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 II, Part 11

Author: Brigham, Johnson, 1846-1936; Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1464

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 II > Part 11

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In 1850, Mr. Clapp was still teaming, sometimes with oxen. At some sea- sons of the year, these patient, slow-moving animals were preferable to horses. as when grass was plentiful, they could live on the country, but in case horses were used, grain had to be carried or a supply purchased from the scantily filled corn-cribs on the way. Freighting by ox team became an important industry in the early day and quite a number of Des Moiners engaged in it. It was an exceedingly hard life, and only those who could endure its hardships remained in it for a great length of time.

In the year 1854 Mr. Clapp was elected street commissioner. It was an of- fice that did not require all the time of an officer, as side-walks were few and grading, curbing and paving were many a year in the future. His first duty, according to the record, was that of taking charge of the subscription list pre-

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

sented by Charles C. Van in aid of the construction of a bridge across 'Coon river, and "that he be authorized and entrusted to circulate the same."

The plan of John H. Millar, city engineer, having been adopted, it was a condition, and Mr. Clapp was so instructed: "That the bridge should be free to those who subscribed-and paid!" Then after Mr. Clapp had circulated the bridge subscription paper. the town treasurer was instructed to "collect the sub- scriptions to the 'Coon river bridge according to the terms of the same," but to "deduct one-third of the amount subscribed by each individual." Among other acts for the benefit of the public. under instruction of the town council, he built a bridge over "Bird's Run," at Fourth street, at a cost of about twenty-four dollars. As the bridges on this troublesome little "run" had to be renewed nearly every time there was a freshet, the town authorities were "cutting the garment according to the cloth." This and much similar work was done by him during his two terms of office.

In April, 1855, Mr. Clapp, with a company of choice spirits, went to Indianola, lowa, to institute an Odd Fellows lodge. The charter members were: Wesley Redhead. Des Moines; E. R. Clapp, Des Moines; Thomas C. Lawrence, D. W. Griffith and J. H. Millar. There were received by card that night Thomas Sargent and Jacob W. Stark. There were admitted by initiation William Hunt, Jesse Blackburn, Joseph C. Watson, William E. Hale and Luke Bryan.

In 1856 Mr. Clapp brought two loads of lumber from Iowa City to build his own house; but there was such a clamor for parts of it by his friends, that, in order to supply the demands and have lumber enough left to go on with his own contracted work, he found that he would have to get a larger supply. He hired ten teams and sent them to Iowa City to get new supplies. He went by stage a little later and got there about the time the last team got through. He bought his supply of Peter Musser and started them back as fast as the teams could be loaded. Some of these teamsters were employed the rest of the season in hauling lumber; and what, with dealing in ice, hauling, and building a house, he lived a somewhat strenuous life. The lumber yard was established on a por- tion of the quarter block where Clapp's block now stands. At the close of the building season, when the stock had all been sold, he found out that he had made money enough in the business to pay for the building of his house. He then retired from the lumber business. well satisfied.

In 1860, by the kindness of friends and especial mention and influence of Hon. Stewart Goodrell, Mr. Clapp was made the unanimous choice by the house of representatives for sergeant-at-arms of that body. This was a notable triumph as there were many contestants. His friends congratulated him on his good fortune but, so far as known, it did not puff him up with pride nor change his usual demeanor. One of his close friends, who knew him as a "woodhauler," said to him, after he had been in office a little while: "Well, Ed, three dollars a day, without any heavy work to do, beats wood-hauling a little, doesn't it?" "Well," said Ed, "what, with wire-pulling, watching the corners, looking after other people's affairs, the work beats wood-hauling a little but not very much. The wheels move so slow sometimes that I feel as if I ought to get behind the wagon and push."

Mr. Clapp claims that B. F. Allen, one of our earliest bankers, was the best friend, financially, he ever had. Frank Allen, as he was familiarly called, was an excellent judge of character and often loaned large sums of money to men he had faith in without any real-estate or collateral security. When Mr. Clapp approached him, one day in 1860, there was a "heart-to-heart" business talk between them in his bank, corner of Fourth and Court avenue. The fol- lowing conversation took place: "Frank, I have just bought a farm. It is all paid for but I will have to have some money to give me a working capital." "Great Scotland! Ed. Are you going to try to run a farm?" "Yes, I am and I am going to make it win, too." "Ed, look over the farmers of your acquaint-

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

ance and point out one of them who is making money." "Well, Frank, in the way some of them are running their farms, I do not see how it is possible to make money. No man can farm and get up at eight o'clock in the morning- and then trust to a hired man to do the work !" "Do you expect to go on the farm and take charge of it personally?" "To be sure I do. I shall leave my family right where they are, on Pleasant street, and come to town only when I am compelled to by business." "How much money do you want?" "Ten thousand dollars." "Ed, I know you are a hustler and have succeeded in everything you

have undertaken so far but such a loan would be very risky." "But, Frank, you do not consider how the price of farm land will increase in the next few years. There is grazing land reaching almost up to McDivit's Grove, which can be bought for less than ten dollars an acre. For the stock farm I am going to inake, this land will be needed as business expands and will be worth more year by year." "Ed., you will have to give me time to think it over. Come around in two days, and I will tell you definitely what I will be able to do." At the end of two days there was another conference, and the whole scheme was gone over again and not a whit of the entire business was hidden from the rich banker, who said: "Ed., I have known you for fourteen years and never yet knew you to forfeit your word. You shall have such an amount of money as you wish, on your personal note, and I will trust to your honor to pay it as soon as possible." The note was drawn and the money placed on deposit. As the interest became due, it was paid promptly, and the note renewed year by year. When the enlarged farm was sold to Martin Flynn, in 1867, and the banker was paid in full, the banker asked: "Well. Ed., how did you come out?" "Thirty-five thousand dollars to the good!" And the two men clasped hands and parted with a feeling of friendship which only death could dissever.

In 1860, Mr. Clapp bought a farm on Walnut creek. It contained originally two hundred and sixty-five acres, but, as business increased, more land was needed, and piece by piece was added until it expanded to six hundred acres. This was the begining of one of the finest stock farms in Iowa.

Mutterings of war began to be heard this year; but it was not until the overt act of firing on Fort Sumter, in 1861, that northern men realized the dark days which were before them. It was not possible for all men to offer their services to the government-and they could not have been accepted had the offer been made. It was necessary for some men to stay at home to till the fields, to raise the hogs and cattle and the immense amount of produce to be consumed by the millions of soldiers who were to be called to the defense of the old flag. Mr. Clapp saw his duty clearly and redoubled his efforts, handicapped often by the scarcity of farm hands, to put on the market the very best beef, hogs and other farm products that it was possible to raise. So, when honors are to be shared in the history of those trying days, they should be equally di- vided between the men who fought and those who tarried by the stuff. Life on a farm has not a great variety of incidents; and the years passed on, one with another, in about the same way. The war had closed, and the victors and van- quished had triumphantly or sadly sought their homes.

For some years there had been two railroads pointing this way, and every year, as the gap lessened, there was a corresponding throb of joy in the hearts of the people of Des Moines. With a great hurrah, the first train of the Des Moines Valley Railroad reached the long-waiting city on the 29th of August, 1866. The new railroad developed new business. As people began coming in large numbers, bringing their goods with them, it became necessary to establish a warehouse in which to store them temporarily until the owners could find suit- able places in which to set up housekeeping. Seeing this necessity, Mr. Clapp and . H. M. Bush, established a commission house on the east side of the river. This firm received the goods from the railroad, paid the charges, stored them

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

and ran the chances of getting their return when they were called for, adding a small per cent for storage and care.

When Mr. Clapp sold his farm to Martin Flynn, which has since become fa- mous as the "Flynn farm," it contained about six hundred acres. It has since grown to fifteen hundred acres and is liable to expand if circumstances require. It is, beyond doubt, the finest farm in central Iowa. The quarter block, on a portion of which the Clapp block now stands, was sold at commissioner's sale, in 1850, for sixty dollars. The purchaser put a small house on it and in 1853 sold it to Mr. Clapp for five hundred dollars and fifty cents. In the same year, Mr. Clapp sold it to Israel Spencer, of La Fayette, Indiana, for five hundred dollars, reserving the rent for three years. In 1869, Mr. Spencer sold it to Mr. Clapp for twenty-seven thousand dollars. As soon as Mr. Clapp had closed up the deal with Martin Flynn for the big Walnut creek farm, he began negotiations with Mr. Israel for his old lot, with the result as stated above. Then, in 1871, Clapp's three-story block was built, which was at that time the pride of the city.

On the night of January II, 1883, Clapp's block burned to the ground, and the morning of the 12th disclosed battered and tottering walls, covered with a thick coating of ice, with icicles of huge proportions hanging everywhere, reflecting all the colors of the rainbow in the light of the rising sun. No one having seen the sorrowful picture of desolation of that morning will ever forget it. With all insurance summed up, the loss was about eightly-four thousand dollars. Mr. Clapp's loss was about eighty thousand dollars. The insurance policies did not cover the loss by that much.

Twenty or more tenants found themselves homeless and without offices, some of whom were not aware of the fact until they received the morning paper. A feeling of deep sympathy was extended to Mr. Clapp on account of this heavy calamity, and hopes expressed that he might retrieve his losses in the most speedy manner. His spirit and pluck were equal to the occasion, for, phoenix- like, from the ashes of the old, a new and better block has arisen, which is the pride of the city, because it, like its builder, "came up through great tribulation."

The first official train on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad arrived in Des Moines September 9, 1867, a little more than a year after the first "rail- road celebration" had been held. When the managers of that road declared it open and ready for business in 1867, Mr. Clapp was offered and accepted the office of "general contracting live stock agent" for the railroad company, which position he retained until the year 1892. His knowledge of live stock and his wide acquaintance with live stock men of Iowa fitted him especially for this kind of work. Some of the stock was driven for fifty miles and shipped at all points on the main line. The pioneer life Mr. Clapp had led for many years in the open air stood him in good stead in those days. He won the confidence of all with whom he dealt, and, while serving his employers faithfully, made a friend of every shipper with whom he did business.

Mr. Clapp was an excellent judge of character, and seldom made a mistake in his judgment. In 1879, while engaged as general stock agent for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, he was approached by a freight conductor with whom he had no acquaintance except by seeing him as he was engaged in his labor, but who introduced himself as John L. Carey, and said: "Mr. Clapp, I would like to ask your advice about a piece of land I have been looking at, with the thought of buying it." "Let us go and see it," said Mr. Clapp. The land was carefully examined. There were three hundred and twenty acres in the tract, and the price was six dollars an acre. "Better buy it," said Mr. Clapp, laconically. "But I have not near money enough, and I have nothing but my wages to depend on." "Buy the land and I will see you through," was the response. The purchase was made, and, as the tract was situated very near the present town of Avoca, Mr. Carey made a snug little fortune by the purchase.

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

The following announcement tells the story of a union for some time antic- ipated by the thousands of friends of both bride and groom: "Married, at Rushville, Indiana, April 20, 1871, at the residence of the bride's mother, Mrs. P. A. Hackleman, by the Rev. A. N. Marlatt, Mr. E. R. Clapp and Sarah Adelia Mills, all of Des Moines, Iowa." The wedding ceremony was very simple and impressive. Many kind wishes were extended to this very worthy couple by friends and relatives at the bride's old home, and a warm greeting was extended to the happy pair on their arrival at their home on Pleasant street. Of this union, two children were born: Nellie, who died in infancy; and Bertha, the wife of Leonard E. Harbach, of this city.

Mr. Clapp and family took many trips into various parts of the country. They visited Florida, Montana, the Yosemite, California in its various parts, Mexico. Cuba, and the Yellowstone Park. This park had a great charm for him, as it was then in a much wilder state than it is today. Mr. Clapp's life had touched so many other lives in this community that his history is linked with others as a great chain of friendship and love. On the evening of the Ist of March, 1887, he and his good wife threw open the doors of their capacious mansion, then on Pleasant near Ninth, to their old and new friends, to celebrate Mr. Clapp's fiftieth year in Iowa.

In the year 1887, Mr. Clapp and family took a European trip and spent sev- eral months in sight-seeing, every minute of which was enjoyed to the full. They landed in Liverpool and proceeded at once to London, thence going to Paris, where they stopped but for one day; and then began their sight-seeing proper, in Switzerland and northern Italy. They went to Geneva and Pisa and to Rome, around which so much ancient history clusters. They visited Naples and Pompeii and went among the wonderful lakes of Switzerland and strolled over the grand old Alps, where they stayed for some time thoroughly enjoying themselves. They went to northern Italy on the 20th of May and were there

about a month. Then they turned their eyes toward the German countries, went to Strasburg. Baden Baden, Ems, and then into Austria; afterward to Salsburg, Prague, Dresden, Berlin, and took the beautiful trip down the famed Rhine. They left the Rhine at Cologne and went to Amsterdam and The Hague. There they took a carriage drive out to the coast of the North Sea. They afterward spent three weeks in Paris, "The Palace of the World." Dublin, Cork and Belfast were also visited; also Glasgow, the small town on the coast where the "Thistle" was built.

A few years after the European tour, a southern trip was taken by Mr. Clapp and his wife, which covered a goodly portion of the south, with Cuba as the objective point. This was a very enjoyable trip, of which a generous men- tion was made by the newspapers of the city after the return. He had made it à point to take such a vacation as this every year, when possible, thus adding to his experience and giving him a thorough knowledge of the places visited.

During his later years he had spent a portion of his summers nearer home, by occupying, with his family, his large and hospitable cottage. at one of the popular lakes of Iowa, or skimming over the waters in his handsome sailboat, "Bertha." So skillful had he become as a manager of this jaunty craft that he had earned the title of "Commodore," and to which his competitors in sail- ing said he was justly entitled.

In 1891 Mr. Clapp purchased a fine piece of property adjoining the resi- dence of J. S. Polk, fronting on Grand avenue. James C. Savery had been the owner of it for many years. The price paid for the tract was thirteen thou- sand dollars. This place was bought for the purpose of building a permanent residence on the most fashionable street in the city. The old home on Pleasant street had been encroached on by churches and apartment houses, and it was thought best to secure a more quiet and roomy place. No doubt with much regret the old home was disposed of. This historic house had been his resi-

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

dence for nearly half a century. It has been the scene of many social events among the old as well as the younger generations. Many pioneers had assem- bled there to clasp hands, to feast, to relate experiences, and to pass down the pathway of life, never to look into each other's faces again, and whose names now are. a blessed memory. One of these little companies of the oldest people in the city, whose ages ranged from eighty to sixty-nine, gathered here on one occasion, and the gathering was called the "three-score and ten party." Their ages aggregated one thousand years.

Mr. Clapp lived a busy life. The allurement of public office was never his ·desire ; yet he was often importuned to accept the office of mayor or the less important one of alderman. These honors he left to others and employed his time in attending to his immediate business interests, which gained for him a liberal competency and the respect of his thousands of friends in this city and state.

On the night of January 22, 1906, a dark shadow overspread his happy home. Mrs. Clapp had been for some months confined to her room, getting out at rare intervals to mingle with her companions. For the last few weeks, her life had been despaired of and finally all hope was abandoned by her sorrowing family and friends. She had made a courageous struggle to overcome her dis- ease, and the star of hope in her heart did not grow dim until very near the end. She was deeply mourned by her husband, children, relatives and friends. A noble life had gone out, adding a new name to the death-roll of the early settlers, who were fast drifting to that echoless shore at which all life-barks must touch when the silver cord is loosed and the golden bowl broken.

On a morning in May, 1906, Mr. Clapp was attacked with a violent illness and took to his bed, from which he never arose in health and strength, passing away on the 8th of June of that year. Step by step, Mr. Clapp had risen from a pioneer farmboy, ox-driver, teamster, farmer, railroad employe, to the owner of a fine block and the vice presidency of the Century Bank. Surely, no man's life is more worthy of emulating than is the career of Edwin R. Clapp.

From Mr. Clapp's arrival in the little hamlet, in 1846, his future home, he had related many times that he had a presentiment, even in those early days, before there were any railroads pointing this way, that this village was to be the future capital and a railroad center during his lifetime, and lived to have his convictions verified. He was a man of strong convictions, and when he be- lieved that he was right, he was not easily moved or swayed. He planned care- fully and was a strong man, mentally and physically. These qualities enabled him to endure privations and hardships which would have crushed a weakling. Many men have wealth thrust upon them by inheritance. Not a few gained a competency in devious ways; but the relatives and friends of Mr. Clapp may twine a wreath of immortelles for him of whom it may be truthfully said : "An honest man is the noblest work of God." As wealth increased, and there was not an incessant demand upon his time, he gave more attention to reading and study. He kept himself well informed of the doings of the busy world and took a deep interest in all city affairs. There were few better informed men than he, in all that pertained to the best interests of the city he loved and of which he was one of the founders.

EDWARD COURT LYTTON.

Edward Court Lytton, secretary to Mayor Hanna, was born in Muscatine, Iowa, May 6, 1887, and is a son of John Wakefield and Alice Salina Lytton, the former born in Davis county, Indiana, in 1859, and the latter in Madison county, Iowa, in 1864.

CITY OF DES MOINES AND POLK COUNTY

The family removed to the capital city in 1891 and Edward C. Lytton was a pupil in the public schools of East Des Moines until graduated from the high school on the 25th of May, 1905. He also devoted a portion of his youth to the study of music and is a graduate of the vocal department of the Des Moines Musical College, completing his course there on the 8th of June, 1908. For two years he was engaged in the lumber business with Gabriel Rees & Com- pany, of this city, and since then has given his time and attention to official duties. On the Ist of October, 1906, he became chief clerk in the office of the state food and dairy commissioner at Des Moines and continued in that con- nection until the Ist of April, 1910, when he entered upon his duties as secre- tary to Mayor Hanna. He has invested to some extent in city property and farm land and thus shows his faith in Des Moines and her future.

Mr. Lytton is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He also holds membership in the Capitol Hill Church of Christ and is serving as its director of music. Capability, personal worth, geniality and cordiality have made him popular with a circle of friends that is constantly growing as the circle of his acquaintance widens.

JOHN D. SEEBERGER.

The splendid success which crowned the efforts of John D. Seeberger was the logical result of intelligently directed labor and the recognition and improve- ment of opportunity. As the years passed his achievement materialized in pros- perity that made him one of the prominent merchants of this city and in his death Des Moines lost one of the valuable representatives of its trade interests.

He was born in New York city, November 4. 1836, his parents being John D. and Dorothea (Goeth) Seeberger, both of whom were natives of Wetzler, Prussia, where they were married. Crossing the Atlantic to the new world in 1834 they settled in New York, where they resided until 1837, in which year they became residents of Wooster, Ohio. The mother died in the year 1858 while the family were living at Wooster, and the father afterward removed to Des Moines, becoming an honored and cherished member of his son's household. here remaining until his death, which occurred in February, 1886, when he had reached the very venerable age of ninety-three years. Their family numbered three sons and two daughters but the daughters passed away in infancy. John D. Seeberger was the youngest of the family and his brothers were Alexander, a resident of Monmouth, Illinois, and Anthony F., who at one time was United States collector at the port of Chicago, in which city he made his home. All are now deceased.

John D. Seeberger was less than a year old at the time of the removal to Wooster, Ohio, where at the usual age he entered the public schools, therein con- tinuing his studies to the age of fourteen. At that time he made his initial step in the business world as an apprentice in mercantile lines, entering the dry-goods house of James B. & Neal Power, of Wooster. In that establishment he worked his way gradually upward, promotion coming to him in recognition of his worth and ability during the ten years of his service in the house. His health becoming seriously impaired owing to close confinement, he left the store and took a trip to the northwest, visiting the territory of Idaho, which was then largely unexplored and almost wholly in possession of the Indians. He spent four years in that region, his outdoor life and experiences renewing his health and vigor and with a robust constitution he returned to the middle west. Mak- ing his way to Chicago he spent a few months in that city and in February, 1865, came to Des Moines.

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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 II, Part 11

Author: Brigham, Johnson, 1846-1936; Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Brigham, Johnson, 1846-1936; Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago, The S. J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 1464