USA > Iowa > Polk County > Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa, and reminiscences of early days, Vol. I > Part 16
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
An investigation of the affairs of the newspaper showed that the outfit was purchased on credit, which had to be paid; but Savery, with his proverbial pertinacity, continued the paper for two years
213
JAMES C. SAVERY
at a total loss of seven thousand dollars, and sold it to John Tees- dale for half its cost, retired from the field satisfied with newspaper glory, and went on with his hotel and real estate projects.
A search for the bound volume of the Citizen disclosed the fact that it was burned with the residence of Savery, which stood where is now the elegant residence of J. S. Polk, on Grand Avenue, a regrettable loss to the history of those early days.
Reminiscences of this panic period would be incomplete which omitted Judge McFarland, sequelae of which often reached his court, wherein he became famous as well as notorious from his eccentricities, bibulous habit, and profanity.
The District Court at that time included, with Polk, nearly all the counties in the northwest portion of the state.
Lawyers were scarce, outside of Des Moines, so that when the time for courts to be held in the various counties came, the Judge, the lawyers, and other attaches of the court would pool their trans- portation expenses, and charter an outfit to make the circuit. "Dan" Finch, one of the most prominent lawyers in the state, was gener- ally one of the crowd. He was a personal friend of the Judge, and often the target of his most vigorous expletives. The tales that were told of the Judge by jurymen would fill a book.
One very hot day in July, the Judge had been out to dine with an old-time friend. On coming into court, "half seas over," he upset his chair and sat down on the side of it. Gathering himself together and getting on his feet, turned to the Bailiff with: "Take this d-d three legged thing away so soon as court adjourns, and get a new one, and don't you forget it."
In a case on trial at one time, the plaintiff's attorney was mak- ing his closing argument. After speaking a short time, he suddenly stopped and took his seat.
The Judge aroused himself with: "Well, well, what in h-1 are you waiting for ?"
"For your honor to wake."
"Look here, young man, I had made up my mind to instruct the jury for you, when the other side closed, but concluded to let you practice your d-d oratory while I took a nap. Now, then, when you are tired of talking as I have been of listening to this case, we will get down to business. Go on, sir, d-n you ; go on."
214
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
On another occasion, the Judge came into court very wobbly and late. After getting himself fairly seated, he explained to the bar that he was not feeling well, and would hear motions only that morning. An attorney informed him he had an important case set for hearing and had several witnesses present.
"Can't help it, sir; and I will fine you five dollars for con- tempt," replied the Judge.
"Do you propose to fine a man for contempt when court is not in session ?"
"You hush up, young man, and listen to what I have to say. You must understand, sir, that this court, if she understands her- self, and she thinks she does, is subject to contempt whether in session or not, and don't you forget it. But, it being your first offense, the fine will be remitted, provided you take the boys down to Jim Campbell's and set up the 'painkiller'."
The court, lawyers and witnesses proceeded at once to liquidate the fine.
At another time, when the court, Sheriff and attaches were jour- neying around the circuit, one of their teams gave out, with ten miles to go, and the day closing. They were overtaken by a man with fresh horses, he riding one and leading the other. A proposal was made to exchange teams until their destination was reached, which was obstinately rejected, either for goodness or money. The Sheriff was standing by the stranger's horses when the Judge arose and sang out :
"Mr. Sheriff, open court."
Scarcely had the "Hear ye! Hear ye!" echoed over the prairie, when the Judge declared :
"This court is now open, and it is ordered that you, sir, [to the stranger], dismount and make terms with the Sheriff at once, or for him to put you under arrest."
The horseman was completely dazed, but after a little hesitation, and taking a square view of the two hundred and fifty pounds of judge, dismounted and made the exchange.
In 1878, during a period of adversity which swept over the entire West, Savery met with heavy losses, and was compelled to dispose of some of his holdings, among which was his hotel. He
215
JAMES C. SAVERY
went to Montana, where, in a few years, he recuperated his losses, returned to Des Moines, and, with James Callanan, formed the American Emigrant Company, whose business it was to furnish emigrants with through tickets from European ports to destination, exercise protection over them, purchase land, and sell to emigrants only. The company bought wild land all over the Northwest, and through it over one hundred thousand Scandinavians were settled on good farms and added to the productive industry of the country, of which Iowa received a large proportion.
In 1879, the purchasers of the Savery House, to the surprise and regret of citizens quite generally, changed the name of the house to "Kirkwood," in honor of the old War Governor. For a long time after, "Ret." Clarkson, editor of the Register, and W. W. Witmer, editor of the Leader, refused to accept the change, despite the universal reverence for Kirkwood, and continued to call it the "Old Savery," thereby indicating that they deemed the change unfair to one who had done so much for Des Moines.
In 1886, the town had grown northward and westward so that property holders and business men deemed another hotel a neces- sary improvement. Frank Reisley, who was running what is now the Iowa Hotel, a prominent hotel man, was ambitious to secure a hostelry of later and more modern construction. To that end, he, W. W. Witmer, and George H. Maish made a joint agreement to organize a corporation for the purpose of building a hotel. A loca- tion was the first question to be settled. After considerable investi- gation, it was finally decided to take what was known as the Colonel Hooker place, at Fourth and Locust streets. Then came the name, which was widely discussed among business men, when was devel- oped the fact that the old "Savery House" had not been forgotten. Witmer and Maish, who had been vigorous protestants against that change of name, concluded it would be a good stroke of policy to name the new house the "Savery," and that the people would approve it. In deference to that public sentiment, the name was selected before articles of corporation were drawn, money sub- scribed, or any consultation had with Mr. Savery.
When the subscription list was opened, Witmer, Maish, and Reisley signed for forty thousand dollars each. Adjoining prop- erty owners to the site selected subscribed sufficient to make sure the
216
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
project, and upon that showing, Mr. Savery contributed five thou- sand dollars to the bonus fund, which was all the pecuniary interest he had in the house up to the time it was opened to the public. He had no stock in the corporation.
In the Spring of 1887, the contract for construction was let to S. A. Robertson, who built the first Savery House, and July First, 1888, it was opened for the reception of guests, under the manage- ment of Mr. Reisley, having cost the sum of one hundred and sixty- five thousand dollars.
In later years, Mr. Savery acquired considerable interest in it, but he often said that he regarded the selection of its name under the connecting circumstances a greater testimonial of the esteem of his fellow citizens than if he had built the house.
In 1893, I think, he disposed of his interest in the hotel, owing to the demands of other business, and divides his time between New York, Montana, and Des Moines, which he helped to build, and which he says is his home .*
February Twelfth, 1905.
*Deceased, at Cable, Montana, August Twenty-first, 1905.
-
JOHN A. KASSON
HON. JOHN A. KASSON
TOHN A. KASSON was born near Burlington, Vermont, Janu- ary Eleventh, 1822. He received his education at the Univer- sity of Vermont, graduating in 1842. His legal studies were prosecuted in Massachusetts, where he was admitted to the Bar. J
He came to Des Moines early in 1857, and at once began the practice of law. During the Fall of that year, the Seat of Govern- ment was removed from Iowa City, and he was appointed by Gov- ernor Lowe as chairman of a commission to investigate the condi- tion of the several state offices.
The contest between the East and West Side over the location of the State House was still brewing. The West Siders had filed a protest with the Legislature against the decision of the Commis- sioners respecting the location, charging violation of the statutes, bribery and corruption ; "that, notwithstanding the people and citi- zens on the west side of Des Moines River offered to donate to the state sufficient land for public use, and to make a donation of funds to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars besides, to have the Seat of Government located on that side; that the Commissioners did locate it on the East Side, without any donation of land other than for public buildings, and did receive in consideration for said location, in land and money, amounting to from seven thousand to ten thousand dollars to each Commissioner, all in the year 1856."
A committee to make full investigation of the matter was requested.
The East Siders denied all the allegations and laughed at the allegers, declaring that the two hundred thousand dollars offered by the West Siders was never intended to be paid, and was made by a lot of fellows who couldn't pay it if they would.
The investigation began in February, 1858, and Mr. Kasson was employed as an attorney for the West Siders. The evidence given before the committee showed that two hundred and fifty lots
217
218
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
were put up on the East Side, to be used to the best advantage in securing the location; that one John Baldwin was a go-between the Commissioners and the bonuses; that he offered to secure a location on the West Side for fifty thousand dollars; that he lived and slept with one of the Commissioners; that one of the Commis- sioners publicly declared he must have ten thousand dollars of the fund.
When Baldwin was put on the stand, he said he was here on real estate business, and the committee had nothing to do with his pri- vate affairs. Asked if he did not know that some of the Commis- sioners got an interest in some of the lots, the title being in other persons, he refused to answer.
Several witnesses, when asked if they did not know of certain Commissioners who, at the time of, or soon after the location, pro- cured an interest in lots on the East Side, or the right to procure a title in certain contingencies, refused to answer, because it "would tend, if answered affirmatively, to bring them to public scandal."
J. A. Williamson, attorney for the East Siders, didn't hesitate to give his part in the matter. When asked if he knew of Pegram (one of the Commissioners) receiving any interest in property on the East Side, at, or soon after the location of the Capitol, replied, "Yes."
Question .- "What was the number of the lots ?"
Answer .- "About fifty."
Question .- "Do you know of any other Commissioner having an interest in lots here ?"
Answer .- "I don't. I heard such things."
Question .- Do you know of any property or money being given to Baldwin ?"
Answer .- "If I do, it is of a professional character."
Question .- "Did you know of any attempt to influence the Com- missioners in the location of the Capitol ?"
Answer .- "I do. I used all lawful means to get it, including Cheaspeake and Sardinian appliances and any quantity of whiskey. I solicited donations, knowing that similar appliances were being made on the other side of the river. I found one person willing to trust ten or fifteen lots in my hands, but that is my private busi- ness."
219
JOHN A. KASSON
Question .- "Did they receive any gratuity in lots or money before or after the location was made ?"
Answer .- "It is possible they may have had some presents. I know some of them have property here."
Question .- "Did Baldwin say to you, if you would give one thousand dollars in addition to the lots, he would secure the location on the East Side ?"
Refused to answer.
W. A. Scott testified that the Capitol was located partly on his and Lyon's addition to the Town of Demoine.
Asked if he, at or about the time of the location, did convey, or agree to convey or hold in trust, any part of his property to any of the Commissioners, he refused to answer.
Lyon testified that he let Baldwin have ten lots in consideration of his influence, to get the location on the East Side.
The West Siders all testified that they offered ten or twenty acres for a site and a subscription fund of one hundred and fifty- nine thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars as a bonus to the state.
Lovell White testified that he owned property on the West Side, was a witness by compulsion, and under protest; that three days before the location was made, Baldwin told him the West Side must put up money ; that for twenty thousand dollars guaranteed to him, he would secure the location on the West Side. The next day he offered it for fifteen thousand dollars; the West Siders at once raised twelve thousand dollars, and notified the Commission- ers they were ready to meet them, and the next day was set for meeting them to consider their proposition; that the subscription was increased nearly two thousand dollars; that at the appointed meeting it was offered to the Commissioners, when they were informed that the location was made the previous night.
The committee reported to the Legislature that in their opinion Pegram was bribed; that Baldwin had the Commissioners for sale to the highest bidder on both sides of the river; that all of them could not be identified with fraud and corruption because testi- mony was withheld, and the committee had not the power to bring it out; that nothing was found on which to base a charge against Commissioner Goodrell.
220
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
The report was pigconholed and never heard of again, the West Siders claiming that Governor Grimes was mixed up in the deal, and further publicity would cause greater scandal.
Whatever may be the true history of this affair, it is true that W. A. Scott and Harrison Lyon, and a few others, fulfilled their agreement, furnished the site of the present Capitol, built a tem- porary State House, and gave them to the state, with a sacrifice nearly reaching bankruptcy.
In 1858, Mr. Kasson was elected Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, and under his skillful management the Republicans carried the county, except the county offices, but that was the last victory for the Democrats.
In 1860, he was elected a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated Lincoln for President, and Horace Greeley said Kasson was the author of the memorable platform put forth by the convention.
In 1861, the second appointment made by President Lincoln was that of Mr. Kasson, as First Assistant Postmaster General. While in that office, he revised all the postal laws, secured a uni- form rate of postage at home and with foreign countries.
In 1862, while he was attending the International Postal Con- vention in Paris, he was nominated for Congressman from this district, then comprising twenty-three counties. On his return, he accepted it. During his term, one of the most important periods in our national history, he proved of great value to the Government.
At the end of his term, he was renominated, his opponent being "Dan" Finch, his law partner. The two were the most eloquent and effective speakers in the state. They traveled, roomed, ate, and slept together, and had a lively campaign. The only discourage- ment experienced during the torrid season, they used to say, was the voracity of the bedbugs at some of the rural hostelries. In the contest, "Dan" lost his case.
Soon after his election, Mr. Kasson was delegated by the Post- office Department to select a site for a new Postoffice in Des Moines. Business was then all below Fourth Street, the town was growing rapidly, and corner lots in that section were held at big figures. Kasson resorted to a little strategy. He had a personal friend pur- chase the block where the Postoffice now is, at a fair valuation for
221
JOHN A. KASSON
property outside of the business district, "merely as an invest- ment." The Methodist Church stood north of it on Fifth Street, and the Valley Bank east of it on Court Avenue. On the block where the Youngerman Block is was a small one-story dwelling with a "dug-out" cellar beside it. When the Government got ready to erect the building, the site was deeded to Uncle Sam, to the great surprise of corner-lot speculators.
In 1867, Kasson was nominated for Congressman, but Frank Palmer, editor of the Register; Tom Withrow, a leading lawyer, and C. C. Nourse, Judge of the District Court, were opposed to him, and there ensued one of the most bitter, acrimonious contests ever known in the party. Domestic affairs were bruited with great venom, engendering personal and social animosities, which existed for many years. Kasson was defeated.
Nourse's term was near its end. He was a fine lawyer and able judge. Under other conditions, he would have been reclected, but the friends of Kasson determined to rebuke him for his action in the Congressional contest. They packed the Judicial Convention and defeated his nomination. He at once resigned the office and returned to law practice.
Soon after his defeat, Kasson was commissioned by the Postal Department to the International Postal Convention at Paris, where was established the system of uniform foreign postal rates.
While he was absent, agitation began for a new State House, on the beautiful site which belonged to the state. The old State House, hastily built, was inconvenient, and had become unsafe. It was urged that the time had come to uitilize the property. There were also indications that delay might give rival localities opportunity to obstruct proceedings. Polk County became aroused and deter- mined to push things. From his long experience in public affairs, and his well-known attachment to his home town, public sentiment naturally turned to Kasson, and, during the Summer of 1867, he was nominated Representative in the Twelfth General Assembly, while he was in Europe. On his return, he was informed thereof, and the reasons for it. He accepted, and was elected by a large majority.
Early in the session, he prepared a bill providing for a new Capitol, to cost not exceeding a million and a half dollars. So
222
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
soon as presented, rival localities showed their hands, by amend- ments, to cut the cost all the way to six hundred thousand dollars, and dilatory motions, one being to postpone all action until the Chicago and Northwestern Road was completed to Des Moines, so that stone and lime could be transported-thus showing the ear- marks of Marshalltown-all of which, after prolonged struggle, were defeated, and the first week in March, the bill passed the House, and went to the Senate, where the opposition had so solidi- fied itself as to succeed in so amending it as to change it entirely, and sent it back to the House so late in the session Kasson and his friends decided to let it go. It provided for a Board of Commis- sioners, who were to receive competitive plans for a Capitol, to cost a million, a million and a half, and two million dollars, to receive specimens of stone from quarries within the state, the same to be tested for durability, color, quality, absorption of moisture, and freezing, and to make the necessary repairs on the old State House, and report to the next General Assembly.
Mr. Kasson was reelected to the House, and Frank Allen, then in the height of his influence and popularity as a banker and busi- ness man, was sent to the Senate.
At this session, Kasson changed his plan, and sent his Capitol bill first to the Senate, where it was quickly sent to a committee, who had the plans and specifications provided by the Act of the previous session. With slight amendments, the bill passed, and was sent to the House, where Kasson was confronted with a new opposition element. There was in existence what was called the "Appropriation Ring," composed of members representing the dif- ferent districts in which were located the several State Institutions, which practically controlled all legislation. It fixed and parcelled out the sums wanted for their institutions, and no important bill could get through either house unless by consent of this Ring, which demanded first that its claims be conceded. A personal observa- tion and attendance at each consecutive session for more than twenty years demonstrated the continuous presence of this per- nicious element. In 1878, Tom Updegraff, of Clayton, determined to break it up. There was asked an extraordinary appropriation of seventy-five thousand dollars, for the central dome and four tur- rets of the Capitol. The Ring resorted to its usual tactics, and
223
JOHN A. KASSON
relegated the Capitol to the foot of the calendar, as the tail-ender. Tom got wrathy, and one day arose to smite it. He was a splendid speaker, and had a vocabulary replete with keen, cutting sarcasm. He charged the Ring with wilful abuse of legislative duties; he cited the vote from the roll call of each member of it, showing its vote as a unit on every important measure. Instantly, the House was in an uproar. He was called to order, but he went on, and closed in these words :
"Gentlemen of the Ring, you may go on and block the wheels of legislation, but I warn you there is nothing, save the wrath of Almighty God, so terrible as the vengeance of an outraged, indig- nant people."
That speech sent him to Congress, and broke the Ring for that session. In addition to this ring, Kasson found the opposition more completely organized, under the leadership of M. E. Cutts, of Mahaska, master of rhetoric, sarcasm, and innuendo. He coddled the Ring, and scared the timid with the stupendous grabs, taxes, and folly of the Capitol scheme, concocted solely for the benefit of Des Moines. For a whole month, Kasson sought, with all his skill and tactics, to get the bill made a special order for March Eighth, when it was taken up, and after the most exciting debate ever known in the House, it was ordered engrossed for final passage by a vote of forty-nine to forty-eight, and there Kasson stopped, for Cutts had so terrified the timid and unified the Ring for four weeks, he did not dare to call it up.
Finally, he fixed April Eighth as the day for a final contest, with assurances of a full house. The House was densely packed. The bill was quickly taken up, and met with dilatory motions, which were finally lost, and the roll call began, the clerk reading very slowly, amid the breathless silence. Every member was keep- ing close tally. On verifying the call, Kasson's "Aye" was miss- ing. In his intensity of tally-keeping, he answered his call with "twenty," he being the twentieth in his list of "ayes." The error was soon corrected, and the vote stood fifty-two to forty-six, three members dodging or being absent. There was a shout which made the walls shake.
The bill went over to the Senate, where it quickly passed, and the second contest was ended.
224
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
A mass meeting of citizens was held, and, with a band of music, went to Kasson's home, and after congratulations on his success, presented him with a fine gold-topped cane, which Charles Aldrich now has in his state collection of curios.
The nine Commissioners provided for in the Act were elected at a joint meeting of both houses, and went on to lay the foundation of the new building. They brought a huge red granite boulder from Buchanan County, which was formed into a large cube, on which they had cut, conspicuously, their several names. They also prepared small cubes of various kinds of stone offered for the super- structure, which were sent to experts to be tested, and be returned in sealed wrappings, on which was to be inscribed nothing but the test. From these, a selection of stone was made. During the next Winter, the frost so disintegrated the foundation that it tumbled into the pit. The appropriation was exhausted, and the Commis- sion could go no further.
When the next General Assembly convened, the prospect was dismal. The wreck and waste in that foundation was foreboding. The air was full of charges and counter-charges, while rumors were current that the stone quarry selected to furnish the stone for the superstructure had come into possession of one of the Commission- ers. Amid all this was the fear that the whole project might be lost to Des Moines.
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.