USA > Iowa > Polk County > Des Moines > Des Moines and Polk County, Iowa, City Directory 1866 > Part 2
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' ere many years have passed; the ingresadd growth and prosperityof the -State will demand- h mdore commodious building, when the lot known as the " Park i will be adorned with's capitol credit able to the State and the city.
In 1857 a successful -movement: is made to incorporate the city of Des Moines, An set of incorporation: passed ip" the legislature, and approved by James \ Grimes Governor January 28 1867, The boundaries of the city were declared to -will Beginding at the north- west corner of section two township seventy eight mange wenty- four, west fifth PIN. Iowa; thence west to the north-west corner tion five, township and range aforesaid .(thenbe south to the south- West corner of section eight, in said tow obip: thence eset to the s
8
HISTORICAL.
corner of section eleven in said township; thence north to the place! of beginning.
The portion of the city east of the river was not included in the original town of Fort Des Moines, and was called Demoine, a title and the orthography of which, many of the early residents are very tona cious about to the present day although the city charter sought to expunge all distinctions.
The first election for city officers was held May 4th, 1858, on which occasion W. H. McHenry was elected Mayor.
The site on which the city is built is unsurpassed for beauty and pleasant surroundings .. From the two rivers extends a rich and' fer- tile plain, skirted with. gently undulating hill's, or bluffs which are covered with forest trends, among which nestle beautiful homes. Within the area encircled by these slopes a population of fifty thousand cam be amply accommodated with residences and get be not crowded. Great care has been exercised in beantifying and adorning the resi. dences of citizens, nor have the public streets been forgotten, as the thousands of shade trees amply testify. Though young in years, the city: can boast of numerous costly mansions and business houses already commanding the trade of many thousand square miles. The citizens are universally and remarkably kind and hospitable to stran- gers, thereby removing at once those unpleasant conditions which strach to the immigrant on taking up his abode among a strange people.
With a zeal energy and enterprise that is truly commendable, con- stant and valuable improvements are being made, and almost daily we see rapid 'strides toward the attainments of older and more populous cities.
.The experience of the past has proved this to be a healthy location. .
The soil is thoroughly drained by the two rivers, and those diseases so common to the west are scarcely known. With the advantages already secured, and soon to be offered, by schools of a higher order, both common and a high collegiste grade, no better inducements can be offered to persons seeking a pleasant home in the west. Man- ufacturing is yet in its infancy, but the natural facilities with which to operate are here at hand. Unlimited power is furnished by the river which can easily be made available, while underlying almost every foot of the soil is a vast bed of coal. A person has but to provide himself with a pick and shdvel to seobre an unlimited supply The geological surveys of the State now going oh, show that the great western coal dip, of the State crops but at this point. |Every month increases the population of the surrounding country, and insures the success of the capitalist and manufacturer.
i
HISTORIOAL.
To be added to the resources of the county . which must most inovi tably inure to the wealth of the city, thay be that of petroleum, sus face indication of |which sto found in various scollona. " @cologior! surveys have shown that the Des Moines valley is the central dip of the great coal fields of this State. Prof. James Hall formerly Stal. Geologiat of Idire; some months since faid . If oil should be found in lows, it will be high to in the valley of the Des Moines] in the neight borhood of Des Moines city. '. Surveys fand surface indications have feince confirmed the opinion of Mr. Hall, and companies have been formed to develop the fact! The most notable erdats of the past year, were the completion - the gas works and the Des Moines Ville" Railroad to this city .- Hitherto a spirit of "manifest destiny? seems to have provided the minds of the people. The Capital was inevitably to be the focus of great commercial centre, bence) progressive improvement was unnec- essary on the part of the citizens of the place | Prices, with a view to prospective growthi were held at exhorbitant | figures, which amounted to almost a total prohibition of mechanics for capitalists. By a great oversight in commercial. economy opportunities for adding greatly to the wealth and prosperity of the city Und county were rejected and among them orefor securing two railroads bonvery" ing at the best commercial and grate market of the west.| Where we could and should have three lines of communication with the great cities of Chicago and St Ionig the beneft of which would have accrued with incalculable benefit to the town and county, we will now have but two. But the last year has worked a change in public sent- menti and persistent efforts are now made to overcome the jerrors of the past, with good prospect of immediate success ( Public, improve+ ments are accepted with " good will while liberal inducementa are
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offered to capitalist and others who desire to past in their lot ril this people!
Of the man factories in the county! the following pist Has been for mished by the Assistant ! U. 8. Assessor, andare only those which pro-
doce in value annually, six hundred dollars or over" Most of them
are located in the city of Des Moines;
Tton Foundries. B&w| MOUN.
BL
Tlouring MI .... Woolen
D
x
Je
Make Plows no, Nako Black i toichfood Coopers.L.t.
Boot had boe m Clothing .....
Pol Bla 8hingla gh
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HISTORICAL.
The average manufactures last year in this county, was $2,000 por
month,
The growth and population of the county may be estimated by the
election and census returns :,
The number of votes cast in 1846 was
In 1856 for Presiden In 1859 for Governor In 1808 for President
2,046 9.126 8,878 2,663
In 1864 for Govenor
In 1866 for Governor.
,150
The election returns of this Fall show the number of voters in the city to be (1,700. Add to this 800 as being absent and who remained away from the polls; and, according to the usual estimate of five per- sons for every. voter, the city has a population of over 10,000."
Inasmuch as the city is so closely identified with the county, and, the former so much dependent on the latter for ita prosperity, and as this book may fall into the hands of those who desire to induce immi- gration, a few words on the nature of the soil of this valley will not be inadmissable. ] Theory and practice, in many of the departments of agriculture are widely apart. A thorough knowledge of the chemical. analysis of soils does not necessarily make good farms nor farmers. But when we find the teachings of science so exactly according with experiments and practical knowledge, we can not refrain from using them, as they doubly confirm the assertion here made, that no better. section of the west can be found for agricultural purposes than the county of Polk. ; For fertility,
richness and depth it is unsurpassed. Geologist in His report of Iowa, Bars
Professor Owen, the eminent "The prairie country, based on rocks belonging to the Devonian and carboniferous systems, extending up the valley of the Des Moines, sa high as latitude 42ยบ $14, presents a body of arable land which for richness and organic elements, for amount of saline matter, and due admixture of earthly silicates, affords a combination that belongs only" to the most fertile uplands. Throughout this district the general lav- elness of surface, interrupted only by gentle 'swells and moderate ,
!
undulations, offers faculties for the introduction of all those aids
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which machinery is daily adding to diminish the labor of cultivation, and render easy and expeditious the collection of an abundant hat- vest. The soil is found to be from two to ten feet deep averaging four feet, and is inexhaustable in fertility. It produces almost sponta- neously every agricultural product, and requires an incredible small amount of labor to secure an abundant harvest. It yields from fifty to one hundred and fifty bushels of corn to the agre - say seventy five oni an average, and other crops in the same proportion."
HISTORICAL." 11 ------
. In support of Professor Owen's theorywe can add that on feld's in this county lust, year grew the tenth and fifteenth successivo crop of corn and wheat without a sign of exhaustion of the soul.
NOIDENTS OL HELY DAYS.
We are indebted to Dr J. G. Weeks oxaminer offaties, in this ci y for the following transactions in real estate which we doubt not wi
be read with interes! E .
The original claim to that portion of the city | blok now comprises the most valuable, was cold April 24 h, 1846, by Bobt. A. Kinsie. to Perry L. Crossman, F. B: Clapp soting as Hness And Ad Micheal as Justice of the Peace on the occasion for the moderate sum of five hun. dred collate. The property is described as follows ! From the mouth of Coon River : thence north by the Des Moines river half a mile, to an osk, with Kinsie finitisis; thenco jest, about one mile to an joan; with Kingie's initial yidenice south, to an elm standing alonej thence south-east to an elm on coon river marked with Kinzie's initials ;; thence along the meanderings of that stream to the place of beginning, containing " bout'ono section.". `Among the ancient mortgages on record is one from P. C. Grimmel to John G. Gibon, for five hundred dollars to secure the payment of
which was indentured thol lots here are the present residences of Mesers. Cooper, Scripper -Luse, Morgan, Hipped, Carpenter Grimmel, Cassidy, Newton, Mrs. McCain, and many others, three horses, three
cowe and calles two wagons; one buggy double and single barriess,
The entire blook 87, the point ner Good Bridge was once sold for eight hundred and sixty- three dollars. The highest price paid for a : single lot in the same block was $175 for lot sit.|In the north-west corner of the city the opposite extreme; the lot now owned by| Mrs. Col Mills was sold the same year or twenty five dollars . The lapse of a few years bas quite reversed the value of thlei property?] What
was then . slnablo co " desirable property," and "correr lots" Has
become by the
to mutations of t
ade, deserted.
Lots 14 and 12, where the Demolno Hease now stands; was gold in. 1847-8 for $66. The lot where Hippee's Drug Store stands In 1848 for $57. The entire block now pocupied b. Exchange Block, and building the fear) in 1848 for $65. A
The Severy Hotel block was sold in 1848 for $80.
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HISTORICAL.
The lot occupied by Allen's Bank, in 1857 for $86, and that east of the bank in 1848, for $40.
Lot 12, block 25 corner of Court Avenue and Third Street, in 1847, to Folsom, for $85, who recently sold it for $8,450,
The corner occupied by Laird's store, in 1848 for $26. | The same - year Hoyt Sherman's residence lot was sold for $25. In 1847, that of Judge Gray for $80.
The property recently sold by Capt. West for over $10,000, was sold - in 1846 for $64,50.
Those lots where the National State Bank and Stacy Johns' Boot and Shoe Store now stands, in 1847 for $40 ; where Dr. Baker's Drug store, and Mills & Co's Book Store are in 1848 for $12; And those where J. & I. Kuhn, and the Buckeye store are in 1848 for $35.
The first white child born in the town of Port Des Moines was a daughter of Col. Grier, commanding the military post, in an old; cabin
a portion of which is now standing on the Point.
The first white child born in the county, outside the town, was &
- daughter of J. M. Thrift.
The first marriage in the town was Benjamin Bryant and Barbary Elvira Birge, June ']]th, 1846, at the Cabin of Henry Birge, by Aaron E. Starke, Justice of the Peace
The first death in the county was a child of Coll Grier.
The first chair made in the county was by Isaac Cooper in 1845,- It is said that three moves are equal to one fire. In his case, ono move reduced his family to one chair. The family did very well |on week days when Mr. Cooper was engaged in business, but on Sunday it was different. Hence a chair was improvised from af black walnut tree, the bottom being constructed of the bark of trees. It did good service for many years, and is now an heir loom of the family - Wearing apparel wea likewise scarce in those days; in fact none was to be had. So from the tops of old boots, and s saddle skirt discarded by the dragoons; the first pair of shoes were made in the town of |Des Moines, and it is pow, with considerable pride, the maker, Mr. Cooper, asserts they were the best shoes his children ever had. The first well dug in the county was by Mr. Cooper, with two skillets obtained of the Indians. It was near twenty feet deep
Other families were obliged to resort to like expedients to supply their necessities. Peter Newcomer, for want of better, made a churn from the bark of a hickory tree. The same tree also furnished a sub- stitute for stove pipe, but unfortunately it would not stand the fire,
NEWSPAPERS
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and a disastrous contegration came next being the earl of a wooden
store-pipe. .It will be interesting to the frequentato of the Methodist Church of Fifth street to know that 'where that lifee now stand , was once Indian race course, is species of gambling at which the red men were great adepta : Possessed of fleet and amicul'I portes though des edly deceptive in appearance they rarely, ifiever, failed to win the stakes.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper established in Des Moines, was the low A STA". It was issued in June, 1846 by Mesers. Barlow Grabber & Co., from one of the dragon buildings on Coon tiver, "lieb was then one of the most popular streets of the city!"[Mrs Granger inform us that be got ! alonghvery well in summer in his cabin but in winter it was nebes-
sary to build fires both under and on the press to work the ink The !; circulation of the Star at this time w about 8CO. It passed into the hands of Based & Johnson. . The latter died about eight months ever assuming control of the paper, and was suppe ded in Dr. A. Y. Hall, in August, 1851. In May: 1852, Dr. Hull retired learing Curtis Bates sole editor. I he to continued prtilj 1854, when DID Finch became associated with him - The paper the" passed into the hands of fom -. linson & Farmer, who change i's pam" to LowA STATEER! It pasted, into the bands of Wil Porter, February, 1801 who changed its lille to IOWA STATE JOURNAL. The sucessor of Mr. Poster was Stillon Butching , who associated with him - Geo, i M. Todd! Hilfe bamoi thay changed to "IOWA STATEsmak !! During all its various, changes and mutations il has been the organ of the Democratic party. In 1800 Mesate Stevens and Hoxie Started the COMMONWEALTH which subsequently changed its name to the Time and passed into the Hands of J. B. Babamen & Co.,' ho afterward cold if to. W. H. Merrill who changed the name and politics to the present STATESMAN -
Almost simultaneously with the Star appeared the FORT DEEl.
MoisEs GAzeris, published by L. P. sherman & Col but the enterprise not proving , success, it was abandoned and soon after Peter. Myers & Co. established the STATE JogRren, which at the end of abou: opo 11. year was suspended, and the Detacorady Had the only organ ia tho
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NEWSPAPERS.
county, until February 1856, when Thomas H. Shepherd now a clerk in the War Department at Washington, established the Iowa Orizey. His associate in the enterprise was A. J. Stevens. In February, 1857, Mr. Shepherd retired and was succeeded by W. H. Farner, as editor, (who had during the previous campaign become a Fremonter,) Mr Stevens being de facto the proprietor.| In |May of the same year the paper went into the hands of J. C. Savery. In August, Mr. Farner parted from the paper, and rumor says he died in the rebel army. He was succeeded by J. M. Dixon, who was sole editor, until December 7, : when the entire establishment passed into the Hands of- John Teesdale the present post master. With Mr. Dixon as |associate editor, . the paper was carried on with uniform success. February 15th, 1860, the name of the paper was changed to IOWA STATE REAMTER. On the 8th of May, 1860, Mr. Teesdale published his valedictory, and the paper passed into the hands of F. W. Palmer the present proprietor. Mean- while the city had grown to important proportions, and a weekly paper was a slow coach. To meet the demand for a daily paper, the first number of the DAILY STATE REGISTER was issued January 18th, 1862, with J. M. Dixon as associate editor. Since that date the bus- iness of theestablishment has grown with the city, and become perma- nent and profitable.
From the GAZETTE to the present STATE REGISTER, those papers have been the organs of the Whig, Free Soil, and Republican parties, in the order of their successiop.
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In the Winter of 1859, Wm. Duane Wilson removed the publication office of the IOWA FARMER from M. Pleasant to Des Moines, and changed it from a monthly to a weekly paper, Mille & Co. becoming . the publishers. In the fall of the same year, the paper passed into the hands of Hiram Torrey; who changed the name to PIONEER FAR- WER. He was succeeded by W. S. Simmons, who sold out to Mark Mil- ler, who'established the IOWA HOMESTEAD. . In 1864 the paper passed into the hands of H. W. Petit, who died the present year when the paper passed back into the Hand(, of Mark Miller, the present pub- lisher.
The MONTHLY REPORTER was issued in, July, 1858, by. N. W. Mills & Co., and continuedjabout three years.
The IOWA SCHOOL JOURNAL, was issued July, 1859, by N. W. Mille & Co., and published monthly in quarto form, until 1842, when it was changed to a Magazine, and so continues, with Mills & Co. publishers. Its editor is Oran Faville, State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
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CHURCHES
15
February 1st, of the present year, W. B. Peterson ismoved the Tex- PERANOE PLATFORM, & bi-weakif paper from Dibabae to this offy:
CHURCHES !!
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH!
The Contral Presby crian Church was organised Tate, 1848 by Bavi Thom son Bird who was its pastor from that time until October 1835 when he resigned, and was succeeded ty Rev Wm. W. Wetmore, who preached foge year . The church is nowwithout @ postor, the bulpit !: being temporarily supplied by Bet. W.WW. Wetmore. " The church bed . `only six members at its organisation, but steadily Increased, although several other churches have been formed in part or wholly from its members, until at present it has 82 communicants. Its servicial aro bold at the church on Fourth St ; bear the save House at 10 .A. M. and 7. P. M. of each Sabbath. Prayer meetic on Wednesday at 7 P. M. The Sunday School meets at 9 A. M.
The First Baptist Church of Des Moines sias organized Janoch . 1854, with Mul fourteen names upon its list of membership Ref, JA Nash under appointment of the American Baptist Home Mission Sobi. oty was chosen Pastoni which ofice he continued to all uutil: bid redig, nation in 2 866. The pulpit was then supplied by him and other ministers until April 1806, when the present. Pastor, Bev. L. W. Hay hurst, was elected. The labors of the winter added 100 to the membership the fruits of glorious This church, like the city, bas and drop bid but |healthful:
From the small number of fourteen it ans dobed the comparatively
large one of. 178.notwithstanding the frequent removal of members to : other localities resulting from the unsettled life of a new country, and the constitution of s copsrate churob by the dismi al or it's not - bred membership in May 1866 .. Its condition is now in every respect" a high degree prosperous, and it promises to fully poon py the and id.
constantly enlarging told of its labora.
Two] public services are held on Barbati, and prayer meetings on
Wednesday and Friday evenings of; cuch w The Sabbath Bebool ta
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CHURCHES:
large and flourishing with a membership of som. 200 and a perpetually large average attendance. Efficient Teachers and Oficers and an excellent Library are making the school an aid in church extension,
The first meetings of this body were held in a small Methodist Church. But on the 16th of March, 1856, the Brick church on Mulberry street, north of the Court House, was dedicated as their house of work ship after the expenditure of labor and means far from small when compared with the actual strength of the small church struggling against all the difficulties of a new settlement. Here they continued until May 1866, when the house was sold and the church set about the erection of another House more nearly corresponding with the number of her members-ber full congregation, and the growth of the city id population and wealth. The house situated at the corner of 7th and Locust streets is now rapidly approaching completion, and by ite sizel. and elegance stands forth as one of the chief architectural ornaments of the city. Its cost will probably exceed $20,000. BT. AMBROSE'S CHURCH.
Catholic Church on 6th street, between Walnut and Locust streets. Pastor, Very Rev. John F. Brazille, Vio. Gen., Residence[ near the: church.
In 1855, Mathias Loras, late Bishop of Dubuque, purchased of Thos G. Given two lots in the original town of Fort Des Moines, for the sum of $700, with a view of building on them in the immediate future, a Catholic Church: During the same year, i. e. 1855, a Priest; Rev. Louis De Cailly, now of Keokuk, was temporarily located at Des Moines and the Irish settlement in Warren and Madison counties; but left toward the close of the year. ; In., the Rev. Mr. De , Cailly's time there was no more than four or five members of his church in Fort Des Moines.
In March of 1858, he was succeeded by Rev. George Al Plathe, who during the ensuing summer built what at present forms the great part of the old frame church. In a short time this building proved tool, small, and in the summer of '68 an addition was made to it capable of accomodating as many more. In the spring of 1800, Rev. G. A. Plathe visited Dubuque, and Dyersville, where hls brother resides, and where also he took sick and died ..
Des Moines was then without a, Catholic Pastor until the following October, when the present incumbent arrived and took charge of the congregation. .
CHURCHES.
1
On the last day of March, 1868, the catholics commenced their pres- ent magnificent brick church and bad it read"for service by the Fall 1
of 1864 The old church is now coupled by a school, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy. The igrowth of the Catholic Church in this 1
place, it now certainly behind that of the place itself rapid though that bei From four or are members in 1850, they have grown so as to
be at present date computed at two thousand and in $ material point of view, their church, improvements, have kept equal ;pade the progress of Des Moines
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
The hrst Presbyterian |Church of. Des Moines was organized Tune.
4 L A. D. 1848 with the name of " The Presbyterian " Church of E" Des Moines is It was organised by the Ber. Salmon Cowles _ mer of the Presbytery of Des Moines, in a log thouse belonging to John Dean, :on the east side of the Des ! Moines i river; wi ok thirteen mem- bens one of whom was chlooted and installed . Buling Elder !!
This log cabin bad formerly been occupies whilst the United States troops werd atitioned Herel ad sifre der s ost al ; The chum had occasional mi supplies only for two or three geste the Be . Mr. Comles fend Ber. Mr. McComb then at tioned tus loose, till March 1861, when Bev. G. W. Stan was engaged to LAppy it for the west giving it one-half of his time : From the termination of this engagement til June 1868, the church . gain without a supply | Atthis time Mit. I. M. Lippencott . Licen date of the Pres
bytery of Siliney, Ohfoi was engaged to supply, the church likewise
one-half of his time. . Phimengagement continued until February, 1855. The church was organized into a body politic and corporate on the 28th day of November! ! A. D: 1854, by the name and style of the " First Presbyterian Church of Ri. Don Mobbe," +1 tiff fu atle of distinction! At this time sisp the preliminary for the OREtion of a house of worship & bulldir ppotatode lot was purchased -- and ci subscrip 20 for the purpose i'll further #forts
But the Rev Mr. Lippencott leaving this time
were suspended.
In September, 1855, BAY) B. T. Drakoor bon the ground. IM
Drake served the church foris . opil was moanimously made out for bit. apat on a 1856, which was odoentedl and how
brabiped and' tor of said church. April, 1880, Mil Drake resigned Li. charge.
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CHURCHES.
April 26th, 1856, the congregation was again called together to con- sider the matter of church building. With much dimpulty and amide many trials, by subscriptions, personal appeals, correspondence, circu- lars, and loans, the church was finally completed." Its locality is a good one, being near the heart of the city on Locust and Seventh Btreets. The building is a large, substantial brick edifice, and with some important improvements lately made, and others now being made, it will be a commodious and valuable house for religious worship.
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