close cross examina-
tion, the following particulars of his previous career :
He was born in Athol, Worcester County, Massachusetts, March
Eighth, 1829, at one o'clock a. jr., of Scotch ancestry, running
back to Thomas Andrews, of Carlisle, England, A. D. 1286.
His father was an inventor and machinist. It wa.s his custom,
when working out his inventions, to devise and make the machinery
necessary thereto. He was at one time engaged in an establish-
ment which used a vast amount of bolts and nuts, the threading of
which was done by hand. He invented a machine which automat-
ically not only did the threading, but made the bolt heads. It was
the first machine loiowTi of the kind, but, like many inventors, he
neglected to get a patent for it, and others made millions from it.
When L. F. was two years old, his parents removed to Brandon,
Rutland County, Vermont, where his father assisted Thomas Dav-
enport in producing the first electric motor and railway known in
the world.
When twelve years old, his parents mo\ed back to Petersham,
Massachusetts, near his birthplace.
Vol. II— (30). 465
46(1 PTOXEERS OF POLK COTTNTY, IOWA
ITe atteiidcil the fdniiiHiii schuul, and ouo tcriu in Troy Confer-
ence Academy, at Poultncy, X'erniunt, and when sixteen years old,
indentured as an apprentice in the nftire nf the Banc (Massachu-
setts) Patriot., and served three years.
In ISrjO, he came tn Ivaiamazoo, Michigan, and in the office of
the Tetegraph \)\\\ in typi' the call issutxi for the convention at -fack-
sou, which organized the National Republican I'arty. Later, he
established the Vieslcrn Union, a weekly Republican paper, at
Xiles, Michigan, which was destroyed by fii'e. He then established
a weekly jaaper at Girard, Pennsylvania, which he sold, and went
to Oshlvosh, Wisconsin, and served one year as city editor of the
Daily Northwestern. Thence he went to La Fayette, Indiana,
where he was two years assistant editor of the Daily Conner.
December Thirty-first, 1863, he came ti:> Des Moines, and
entered the employ of Mills & Comjmny. While employed thus,
ten hours a day, he read law, entered the first class of the Iowa Law
School, now the Law Department of the State University, gradu-
ated in 1866, was admitted to practice in the state and federal
courts, and December Seventh, 1866, was appointed LTnited States
Commissioner for the District of Iowa, by Judge -Tolm F. Dillon,
of the Federal Court.
On coming to Des .Muines, he was the special state corresjiondent
of the Chicago Ecening ■/dunia!. and ti. it sent the first press mes-
sage over the first wire frnm Des .Mniiics. He served the Journal
nearly thirty years. He was also, at times, a special correspondent
of the Chicago Tnlnine. Saint Louis Globe-Democrat. Saint Paul
Pioneer Press and Neir York Trit)unc.
He was night editor of the Daily Register, under Mills <Sr Com-
I>any, and when the paper passed to the Clarksons, he became city
editor of the Daily Rcinitilicnu and Daily Stale Journal . during
their brief existence.
May Fifth, 1880, he was elected the first Secretary of the State
Board of Health. The following year, the law was changed, requir-
ing the Secretary to be a ])hysician, which he was not. He was
elected Assistant Secretary, and served eighteen years.
While with the State Board, he prepared and secured the pas-
sage of the law regulating the sale and use of kerosene, gasoline,
LORENZO FRAXK AX DREWS 467
and iiaiilitha for ilhniiinafiii,!;- piiriMiscs. and also tlir rules and reg-
ulations fur ilhuuiuating oils used in coal niiues, and the making
and sale of linseed oil. He also pi-epared and secured the passage
of the law providing for the punishment of those "holding up"
railway trains for the purpose of robbery, the first of the kind in
the state, as it iixed the offense, if human life wa.s lost thereby, at
manslaughter in the first degree.
He also reported for the press procex^dings of the Legislature
more than twenty years, ajid was well known throughout the state.
It was often said by Legislators and men from different parts of
the state who came to Des Moines, that at home, when important
news was current of doings at the Capital, and reports were con-
flicting, they always waited for the statement of "A." in the Clii-
rar/o Journal, to get the facts and truth.
The Index of Miller's Code of Iowa, jirepared by him, has been
prouomiced the best exanijile of legal indexing ever done in any
Towa publication.
His coming to Des Moines resulted in a disturbance at both
ends of the line. The foreman of our printing establishment leav-
ing us to embark in business for himself, made it necessary to
secure another one. I set about finding the best man for the place
that could be had, and after diligent search, and much correspond-
ence, he was selected. He was desirous to come West, and the new
Capital of Iowa attracted him.
The next morning after his arrival, I was waited on at my resi-
dence before breakfast by a committee representing all the printers
in the establishment, with a "round robin," signed by the entire
force, declaring that they would not go to work under the new fore-
man. I informed them that Mr. Andrews had been highly recom-
mended to me ; that I proposed to give him a trial ; that anyone who
ilid not want to work under him did not have to, and for them all
to appear at the counting-room and get their money, if anv was
due them ; that I proposed to run my own business a while longer.
Every one drew his money, step]>ed down and out. One apprentice
boy came back the same day and went to work, but no one of the
others ever had an opportunity to w(n-k for the i-ompany again. To
help me out of the lurch, Lamj). Sherman. r>arli)w Granger, Will.
468 PIOXEEKS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Porter, General William Duaue Wilson, and one or two other busi-
ness men, formerly printers, came in. tendered their services, took
off their coats, rolled up their sleeves, and went to the "case."
Inside of a week, many more printers than i cnnld tind work for
came in fmui other places and applied for sitiiafinns. Thus ended
the first and only "strike" ever organized auioiin the jjrinters of
Ues Moines during my umre than forty years in the business in
the citj-.
The reason given for the '"strike" was the charge that Mr.
Andrews, while associate editor and foreman of the Daily Courier,
at La Fayette, had put two lady tj^iesetters at work, and the ])rint-
ers thereupon struck and "ratted" the office. There was no Typo-
graphical L'nion at Des Moines, and this was claimed to be a "sym-
pathetic sfi-ikr." The vvA animus was, the temporary foreman
did not want In ln' dis]ilaccd, and had worked up the "strike" on
his own account. iMr. Andrcn'-s was thus an early martyr in behalf
of "Women's Rights." He remained in our employ for a number
of years, in charge of our Book and Job Department, and later was
night editor of the Daily Register, doing nnich editorial work in
the meantime, until he was called to a prominent official {xisition
at the Capitol.
Xo man better versed or more skilled in the typographic art ever
held a place in an Inwa printoi-y, and as a newspaper man, he was
a {leer of the best in bis sjH-cial lines. As a statistician, he was
only equaled by Wm. II. Fleming. Ilis succinct and impartial
reports and statements of ])ublic proceedings and affairs; his terse
and lucid conclusions, made his correspondence sought for by Chi-
cago and Iowa jonruals.
Of late years, he has lai-gely de\-oted his time and talent in dig-
ging out and recording important facts in the early history of the
state and city, their prominent men, and early settlers. In this, he
has done a work of great \alue, and added largely to the general
knowledge respecting them. There is a wide-spread desire that he
continue in the good work, unearth and record many more facts of
historical ini}K)rtance.
^Ir. Andrews' wife is a lady of culture, and a writer of marked
ability. She is the founder of the local society of the Daughters of
LORENZO FIJAXK ANDREWS 469
the xinierican Reviilnti>ni ( liur fallicr lining a suMier nf the Revo-
lutionary War), aiJ(l of tlic Seiulery Literary (Jlnl).
Their son, Frank ilills Andrews, who was a product of the
State College at Ames, and later of Coniell l^ui\'ersity at Ithaca,
New York, is a very successful architect of national reputation.
Notable specimens of his work may be seen in New York City,
Indianapolis, Louisville, Ciiieiuuati, Dayton, the City of Mexico,
Mobile, New Orleans, and in the new Capitol of Kentucky.
Fkane M. Mills.
CONTENTS
Allen, B. F
Andrews, L. F
Andrews, Mrs. S. M. . .
Andrews, Nathan . . .
Ayers, W. F
Ayers, Guy K
Baker, General N. B. . .
Bales, Solomon ....
Ball, Mrs. Frances M. .
Barnes, Mrs. Nancy . .
Bates, Judge Curtis . .
Beebe, George ....
Bird, Rev. Thompson . .
Bolton, E. M
Bondurant, A. C. . . .
Brandt, Isaac ....
Brazil, Rev. J. F. . . .
Brooks, Dr. T. K. . . .
Brown, Leonard . . .
Bryant, Benjamin . . .
Burke, Martin L. . . .
Burke, L. M
Burton, Wiley C. . . .
Bussey, General fyrus .
Callanan, James . . .
Christmas in Earlv Day.s .
Clarkson, J. S. ("Ret")
Campbell, Dr. James . .
Canfield, Elijah . . .
Casady, Judge P. M. . .
Casady, Mrs. P. M. . .
Cavanagh, Thomas . .
Christy, William . . .
Clapp, Edwin R. . . .
Cole, Judge C. (,'. . . .
Cook, Ira
Cooper, Isaac ....
Cooper, Mrs. Isaac . .
Cory, I. M. T
P.\GE
55
465
199
23
269
73
377
585
265
353
421
303
17
431
Crocker, General M. M. . II
Davis, John M II
Des Moines — What It Means I
Dewey, Col. J. N. ... I
Dyer, Samuel L I
Entwistle, Edward ... II
Finch, Daniel O I
Finkbine, Robert S. ... II
First Things in Des Moines II
Fisher, Mrs. Elizabeth Bale
Fourth of July in Early Day
Galbraith, Bartrum .
Garton, Samuel B.
Geneser, Francis . .
Given, John H. . . .
Given, Judge Josiah H
Godfrey, Col. George L
Good, Charles
Graham, Seth .
Granger, Barlow
Gray, Samuel
Green, Samuel .
Griffith, Col. J. M
Griffith, Capt. Isaac W
Grimmel, Dr. F. C.
Harbach, Louis . .
Haines, Rev. San for
Hays, John . . .
Hepburn, Addison J.
Hippee, George M.
Hobaugh, John . .
Hooker, Col. E. F. .
Hubbell, F. M. . .
Hull, Dr. A. Y. . .
Ingersoll, E. J. . .
Jewett, George A. .
Jones, A. D. . . .
Jordan, James ('. .
Kasson, .Tohn A. .
PAGE
145
103
319
455
351
391
203
327
281
49
425
409
97
443
363
405
165
229
429
247
323
295
181
471
COXTEXTS
Keyes, Calvin W
King, Michael H
Kingman, A. S
Lamb, Curtis
Lehman, Williiuii 11. . . .
Lott, Henry
Lowry, William
Lyon, Harrison
Macartney, Frederick C. . .
McDonnell, Nicholas S. . .
McFarlaud, Judge Cave J. .
McGlothlin, John D. . . .
McHenry, Judge Wm. U., Sr.
McKay, Judge William . .
McQuiston, Mrs. Avis Saylor
Meacham, W. H
Mills, Frank M
Mitchell, Thomas ....
Mitchell, Judge John . . .
Moore, William W. . . .
Morris, Judge T. T. . . ,
Mosier, C^yrus A
Murrow, Da\-id B
Myers, Mrs. Eliza Saylor .
Napier, Judge Thomas H. .
Nash, Elder John A. . . .
Newcomer, Peter ....
Norris, David
Nourse, Judge Charles C. .
Parmalee's Mill . . . .
Pioneer Preachers ....
Pioneer Women
Polk, J. S
Quick, William H. . . .
Rawson, Dr. Charles II. . .
Redhead, Wesley ....
Reinking, Conrad D. . . .
Rice, Judge Byron ....
1G9
311
373
43
339
173
219
449
297
317
345
267
245
189
5
415
233
439
439
266
205
33
397
127
443
351
133
119
Robertson. S. A I
iSauoerman, Samuel . . .IF
Savery, James C J
Saylor, Jehu P 1 1
Saylor, Benjamin .... II
Saylor, John B II
Saylor, Mrs. Martha Bales . II
Saylors, The II
Scott, William Alexander . I
Sherman, Hoyt I
Sherman, Lampsou P. . .11
Sims, L. D II
Skinner, Dr. David I). . . U
Smith, John 1 II
Sneer, George II
Spofford, Col. Sumner F. . I
Stewart, J. B II
Strauss, Moses II
Sypher, R. W I
Thornton, Calvin . . . .11
Thrift, J. M II
Tichenor, Col. George C. . II
Tidrick, Robert L I
TruUingcr, Daniel . .
lurner. Dr. M. P. . .
Tuttle, Gen. James .M.
Tuttle, Martin . . .
Van G inkle, Gerrit C.
Weitz, Charles . . .
Wellslager, R. T. . .
II
I
II
II
II
I
II
Wells, Levi J I
West, Capt. F. R. . .
Whitman, Dr. H. L. .
Williamson, Judge Wm.
Winterrowd, John F. .
Wright, Judge George G
Young, Madison . .
Youngerman, Conrad .
367
257
255
261
255
233
67
355
141
305
99
163
105
395
435
147
459
409
363
153
311
421
223
263
345
3.57
159
137
.333
213
91
53
201
Note. — The date given at the elo.se of each sketch is that on which it orig-
inally appeared in The llcgister and Lender, and will explain discrepancies
respecting incidents and clianges occurring since those dates and that of this
publication.
HECKMAN
BINDERY INC. |§|
vJUN 9C
