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 32
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As the end of the war approached, Des Moines turned her attention to long languishing railroad interests. A big meeting was held in the court- house, March 8, in which men widely separated on questions growing out of the war came together in a common desire to expedite the extension of the Des Moines Valley Railroad to Des Moines. M. D. McHenry was chairman and F. W. Palmer, secretary. The meeting was addressed by Messrs Leighton and Roberts of the company, who proposed that if Des Moines and vicinity would subscribe immediately for stock to the amount of $100,000, that amount of money would be expended in grading the road from Des Moines down the river valley as soon as the weather would permit, and promised that trains would be running into Des Moines by the first of next January. General Tuttle urged immediate action and the sum of $33,000 was promptly raised.1
1 The subscriptions were as follows : B. F. Allen, $10,000; J. M. Tuttle, $5,000; P. M.
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Lieut. Mat Laird, of the 16th Iowa, and Capt. J. H. Browne, of the 17th, re- turned to Des Moines, March 21, relating stories of bitter experiences in south- ern prisons.
From an examination of the books of the Soldiers' Families' Relief Asso- ciation of Des Moines, in March, it was found that relief had been extended to seventy-nine families, to amounts ranging from $10 to $25 a month. The total of relief extended in January, February and March was nearly $2,800. It was reported that the $2,000 remaining with Treasurer F. R. West would last for several months to come.
To expedite the extension of the Des Moines Valley Railroad to Des Moines, meetings were held at the county seat at which about half of the required $100,- 000 was subscribed. At a meeting, March II, the local canvassing committee was increased by the addition of the following names: G. W. Cleveland, T. K. Brooks, Isaac Cooper, Des Moines; Thomas Mitchell, Beaver; J. C. Jordan and Joseph Mott, Walnut; H. C. Hargis, Bloomfield; J. D. Mclaughlin, Allen ; Nathan Andrews, Jefferson; H. C. Potter, Vandalia; Joseph Hopkins, N. R. Kuntz, Madison ; J. Saylor, Frank Nagle, Saylor ; A. O. Mason, Delaware ; and others in Warren county. A canvassing committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. Tuttle, Williamson, Clapp and Sherman.
During the excitement and turmoil of war, the schools of Des Moines con- tinued to grow and were not neglected though school buildings had not kept pace with the city's growth. In the Des Moines district (west side) there were in '65, about 1,500 school children, with accommodations for scarcely more than half that number. A proposition was submitted to the electors of the district, March 13, for the levying of a five-mill tax for a schoolhouse fund. The tax received a majority of 237. The election brought to the school board these well known men, themselves a voucher for the future of the schools: J. A. Nash, president; W. W. Williamson, vice president; S. F. Spofford, treasurer ; A. Newton, secretary ; Hoyt Sherman and Wesley Redhead, directors.
The Capitol district (east side) had about 500 school children. A proposi- tion submitted, to raise $15,000 for a new school building was carried by a vote of 118 to 26. The new board consisted of James Wright, president; Lewis Kinsey, vice president; William Mathews, secretary; George W. Jones, treas- urer ; Isaac Brandt, director.
From Heights of Joy to Depths of Gloom.
On Monday, April 3, the glad news of Richmond's fall electrified the Capi- tal city. In the evening the courthouse was illuminated and the Des Moines artillery company fired thirty-six guns in celebration of the victory. By direc- tion of Governor Stone, Captain Harry Griffiths fired a hundred guns in honor of the event. The illumination was not confined to the courthouse. The Savery House was a blaze of light.2 The streets were "as light as day." Public build- ings and private dwellings were all ablaze. Altogether it was pronounced "the greatest day ever seen in Des Moines." Ex-Attorney General Nourse, always an effective speaker, was at his best that night, as he spoke from the steps of the Savery House. The business streets of the city were thronged with happy men, women and children who realized-and yet could scarcely realize-that the end had come at last-that peace was finally assured !
Des Moines was again "electrified" on the Ioth of April by the announce- ment of the surrender of Lee. Again a hundred guns were fired by order of
Casady, $5,000; W. W. Williamson, $2,000; E. F. Hooker. $2,000; Hoyt Sherman, $2,000; A. Y. Rawson, $1,000; M. D. and W. H. McHenry, $1,000; M. D. McHenry, $500; W. S. Gilman, Jr., $500; John McWilliams, $500; F. W. Palmer, $500; Childs & Howell, $500; Dr. Whitman, $500; E. R. Clapp, $500; J. S. Cook, $500; John Ferrier, $400; W. S. Terry, $100.
2 This was the era of the candle as an illuminator. The Savery House illumination consumed 375 candles, making 750 lights.
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the Governor, and thirty-six by order of the Mayor. Again all Des Moines was out. East Des Moines was at the front early in the evening, with the Capitol, business houses and many dwellings illuminated.
Many citizens assembled in the house of representatives, where Major North, the Governor's secretary read the dispatches. The eloquence of Mr. Nourse was again in requisition and-it was an easy audience to address, for all were in a responsive mood and every sentence was punctured with applause.
The people on the West side were equally demonstrative. Joy ruled the hour. . The cannonading smashed many windows, but that was a slight affair! The fall of Richmond was the beginning of the end: the surrender of Lee was the end !
Then, on that sad Saturday morning, the 15th day of April, came the re- port that President Lincoln had been shot the night before! Joy over the sur- render was now turned to mourning. No event in the history of our country ever gave to the individual citizen such an appalling blow. The firing upon Sumter's flag aroused indignation; the killing of the President produced a sense of personal loss. Never were individual members of the community so drawn together by a common sorrow. Many who had loved "the kindly-earnest, brave, foreseeing man" with a love akin to adoration were in this hour of grief at one with those who, now, all , too plainly saw that they had misjudged his motives and purposes, and belittled his greatness. Among the survivors of that fateful day, there is scarcely one, who then was old enough to realize the force of the assassin's blow, but can recall the moment when the awful announcement came turning the brightness of that April day into profoundest gloom.
On that Saturday business was generally suspended. Men gathered in groups about the newspaper offices and hotels and in subdued voices talked of the great calamity. Many wore crape, desiring to express without words the sense of loss they felt.
The Capitol was draped in mourning. At an early hour on Saturday a com- mittee was hastily appointed 3 to arrange for a Sunday afternoon meeting in courthouse square. The meeting was announced in the city churches Sunday. morning. In most of the churches the services were more or less affected by the tragic event of Friday.
At an early hour that Sunday afternoon, thousands assembled in courthouse square. Every township, every community in the county was represented in that memorable gathering.
Mayor Cleveland presided. Prayers were offered by Revs. Chamberlain, Vernon and Peet. A choir organized for the occasion sang hymns reflecting the general sorrow. General Williamson, happening to be present, made a few remarks explaining the purpose of the meeting. Hon. Frank W. Palmer de- livered the address of the day, a carefully prepared and able paper. In addi- tion to the program announced, an informal address was delivered which meas- urably deepened the impression left upon the vast assemblage. Hon. John A. Kasson who only a few hours prior to the meeting had returned from the east, consented to speak on the subject nearest his heart. His address abounded in personal reminiscences of the dead President. It included an explanation of Vice President Johnson's untimely words at his then recent inauguration-at- tributing his language and manner to illness and not to intoxication as had been charged-and predicting that the government would be safe in President John- son's hands. He solemnly closed with these patriotic words :
"While we consecrate the grave of Lincoln with our heartfelt lamentations and tears,-even burying our hearts with him there,-let us also surround his successor with our prayers, our hopes and our patriotic endeavors."
General Williamson, in his opening remarks, said that on the 4th of March he had stood beside President Lincoln while he delivered his immortal
3 Composed of Mayor Cleveland, F. C. D. Mckay, James Wright, J. M. Chamberlain, E. F. Hooker and Thomas Hatton.
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second inaugural. The General's bitter feelings against the enemies of his coun- try were rebuked by the spirit of humility and trust evinced by the President on that great occasion. The General said, further, that while it was impossible to express the great sorrow which made all hearts heavy that day, yet it was fitting that men should meet together and recount the virtues and public acts of the great man for whom the world mourned.
In accordance with a proclamation of Governor Stone, dated April 15, the peo- ple of Iowa assembled for prayer on the 27th of April, at 10 a. m., giving evi- dence of the loving remembrance in which the name of the martyred President was held in Iowa.
"Life is ever lord of death." On Monday morning men went to their work- but with sad hearts and many anxious forebodings. Women resumed their never-ending toil in the home. Children played as before on their way to and from school. The drum and fife heralded the return of war-worn veterans and joy took the place of mourning in many a family. A few days later a Teachers' Institute assembled at the State Capital. A County Sabbath School Union held an anniversary, presided over by that patriarch in Israel, Thompson Bird. The United States District Court convened in the city, Judge Miller presiding. A mail robbery temporarily disturbed the calm after the storm. A special election au- thorized a county poor farm, the Walnut street bridge and a bridge across the Raccoon. General Crocker returned home from New Mexico, on his way to Washington. Bishop Lee came to preside over the diocese of Iowa in Episcopal convention. Regiment after regiment of Iowa troops were mustered out and many of their members returned home by way of the Capital city.
The Grand Review at the Nation's Capital soon followed. For two memor- able days (May 23-24), the surviving heroes of the Union army marched along Pennsylvania avenue amid the waving of banners and the shouts of the assem- bled nation. Others had prayed and sacrificed for the end symbolized by that event ; but there, in the presence of their commander-in-chief, and of the imper- turbably silent man who had stubbornly fought his way to peace, and in the pres- ence of thousands from all parts of the country who had journeyed to the Capital to see the last and greatest pageant of the war, -- there marching and riding, in open order, were the battle-scarred and travel-worn veterans who had fought for peace and, with the aid of the thousands who had offered up their lives for it, had grandly won it!
Thus gloriously closed the costliest, deadliest, most far-reachingly significant war in history.
The Soldiers' Families' Relief Association of Des Moines on June 8, reported $1,200 yet on hand.
The Soldiers' Orphans' Home Association held a meeting in the city, June 8-9, with Judge Cole in the chair. The judges of the Supreme Court, with Judge. Woodward, were named as a committee to memorialize the Eleventh General As- sembly, asking an appropriation for buildings for the use of the home. About $30,000 subscribed for the home had been invested in government securities. It was estimated that there were ten thousand soldiers' orphans in the state.
Chief Justice Wright, of the Supreme Court of Iowa, delivered an opinion, June 22, holding that the supervisors of Polk county had no power to submit to the voters at any other than a general election the bridge question voted on at the special election in May, thus postponing the building of the 'Coon and Des Moines river bridges voted for.
The Republican State Convention of June 14, 1865, was not especially notable. Governor Stone was renominated by a large majority, though two Des Moines men, J. W. Cattell and General Crocker were placed in nomination. General Crocker moved to make the nomination unanimous. After an informal ballot for lieutenant governor, Hon. B. F. Gue was unanimously nominated, on motion of Col. James B. Weaver, who had received 255 votes for the office.
Fourth of July, 1865, was celebrated at the State Capital with a degree of en-
M. M. Gochu
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thusiasm rarely if ever surpassed in the history of the city. It was estimated that ten thousand people participated. From daylight till noon every road leading into the city was alive with teams bringing people from the surrounding towns. The forenoon procession was headed by crippled veterans in coaches, under the charge of Captain Thomas. Bands of music followed, also city and county of- ficials, Sunday Schools, Masons, Odd Fellows and Good Templars, and, in the body of the procession, the returned soldiers in uniform, 150 in number, under the lead of General Tuttle. Aside from the colors the veterans bore was a beau- tiful banner made by Lieut. Mat. Laird, with the names of the principal battles in which Iowa soldiers had engaged. The oration by Hon. William Loughridge, of Oskaloosa, was one which rose to the occasion, abounding in patriotic spirit and words of admonition, counsel and good cheer. Col. G. A. Stewart read the Declaration of Independence. Dinner was served the veterans and their families from well-filled tables on the grounds. After dinner, as was the Fourth of July custom in those days, came toasts and responses, in which much pent-up enthusi- asm found vent. The after-dinner orators were Thomas F. Withrow, Colonel Godfrey, Judge Cole and George J. North. The toast : "Abraham Lincoln" was impressively received. The audience rose and stood for a minute in silence and with bared heads, and then resumed their seats.
The Liquor Dealers' Association of the State convened in Des Moines, August 16, and resolved to urge the repeal of the prohibitory legislation in force.
The Des Moines Coal Company was organized August 19, with officers as follows: President, James M. Starr; vice president, John Teesdale; treasurer, B. F. Allen ; secretary, Wesley Redhead ; directors, J. M. Starr, M. D. McHenry, Hoyt Sherman, J. W. Davis, F. Butler, William Vincent, L. W. Dennis, R. Sanford, and William Phillips.
In response to a "Soldiers' Call," a convention of electors of Polk county in favor of the Johnson administration "and opposed to striking the word 'white' out of the constitution of the State," was held in Des Moines, August 19. Dele- gates were chosen to a State convention. Later, several chosen delegates pub- licly declined to serve, and a long list of veterans signed a protest against "the so-called Soldiers' Convention."
J. M. Dixon, the blind editor, published his valedictory in the Register, August 22. He had engaged with the Burlington Hawkeye.
Railroad meetings continued through the late summer and fall, and pain- fully slow progress was made in placing stock.
August 28, ex-Governor Kirkwood spoke in Des Moines on the political issues of the day. He was characteristically humorous and yet earnest-and at times even eloquent.
Death of General Crocker.
Just before the fall of Richmond, came the news that General Crocker had in large measure regained his health and, in response to his own request, had been ordered to report at Washington. The General had grown weary of his post as District Commander in New Mexico, and longed to be in at the end of the war. It later transpired that the General was far from well, and that the end of his career could not be long delayed.
Not since the sudden taking off of President Lincoln had Des Moines been as deeply moved as on the 27th day of August, when Mrs. Charlotte Crocker wired Judge Casady from Washington that her husband had passed away. Gen- eral Crocker died on the afternoon of the 26th. Mrs. Crocker on learning of his serious illness hastened from Des Moines to Washington, but arrived the morn- ing after his death. The body was embalmed and on the 28th Mrs. Crocker, with an officer and eight soldiers, detailed from the War Department, started with the remains for Des Moines, via Nevada.
The remains of General Crocker left Clinton early September 2, and were
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conveyed overland from Nevada, then the western terminus of the Northwestern road, arriving at the Capital in the evening. The escort detailed by the War De- partment conveyed the coffin to the Crocker home, whence next day, it was borne to the courthouse by the survivors of Company D, Second Regiment. The body lay in state from 10 till 3. The funeral services were held in the court room on the afternoon of Sunday, September, 3, conducted by Revs. Thompson Bird and J. A. Nash. Returned Iowa soldiers conveyed the remains to Woodland cemetery, where the burial was conducted with military honors.4 The proces- sion to the cemetery was in the following order: The military in charge of the coffin ; the General's horse with empty saddle; the family and other relatives; the clergy of the city ; State and City officials ; Masons, Odd Fellows, members of the bar, citizens on foot and in carriages. The military procession and burial was under the direction of Captain Crocker's old colonel, General Tuttle. The clos- ing ceremonies at the grave were under the direction of the Masons and Odd Fel- lows of Des Moines.
In this connection it seems fitting to include a sonnet written from the heart by a fellow-townsman, Leonard Brown, long a teacher in, and at the time the head of, Forest Home School, Des Moines. Though Mr. Brown has written much verse, we question whether he has ever written anything quite equal to this tribute to his friend : 5
"How bright a record this brave man had made! He stood midst flying shot and bursting shell Unharmed. When 'Death reigned King,' and thousands fell, On high he wielded his victorious blade. But now aside he has the sabre laid, And gone in everlasting peace to dwell. Had he not lived and fought ; ah, who can tell If e'en to-day would war's red tide be stayed ! His prowess won the field at Champion Hill, And op'ed the way for Vicksburg to be ta'en ; And it was his indomitable will
That saved the day, when Lauman's braves were slain ;
But now our country's saved, and peace is won ;
Brave Crocker has gone home; his work is done."
The several organizations of which the General was an honored member passed resolutions commending the patriotism and moral worth of the deceased. Several county bar associations met in his honor and passed resolutions of sympathy and appreciation.
The widow of General Crocker is living in Los Angeles, Calif., with her daughters, Mary M. and Charlotte C. Mrs. Crocker was born in Indiana in 1833. When two years old she came with her parents to Iowa. Her maiden name was Charlotte O'Neal. She married M. M. Crocker in Lancaster, Keokuk county, Iowa, and soon after, in 1854, the two emigrated to Fort Des Moines, which remained their home until the General's death in 1865. Her daughter Ad- die passed away in 1868. Not long after this second affliction, Mrs. Crocker re- moved to Chicago to be with her daughters who found employment there. She resided in that city until ill-health compelled a change of climate. She then re- moved with her daughters to Albuquerque, N. M., and thence, several years later, to Los Angeles. Her son, Frank M., was long connected with the Santa Fe railroad. He was appointed U. S. Consul at Guaymas, Mexico, where he still resides, having business interests there. Frank remains unmarried and, since
4 The bearers designated by General Tuttle were: Col. T. H. Benton, Jr., Col. J. M. Griffiths, Lieut. Col. P. J. Hudson, Lieut. Col. G. A. Stewart, Capt. H. H. Griffiths, and Maj. George J. North.
5 Published in the State Register of August 31, 1865.
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his father's death, has been devoted to his widowed mother and sisters. Mary M. married Major Duncan, who died early in the year, 1911. Mrs. Duncan and her daughter, Dorothy, live with Mrs. Crocker. Charlotte, the second daughter, early married General West, of Washington, D. C., who died about a year after the marriage. While a resident in Paris, Mrs. West was again married to an American artist named Snyder. Three children were born to Mrs. Snyder, Jacques, John and Marcellus. The three grandchildren, with their mother are members of the Crocker family in the Los Angeles home. Jacques is in the telegraph service of the Santa Fe. John is in the Los Angeles Times office, and narrowly escaped with his life in the explosion which recently wrecked that of- fice. But, with the courage of his grandfather, he reported for duty on the fol- lowing evening-when many other employes faltered.6
A portion of the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry arrived in the city on the 6th of September and were joyfully met by comrades, relatives and friends.
On September 7, Bishop Simpson visited Des Moines, the guest of W. W. Williamson. On Friday evening, in the courthouse, the eloquent Bishop de- livered his famous lecture on "The Future of our Country." The Bishop was then in his prime, "a tall, broad-shouldered, spare man of about fifty-five." He used no notes, but spoke easily and. familiarly "as though he meant merely to exchange suggestions with his hearers rather than to lecture them." He spoke for more than two hours, "yet there was no evidence of weariness or restless- ness in the audience, and the judgment of nearly all listeners was that it was the ablest public address on national affairs to which they had ever listened."
A city levy of ten mills on the dollar for 1865-five for road and five for gen- eral purposes-was rendered necessary by the extent of improvements which had been made in the city during the past two years.
A contract for the long delayed Walnut street bridge was let in September to C. Youngerman & Co., of Des Moines, at $12 per perch, with from ten to eleven hundred perch included in the specifications.
Complaints were made by outside parties that the hotels at the Capital city were drawing the life-blood of all who were compelled to come to Des Moines. The proprietor of the Savery informed the public that when he opened the house in '63, he charged at the rate of $2 a day (board and lodging) ; but the high prices had compelled him to raise the charge to $3; but that he would board legislators during the coming winter at $1.50 a day.
Railroad meetings were resumed in the fall of '65, the extension of the Valley road being the chief end in view. At a meeting September 28,, announcement was made that more than two hundred taxpayers had agreed to bear their propor- tionate share of the burden of raising the money necessary to extend the road to Des Moines, and a committee was appointed to visit Keokuk and notify the of- ficers of the road that the money had been subscribed, also to complete the con- tract for the extension. M. D. McHenry, Hoyt Sherman, B. F. Allen, W. W. Williamson and J. M. Tuttle were named as that committee. These gentlemen returned October 3, reporting that the contract had been signed for the imme- diate extension of the road to Des Moines, the work to be completed December 31, 1866. But, with good weather the company expected to run trains into the city by August I. "Too good to be true!" thought many who had grown old and gray in the struggle for railroad connections with the outside world.
General Sherman the City's Guest.
A distinguished guest arrived in Des Moines on the 4th of October-no less a personage than that idol of the western army, General Sherman. He arrived
6 Much of the data here given relative to the surviving members of the family of General Crocker was obtained from Maj. John C. Hotchkiss, of Des Moines, whose wife is a sister of Mrs. Crocker.
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in the early evening. Preparations were made for a public demonstration, but the General's brother, Major Hoyt Sherman, had informed the committee that the less formality there was in connection with the visit the more acceptable it would be to the General.
Mayor Cleveland and a few leading citizens proceeded in carriages a few miles east of the city on the road to Newton, and there met the General. On the arrival of the party a gun-squad of the Des Moines artillery, under Sergeant Neefie, fired a major-general's salute. The General was at once driven to Major Sherman's home. In the evening an immense concourse gathered in front of the Sherman residence. In response to prolonged calls, the General appeared on the balcony. He said he was happy to see his friends collectively and would be glad to meet them individually, but they must not ask him to make a speech. He would remain in Des Moines during the week and give all who so desired an opportunity to meet him. He would be especially glad to meet all the officers and soldiers who had been with him in his campaigns, and would also be pleased to meet the citizens informally.
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