USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines, the pioneer of municipal progress and reform of the middle West, together with the history of Polk County, Iowa, the largest, most populous and most prosperous county in the state of Iowa; Volume I > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01084 7652
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018
https://archive.org/details/desmoinespioneer00brig_0
176
2700
JOHNSON BRIGHAM
State Librarian of Iowa and Author of the New History of Des Moines and Polk County
DES MOINES
The Pioneer of Municipal Progress and Reform of the Middle West
TOGETHER WITH THE HISTORY OF
POLK COUNTY, IOWA -
The Largest, Most Populous and Most Prosperous County in the State of Iowa
By JOHNSON BRIGHAM STATE LIBRARIAN OF IOWA
ILLUSTRATED
VOLUME I
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 19IJ
١
1
1143122
CONTENTS
PAGE
Introduction
XV
BOOK I
THE DES MOINES RIVER
PART I
FROM MARQUETTE AND JOLIET TO CAPTAIN ALLEN-1673-1843
Chapter I The Discoverers of the Des Moines River and the Origin of the name Des Moines ..
Chapter II The Des Moines Traversed by Faribault-1800-1803. .
3,4 5
Chapter III The First White Man since 1803 to Penetrate the Des Moines Valley to Raccoon Forks. 6,7
Chapter IV Lieut. Albert Lea's Explorations in the Upper Des Moines Region
8, 9
Chapter V Colonel Kearny Reports Adversely on "The Forks" as a Site for a Fort
IO, II
Chapter VI Colonel Croghan Examines "The Forks" and Reports Favorably
12,13
Chapter VII Side Lights Thrown on the Picture by a Son of Daniel Boone, also by General Parrott. 14, 15
Chapter VIII Lieutenant Fremont Explores the Upper Des Moines to "Rackoon Forks" and Reports I6-18 Chapter IX Conditions Leading Down to the Founding of Fort Des Moines-Captain Allen Views and Reports. 19-24 Chapter X The Red Men of the Des Moines Valley-The Treaty of 25, 26 1842
PART II
GOVERNMENT'S COSTLY ATTEMPT TO MAKE THE DES MOINES NAVIGABLE
Chapter I The Navigation of the Des Moines-The Inception of the Plan-The State's Initiative-The Generous Re- sponse of Congress 29-3I
Chapter II The Work in Progress-The Happening of the Unex- pected 32-34
Chapter III New Complications 35
Chapter IV Looking to the General Assembly and to Congress for Relief 36 Chapter V Legislators Take a Hand in the Game of Cross Purposes 37-39 Chapter VI The Governors Urge Action 40
Chapter VII The End at Last ! 4I
V
vi
CONTENTS
BOOK II
FORT DES MOINES-FROM GARRISON TOWN TO CAPITAL CITY-1843-1857
Introduction : The Marked Individuality of Local History in Iowa .... 45
Chapter I The Founding of Fort Des Moines. 47-49 Chapter II Garrison Life in Fort Des Moines-1843-46. 50-54
Chapter III Captain Allen Explores the Upper Des Moines Valley above Fort Des Moines 55-57
Chapter IV From Garrison to Frontier Village-History and Rem- iniscence 58-65 66-81
Chapter V Pioneer Newspapering in Fort Des Moines.
The Fort Des Moines Star-The Fort Des Moines Gazette-The Iowa State Journal-Fort Des Moines Journalism from '54 to '58
Chapter VI Frontier Town Life, as Reflected in the Newspapers of the Period 82-90
Chapter VII "Uncle Billy" Moore and Pioneer Merchandising in Fort Des Moines 91-94
Chapter VIII The Hegira of Forty-Niners and Mormons. 95-97
Chapter IX Fort Des Moines' Varied Experience as the "Head of Navigation" 98-105
Chapter X The Part of Fort Des Moines in the Iowa Movement for Railroads 106-III
Chapter XI School Life in Fort Des Moines, 1846-57 112, 113
Chapter XII Looking Backward on Fort Des Moines in the Fifties . 114-1I7 The Stage-Coach and Fort Des Moines. 118-12I
Chapter XIII
A Typical Stage-Driver-The Man behind the Box
Chapter XIV The Medical Profession in Fort Des Moines I22-125
Chapter XV The Pioneer Courts of Fort Des Moines. 126-130
Chapter XVI The Bar of Fort Des Moines. 131-133
Chapter XVII The Long Campaign for the Removal of the State Capital-1847-1857 I34-142
Chapter XVIII The Question of Removal Reopened in the Constitu-
tional Convention of '57 I43-146 Chapter XIX The Actual Removal of the Capitol 147-149
BOOK III
FROM AN OBSCURE WESTERN CAPITAL TO THE FOREMOST CITY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY MOVEMENT FOR MUNICIPAL REFORM
PART I
THE CAPITAL CITY BEFORE THE WAR-1857-1860
Chapter I The Reorganized Capital City-A Forerunner of the Commission-Governed City of Today 153-155
Chapter II The City Started on Borrowed Capital. 156,157 Chapter III The First General Assembly in Des Moines-Capitol
and Capital City Come Together 158-163
Chapter IV Business and Professional Life in the Capital City in '58 164,165
Chapter V A Nearer View of Life in Des Moines in the Late Fifties 166-173
"Peaceable Secession"-East Side vs. West Side
vii
CONTENTS
Chapter VI The Capitol Location Scandal-Charges of Graft in the Location of the Capitol 174-178
Chapter VII Capitol and Capital City in 1860-Premonitions of the Coming Conflict . 179-182
PART II
THE HEROIC PERIOD OF DES MOINES HISTORY-1861-1865
Chapter I The Great Uprising in '61. 185-193
Chapter
II Des Moines and the Second Year of the War-Donel- son, Pea Ridge and Shiloh. 194-214 Major Byers' Vivid Picture of the Second Iowa at Donelson-A Flower Episode in a Year of Tumult
Chapter III The Third Year of the War-1863. 215-219
Chapter IV The Last Full Year of the War-1864. 220-228
The Last Great Uprising-An Episode of the War : Des Moines Women at the Front
Chapter V The Closing Scenes-The Glad and Sad Home-Coming -The Return of Peace, 1865. . . ... 229-238 From Heights of Joy to Depths of Gloom-Death of General Crocker-General Sherman the City's Guest
PART III THE CITY'S RECONSTRUCTION ON A PEACE BASIS-1866-1869
Chapter I Advent of the First Railroad in Des Moines-Events of 1866 .241-244 At Last-the Whistle of the Locomotive!
Chapter II Business in Des Moines in 1866-67. 245-248
Chapter III A Second Great Hope Realized-The Rock Island Enters Des Moines-Events of 1867. 249-251 Chapter IV 1868-The City's First Street Railway-Events of 1868.252-254 Chapter V A Brilliant Social Event-A Million and a Half Added to the Material Wealth of the City in '69. .255-257
PART IV
FOUR DECADES OF PROGRESS : ANNALS OF A GROWING CITY-ITS EVENTS AND OCCURRENCES-ITS FAILURES AND SUCCESSES-1870-1909
Chapter I The First Decade of Progress 261-287 1870: The Year of the Grand Reunion-Grand Re- union of Iowa Veterans-1871: The Year "Winter- set" was "Annexed"-Business in Des Moines at the Beginning of 1871-1872: The Year Allison De- feated Harlan-1873: The Year the Mexican War Veterans Held a Reunion-1874: The Year of B. F. Allen's Ill-Fated Change of Base-Terrace Hill -The Attack on Kasson-The Lynching of Howard -1875: The Year Grant Came to Des Moines -- General Grant's Welcome in Des Moines : His Famous Speech-Kasson Turns on His Accusers- 1876: The Centennial Year in Des Moines-1877 : The Year the Old Des Moines Hotel was Pulled Down-1878: The Year the Old Savery was Closed -1879: The Year of Kasson's Return from Vienna, etc.
viii
CONTENTS
Chapter II Second Decade of Progress.
288-316
1880: The Beginning of the Building Boom in Des Moines-Des Moines and the Glasgow Plan -- 1881 : The Year Garfield was Assassinated -- The Last of Captain Allen's Men-1882: The Year of the Amendment Campaign-The Close of the Amend- ment Campaign-1883: The Year of Party Protest Against the Defeat of Prohibition-Prohibition in Politics-1884: The Year the Northwestern En- tered Des Moines-1885 : The Year the New Capi- tol was Dedicated-The Fair Ground Permanently Located at Last-1886: The Year of the Street Railway War-1887 : The Year of Reaction Against Enforcement-An Enforcement, Murder and Its Consequence-1888: The Year Street Cars Were Electrified-1889: The Year the "Greater Des Moines" Movement was Born, etc.
Chapter III The Third Decade of Progress. 317-364
1890: The Year North Des Moines was Annexed- A Patriarch Removed by Death-1891: The Year the New Kirkwood Opened-1892: The Year of Des Moines' Commitment to Public Parks-Parks for the Public-1893: The Year of Waterworks Agitation-1894 : The Year Kelly's Army Took Des Moines-Battle-Flag Day-Then Came "Kelly's Army"-The Scotch-Irish in Des Moines-Battle- Flag Day-1895 : The Year Mercy Hospital Opened-1896: The Year of Des Moines' Semi- Centennial-"Devisive Strife"-Des Moines' Semi- Centennial-1897: Year of Waterworks Reorgan- ization Agitation-Waterworks Complications-The Woman Suffragists in Des Moines-1898: The Year of the War with Spain -- Des Moines' Famous Parks-Des Moines and the Spanish-American War -"High Carnival"-1899: The Return of the 5Ist from Manila, etc .- The Fifty-first Iowa Welcomed Home
Chapter
IV Fourth Decade of Progress.
1900: The Twentieth Century Well Begun-A Half- Century of Odd Fellowship-Congress of Mothers -A Gloomy Fourth of July-A Great National Gathering-After All, on the Old Site !- Des Moines as it Looked to J. S. Clarkson in 1900- 1901 : A Year of Many Deaths Among Pioneers -The City's Parks in 1901-The Builder of the Capitol-1902: In Which a Des Moines Man Be- comes Governor-A Man of Large Constructive Ability-The Folly of Party Politics in Municipal Affairs-Again the Bugle-Call-The Register Ab- sorbs the Leader-The Odd Fellows of the Country in Des Moines-1903: The Year Roosevelt Cap- tured Des Moines-Still Higher High-Water Mark ! -Three Prominent Iowans Pass Away-1904: The Year of the State House Fire-The Congregational- ists of the Country Convene in Des Moines -- 1905 : The Year the Methodist Hospital was Put Upon Its Feet Financially-1906: The Year the Municipal
365-412
ix
CONTENTS
Reform Movement Began-The Presbyterian Gen- eral Assembly in Des Moines-1906 Compared with 1905-1907: The Year that Made Des Moines Famous-Jefferson S. Polk's Dream of Heaven- 1908: The Year the Des Moines Plan went into Operation-The First Local Campaign under the Des Moines Plan-"Seein' the Wheels Go Round" -Senator Allison's Successor Chosen-Death of P. M. Casady-Candidate Taft Given a Royal Re- ception-1909: The Eventful Last Year of Our "Four Decades of Progress"-Senator Cummins' Triumphal Return-General Grant Number Two- Death of Isaac Brandt-President Taft Visits Des Moines-The Great Tournament of 1909-A Year of Unusual Progress and Promise, etc.
PART V SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES
Chapter
I The Schools of Des Moines. 415-423 West Des Moines, 1858-1911-East Des Moines, 1858- 19II-North Des Moines-Capital Park-The Con- solidated Schools of Des Moines
Chapter II Des Moines' Higher Institutions of Learning . . 424-434 Des Moines College, 1864-1911-Drake University, 1881-19II-Highland Park College, 1889-1911- Grand View College and Theological Seminary, 1895-19II
PART VI
PIONEER CHURCHES AND THEIR SUCCESSORS
Chapter
I The Methodist Church . 437-440
Chapter
II The Congregational Church . 441-445
Chapter III The Presbyterian Church 446-450
Chapter
IV The Baptist Church .451,452
Chapter V The Catholic Church 453-457
St. Ambrose
Chapter VI
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church 458, 459
Chapter VII The Episcopal Church . 460-462
Chapter VIII
The Central Church of Christ. . 463-465
Chapter IX The United Presbyterian Church . 466-468
Chapter X The Jewish Congregations 469, 470
Chapter XI The First Unitarian Church .471, 472
Chapter XII The Christian Science Church
473
PART VII THE LEARNED PROFESSIONS
I. THE LAW
Chapter I Bench and Bar of Des Moines 477
Chapter II The Law Schools of Des Moines-Iowa's Pioneer Law
478-481
School
Des Moines' Second Law School
.
x
CONTENTS
Chapter III The Pioneer Law Journal and the Pioneer State Bar Association of Iowa 482-488
Chapter IV The Des Moines Bar Association-1885-19II. 489-499 A Well-Intended Non-Partisan Movement-Law Re- forms Proposed-After a Lapse of Nearly Twelve Years-Jury Reform
Chapter V Incidents and Events in the History of the Bench and Bar of Des Moines. 500-504
II. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
Chapter I Meetings of the Iowa State Medical Society in Des Moines 505-508
Chapter II Des Moines and the Medical Profession. 509-512
Chapter III The Reorganized Polk County Medical Society and Other Organizations 513
PART VIII
THE CITY'S INSURANCE INTERESTS
Chapter I Des Moines an Insurance Center-The Local Companies. 517-520 Life: Level Premium Companies-Assessment Life Associations-Assessment Accident Companies- Fraternal Beneficiary Societies-Fire Insurance Companies : Stock and Mutual-County Assess- ment Associations, Fire-Casualty-State Mutuals -Exclusive Tornado-Exclusive Hail
Chapter II Local Field Notes . 521-523
PART IX BANKS AND BANKERS
Chapter I Pioneer Banks and Bankers and Their Successors. . . . . 527-540 The Des Moines Branch of the State Bank of Iowa -The B. F. Allen Failure-Banking in Des Moines in '78 The Failure and Reorganization of the Ger- man Savings-The Des Moines Clearing House
Chapter II Des Moines and the Iowa State Bankers' Association. . 541-543 Chapter III The Bankers' Club 544, 545
PART X JOURNALISM-1857-19II
Chapter I Journalism and Journalists .. 549-560
PART XI
PROMINENT CLUBS, ETC.
Chapter I The Grant Club-A Club with a History.
. 563-579 The Prairie Club-"The Octogenarians"-The Des Moines Pioneer Club -- The Iowa Press and Au- thors' Club-"The Hyperion"-The Commercial Club-The Greater Des Moines Committee-The East Des Moines Commercial Club-The Golf and Country Club-University Club-The New Des Moines Club-The Library Club-The Press Club -The Des Moines Admen's Club-The Des Moines Real Estate Exchange-The Des Moines Women's Club-The "P. E. O." Sisterhood-"The Greeks"
x1
CONTENTS
-The Professional Women's League-Women's Club Galore
Chapter II Patriotic Orders 580-583 Kinsman Post, No. 7, G. A. R .- Crocker Post, No. 12, G. A. R .- Kinsman Woman's Relief Corps- Crocker Corps, Woman's Relief Corps-The Loyal Legion, Commandery of Iowa-Abigail Adams Chapter, D. A. R .- Beacon Hill Chapter, D. A. R.
Chapter III Prominent Institutions .. 584-587 The Cumming School of Art-Y. W. C. A .- Y. M. C. A .- Capital City Commercial College-Business Women's Home-Home for Friendless Children- Anti-Tuberculosis League-The Home for the Aged -The Public Library-Des Moines' Conservatories of Music
PART XII PAST AND PRESENT
Chapter I Story of the New Capitol. 591-596 The Long Fight for the New Capitol Building-1868- 1872
Chapter II The Laying of the Corner-stone in '7I. 597-599
Chapter III The Army Post-The Third Fort Des Moines 600-602
Chapter IV Present Status of the Public Utilities Corporations and the City of Des Moines. 603, 604
Chapter V Evolution of Des Moines' Railroad System. 605-610
The Old "Des Moines Valley"-The Rock Island: The Mississippi & Missouri-The Des Moines, Indianola & Missouri -- The Des Moines, Winterset & South- ern-The D. M., I. F. & N .- The Minneapolis & St. Louis-The Northwestern-The Burlington- The Milwaukee-The Des Moines Northern & Western-The Des Moines, Adel & Western-Des Moines Northwestern Railway-Des Moines North- ern and Western-The Great Western-The Des Moines Union
Chapter VI Des Moines' Evolution Measured by Figures. 611, 612 Chapter VII "The Des Moines Plan :" Its Genesis and Exodus-Its Significance-Its Operation 613-619
The Plan in Outline and in Operation-Organization after Election Chapter VIII Former Methods of Financing the City Compared with Present Methods . . 620-622 Chapter IX The Twentieth Century Movement for the Navigation
of the Des Moines. 623, 624
Chapter X Recent Events and Occurrences-1910. 625-629
The Second Election under the Des Moines Plan- The New Municipal Building
Chapter XI Recent Events and Occurrences-19II . 630-635 Unexpected Benefactions-A Market-place at Last- A Vanishing Landmark.
636-638
Chapter XII The Des Moines of Today. Enormous Increase in. Postal Receipts-Des Moines' High Standing Among the Chief Cities of the Country
Chapter XIII The Des Moines of Tomorrow 639
xii
CONTENTS
BOOK IV POLK COUNTY PART I
FROM AN INDIAN RESERVATION TO FIRST PLACE AMONG THE COUNTIES OF IOWA-1846-19II
ALLEN-BEAVER-BLOOMFIELD-CAMP-CLAY-CROCKER-DELAWARE-DES MOINES-DOUGLAS-ELKHART-FOUR MILE-FRANKLIN- JEFFERSON-LEE-LINCOLN -- MADISON-SAYLOR- VALLEY-WALNUT-WASHINGTON-WEBSTER
Chapter I Polk County Geologically 643-647
Chapter II Polk County's Evolution Geographically . 648-650
Chapter III Polk County in 1846 651, 652
Chapter IV The First Deed of Record in Polk County .653, 654
Chapter V Polk County Votes against the Constitution of '46. 655, 656
Chapter VI Polk County's "First Families" 657-660
Chapter VII The First General Election Held in Polk County . 66I
Chapter VIII
A Study in Local Self-Government-The Part Taken by Polk County Pioneers in a Socialistic Movement in Defense of Their Homes. 662-667
Chapter IX "All Roads Lead to Polk". 668-670
Chapter X Sawmills in Polk in 1850. 671, 672
Chapter XI The Rivers and Creeks of Polk. . 673, 674
Chapter XII The Watercourses of Polk So Many Gateways to Future Settlements . 675-679
Chapter XIII Polk County Fairs and the State Fair 680-682
Chapter XIV
Polk County's Representation in Iowa Legislature 1846-1912 683-685
Chapter XV Polk County's Prominence in State and Congressional Politics 686-688
Chapter XVI
The Early Settlers' Association of Polk County-1868-
I9II 689-695 Minor Civic Centers of Polk County . . 696-699
Chapter XVII
Valley Junction, Valley Township-Mitchellville, Beaver Township-Grimes, Jefferson and Webster Townships-Ankeny, Crocker Township-Altoona, Clay Township-Runnells, Camp Township-Polk City, Madison Township-Bondurant, Franklin and Douglas Townships-Sheldahl, Lincoln and Madi- son Townships-Elkhart, Elkhart Township
PART II THE COUNTY'S WAR RECORD
Chapter I Polk County's War Record 703-722 First Infantry-Second Infantry-Third Infantry- Fourth Infantry-Fifth Infantry-Tenth Infantry -Thirteenth Infantry-Fourteenth Infantry-Fif- teenth Infantry-Sixteenth Infantry-Seventeenth Infantry-Eighteenth Infantry-Twenty-third In- fantry-Thirty-second Infantry-Thirty-third In- fantry-Thirty-fourth Infantry-Thirty-sixth In- fantry-Thirty-ninth Infantry-Forty-first Infantry -First Cavalry-Second Cavalry-Third Cavalry -Fourth Cavalry-Fifth Cavalry-Sixth Cavalry
xiii
CONTENTS
-First Battery Iowa Light Artillery-Second Bat- tery Iowa Light Artillery-Dodge's Brigade Band -Seventh Cavalry-Eighth Cavalry-Ninth Cav- alry-First Iowa Infantry (African Descent)- Second Cavalry-First Battery-Field and Line Officers from Polk County
Chapter II Polk County's Contribution to Iowa's Roll of Honor in the Spanish-American War 723-727 Forty-ninth Regiment-Fiftieth Regiment-Fifty-first Iowa Infantry-Fifty-second Iowa Infantry-Fifth Battery Iowa Light Artillery-Sixth Battery Iowa Light Artillery-Volunteer U. S. Signal Corps- Seventh U. S. Infantry Volunteer Immunes
PART III THE COUNTY'S EVOLUTION-1850-1910
Chapter
I Polk County's Evolution-1850 to 1910 731,732
Chapter
II
Polk County in 1860 733,734
Chapter III Polk County in 1870 .735-737
Chapter IV Polk County in 1880 738-740
Chapter
V Polk County in 1890
74I
Chapter
VI Polk County in 1900 . 742-744
Chapter VII Polk County in 1910 745,746
INTRODUCTION
The early history of Iowa is essentially sectional and in a large measure local. Sectionally it divides itself like "all Gaul" into three parts. These divisions are determined by "the lay of the land" and the consequent flow of streams. The region along the Mississippi has a pioneer history all its own. So has the Des Moines valley, and so has the region along the Missouri.
The pioneer history of the Des Moines valley centers at Fort Des Moines- the objective point of every movement of trade and population-from the land- ing of the dragoons at "the Point" in 1843 to the oncoming of the railroads in the late Sixties. The history of Des Moines clearly has its origin in the history of the river that gave the city its name, and its foundation is directly traceable to the military occupation of 1843. To trace this origin, and to show the con- nection between the present City of Des Moines and County of Polk with the trend of events and occurrences which in the Forties and Fifties centered in and about Fort Des Moines, is the main purpose of this work.
Reluctantly undertaking the task, after having recommended a half dozen local historians, all far more competent to undertake it than himself, the author has conscientiously endeavored, and with only a moderate degree of success as he fully realizes, to lay before his readers a continuous outline of the march of events from the discovery of Raccoon Forks down to and including the present awakening of the City of Des Moines to its Twentieth Century possibilities ; also, to present, along with the main trend of events a series of occurrences, in themselves not great, but important as showing the daily life of the people who have made this community life what it is today.
In one respect at least, he has measurably succeeded. He has developed from first-hand sources several whole chapters, and many events and incidents not even referred to in previous local and general histories.
The chief distinction between general and local history is that the one groups events and occurrences as so many first aids to generalization, while the other is a chronicler of events and occurrences which, separately considered may have been regarded at the time as historically valueless, but which, viewed collec- tively, enable the reader of one era the better to understand the daily life led by another.
A large part of the work which follows may be classified as "annals," yet the author will have succeeded in all he has undertaken if he shall have held a mir- ror before his readers at such an angle as will enable them to see the yester- days from which the community of today has been evolved.
That a work of this nature, prepared without that exhaustive research of years which a Bancroft could give to his great work, should be faulty in con- struction and should include not a few errors-notwithstanding the valuable corrections which have been made by several experts in local history-was to be expected. But the author would assure his readers that he has spared no pains to verify every important statement, and has called to his aid the best informed citizens of Des Moines and Polk county in verification of facts, names and dates.
-
XV
xvi
INTRODUCTION
While the author has undertaken to go deeper and farther than any other local historian has yet gone, he would not undervalue the work of other authors who have plowed this field before him. The most faulty local history is worth far more than it costs, as the librarians of historical departments everywhere attest. Even the grouping of names in connection with events and incidents is more valuable to later times than the author could have anticipated. For ex- ample : Turrill's list of members of the Claims Club of Polk County in 1847 makes the story of that primitive organization a thing of life. Dixon's group of names-mere fill-up matter at the time-people the past with the men behind the deeds and events of which they were a part. Porter's more recent "Annals," open to criticism in many respects, has more than justified its publication, as stu- dents of local and state history testify by their frequent recourse to the work. Andrews' "Pioneers" has peopled this region with the men and women who con- verted a wilderness into a rich and populous county,-real, live and very human beings, not pedestaled gods and heroes. To these and other writers, liv- ing and dead, the author has aimed to give full credit for the good work upon which he has drawn. There are also personal obligations which the author is pleased to acknowledge. To the members of his advisory board, so far as he has been able to draw on them for advice and assistance, he is under many obliga- tions. His indebtedness is especially large to Judge Cole, Tacitus Hussey, William H. Fleming and Simon Casady, for the time they have given him in straighten- ing out certain of the more crooked places in his story, also to Mr. L. F. Andrews for the correction of many names and dates in the proof, and for val- uable counsel and advice. To scores of public-spirited men and women of city and county who have freely supplied data, in response to calls for information, the author is under many and great obligations for services rendered. It was only by the aid of many that it was possible, in the time allotted, to cover a field so large, and including so many ramifications. The author is under many obligations to Curator Harlan and his assistants of the State Historical Depart- ment for placing at his disposal the resources of that department. In appre- ciation of his indebtedness to the State for access to first-hand material in that department, his publishers have indicated to him their purpose to present to the State all the maps, pictures, and portraits specially engraved for the his- tory. The author would not omit to mention the valuable assistance rendered by Superintendent Stiles of the State Archives department, enabling him to use to advantage not a little material which has hitherto been inaccessible to the student of local history.
It will be observed that the author, having no thought of "working the townships" as such, has chosen to treat them as component parts of a great whole,-the county-as they are essentially and inevitably, rather than as so many separate domains, each with a history distinct from the rest. By this treatment the "write-up" style of a former period is avoided and artificial boundary lines are in the main submerged to make larger room for the move- ment of events and incidents down through the years. It is to be hoped that the reader will see in the latter method an improvement on the former, even though the author may not have developed his method very satisfactorily. .
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