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 34
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The hotels in Des Moines at the time were the old Savery, Walnut and Fourth; the Demoine House, Walnut and First; the City Hotel, Third street ; the Harvey House, Market street, east side; the Shannon House, Fifth, east side ; the Union House, Market square; the Avenue House, Court avenue; the American House, Second street.
The newspapers of the period were the Daily Register, Walnut and Third; the Iowa Statesman, Court avenue and Fourth street; Iowa Homestead, Ex- change block; Temperance Platform, Exchange block; Iowa School Journal, office with Mills & Company, Court avenue.
The business directory shows 3 agricultural implement houses, three archi- tects, 68 attorneys, 2 auctioneers, 10 bakeries, 3 banks, three book houses, 7 bar- bers, 37 blacksmiths, 3 boiler-makers, 6 brewers, 2 bookbinders, II boot and shoe houses, 13 boarding houses, 10 brick-makers, 19 butchers, I bridge-builder, 152 carpenters and builders, 6 carpet houses, 6 china and glassware, 3 cigar and to- bacco, 9 confectioners, 3 coopers, 4 coal companies, 9 civil engineers, 3 convey- ancers, Io clothiers, 6 dentists, I dyer, II druggists, 22 dry-goods houses, 5 feed stores, 3 flour mills, 6 furniture houses, 5 commission houses, 35 grocers, 4 gun- smiths, 8 hardware stores, 19 insurance agencies, 3 foundries and machine shops, 7 jewelers, I laundry, 3 leather and saddlery houses, 5 liveries, Io live stock dealers, 6 lumber dealers, 2 liquor dealers, 3 marble works, I music dealer, 6
1 Kindly loaned by Mr. George A. Jewett.
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nurseries, I oculist, 20 painters, 2 paper hangers, 5 photographers, 27 phy- sicians, 30 plasterers, I pork packer, 4 printeries, 19 real estate dealers, 3 res- taurants, 18 saddle and harness shops, 20 saloons, 2 saw mills, 7 stone cutters, I surveyor, 8 tailors, 2 undertakers, 25 wagon makers and dealers, 2 woolen fac- tories and 4 wood yards.
Among the many well-known names connecting the business of a half-cen- tury ago with that of today are Garton, Lorenz, Mills, Galbraith, McDonald, Talbott, Robertson, Youngerman, Kurtz, Loomis, Weitz, Wells, Rawson, Har- bach, Huttenlocher, Hubbell, Lederer, Strauss, Hippee, Sherman, Goldstone, Mandelbaum, Tuttle, Lyon, Merrill, Bush, Clapp, Ankeney, Seeberger, Skinner, Stark, Bolton, Howell, Plumb, Rogg, Turner, Crawford, Getchell, Gilcrest, Red- head, Wellslager, Hillis, Huegle, McGorrisk, Saylor, Skinner, Given, Cavanagh, Cook, Foster, Hepburn, Wheeler, Wright, Edenburn, Johnson, Martin, Gar- wood, Moore, Walker, Given, Coggeshall, Percival, Weisbrod, Geneser, Gold- man, Good, Versey, Jordan, Carpenter, Shepard, Getchell, Finch, Clark, Rice, Stewart, etc.
There were only six music teachers in Des Moines in 1866.
The Western Stage Company still lingered making connections with the Des Moines valley, the C. R. I. & P., the Burlington & Missouri, the C. & N. W., the Hannibal & St. Joseph, and the Union Pacific, "to all points in Central, Southern and Western Iowa and Nebraska." R. Lounsberry was superinten- dent and E. W. Sparhawk, secretary. Its office was on Third street between Court avenue and Walnut street.
The church directory included eighteen churches: the First Presbyterian and Central Presbyterian, each without a pastor ; the Third Presbyterian, J. M. Phil- lips, pastor; First Baptist, L. W. Hayhurst; St. Ambrose, J. F. Brazill; Ply- mouth Congregational, H. B. DeForrest; Methodist, P. P. Ingalls; German Methodist, P. Wilhelmi; Wesley Chapel, east, H. B. Heacock; German Luth- eran, J. Letz; First Christian, J. J. Summerbell; Second Christian, J. E. Gas- ton; First Evangelical Lutheran, A. M. Geiger; United Presbyterian, east, Thomas McCague, Evangelical Association, east, H. Benze, (German,) A. H. H. Holdridge, (English,) pastor; Burns Chapel, (colored,) east, S. T. Wells, Friends, east, Enos Grundy ; St. Paul's Episcopal, T. Brooks, rector; The Cen- tral Presbyterian church was on Fourth street, near the old Savery hotel. The M. E. church was on Fifth between Court avenue and Walnut street. The Ger- man Methodist was on the northeast corner of Locust and Second streets. The First Christian was near the corner of Mulberry and Ninth, the Second was on Cherry, south of the courthouse. The "U. P." was on Second, between Court and Walnut. The postoffice was still in the Sherman block. Editor Teesdale was postmaster and John Beckwith, his chief clerk. The eastern, the northern and northeastern (via Ames), the southeastern (via the Des Moines Valley railroad), the southern (via Indianola), and the southeastern and western (via Winterset) arrived and closed daily. The northwestern, Fort Dodge (via Xenia), twice a week; the northwestern (via Boonsboro to Fort Dodge), three times a week; Hartford (via Avon) three times a week.
In the Hartford of the West, in 1866, there were only four insurance com- panies, as follows :
The State, with $300,000 capital, Court avenue and Third street; Gov. Wil- liam M. Stone, president ; J. M. Shuck, secretary ; C. C. Cole, vice president ; W. ' H. Holmes, treasurer.
The Central Iowa, with $110,000 capital; Turner's block, Court avenue ; John McWilliams, president ; D. O. Finch, vice president ; S. F. Spofford, treas- urer ; R. C. Doty, secretary ; W. R. Dixon, general agent.
The Hawkeye, with $100,000 capital, Union block, Court avenue ; E. J. Inger- soll, president; James Callanan, vice president; B. F. Allen, treasurer ; E. G. Coe, secretary ; J. B. Huntington, general agent.
The Western Accident, with $100,000 capital; G. W. Jones, president ; John McWilliams, vice president ; T. C. Snow, secretary ; S. F. Spofford, treasurer.
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There were three oil companies in Des Moines in 1866,-each capitalized at $500,000, namely : Spring Creek Petroleum & Mining Co., George Crawford, president ; John Browne, secretary; P. R. Chandler, treasurer ; the Des Moines Petroleum and Mining Company, George M. Hippee, president; Hoyt Sherman, secretary ; B. F. Allen, treasurer ; the Iowa Central Petroleum, Mining and Manufacturing Company, with John W. Jones, president; W. J. Gatling, sec- retary ; W. H. Turner, treasurer.
The Des Moines Gas Company was organized then with E. P. Hooker, presi- dent, E. F. Starr, vice president ; B. F. Allen, treasurer ; John Morris, secretary.
Of the four railroad companies having offices in Des Moines, the only one officered by Des Moines men was the Iowa and Minnesota, with P. M. Casady, president ; Hoyt Sherman, vice president; George G. Wright, execuuve com- mitteeman, and B. F. Allen, treasurer. Its office was in the Sherman block.
Besides the sash and door factory, the East side pointed with pride to the Des Moines Iron Works and the Des Moines Manufacturing Company : the first- named with F. M. Mills, president, E. L. Burnham, secretary and superintend- ent; the second, with George A. Child, president, W. T. Smith, secretary and superintendent, B. F. Allen, treasurer.
There were four Masonic bodies in Des Moines in 1866. Pioneer Lodge, No. 22, met in a hall in Kinsey's block on Court avenue; Capitol Lodge, No. IIO, and Des Moines Commandery, No. 4, met at the same place.
The Odd Fellows had three lodges. Fort Des Moines Lodge, No. 26, and Jonathan Lodge, No. 137 (German) met in a hall in Cooper's block. Capitol Lodge, No. 106, met on the east side. Ebenezer Encampment, No. 10, met in Cooper's block.
The Good Templars had three lodges, Union, No. 225, in Kinsey's block with the Masons, Des Moines Lodge, No. 133, and Eureka Degree Lodge, in Jones's block, east side.
Des Moines then had two base-ball clubs: the Capital City, with C. B. Worthington, president, G. L. Eaton, vice president, T. W. Vincent, secretary, C. R. Christy, treasurer; Young America, with J. P. Rood, president, H. West, vice president; T. W. Vincent, secretary and C. R. Christy, treasurer.
Des Moines then boasted a "university," a "female seminary" and a business college.
The Des Moines University was "designed to give a full collegiate course of instruction." It was under the Baptist denomination. Its principal was Rev. I. W. Hayhurst; preceptress, Josephine A. Cutter; lecturers on constitutional and commercial law, Judges Wright and Cole; lecturer on physiology and hy- giene, W. H. Dickinson, M. D .; lecturer on theology, Principal Hayhurst ; teacher of music, Franc Ensign; teacher of drawing and ornamental work, Mrs. C. B. Willis.
The Des Moines Female Seminary, located on Mulberry street opposite the courthouse, was officered with Judge Wright, president; Mary McLean, princi- pal; J. P. Peters, teacher of French; J. Lutz, teacher of German; George A. Childs, secretary.
The Iowa Business College was located in Turner's block, on Court avenue, Capt. J. W. Muffley was principal; C. B. Worthington, associate principal, Judge Nourse, lecturer on commercial law ; C. A. Mosier, teacher of phonography.
Let us again look in upon the schools of the city. The public schools on the west side, had 1,146 pupils enrolled for the year ending June 28, 1866. F. W. Corliss, A. M., was principal of the high school, D. G. Perkins was principal of the grammar school of the second and third wards, with the following as- sistants : Abbie Mitchell, Matilda Elder, Lucinda Stout, Nora Alfrey, Lucy Love, Addie Goodhue. Mrs. Z. Dunlap was principal of the fourth ward school, with Josephine Holdridge and Mrs. Mary Corliss assistants. G. N. Dow was prin- cipal of the first ward grammar school; with Mrs. Elsie Flemming, teacher.
On the East Side, A. E. Roberts was principal; Mary Lovelace, assistant
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principal ; Mrs. N. H. Hemmingway, first preparatory ; Mrs. C. Wiltsie, second preparatory ; Mary E. Bleakmore, first primary ; enrollment, 395; average at- tendance, 305; length of school, winter, 120 days; summer, 60 days; average cost of tuition per week, summer, seven cents, winter, ten cents; amount paid teachers during the year, $2,095; value of school house, $20,000. The east side schools were organized with J. W. Cattell, president; M. D. McHenry, vice presi- dent ; George W. Jones, treasurer ; William Matthews, secretary; Isaac Brandt, H. N. Wood, and James Hall, directors.
G. W. Cleveland was mayor; M. R. Laird, engineer; J. C. Benedict, clerk ; S. H. Carson, marshal; B T. Jones (west side) and George C. Jeffries (east side) street commissioners. The trustees for the seven wards were: John Mor- ris, Michael McTighe, C. Beck, E. S. Stout, Ira Cook, W. A. Galbraith, Mar- tin Winters, G. A. Stewart, J. R. Crawshaw, Samuel Stansbury, James Depew, W. S. Bennett, Barnett Sparks, R. Wilson. The council held its regular ses- sions once a month.
Des Moines township was officered by John Morris, supervisor, M. W. Fol- som, and L. A. Crane, justices of the peace; Samuel Moore, township clerk; Ira Cook, township assessor; J. S. Cook, George Sneer and B. T. Jones, trustees ; Ben. Bryant and D. Norris, constables.
Lee township (east side) was officered by A. G. Groves, supervisor ; John Rail- ing and Hugh Murray, trustees ; Lewis P. Baker, assessor ; N. B. Cooley and J. Thompson, justices of the peace; David Hunter, Sr., and W. B. Woodward, constables ; W. B. Davidson, clerk.
In 1866, the Rock Island, originally the Mississippi and Missouri, railroad was completed to Kellogg, twenty-two miles east of Des Moines. Construction was in progress and it was expected that the road would be ready for business in Des Moines in April of the following year.
The Des Moines Valley Railroad was completed from Keokuk to Des Moines by the Ist of September, '66.
The Northwestern was well on its way to Council Bluffs. Des Moines con- nected with it at Ames by stage.
The Iowa and Minnesota, originating in Des Moines, was under contract to be built to Ames. Thence it was to be extended northward to St. Paul.
The Fort Des Moines and Kansas City railroad was surveyed and located to Indianola. Large subscriptions had been made for it and work was soon to begin.
With these connections present and prospective, the "boosters" of 1866 were sanguine that the growth and prosperity of the city would in the near future be greatly enhanced, and that property, then "fluctuating between real and pros- pective value," would "assume a more stable condition, increasing only in proportion to the growth of the city." 2
2 Des Moines City Directory, 1866, p. 22
Court Avenue
Walnut Street
B. F. Allen's Banking House, Fourth and Court Avenue
Fifth Street looking south from Walnut
Walnut Street
Third Street
VIEWS OF DES MOINES IN EARLY DAYS
CHAPTER III.
A SECOND GREAT HOPE REALIZED-THE ROCK ISLAND ENTERS DES MOINES-EVENTS OF 1867.
Des Moines entered upon the year 1867 with many evidences of growth in population and trade and with every indication that the future would mean much to her. The slogan "On to Minneapolis and St. Paul !" was early renewed. At the annual meeting of the Iowa and Minnesota Railroad Company in Des Moines, January IO, satisfaction was expressed with the preliminary surveys and with the reports as to routes, right of way, etc. About twenty miles of the way had been obtained at a nominal cost. Grounds for depots had been donated at Polk City, Carlisle and Spring Mills. It was reported that work north and south of the city would begin in the spring.
That noblest of the many women of the war, Clara Barton, told to her Des Moines friends and admirers, on the evening of the 16th, the story of her four years' experience in the wake of the army. Her womanly recital of scenes and events thrilled the audience with its unconscious eloquence. A return visit later in the year was equally satisfying.
Franklin's birthday had a royal recognition, at Shaeffer's on the evening of the 17th, where Mills & Company were hosts to the many printers and other attaches of their printing and binding establishment. "Frank" Palmer, "Lafe" Young, "Ret" Clarkson, Frank Mills, "Will" Porter, "Will" Fleming, J. R. Carey, and other of "the boys" responded. L. F. Andrews on behalf of the boys presented Mr. Mills with an elegant watch chain. Will Porter offered this brief toast to Colonel Noah Webster Mills-"He loved his country and died for it." The surviving brother feelingly responded.
A Des Moines female seminary, opened the fall before, was organized in January, with Judge Wright, General Tuttle, Judges Cole and Casady on its directory. The old Baptist Church on Mulberry street was bought and fitted up and the principal, Miss McLean, began the new year with forty-four stu- dents and with improving prospects.
On the 24th Mrs. Anna N. Savery delivered, at the courthouse, her lecture, "From the Tuilleries to the Forum," as a benefit for Editor J. M. Dixon, then in Cincinnati taking treatment for blindness, with which he had long been afflicted. The lecture netted $155.
February 7, 1867, appeared in the Register a modest advertisement of the newly organized Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa. It was officered by P. M. Casady, president; Wesley Redhead, vice president; F. M. Hubbell, secretary ; B. F. Allen, treasurer ; J. S. Polk, counsel; H. L. Whitman, medical adviser. Besides these officers named, the following were members of the first directory ; J. B. Stewart, Peter Myers, W. W. Williamson, Isaac Cooper, Hoyt Sherman, F. R. West, J. M. Tuttle, R. L. Tidrick, P. Melendy and J. C. Jordan.
The great Ralph Waldo Emerson came and went on March 2, and the Register gave his lecture a "stick-full" report But what appeared in that stick- full was keenly appreciative. The lecture on "The Man of the World," by that most unworldly of men, was pronounced "one of the rare treats of a life-time."
In the spring election Mayor Cleveland was again re-elected, this time over John Morris, by 83 majority.
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March 15. Wendell Phillips delivered his famous lecture on "The Lost · Arts," crowding into an hour, all too brief, his mystery tale of the forgotten past. At its conclusion, at the instance of Judge Wright, the lecturer briefly considered "live issues," giving his hearers a suggestion of the power of the great anti-slavery orator who had held thousands enchained by his eloquence.
In the spring of '67 the pioneer hotel man, G. W. Savery, retired from the old Savery House, and McCartney and Ohr succeeded him.
Those were the palmy days of the lecture bureau, so far as relates to the talents and fame of the lecturers ; but the profits from the lectures were not large. The Lecture Association made $155 on its course during the winter.
In the republican nominating convention of June 20, 1867, Des Moines had a personal interest, having two receptive candidates for Governor, James A. Wil- liamson, who had returned from Arkansas, and Jonathan W. Cattell. On the informal ballot; Williamson had 17734 votes and Cattell 58. Before the vote was announced, J. B. Grinnell moved the unanimous nomination of the leading candidate. Colonel Samuel L. Merrill. Mr. Withrow, on behalf of General Williamson, seconded the motion, and the convention carried it with tremendous enthusiasm. Colonel John Scott was speedily named lieutenant governor over seven other candidates.
"The Fourth" was celebrated on the Capitol grounds. The Good Templars planned the celebration in the interests of temperance. Hon. M. D. McHenry presided and General Williamson was chief marshal. The orator of the day was the brilliant Henry O'Connor, of Muscatine, whose eloquent plea for tem- perate living is sadly recalled by those who know how bravely but unavail- ingly "Harry" battled, during his last years, against the curse of strong drink.
A case of more than passing interest was tried in the Polk county district court early in 1867. Briefly stated, John Ferrier, then a resident of Missouri, bought some negroes of one Cockrell, and others from one Flannery, giving his notes therefor, and taking a warranty that the slaves were sound. Part of the purchase proved to be unsound, and Ferrier who had sold them on time could not collect his notes. However, he had paid on his own notes more than he received from the sale. The emancipation proclamation freed the slaves. Cockrell and Flannery, confederates, persecuted Ferrier, a unionist, until he felt obliged to flee to get rid of them. In his absence, and without due service, judgment was returned against Ferrier for default. Upon the judgment of the Missouri court an action was brought in Polk county where Ferrier resided and the district court returned a verdict for defendant. Flannery sued Ferrior on his note. Ferrier set up a cross demand upon the warranty. In this action the jury rendered a verdict of $175 for Ferrier. In the course of the trial the Des Moines attorneys are said to have "fought the war over again !"
In the Democratic State Convention held at the Capital July 26, Hon. M. D. McHenry, acting chairman of the State committee, called the convention to order. The most exciting debate in the convention was between McHenry, of Poik and Irish of Johnson, on the resolution presented, with other by Irish, favoring the repeal of the prohibitory liquor law and the enactment of "a well regulated license law in lieu thereof." McHenry, a temperance man, made a strong speech on his motion to strike out the license resolution; but he was voted down.
The new public library received many gifts of money and books during the year, and, with the lecture course and other benefits, made rapid gains in popu- larity and usefulness.
"There's nothing new under the sun!" In the Register of July 20, 1867, appears a communication from "Vindex" urging, with all the zeal of a "knocker" of 19II, the desirability of a city market house. Nor was the question new in '67, for Vindex indignantly points to the "usual promise from the newly elected Board of Councilmen."
Several hundred names appear attached to a call for a meeting of business
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men and citizens on July 23 "for the purpose of taking steps to aid the Iowa & Minnesota Railway Company." It was the sense of the meeting that the city should subscribe $50,000 to the capital stock of the company, and that bonds should be issued to pay the subscription.
A bridge meeting July 27 resolved to find out how much money could be raised for the purchase of the bridge company's interest in the Court avenue bridge, and to rebuild the old bridge, or construct a new iron bridge.
On the 20th of August the corner-stone of what was then called "the West Side Public School House" was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The Masons, Odd Fellows and Turners participated in the ceremonies. Strassars' Band headed the procession "up Third street to Walnut, and from there directly to the building."
On Friday night, August 30, the second great hope of Des Moines was real- ized-the actual coming of the long waited for Mississippi & Missouri,-now the Rock Island road. On that date the road entered the corporation at a point about two miles from the depot grounds. For eight years Des Moines had been look- ing forward to this event! The first through passenger train arrived on the evening of September 9. It was made up of two express and mail cars, two passenger coaches and "a splendid family stateroom coach." Everybody was delighted, but there was no formal demonstration. The stateroom sleeper remained in Des Moines for two days, and the conductor in charge was "happy to show the ladies and gentlemen of Des Moines through the palace on wheels."
The church event of the year was the laying of the corner-stone of the Cen- tral Presbyterian church, September 5. The building committee was: B. F. Allen, T. O. Rice, C. P. Luse, H. Huntington, J. A. Davis, T. K Brooks, and George J. North. The architect was W. W Boyington; brick mason, S A Robertson; stone-cutter, Conrad Youngerman; carpenter, George Whitaker
September 12, at the courthouse, Senator Harlan delivered the opening speech of the campaign in Polk county, and the Register pronounced it "hot shot."
The Des Moines conference of the M. E. Church convened at the Capital September 19, Bishop Jaynes presiding. It was an unusually large gathering of representative men and women.
The marriage of R. P. Clarkson-"our brother Dick"-and Miss Aggie Green was announced in the Register, September 20.
In conjunction with the Des Moines conference of the Methodist church, a notable reunion was held September 24. Judge Nourse delivered the welcoming address, to which Bishop Jaynes responded. Rev. James Hardy responded on behalf of the Des Moines conference, the oldest in the State. Numerous addresses were delivered by visiting ministers.
A district fair was held in Des Moines, September 25-27, and the Western Stage Company carried passengers "to and from" at a two-third rate.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was greeted with a large and delighted audience, December 19.
The marriage of J. S. Clarkson, editor of the Register, and Miss Anna C. Howell, of Pella, occurred on the 26th of December, and was the occasion of much felicitation by "the brethren of the press."
CHAPTER IV.
1868-THE CITY'S FIRST STREET RAILWAY-EVENTS OF 1868.
The first street railroad in Iowa (horse power) ran its first car in Des Moines, January II, 1868, with Dr. M. P. Turner at the helm, with the following invited excursionists: Mayor Cleveland, Seward Smith, C. C. Van, Colonel Stewart, T. E. Settle, E. S. Stout, J. A. Elliott, J. Bausman, W. S. Dart, "Charlie" Spofford, H. D. Hull, Marcus Kavanagh and two city editors.
Rev. W. H. Milburn, "the blind preacher," lectured to a small audience in the courthouse January 15, and the Register declares his was "the ablest lecture ever delivered in Des Moines."
Another Franklin supper, at the Savery January 17, brought out speeches from Withrow, O'Connor, Ingersoll, Hammond, Baker, Andrews, Williamson, Grinnell and others.
The Young Men's Christian Association one of the most influential and effective organizations in the city, dates its origin from a little meeting held on the 27th of January, 1868. This was followed by other meetings, at one of which, in April following, a constitution was reported and a Board was created. This Board consisted of E. Lounsbury, president; G. L. Godfrey, vice president ; S. S. Etheridge, corresponding secretary; C. E. Fuller, recording secretary ; C. H. Getchell, treasurer; W. S. Harbert, registrar. The committee chairmen were F. J. Cressey, C. A. Dudley, G. B. Goodin, Samuel Tannahill, A. Y. Raw- son, T. Hoagland, S. C. Schramm, S. W. C. Weeks, J. H. Aldrich, George A. Jewett, George P. Jones and L. J. Coulter. In April the association had grown to eighty-four members.
Anna Dickinson, then in her prime, paid her first visit to Des Moines, Febru- ary 7, 1868. She stirred the minds of men with her accustomed vigor, in her famous lecture entitled "Breakers Ahead." "The largest. lecture audience ever assembled in Des Moines," alternately smiled and frowned, were carried away by her eloquence and sat silently enduring her castigations. Her eloquent tribute to the negroes who had earned the ballot by fighting for the flag carried the audience to a high degree of enthusiasm.
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