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 44
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Callanan College was burned on the morning of June 20-its commence- ment day. The commencement exercises were held in the Central Christian church. Judge Callanan promptly announced that he would rebuild, and the announcement was soon thereafter verified.
"The first annual meeting of the Alumni of the old University of Des Moines now known as the Baptist College" was held on the evening of June 19.
On July 19, Judge Bishop refused to enjoin North Des Moines from voting on the waterworks question. Recorder MacVicar was now mayor of North Des Moines. At a meeting later in the month, the council appointed the mayor and two councilmen of his selection to secure the services of an engineer to make preliminary plans and specifications for the erection of water works. It also appointed the mayor and two councilmen to confer with the then existing North Des Moines company, also with the Des Moines company to ascertain what terms could be made with them for future water supply-the resolution including the possibility of purchase of the plant of the first named company.
Late in July Des Moines' Johnstown Relief Fund in the hands of Simon Casady amounted to $3,777.61.
The movement for a Greater Des Moines took form August 23, in a con- solidation meeting presided over by J. G. Rounds, with Messrs. Reeves, Haskins and Smith representing University Place; McClelland,. Field and Chaffee, from North Des Moines; Koenigsberger from Capital Park, VanGinkel, Granger, and Young from Sevastapol and Chase, Young and Rounds from the city proper. All favored the proposed annexation, except McClelland of North Des Moines. He charged Des Moines with official corruption and didn't want to be absorbed. A resolution was adopted to the effect that commissioners from the city make propositions to the commissioners from the towns as to terms of annexation.
University Place was the center of activities early in September. First, on the Ioth, came the ceremonies of laying the corner-stone of the University Place Christian Church, with the dedicatory address by Rev. B. O. Aylesworth, then, on the 12th, the inauguration of Mr. Aylesworth as President of Drake University, marking the advent of a new era in the history of the university.
The town hall of North Des Moines on the evening of October 2, was crowded for a "big wrangle" over waterworks. Everybody who could obtain recognition made a speech. The confusion of tongues and of views was finally silenced by a compromise resolution offered by J. A. Jackson, in substance, that the council of North Des Moines be requested to arrange with the owner
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of the water pipes of North Des Moines for their temporary use, and with the Des Moines Water Company for a supply of water for private use "at reason- able rates, no public rental to be charged and no rights prejudiced." Thus was the contest of opposing views and of rival interests, put forward into the next decade.
Final action was long delayed in the case of G. W. Potts, the constable con- victed of receiving a bribe in a whisky case. The appeal was from Judge Kavanagh's decision following the indictment of Constable Potts in February, 1888. The Supreme court reversed the decision of the lower court and Potts was set free.
The closing year found the new Y. M. C. A. building nearing completion. The local press gave much space to description of its spacious and elegant in- terior, and its imposing appearance. Little did the donors and patrons of the Y. M. C. A. then think that in scarcely more than a brief score of years this spacious building would give way to another, larger and far more costly edifice.
OLD Y. M. C. A. BUILDING
Y. W. C. A. BUILDING
YEOMAN BUILDING
CHAPTER III.
THE THIRD DECADE OF PROGRESS.
At long intervals during the previous decades covered by this history, one after another of the makers of old Fort Des Moines and of the new Des Moines had passed away : but as a class the pioneers were sturdy men and long-lived. With the coming of the nineties it became apparent that the harvest-time was nearing. During that last decade of the old century and the first of the new, many well known names appeared among the "Deaths" in the local newspapers which in other years had proudly chronicled their achievements and generously paid tribute to their worth. If Carlyle was even half-right in concluding that "Biography is the only true history," then no mistake has been made in the present work in attempting to present to the Twentieth Century reader a series of impressions of the men whose organizing minds and public-spirited service made possible the present city of Des Moines. Nor would the present work seem to be even approaching completeness without mention of the passing of these community builders from the activities which they created and in which they participated.
1890-THE YEAR NORTH DES MOINES WAS ANNEXED.
Governor Larrabee rose superior to any resentment he might have felt be- cause of the charge of libel preferred against him by Mrs. Turney and on the 13th of January pardoned Chester Turney, her son, on condition that he refrain from intoxicants and in all respects demean himself as a good and law-abiding citizen. Townspeople were divided as to the wisdom of the Governor's course. The sequel to the story may be condensed into a single sentence. Mrs. Gillette of Des Moines, true to her womanly sympathies, tried to make a man of her protege, by placing him in a position of responsibility, but the attempt resulted in a sorry failure.
The removal in January of the dry-goods house of H. C. Harris & Company to the present site of the widely known Harris-Emery Company on Walnut street was the beginning of a larger life for the dry-goods trade of the city, With 122 feet front and 132 feet depth, and with three floors well filled with goods, the best trade, which had theretofore gravitated Chicago-ward, found ample inducements at home.
The formal opening of the Walnut street electric line to University Place occurred on the Ist of February, a practical union of city and suburb in advance of formal action. The event was celebrated by an excursion over the line. Since the last October. the company had spent over $100,000 in permanent im- provements, and President Polk informed the excursionists from North Des Moines, Capital Park, and other waiting suburbs that the extension work was but just begun. On their return the excursionists dined together at the Savery and there united in a resolution commending the company for its enterprise and expressing thankfulness for "favors to come."
It is a herculean task to create and maintain a street railway system ade- quate to meet the demands of a fast-grown city of magnificent distances. The street car situation at the beginning of the new decade may thus be briefly out-
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lined: The company then had about twelve miles of track with five district lines. Five cars were to be put upon the University Place line ; two on the Clark street line; three on the Jefferson street line, with five cars all together on the Sixth avenue lines. The Twelfth street and Center street lines each had two cars, and the East side had five or six cars. North Des Moines was assured that next season the Sixth avenue line would be brought down into the city from School street and the North street line, connecting with it would be elec- trified. Capital Park was promised, in the following spring, a connection with East Ninth street, and soon as possible the west motor line would be electrified. All the cars on these lines were to swing round the circle to a central starting point on Sixth avenue. It will thus be seen that in anticipation of the Greater Des Moines long pictured in Mr. Polk's clear vision, much had been done to link together the city and its suburbs, and yet far more remained to be done.
After two meetings for the one purpose of considering the annexation ques- tion, the citizens of North Des Moines decided to submit the question to a popular vote. So on the sixth of February, the voters took a ballot on the ques- tion, the vote resulting as follows :
For annexation with Des Moines, 243; against, 107.
For annexation of school districts, 258; against, 48.
Thus, so far as popular expression could settle it, the vexed question was settled and, as the result has shown, to the advantage of both city and suburb.
North Des Moines on the 7th of February, granted the Belt Line of street railroad a twenty-five year franchise, the company to provide its own bridge across the river. This line was later taken over by the company operated by Mr. Polk.
A Patriarch Removed by Death.
After a long and useful career, chiefly spent in Fort Des Moines and Des Moines, Rev. J. A. Nash, D. D., departed this life on the 14th of Febru- ary, 1890, at the age of seventy-four. Frequent have been the mentions of this good man's activities in his chosen field. A New Yorker by birth and education, after an eastern pastorate of six years, in 1851 he came to Ft. Des Moines. Much local history is included in the brief statement that he was the founder of the Baptist church in the upper Des Moines valley, and was the founder and chief inspirer of the institution which under several names has come down to us as Des Moines College. The Forest Home Seminary, founded by Mr. and Mrs. Nash in 1855, was ten years later succeeded by the University of Des Moines, which, failing in its larger plans for university training, took on the less pretentious name of Des Moines College. For four years the financial agent of the institution, failing health compelled him to abandon the hard task-but not until a substantial building had been erected with the funds raised by him. From time to time he was called back to fill emergencies, twice to take the presidency. His one outing from the life work he had chosen was a single term as Superintendent of Schools in Polk county-a change but not otherwise a rest. His resultful work as a church organizer has been outlined in another chapter. It was a fitting tribute to the man of all others to whom this church and its college are indebted for their high standing in this community, that when the trustees of Des Moines College sought a name for the new chapel which had been built with funds raised by him, they happily chose to call it "Nash Hall."
Dr. Nash's first wife died a few months after her arrival in Fort Des Moines. His second wife, a lady of culture and rare attainments, entered into his life in 1853. The wife and four children survived him. The children are: John A. Nash of Audubon; Mrs. Rose of Oberlin, Ohio; Mrs. John MacVicar and Miss Hattie Nash. of Des Moines, who afterwards married a younger brother of Mr. MacVicar.
The immediate cause of Dr. Nash's death was a broken thigh occasioned at
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Polk City by a fall from a car. Eight weeks of suffering wore his strength away. His funeral was held in the First Baptist church Sunday, February 16. It is recorded that only a small portion of those who came to pay the last tribute of love and respect were able to find even standing room in the church. The casket was borne by brother ministers. Many early settlers attended the serv- ices. Rev. J. H. Murphy assisted by Drs. Frisbie, Stetson and Henry, officiated. Woodland Cemetery contains the remains of no man more loved and respected.
Memorial services were held in the chapel of Nash Hall, Des Moines Coi- lege on the evening of February 24. Students, alumni, professors and fellow citizens assembled in large numbers. President Stetson presided .- Letters from Judge Casady and Dr. W. H. Dickinson were read paying rare tributes to the departed. Jefferson S. Polk delivered a strong eulogy, pronouncing this high-minded, simple-hearted preacher and educator "a preëminently great and good man." H. Y. Smith, N. E. Coffin and others spoke freely of their friend. G. L. McCracken on behalf of the alumni read resolutions of respect and regard.
A "First Annual" Meeting of the State Business Men's Association was held at the Commercial Exchange rooms February 25, and closed with a banquet at the Aborn House with President B. F. Kauffman at the head of the table. The association was organized in 1889. The need of revision of exemption laws was one of the subjects up for consideration, as it has often been since. Relief from bad debts, through cooperative measures developed by A. S. Burn- ell, was the general purpose of the association.
The novelty of a democratic governor in "republican Iowa" created unusual interest in the inauguration of Horace Boies. The ceremonies were delayed by the dead-lock over the speakership in the House. The procession moved from the Savery Hotel at 2 P. M. on February 26. On arriving at the Capitol, the honored guests, accompanied the Governor-elect to the House where. the oath was administered. The Governor then delivered his inaugural address. The Register report describes Mr. Boies' bearing as quiet and dignified, although the manuscript from which he read trembled in his hands at times.
Governor Larrabee received at the State House in the evening, assisted by Mrs. Larrabee, the Governor-elect, Miss Boies, Lieutenant Governor and Miss Poyneer and Speaker Hamilton. Col. Jesse Cheek officiated in socially bringing the Governor and the townspeople together.
The Gatch annexation bill, slightly amended in the House, passed the Senate as amended, March II, and was promptly signed by the Governor, and by its action North Des Moines became a part of the city of Des Moines.
The law directed the Governor to appoint commissioners to redistrict the city. The commissioners named, Messrs. Mitchell, Hunter, Chase, Kauffman, Read and Youngerman, convened in the council room March 18, to hear plans, and suggestion as to ward lines, etc. After hearing Messrs. Brandt, Drady, Haskins, Chaffee, Phillips, Macomber and others, Judge Phillips' general plan of including a portion of the business part of the city in every ward found most favor. Commissioners Kauffman, Read, Mitchell and Chase agreed upon a division of the wards by north and south lines, dividing the city into long, narrow strips, thus including a part of "down town" in every ward. Messrs. Hunter and Youngerman opposed the majority report.
Gilbert's five-story starch factory building in the Chesterfield suburb of the city went up in flames at noon on the 14th of April. The loss on the building, machinery and contents was reported as over $300,000; the insurance $200,000. The plant had been turned over to the starch trust only a few days before. The fire threw 112 men and about the same number of women and children out of employment. The origin of the fire was unknown.
In 1890, the school board did itself credit, and a noble man a well-deserved
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honor, by naming a new school building on 21st street and Woodland avenue in honor of the pioneer preacher and friend of public schools, Rev. Thompson Bird.
The Des Moines Brick Manufacturing Company filed corporate articles with the recorder, April 30, with Martin Flynn, S. A. Robertson, H. K. Love, H. D. Smith and James Callanan incorporators.
The death of Coker F. Clarkson, familiarly known as Father Clarkson, oc- curred on the 7th of May. The funeral was held from the First M. E. church on the 9th. In accordance with the expressed wish of the deceased and in keeping with Father Clarkson's simplicity of character, the funeral was devoid of ostentation. The widely scattered members of the family were all present. The Early Settlers' Association, the Tippecanoe Club, the Typo- graphical Union, members of the press and of the City Council and many prominent men of the city and State attended the funeral. The bearers, com- posed of the family and old friends were Coker F., Harold, John and Frank Clarkson, (grandsons and grand-nephews), Al W. Swalm, Ed. C. Smith, Jesse Cheek, Charles Stewart, Judge Given, F. M. Mills, L. H. Bush, Charles Smith, Felix Clark, Lester Perkins, George W. Baldwin and James C. Jordan. The death of this veteran farmer, journalist and political philosopher removed from Iowa a unique personality, generally respected and loved-and keenly missed by his friends.
The evolution of Phinney's Third Regiment Band into the Iowa State Band occurred in May of this year. After four years' service at the Capital city, Professor Phinney had acquired a State reputation. The band was des- tined to win laurels in fields outside the State, notably at the Chicago Exposition in 1893.
A' decided sensation in May was the indictment of eleven aldermen and ex-aldermen of Des Moines on a charge of "wilful misconduct in office," and the issuance of warrants for the arrest of the parties. The general charge was that in 1889 those officials had each appropriated $900, extra pay. They were indicted on the testimony of S. W. Baker, Conrad Youngerman, E. J. Tone, J. M. Laird, Cyrus Kirk, William Matthews, N. P. Jones, Albert Jones, J. J. Wagner, R. B. Dennis, Taylor Brewer, I. A. Hammer, F. M. Hubbell, W. D. Christy and G. W. Shope. One of the accused was indicted on three charges, and several others on two.
Late in May, the popular hotel manager. Frank Riseley, sold his interest in the Savery Hotel to J. C. Savery and W. W. Witmer. By this sale Mr. Savery and J. W. and W. W. Witmer became equal owners of that valuable hotel property.
St. Joseph's Academy on Woodland avenue, was founded in 1885, and five years later, in June 28, 1890, was in a flourishing condition with one full- course graduate, and many in line for future honors.
The new and elegant residence of Lowry W. Goode, on Arlington avenue, was completed in the summer of 1890, and the home with its picturesque grounds, made a new record for spaciousness and elegance for the newly an- nexed suburb of North Des Moines.1
The best news in July was the location of the Rock Island shops at Valley Junction, a few miles west of the city, which meant the immediate expenditure of about $60,000 for buildings and the development of an extensive and pros- perous suburb of the city.
The appointment of Hon. Edwin H. Conger, to be minister to Brazil was received with much gratification by Des Moines friends and neighbors.
The building of Heath's oatmeal mill on Fifth street, had been regarded with much complacency by all Des Moines. With corresponding dismay was the news received one Sunday morning in October that on the night before the mill had been totally destroyed by fire.
1 Now the residence of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Rawson.
THE NEW SAVERY HOTEL
CHAMBERLAIN HOTEL
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The Des Moines Club established several years before, in the fall of 1890, regarding itself as strong enough to do something for itself and in- cidentally for Des Moines, decided to build a down-town club house. The project was duly financed and the result was the club house on Grand avenue between Fourth and Fifth street, long afterwards occupied by the Grant Club.
The General Missionary Society of the Christian Church, one of the strong- est religious bodies in the United States, assembled in the Central Church of Christ, October 21, and continued its sessions several days. It was preceded by the Christain Woman's Board of Missions of that church.
The gathering brought together earnest men and women from all lands, and their presence and utterances inspired the local body of Christians with new zeal for the missionary cause.
Alderman Drady whose trial on one of the three indictments against him occurred November 26, was acquitted by Judge Bishop on a motion to instruct the jury to acquit on the ground that it had not been shown that the defendent was directly connected with the bill presented for lumber assumed to have been purchased.
The eight aldermen Drady, Sheldon, Macy, Eagan, King, Weitz, Baker and Morris were next tried on the indictments relating to the appropriation of money for salary to which they were not entitled. Judge Bishop ruled in accordance with the motion to acquit. The motion admitted the material facts, but held that the acts complained of were legitimate.
On the trial of six of the eight aldermen for drawing compensation to which they were not legally entitled, Counsel McHenry insisted that the question in- volved had already been adjudicated. The Judge continued the case on the in- sistence of Mr. Kauffman, representing the State, in order that the Supreme court might first pass upon the other cases already appealed.
These decisions, doubtless conclusive as to the law in the case, revealed a condition of things, for which a few members of the Council were chiefly re- sponsible, which called loudly for a reform in methods of administration.
The purchase of the site of the Heath elevator, recently destroyed by fire, by the Des Moines Union Railway meant the construction of a Union Depot in '91-so said the purchasers. But there was a storm of objection, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that a charter was finally obtained.
The Iowa Woman's Suffrage Association organized in Des Moines in 1881, held an annual meeting in the Capital city early in December, made specially notable by the presence of that sturdy pioneer of the suffrage movement, Susan B. Anthony, whose powerful presentation of the cause compelled the respect even of those who refused to accept her conclusions.
On the 26th of December, the famous explorer, Henry M. Stanley, lectured to a large audience in Des Moines. The lecturer was accompanied by his beau- tiful and gifted wife, formerly Miss Tennant. General Weaver introduced the lecturer and the audience noted a resemblance one to the other-each with straight white hair and gray mustache, the explorer not quite as tall and stout. The lecturer used conversational tones and his modest story of achievement in the wilds of Africa was heard with intense interest.
The year 1890 in Des Moines was fully and carefully reviewed by G. F. Selleck, secretary of the Commercial Exchange. The report at the close of the year includes a large number of new industrial interests among which are the Kratzer Carriage Company, the Central Brick and Tile Company, the Des Moines Brick Manufacturing Company, the Des Moines Knitting Factory, the Des Moines Box Works, etc.
The Highland Park College presented a long list of buildings and improve- ments aggregating about a quarter-million dollars. Bird and Crocker School buildings together represented about $32,000. The East side high school rep- resented $40,000. The total of college and school improvements was put at $328,118.
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The principal "church, etc.," items are Central Church of Christ, $90,000; University Place Chapel, $40,000; St. John's Lutheran church and parsonage, $50,000 ; St. Ambrose church, $70,000; Church of the Visitation, $30,000; Y. M. C. A., $25,000.
The general and public improvements aggregated $1,168,613, including pav- ing, etc., $97,687 ; sewerage $43,158; bridges, repairs, etc., $25,224; water com- pany extensions, $90,000 ; water power company,-dam, building, etc., $110,000; electric railway extensions, etc., $248,535 ; cement walks, $135,000; railroads, --- new trackage, etc., $123,000; grading and sidewalks, $169,000.
Des Moines' factory products showed an aggregate of $13,152,156; an increase of over two million.
Des Moines' jobbing trade was placed at $28,848,741, an increase of nearly a million.
The real estate transfers aggregated $10,881,118.
The coal output was $1,064,085, an increase of nearly $64,000.
1891-THE YEAR THE NEW KIRKWOOD OPENED.
The purpose of the Equitable Life Insurance Company of New York, to erect a half-million dollar stone building on the corner of Sixth and Locust, was the most signal improvement promised Des Moines for the year 1891.
The serious illness of Wesley Redhead, coupled with desire to see his daughter married, advanced the date of the wedding of Mildred Redhead and Dr. Edward E. Dorr, from January 21 to January 7. The ceremony was pro- nounced at the bedside of the invalid father. Two days later the father died, leaving a wide gap in the ranks of the old settlers. "Seven Gables," the East side home of the Redhead family, was a famous social center, not alone for the pioneers, but also for the younger generation and for newcomers as well. Mr. Redhead's name is written into several chapters of Des Moines' history, for the man was generous and public-spirited. While eminently successful in his business undertakings, he died with the reputation of having lived not unto himself alone, but for the good that he could do. He was 66 years of age. As the pioneer coal-miner of Polk county, Mr. Redhead well earned the success he won, for along with financial gains he continually gained in the loving respect of his fellow men. Mr. Redhead's first wife was a sister of Governor Kirkwood, and during the Governor's prolonged stay in Des Moines, his home was with his sister. Mr. Redhead's second wife was Anne Seymour. The funeral brought together as bearers these long-time friends: Judges Wright, Phillips and Cas- ady, Isaac Brandt, R. T. Wellslager, Colonel Ford and M. M. Norton.
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