USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. I > Part 2
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For these facts we are indebted to W. A. Mynster, the son above referred to, who at this writing is president of the bar association of the county. He fully believes that spot by the spring to be the original Council Bluffs, as he occasionally finds evidence of former presence of white men and Indians, of pottery and stone implements that must have belonged to inhabitants of pre- historie times.
Dustin Amy was another refugee from Nauvoo. He placed his family and outfit with David DeVol and family for the pilgrimage across the state while he eame around by St. Louis, where he laid in a stock of stoves and tinware and opened up and carried on the business for a while. but finally
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
went on to Utah. His wife declined going farther and the family remained here, she opening a boarding house, and their son Royal succeeded him in the business which, though only eighteen years old, he conducted successfully for more than a half century, while his mother, by industry and good in- vestment. became quite wealthy, and later, when her husband became feeble, she went and brought him back and cared for him until his death in 1868.
David De Vol, before mentioned, who came at the same time, clerked in stores, held several public offices and reared a fine family. His son. Paul Cohan, built up a large business in the hardware, stove and tin business, which he conducted until his death, when it became incorporated as the P. C. DeVol Company, with his son as manager, thus perpetuating the name. The pioneer, Mrs. DeVol, died October 28, 1894. Mr. DeVot died July 6. 1901, aged ninety-six years. Two daughters at this time survive them, Miss Mary, who has lived at the homestead on First street for sixty years, and Mrs. W. R. Vaughan, of St. Louis.
These great movements of men wore a groove that was soon to be fol- lowed by the pony express, the stage coach, the telegraph. and finally the Union Pacific Railroad. The same cause that has always impelled mankind to follow the sun was more active than ever before, and no such body of men-men consisting of those of all occupations, trades and professions- ever moved with such irresistible force to capture such a prize as the host that launched itself upon the frontier for the conquest of California.
All young or middle aged men, very few women and no children. In their rough clothing you could not distinguish a senator from the backwoods- man, but all had a keen sense of honor, and thieving and petty crime, were almost unknown, and a woman was safer in that rough crowd than in New York city to-day with its thousands of police.
Following these grand movements, however. came the jackalls to prey upon the mass until it becomes necessary to crush them without due process of law.
COUNCIL BLUFFS INCORPORATED.
Before the supremacy of the Mormons was ended, the Gentiles (as all others were called) were pouring in. In November, 1851, Rev. G. G. Rice started a little church of eight members, also a Sunday School in a log house on Broadway, a little west of the intersection of Glenn avenue. This was Con- gregational and has grown to be a large and influential society Mr. Rice at eighty-six is still with us although not engaged in the ministry. Rev. Moses Shinn, of the Methodist persuasion, used to preach and some claimed that he was as learned in full deck poker as in theology, but this was prob- ably a joke.
At this time Kanesville contained over seven thousand population, in- cluding its suburb of Carterville, which was east of the Mosquito creek and extended from that stream to the top of the hill in a southerly direction.
In '52 matters had reached a point where it seemed desirable to have a city organization, and early in 1853 a charter was granted for the city of Council Bluffs. and Kanesville disappeared. In April of that year the first
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charter election was held, which resulted in the election of Cornelius Voorhis for mayor; W. H. Robinson, recorder; M. W. Robinson, marshal; S. S. Bay- liss, G. G. Riee, S. T. Carey, L. O. Littlefield, L. M. Klein, J. E. Johnson, J. K. Cook and J. B. Stutsman, for aldermen ; R. L. Douglas, attorney ; Sam- uel Jacob, engineer, and David DeVol, assessor, and the frontier camp be- came a city.
Up to this time the city was mostly along Indian Creek valley. What is Broadway was an irregular trail and the principal business within two squares of the corners of Broadway and Hyde (now First) street.
In the sunner of '54 the original town of Council Bluffs was surveyed, platted and recorded by Mr. Thomas Tostevin, who later filled the important offices of county surveyor, city engineer, county treasurer and mayor of the city, and died August, 1905, at the age of seventy-six years. In 1853 the name of the postoffice was changed to conform with that of the city. And in the same year the United States land office was opened and speculators flocked in armed with sacks of gold and silver. land warrants and revolvers. H. D. Street was the first register and Dr. S. M. Ballard the first receiver. Both were Whigs and received their appointment from President Fillmore. Eighty-three thousand land warrants had been issued by the general govern- ment to the soldiers of the Mexican war and thousands of these found their way to this office and were located on the rich lands of western Iowa. Some by the soldiers, but by far the largest part by speculators. into whose hands they had fallen. Dr. Ballard, who had been living in lowa City. now moved to this city and made his home here, although most of his time after his term of office had expired was spent on his farm, one of the largest and finest in Audubon county. With the dissolution of the Whig party he promptly joined the republicans and became one of its pillars. Ile was a man of com- manding personality, being six feet six, with a long beard white as snow, and would command attention in any assemblage, as was later illustrated at the republican state cor-ention of 1875. When the announcements of eandi- dates were being made. several names had been talked over, but that of Gov. Kirkwood had not been mentioned. At the proper time he stepped into the forum and announeed his name. A number of the delegates arose and de- manded by what authority he made the announcement, and whether he would accept. Without taking his seat he responded: "In the name of the great republican party I make this nomination. and in its name and for it I promise the great war governor will accept." This took the convention by storm, and he was elected as triumphantly as nominated.
We have seen the county brought to its present limits: the district court organized: the United States land office opened; postoffice established; and the frontier camp of Kanesville transformed into the city of Council Bluffs. Many new-comers were constantly arriving and in addition to the merchants previously named came Cornelius Voorhis, R. P. Snow. Thomas Hinshall, B. R. Pegram and Patrick Murphy and. a little later. J. L. Forman. But now the out-go of emigrants exceeded the influx, so that the population of Council Bluffs was less for a few years than was that of Kanesville.
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Among the arrivals of 1850 were G. A. and William Robinson, who accepted clerkships in stores, but were destined to be prominent a little later by the first opening of the Robinson house, which was the leading hotel for some years, and the other becoming a member of the firm of Babbitt & Rob- inson. Notwithstanding the resident population was now decreasing in the city, the country was settling rapidly after opening of the land office, and the California and Salt Lake travel was coming as well as going, and the business continued to increase.
On the Sth of October, 1853, a destructive fire occurred that destroyed half of the business part of the city, and but a small part of the goods were saved. These buildings were log and were rapidly replaced with frames, only to be consumed again a year later. This time, however, part of them were rebuilt with briek, a briekyard having been in operation for some two years, owned by Benjamin Winchester.
SCHOOLS.
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As in most new communities the large majority of the inhabitants were young or middle aged, and comparatively few had children of school age, still there were enough to call for the school marm. There is some uncer- tainty as to who taught the first. but, at all events, a man by the name of Brown taught in 1853 in the old log court house, which was for some years afterward used for the same purpose. James B. Rue and his wife, both ex- cellent teachers, opened a private school on Washington avenue. and a little later two sisters, the Misses Rockwell, opened a seleet school.
THE FIRST MURDER.
During the spring of 1854, while the city was full of emigrants, a man named Samuels was camped in the glen on the ground that is now Glen avenue. A young man named Muer had made arrangements to go with him, and while Samuels was sleeping, Muer killed and robbed him. The emigrants swarmed out like bees, captured the murderer, gave him a fair trial, including the benefit of attorney, jury and clergy, and when he saw his case was hopeless, he confessed to Elder Shinn, and directed him to where he had hidden the money. He was then taken back to the spot where he had committed the murder, a man climbed an elin tree, adjusted a rope around a limb with the other end around Muer's neck. He was made to stand on the back of a mule which was led from under, and he died from slow strangulation. The civil authorities did not interfere and it would probably have been useless if they had, as the campers were more numerous than the eitizens. Some twenty-five years later, in working the road about the eastern limit of the city, a plow tore through an old rotten stump and a. lot of gold coin rolled out and was scrambled for by the laborers. They would not tell the amount, but this was undoubtedly the money for which the murder was committed.
For years after this ravine was called by the name of Hang Hollow. .
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
The second murder was that of Fred Lord by Tom Golden, on account of difficulty over a load of stone. There were two attachments against the stone and Lord was hauling it away by virtue of one, when Golden shot him from ambush. This was July 10. 1854. Although arrested he was cleared in some manner. This was at Trader's Point, close to the south line of the county. The murdered man left a young wife and infant daughter who are both living at this writing.
PROMINENT EARLY SETTLERS.
Judge W. C. James, who was to become prominent later on, came here in December, 1852, flat broke, having tramped across the western part of the state and earned his first dollar here, cutting up a load of cordwood into stove wood for Dr. P. J. McMahon. Like mo-t great men, he had the good fortune to be born in Ohio, at Elyria. Lorain county, January 1, 1830, on a farm where he worked during boyhood. then worked his way through Oberlin College, studied law with Wilson and Wade in Cleveland. He had also some knowledge of brick laying and pla-tering, which he turned to ac- count by building a house for Enos Lowe, which, with two others, lay claim to being the first brick building in the city. He entered into polities with the same zeal that characterized all his movements. He was elected county judge in the fall of 1856; he also was a member of the city council at different times and finally in 1874 was elected mayor of the city. Politically he was intensely democratic. As a lawyer he did very little at the bar, but was a shrewd office manager. He was married in 1857 to Miss Annie Van Arnam, who was a gifted singer. By this union they had three children-two daugh- ters and a son. The son died in his boyhood. The eldest daughter inherited her mother's musical talent and became proficient in opera and sang with success in New York, London and Paris. In 1867 he and Milton Rogers built the three-story block at the southeast corner of Main and Broadway, long known as the James block. He also owned a large farm near what is now the town of Oakland. He died on Easter Sunday. 1898. His widow at this time is living in Chicago.
Contemporaneous with Judge James, was Frank Street. He was of Quaker stock. born July 12, 1819. His parents moved from Salem. N. J., to Salem, Ohio, from there he settled in Knoxville. Tenn .. where the subject of this sketch was born. From there he came to Springfield, HI., and from there to Salem. Henry county, in this state. Here he remained until he came to Council Bluffs, in the meantime having studied law in Mt. Pleasant.
Arriving here, he entered actively into polities and became county judge.
On the 6th of April. 1854, congress passed an act to enable the citizens of Council Bluffs to acquire title to their lots. It authorized Judge Frank Street, under rules prescribed by the legislature of Iowa to execute deeds to bona fide claimants, provided these claims were made within one year from the passage of the act. On the 10th day of May following the approval of the president of the act. Judge Street made an entry of two forty-acre
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tracts in Section 30, that is known as the Old Town Plat, and also two forties in Section 31 in Township 75, Range 43 we-t. Ile also entered for the same use at the same time 240 acres in Section 25, and the same number of acres in Section 36 in Township 75, Range 44. This substantially included the territory embraced in the Bayliss claim in the Old Town plat. and in that east of Madison street, so as to include the George Keeline property.
There were many disputes to settle before titles could in all cases be perfected, and Judge Street employed Thomas Tostevin, a surveyor, to make an accurate survey of the lands held in trust by him for the claimants as just described, and plat the respective lines. This was done and Thomas Tostevin's map has been taken as accurate where a reference is made to that date. Thomas Tostevin and his brother David were both masters of their profession and their work has not been confined to western lowa. but has extended into Nebraska and Dakota, and their work has been considered authority for a half century. They held alternately the offices of city engineer and county surveyor for many years. Thomas also held the office of mayor of this eity during 1868-9, and from 1866 to 1868 that of county treasurer. They were natives of the Isle of Guernsey in the English Chan- nel, eame with their parents to Brooklyn, N. Y., and as they grew to manhood drifted west. Both married and reared families. David died in 1898 and Thomas in August. 1905. but was active in his profession until within a few weeks of his death. But to return to Judge Frank Street, after filling the office of county judge he practiced law for several years, built up an abstract of titles, was an active republican at the birth of the party and to the end of his life. Was mayor of city, 1857-8.
At the city election of 1854-5 J. K. Cook was elected mayor, and J. E. Johnson, S. T. Cary, W. Hepner, C. Voorhis, L. O. Littlefield, J. B. Stnts- man and S. S Bayliss, aldermen, and W. D. Brown, city marshal.
In the fall of 1853, following the opening of the U. S. land office, the first bank was started by Messrs. Green and Ware.
With the inauguration of the Pierce administration, Messrs. Ballard and Street were retired from the land office and L. W. Babbitt and Dr. Enos Lowe, democrats, were appointed register and receiver, respectively.
With the first opening of the office, the first entry made was by Joseph D. Lane, the second by Jacob Bush, and the third by Maria Mynster, which included Mynster's addition to Council Bluffs.
During these times the receiver was required to make his deposits at Dubuque and there being no public conveyance, it was quite an under- taking to remove the treasure across the state.
In conversation with Mr. Lowe many years after. he related his experi- ence of one of these trips to the writer. He took a light two-horse rig. hired two men that he had every confidence in and, all being well armed, started with their treasure on their three-hundred-mile trip. There were some twenty-miłe reaches without a house, and in making one or two of these the thought would occur, "Supposing these two should prove treacherous, what could I do?" and the thought oppressed me until I pretended to be sleepy, spread down blankets and laid down with my head on the treasure
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
chest and feigned sleep, while watching them with my hand on my revolver, determined to get the first shot if the emergency should arise. On nearing a settlement this feeling would vanish, and I would feel ashamed for having doubted their fidelity. Later, arrangements were made to deposit at St. Louis, with which we were connected by steamboat. This was more con- venient for tran-porting thirty or forty thousand dollars in gold.
At the regular judicial election in 1853, Samuel H. Riddle was elected judge of the district court, but he, not being a lawyer, the canvassing board refused him a certificate of election. His opponent for some reason was also refused, which created a vacancy. It appearing that Riddle had received a majority of all the votes cast. Governor Hemstead appointed him to fill the vacancy. In 1854 he was elected for the full term, and served with credit, his decisions being approved by the people and sustained by the supreme court.
He was a native of Kentucky, plain and companionable, was not an office seeker, but later, at the request of many citizens, without regard to party, he consented to run for president of the board of education, was elected by a large majority and served acceptably.
Among the most noted arrivals during the early part of 1854 was that of Marshall Turkey. He came from Galesburg, Illinois, became interested in a tract of land in connection with William Gale and Clark E. Carr, which they laid out and platted as the Gale-burg addition to Council Bluffs. He was an original character, of strong convictions and one of the most pro- gressive of men. although from his deep and patriarchal appearance he would be taken for the reverse. He was quite an inventor, as well as philosopher, and as a public speaker had few equals, always having a fund of anecdotes to emphasize his remarks.
He seemed to care but little for money and was open and above board in all his transactions, used no secrecy in his experiments and as a conse- quence was cheated out of some valuable patents. Ile was undoubtedly the real inventor of the sulky plow. which has worked wonders in farming. Ile was intensely anti-slavery in his political views, and as a natural result became a staunch republican as that party crystallized. He was also a strong prohibitioni-t. He was generous to a fault. In 1863. when the Cedar Rapid- and Missouri River Railroad was approaching but still holding in uncertainty their point of striking the river, at last, in July an agent appeared and proposed to make this their terminus, and have their cars run- ning in here by the first of January, 1857. providing the people would donate $30.000 cash. the right-of-way from north line of county and depot grounds in the city. It had been years since many of us had heard a locomotive whistle. and although we all knew it was coming anyway, enthusiasm was aron-ed. a mas meeting called at Burhop's Hall. the band got out, and the hall filled. When the proposal was announced. Mr. Turley arose and said : "I will give you eighty acres for your depot purposes." "Which way do the two fortie- lay," the agent asked. "east and west, or north and south?" "Take your choice." said Turley. The effect was magical-the rest of the donation was soon subscribed. and the cars arrived as promised.
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In 1853 the great increase in travel seemed to demand better hotel ar- commodations than already existed, and S. S. Bayliss proceeded to build the Pacific House on the spot now occupied by the John Beno Company's store. It was a plain three-story brick, with long dining room running back, and at that time far superior to any of the others here. Its opening on Christmas with a grand ball at night was quite an event. AAdditions were made later, and for a number of years it was the leading hotel west of Des Moines and north of St. Joseph.
Besides a number of names already mentioned that arrived in the spring of 1854, who were destined to become prominent, were those of R. L. Douglas and A. V. Larimer, both lawyers of ability. Mr. Douglas was a native of Hager-town, Maryland, and removed to northern Indiana in his youth, where he studied law, and after practicing there for a number of years came here to resume it, became active in public affairs, was a member of the city council for two terms, then city attorney two terms and later judge of the circuit court, took an active part in the organization of the K. C., St. Jo. & C. B. Railroad, and later in that of the Wabash. Soon after the close of the war, he went to Florida on account of his health, started an orange grove, died there in 1877, and his widow moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where his relatives were . living. Judge Larimer was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1829. His early education was in the "little log schoolhouse" during the winter months. Being ambitious, he secured a scholarship at Alleghany College at Meadville, Pennsylvania. After studying a year, his means giving out, he returned to the farm and worked for a time, then went west, and, like Lincoln, engaged in flatboating for a time and returned to college, studied law and attended law lectures at the law school of Judge MeCartney at Easton, Pennsylvania, came to Council Bluffs and became active in public affairs. In the fall of 1854 he became candidate for prosecuting attorney on the democratic ticket against L. M. Kline, whig, and was elected. There being a vacancy in the office of county judge, he was appointed to fill it, holding that position until 1856. In the latter year he was elected to house of representatives against B. R. Pegram. He built up a good practice, made good investments and became wealthy. HIe was a bachelor, but built a fine residence and for a time occupied it with his sister. Later on he went to Sioux City and remained there several years, then to Omaha. where he died in 1905.
The same year J. M. Palmer came from Chester county, Pennsylvania. engaged in the real estate business, was elected mayor four terms, built a three-story block of store buildings and a public hall and engaged for a time in banking, but failed in the crash of 1857. He married Miss Helen M. Day, of Portage county, Ohio, a niece of H. Il. Field. Ile had one son, Captain Charles D. Palmer, a graduate of West Point, who served during the Philip- pine war and afterward engaged in banking. One daughter, Mrs. Charles Stilling, died in 1896, one in infancy and one, Mrs. Harriet Fell, is now living in Omaha. He died in 1892.
During 1854, owing to the increasing travel across the Missouri and the prospeet of the opening up of Nebraska for settlement, it seemed necessary
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
to improve the means of crossing the river, consequently a company was formed and a charter obtained for the Council Bluffs and Nebraska Ferry Company.
The incorporator- were Dr. Eno- Lowe. S. S. Bayliss, Jas. A. Jackson, General Samuel R. Curtis, Dr. S. M. Ballard. W. W. Brown. Je-se Williams and J. H. D. Street. Steam ferry boat, were put on, which continued to run until the expiration of its charter, when bridging of the river made its renewal unnecessary and it became a thing of the past. On the west . side of the river, on a beautiful plateau, a town was laid out and platted during the summer of 1854 and named Omaha, from the Omaha tribe of Indians that occupied that vicinity but had sold their lands to the govern- ment and settled on a reservation some seventy miles north. This embraced some of the fine-t lands in the territory. The projectors of this town were mainly the incorporators of the ferry company, whose names were given above, and with one or two exceptions residents of Pottawattamie county. Even at this early day railroad men were casting about for ultimately reach- ing California by rail. and already a line had been surveyed from Rock Island to Council Bluffs, and the Platte valley seemed to be the most natural route. The line surveyed was known as the Mississippi and Missouri, and was the one mainly adopted in the final construction of that road across the state.
During the summer of 1854 Sylvanu- Dodge with his family moved out from Massachusett- and located on a beautiful tract of land on the Elkhorn river in Nebraska. He had two sons, Granville M. and Nathan P., who were destined to play conspicuous parts. The former not only in Pottawattamie county. but in the affairs of the state and nation. The Indians becoming troublesome, they settled in Council Bluffs where the sons engaged in bank- ing. the former becoming a member of the firm of Baldwin & Dodge, while in addition to this he continued his surveying and engineering as occasion required; while Nathan P. managed their banking and real estate business. Both of these men are so well known by the entire community as to make anything said by the writer at this time superfluous. Both are living and active, though having pased their three score and ten years.
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