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 48
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What was at the time pronounced to be "the longest procession ever seen in Des Moines or the west" was the Sunday school parade of June 8. The purpose was to give to the world a show of the strength of the Sunday school as a factor in the city's problem of progress-and as such it was a pronounced success. It was reported that thirty thousand men, women and children witnessed the parade, and that several thousand children were in line when Chief Marshal J. W. Hill gave the marching command. There were eleven marching divisions, including nearly all the Sunday schools in the city.
After marching through the principal streets, the procession broke ranks at the courthouse, where a "rally" was held, conducted by Rev. Dr. Frisbie. Mr. E. B. Stevenson, prominent in Sunday school work, delivered an address, pre- ceded and followed by singing. An impressive feature of the exercises was the repetition of the Lord's Prayer by several thousand voices.
The event which brought so many children together was the annual conven-
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tion of the State Sunday School Association. The second day was made memor- able by two addresses by the great evangelist, Dwight L. Moody. Calvary Taber- nacle, on the East side, was packed with people eager to hear the man who had been instrumental in turning many thousands to repentance and right living. Presidents Rosenberger of Penn College, Oskaloosa, and Beardshear of the State College at Ames, and others, made stirring addresses. It was a notable event in the history of Des Moines as a religious center.
On the 18th and 19th of June the Young People's Christian Union was con- vened in Des Moines with many notable bishops, preachers, professors and lay Sunday-school workers.
The many friends of Hon. P. M. Casady could scarcely let go by the fiftieth anniversary of the Judge's arrival in Fort Des Moines. Learning of their pur- pose to pay their respects to him on that day, the Judge and Mrs. Casady and their son arranged a dinner for the occasion. It was a notable group made up in part of pioneers and in part of men who had "made good" in the places the pio- neers had filled in the social and commercial life of old Fort Des Moines.4 To recall the names of the older guests present on that occasion is almost equivalent to calling the roll of the illustrious citizens of Des Moines who have passed away during the last fifteen years. The only ones present who were living in Des Moines when young Phineas Casady arrived were E. R. Clapp and Dr. James Campbell, and both these, with their honored host, have since entered into their rest
Reminiscences were freely exchanged, vividly reproducing upon the minds of the younger generation the scenes and events and personages of that shadowy past in which many of those present were known to have performed important parts. Certain well-known names-of necessity and by right of service oft repeated in this history-all closely associated with that of the venerable host- were frequently mentioned in connection with characteristic incidents of that elder day when to be a leading citizen was honor enough for any one man-such names as Drs. Grimmel and Fagen, W. D. Frazee, "Tom" Mitchell, "Ben" Bryant, Dr. T. K. Brooks, Peter Myers, Judge McKay, Judge McFarland, R. L. Tidrick, Madison Young, Rev. J. A. Nash, and-of a later time --- General . Crocker.
These were the days of the bicycle. Men, women and children were mounted on wheels. Bicycle parties and bicycle races were of the commonest occurrence. It was generally remarked that the wheel had permanently revolutionized loco- motion. But, a few years later, as if by command from some central source of authority, the bicycle as a pleasure vehicle disappeared, and all that remained to remind one of the recent past was the wheel as a means of conveyance to and from the store, the office and the shop.
Perhaps the acme of interest in the bicycle was the third annual road race of the Des Moines Wheel Club in the early evening of June 15, 1896. It was esti- mated that fully ten thousand people saw seventeen-year-old Frank Hale, son of ex-Governor Hale of Wyoming, win the eighteenth mile race in 48 minutes, 15 seconds. The course was from the clubhouse on Tenth and Mulberry westward into the country and back to the starting point. The race created much enthu- siasm.
The announcement of the nomination of Mckinley reached Des Moines June
4 The published list of guests on this notable occasion were: Hoyt Sherman, J. S. Polk, F. M. Hubbell, Conrad Youngerman, L. Harbach, George Whitaker, George F. Henry, James G. Berryhill, A. Y. Hull, F. M. Mills, J. C. Savery, W. W. Moore, C. D. Reinking, J. J. Williams, E. R. Clapp, L. P. Sherman, Barlow Granger, Tacitus Hussey, John M. Day, Ira Cook, J. B. Stewart, E. A. Temple, S. A. Robertson, Will Porter, Jesse W. Cheek, Martin Flynn, W. K. Bird, G. M. Hippee, Howard Henry, J.' M. Griffiths, James Campbell, David Norris, Alfred Hammer, Joseph Rogg, Ed. C. Smith, W. W. Witmer, J. H. Windsor, William Foster, Joseph Eiboeck, Byron Rice, William Phillips, Martin Tuttle, N. S. McDonnell, Ed. Finkbine, B. F. Gue, Charles Aldrich, Isaac Brandt, R. P. Clarkson, Henry Wallace, Harry West, C. C. Cole, C. H. Gatch, William Galbraith.
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18, at 5:20. There was much interest in the result and general satisfaction. It had long been evident that "the people's choice" would win, and the mention of "gold" in the platform was satisfactory to most republicans and gratifying to the gold democrats. The result of the St. Louis convention, followed by the result of the Chicago convention, supporting free silver, led to a temporary realignment of parties locally, some free silver republicans going over to the support of Bryan and a number of influential democrats aligning themselves temporarily with the republicans, or giving their support to Palmer, the gold democrat.
At the national republican convention in St. Louis in June, J. S. Clarkson declined to remain on the national committee and A. B. Cummins was elected to succeed him. Mr. Cummins reluctantly consented, "not caring to go into poli- tics so deeply." By such seeming circumstances are the destinies of mortals shaped !
The nomination of Mckinley and Hobart was enthusiastically ratified by Des Moines republicans on the evening of June 23. Governor Drake, A. B. Cummins, G. L. Dobson and others were the principal speakers.
"The Chautauqua" organized in Colfax in 1889. It began its career in Des Moines in 1896, in Crocker woods, on the river bank at the north terminus of Ninth street, and was for several years a conspicuous success. With a few excep- tions its largest attendance each year was on Music Day, when the musical strength of Des Moines was out in full force led by Professor Sinclair and later by Dr. Bartlett. In the course of these successful years, new and commodious buildings were erected in the grove at the northern terminus of Twelfth street. Among the more distinguished lecturers of the period were General Gordon, Bishop Fowler, Dr. Gunsaulus. Senator La Follette, Jonathan P. Dolliver and Champ Clark in joint debate, Mrs. Ballington Booth and Booker T. Washington. In time, popular interest waned, with a consequent deterioration in programs, and finally the grounds were sold and, after several experimental years, the enterprise was abandoned.
The program of this first Des Moines Chautauqua was strengthened by such well known lecturers as Gen. John B. Gordon, Dr. (now bishop) T. B. Vincent, Professors Graham Taylor and H. L. Willett of Chicago, Dr. Frank W. Gun- saulus, and Jonathan P. Dolliver. The Iowa orator gave a grand address on "The Basis for a National Character." The first Chautauqua made about $1,400 above expenses.
The nomination of William Jennings Bryan for the presidency, on the demo- cratic ticket, was hailed with joy by the free-silver men and by all that remained of the populist and greenback parties of other days. The enthusiasm of these new allies with not a few free-silver republicans, filled the single-standard men with consternation; but it was not long before the followers of the gold standard were marching through the streets, hopeful but far from confident. On both sides the interest was greater than it had been since 1864.
The "gold democrats" who had not surrendered to the party majority and had not gone over to McKinley, organized in Iowa, as in other states, and called a convention which was held in Des Moines, August 4,-a notable gathering of men who felt they could not conscientiously follow Bryan on the currency ques- tion. These gave their allegiance to Palmer.
On July 31 the trustees of the city library voted to build one of the finest libraries in the country. They then had $19,000 on hand, and anticipated a like amount from the fall taxes. The library officers at the time were Colonel Gatch, president ; Mrs. S. Green, vice president; D. F. Witter, treasurer, and Ella Mc- Loney, librarian.
Des Moines' Semi-Centennial.
A notable event in the history of Des Moines is the celebration of the Semi- Centennial of the organization of Polk county and Fort Des Moines, on July 8, 1896. The date was chosen more for convenience than because of historical
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significance, for Polk county was legally created on the 17th of January, 1846, and Fort Des Moines was incorporated September 22, 1846.
The pioneers of the Capital city and their sons, and not a few newcomers, comparatively speaking, entered into the spirit of the occasion with keenest interest. On the general committees were Hoyt Sherman, P. M. Casady, Col. G. L. Godfrey, Isaac Brandt, "Commodore" Tacitus Hussey, Barlow Granger, and other pioneers of the Forties and Fifties.
The celebration was ushered in with a "Land Parade" led by Marshal E. G. Pratt, in which State, county and city officials participated. This was followed by a "Water Parade," marshaled by Commodore Hussey,-in commemoration of the old-time importance of river navigation in the affairs of the city.
It was especially fitting that Maj. Hoyt Sherman, a pioneer of 1848, should preside over the ceremonies in Union Park. The Major said :
"We are standing here upon historic ground. One of the earliest pioneers of Iowa, selected this lovely spot for an ideal home. Within a stone's throw of this stand the first white child was born in Polk county. Its occupant pre- empted this spot. Its title came to the Park Commission through but one inter- vening transfer. When this charming homestead was laid out, there was nothing in all this region but the old Fort Des Moines, within which a troop of govern- ment soldiers were maneuvering for the protection of the whites against the Indians. The wildest fancy could scarcely look across the intervening half- century and forecast, or foresee, such a busy, bustling, happy and healthy city as that in which we live to-day."
Then, on behalf of the Park Commission, he presented Union Park to the City of Des Moines.
The afternoon program was replete with historic interest. John A. McCall delivered an address on "Polk County as it was in 1846, according to History and Tradition." Frank A. Sherman, son of Major Sherman, spoke on "Boyhood Recollections of City and County." Simon Casady, son of Judge Casady, pioneer of 1846, spoke on "The City of Des Moines To-day Socially, Politically and Commercially." Judge Marcus Kavanagh, of Chicago, a native son of Des Moines, spoke on "The Centennial of City and County-What we and our descendants hope to be," a brilliant prophecy which time is in large measure fulfilling. Reminiscences followed, from the lips of pioneers nearly all of whom, like the honored chairman, have since gone on into the Beyond. The music interspersed between the addresses was furnished by Mrs. Cheek, of war memory, and a corps of the city's representative singers.
The Register and the Leader gave extended reports of the celebration, from the fifty guns at daybreak on the river front, to the last item on the evening parade. They noted, among other features, a pow-wow by the Musquakie Indians who had come over from the Tama reservation to participate in the commemora- tion of the good old days when the Sacs and Foxes, their ancestors, hunted and fished in this bottom.
A feature of the parade contributed by L. J. Wells, a pioneer of Des Moines, was an old gray horse in an old-time harness, hitched to an ancient cart, in which Mr. Wells and several members of his family were seated, attired in the cos- tumes of the early Fifties. The vehicle reminded old-timers of the cart in which Mr. Wells hauled brick for the building of the first Kirkwood hotel. An- other feature noted was an old stage-coach, reminder of the days when the only means of transportation across country was the lumbering coach, and when alternating flood and drouth made the stage route along the bottom lands of the Des Moines, or on the ridge road, slow and halting as it was, the old reliable route to and from "the Forks." The stage on exhibition was driven by Fred Cromer, a veteran stage-driver ; and on top sat a dozen other old stage-drivers, also the little son of Chief Mus-sat-tau-wee-qua, of the Tama Indians. Inside the coach sat James Stephenson of Omaha, B. F. Clayton, of Indianola, E. L. Burnham, E. R. Clapp, Samuel Noell, James Campbell and J. W. Cheek, of Des
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Moines,-pioneers all. Behind the coach rode Isaac Warfield, of Des Moines, his horse bearing the legend "U. S. Mail, 1846," reminder of the days when, on horseback, he carried the mail to and from Fort Des Moines. Following came sixteen representatives of the Sac and Fox Indians, the "first families of this region." These were led by their chief Mat-a-wee-que, escorted by Isaac Brandt, a pioneer of 1856.
The naval parade, led by Commodore Hussey, in the flag canoe, "Dabchick," followed by canoes and row-boats, and these followed by the big steamer, W. H. Lehmann, with four hundred people on board, the excursion steamer, J. S. Clarkson, the barges Irene and Zatella, Captain Kirk's boat and barge, the Viking and barge, and Frank Clarkson's launch, Della Fox. The procession of river- craft was a vivid reminder of the time when the port of Des Moines loomed large in the vision of the pioneer.
The printed report of the after exercises, includes a translation of an in- formal address delivered by Chief Pus-sa-ton-eka, preceding the lively war dance of his braves. He is reported as saying :
"White Friends: We come to see our white friends to-day to give you a war dance, but we come in peace. The Musquakies smoked the pipe of peace with the white face many years ago. Our tribe was always friendly to the white face. The other tribes hated us for it, and killed many of our tribe be- cause we were friendly to you. We were glad that the white face came and helped us fight the other tribes, for they would have killed all of our tribe if you had not helped us. Our tribe tries to be Christians, and God above knows what I say to you to-day is true about the Musquakie Indians. We want to be good Indians, and we are glad we were invited to come and see you to-day. One of our old chiefs, Matameequa, is with us to-day. He was here many years ago, and knows many white faces. He was glad to come. He is eighty-four years old and cannot dance, but says he likes the white face because they were good to his people when he was young.
"We will dance our war dance for you to please you, but it will not be danced as we danced when we went into battle with the other tribes that hated us. We were mad then. We are pleased now. We want to please you, and we come to see you because we know you are our white-faced friends."
One of the minor features was the distribution of the mail by Judge Casady, who was appointed postmaster by President Polk in 1847. The Judge distributed letters to the following pioneers: Hoyt Sherman, Thomas J. Saylor, Colonel Griffith, George C. Tidrick, Mrs. McQuiston, E. R. Clapp, Barlow Granger, C. D. Reinking, A. D. Jones, Isaac Cooper, Mrs. B. Saylor, Dr. James Campbell and Byron Rice. On many of the letters back postage was due-in some in- stances making an extra charge of 25 cents. The letters were brought by Isaac Warfield, a letter carrier of '46, in a pair of saddle-bags, kept all these years.
Mrs. Ankeny, the oldest lady in Polk county, 96 years old, who was intro- duced by Major Sherman, rose and pleasantly took exception to being called an old lady !
Mr. Bryan was becoming quite intimate with Des Moines! He decided to stop off at the Capital on the evening of the 7th of August, on his way to New York to receive his official notification. A reception was tendered him, as the rounding out of a ratification meeting by silver republicans, democrats and popu- lists. The enthusiasm with which the orator's brief speech was received was unbounded. Mr. Bryan was presented by Governor Boies as "the next president of this grand republic."
Congressman Cousins made his debut as a political speaker in Des Moines, September 3. A big campaign tent holding 5,000 people was packed to hear the young orator. For more than two hours Mr. Cousins held his audience by his original and forceful utterances. And yet he lacked the ease and conscious reserve power which marked his later convention addresses.
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James Callanan and A. Slimmer of Waverly united, in September, in offer- ing the Des Moines Home for the Aged $100,000, conditioned upon the manage- ment raising $50,000 additional inside of six months. By the 23d of September more than half the additional sum was raised, but the rest was not in sight.
The Business Men's Sound Money Association, a non-partisan organization, was formed in Des Moines in September, its purpose being to antagonize what was regarded as "an industrial Niagara." Under its auspices was held the Bourke Cockran meeting mentioned farther on.
John M. Thurston held a mass meeting in the big tent on the evening of September 30. This tent would hold 5,000; but an imaginative reporter placed the audience at from ten to fifteen thousand !
Fred W. Lehman, a life-long democrat, spoke against "Bryanism" in the Tabernacle, October 3, the meeting presided over by W. W. Witmer, and called by about two hundred gold democrats.
Among the great political speeches which have been delivered in Des Moines, must be named the speech of October 8, 1896, by the famous convention orator, Bourke Cockran, of New York. The independence of Cockran in break- ing with the party in which, by sheer mental strength and powerful oratory, he had been accorded a commanding position, gave to his anticipated utterances a significance which drew a vast audience, composed of men of all parties and no party and many keenly interested women. From first to last Mr. Cockran spoke as a democrat and not as a recruit to republicanism. His return to his party after the defeat of its Free Silver candidate is still fresh in the memory.
The silver anniversary of Rev. Dr. Frisbie and Plymouth congregation was an October event. The congregation, assisted by the pastors of other churches and the members of other congregations, assembled one Friday evening in the beautifully decorated parlors of the old Congregational church to pay their respects to the venerable pastor and his wife, who for a quarter-century had been a source of social cheer and religious strength to thousands in the community. Col. G. L. Godfrey was master of ceremonies. A prayer by Rev. J. M. Chamber- lain, pastor of the church from '59 to '65, stirred memories of pioneer days. George H. Lewis delivered an address from the layman's standpoint. Rev. B. St. John followed, reviewing the growth of Congregationalism in Des Moines. On behalf of the ladies of the church Mrs. H. C. Windsor spoke feelingly of their beloved pastor's faithful service. Mr. Clyde Lynde spoke for the younger members of the congregation. Rev. T. O. Douglass supplied the humor for the occasion. President Gates, of Iowa College, Grinnell, wrote a letter telling the story of Dr. Frisbie's devotion to the college and the services he had rendered that institution. Dr. Breeden paid eloquent tribute to his associate of the Ministerial Association. Judge Phillips followed, speaking affectionately of the Doctor as a friend and neighbor. Mr. J. E. Clarey, on behalf of the congrega- tion, presented Dr. Frisbie with an easy chair and a gold-headed cane. Mrs. J. C. Cummins, on behalf of the ladies, presented Mrs. Frisbie with a complete set of silver tableware. So much of real feeling was expressed in these presenta- tion speeches and in Dr. and Mrs. Frisbie's impromptu responses as to leave no question concerning the ideal relation existing between the two and the members of their religious family.
A notable evening was passed, October 30, at Foster's Opera House, with the then phenomenally popular preacher-novelist, John Watson, the "Ian Mac- laren" of literature whose "Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush" had made him famous. Though the lecturer's date was near the close of an exciting election, Foster's Opera House was filled. The recollection of that evening is one of rare enjoyment in the presence of a large-hearted, generously built Scotchman whose genial smile was a benediction and whose rich Scotch burr gave rare pleasure to lovers of Gaellic-English. Just what Mr. Watson's mission was, beyond the dissemination of good cheer, it would be difficult for most of his audience to recall, after these fifteen years, but all who heard him will be willing
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to admit that they were captured by the stranger, and that "it was a famous victory."
The long and strenuous campaign of 1896 was unique. Men who hadn't sat together in public meetings since the old River Improvement and Railroad Promotion days now sat upon the same platform in the Mckinley and Hobart club and men who had never before marched in political processions marched side by side through the streets of the city, shouting vigorously for "Mckinley and Prosperity." On the other side, there was also a strong realignment. Men who in other years had followed the lead of the eloquent and masterful Weaver when the greenback party was full of potentialities, and, later, had shouted for the General as the populist candidate for the presidency, were now found enthu- siastically serving in the ranks of the democracy under the brilliant leadership of the preeminent champion of the double standard, William Jennings Bryan. To a degree without a parallel since the War of the Rebellion, men made the presidential issue personal, and when the end came there was on the one side a depression amounting almost to despondency, and on the other a degree of elation such as men individually feel when they experience relief from a severe and prolonged nerve-strain.
The big tent was packed with a noisily jubilant crowd of republicans and gold democrats on the Friday evening after election, to rejoice together over the election of Mckinley and Hobart. C. A. Dudley presided. Horns, bells and whistles, the Drum Corps, and a "tramp quartet"5 made music for the crowd. The musical hit of the evening was a song by the quartet-words by Tacitus Hussey-entitled "I want to be a Gold Bug," beginning with-
I want to be a gold bug, And with Mckinley stand ; Or climb up on the band-wagon And travel with the band. I want to join the singing Which tells of victory, And shout the loud hosanna Swelled by the G. O. P.
The gold democrats who made speeches were N. T. Guernsey and Samuel Strauss. The republican speakers were G. L. Dobson, Secretary of State (elect), Captain Hull, Judge Granger, James G. Berryhill, Major Conger, and Mayor Hughes of Keokuk.
The city's fire loss in 1896 was only $121,059, most of the property covered by insurance.
The implement house of Randall, Selby & Bell, successors to Randall & Dickey, made an assignment December 19, with liabilities amounting to about $125,000. The failure was attributed to "hard times, low prices of grain and bad collections."
Secretary Brown of the Commercial Exchange in his review of the year 1896 reported that the aggregate real estate transfers of the year was over six million dollars,-a slight falling off from the two preceding years. The public improve- ments included total paving, 47.40 miles ; sewers, 62.70 miles. The total of pri- vate improvements was estimated at $500,000. There had been an addition of 45 acres to Union Park. The total park acreage of Greenwood, Grand View, Waveland and Union Parks was 432. The school board was then disbursing nearly $300,000 a year -- and "with no suspicion of peculation or misappropria- tion." The school buildings numbered 50; the total enrollment 14,857; the average daily attendance, 9,750; the number of teachers, 301; the expenses of the last fiscal year, $28,870. Thirty new corporations had been organized during the year.
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