USA > Iowa > Jackson County > Annals of Jackson county, Iowa, Vol 1-6 > Part 63
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He never lost an opportunity to impress upon the members of the House the justice of the State making an appropriation to return the remains of Goveroor Briges to Iowa, and to erect a suitable monument to his memory at Andrew which was his former home. It is but just to say that there were those who at first honestly doubted the advisability of the State dis- bursing money for this purpose. Many of them were won over by the argu- ments of Mr. Ellis and some saw the necessity of voting for this appropria- tion when one was made for the Allison monument. Personally, I always felt that it was a duty of the State to make this appropriation, and that this was a duty that had been long delayed.
A monument of more magnificent proportions would without question have been erected by the citizens of his former home to the memory of Governor Briggs, but this would have meant nothing in comparison with the fact that the State of lowa has recognized its obligation.
I also wish to say a deserved tribute to your able Representative in an- other direction. You, as his neighbors, acquaintances and constituents are well aware that he has no bad habits and therefore had little occasion to spend his time in the cloak room where those who were users of the weed spent a considerable part of their time enjoying the fragrant "Havana" or "stinky pipe. " He could always be found in his seat paying strict atten- tion to the proceedings, and his ability to determine the right and wrong of the ending bills was remarkable. It was quite noticeable that such members as were either enjoying themselves in the cloak room or otherwise engaged often-yes very often-made enquiry of Mr. Ellis as to the status of matters pending or the desirability of supporting or defeating the same, and I have heard it said that his judgment was uniformly right.
If Jackson County desires to be well represented at Des Moines, it should keep Mr. Ellis in the harness, and the question of politics is never considered at Des Mones after the organization is perfected.
I am very glad to have been able to be here with you today in per- forming this long delayed act of justice to Iowa's first Geverorn. I wish
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to say further that your Historical Society has done wonders with the lim- ited amount of money at their command in procuring the splendid shaft which we are today dedicating. The large assembly demonstrates to me that it is a matter in which the citizens of Jackson county have taken a deep interest.
I thank you for your kind attention.
Address of State Senator John L. Wilson of Clinton County.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : -
It is rather embarrassing for me to be called upon to address you after listening to the able speeches just delivered to you by these distinguished gentlemen. I will not attempt to make a speech, however I wish to say I am delighted to be with you today and take part in these exercises. It is an honor that any man should feel proud of. I also am pleased to say it
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SENATOR JOHN L. WILSON.
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was my privilege and honor to be a member of the State Senate Appropria- tion committee that passed House File No. 1, introduced by the Honorable J W. Ellis, your worthy Representative of this county, of whom every cit- izen of this county (especially ) should be proud ; the man who is more re- sponsible for this appropriation you have secured than any one man to mark the grave of the first Governor of Iowa.
Mr. Ellis worked earnestly and faithfully for this bill from start to fin- ish, and success rewarded his efforts I doubt very much if another mem- ber of either House or Senate could have secured the appropriation at this time as there was a greatly incresed d-mand made for money for all the state institutions, and at times it seemed to the committee as though there would not be funds enough to go around, and Mr. Ellis was asked to with- draw his bill and wait till some future time. But he would not become discouraged, and by his winning way and constant work success crowned his efforts, and we are here today to do honor to the departed ex-governor, and celebrate the victory of the gentleman from Jackson. I thank you.
The Story of the Appropriation by the Legislature for the Brigg's Monument.
Hon. J. W. Ellis, of Maquoketa, representative of Jackson county in the legislature, is the father of the Briggs monument project. It was due largely to his efforts that interest was inspired in it in Jackson county and the movement started there. He fostered the bill for the necessary appro- priation in the legislature and secured its adopion. He personally superin- tended the removal of the remains from Omaha and has been the moving spirit in the proceedings which were crowned with such signal success in the unveiling exercises Wednesday.
Mr. Ellis' interest in the movement was inspired by his grandmother, who had made her home with his family a greater part of the time between 1886 and 1898, and had lived a near neighbor of the Briggs family in the ter- ritorial times, and had known the family since 1838, thought it a disgrace to the county and state to allow the old governor to lie in an unmarked grave, just across the border of the state, when his wife and children were buried in the town that had been his home for more than thirty years. After his grandmother's death in 1898. Mr. Ellis thought a great deal about the old governor, and tried to think out some plan by which the remains could be brought back to Jackson county.
He called the Historical society together and it passed a resolution re- questing the members from Jackson county in the Thirty-second general as- sembly to work for an appropriation for that purpose. Senator Lambert in- troduced a bill in the Senate for an appropriation of $1,000, and Representa- tive Dunne introduced a similar bill in the House. But neither gentlemen, we were informed was ever able to get even a sub-committee of three to recommend their bills to the appropriation committee for passage, and the bills were indefinitely postponed. He was discouraged, but still felt that the project had merit, and in a conversation with Mrs. John S. Briggs in Omaha in May, 1907, he promised to send a representative or senator from Jackson who would work for an approriation to honor the memory of Gov- ernor Briggs.
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In 1908 about the time that candidates began announcing them- selves for the various offices Mr. Ellis received a letter from a member of the Briggs family which incidentally reminded him of his promise He knew of no one likely to be a candidate for the legislature that he could hope to interest in the work. After pondering the subject over night he went to the auditor and got nomination blacks and sent them out for signa- ture and declared himself a candidate for the office of representative. He made no secret about telling the people that he was going to work for an appropriation to honor the memory of his old neighbor and fellow citizen. After election he felt he had undertaken a big job and when he reached Des Moines he realized more than ever that it would take hard, patient and persistent work to get a bill through the two houses that Senator Lambert with an experience of four years in the House and nine in the Senate could not start in either House.
His first move was to get 100 cards with a picture of the old govenor on one side with a sketch of his life and service to the state on the other, and make the acquaintance of the members in the following manner: The first Sunday after the legislature convened one of the papers had pictures of nearly all members of both Houses taken from cuts made from photo- graphs and were fairly good pictures. He kept one of these papers in his desk. Each portrat had the name under the picture. He studied these
pictures every spare moment. For instance. he would look at the picture of McDonald of Carroll, then he would locate Mr. McDonald and fix his name and face indelibly in his memory ; then take Berry of Henry county and locate him, and so on until he had all the democrats located the first week, for the reason that he was in the midst of them.
After getting a number of representatives' names and faces fixed in his memory, he would watch for them in the big hotels in the evening. When he saw a member that he could name he would approch him and call him by name and introduce himself, get a few minutes of his time and tell him the story-the pitiful story-of the first govenor of lowa being buried in a foreign state in an unmarked grave under the shadow of a $50 000 monu- ment to a first governor of the other state. He had a list of the members of both Houses and a list to all the standing committees, but was chiefly interested in the committees on appropration of the two Houses.
He got an interview with Hon. Ernest R. Moore of Cedar Rapids, chair- man of the House committee on appropriations. He told him the story of Ansel Briggs, the pioneer governor, and tried to excite his sympathy, but found him as cold as stone. He said he was opposed to special appropria- tion and should present a resolution the next morning that no bills carrying an appropriation should be considered until the state institutions should have been provided for, but said if there was anything left in the treasury after the state institutions had been taken care of he did not see why this bill would not be all right. Ellis was determined to get the first bill in if possible and succeeded in getting it in under title of House File No. 1. the assembly adjourning soon after. It was introduced several days before
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any other bill and got a week's advertising all over the state, as every paper mentioned and commented on the bills. Each member read about it in his own home later.
After the second meeting of the House appropriation committee, Chairman Moore sent him a note by a page telling him he could have a hearing if he so desired the next day at 2 o'clock. When the time came he was on hand and loaded. He had the benefit of years of study of Gover- nor Briggs. He was introduced to the committee by a gentleman from Linn and was treated very courteously by all and listened to with close attention. He never talked to an audience that he thought he had right with him as he did to that committee. At the conclusion of his address Chas. W. Miller of Bremer made a splendid talk for the bill and moved that it be recommended for passage, but the chairman announced that a rule had been adopted that no bill should be considered the day it was pre- sented and before be got out of the room the chairman referred the bill to a sub-committee, consisting of Anderson. Derrough and another whose name he did not catch. He has always felt that if he could have got a vote at that meeting he would have saved lots of trouble. However, the situa- tion was by no means discouraging. The next morning Anderson and Der- rough told him they would report favorably on the bill and had no doubt about it passing the House committee.
Thit afternoon the committee met again and it was announced by Chairman Moore that the meeting was for the purpose of giving the mem- bers of the board of control a hearing, hence it was not expected there would be any other matter considered. John Cownie talked to the com- mittee for three hours on the great needs of the institution and told them approximately how much would be needed. By the time he finished nearly half the members had been excused, there being but 23 members of the 38 present, when Mr. Ellis' friends made the report recommending his bill for passage and of the 23 members Kendall, of Clinton, and the two members of the sub-committee were all that were there that cared anything for Briggs. Kellogg, of Harrison, moved that the bill be indefinitely post- oned. The motion was seconded, and a secret ballot taken that resulted in putting the bill to sleep, 13 voting for indefinite pustponement and 10 against.
Mr. Ellis did not sleep any that night but lay awake and planned on how to recover the lost ground. Next morning he was at the state house early and received many expressions of sympathy and got George Koontz to prepare a form for a minority report and had it signed by the members who had voted against indefinite postponement. Ward, of Woodbury, told Chairman Moore that he would present the minority report and Moore promised to give him a chance for a hearing.
The next day being Lincoln's birthday anniversary, it was generally concluded that there would be an adjournment over to Tuesday as the Weaver picture would be unveiled on Monday. Consequently Mr. Ellis and many others went home Thursday night. Tuesday morning he was back to the capitol and at his desk early, and feeling fine. Ilis house journal for
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Saturday was brought to him and he read the following with feeling that can be imagined better than be explained :
"Mr. Speaker, your committee on appropriations to whom was referred house file No. 1, a bill for an act to make an appropriation for the removal of the remains of ex-Governor Ansei Briggs from Omaha, Nebr., to Andrew, Jackson county, Iowa, and for the erection of a monument in the cemetery at the place in commemoration of his memory, beg leave to report that they have had the same under consideration and have instructed me to report the same back to the House with the recommendation that the same be indefinitely postponed. Ernest R. Moore, Chairman Adopted."
That seemed to settle the question as there was the bill indefinitely postponed. But Mr. Ellis was determined not to be defeated in this great and noble undertaking and again bobed up as serenely as Banquo's ghost, and was immediately surrounded by such friends as Koontz, of Johnson ; O'Connor, of Chickasaw; Schulte, of Clayton, and Crozier, of Marion, who offered sympathy and assistance
A committee was appointed and waited on Mr. Moore, who, at the opening session of the House, the next morning explained that when he presented the majority report that he did not kuow Representative Ellis was absent and as he desired to be fair with the friends of the bill be ask- ed the unanimous consent of the HIo se to withdraw his report, which was given. Mr. Moore asked that it go over until the next day.
Mr. Ellis then selected tive members to speak in behalf of the bill. The next morning Holmes, of Kossuth, called up the Allison monument bill, made a talk on it and put it to passage. The bill received a constitutional majority, and at the instant its title had been agreed upon Mr. Ellis arose and obtained recognition and asked unanimous consent to consider House File No. 1. The House Journal, February 18, page 56, shows Moore moved that the report of the committee be adopted. It was moved by Ward, of Woodbury, to substitute the minority for the majority report and a roll call was demanded Rep esentative Ell's spoke in behalf of the bill and was followed by O Connor, Crozier and Schulte, each one presentng good argu- ments. The roll call showed 97 ayes and four nays. Thus the minority was substituted aud Moore moved its adoption. Thus the bill passed the House on Friday, February 18. The bill went through the Senate chamber at a quick pace which ended a hard, long fought battle in which right and justice droped the victors. On May 14 a contract was awarded to the Huff- man Bruner Granite company of Cedar Rapids for the erection and comple- tion of the proposed monument.
On May 20th, Representative Ellis departed for Council Bluffs and was met there by Representative Brandes of Pottawattamie, and an undertaker. The next morning Senator Saunders, Mr. Brandes and Mr. Ellis boarded a car and went over to Prospect Hill cemetery in Omaha. Here he found the superintendents ard two assistants at work opening the grave. There was present, Mis. John S. Briggs, a daughter-in-law of the governor and at whose home he died, and Captain Martin Dunham, an early day resident of Jackson county, son of old Esquire Dunham, of Dunham's Ferry, who
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claimed to be the only. pallbearer now alive. These with the undertakers and some newspaper reporters of Omaha, witnessed the exhuming of the re- mains. The contents of the badly decayed casket were placed in a new casket which was in turn put in a large metal lined box and the lining soldered over.
A Word Personal from Hon. J. W. Ellis.
Having heard many expressions of regret and disappointment, that I did not take a part in the program last Wednesday, I feel that a brief ex- planation is necessary from me.
When I arranged the program for the exercises two weeks prior to the date set for dedicating the monument, I fully realized that there was a greater number of prominent and able people had accepted our invitation to take part in the exercises, than time would allow to be heard, and I felt that our people would rather hear those distinguished guests who had honored us with their presence, than to listen to me. I had promised our guests who took part in the program to get them back in time to take the afternoon trains, and we were fifteen minutes late in starting our exercises and it is a matter of regret that we had to hurry some of the speakers away and thus disorganize the audience before the program was carried out.
I desire through these columns of the press of the county to acknow- ledge a debt of gratitude to all who assisted in any way to make the occas- ion a success I feel especially indebted to those guests who left their homes and occupations to come at their own expense and take part in the program ; also to those good broad-minded, liberal gentlemen, Thomas Hench, F. E. Wirth, A. A. Hurst, Frank Coverdale' and Dr. Skelly, who kindly donated their services and automobiles to carry our guests to An- drew and back ; to the members of the press who gave us free use of their columns to advertise the event, and to all of those who contributed of their means to cover the incidental expense. and especially to those out- side helpers like Charley Wyckoff, Henry Ottens, Andrew Chase, Mr. Sampson, and the teachers and the schools of the county. Last, but by no means least, those good men with whom I feel honored in being associ- ated with in the great and good work of collecting and reserving the history of our county and state.
I am asked very often how I feel now after the successfu! culmina- tion of my hopes and plans of years. I will say that I am deeply gratified, I am satisfied, I am happy. (Signed) JAMES W. ELLIS.
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MORE PROMINENT IOWANS RESPOND.
Prairie View Ranch, Carr, Colorado, Sept. 10, 1909.
Mr. Ellis,
Dear Friend: In reply to your kind invitation to attend the monument dedication of dear old Grandpa Briggs, will say I intended to be there but unforeseen circumstances will now prevent me. Many times I have thought to write you and thank you for what you have done. That all you have un- dertaken will be crowned with success is the wish of
Your old and true friend, FANNIE IONA GLASER.
U. S. Senate, Des Moines, Iowa, September 13, 1909. Mr. J. W. Ellis, Sec'y, Maquoketa, Iowa.
My dear Mr. Ell's: I have yours of the 11th inst. Your former invita- tions have not reached me or I certainly would have replied. I regret very much to tell you that it will be impossible for me to be at Maquoketa on the 22nd inst. I have already made engagements which render it impossi- ble for me to be in that part of the tsate at that time. I feel that the ded- ication of Governor Briggs' monument will be a most interesting occasion. We cannot honor too much the memories of the men who gave Iowa the impulse which she now enjoys. We are deeply indebted to the pioneers of the commonwealth, and I rejoice to know that in the old town of Andrew, one of these obligations is to be recognized. Yours cordi lly,
ALBERT B. CUMMINS.
Waterloo, Iowa, September 8, 1909. Hon. J. W. Ellis, Maquoketa, Iowa.
My dear Sir: Yours of the 7th received and was very glad to hear from you and appreciate the honor of being placed on your program. I regret that the indications from my present condition is that I will be unable to attend. I was taken sick three weeks ago and barring a few days in the office and a couple of days spent in Des Moines, I have been in bed most of the time. At present am on my back and uncertain when I will be able to get up. I had inflammation of the liver and congestion of the portal sys- tem which has shut off the flow of blood in the veins on my right side. It seems as if it would be impossible for me to be there to be present at the celebration. I would be more than pleased to tell your fellow citizens of Jackson county how faithfully you fought and what hard work it required on your part to secure the appropriation, and think that you had better as- sign the subject to some one that will be there as your home people should know something of the effort it required. If posisble I will come and will drop you a line so that you can get it just before the date, letting you know whether I will be able to come or not. Yours sincerely,
GUY A. FEELY.
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Kearney, Nebr., Sept. 6, 1909.
Mr. J. W. Ellis, Maquoketa, Iowa.
Dear Mr. Ellis: I have the honor to acknowledge your invitation to at- tend the ceremonies at the unveiling of the monument erected in honor of Ansel Briggs, Iowa's first governor, on the 22nd inst. I regret a previous engagement to speak in Omaha on Emancipation Day, makes it impossible for me to accept. Iowa honors herself when she honors Hon. Ansel Briggs. Very truly yours, NORRIS BROWN.
Wooster Ohio, September 20, 1909
Hon. J. W. Ellis, Sec. Jackson Co. Historical Society, Maquoketa, Iowa.
Dear Sir: Please accept my thanks for invitation to the unveiling of monument in memory of Ansel Briggs, first governor of the state of Iowa, on September 22, 1909. I regard the invitation as a great honor to me, and regret my inability to be present on that occasion. This is a fitting tribute to the memory of the first governor of your great State, rich in wonderfully productive soil, and stretches of beautiful lands, all dotted over with vil- lages and cities, prosperous in commerce and wealth populated with a citi- zenship of sturdy, industrious, intelligent and educated Christian people.
I wish you a great day. Yours very truly, MAHLON ROUCH.
Council Bluffs, Iowa, September 18, 1909. Hon. J. W. Ellis, Maquoketa, Iowa.
Dear Sir: I am in receipt of yours of September 15th. While I have returned home very much better, I am not yet fully myself and my doctors tell me that it is not prudent for me to undertake going to any functions whatever, for the present, or traveling any more than it is absolutely neces- sary. I am very sorry that I cannot be present at the dedication of the Governor Briggs monument. I knew the Governor well and he was, you know, for a time, a resident of this part of the country. Please extend to your people my reasons and my regrets, and greatly oblige.
Yours truly, G. M. DODGE.
Albia, Iowa, September, 10, 1909. Mr. J. W. Ellis, Maquoketa, Iowa.
My dear Mr. Ellis: I am just in receipt of your favor of recent date inviting me to deliver a ten-minute talk at the dedication of the Briggs monument on the 22nd of this month. Replying will say that by reason of a recent change of affairs, our Court will convene on that day which makes it impossible for me to be in attendance. Our regular term of Court should begin September 20th. I had arranged matters so as to enable me to at- tend the services, but within the last ten days Judge Roberts the presid- ing judge at our next term of Court made an order that Court would not convene until the morning of the 22nd; hence in view of the fact, prevents me from being able to attend the services of which I very much regret. I assure you it would afford me great pleasure to talk to the people on that occasion and I very greatly appreciate the kind invitation to do so, but un- der the circumstances will be unable to be present. Thanking you for the favors shown, and assuring you that I will be with you in spirit, if not in- person, I am, Very truly yours, JOHN T. CLARKSON.
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Des Moines, Iowa, 'September 10, 1909.
Hon. J. W. Ellis, Maquoketa, Iowa.
Dear Sir: I am pleased to acknowledge receipt of the invitation of your society to attend the exercises upon the unveiling of a monument ded- icated to Ansel Briggs, first Governor of Iowa. I had hoped to be present but regret that I shall not be able to participate. I have no doubt the ceremony will be in keeping with the dignity and honor of our State which is showing in this manner its appreciation of one of her public servants.
I remain. Sincerely yours, C. J. FULTON.
Adel, Iowa, September 10, 1909.
Hon. J. W. Ellis, Maquoketa, Iowa.
Dear Sir: I have yours urging me to be present at the dedication of the Briggs monument, and asking to put me on the program for a short talk upon that occasion. I am sorry to say that it will be impossible for me to leave home at that time. Our court is in session and will be, and we already have a number of cases assigned for trial, and others for assign- ment. I regret my inability to be away from here at that time. Assuring you that I appreciate your invitation, I am, Sincerely yours,
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