USA > Iowa > Polk County > Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa, and reminiscences of early days, Vol. I > Part 18
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
Perkins learned that the possé was after him. He knew, as a Club member, what that meant, and quickly mounting a fleet horse, without coat or hat, fled to The Fort, barely escaping several shots sent after him. Eluding his pursuers, he reached the ferry in a perfect tremor of fright and fatigue, and begged "Aleck" to get him across the river quick, which was done. He went into obscurity
238
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
for several days, and after recovering from his fright, became val- orous, and procured a warrant for the arrest of Fleming, on a charge of attempt to murder. Fleming was arrested and brought before Esquire Luce. His friends quickly rallied for his defense, and while the court was getting ready for business, swooped down on the crowd, seized Fleming, and carried him away. He was soon after re-arrested and brought to The Fort, when his friends- eighty of them-again rallied, armed and equipped for another rescue. Arriving at the ferry, they demanded immediate crossing, but "Aleck" hesitated, he didn't seem to be in any haste, when he was told that if he did not take them across, they would shoot up the whole town. They threatened and cursed him in several lan- guages, but he didn't scare. While this disturbance was going on, The Fort had got stirred up. Coroner Phillips, full of spiritus frumenti, declared Martial Law, and ordered all stores and busi- ness places closed, which gave the West Siders acceptable oppor- tunity to turn out and see the scrimmage.
"Aleck" was obdurate. He told the mob that not a man could cross the river until all guns were stacked and weapons laid aside. Very sullenly they finally surrendered, and were taken over to the West Side, which, under Phillips' Martial Law, was quiet and in good order to receive them. Fleming was duly examined, the charges against him were sustained, and he was bound over to the Grand Jury, but was released on giving an appearance bond. The Grand Jury did not indict him. In the meantime, public sentiment had rendered Perkins quite unpopular. Legal proceedings were had against him, and he gave a bond to let Fleming alone, but he always claimed that Fleming's claim covered more land than he was entitled to, and it was only the excess he was trying to get, but Fleming's father being a Methodist preacher, and the settlement nearly all Methodists, they joined together against him.
There was a man named Holland, a land speculator, who, it was rumored, furnished Perkins the money to preempt Fleming's claim, and thereupon a Vigilance Committee of about thirty, well armed, surrounded his house one day and ordered him to come out, which he quietly did, assuring the crowd that he was ready to meet his doom, but requested the privilege of making some remarks, which
239
WILLIAM ALEXANDER SCOTT
was granted. He was a good talker, and so forcibly and eloquently appealed to the crowd with his defense, that it relaxed its ven- geance into a broad smile, shook hands with him, and, at his request, went to the corner "grocery" to quench its thirst for gore with corn juice, and thus ended the famous Fleming War.
In 1849, Scott had his land platted and annexed it to "East Demoine." He built several dwellings and a large brick house near what is now the east end of the Rock Island Railroad bridge, which, for several years, was known as the Scott House, later the Slatten and the Hawkeye, and still later, the Refuge of Sin and Prostitution, until it was torn down soon after the railroad was completed.
Immediately after the Seat of Government was located here, public attention became aroused respecting the location of the State House. Both sides of the river were ambitious and eager to secure it. In 1855, Scott, A. M. Lyon, and a few others formed an Asso- ciation to get the location on the East Side. Citizens outside of the Association also joined in the project, and a large number of town lots were put into a sort of pool as a bonus to influence a decision of the State Commissioners in the location. Scott's Asso- ciation offered to give forty acres of land-nearly all of which was owned by Scott-and to build a State House. The West Siders offered the necessary land and about three hundred thousand dol- lars as a bonus to the state. Then ensued one of the most exciting contests known in the history of the town, and in which was engen- dered strife and animosities which have not yet been obliterated.
In that contest, Scott was the victim of unscrupulous specu- lators, through his innate honesty, and over-weening faith in Humanity. He executed his agreement to the very letter, at a great loss to himself, carried the first State House to completion, donated the site for it, and also most of that on which the State House now stands, though then quite unlike what it now is. It was covered with forest trees and underbrush so dense that several women once got lost in attempting to go through it, causing consid- erable alarm to friends for several hours. On the west and south sides, it was twenty feet above the present elevation.
When the State House deal was over, Scott had little left.
240
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
When the Legislature convened at its first session in Des Moines, Scott gave a very elaborate reception in his new brick hotel to the members and state officers, and he was the observed of all observers as "the man who built the State House." It was a very popular hostelry with legislators and lawyers.
Politically, Scott was a Democrat, but not a politician. In 1857, at the urgent request of friends relying on his popularity, he ran for Representative to the first Legislature held in Des Moines, against "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell, and, while he carried Lee Town- ship by a vote of one hundred and sixty to one hundred and fifty- four, he was defeated by a vote of one thousand and eighty to eight hundred and ninety-four, in the county. At this session, a law was passed providing for the placing of draws in all bridges over the Des Moines River, from its junction with the 'Coon to its mouth, thus practically declaring the river above Des Moines an unnavi- gable stream. In 1860, some difficulty arose over Scott's bridge, as an obstruction to navigation, and an Act was passed providing that so much of the Law of 1857-8 which provided for draws in bridges, and declaring the river not navigable above Scott's bridge, be repealed, but the multiplicity of bridges within the city evi- dences little regard for the repeal, and navigation above The Forks is not a disturbing question.
Scott married a very intelligent Indian woman, who was a good wife, but she had an appetite for "fire-water," and periodically would lock herself in a room, put on a full Indian dress, and have a spree for a week, when she would resume her wifely duties in a very proper manner.
"Aleck" was a big-hearted man, with liberal impulses, and gen- erous to a fault. He lacked fortitude to resist a solicitation for aid or accommodation. He indorsed the obligations of others, which he had to pay, and to do which he encumbered his property with mortgages. The wide-spread financial depression caused by the panic of 1856-7 cut off all sources of recovery from his embarrass- ment, and with hope that fortune would favor him and enable him to redeem and save his property, he started for Pike's Peak, but when crossing the plains was taken ill and died in a tent, June Twenty-third, 1859.
February Twenty-ninth, 1905.
-
.
FY
love
LOUIS HARBACH
LOUIS HARBACH
I T seems almost a supererogation to mention one so well known to nearly every man, woman and child in Des Moines, in these reminiscences, as Louis Harbach, for there are very few houses or buildings in the town that have not something connected with him.
He came here in June, 1857, when only nineteen years old, with an empty purse, but abundant pluck and energy, and at once got a job at his trade as harness-maker, with W. S. Terry, I think. He worked two years at his trade. His elder brother, Christopher, had a small furniture shop on Second Street, between Court Avenue and Walnut. Louis went to Cincinnati, and learned the cabinet maker's trade, came back and joined his brother. Their shop-it had not attained the dignity of a store-was a long, narrow, loose- constructed, one-story wooden building, with unplastered walls. But two or three men were employed. There was no machinery ; every article made was worked out by hand from lumber as it came from the mill. While not as elegant and recherche as can be seen in his Walnut Street house to-day, it was made to stay made. I have one of his old-time bedsteads, made of black walnut, then as plentiful as pine now is, which is as firm in its joints as when put together. But prices were pretty stiff in those days. An article which then cost twenty-five dollars can be bought of him to-day for four dollars and a half.
He at once put new life and enterprise into the concern. By indomitable energy, excellent business capacity, and strict integ- rity, the business increased, necessitating more space, and a four- story brick building was erected on Third Street, the first of its kind in the town, and now occupied as a Court House. It was used for retail trade, and in 1860, he brought the first lot of factory made furniture. It was shipped by steamboats from Cincinnati, and landed at 'Coon River Point.
VOL. I-(16). 241
242
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Soon after, a large three-story brick, the first in the city for factory use, was erected on Locust Street, near the bridge, wherein all work was done by hand, until 1882, when steam power and machinery was put in. This was soon followed by a five-story brick, with stone front and basement, on Third Street, the first of its kind. It was for the wholesale trade. It is now used for the mantel and undertaking departments ..
In 1866, the retail business of the city had moved westward, and trade increased beyond the capacity of the Third Street house, and another move was necessitated. A fine structure, 44x132 feet, of brick, with stone front, was erected on Walnut Street, again the first of its kind. In the meantime, the wholesale trade had out- grown its quarters, and an immense three-story warehouse and upholstery factory at Sixth Avenue and Market Street was erected.
Harbach's faith in the future growth of the city thus prompted the building of the first three, four, five, and six story business buildings therein, and set the pace for others to follow.
During all these years, he has been an extensive employer of skilled labor in the various departments of his business, often reach- ing a hundred and fifty men, and thus helped to build homes and add to the wealth of the community.
For several years, he was a director and stockholder of the Des Moines Savings Bank.
When the movement for securing a new Postoffice was inaugu- rated, he was selected by the business men of the city to negotiate the purchase of property necessary for the site, a duty requiring considerable skill and good judgment, involving a deal with a dozen different lot owners, and a public alley. He executed the task to the satisfaction of all concerned-with the possible exception of the East Siders-purchased the site for one hundred and fifty thousand dollars cash, and deeded it to Uncle Sam as a donation from the business men of the city.
During the year past, he has retired from active business, and the name which for more than forty years has been a household word in Des Moines, will pass into history, and that which has been so important a factor in the upbuilding of the town, will be put in the hands of his four sons, to the manner born, who will
243
LOUIS HARBACH
abandon the Walnut Street house, the retail trade, the Locust Street factory, and concentrate the business in an immense factory and warehouse at No. 100 South Fifth, a change in business affairs which grows in diversification the more it is contemplated.
Politically, Harbach is a Democrat. He has never sought nor held a public office; yet has exercised the duty of every citizen, to give his influence in favor of good government. The Church, the School, and all things that conserve to the best interest of society, have received his liberal support. Positive in temperament, reti- cent in speech, conservative in thought and action, an extensive property holder, prominent in business affairs, he has aided very largely in the growth and prosperity of the community.
March Fifth, 1905.
WILLIAM H. MEACHAM
T HE title to land and the military control of affairs of Polk County expired on the booming of the cannon at The Fort, at midnight, October Twelfth, 1845.
Through the personal effort of William H. Meacham, a meeting was held two days after, on the Fourteenth, at the cabin of John Scott, when the first step was taken to establish local civil govern- ment for the county and town. About twenty persons were present, nearly all residents of The Fort-plain, common people, who believed that good government was founded in justice and equity. There was no local form of government in existence-military con- trol had ceased. Meacham was elected Chairman. The object of the meeting was the organization of an Association to protect them- selves against claim jumpers and speculators. A committee was appointed to prepare by-laws for the Association. It was a gather- ing of stalwart, earnest men, who had laid the foundation of homes, and did not want to be despoiled of them by speculators and land sharks constantly roaming the country, ready to seize upon every opportunity to take advantage of the ignorance or inadvertence of the settler to sequestrate whatever they could get hold of.
The following is a verbatim report of the committee, as it appears on the original record :
"The Committee Taking in Consideration the Rapped Emagra- tion to this cuntry think It Proper to Form the Following Buy Laws, to Viz:
"SECTION ONE .- Resolved, That all Persons over the age of Sixteen Years Doeing for them Selves hav the right to make a claim them Selves or threw thare Agents.
"SEC. Two .- Resolved, that all Persons ma claim Three HHd and Twenty Acres in Too Separate Parcels and no moar.
"SEC. THREE .- Resolved, that all Persons making a Claim Shall Mark It out By Blazing or Staking in sutch a mannar that the Lines ma bee Esaly Traist.
245
246
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
"SEC. FOUR .- Resolved, that all Persons making Claims on the Des Moines and Rac Coon Rivers, The Rivers Shall constitute one Line of said Claim.
"SEC. FIVE .- Resolved, that the First Person Marking out A claim after the Legal Time be the Lawful Oner.
"SEC. SIX .- Resolved, that all Persons Marking thare Claims out as Designated in Section Third and Building a House within Sixtey days, at least Fourteen Feett Squair, Four round High, Shall hold Six Months from the time of Marking Said Claim.
"SEC. SEVEN .- Resolved, that all Unresidents after every Six months shal putt on Twenty Five Dollars worth of Work or caus to be don on said Claim or forfit his Claim.
SEC. EIGHT .- Resolved, that any Person having difficultys in relation to thare claims, It shall be thare duty for each person to choos an arbatrator and tha too when choosen choos the third Per- sen to settle Sutch Diffaculties.
SEC. NINE .- Resolved, that thare be a committee of Eleven to call out the People to Settle Claim Diffaculties when tha cant be otherwise Settled.
SEC. TEN .- Resolved, that after these Resolutions be adopted and sined tha bee in full foarse."
The resolutions were adopted, twenty names were affixed thereto, and Meacham was elected Chairman of the Association.
Three years later, in April, 1848, at a meeting of the settlers in Polk County, Meacham was again elected Chairman, and a Claim Club organized, similar to the former Association, with an addi- tional provision for a Vigilance Committee to enforce the regu- lations.
Meacham was for several years a Captain on sea-going vessels, and had many of the characteristics of that class of men. He was an ardent Methodist, and was familiarly called "Father Meacham" by the brethren. He lived in a log cabin on the East Side, near the river ford, which was near the present east end of Locust Street bridge. While he did not keep a tavern, he never refused the hos- pitality of his home to strangers, an accommodation of great benefit to persons coming in the night, too late to attempt to ford the river, as the course was crooked, the exit from the east being near Walnut
247
WILLIAM H. MEACHAM
Street. He also had a farm on the East Side, adjoining that of "Aleck" Scott on the north, the Government Road dividing them.
In 1845, Meacham and nine others met in one of the log cabins and organized what is now the First Methodist Church. Services were held in the cabins of the society members. What they lacked in numbers, they made up in zeal and enthusiasm. Reverend Ezra Rathbun, a very talented man, who worked on week days, at what- ever he could get to do, did the preaching for them.
At the termination of the treaty with the Indians, the Govern- ment withheld a tract four miles square around The Fort, and in January, 1846, Congress ceded to Polk County one hundred and sixty acres of the four miles square, for a County Seat, an act which has not a duplicate in the records of Congress.
Perry L. Crossman, Clerk of the District Court, was ordered to divide the county into voting precincts, and make the necessary arrangements for an election, April Sixth, 1846, to elect county officers, for organizing the county, to hold office until the regular election in August. At the April election, Meacham was elected as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, and by that board, its Chairman. He was also one of the Judges of Election for Des Moines Precinct.
During the year 1846 occurred the notable contest for location of the County Seat, in which Brooklyn, Lafayette, Polk City, and other ambitious settlements were contestants, which has already been set forth in these reminiscences.
In June, 1846, Meacham and Saylor, as County Commission- ers, met to adopt measures to survey the one hundred and sixty acres, and for the sale of town lots. It was ordered that A. D. Jones, County Surveyor, proceed at once to survey and lay out the town, and that sale of the town lots at auction be held July Fif- teenth, the lots to be sold for payment at six, twelve and eighteen months.
Jones at once made the survey. As he had no chain, he used a rope, which must have got wet and shrunk, for when he had finished the plat, he found that there was considerable shortage. On the Eighth of July, he certified to the Commissioners that he had made the survey, and filed a plat of the town . It is known in all legal
248
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
conveyances as the "Original Town." It was bounded on the south by Elm, east by Des Moines River, north by Locust Street, and west by Eighth Street.
At the public sale of lots, on the Fifteenth of July, the first pay- ments received were sufficient to furnish quite a fund for public use. But one lot was sold for spot cash, twenty-seven dollars and a half, it being one of the lots now occupied by Green's foundry, on Second Street. The lots at the northeast corner of Third Street and Court Avenue, where the Sherman Block is, sold for thirty-five dollars; northeast corner of Third and Walnut streets, eighteen dollars; southeast corner of Fifth Street and Court Avenue, oppo- site the Postoffice, fifty-two dollars, purchased for investment, there being no business demand west of Third Street; southwest corner of Second Street and Court Avenue, thirty dollars; northeast cor- ner Second and Market streets, one hundred and six dollars.
The entire Block Thirty-seven, at The Point, near 'Coon bridge, was once sold for eight hundred and sixty-three dollars, and lot Six, next to the southeast corner of the block, soon after sold for one hundred and seventy-five dollars. The same year, the corner of Eighth and Locusts streets sold for twenty-five dollars, these being the extreme points of lot buying.
The corner occupied by The Register and Leader was sold for thirty-seven dollars, the lot adjoining east for thirty-five dollars, and in 1866, it was sold for eight thousand four hundred and fifty dollars.
In 1847, the lots where the new Postoffice is to stand were sold for sixty-five dollars. They were sold last year, as the Postoffice site, for fifty thousand dollars, spot cash.
In July, 1850, lot Five, in block Fourteen, sold for thirty dol- lars. It and lot Five adjoining were valued for assessment at one hundred and twenty-two dollars. On these lots is the Youngerman Block, corner of Fifth and Mulberry streets. I have been told Youngerman paid for them twenty thousand dollars. I was offered them in 1866 for two thousand dollars.
At the election in October, 1847, the boundaries as described on the plat were adopted, and in April of that year, the newly-elected County Commissioners authorized Mr. Mckay, the County Agent,
249
WILLIAM H. MEACHAM
to sell all the "houses, rails, and all other property belonging to the county, at auction," and the sale was made, but it was soon discov- ered that the County Commissioners had been selling lots and prop- erty to which they had no title. Robert A. Kinzie held a claim granted by Captain Allen, Commander of The Fort, commencing at the mouth of 'Coon River, thence up Des Moines River half a mile to an oak tree, thence west half a mile to an oak tree, thence south to an elm tree, thence southeast to 'Coon River, containing about one-half section of land, with all the building and improve- ments thereon.
Doctor P. B. Fagen also held a claim for a quarter section, which also lay within the platted town. It was, therefore, neces- sary for the county to secure title to these claims, which was done by Kinzie giving a quit-claim deed in consideration of the sum of five hundred dollars, and Fagen likewise for three hundred dollars, which evidences the sense of exact justice which prompted the founders of the town, for they could have made much more money by holding on a few years.
At the second term of the District Court, in September, 1846, Meacham was one of the Grand Jury. There was a large docket of cases before it, but no indictments were found, and the defend- ants were all dismissed.
In 1847, I think, Meacham was elected Justice of the Peace. The magistrates in those days were not presumed to be versed in ethics of law, and, moreover, the income was not very attractive. They were usually selected for their good judgment and common- sense, and the office was accepted more as a matter of public spirit, and some honor, than otherwise. The records of their proceedings were often humorous. An instance is a case to establish the owner- ship of a certain steer. The Esquire's record says :
"I turned to the plaintiff's wife and asked if the steer in ques- tion had any white on its tail, and she answered, 'No,' whereupon the steer in question was produced, and, being examined, it was found there were white hairs in the end of its tail. Judgment was therefore rendered for defendant and two dollars and twenty-five cents costs, and the steer delivered to defendant."
Meacham held the office for several years, became a terror to horse thieves and claim jumpers, and was noted for his zeal and
250
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
courage in running them down and driving them out of the country. He finally became a monomaniac on the subject. In the excite- ment of some occasions, his old "sea-dog" habits got the better of him, and he would swear vigorously, which he subsequently would reproachfully confess. There were a lot of general marauders in Camp Township, known as the Ridgeway Gang, suspected of horse stealing, and even worse crimes. One.of them, named Kesner, had a bad reputation and was handy with a gun. Meacham went after him once. Fully arming himself for an emergency, he went to the fellow's house, quickly opened the door, and went in. Kesner saw him, knew what was coming, and reached for his gun, when Mea- cham leveled his gun on him, commanded him to throw up his hands, or he would be a dead man quick, emphasizing it with a volley of vigorous swear words, and Kesner surrendered without resistance.
On another occasion, a most brutal murder had been committed near the Poweshiek County line. The whole country was aroused. The Ridgeway Gang was suspected of being parties to it. Mea- cham, with an armed possé, arrested Ridgeway and a son-in-law and brought them to the Sheriff's office, but, there not being suffi- cient evidence to hold them, they were released. Ridgeway then had Meacham arrested for false imprisonment, but public senti- ment was so strong against the gang that he was released. Ridge- way's testimony in the case, however, was so crooked that he was arrested for perjury and brought before Will Porter, then a Justice of the Peace, and bound over to the Grand Jury. It was decided to accept no one on the appearance bond but some of the suspected Gang, and when the time came for further hearing, the whole Gang and their families had left the country. In the meantime, however, one of the Gang had been captured by a Vigilance Committee and left hanging to a tree in Poweshiek County.
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.