USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1874 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF DES MOINES, MOWA. IOWA - D
For Reference Use
Iowa-D.
-
1 1
91Q D477)
873 1
393339
.
.
1
,
.
1
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory.
B
ALL KINDS OF
Sewing Machines Repaired.
AND WORK WAL JANTED'
¡businessil3 years of the time in a
I have had it years experience in the Sewing Machine ur shop in Clac .d. I have opened a Repair Shop L' Sixth Street, DesMoines where i Sewing Machine Needles, and parts
will repair all kinds of Machines and keep all kinds of all machtnes, and the best of olla
M. A. Martin, Sixth Street, DES MOINES, IOWA.
' J. B. JAMES T. W. VINCENT.
VINCENT & CO.
CERRS
Comer 7th cad walaut st
Des Moines,
lowa
ALEX MOWATT
DEALER IN
FLOUR, FEED
Corn and Hay
314 SEVENTH ST., DES MOINES, IOWA.
MEAT MARKET
D. W. Schoonmaker;
The Best of Fresh and Salt Mests always on hand.
wild Mento in their Season
601 Walnut Street, DES MOINES TOWA
C
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory.
A. STOLLBERG
5
Merchant Tailor;
AND DEALER IN
READY-MADE CLOTHING,
AND GENTS FURNISHING GOODS.
Corner Court Avenue !. and Third Street, DES MOINES, IOWA.
Gus. Smith,
DEALER IN
Staple and Fancy Groceries FINE TEAS, PROVISIONS, &C. WE HANDLE THE BEST BRAND OF FLOUR! Dupont's Powder and all Kinds of Ammunition. ONE PRICE TO ALL. 395 Walnut Street, DES MOINES, IOWA.
Des Moines
University
..
J. A. NASH, Pres.
Classes are formed in the Regular and Scientific Courses, and Degrees conferred at completion of the same. For terms and particulars, see Circulars) or apply to any member of the Faculty.
Calendar of 1874-5
Ist Term begins September rytH. 24
3₫
u December 10th. " March 18th. Year ends June 9th. 1875.
PIERSON & BLAIR, BOOK and JOB PRINTERS DES MOINES, IOWA.
Bank, Insurance Railroad Pri itin A SPECIALIT Job Work of all kinds Executed Promptly, and SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. 207 FIFTH STREET. UP STAIRS.
Bushnell's Des Moines rectory.
D 1
MARTIN TUTTLE
Proprietor Patent Limme Kilns and Quatre gear Earlham, Iowa,
`AND GENERAL DEAL, RUIN;
LIME AND STONE,
Cement, Stucco, Hair, Fire Brick, Sand, &0.
Having a Steam Store Sawing Mill in connection with my Yards in Des Moines, I am enabled to furnish Out and Sewed Stone of all kinds, at less prices thanhd cut by hand.
SEND ORDERS TO GENERAL OFFICE
Sleth and Vine Sts ..
DES MOINES, IOWA!
IOWA
CARBONATED
STONE PIPE WORKS
MANUFACTURE
Drain, Sewer, Well Pipe,,
And Chimney Flues.
Works and Office, con am and Vine Ste. One Square from Court House & Postoffice, DES MOINES,"
H. WILLIS |Supt. WMIG STEELE, Prop.
Especial attention is given to. the manu- facturing of. entire Chimney Flues and Tops -they being less than one Half the weight and cost of brich fue ofi they came capacity: for draft; the me being windde insure. a perfect draft either for the burning of wood or coal. Are warranted to with- stand the action of extreme heat or frost; preliminde: of ]different patterns and
sizes.
Send for Cash Price List.
E
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory-
Cash Grocery W. BRUNSDON, TEA ;DEALER,
1
-
Staple & Fauch Groceries, NO. 607 WALNUT STREET, Between 6th & 7th, -
Des Moines, Iowa. HIGHEST PRICES PAID FOR COUNTRY PRODUCE: 1
0
Brunsdon & Bird.
EAGLE MARKET ! 130 Walnut St, Des Moines, Iowa.
BRYSON, PRITCHARD & HURSH. Manufacturers of Romibest Brands of Floor, Coma Meal, Mil Feed,
INDIANOLA, IOWA. Branch House, 618 Walnut St. Des Moines.
DATE TOER, Arent!
PERKINS & SON,
Book, Job and Legal'
507 Mulberry St., Des Moines, Jowa,
.
Bushnell's Des Moines Mirectory,
MERRILL KEENEY & CO.,
Manufacturers, and De
FURNITURE !
carpets, floor of cloth WINDOW SHADES AND FIXTURES ;.
Mirrors
Children Card
WALL BRACKETS. ETOI, L ALSO. METALIC | AND WOOD
COFFINS,
314 Walnut St.
DES MOINES.
J. R. HAMMOND
Short Hand Reporter
Official Reporter Fifth Judicial District.
Office with H. Y. Smith, 41x" Walnut St., Des Moines, Iowa.
Thomas Morgan,
DEALER IN
Yankee Notions,
Chodai
Ladies', Gente and Children's Hoster General Assortment of
GENTS COLLAR
ALL GOODS AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE.
: 603 Walnut Street DES MOINES, IOWA.
G
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory.
DRUGS & MEDICINES, PARETOS, OUAS AND
WEAVERAO MAISH
DRUGGISTS
Corner " & Wain Streets (DES MOINES
@ lowAS
VARNISH WINDOW GLASS,
DRUGGIETS' SUNDRIES
wodesale and .Betal
Componding
Prescriptions ! Specialty
1
GOLDEN LYRE MUSIC STORE
C.H. EDWARDS General Agent for MATHUSHEK AND CHICKERING PIANOS, WESTERN COTTAGE ORGANS The best Instruments of their class in the Market. good stock of sheet music and all kinds of small Instruments. Give us a call before phrobasing.
404 COURT AVENUE, ABORN BLOCK.
es. Moines,
Jowa
BUSHNELL'S
DES MOINES
RESIDENCE AND BUSINESS
City Directory.
CONTAINING
. AN EPITOME OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE WE CITY AND COUNTY; THE
NATURAL ADVANTAGES OF DES MOINESINS A COMMERCIAL AND 19 . MANUFACTURING CITY A. RESIDEN! BUSINESS AND STREET' DIRECTORY ; ACHURCH, SCHOOL AND SOCIETY DIREC. TORY; STATE, COUNTY, AND CITY. OFFICERS.
J. P. BUSHNELL; COMPILER.
874-1875.
DES MOINES; IOWA JJ, 'P. BUSHNELL & CO .; HU BLISHERS. PIERSON & BLAIR, PRINTERS. 1874:
-
2
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory.
New American
Sewing Machine SELF THREADING SHUTTLE.
SELF SETTING NEEDLE. F. S. FAHNESTOCK, Manager.
Office, 213 Fifth Street,
DES MOINES, IOWA
H. De Los Willis, Wholesale and Retail ---
CONFECTIONER.
HOME MADE CANDIES A SPECIALTY 7: ETWARRANTED STRICTLY PURE.E French and American Candies, Fruits, Nuts, etc. Ladies' and Gent's Oyster and Ice Cream Parfors. I will furnish Ice Cream In any quantity on short notice, made from PURE CREAM.
-
Suppere furnished to Order. 406 Walnut Street, under, Savery Hotel, DES MOINES, IOWA.
F. P. CHASE
MERCHAN
CZMIILOR
GENTS . FURNISHER
Keeps a Complete Assortment of the Better 'Class of Goods for Gents' Wear. MR. B. SALVO, formerly a merchant tailor of the city of Boston, and well known as first class in his profession, will "get up" the: most fashionable garments that can be called for.
A FULL SUPPLY OF-
CLOTHS AND SUITINGS ALWAYS ON HAND,
Walnut, cor. Fifth
DES MOINES, IOWA. 1.
PREFACE.
To the Citizens of Des Moines;
In presenting to you the DIRECTORY of our city for 1875 ·we have no doubt that our efforts to compile the most complete and reliable Directory of Des Moines ever |published, will be appreciated by all who are interested in the development of the - business, commercial and manufacturing interests of our city .; Since our last publication, the city has greatly improved, not only in the number of residences and business houses erected, but numbers of new business firms and manufactories have located here, as will. be seen by reference to the business. directory. The population has increased over a thousand, now numbering sixteen thousand seven hundred and twenty.
- The rapid development of the commercial and manufacturing inter- .ests of the city, its location in the richest agricultural region of the State, and the prestige of being the capital of the best State in the Union, unmistakably indicates a steady and substantial growth, which will soon make it one of the principal cities of the country. To the friends who have generously patronized us, we extend our hearty acknowledgments. We shall, in the. future, publish the DIRECTORY annually!
J. P. BUSHNELL & CO.
October 1, 1874.
6796
4
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory
INDEX OF CONTENTS
Abbreviations 33
Advertiser's Index! 4
Agricultural Societies 24
--
Boards of Education!
16 Patrons of Husbandry.
24
Boundaries of Wards 31 Polk County.
Business
13 Postoffice Regulations. Preface. ..
2or
Business Directory .!.
65
Church Directory
26
City Officers. City Union Relief Society
23
Colleges and Public Schools .
5 Resident| Directory.
23 33
County Officers. 27 State and Judicial Officers
. Des Moines.
Des Moines Typographical ( Un- ion. 23
German Turners Association 23 Historical '9 Iowa Business College 1,6
low# Polytechnic | School. . 15 United States Courts. 3,5 Masonic Orders.
Minerals
o
ADVERTISER'S INDEX:
LEADING BUSINESS HOUSES OF DES MOINES.
Aborn House.
. 184
!
Ainsworth & Bonbright,
hard-
ware
204
B. F. Allen's Bank
¥68 .
Blair, R. L: florist.
194
Brundsdon, W .. grocer
3
Brunsdon & Bird. meat market ..
3
Bryson, Pritchard & Hursh, flour 13
Burson, millinery -
.205
Bush, H. M. commission
mer-
chant .. 196 Butler, F. harness and saddlery . . 192 Capital City (Bank 206 'Carver & Young, planing mills. . 205 Cary, E. R. druggist. .211
Chicago Store, milliftery.
192
Citizens National Bank.
186
Clark, M. M. Mrs. millinery.
.194
Collins & Guerrier, lumber. . . 1. 194 Comparet & Stark, hardware. . 215 Cook ! & |Welling, insurance
agents
.196
.
Corliss, J. P. musical instruments
. Front, cover
Dart, W. T. dress making
Des Moines Library:
166
Des Moines, Scale Company
... Back cover Des Moines University. C
Dickerson, William agricultural
implements .....
Back cover
Edwards, C. H. musical instru-
ments ..
G
Equitable . Life Insurance Com-
pany.
Front cover
Casper. L: Q. boots and shoes. . . 198: Cavanagh, Thomas real estate 207 Chase, E. P. merchant tailor 2 Eureka Coal .Co. 93 Freeborn, L. H. photographer Fuller, S. L .. seeds). George & Bro., grocers 182
5
Tables of Distances:Des Moines Railroads 199
Temperance Orders Trade Index. 6
University of Des Moines. 15:
Newspapers and Publication's.
Odd Fellows Societies 22
Orders and Societies,
Present Prospects. Railroads of Des Moines
Red Men .!.
11 Street Directory .
Supreme Court of Iowa.
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory
Getchell H. F. & Sons, lumber. 186 Green Sht foundry. 176 1 * Grimes, W. S. physician: 188. 206 A
Gruss, W. I. day goods Be Hallett & Fullefi dentists
Halliwell, W. H| Medical and Surgical Institute. .. 214 Hammond, 7. R. short hand re porter . F
Hand, N. M. Miss hair goods ... 205 178
Hanna: $. F. hats and cape. .. Harbach C. & !! , furniture .... A
Harritt & Brol, cigars and tobac.
co.I.
208
Hatch & Vernon, clothing . .. 208
Hawkeye. Insurance Company
. Front cover Hawkeye Medicine Co .. ]
Iowa Business College.
170 166
Idwa School Furniture Co 8. Smith! Gus grocer.
Idwa School Journal
:74
Idwa State Gazette;
Iowa State Leader
Idwa Stove Pipe Works.
Keyes, Thompson & Reeves
1 wholesale grocers ... 210 Kraetsch Bros,, hats and caps. . 202 Laird Bros., wholesale grocers. . 198
Lehman, WISH musical instru
ments
Lewis, M. C. photographer 2131 Loughran & Halis, foundr
Maguire, M. A. Miss millinery. 182 Mahana J.|0. dry goods. ...... 20%: Martin, M. A. sewing, machin
repairer. .. . )
B McDonnell & Meara, stearn boil
200
Merrill, Keeney & Co., furniture F Webster, I. Ni marble dealer. 210
Miles! A. H. draggist. 212 Monroe H. clothing. 192
Moore, W. W. dry goods
Morgan Thomas notions;
Morrison, B. W. grocer .. 186 Mowatt Alex Hour and f B National State Bank
174
New American Sewing Machine. 2 Osgood, Wyman & Harris, dry
-
208 . Owen. JiW. physician Perkins . Son, job printers: Pierson & Blair, job printers.
32 176 ".
Pitman. C. J. roofer. Redhead &. Wellslager, books and stationery
Robert on & Willoughby, stone jand lime!
96 Spbin # S. hats and caps
Sa very House. . Scholtzi Louis daper and tailor
207 Schoonmaker, D: W. meat mar ket B
Seetercer. J. D. hardware 203 Shepard & Perrior, woolen mille.173. Simington, J. furniture
State Insurance Co 20
215 State Printing Co. 213;
216 State Register.
D Stolberg, Al merchant taijor .. Sypher, R. W. coal dealer. 198 Tone Bros., spice mills.
Tellay & Hill, brase foundry 941 Trosteli "& Huttenlocher, . meat
Tuttle Martin, stone and Mme. D market ... .200 Vincent, W. F. gradker bakery . 198 Vincent & Co, grocers. B Waldron Bros, foundry. 242 Watd||C. Hi druggist. .
Watson Coal and Mining Co 176 Watt, James grocer 206 Wettel dentist ...
190 Wever & Maish, druggists G
Western Farm Journal .. 218 Hitel B.C. Capital Mills: 184 Whitel W. L. boots and shoes .. 213. Williams J. & J. D. Farmers. Mills
Willis (H; D. confectionery 2
112.
6
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory.
TRADE INDEX.
Abstracts of Titles. 165
Agricultural
Implements. 165
Agricultural
Implement Manu-
facturers
Architects.
165
Artists
165 Eye and Far Infirmary
Attorneys at Law
365
Auction and
Commission .
165
Bakeries
165
Banks ..
167
Barbers
167
Fruits.
Basket Makers
167
. Bee Keepers
167
Billiard Hall
167
Blacksmiths 167
Blank Book Manufacturers 167
Bleaching and Pressing.
167
Boarding Houses ... 167
Boiler Manufacturers. 167
Book Binders.
Books and Stationery 169
Boots and Shoes: Wholdsale, 169
Boots and Shoes
169
Bowling Alleys
169
Brass Foundries
169
Breweries
169
Brick Manufacturers! 169
Brokers 169
Broom Manufacturers 169;
Business Colleges. .
Butter and Egg Dealers 169
Carpenters and Builders 169 Carpets. . .
169|
Carpet Weavers! 169'
Carriage Manufacturers. 169 Insurance Agents : 79.
Cigar Box Manufacturer 171 Cigar Manufacturers and Deali 'ers.
Civil Engineers
171
171
Clothing
171
Coal. Dealers,
171
Commission Merchants
Confectionery |Manufacturers .- wholesale dealer
171 Confectionery 171 Coopers 171
Cracker Manufacturers.
171
Crockery, China, Glassware:
171
Dentists.
171
Directory Publisherk
173
Dress Makers
Druggists. Dry Goods. Eating Houses
Express Companies
173
167 Flouring Mills 3 Foundries and Machine Shops
Fur Manufacturers and Dealers. Furniture "Manufacturers and
.Dealers! 75
Game and Poultry 5. Gents' Furnishing Goods.
Gas Companies 75 Glassware-Wholesale 15
Grain Dealers
5
Grocers-Wholesale.'
Grocers. Gunsmiths
Hair Goods
Hardware.
Hardware-Saddlery
Harness Makers .. Hat Manufacturers
Hats: Caps and Furs
Hides, Furs, &c.
Hoop Skirt Manufacturers. Hotels. 77
House Movers 79
Ice Cream and Oyster Parfors 79 Ice Dealers 179 :
Insurance Companies Accidenta79 Insurance Companies. Fire. . .. 1179 Insurance Companies! - Life. N. 181 . Intelligence Offices.
181 181 Jewelers and Watchmakers. Justices of the Peace.
Lawyer! Leather 183 .
Lithographers. 831
Livery, Feed and Sale Stables
Lumber Dealers. Marble Works and Dealers
Meat Markets.
Medical Institutes. Merchant Tailors.
183 183 183 185
185
Fish and Oysters
Florists
Flour and Feed. 3
Bands
165
Bushwell's Des Moines Ditector
School Furniture Manufacturers. 193 Music Dealers ... Seals, Stamps and Stencils! 193 Musical Institutes .. 185
Musical Instruments :185
Music Teachers 1851
· News Dealers. 185
Newspapers and Publications. 185
- Notaries Public!
187
Notions and Fancy Good
Oculist and| Aufrist, !!
Of Mills .....
Omnibus Line 1.
187
Organ Manufactory !. 187 Ornamental ' Wood Work 187 187
Painterst-House and Sig
Paper, Hangers !. 187
Paper Mills ... 189
Paper, Rags and Old Metals 189
Pattern Makers !!
189
Pension |Agent: )
189
Photographers .189
Pictures and Frames. . 189
Physicians and Surgeons
.180
' Pianos. Organs and Melode
on& .189 .189
Pickle Packers Planing Mills.
.189
Plow Manufacturers. . .
.189 Fitter's.189
Plumbers, Gas and Steam Pork Packers!" Potteries
. 189
Printers-Book and Job.
: 191
Produce Dealers!
: 191
Pumps and Lightning Rods .. .191 Railroad Companies and Officers. 191 Rea. Estatel .. 191
Reading Rooms .. 191 Water Works .. 197
Rendering Establishments 191
Restaurarits. 191 Roofers. .19! - Saddlers and Harness Makers. 19I
Saloon's ! . 193 Sash, Doors and Blinds .193
Scale Works 193;
Second Hand Stores !! .193 Seed Stores; 193 Sewing Machine Repairers. 193
Sewing Machines. 11 193
Sewing Machine Manufacturers . 193 Shoe Makers ..... 193
Short Hand Reporterp 95 Soap Mannt actories !. 195
Solicitors of Patents. 195
Spice Mills? 195%
Stone and Lime Dealers 195 Stone! Siwing .. 195;
'Stamping for Embroidering 195
Stamp Works L . 1951
State Glange Agency 395.
Steam|Mayel Works
195
Stereot "pers.
.195
Stock Dealers .. 195
Stone Pine Works 195
Stoneware Manufacturers 195
Stoves and Tinware. 195 -
Tailors es 195
Tannerinb. 195"
Telegraph Companies
195 !
Tidware Manufacturers. 195
Toys and Notions. 197.
Transfer Companies. 197 ;
Undertaxer's .197
United States Commissioners 197
191 Veterinary Surgeons: 197.
Vinegar iWorks .. .
197
Wagon Manufacturers and Deal-
Fers .!!
1197
Wall Rider ,197
Watch Makers. 197
W.al. Angers 197-1
Wheelwrights 197
Window. Shades 197 Wooden sand Willow | Ware. 197 1
Woolch Mills:
197!
Millinery and, Rancy Goods 185 1185 185
Mineral (Vater Manufacturers .. :
Notions -and Fancy ! Goods .Wholesale ... 187 187 187. 187
Braskinell's Des Moines Directory.
F. A. PERCIVAL, Pres.
II. F. PERCIVAL, Sec.
TYLER SCOVILL; Trens.
MANUFACTORY CHURCH SEATS.
IOWA SCHOOL FURNITURE 00.
IOWA SCHOOL FURNITURE CO.
Manufacturers of the most approved styles
School & Church Furniture, And Dealers in School Furnishing Goods of all Kinds. Office and Factory, 515 & 517 East Locust St., DES MOINES, IOWA.
~
.' 'I his cut represents our celebrated Climax School Desk, justly acknowledged to be the best Desk made, and which we manufacture both double and single:
A BRIEF HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OF DES MOINES AND! POLK COUNTY, IOWA!
SHOWING THEIR AGRICULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL RESOURCES; MINERAL WEALTH, AND NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
POLK COUNTY
Lhes a little south of the center of the State, having five tiers 1 of counties on the north, and three on the south. | It is bounded on the north by Boone and Story and of the east by Jasper, while Warten lies on the south, and Dallas on the west It has an area of about 352 500 acres of land !! As the present condition will prove more interesting to the majority of readers than reminiscentes of the past, I shall make but a passing all'usion to this subject .! Polk county was included' in the Sac and Fox Reservation until 1842, when it was ceded to the United States, but with the stipulation that possession should not be given until three years from the date of the treaty. The government was required to establish a military post at the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, in order to protect these tribes from the depredations of their enemies' This post was soon established and named | Fort Des Moines, and one of the log huts still remains to mymind the old-settlers of those aboriginal times !!
The county was organized under all w of the Territorial Legislature, passed in January, 1846, anh the first election was held on the first Monday of the following April . One hundred and seventy five votes were cast, but the population . Jannot be reckoned from the number of votes las I now don't It did not much exceed zoo, most of the voters boing here with but fami- lies
The population now, outside the city, ##about 17,000.
TOPOGRAPHY
The surface of the county is undulating rough, and is beautifully diversified with wooded streams and open praities the former being sufficiently numerous in places to furnish convenient wood lots for all the settlers. " The prin- 2
IO
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory.
cipal stream lis the Des Moines river, i which traverses th county from northwest to southeast. Besides this, there are. the Raccoon river, which makes a junction with the Des Moines at the Capital the Chacaqua, (the Indian name for Skunk), North river, Beaver creek, Walnut creek and Four Mile creek, besides numerous smaller streams .. , Between these lie the divides, or elevated prairie lands, which rise from the streams in gentle slopes rather than precipitous bluffs.
This alternation of timber and native meadow; hill and vale, produces some beautiful scenery-not grand, but simply beau- tiful. " The road on the divide between the Des Moines river and Beaver creek affords some fine views. At one point the eye commands a vie v of Beaver valley for many miles in either direction, embracing some of the finest country in the world.It The county is rapidly filling up and being improved by an- terprising farmers! | The ready market found at Des Moines for everything produced by the farmer, and the fich remuner- ative yield from everything planted in the spil, are rapidly en- riching the farming community.
THE TIMBER
of the county is found along all the large streams, but the heaviest body is the Des Moines timber, lying on both sides of the Des Moines river, and extending all the way through the. county. The number of acres of timber land is not far from, 68,000, being about one-fifth of the whole territory. Some of the townships are almost exclusively prairie, but have grotes1 of timber adjoining, while some have, even more than is desir- able for farming purposes.
1
MINERALS.
Coal is both abundant and of good quality! | It probably un- derlies a large portion of the county adjacent to the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, while its existence at a reasonable depth in the prairie townships is yet to be tested by shafting. Enough yeins have been discovered, and in such localities as to render it safe to assert that there is enough for local and foreign ile- mand for several generations
Polk county is located near the center of the coal counties of Iowa. There are about thirty mines operated in the county, and at certain seasons of the year some of the companies em- ploy from seventy-five to one hundred men.
Coal is found in the vicinity of Des Moines in large quantities, supplying the city and vicinity, besides considerable quantities for shipment. It also exists in nearly all the townships through-
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory
II
out the county Iowa coal is known as bituminous, and is equal in quality to coal of the same class found in other parts' of the world, containing (as shown by analysis) onlyl ten parts of impurities to ninety parts of combustible matter.
MINERAL PAINT is found near Des Moines in abundance .; . 'Some of the houses are painted with ft If it was manu -. factured it would be as good as any! : `So bibnounced by judges. 'STONE is found in various parts of the county.
DES MOINES.
The prestige and influence of the State capital being removed from Iowa Citylto Des Moines, the latter has grown up with wonderful rapidity, in the midst of one of the finest agri- cultural regions in the world. It has the advantages of the contributions of six important railways the Chicago, Rock' Island & Pacifics the Keokuk & Des Moines; the Des Moines & Ft. Dodge; the Des Moines, Indianola "" Missouri; the Des Moines, Winterset & Southwestern; the Des Moines & Minne- sota, and others in the way of completion making it at place of no small importance to those proud of the growth and energyof pur young State.
In area, [Des Moines includes about twelve square miles, all suitable and flaid out; for building purposes. The city is spreading with unprecedented rapidity both in the erection of handsome and comfortable dwellings and solid, imposing and beautiful business blocks.
The city that should attract most capital and enterprise of the East is Des Moines, the Capital of ih State, a city of over 16,000 inhabitants, situated at the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, and occupying a sort of amphitheatre, the bluffs rising by gentle acclinties on all sides, affording fine res- idence sites, while the level portion is large enough to accom- modate the business of a large city. Thecity is not compact, except in the business portion, but scattered over considerable territory, the corporation extending two and a half miles from north to south, and four and a half mies from east to west. The traveler is apt to be deceived in the member of inhabitants, from the fact that the residences are scat dred far back on the wooded hills, where they are invisible; The Des Moines river, which flows through the heart of the city, lis spanned by tour bridges 600 feet in length, while the 'Con has also two bridges affording to south Des Moines and the rich prairie beyond easy communication with the various parts of the city !!
On the 22d of September, 185i, the citizens of Fort. Des 4
12
Bushnell's Des Moines Directory
Moines voted to have it incorporated as a town. Hon. P. M. Casady, Rev. Thompson Bird and .L. P. Sherman, Esq., were the committee to draft articles of incorporation, -which were adopted by the people the 18th of October, 1851.
In 1853, by act of the Legislature, Fort Des Moines was in- corporated as a town. | At this time, the town had increased to such importance that attention was turned to it as the Capital of the State! Its central geographical location at once induced, the sanction of the people of the State, and in 1854 an act was passed by the Legislature designating Fort Des Moines as the Capital of the State. A subsequent convention to revise the State Constitution permanently fixed the Capital at this place.
In 1857 a successful movement was made, to incorporate the city of Des Moines. An act of incorporation was passed by the Legislature, and approved by James W. Grimes, Governor, January 28, 1857.
The first election for city officers was held May 4, 1858, lop which occasion W. McHenry was elected Mayor. The site on which the city is built is unsurpassed for beauty. and pleasant surroundings. . From the two rivers extent a rich. and fertile plain, skirted with gently undulating hills, or bluffs which are covered with forest trees, among which nestle beau- tiful homes. | Within the area encircled by these slopet a por ulation of fifty thousand can be amply accommodated with residences, and yet not be crowded. Great care has been exercised in beautifying and adorning the residences ..
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.