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 13
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James Campbell headed a party that spent four weeks hunting elk, and re- turned late in June with twenty-seven. The party saw traces of the buffalo.
A financial report by John Tyler, township clerk, dated April 9, but not pub- lished until July 8, '52, enables us to look in upon the financial condition of the future capital of Iowa, four years before the legislature voted the re-location. Surely that was "the day of small things !" On March 29, 1851, he had collected $86.06. Since then he had succeeded in collecting, by hard work and tight screw- ing, the sum of $52.47. The detailed report which follows shows the township his debtor for $137.56, and his creditor for $138.53,-leaving him in debt to the amount of 97 cents.
The whigs of Fort Des Moines, in July, 1852, organized a Scott Club with Madison Young, president ; "Jeff" Casady secretary, Hoyt Sherman correspond- ing secretary, J. E. Jewett treasurer, and Myers, Buzzard, Alexander, Cable and
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Sherman, L. P., a business committee. The whigs rented a room over Moore's drug store.
July of that year was a busy month for the politicians of Polk county and vicinity. Meetings were held at Dudley, Lafayette, "Tom Mitchells," Newton and Fort Des Moines. A quadrangular meeting was held in Fort Des Moines on the 7th, with Messrs. Lewis and Hull, rival candidates for the senatorship, and Messrs. Rees, dem., and Davis and Todhunter, whig, candidates for repre- sentatives, the speakers on the occasion. There was much clever scoring for position on the complicated River Improvements questions of the hour, each candidate anxious to convince his hearers that he would be more helpful to the improvement than his rival. There was entire unanimity as to the location of the Capitol in Fort Des Moines.
. The Journal in August, '52, commenting on the election on the Monday before, notes the prevalence of "scratching" at the polls. The vote in Des Moines township was not as large as had been expected-only 246 votes cast, while the editor is satisfied there were 275 voters in the township. Dr. Hull, the demo- cratic candidate, was elected Senator, and the "loco" legislative ticket was re- ported as "probably elected."
Fort Des Moines had slowly and surely reversed its attitude politically. In the presidential election of 1852 it gave the Pierce electors, democratic, 105 votes, Scott, electors, whig, 131 votes, Hale electors, "free democratic," 6 votes.
The town of Fort Des Moines was incorporated by the Fourth General As- sembly which convened in Iowa City December 6, 1852. The act of incorpora- tion was approved by Governor Hempstead January 18, 1853, and published in the Iowa Star, February 3, thereafter. Its limits as described were: "Begin- ning at the Junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers at the centre of the channels thereof, in the county of Polk; thence up the channel of the Des Moines River to the point where the half mile line of section No. four, township seventy- eight north, of range twenty-four west, according to the United States survey, crosses said river ; thence west along said half mile line to the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of said section; thence south along the section line be- tween sections four and five and eight and nine to the centre of Raccoon river ; thence down the centre of said river to the place of beginning."
The law created a town council consisting of a mayor and eight councilmen, to be elected by the "white" male citizens of the town, on the first Monday of November each year. No member of the council was to hold any office in the gift of that body; nor could any member lawfully profit, directly or indirectly, by any contract with the town, or by any service rendered the town. The council was directed to elect an assessor, recorder, treasurer, marshal, street commis- sioner, and such other subordinate officers as it should deem necessary. The members of the council were to serve without compensation, unless the voters of the town should vote an appropriation therefor-thus early recognizing the initiative feature of the present Des Moines plan. The usual powers and duties of a town council were enumerated in the law.
The long looked for Land Office was announced in the Star of January 20, 1853. An employe of the government was fitting up an office, and Land Agent Nightingale would soon arrive.
The Jenny Lind, Captain Allen, was the first boat up the river in the spring of '53.
In June, land warrants were selling at Fort Des Moines at $185 for 160 acres ; $93 for 80 acres; $47 for 40 acres. In July the quotations were : $175 for 160 acres; $87 for eighty acres; $43.50 for forty acres.
Fourth of July, '53, was fittingly observed in Fort Des Moines. W. H. Mc- Kay, was president of the day, John C. Bennett was chief marshal and his effi- cient aids were: Barlow Granger, W. Deford, Cole Noel, and H. H. Griffith. Rev. J. A. Nash was chaplain and S. Haines was reader of the Declaration. The orator of the day was Dan. O. Finch, one of the rising young lawyers and
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orators of Iowa. The procession formed on the public square, and moved up Fifth street to Walnut, up Walnut to Market, up Market to Third, up Third to Court Avenue, and thence to starting point. Oratory was a "local issue" and the orators were many. Besides the regular exercises a series of toasts and responses were featured. The "regular" toasts were responded to by Byron Rice, Curtis Bates and J. D. McCall. "Voluntary" toasts brought responses from P. M. Casady and J. W. Morris. The benediction was pronounced by Rev. Thompson Bird. A public dinner was served by Samuel Noel, to which all were invited. The stores were closed from 10 a. m. to 2 p. m.
Even the advertisements, which at the time are regarded as a concession to the publisher, become in after years an interesting supplemental chapter to the volume in which they appear. Following the one hundred and fourteen pages of Turrill's "Historical Reminiscences" to which frequent references have been made, are thirty pages of advertising, doubtless solicited by the publishers, Messrs. Redhead & Dawson. In these pages are seen reflected the business interests in Des Moines in 1857, the names of the men behind those interests and the loca- tion of business in the little city which was destined to be the metropolis and trade center of the State that had made her its Capital City.
Taking these advertisements, not in their order but with the purpose of blend- ing them into a composite picture of the business life of Des Moines in 1857, let the reader who may be interested begin with that potent force in business life of the city for many years, Wesley Redhead. We find Mr. Redhead post- master of the city, associated with Charles C. Dawson in a fire insurance agency ; also in a wholesale and retail book, stationery, wall-paper and fancy goods house, also as publishers of the book in which the advertisements appear. These varied interests were all centered in the Sherman's Block, on Third street.
The Savery Hotel was not yet completed. The hotels of Des Moines solicit- ing public patronage in 1857 were:
The Grout House, G. P. & E. A. Clem, proprietors, Court Avenue, East,-the house "entirely new and fitted up in a superior manner." It was "located near the State Capitol," and its accommodations were pronounced "equal to those of any Hotel west of the Mississippi."
The Demoine House, corner of First and Walnut streets, Thomas J. Cannon, proprietor,-"recently enlarged, and refitted in hansome style," and possessing accommodations "superior to any house west of the Mississippi."
The Everett House, Third street, between Court Avenue and Walnut street, A. Morris, proprietor. The stages arrived and departed daily from this house "to and from all parts of the State."
The Western Stage Company, P. Cooper, agent, announces connections with the several railroads terminating in the state, having "lines of coaches on all the principal thoroughfares throughout Iowa, and extending into the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska," with "daily communication at Des Moines, Dubuque, Iowa City, Mt. Pleasant, Keokuk, Fort Dodge, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Ne- braska City, and all intervening places." Its office was on Third street, be- tween Walnut and Court.
The bankers of Des Moines in '57 were: A. J. Stevens & Co .; B. F. Allen, (Second street) ; Leas & Harsh; Hoyt Sherman & Co .; Cook, Sargent & Cook, and Greene, Weare & Rice, the firm composed of Byron Rice, of Des Moines and John Weare and Judge George Greene, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; the Des Moines Bank, White & Smith.
The attorneys at law in Des Moines, in '57, include many of the foremost men in the future history of Iowa: Finch & Crocker,-D. O. Finch and M. M. Crocker ; John A. Grow; Jewett & M'Cormic,-Joseph E. Jewett and John M'Cormic, Front and Walnut; S. Reynolds, Sherman's block; C. W. Nash; Bates & Phillips,-Curtis Bates and William P. Phillips; J. S. Polk; G. C. Graves ; M. D. & W. H. McHenry ; Williamson & Gray.
The prominence of land interests at the State Capital in '57 is evidenced by
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the extent to which bankers and attorneys make reference to those interests, and by the announcements of firms and companies making them a specialty. Promi- nent among the land and loan agencies were Dewey & Tubby, opposite the Everett House on Third street. The Iowa Central Real Estate Agency of Weeks & Stacy,-John G. Weeks and Samuel G. Stacy, had "the only perfect double index abstract of titles ever made." The Farmers' Land Office was officered by A. and J. B. Bausman. Other land agents were: Hedge & Heaton,-J. Hedge and William Heaton; McGaughey, Nash & Co., opposite the Everett House, D. & P. W. Day and Thomas Cavanagh, Sherman's Block, and James Summers, Walnut street, west of Exchange Block.
The Iowa State Journal, a Democratic newspaper, William Porter, editor, a weekly, was published Saturday, sparing "no expense in obtaining the latest and most important news by Telegraph and Mail."
The Iowa Citizen is the only other newspaper advertised. It was a weekly, and admitted it had "no successful rival in Central Iowa," being "one of the most useful and Popular Family Journals in the West." Its editor was. W. H. Farner.
The only physician and surgeon who deigned to insert a card was William Allen, M. D., office, Eighth and Elm.
The principal merchants named are: J. M. Clouston, Griffiths' Block, East Des Moines, -- dry-goods, clothing, boots and shoes, millinery, jewelry, notions, etc .; Child, Sanford & Co., hardware, "Sign of the Anvil," Court avenue and Second street; Foster & Taylor, stoves, hardware, fruit and ornamental trees, etc .; Little, Garrison & Co., dry-goods, groceries, queensware, hardware, hats and caps, boots and shoes, Second street and Court avenue; Billstein, Simon & Strauss, clothing and Gents' furnishing goods, Second street; Oliver H. Baker, and J. H. Brown, watches, jewelry, etc., Walnut street, opposite Exchange Block; Frank M. Mills, boots, shoes, hats and caps, Court avenue, west of Sec- ond street; Galbraith, Latshaw & Co.,-W. A. Galbraith, P. W. H. Latshaw and W. K. Woodwell, iron nails, doors, glass, sash, etc., "Sign of the Big Saw," Exchange Block; Morris & Downer and J. & I. Kuhn, clothiers; A. Mills & Co., and E. H. Hart, hats, caps, gloves, mittens, buffalo robes, etc .; F. W. Long- worth, Walnut street, and John McWilliams, Second street, wholesale groceries ; Woodward & Hepburn, -- A. Woodward and A. Hepburn, and W. W. Moore ("city emporium") Dry-goods, etc. etc. J. N. Newell, watches, jewelry, etc .; J. F. Kemp, boots and shoes; Metropolitan Store, --- W. H. Francis and D. B. Spaulding, dry-goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats and caps, etc. "Cash cus- tomers" would find it to their advantage to give them a call. They also sold brandies, gin, and all kinds of wine,-Walnut and Fifth streets. Desmoine Book Store, "sign of the Big Book," Second street, J. R. Hadsell. Among the remaining advertisements are: John McQueen, builder and architect, Dyer H. Young, architect and civil engineer; Steam Carding Machine and Factory, E. Smith ; W. R. Wheeler, artist; Burns & Rentgen,-John Burns and W. C. Rent- gen, wholesale grocers and commission merchants; S. G. Brownell, dentist.
CHAPTER VII.
"UNCLE BILLY" MOORE AND PIONEER MERCHANDISING IN FORT DES MOINES.
An epoch in a community's life is sometimes best illustrated by a character sketch. The picture may be drawn in somber colors, or it may present the more cheery side of life; but in either case it equally reflects the life of the community, made up as it is of both. the humorous and the pathetic. The mere mention of the name of William W. Moore, better known by the pioneers of Des Moines as "Billy" Moore and by the younger generation as "Uncle Billy" Moore, sug- gests the cheery side of business life in old Fort Des Moines.
"Uncle Billy" was a pioneer among pioneers, having come to Fort Des Moines when only seventeen years of age, away back in 1848. He was the first drug- gist in the old town, and was the first opera house manager in the Capital city. Though he is now a full-fledged octogenarian, he is the active head and front of the, bill-posting industry in Des Moines, hale, hearty and the soul of good- fellowship.
William W. Moore was born in Madison, Indiana, in 1832. His business career began at the early age of eleven. At thirteen and fourteen, he was buyer for a retail house in Indiana. At the age of fifteen, he landed at Keokuk "with $3.35 in his pocket and no baggage." 1 On reaching Oskaloosa, he hadn't a cent. For two weeks he waited on table at the Kinsman Hotel in that town, his only compensation being his board and the tips he could gather in. His next tramp was to Fort Des Moines. He started on foot at 4 o'clock one May morning, and at 8 that evening he had reached the hospitable home of "Tom" Mitchell, in Apple Grove, then Camp township. The next day, at 2, he stood upon the east bank of the Des Moines wondering how he could get across. The ferry-boat passage was twenty-five cents, and as he had only fif- teen cents left, the tariff was prohibitive. While he was studying on the prob- lem, "Old Man" Fredericks, of Rising Sun, came along in his farm wagon and took him in, and soon thereafter he reached his destination.
After a varied career of a year or more, he found employment with Lyon & Allen, pioneer merchants of Fort Des Moines, at $25 a month, with board and washing thrown in. He had hardly entered upon his career as a clerk when an incident happened which, but for his good luck and the kindness of his youthful employer, B. F. Allen, might have proved his undoing.
In those days there were no churches in town, and Sunday was a holiday for the many. By common consent, the three general stores were closed on that day : but Billy, fired with zeal for his employers' interests, couldn't resist the temptation to sell a bill of goods to a near-by farmer, Lemuel Small by name. For safety, he pocketed the $20.15 received for the goods, and hastened to the improvised race-course,2 where a running race was to be "pulled off" between "Indian John" a pony imported from the Indian country, and a nameless but promising little pony from no one knew where. In those days "the boys" car- ried their politics into their sports. The democrats backed Indian John and the whigs, the unknown. Billy and his companion, "Rube" Sypher, took their places on the rail fence with their whig associates. The democrats were numerous
1 Andrews-Pioneers of Polk County.
2 Extending from Eighth and Grand to a point near the present waterworks.
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and confident. Soon "Jim" Campbell, an all-around sport, came over from the democratic perch and offered two to one on Indian John. There were no takers, and Jim raised his offer to five to one. Still no takers. Noting that Billy was better dressed than the rest, Jim said, "You little feller with the good clothes,-you ought to have money ; I'll go you ten to one on Indian John." Billy had had no thought of betting on the race, but the challenge was too much for him. He promptly placed two ten-dollar gold pieces (his employers' money) in the hands of Rube Sypher and Jim took from his belt twenty ten- dollar gold-pieces, and handed them to Rube as stakeholder. In a moment the boy regretted his action, but he was too proud-spirited to withdraw. He made up his mind, as he sat there awaiting results, that he would make a clean breast of it next morning and charge himself with the twenty dollars.
The race was on and the excitement was intense. As the ponies neared the goal, it was seen that the unknown was ahead. Soon the goal was reached, and the whigs were jubilant-their pony had won! Campbell was a genuine sport and a good loser ; he came over to the stakeholder and said "the money's his," and Billy went back to the hotel much elated, his pockets weighted down with the gold. In those days "the boys" all boarded at the hotel, and at the supper table opposite Billy sat "Frank" Allen, the junior partner of Lyon & Allen. "Frank" was a good churchman and didn't approve of betting. He had heard of Billy's luck, but couldn't guess where the boy got the money to bet with. Billy made a clean breast of it, saying that inasmuch as the money put up belonged to the firm, he would turn over with the $20.15 just half his profit on the transaction. Frank thought a moment and said, "No: keep it, Billy : but never do it again as long as you work for Lyon & Allen." The experience cured Billy of betting-at least, other people's money.
The young clerk proved capable and trusty, and was early taken into the councils of the firm. After awhile, it was decided that Allen should go to Cincinnati to buy goods. Lyon was at home sick and sent for Billy. His partner, Allen, was only twenty years old and inclined to plunge. He wanted Billy to accompany Allen to Cincinnati; but the boy declined, assuring Lyon that Frank knew what was wanted and was abundantly able to buy goods wisely and well. Lyon then urged Billy to caution Frank not to buy more than $35,000 worth of goods. Allen went on to Cincinnati and thence to New York and Philadelphia, and, in the three cities bought altogether about $110,000 worth of goods !
When the goods began to come in, Lyon, still sick at home, again sent for Billy and asked him how many goods Frank had bought. Billy, in full sym- pathy with the junior partner, and knowing the goods would sell, evasively answered, "O, something more than thirty-five thousand dollars' worth." The freight alone on the goods, by steamer down the Ohio, up the Mississippi and up the Des Moines, aggregated about $6,500 !
For several weeks the merchandise continued to come, filling all available space in the store and all the barns and outhouses the firm could rent. Lyon was appalled. He swore he was a ruined man, and that bankruptcy was in- evitable unless something could be done to work off the goods. The partners and their trusted clerk held a consultation, the result of which was that Lyon gave Billy a hundred dollars in gold and a saddle-horse and sent him out to search for a good point to locate a branch store. Billy started, visiting Web- ster City, Boone, Winterset, Indianola, Newton and other points. As he was returning, not satisfied with any of the points investigated, he happened in on John Parmelee who was building a mill at Summerset, in Warren county. A number of settlers were gathered to assist Parmelee in the "raising." Parmelee called the men together and told them that Moore would start a general store there, and he would put up a building for him, and have it ready two weeks from that day-Saturday-if they would agree to patronize him. To this they were all agreed.
WILLIAM W. MOORE
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In just two weeks Billy was back again, with six wagon-loads of goods, -- dry-goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats, caps, etc. He found the entire population for miles around out to greet him. As fast as he opened the cases and lifted out the goods, the men and women eagerly gathered about him and vied with one another in purchasing his wares at his own prices. When he saw how eager the buyers were he "naturally raised the prices," charging "what the traffic would stand!" The run on his stock continued from Sat- urday to Monday, his sales aggregating over $600. He then settled down to regular business.
In just one week, Billy returned to the Fort for more goods. He rode up in front of the Lyon & Allen store, his saddle-bags bulging out suspiciously. He jumped off his horse and, while he was talking with Allen, Lyon tried to lift his saddle-bags. "What you got in them bags?" asked Lyon. "Iron pyrites or something of the sort," answered Billy. "What in hell did you load down with that stuff for?" asked the disgusted senior partner, thinking Billy had made a failure of his venture. Billy's ready answer was, "I thought there might be gold in it." When the contents of the bag were spread out on the counter, the delighted partners counted out over thirty-five hundred dollars in gold and silver! "Billy," said Lyon, "where did you get all that gold? Did you steal it?" Billy grinned and answered, "No, but I came damn near it!" 3
On a recent occasion,4 when Uncle Billy Moore was telling the story upon which this narrative is founded, his friend-Keffer-asked him whether he went to Summerset as a clerk or as a partner. The genial old gentleman answered, "I went there a clerk; but I hadn't been there six weeks before I owned the whole damn thing!" This needs explanation, for Uncle Billy is the soul of honor in business. Refusing to exile himself from the joys of living at the Fort, unless he could see something more than a clerk's salary in it for him, he was offered all he could make on the goods over and above a ten per cent advance for transportation expenses, and ten per cent additional for profit. Thus it was that Uncle Billy got his start in business. It is reported that in retiring from Summerset, the youth of 17 had about $14,000 in gold in his safe -- for there were no banks of deposit in Fort Des Moines in '48.
While "waiting for something to turn up," Billy was seized with a severe attack of typhoid fever which brought him near death's door. Recovering from delirium, he overheard his physician, in low tone, informing the nurse that it was extremely doubtful about his recovery. Sitting up in bed, he startled the doctor by saying in his emphatic way, "I'll be here long after you're gone, damn you !"
Soon after this incident a young man came to town with a stock of drugs intending to open a drug store. Soon after his arrival, he, too, came down with the fever. Full of sympathy for the stranger, Billy volunteered to act as his nurse. Under his ministrations the young man in due time recovered. Meantime, the young man's father arrived. Greatly relieved to find his son convalescing, he expressed his gratitude to. the physician who had "pulled him through." The doctor generously turned to Billy and said "There's the man that saved your son's life." The father, grasping Billy's hand, exclaimed, "How can I suitably reward you for what you've done for my son?" Billy answered, "By doing for somebody else's boy what I've done for yours." But the man was not so easily put off. As Billy was leaving he said, "Hold on ! I've got a stock of drugs in Sypher's warehouse worth at least four thousand dollars. If you want it, you can have it for a thousand, and take your own time to pay me for it." Billy at first declined the generous offer, but, on talking it over with Dr. Sanders, he thought better of it. The doctor agreed
3 "Danm" is his one "swear-word." To Billy's friends the narrative would seem incomplete without it.
+ The seventeenth banquet of the Des Moines Pioneer Club, at the Chamberlain Hotel, January 7, 19II.
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to instruct him in pharmacy in return for office room in the store. The upshot of it was that Billy took the stock, paying the man a thousand dollars in gold for it, rented a store and opened the first drug store in Fort Des Moines. He says he soon learned to mix things to his own satisfaction, "if not to any- body else's," and was not long in learning to charge from one hundred to three hundred per cent on his concoctions !
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CHAPTER VIII.
THE HEGIRA OF FORTY-NINERS AND MORMONS.
Thousands of Forty-niners stopped over at Fort Des Moines on their long tramp westward. Not a few companies and battalions of soldiers also made the Fort a halting place, on their way to the far west. "The Spartan Band," a fine body of men "from various parts of the Mississippi valley," sent back from Fort Laramie, by "Colonel" Sawin and "Adjutant" Sweet, a testimonial of their appreciation of kindnesses shown them during their halt at the Fort. They added this evidently inspired suggestion: "We would say to those who come after us, by all means come to Fort Desmoines, then take Clark's road to Trader's Point; or St. Francis as it is now called, and cross the river at Agency, if you wish to pass through the Indian country without any difficulty."
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