USA > Iowa > Polk County > Centennial history of Polk County, Iowa > Part 22
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The joke turns, and I became the butt and laughing stock after a few years in consequence of the wealth which they accumulated out of that purchase, and my failure to realize in consequence of my not purchasing at the time they did. Notwithstanding the joke my friend Tom always remained on the best of terms with me so far as I know.
The first line I ever ran for pay was east of the river be- tween Messrs. Hart and Meacham, February 21. In that region of country, along the Des Moines river, it was form- erly quite brushy in places. I was employed to run chain lines occasionally where it was difficult to see the rod-man, and in many instances, I would require the rod-man to hal- loo and I would go for the sound.
February 23, John Scott's child died, being the first death in the county. February 28, the first delegates who went from the county to meet in convention with Jasper and Marion, to elect a delegate to assist in forming a Constitu- tion, were Messrs. Lewis and Martin. Nothing was accom- plished.
March Ist, the first marriage was solemnized between John Beard, and Nancy Jane Welman, by Rev. Mr. Post. The license was procured from Marion county.
The first store opened in Polk county was by Mr. Hoxie, March 2, at the house of Mr. Meacham.
A. N. Hays and Captain Allen, if I am not mistaken, opened a coal bank and stone quarry in 1843, being of course the first in the county.
During the stay of the Dragoons at the Fort, I witnessed
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OF POLK COUNTY.
A a very unpleasant scene, March 6, 1846. Two of the soldiers became intoxicated, and in consequence were put in the guard house. One was gagged and his hands tied behind him. The other one, after being kicked and cuffed across the toe-path repeatedly, had his hands tied behind him, and then tied to the ceiling just so that he could touch the floor, and the other fared the same fate before he was released.
The infantry had left the Fort before I came, and a por- tion of the Dragoons left with a lot of Indians, March 8. Capt. Grier, I believe, was in command. Mr. Drake, and afterwards Mr. Hart, had liquor to sell; but Wall Clapp was the first regular groceryman in the county, and occupied the old trading post of Mr. Whistler, at the junction of the Des Moines and 'Coon rivers. It was a log house extend- ing in the direction of the Des Moines River.
Mr. Ayers, in "'Coon Row," and Mr. Thrift, in the coun- try, were the first tailors, and were residents when I came, both having been connected with the army for some time.
On the platteau, or second bench, were several mounds, which I hold, and think I can prove, were the fallen resi- dences of Indians-not graves. But I will not discuss that question here, although a very interesting one to the his- torian, as well as ourselves.
March 26, I started for the Three River country, for the purpose of appointing judges of election, leaving poll books, and selecting jurors, &c. I was acting as Deputy District Clerk under Perry L. Crossman; transacted nearly all the business, and organized the county, as the records will show. Dr. Brooks accompanied me.
Mr. Warren, Whig candidate for delegate to the Sena- torial convention, to form a constitution for the future State of Iowa, spoke in Des Moines, March 31.
Having formerly acted in the capacity of Postmaster, I was solicited to assist in opening the first regular mail in 40
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the county, April 1st, 1846-Dr. Brooks, Postmaster; time of arrival, every Wednesday, and departure, Thursday at 6 o'clock. I suppose you would now think that a long time to wait for the mail, but I assure you it was a very welcome visitor to us. The Dr. took the key, and opened the mail to obtain his bond and commission. Jeremiah Church and Mr. Newcomer, signed his bond, and I swore him into office. The mail was wet. I wrote the first two letters that started out in the mail, one to the Department, and another to my friend George W. Jones.
The first election was held April 6th, 1846. I find this note in my journal in reference to it: "Stood post at Mitchell's. Judges had erroneous views as to what consti- tuted a resident, consequently everybody voted who wished to, even persons traveling. Fifteen to twenty illegal votes."
My opponent ran on Mitchell's popularity. Tom had a great influence at that date. He was a shrewd and an ex- cellent manager of whatever he undertook, and a gentle- man much liked by everybody who knew him.
Tom Mitchell was elected Sheriff; Judge McKay, County Clerk; Tom McMullen, Recorder. Meacham, Saylor, and Foutz, Commissioners. Mitchell had a free dinner.
J. B. Scott commenced running the first ferry, May 1, and Dr. Kirkbride came into the Fort, May 25. The County Seat was located at Fort Des Moines by M. T. Williams, of Mahaska, and Giles M. Pinneo, from Scott county, after riding over the county eight days. Log guns were fired, bonfires made, and the festivities of the occasion terminated at Tom Baker's, by the Polk County Band, which consisted of two fiddles, very unscientifically executed.
June 4, 1846, I commenced the survey of the town of Fort Des Moines. Martin Tucker started the first hotel. The first preacher of Polk County was Ezra Rathburn, Methodist, and about the smartest preacher we ever had in the County. Besides that, he was a gentleman; and not to
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disparage others of his profession, he was every way their superior.
June 10, the first marriage license was issued to Benj. Bryant and Barbara Elvira Birge. At this date, we had a Justice by the name of Michael; who was called upon to per- form the marriage ceremony; but not knowing how to go about the matter, he called upon me for advice. I gave him all the requisite instructions, as I supposed; but not being satisfied with that, he desired me to write what he should say. I therefore sat down and penciled off the following ceremony, and requested him to commit it to memory:
"The parties wishing to unite themselves in marriage, will join their right hands. Do you take the lady whom you hold by the hand to be your wife ? Do you take the gentleman whom you hold by the hand to be your husband ? By the authority vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife."
I attended the wedding at Crossman's, and the 'Squire forgot the latter clause, and from the most distant corner of the house, in a loud voice, I repeated it for him, and they were married by his acknowledgment and certificate. On other occasions I was solicited by him to accompany him to guard and protect him from similar break-downs. One instance, of more peculiarity than others, now occurs to my mind, although I have forgotten the names; yet I remember the location of the scene to have been at the head, or upper end, of "'Coon Row." (Tom Mitchell can tell you where that was, if no others.) In order to familiarize the 'Squire with the ceremony, and its execution, and whilst convivial- ity was the order of the evening, I called up one couple after another, they enjoying the fun nearly as much as if it were reality, and went through the ceremony of marriage until all present, as well as the Justice, became sufficiently informed to go through the reality without mistake.
We celebrated the Fourth of July, 1846, with Tom Baker,
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Orator; Major Mckay, Reader of Declaration of Independ- ence; Messrs. Winchester, Frazee, and Scott, Marshals, and myself acting as President of the day. Toasts were read and cheered. About two hundred people were in attendance. The day was very warm. Dinner, one dollar per couple. A dance was held at night; and take the day through, it was a pleasant and jolly gathering.
These relations of simple facts may not be interesting to your members, but of considerable importance to your As- sociation.
There were many interesting lawsuits about these times; one in which old Squire Moody prosecuted John Thornby, for cracking jokes. Baker and myself for the plaintiff, and three attorneys for the defense. It was an action for assault and battery, and we failed in it for want of evidence.
July 13th and 14th, first sale of lots.
By the Census taken on the 18th, the population of Polk county was 1301. The number of persons in Fort Des Moines was 127; families, 23; and houses, 31; they being those erected by the Government as a Fort.
The lawyers in town July 23, 1846, were T. Baker, W. D. Frazee, P. M. Casady, L. D. Winchester, and Wm. Mc- ' Kay. Physicians, Dr. Fagan, a graduate of St. Louis, and Dr. Kirkbride.
One store assessed at $1,500.00, kept by B. T. Hoxie; one dry-goods and grocery store by A. Michael; a grocery and provision store by W. W. Clapp; a grocery (saloon) and place of amusement, by J. A. Campbell; a tavern by M. Tucker; an apothecary shop by L. D. Winchester; a turner and chair factory, Mr. Vannatta; a wagon maker and car- penter, D. Solenberger; mill-wright, John Ehle; and Mr. W. F. Ayers, a tailor. . A. Michael, justice of the peace, and Jesse R. Miller, constable. Methodist Church with two ministers, E. Rathburn and his father; and a Babtist church.
July 23, I made it my business to take the census. There
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where eleven young ladies, and thirteen young gentlemen, who were proper subjects of matrimony. I regret that I did not record their names, although I might now name some of them by guess.
A very perceptible difference was formerly noticed in ref- erence to the waters of the Des Moines and 'Coon rivers, the former being much the warmer at the same hour.
Up to the 24th of July, I had issued four marriage licences. One of the gentlemen informed me had no money to pay for his license, and proposed to pay for it in splitting rails. Inasmuch as I was not in want of such services, I declined the proffered labor, and donated him the license.
The first frame building put up in Fort Des Moines, was by David Solenberger, and was eighteen by twenty, with nine feet story.
July 25th, lots at first sale brought from $10 to $160, Wall Clapp paying the highest price for the lot nearest the junction of 'Coon and Des Moines rivers. The lots were disposed of principally to speculators.
At the first election there, there were one hundred and seventy-nine votes given for the two candidates for Sheriff.
At the August election following, I must have been very popular, for I was elected Constable by the Whigs, and Justice of the Peace by the Democrats; and took my cer- tificates from both. It was through spite that the Whigs ran me for Constable.
At the August election the number of votes cast was 211 making a gain of 32 votes in four months.
If any of you have any curiosity to look into an old Squire's docket, get that of Esq. Stark, near Dr. Brooks It will make you shake your sides every time you think of it. For a number of years I kept many of the cases in memory, but they have passed from me to such an extent that I could not render them sufficiently intelligible.
The first burial was that of a gentleman from over the 'Coon, August 8th.
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It may not be uninteresting to the Association to learn who inhabited that wild region, August 18th, 1846. I will therefore present you with the principal names of the citi- zens of your city at that date.
Ezra Rathburn, father, two young ladies, and two young men; D. Solenberger and wife; W. W. Clapp and wife; J. Campbell, wife and two or three children; Mr. Thorp and several children; Mr. Morris, wife and children; Sam Van- atta, wife and children ; B. T. Hoxie, wife and children ; Martin Tucker, wife and several children ; Col. T. Baker, wife and several children; Mr. Caves, wife and two children; Wm. Ward and wife; Perry Wear and wife; William F. Ayers, wife and children; A. Michael, wife and child; Col. John Rose, wife and children; Mr. Crews and wife; P. L. Crossman, wife and child; John Ehle, wife and child; Mr. Buzick, wife and children.
Among the young folks, I find the following names: Miss Mary Thorp, a marriageable young lady, with a sister just beginning to look upon the bright side of matrimony; Miss Malissa Hoxie was also in the line of marriageable promo- tion; also, Miss Luticia Tucker, and Miss Kirkbride. An old maid, by the name of Jemima Scott, and several others whose names I have forgotten.
The young gentlemen about the town were: George A. Michael, Dr. Kirkbride, Thomas McMullen, P. M. Casady, L. McHenry, Lewis Whitten, Maj. Wm. McKay, Jonathan Rathburn, and Ezra Rathburn.
PIONEER EXPERIENCES.
John D. McGlothlen informs us that when he arrived, with his family, at their new home in Allen township, which occurred in June, 1846, he accepted the hospitality of James Davis, an old bachelor, who tendered his cabin to the new-comers until such time as they could erect one for themselves. Here, in their new home, the ague made an
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OF POLK COUNTY.
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invasion; and Mr. McGlothlen, his wife, and children, be- came victims of this annoying disease. October 2d, 1846, they got possession of the cabin on their own farm.
The structure which they inhabited had but one room in it; and the puncheons used for flooring purposes were so scanty that they covered but half the earth on the inside from view. There was neither door nor window; but as a substitute for these, the opening which had been made for a fire-place, was employed for this purpose. In time, how- ever, as the fire-place and chimney were in process of con- struction, it became difficult to establish communication with the outside world through such a peculiar orifice. In the midst of sickness and discouragements, the necessary improvements were made to the building before the advent of very cold weather. The nearest grist mill, at the time, was Duncan's, near Oskaloosa; and during the fall of 1846, Mr. McGlothlen took his team of four horses, and large covered wagon-the same which had brought himself and family from Indiana-and proceeded to the mill, taking with him a number of grists for waiting families in the neighborhood. Arriving at the mill, he found it so crowded with anxious customers, that he deemed it advisable to go' farther. At Farmington, he found the situation the same; and success did not crown his efforts until he reached Bo- naparte, on the lower Des Moines river. On the homeward route, bad weather set in, and teaming became heavy and laborious. It took him just twenty-one days to make the round trip.
METHODIST REUNION.
In September, 1867, the three Conferences of the M. E. Church in the State, viz: Iowa, Upper Iowa, and Des Moines, had a fraternal meeting in this city. Bishops Janes, Clark, and Thompson, were present. Hon. C. C. Nourse, in behalf of the city, made the welcoming speech to the Con-
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ferences. It was an interesting convocation of ministers, and will long be remembered by our citizens.
GOVERNOR CARPENTER.
In 1853, while J. C. Savery was keeping hotel at the old Hoxie stand on Third street, Gov. C. C. Carpenter, then young and unknown, came to Fort Des Moines on his first tour to the West, in search of a school. After sojourning for a time with Mr. Savery, and failing to obtain a school here, took up his satchel, and wended his tedious and weary way to Fort Dodge, eighty-five miles, as a pedestrian, It is hardly probable, while achieving this laborious journey on foot, that the young immigrant looked forward pro- phetically to the time when he would become Governor of a great State, with more than a million inhabitants. Such is fate, or rather, such is grit, pluck, brains, and a superin- tending Providence.
THE GUARD HOUSE.
The old Government Guard House was erected just at the place where Vine and Third streets now intersect each other. A partition was run through it, and here, in 1846, Mr. Campbell kept a grocery, with his provisions on one side of the partition, and his various liquors on the other. On the liquor side, as he affirms, the first Grand Jury of the county met for consultation; and it is easily imagined, that in those times when whisky was much more popular than it is now, the jurors had a good time of it in their solemn convocations.
W. A. SCOTT.
The body of W. A. Scott, was brought back from Den- ver, where he died in 1857, and buried on Capital Hill, near the old Capitol, under the shade of an oak tree. This was done in consequence of his own request. He had
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OF POLK COUNTY.
spent a common fortune in improvements at Fort Des Moines, and it was but natural that he should wish to be brought back here for burial, so that his body might re- pose among scenes and associations of the olden time, which he loved so well. Nothing to-day, marks the spot where he rests, but a rude fence around his grave.
THE FIRST WELL.
The first well in the county, was excavated by Isaac Cooper, who employed in the operation a pair of skillets which had been left by the Indians. The well was twenty feet deep.
A PRIMATIVE CHURN.
Peter Newcomer, a substantial old settler, who still re- mains with us, obtained from Captain Allen, February 1844, a permit to make a claim four miles east of the Fort. As a substitute for a churn, Mr. N. hollowed out a log, and for a dasher, he brought into requisition a hickory pole, thus in- geniously supplying his wife with an invention for making butter.
THE HOSTILE SIOUX.
Often during the sojourn of the soldiers at the Fort, pop- ular excitements were occasioned among the Indians, as well as whites, by rumors of expected raids from the hostile Sioux. At such times the stolid and phlegmatic Sac, made indolent by the help and protection of the Government, would turn away philosophically from the scout who brought the news, and retire to his quarters to re-employ his valuable time in playing cards and other recreations.
HARLY DESPERADOES.
Much trouble was experienced at times by the soldiers and settlers, which was caused by the importation into the coun-
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try of a number of armed desperadoes who were constantly engaged in planning and executing their schemes of vio- lence and outlawry. On one occasion, two or three of these ruffians, among whom was a scamp by the name of Jonas Carsner, succeeded in stealing several horses belonging to the Sacs. A detachment of men was sent out by order of Captain Allen, to arrest the thieves, and bring them to pun- ishment. Jonas Carsner was caught, and after a summary trial which elicited no direct evidence against the defendant, he- was delivered over into the hands of Sergeants Haley, Good ell Smith, and another person whose name has not trans- pired. These soldiers, disguised as Indians, gave to the culprit a thorough and satisfactory whipping, which he doubtless deserved, and then let him go.
A man named Fish, from whom two horses had been sto len by Carsner's band of ruffians, started out after the whipping and dismissal of the latter, to hunt for his lost property. He was mounted on a horse belonging to a Sac. As he was passing the skirt of a forest, Carsner suddenly leaped from his ambuscade, cut the saddle-girth, hurled Fish to the ground, mounted his horse, and rode away in triumph. The unfortunate Fish, who was out of water at this discomfiture, footed it back to.the garrison, where he reported the results of his luckless trip, amid the execra- tions of the Sacs, and the laughter of the soldiers.
WOLVES.
Wolves were numerous and mischievous in those times. They repeatedly infested the cabin of John Saylor, who was running a garrison farm north of the Fort. At a certain time, when Mr. S. was absent on business in Van Buren county, these animals became so impudent and ferocious that, approaching the cabin with clamorous howls, they climed every accessible eminence, and peered savagely through the windows, threatening the wife who was the only occupant of the building.
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OF POLK COUNTY.
A KNOCK-DOWN ARGUMENT.
Shortly after John Saylor established himself in the town- ship which bears his name, a number of besotted Indians came to his cabin, and demanded meat and other supplies for their expectant stomachs. Mr. Saylor was not in a condi- tion to surrender provisions which his family needed; and in the crisis of the emergency, he grasped a stout hickory sapling, and after knocking down a number of the dusky intruders, he managed to drive the others away, thus achiev- ing in this unequal conflict a victory over his enemies!
ISAAC COOPER.
Isaac Cooper at one time took a grist of corn from Oska- loosa to Parmalee's mill to be ground. The river was very high, . and he was obliged to ferry his corn across on a raft of logs. Subsequently, he sold the meal at the Fort, for two dollars per bushel. The first chair in the County was manufactured by the same gentleman, the material of which was a black walnut tree, the bottom being formed of the bark. As boots and shoes were a scarce commodity, Mr. Cooper, rec- ognizing the fact that necessity is the mother of invention, employed the tops of boots discarded by the dragoons, and parts of saddle-skirts, wherewith to fashion a pair of shoes for one of his children. He states that these shoes were an improvement, for real value, on any others, which have since been used.
OLD RACE COURSE.
The site of the present Methodist Church, on Fifth street, was originally part of an Indian race course, whereon these aboriginal inhabitants tried the speed and bottom of their ponies, generally winning when they staked their bets against white competitors.
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FIRST CELEBRATION.
On the Fourth of July, 1846, a celebration occurred at . Fort Des Moines in honor of the day. It was a spirited af- fair, mixed up with anvil explosions, and numerous other noises which convulsed the air. Many shots were fired by the soldiers for fun and glory into the garrison buildings; and the little boys had a rare time while engaged in ex- tracting the balls which penetrated the palisades. Early in the day a procession, two hundred strong, was formed under the direction of Messrs. Winchester, Frazee and Scott, Marshals of the day; and marching to a grove on the West Side, where Col. Tom Baker delivered a patriotic discourse, and where a sumptous dinner was served up to the waiting crowd. In the evening the festivities were continued by a dance, made lively by the two fiddles which had been used in the celebration during the former part of the day. Thus ended the first celebration of our nation's birth in Polk County.
FIRST PRISONER.
Thomas Mitchell, Sheriff of Polk County, received the first prisoner into custody. The defendant was from Mer. cer county, Missouri, and was charged with murder. The arrest was made by Peter Myers. When the requisition for the prisoner came from the Governor of Missouri ; an at- tempt was made by his friends to rescue him, but Messrs. Mitchell and Myers skillfully eluded them, and the mur- derer was promptly delivered into the hands of the proper authorities.
A BEAR STORY.
In 1846, Camillus Leftwich, who with his family had been snake-haunted in a rail pen for six weeks, started out one
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OF POLK COUNTY.
morning to traverse a large area of country, in quest of neighbors to assist him in raising his cabin, which was sit- uated in Four Mile Township. On his way, he saw a large black bear emerging from a thicket. He made a note of this circumstance in his mind; and after the cabin had been raised, Mr. Letwich and his neighbors concluded to indulge in a bear hunt. Armed with such implements of slaughter as they could find, and supported by three greyhounds, the party commenced to hunt. Bruin was discovered, and from a distance of fifty yards, Mr. L. took aim with his old flint- lock gun, and the bear yielded up the ghost!
COUNTY SEAT CONTROVERSY.
The war between Brooklyn and Des Moines, in 1846, for the County Seat location, was peculiarly exciting, enlisting the sympathies and active efforts of the friends of both lo" calities. Thomas Mitchell, Dr Fagan, and two other gen- tlemen, all of whom were interested in favor of Fort Des Moines, started on a cold February day to Iowa City, whither they were going as lobby members to confer with the Com- missioners of location. The first night, chilled and weary, and half famished, they called a halt four miles east of Newton, at Bennett's cabin, where they sojourned until morning, sleeping on a trundle bed. They broke their fast with corn bread and sour bacon; and they left the cabin refreshed and full of hope and courage.
CURIOUS HABITATION.
It is reported of James Smith, the eminent pomologist, that he and his son, being at a loss to provide themselves with a habitation during their first winter's sojourn in that part of Delaware Township which now belongs to Doug- lass, excavated a hole in the side of a hill, the door to which was constructed of slabs. Near this unpromising residence, the first nursery was started in Polk County.
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J. C. JORDAN.
J. C. Jordan, who settled in Walnut Township in 1848, had the advantage of his pioneer neighbors in some archi- tectural conveniences. Ordinarily, the pioneer's door was composed of slabs, or rude boards, rived from a black wal- nut tree, fastened together with cross pieces, through which wooden pegs were driven into the slabs. Added to this, the primitive door was suspended on wooden hinges; and a wooden latch, with string attachments extending through a hole to the outside, for the welcome visitor to grasp with friendly hand, completed the arrangement. Mr. Jordan, however, gave to his cabin a regular battened door, whose modern air made it an object of general ad- miration.
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