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 38
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An August sensation was the statement made by Thomas G. Orwig to Gov- ernor Carpenter that he, one of the jurymen in the Charles Howard [Nelson] case, had been coerced into agreeing to a verdict of conviction ; that the mob that hung Howard to a lamp-post was headed by Mike McTighe, foreman of the grand jury, and that Captain Vaughn of Bloomfield, and M. T. Russell, of Mitchellville, were implicated in the proceedings. The charge was promptly denied by the parties accused, and the parties were not indicted.
General Grant's Welcome in Des Moines-His Famous Speech.
The notable local event of the year was the Ninth Annual Reunion of the Army of the Tennessee, with the presence of President Grant, Secretary Belknap, ex- Secretary Borie, Generals Sherman and Hickenloper, and other distinguished army officers. The date of the event was September 29. The city was fully alive to the honor. Its public buildings, business houses and residences were elaborately
6 The story of this calamity and of the disaster it wrought in Des Moines is told at length in a separate chapter.
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decorated, and its main streets were illuminated. Across the street from the Allen block to the Aborn House was a triumphal arch under which rode the dis- tinguished guests on their way to Moore's opera house.
General Belknap's car arrived at 3:30 and at 6:30 began a salute by Baker Battery, consisting of twenty-one guns, in honor of the President, followed by thirteen guns each for Generals Sherman and Belknap. President and Mrs. Grant, Mr. and Mrs. Borie, and General Babcock were guests of Judge and Mrs. Cole.
The first day of the reunion was devoted to business. The meeting was called to order at Moore's opera house at II a. m. by General Sherman, president of the society. A resolution throwing the organization open to all enlisted men, after a spirited discussion, was tabled.
In the evening the exercises were continued at the opera house, where was congregated the largest audience ever assembled in the house. Thousands were unable to gain admission.
Judge Cole, in his happiest manner, delivered the address of welcome. The annual address was delivered by Col. (Gov.) Thomas C. Fletcher, of Missouri. In the course of his address the Governor paid high tribute to Iowa soldiers, and especially to the First Iowa, who, side by side with loyal Missourians, "trod the dark valley of terror and blood at Wilson's Creek;" and to the Seventh Iowa at Belmont, the Second at Donelson, and the Fourth at Pea Ridge.
No sooner had the speaker taken his seat than loud calls were made for Grant and Sherman.
When the tumult had in a measure subsided, to the surprise and delight of all, "the Silent Man" arose and delivered one of the longest and most significant speeches he is known to have made. That speech is now regarded as an epoch in the General's life and in the Nation's history as well. It was afterward misrepresented and, as misrepresented, severely criticised; but as it goes down in history, it bears strong evidence of the General's lofty patriotism and thoughtful solicitude for the country's future." Its especial burden was the Free School- "the promoter of that intelligence which is to preserve us as a free nation." The prediction was made that should we have another contest in the near future of our national existence, the dividing line would not be Mason and Dixon's, "but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other." The President urged all to labor "to add all need -. ful guarantees for the more perfect security of Free Thought, Free Speech, a Free Press, Pure Morals, Unfettered Religious Sentiment and of Equal Rights and Privileges to all men irrespective of Nationality, Color or Religion. En- courage free schools and resolve that not one dollar of money appropriated to their support, no matter how raised, shall be appropriated to the support of any sectarian school. Resolve that either the state or nation, or both combined, shall support institutions of learning sufficient to afford to every child growing up in the land the opportunity of a good common school education, unmixed with sectarian, pagan or atheistical tenets. Leave the matter of religion to the family circle, the church and the private school supported entirely by private contribution. Keep the church and state forever separate. With these safe- guards I believe the battles which created us the 'Army of the Tennessee' will not have been fought in vain." The speech was received with prolonged applause.
Gen. Jeff C. Davis, Colonel Bain and General Force, were called out and briefly spoke. Captain Church sang "Old Shady," with a chorus. Col. Fred D. Grant made his acknowledgments. Colonel McArthur and General Cook re- sponded to calls. Finally General Sherman yielded to repeated calls and made an impromptu ten-minute speech abounding in good humor, sentiment, and sense.
7 To Prof. L. H. Parker, of Iowa College, Grinnell, the world is indebted for the publication of a fac-simile of General Grant's Des Moines speech as prepared by the General while in Des Moines; and to the Historical Department of Iowa the author is indebted for the reproduction of this fac-simile, from the Annals of Iowa, v. III, pp. 184-192.
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Thursday's business session was followed in the evening with a grand banquet at the Savery House, one which amply sustained the promise of Mc- Cartney & Company that it should be a record-breaker in elegance and com- pleteness.
It was a notable gathering. President Grant was the guest of honor, with General Sherman at his left and U. S. Senator Wright on his right. Secretary Belknap, Governor Kirkwood, Judge Cole, General Babcock, General Pope and other distinguished soldiers and civilians, flanked their right and left.
The toasts brought out a number of interesting responses. Colonel Bain eloquently responded to "Our Country."
The toast "The President of the United States" was proposed by General Sherman, and was greeted with prolonged cheers. President Grant thanked his friends for the reception given him and modestly resumed his seat.
Secretary Beiknap's toast was "The State of Iowa and her Volunteers," and the Iowa General's speech was a splendid tribute to the home State and to the soldiers who had made its name glorious.
General Pope responded in a stirring speech to the toast "The Regular Army."
No one present is likely to forget the characteristic speech of General Sher- man in response to the toast "The March to the Sea! Happy in its Conception ; Fortunate in its Leader; Glorious in its Results."
The General paid generous tribute to Rosecrans, Thomas, Grant and others who had made possible his famous march. He dwelt with many a touch of humor on the march itself, paid his respects to those who had criticised his course, and, with an apology for saying anything at all on a subject so personal, resumed his seat.
ยท Among the other speeches came one from Des Moines' representative among the generals, James A. Williamson. Called on unexpectedly, not having been placed upon the regular program, the trained campaigner in many a political campaign proved equal to the occasion.
With "The March to the Sea," by the band, followed by uproarious applause, this notable event in Des Moines' history was brought to a close.
General Belknap was reported as having said that he had attended every reunion of the army, and he pronounced the Des Moines meeting the most suc- cessful of them all; adding that the hospitality of Des Moines eclipsed anything known in the history of the organization. Seldom, if ever, have so many dis- tinguished soldiers been gathered in any American city. Besides Grant, Sherman and Belknap, already mentioned, were Generals Pope, Miles, Rockwell, Sturgis, Sutton, Myers, McFeley, Force, McCook, Perry, Crook, Hickenloper, Alvord, Williamson, Jeff C. Davis, and any number of colonels and officers of minor rank. The only element lacking was the rank and file who were so much in evidence in the Iowa reunion of 1870.
Kasson Turns on His Accusers.
The suit of John A. Kasson against J. C. Savery, R. P. Clarkson and J. S. Clarkson for alleged libel and damages in the sum of $50,000, was the November event in the District court, Judge Leonard presiding. The case was called November 17. The plaintiff was represented by Judge Barcroft and General Given; the defendants by Colonel Gatch and Judge Nourse. Mr. Kasson was not present but was represented by his attorneys; the defendants were present in person. The action was brought by Mr. Kasson in the campaign of the previous year and the alleged libels were contained in an open letter addressed by "a Constituent to a Congressman" and published in the Register of September 27 and October 4, 1874, in which Mr. Kasson was charged with having received, while a member of the Iowa legislature, a large sum of money from the Rock Island Railroad Company, or from its agent, and that the money was coerced from said agent by him under the pretense of its being a fee for legal services ;
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but, in fact, with the understanding that his vote as a member of the General Assembly should be given in a particular manner in consideration of the money paid ; in other words, that Mr. Kasson demanded and received a bribe for his vote.
The defense admitted that they composed and published, and caused to be composed and published, the alleged libel; that they composed and published it "in good faith, and for the purpose of enabling plaintiff to answer the questions therein propounded, and explain the matters and things aforesaid to defendants, and to the legal voters within said district."
The defense explained at length the circumstances under which the alleged libelous words were composed and published, including the plaintiff's change of course in connection with the legislation in question, those circumstances warrant- ing them, in their judgment, in composing and publishing the alleged libelous words "and for the purpose of enabling the plaintiff to explain-if in his power to do so." They further declared that they extended to the plaintiff the use of the columns of their newspaper for the purpose of making answer to or explanation of all the questions put to him; and that the defendant Savery repeatedly ex- tended to plaintiff an invitation to meet him before the voters of the district, and make such answer or explanation, all of which plaintiff neglected and refused to accept.
Without attempting to follow the fifty-one long columns of evidence and argument, and the Judge's charge to the jury, it is sufficient for our purpose to say that the case dragged on from one Wednesday forenoon to the following Wednesday night, and that the jury struggled with the law and the facts from Wednesday night until the following Friday night, when, hopelessly at variance as to the facts, they were discharged.
The case created intense excitement in the city and throughout the State, and opinion was as hopelessly divided outside as inside the jury room.
It should be added here that the case never came to a second trial. In the course of the campaign of the following year, Mr. Savery, author of the offend- ing letter published in the Register, publicly stated that Mr. Kasson's attorneys had withdrawn the suit and paid the court costs. To all appearances, the plaintiff in the case came out more or less damaged in reputation; but Mr. Kasson's subsequent career as a candidate for his former seat in Congress evinces a remarkably quick recovery !
The city and state were taken by surprise, late in November, by the resigna- tion of Judge Cole from the Supreme Bench, the resignation to take effect on the 17th of the following January, thus enabling him to complete several cases in hand. It was said by his enemies that he retired because of the storm of opposition raised by his censures of the press, in his periodical, The Western Jurist. The Register warmly championed the Judge, admitting, however, that his criticisms of the press were indiscreet, though certain papers of the State had given him ample warrant therefor. The Register pays its respects to the Judge's enemies, charging them with cowardice in pursuing him with threats but taking no definite action. In the near future action was taken so definite that the Judge was put upon his defense for other publications more specific than the criticisms upon the press, namely an attack upon the judicial honor of no less a person than John F. Dillon, Judge of the United States District court.
In 1875 the corporation of "Sebastopol," now part of "Greater Des Moines" and spelled "Sevastopol," was organized, the corporate lines extending one mile east and west and a half-mile south, from the present Des Moines line on the east and south. Few who live within this precinct have any knowledge of the origin of its name. It appears that in 1857 a brewery, later owned by Munzenmeier & Webber,8 was erected on a commanding site, and some one interested in the Crimean war named the brewery Sebastopol. The name was
8 Tocca State Leader (weekly ed.), December 22, 1881.
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accepted by the neighborhood and was then applied to the neighborhood. When, in '75, the town was incorporated, the town council gave it the name, substituting v for b in the spelling of it.
To avoid being swallowed up by Des Moines, and to become exempt from the heavy taxation of the growing city, the citizens, headed by Barlow Granger, petitioned Judge. Mitchell for a charter and the prayer was granted. Granger was the first mayor, and William Christ, recorder. When the organization was effected there were but twenty houses in the town. Six years later there were two hundred. It had developed four coal mines, several shops and stores and, on the hill, the brewery which gave it its name, then one of the largest in the State.
1876-THE CENTENNIAL YEAR IN DES MOINES.
Governor Carpenter's "last and best paper," his message to the sixteenth Gen- eral Assembly, was heard with regret by many, because it was the last. Governor and Mrs. Carpenter, after their eight years' residence in Des Moines, left many warm friends in the city. The home of the chief executive during the past four years had been the center of a gracious hospitality, as genuine as it was unconventional.
The chief political interest in January was the contest over the succession to the United States Senatorship, George G. Wright having resigned. The prin- cipal candidates were Samuel J. Kirkwood and James Harlan. In pleasing con- trast with the contest of '72, the campaign was free from acrimony. Harlan's friends were confident down to the day of the caucus, January 12. To their sur- prise and chagrin a letter from Harlan was read at the caucus declining to permit the use of his name. It turned out that his only son, William, was dying in Cali- fornia, and his heart was with his son. He and Mrs. Harlan started at once for the coast, but arrived too late to see their son alive. The withdrawal resulted in an easy victory for Governor Kirkwood over Hiram Price, Belknap and McCrary.
The railroad items of interest in February were the acceptance of the receiver- ship of the Central Railroad of Iowa by J. B. Grinnell, and the organization of a construction company, with J. S. Polk of Des Moines, as president, for. the extension of the Des Moines & Minnesota narrow gauge line from Ames to Cedar Falls or Waterloo.
The completion of the Aborn House block at a cost (including hotel furnish- ings) of about $150,000, was one of the principal February events.
Gen. James A. Williamson of Des Moines was presented in May as Polk county's candidate for Congress. On the first ballot, Williamson received 18 votes, and Colonel Cummings, of Warren, 24. On the eighty-sixth ballot, the Warren county candidate was nominated.
The planing mill of Carver & Young went up in smoke one Sunday evening in June, incurring a loss of about $25,000, with no insurance.
The Centennial Fourth of July was celebrated in Des Moines with much spirit. A procession not far from three miles long was led by a car representing Iowa in 1776-an unbroken prairie, followed by a car representing an Indian camp ; this by a representation of Iowa in 1830; and that by an immense banner upon which had been painted the statistics of Iowa's products in 1876. Five hundred troops were in line: The Olmstead State Guards, the Sarsfield Guards, the Belknap Guards, the Scandinavian Guards and the Valley Guards. Then came the Baker Battery, and then the president of the day, Governor Kirkwood and other celebrities, secret societies, floats of many beautiful and unique de- signs, trade organizations, and fantastics. The exercises of the day closed with eloquent orations by Col. B. F. Montgomery and Dr. E. R. Hutchins.
East-siders took the law into their own hands one day in August, 1876. As two officers of the law were returning from Four Mile with one Ridley, suspected of burglarizing Slatten's East side Store, they were confronted, near
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the city limits, by a dozen masked men, who took Ridley to a tree by the road- side and with a rope round his neck and under one arm, lifted him from the ground. After dangling in air a minute, Ridley confessed, also peaching on his ' pal, one Johnson.
The silver wedding of Mr. and Mrs. D. O. Finch was celebrated on the 25th of September. In '51 "Dan" Finch, a promising young attorney, and Nellie Calder of Cedar Rapids, were married. A few relatives were gathered in their Ninth street home to celebrate the day with them, when they heard the tread of many feet. Going to the door they found the yard filled with friends who had arranged a celebration of their own. The tables in the house were soon loaded with presents and eatables. A silver set and a china set were presented to the bride and groom, Rev. J. A. Nash making the presentation speech. A gold- headed cane was also presented to Mr. Finch. Equal to every emergency but this, the orator gave way to tears, recovering sufficiently, however, to thank his friends for their remembrances.
The Iowa Exposition opened in Des Moines in October, in a building de- signed by Architect Foster, and erected especially for it by a company organized for that purpose in 1875. The building was 132 feet square, with turrets sur- mounting the corners and a tower rising from the north front, 114 feet in height. This building still stands, a monument to the enterprise of '76,-on the corner of Walnut and Eighth streets." The interior was well planned for the exhibition of wares and the art gallery was provided with ample skylight. At noon on the 5th of October, the doors were thrown open and Major Sherman introduced Governor Kirkwood as the President of the Day. The Governor then raised a historic flag which had floated over the headquarters of the soldiers of New Hampshire in the War of the Revolution. The band played the national air as the faded and tattered emblem of liberty was raised. After prayer by Rev. A. L. Frisbie, Senator George G. Wright delivered a characteristically eloquent and happy dedicatory address, including a striking contrast between the Des Moines of that day and of several yesterdays ago. The display included ex- hibitions of goods from all the live merchants and manufacturers of the city and many articles of peculiar and historic interest.
General Sherman and Don Cameron, secretary of war, arrived in Des Moines at midnight October 7, and were received at the depot by the State Guards, the Hayes Cadets and many citizens. The General's brothers endeavored to persuade the two to remain over night, but they could not be persuaded. The General shook hands with several old friends, and taking his brothers to his car had a brief visit with them while the train waited.
The Register in October printed a long list of stockholders in the Des Moines Plow company, showing the popular nature of the investment, and the boosting spirit of the time.
The long-drawn-out campaign of 1876 closed in doubt, and doubt was fol- lowed by alternating hope and despondency. The nights were filled with rumors and the streets, especially in front of the newspaper offices, were thronged with men and women eager for news from the political front. Republicans refused, against evidence, to believe that the result was still in doubt. Democrats quietly held to the conclusion that time would tell in their favor. Republican roosters crowed fainter and more faintly, until finally, republicans were relieved by Congressman McCrary's device, the Electoral Commission, which would at least' "let them down easily" as it might possibly give them the presidency,-as in the end it did, through David Davis's deciding vote.
Three silver weddings were events in Des Moines society-anniversaries covering almost the entire range of Des Moines and Fort Des Moines history. It was a happy thought to merge the three celebrations into one. The event occurred late in November, 1876. Two of the contracting parties were Dr. W. H. Ward and Alice Yount. The doctor had first come to Des Moines, but the
9 Now occupied by the Grand Department Store.
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sparseness of the settlement compelled him to move over to Carlisle, then in Poik county, now in Warren. Another pair were William W. Moore and Mary Ann Winchester, wedded in the Winchester home, on the site of the Valley Bank. Mr. Moore was, even in '76, the veteran merchant of Des Moines. The third were Lampson P. Sherman and Susan R. Lowson, who were married from the home of James Hall, corner of First street and Court avenue. This unique gathering was held at the home of Mr. ("Uncle Billy") Moore. The old settlers' gifts consisted of a silver set to each couple. After the reuniting ceremony, a banquet was held, prepared by the early settlers' wives, Mesdames Clapp, West, McCain, Sypher and others.
The death of Nathaniel B. Baker was a sad blow to many in Des Moines. For weeks it had been a struggle for life, and the one consolation was that the sufferer had at last found relief. The General died September 13. The funeral occurred on the 15th. The funeral was an outpouring of all classes and condi- tions of men in honor of the one man, next to Governor Kirkwood, who did most to make Iowa glorious in the number of men sent to the support of the gov- ernment, and the celerity with which the Iowa troops were enlisted, equipped and sent into the field.
1877-THE YEAR THE OLD DEMOINE HOTEL WAS PULLED DOWN.
Mrs. B. F. Allen died in Chicago, January 30, 1877, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. L. Swords. Her husband, her mother, Mrs. F. R. West, and other members of the family were with her at the last. Mrs. Allen came to Des Moines at the age of 17, and here, in '54, married Mr. Allen. The funeral from the Central Presbyterian church in Des Moines, was a touching tribute to the worth of the deceased. Rev. Mr. Nash, who, in '54, had spoken the words which made her a bride, was the clerygman who officiated at Mrs. Allen's funeral. The bearers were old family friends: Judge Casady, George Whitaker, Judge Cole, Thomas Hatton, E. J. Ingersoll, L. H. Bush, Wesley Redhead, W. W. Moore, J. C. Savery and W. W. Williamson.
High taxes and little to show for them prompted a citizens' meeting at the opera house February 10, 1877, a meeting of citizens "favorable to reform in our municipal management and to an economical expenditure of the public money." Another ineffectual attempt to reform city government without re-form- ing the system.
Henry Ward Beecher delivered his famous lecture on "The Ministry of Wealth" to a large audience at the Opera House on the evening of March 7. Many came from a distance to hear America's greatest pulpit orator, and apparently none were disappointed. Though the lecture lacked the fire of enthusiasm over a great cause, it was a delightful combination of humor and appeal. And behind the lecture was a charming personality.
The return of Senator George G. Wright to Des Moines at the expiration of his term of service in Washington, was the occasion of a glad welcome-home on the 15th of March. The Senator appeared on the porch of his residence and was welcomed by Maj. N. B. Collins and Col. J. W. Griffiths. In a few genial and earnest words the Senator responded. He passed generous judgment on men and events at the Nation's capital, and expressed keen appreciation of the wel- come he had received.
Rev. P. P. Ingalls, pastor of the Congregational Church in Des Moines, took early occasion to deliver a lecture in criticism of the inferential theology of the Beecher lecture. He also censured Beecher himself for personally parading the Brooklyn scandal before the country by thus appearing on the lecture platform. Mr. Ingalls and the defenders of Beecher afterward carried on a long-drawn-out newspaper controversy over the Brooklyn preacher.
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