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

Author: Brigham, Johnson, 1846-1936; Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1064


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


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 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97


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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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