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 77
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
In 1889 Robert Fullerton succeeded to the presidency, with W. A. Park vice-president and E. R. Hutchins secretary.
In 1890 James H. Dietrick became president, H. M. Pickell vice-president and E. R. Hutchins secretary.
In 1891 Colonel Gatch filled the presidential chair, with Dr. Lewis Schooler vice-president and C. F. Saylor secretary.
In 1892 began the long and successful career of Col. E. G. Pratt as president
1 513-15, Walnut street.
2 The original intent was to name the organization the Lincoln club, but an East Side club-long since disbanded-had preempted the name; hence the choice made-a fortunate choice in view of the large number of Lincoln clubs in the country, and the growing fame of the Great Commander. See Des Moines News, April 26, 1903.
3 Dr. E. R. Hutchins, in a sketch of the club printed in 1899.
563
564
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
of the Grant club. . John A. McCall was at the same time chosen vice-president and C. L. Dahlberg secretary. During Colonel Pratt's administration the fol- lowing members served as vice-presidents: G. A. McCall, W. H. Baily, C. A. Dudley, T. A. Cheshire and Charles E. Gilcrest. Mr. Gilcrest is still vice-presi- dent, having persistently refused the presidency on the retirement of President Pratt. In 1892 J. D. Whisenand was elected treasurer. He continued to serve in that capacity until 1898, when, declining a re-election, George E. Pearsall was chosen to succeed him. Mr. Pearsall still holds the office.
During its early years the club held evening meetings, depending for oratory and discussion upon its own members, with an occasional address from a visiting statesman.
The members who have served in the laborious position of secretary without compensation, since the retirement of Dr. Hutchins, are: C. F. Saylor, C. L. Dahlberg, Spenser S. Cole, William H. Brecht, Jr., G. E. Mckinnon, Ernest S. Olmsted and Ira B. Thomas.
During its twenty-seven years' existence the club directory has been remark- ably free from changes. One by one "the old stand-bys" on the board have given way to a younger generation of members. The new constitution, adopted several years ago, excludes from holding office all members of city, county or state offices, the purpose being to prevent any possible use of the club as political leverage. The directory in 1911 consisted of the following ex-officio members : George E. Henry, president; W. D. Skinner, vice-president; Ira B. Thomas, secretary ; George E. Pearsall, treasurer ; additional members, Henry S. Nollen, Charles A. Rawson, John P. Wallace, Walter St. John, Harley H. Stipp.
The membership of the club continued to increase until, in 1895, the ques- tion of a clubhouse took form. The closing of the doors of the old Des Moines club was the Grant club's opportunity. Mr. F. M. Hubbell, owner of the club building on Grand avenue, between Fourth and Fifth, offered an advantageous lease and on October 3, 1895, the club voted to accept the terms.
With the change from a third-story hall to a commodious clubhouse began -in 1896-a new era of prosperity for the Grant club. The membership rapidly increased, and the clubhouse soon became a popular social as well as political center. A café was opened in the building and ladies and out-of-town visitors were admitted to its privileges, when accompanied by members. Receptions, dancing parties and various public functions were one by one taken on. A billiard room was opened and a bowling alley was added afterward, greatly en- hancing the popularity of the club.
It should be noted in this connection that the twin evils of club life in cities. namely, gambling and intoxicating liquors, never had a place in the activities of the Grant club.
In 1895 the management filed new articles of incorporation in which, to the objects of the club as named in the old constitution, was added the "promotion of the principles of the republican party."
In a few years the once capacious clubhouse, even after its dining-room had been enlarged, was deemed inadequate to accommodate its growing membership, and a carefully planned campaign was inaugurated for new and larger and more inviting quarters. The result was the acceptance of an offer made by Mr. Rich- ard Rollins to erect a building on High street, between Sixth and Seventh. The architect's plans were, after some modification, accepted, the building was erected in the fall of 1908 and completed during the winter of 1909, and on the first day of the following March the club moved in. On the 17th the new clubhouse was formally opened. The capacious building, beautifully decorated and elegantly furnished, its walls hung with wreaths, flowers and portraits of distinguished American generals and statesmen, and prominent members of the club, was ablaze with light, and its reception rooms were thronged with the leading ladies and gentlemen of the city and visiting statesmen and their wives. The large café was a brilliant scene, having been given over to dancing. The officers of
1
565
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
the club and their ladies, headed by President and Mrs. Henry, received the guests, some five hundred in number. A congratulatory letter from Gen. Fred- erick D. Grant was read by the president.
The resignation of Colonel Pratt, already referred to, was necessitated by the colonel's forthcoming removal from the city. It was an event deeply deplored by every member of the club. In April, 1903, a reception was given the retir- ing president and his wife, at which Mr. McCall, on behalf of the club, pre- sented Colonel and Mrs. Pratt with an elegant chest of silver.
Mr. C. E. Gilcrest reluctantly assumed the presidency for the remainder of Colonel Pratt's term, and on November 19, 1903, began the long and popular presidency of Hon. George F. Henry, continuing until the present time, and likely to continue as long as Mr. Henry is willing to serve the club.
The death of Major Hoyt Sherman January 25, 1904, was a severe blow to the club, which the major had helped originate and develop, and in which his wise counsel was frequently sought and generously given.
The most notable feature of the club's history has barely been mentioned as yet. From first to last, the meetings have been marked by a series of papers, addresses, speeches and discussions which of themselves have been a pleasure to all, and a liberal education to the young men who constitute a large majority of the club's membership. There is scarcely a phase of the political life of our time which has not been presented at the Grant club meetings, from first to last. Many of the foremost American statesmen, from Alexander Hamilton down to William McKinley, have been made the subject of exhaustive analytical and philosophical treatment. The defects in former methods of administering the affairs of the city of Des Moines, and of American cities generally, had been pointed out long before the campaign for municipal reform which resulted in the now famous Des Moines plan of city government. To illustrate the wide range of topics considered in regular meetings of the club, let us group a number of titles to papers and addresses read by members during the more recent years, in which the regular meetings have taken on the form of dinners-with after- dinner addresses and speeches.
The local situation has from time to time been variously considered under such titles as "Municipal Reform," "Should a City Government be Conducted Strictly as a Business Corporation?" "How Can Municipal Reform be Prac- tically Effected ?" "Civic Pride," "A More Beautiful City."
Politics, free from partisanship, has been treated in a broad way in the con- sideration of such themes as these: "What Ought the American People Do to Enlarge their Commercial Relations with the South American States?" "The Venezuelan Question," "Our Political Leadership in the Western Hemisphere," "Our Duty to Cuba," "Our Monetary System," "Constitutional Law," "Im- perialism," "The Isthmian Canal," "The Effect of the Joseph Chamberlain Tar- iff on the United States," "Lawmaking and the People"-with special reference to Roosevelt, "Restoration of Credit," "James G. Blaine and the Policy of Ex- pansion," the "Origin of the Republican Party," "Corporate Regulation," "The Constitution in its Relation to Present Conditions."
Among the state questions considered are the following: "What Should be Iowa's Attitude on Finance?" "The Mulct Law," "Prohibition and Local Op- tion," "The State Deficit," "The Political History of Iowa."
Educational, literary and historical themes have also been presented, among which is a paper by President Main of Grinnell college, on "College Ideals and Business Life," another by President Storms of the state college at Ames, on "An Englishman's Estimate of Hamilton," and still another by President Nollen of Lake Forest university, on "William II and the Germany of Today;" "Eng- land at the Time of the American Revolution," by E. E. Clark, of Des Moines, and "American Interests in the Far East," by Prof. W. C. Wilcox, of the state university.
There remain as yet unmentioned the red-letter days of the club, most of
566
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
them associated with the annual celebration of the birthday of General Grant. Many of the great orators and statesmen of America have graced these occa- sions. All that oratory can do to fire the soul with love of country, and loving regard for the greatest general in history, has been done on these occasions.
As far back as April 27, 1889, Russell A. Alger and John M. Thurston were the orators of the day.
On October 5, 1894, Hon. William McKinley came to the club from a polit- ical meeting in the old auditorium and addressed the members in eloquent tribute to Grant and his citizen soldiery. It so happened that the Army of the Tennes- see had on the previous day concluded its annual meeting at Council Bluffs, and on their way eastward Gen. G. M. Dodge, Col. Fred D. Grant, Gen. O. O. How- ard, General Swayne, General Sherman's two sons, and Hugh, son of General Belknap, became the guests of the club. The presence of these distinguished men, with that of the prospective president of the United States; the rare ora- tory of Mckinley, supplemented by the exceedingly interesting remarks of the distinguished survivors of a great army, and the honored sons of the two great- est soldiers of the Union army, well supplemented by the eloquence of Iowa's favorite sons, Congressmen Henderson, Hull and Dolliver, Editor Young of the Capital, Governor Jackson, Charles E. Blythe of the Republican State Cen- tral committee, altogether make the fifth day of October, 1894, the day of days in Grant club history.
On Grant's birthday, 1905, Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, of Illinois, was the guest of honor, giving the club his views at length on the tariff, and, incidentally, giving frequent exhibitions of his famous windmill gesture!
For the three following years the oratory at the annual banquet was liber- ally supplied by local speakers.
The anniversary in 1899 is likely to remain in the traditions of the club as the preeminent red-letter day-in so far as a single oration could make it so-the event being the famous eulogy of General Grant, delivered by Hon. Henry D. Estabrook, of Omaha, now of Chicago.
The annual banquet of 1900 brought to the club the rare eloquence of Hon. Luther Laflin Mills, followed by a historical address on "The Mississippi Val- ley, the Cradle of the American Race," by Hon. Frank O. Lowden, both speak- ers from Chicago.
Iowa's brilliant orator, the' late Jonathan P. Dolliver, was the principal speaker at a ratification meeting held June 28, of the same year. At another political meeting held September 26, the record of attendance was broken. The orator of the occasion was Hon. Dudley Foulke, of Indiana.
Lincoln's birthday was celebrated in 1901, with a memorable address by Hon. John L. Griffiths, of Indianapolis. Grant's birthday that year was cele- brated with a brilliant oration by Hon. Albert J. Beveridge, of Indiana, on "The American Situation." The young senator was given an enthusiastic ovation.
On May 23, 1901, the club gave Hon. Edwin H. Conger, late minister to China, a hearty welcome home, after having escaped the perils of the Boxer siege of the legations. His modest recital of the part he had taken in the lead- ership of the defense thrilled every hearer.
September 19 of that year the club participated in memorial exercises in honor of the late William McKinley.
The sixteenth annual banquet in 1902 was celebrated by an all too brief eulogy of Grant, from Hon. Robert G. Cousins, who was made world-famous ' by his speech in congress following the sinking of the Maine. He was fol- lowed by Hon. Hugh Gordon Miller, of Virginia, the son of a confederate officer, on "The Old and the New Flag," his florid oratory in striking contrast with the evident reserves of strength in the eloquent Iowan.
A series of notable papers followed, on famous American statesmen, in which Judges Deemer and McClain, of the supreme court, and other prominent Iowans did themselves and the club rare credit.
567
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
The year 1907 included notable evenings, among them one on which Hon. Charles Adams Young of Kansas City aroused the members to their duty as citizens of Des Moines; and another, addressed by Lieut .- Governor George W. Clarke, on "Public Office a Public Trust."
In the fall of 1904 the club gave a brilliant reception in the old clubhouse to Colonel Thomas and his brother officers of the Eleventh U. S. Cavalry, Fort Des Moines, and early in 1910 a reception in the new clubhouse was given Colonel Rogers and his associate officers of the Sixth Cavalry. Each of these functions was hospitably returned by the officers of the little city of soldiers on the heights to the south of Des Moines.
At various times through the years, the Grant club has given notable recep- tions, respectively, to Senator Allison, Governor Jackson, Governor Drake, Sec- retary Wilson, President MacLean of the Iowa State university, Oscar Diegnan, Iowa's hero of the Merrimac crew at Santiago; Secretary Shaw, Congressman Hull and Senator Cummins. At the Cummins reception, September 14, '09, the question of a larger navy was referred to the club. On January 26, '10, the club considered the question, and notwithstanding the eloquent plea of Judge Carr for more ships, the members present voted in the negative on the proposi- tion.
Through the kindness of relatives and friends, the club has accumulated a good-sized collection of letters, pictures and other mementoes of General Grant. The walls of the new clubrooms are adorned with fine steel engravings of American statesmen and portraits of prominent members, including an oil por- trait of Colonel Pratt and a large photograph of Major Hoyt Sherman.
It only remains to be told that the club, begotten of a single idea in the minds of a few prominent republicans and public-spirited citizens, away back in 1885, has grown with the growth of the city until its list of membership in 1911 in- cluded five hundred resident and two hundred and fifty non-resident members, every one highly prizing the advantages of membership; its café and spacious reception rooms perhaps the most frequented meeting-place of the prominent business and professional men of Des Moines and their out-of-town friends.
The Prairie Club.
In the spring of 1890 a number of representative citizens of Des Moines met in the law office of Cummins & Wright to organize a club to their liking,-a happy combination of the literary and the social-more literary than social, and with a wholesome mixture of the sociological. The first roll-call found the following-named gentlemen present: Rev. Dr. H. O. Breeden, now of Denver; Fred W. Lehman, now solicitor general of the United States; A. B. Cummins, now senior senator from Iowa; Rev. J. F. Nugent, still pastor of the Church of the Visitation, Des Moines, and since '97, become a lecturer of national reputa- tion ; Judge Charles A. Bishop, since deceased ; Judge William A. Spurrier, Adel- bert Jones, L. B. Abdill, since deceased; Carroll Wright, recently deceased ; Rabbi I. Mueller ; Rev. Dr. A. L. Frisbie ; B. O. Aylesworth, of Drake university; Samuel Watson; A. H. Ames, Woods Hutchinson, since become famous as an author ; Thomas C. Dawson, famous in diplomatic circles; William Beardshear, late president of the State college at Ames; Henry Stivers, of the Des Moines Leader ; J. C. Cummins, secretary of the Equitable Life of Iowa; W. W. Fink, who has since won a name as a poet; and Rev. George C. Henry, now of Belle- fonte, Pa. Of these, there now remains not one whose membership has been continuous for the quarter-century of the club's existence.
From time to time, burning questions have threatened the club's life; but the organization safely passed the heated terms. There were times when ex- tremely technical papers threatened the death of the club through general lack of interest ; but the vigorous after-discussion supplied the interest lacking in the papers. Then, too, there came a period of unpreparedness when some of the
568
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
club's best members refused to give their evenings to hearing papers hastily thrown together, evincing little or no thought. But the club withstood this test also, substituting new members for the indifferent ones. For a time the club met at the homes of members and many pleasant memories are associated with these meetings. But the "clubbable" men of its membership, in one respect at least, like Johnson, Goldsmith, Reynolds and the rest, had a natural fondness for the democratic associations of the tavern; and so, in time, the club drifted back to the Savery hotel, where the meetings have ever since been held.
For years the meetings were held in the evening and without other than intellectual refreshment ; but one evening in 1897, some one proposed the meet- ings be held at 6:30, accompanied by a substantial dinner. It was a happy thought. Instead of going home from the day's work, the members come directly to the dinner, and are given ample time for rest and refreshment and more time than before for the paper and the discussion.
The membership of the club is limited to thirty, and instead of soliciting members, names are first offered, then considered in secret committee and then voted on. It often happens that a name remains for months, or even years, on the waiting list.
The Prairie club is now one of the oldest clubs in the city, and for a quarter of a century it has not materially modified its general purpose. In the selection of members, its aim is to choose men of representative character in the learned professions and in business, men whose mental activities are not confined to the narrow range of any individual occupation.
In its time the club has entertained many guests. On January 6, '91, Henry Watterson was the honored guest. Later in the Nineties the famous East Indian lecturers, Vivekananda, Negarkar and Dharmapala were separately entertained. George W. Cable was a charming guest January 24, '98, followed by a literary evening of rare excellence. Of the Howells evening in '99, mention has else- where been made.
Edward Austin Clapp, the Shakespearean scholar, Dr. Wines, the famous statistician, and many others, have come within the range of the club's genial hospitality. A recent world-famous visitor was Sir Horace Plunkett, of Ireland, who at the time was the guest of his friend, Henry Wallace.
The club has a custom of holding an open meeting at least once a year, to which the members' wives and friends are invited. There have been a few dull moments at some of these meetings, but in the main they have abounded in bright sayings and happy repartee.
The first president of the Prairie club was F. W. Lehman-1890-'91. The succession is as follows: H. O. Breeden, whose term closed in 1891; A. B. Cummins, Woods Hutchinson, Carroll Wright, J. C. Cummins, E. E. Clark, Johnson Brigham, L. G. Kinne, George H. Carr, W. W. Witmer, George F. Henry, H. S. Nollen, James C. Hume, J. E. Cathell, F. I. Herriott, Henry Wal- lace, C. A. Dudley, J. B. Weaver, Jr., G. S. Robinson, H. H. Stipp, Harvey Ingham, and W. E. Comfort.
In addition to those already named, the following complete the present mem- bership: H. E. Deemer, A. R. Amos, Emlin McClain, Gardner Cowles, Jesse A. Miller, W. O. Riddell, James C. Davis, Jansen Haines, W. D. Evans, James G. Berryhill, Lewis Worthington Smith, James R. Hanna, Henry C. Wallace, J. F. Jamieson, Warren Garst, J. P. Burling, Robert Fullerton and Everett Dean Martin.
"The Octogenarians."
The Iowa Octogenarian association was organized in Des Moines and by Des Moines men. All its meetings are held in Des Moines. Its first meeting was at the Savery hotel, October 26, 1891. Those present were: P. M. Casady, Barlow Granger, M. N. Miles, Joseph Rogg, C. Brazelton, R. A. Powell, H. P. Johnston, R. G. English, R. V. Marshall, Samuel Noel, H. N. Woods, C. B. Reinking, L. G. Coughlin, Elijah Mahin, D. Gerberich and D. M. Fox. Of
PAVILION Waveland Golf Links
ELKS' CLUB
OLD GRANT CLUB
GOLF LINKS
569
CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY
these well known pioneers only a few are now living. One by one the members have passed on, and newly eligible members have taken their places. On the 26th day of October, 1911, the society held its annual banquet with J. M. Orvis in the chair, with about forty in attendance. Samuel Green is now president and John L. Crawford has long been the indefatigable secretary of the association.
The Des Moines Pioneer Club.
Ever since January I, 1894, the Des Moines Pioneer club has held annual meetings. That was a notable gathering at the Kirkwood in '94. The hosts on that occasion were Judges Casady and Wright. Of the number present three had served in the house and four in the senate of Iowa. All except three had been admitted to the bar and most of them confessed to having resorted more or less to other expedients for raising revenue for the support of their families! Following is a list of those present, with the year on which each one came to Iowa: George G. Wright, 1843; Thomas Mitchell, 1840; E. H. Conger, 1865; Barlow Granger, 1848; Ed. Wright, 1852; G. M. Hippee, 1854; J. B. Stewart, 1835; E. R. Clapp, 1840; Ira Cook, 1837; J. C. Savery, 1853; P. M. Casady, 1846; Hoyt Sherman, 1848; A. Y. Hull, 1849; C. H. Gatch, 1865.
A year later, the pioneers were the guests of J. C. Savery at the Savery hotel. The dinner was an elaborate affair. The center-piece was a pastry log- cabin. The host sat at one end of the long table, and Judge Wright at the other, and between the two there was an abundant flow of soul. Among the new names in the list of guests were: C. P. Holmes, W. E. Brown, Joseph Kuhn, L. Harbach, Martin Tuttle, S. O. Robertson, Conrad Youngerman, W. C. Smith, J. A. T. Hull, N. M. Hubbard, W. W. Phillips, R. S. Finkbine, James Callanan, J. J. Towne, W. O. Curtiss, J. M. Griffiths, F. C. McCartney and L. H. Bush. The after-dinner speeches were informal, interspersed with many a touch of humor. At the close of the feast, it was proposed that the annual dinner which a few had for several years been in the habit of holding on New Year's day, be developed into an "organized appetite," and so the Des Moines Pioneer club was formed. J. C. Savery was chosen president, and L. H. Bush, secretary and treasurer. The modest purpose of the organization is to hold an annual dinner and to have a good reminiscent time, and the club has been eminently successful in these respects. All present were constituted charter members. Eligiblity to membership was made to depend upon residence in Des Moines since October 19, 1857, residence in the State for forty-five years, and continuously for twenty-five years. The third annual dinner of the club was saddened by the then recent death of Judge Wright, the life and soul of every festive occasion. Major Sherman read an appreciative memorial on the death of his friend. Mr. Savery read a paper on Col. Edward F. Hooker, of the old stage-coach, days, who also had passed away since the last meeting. Among the new names in the list of Mr. Savery's guests were C. C. Nourse, Thomas Hatton and Charles Sherman. The club has held annual dinners ever since. These reunions have been saddened by many deaths, and cheered by many newly eligible members, not a few of them native sons of Iowa pioneers. The Iowa Press and Authors' Club.
The Iowa Press and Authors' club was organized originally as a press club, in 1896, by women of Des Moines who were either regularly engaged in jour- nalism or occasional contributors to the press. Mrs. F. W. Weitz, who, before her marriage, was on the staff of the Mail and Times, was its first president. · The presidents of the club since 1897 have been: Mrs. Henry Wallace, Mrs. Ella Hamilton Durley, Miss Jessie Lee Wilcox, Mrs. G. W. Ogilvie, Mrs. Nancy Pike Howard, Miss Emilie Blackmore Stapp, Mrs. D. H. Reichard, Mrs. Belle V. Drake, Mrs. C. H. Clarke, Mrs. Addie B. Billington, Miss Alice S. Tyler, Mrs. James G. Berryhill, Mrs. Ella Hamilton Durley and Mrs. H. B. Hawley. Associated with Mrs. Hawley, the new president, are Mrs. Sarah Wharton Moore, secretary, and Miss Margaret W. Brown, treasurer.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.