USA > Iowa > Polk County > Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa, and reminiscences of early days, Vol. I > Part 19
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In 1847, lumber was scarce. There was no saw mill nearer than Parmelee's mill, ten miles down the river. Meacham put in opera- tion a circular saw, near the east side of the river, between Locust and Walnut streets, with which he turned out about two thousand feet of lumber a day, in fair weather, for it stood in open air, and was propelled by six horses. The logs were cut from the dense
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timber just north of Locust Street. It was the first mill started in the town, and was a valuable enterprise.
"Father Meacham" was a good man, active and helpful in pro- moting the welfare of the community. He had a good wife, and this is how he got her. He was driving along the road one day, down near Iowaville, and met a very comely appearing woman walking on the roadside. He halted and accosted her :
"Are you a married woman ?"
"No, sir," was the reply.
"Then you are the woman I have been looking for. Will you marry me ?"
After a moment's consideration, she said, "Yes."
It must have been so, for he often related it, and she never denied it.
In 1859, I think, his physical system broke down and he went to his rest.
March Twelfth, 1905.
JAMES CALLANAN
JAMES CALLANAN
NE of the most notable personages identified with the history of Des Moines for fifty years was James Callanan. Per- sonally, he was known only by a few; yet he was an impor- tant factor in the body politic. His life was a dual one. In one, to the masses, he was a business man and financier, whose sole pur- pose was to acquire wealth; yet it was to secure means to gratify his other self, in the dispensation of practical philanthropy; to reach out for the want, privation, and misery which environ the poor and oppressed ; to the abuses of dumb animals, imposed by the heartlessness of others. It was this side of his life that was little known, and yet it subordinated his other side. He did not carry his heart upon his sleeve. His right hand little knew what his left hand did. Ostentation had no place in a fiber of his being. He shrunk with extreme timidity from public notice. To the inquisi- tions of newspaper reporters he was, always in a kindly manner, a sealed book. He lived very largely within himself. He had no confidants.
In business transactions, he was methodical, exacting and spe- cific. Every agreement must be fulfilled to the very letter, often with great sacrifice and difficulty to those with whom he was deal- ing. For that reason, he was very generally considered a sort of Shylock-too exacting of the "pound of flesh." But it was not uncommon for him, when he found the case was worthy of his beneficence, to cancel the obligation, and destroy the contract, with the admonition to the recipient to say nothing about it. In that way, thousands of dollars were given to worthy persons struggling against the misfortunes of life.
Under the first Constitution of the state, the issue of banknotes, or "the creating of paper to circulate as money," was prohibited. That left the door wide open for banks in other states, and Iowa became the dumping-place for their notes. In 1855-6, the rush for
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land purchases developed a large number of banks, whose business was largely, if not wholly, that of buying land, or furnishing set- tlers with money to purchase land. Speculation was rampant, and much of the money in circulation was of doubtful character and genealogy.
In 1854, one Andrew J. Stevens was elected State Auditor. He served one year and resigned, when he went into the real estate business. Being a man of considerable publicity, he at once became prominent in land speculation, to facilitate which he needed a bank. He induced Callanan and S. R. Ingham, residents of New York, to join him, and the banking firm of A. J. Stevens & Company was started. Down in an obscure place in Tennessee, he bought the charter of the Agricultural Bank of Tennessee, loaded himself with its beautifully engraved notes, and immediately began to unload them on the community. It was "easy come, easy go." Having the prestige of being a local institution, he was enabled to loan it in large blocks, to land-buyers and speculators, taking their indi- vidual promissory notes therefor, with an agreement that he would redeem his banknote when presented at his bank. It was one of the wildest "wild-cat," kiting systems. In 1857, it went down in the financial crash, and thousands of his banknotes are still waiting their redemption.
Callanan and Ingham repudiated Stevens and his business methods, ousted him from the company, and turned their attention to real estate and legitimate banking, Ingham becoming the resident member of the firm. In 1863, the partnership was dissolved, and Callanan found it necessary to come to Des Moines and give per- sonal supervision to his investments. made when on frequent visits here, in 1856-7.
During the hard times of 1856-7, and the War period, Eastern speculators and others, who had purchased land and town lots, found it often impossible to sell enough of their holdings to pay their taxes, which were allowed to lapse, became delinquent, and the land was sold for the taxes. Callanan invested extensively at these sales, with immense profit to himself, as there were very few redemptions of this property.
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It was during the formative period of the town. Being a large property holder, he took great interest in public affairs. Of excel- lent business capacity, conservative and cautious, his counsel and aid was often sought-seldom, if ever, proffered-and so he was an important factor in the betterment of civic, business and social matters.
In 1865, he, with Frank Allen, Frank Palmer, and E. J. Inger- soll, organized the Hawkeye Insurance Company. He was a heavy stockholder, and one of the directors.
For several years it was simply a partnership. He had no faith in the "manifest destiny" sentiment which pertained among the people-that "all roads led to the Capital of the state; that all things must, perforce, come to it." He believed that communi- ties, like individuals, to win success, must go after it. He dis- agreed with the policy which had spurned the proffer of the Chi- cago and Northwestern Railway to come to the city on very reason- able terms, and practically forced it to seek a route to Missouri River elsewhere.
For twenty years the people had anxiously waited the coming of railroads. The old Missouri and Mississippi Road had crept slowly westward to Marengo, where it stopped, and went into the Bankruptcy Court. The Des Moines Valley Road got as far as Pella and halted from sheer impecuniosity. With expectations blasted, hope crushed by repeated disappointments, Callanan, "Jeff" Polk, Ex-Governor Merrill, and a few others began an agi- tation to create public sentiment in favor of narrow-gauge roads radiating in various directions, and in February, 1866, a mass meeting of citizens was held in the Court House, at which the con- sensus of expressed opinion was that such roads would be not only helpful to the town, but beneficial to the territory traversed by them. In accordance therewith, the Iowa and Minnesota Railway Company was organized, to build a narrow-gauge road from Des Moines to the north and south line of the state. Work was begun on a portion of the line north of Polk City and in Warren County. With limited finances, the company struggled along for two years, when creditors began to harass it with court judgments to such extent it was obliged to suspend. The road was bisected, the north
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half was transferred to the Des Moines and Minnesota Railroad Company, which practically meant Polk & Hubbell. The south half was transferred to the Des Moines, Indianola and Missouri Railway Company.
In 1870, the company controlling the north half adopted mea- sures to secure tax aid from townships along the proposed line to Ames. Subsidies to the amount of one hundred and eighty thou- sand dollars were thus secured and tendered to the Chicago and Northwestern to build the road. For two years the Northwestern dallied with the proposition. "Manifest destiny" of the Capital had no allurements for it. It had reached Missouri River. Polk & Hubbell got tired of the dallying, and the local company resolved to build the road. Callanan was induced to take hold of the project. A reorganization was made, and new officers were elected. During that year, the road was built to Ames. It was during the "Granger" or "Patrons of Husbandry" excitement, and to curry a little favor with the dominant fad, the first locomotive on the road was named "The Granger."
Soon after construction was begun, citizens of townships which had voted aid began to harass the company with court injunctions and the right-of-way was nearly plastered with them, thus involv- ing the company in vexatious litigation and expenditures of money which seriously embarrassed its financial affairs.
The wrangles, turmoil and tribulation of the project satisfied Callanan with railroad building, and he withdrew from the busi- ness. That, I think, was the only public industrial enterprise he ever took any part in, and it was his intense interest in the improve- ment of the city that prompted him in that instance. In 1879, the road was transferred to the Chicago and Northwestern, and was changed to the standard gauge.
Callanan's excellent judgment, conservative temperament, and long experience was often sought by leading financial institutions of the city. He was for many years Treasurer of the Hawkeye Insurance Company, and at his decease President of the Capital City Bank, Vice-President of the Citizens National Bank, and a Director of the Valley National Bank.
In 1872, Callanan, with several other citizens, organized the Iowa Loan and Trust Company, with a capital of one hundred
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thousand dollars, and erected the fine building it now occupies, on the spot where stood the original meeting-house of the First Metho- dist Church, and was once the starting point from which the Indians ran their races, to a point where the Water Works now are. The business of the company was to loan money on real estate security, and promote building enterprises. Callanan was a heavy stockholder and one of the Trustees. In that building, of the scores of finely equipped office suites, he selected one isolated room in the southwest corner, on the third floor, where, in accordance with his plain, simple taste, he handled business transactions amounting to millions, amid furniture and fixtures which will probably not add more than fifteen dollars to the value of his estate.
In 1878, it became quite apparent that something must be done to get the city out of the mud which at certain seasons of the year rendered the streets nearly impassable. Some of them had been graded; none paved. They were simply dirt roads. It was not uncommon to see wagons hub deep in mud or the wheels carrying fifty to a hundred pounds of sticky clay, or to see teams stuck fast. The humanitarian spirit of Callanan, his sympathy for dumb ani- mals struggling up steep grades, often under the lash of brutal drivers, prompted him to suggest and advocate a system of paving and sewering. S. A. Robertson, being then in the City Council, took the subject up, and succeeded, after most persistent efforts, in securing the adoption of the system which we have to-day.
In 1879, the subject of facilities for the higher education of girls than was afforded by the public schools, attracted public atten- tion. For boys, colleges and seminaries were numerous, but for girls, they were few and far away. A company was formed of a few public-spirited citizens, who pledged liberal support to a school adapted to that end. That was Callanan's opportunity to work out one of his manifold public benefactions. Although he had no chil- dren to inspire him, he became enthusiastic on the subject, and assumed the burden of the whole project. He purchased the elegant residence of J. B. Stewart, on Pleasant Street, remodeled it, added more to it, fitted and equipped it in luxurious manner to accommo- date two hundred and fifty pupils, at a cost of eighty thousand dollars. He had then laid the foundation for another benefaction.
VOL. I-(17).
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In his boyhood days, he attended a seminary in Cazenovia, New York. Among the teachers was Reverend C. R. Pomeroy and his wife, whom he regarded as his ideals for the management of his new enterprise. He brought them here, and installed them as the head of Callanan College, a name awarded to it by universal assent. The school flourished with success for several years, but such was the rapid advancement of educational facilities in the public schools and the establishment of other colleges, it finally closed. Subse- quently, he leased one of the buildings, to be used as the Musical Department of Drake University. The other, in 1896, he gave the use of to an association of charitable women, for a Home for Aged Christian Women, and it was so occupied for several years, when another location was selected, and the scope of the institution was enlarged to embrace the aged and infirm of both sexes, which is now the Home for the Aged, located on University Avenue.
In 1881, Callanan, with James C. Savery, formed the American Emigrant Company. They purchased so-called swamp lands- land which had been thrown out by the Government Surveyors when surveying the public lands as of doubtful utility for farm purposes, and considered valueless. These lands were purchased all over the state and sold to emigrants and actual settlers at low prices, thus, while bringing wealth to the company, it added largely to the population and industrial wealth of the state, for the lands proved to be valuable for farm purposes. Polk County's second Court House was partly built and her Poor Farm was purchased with proceeds from the sale of swamp lands, which now command a high price as well-cultivated farms.
In 1900, the Methodist people of the state began a movement for the establishment of a hospital. The Methodist Hospital Asso- ciation was formed, and Callanan was appealed to for aid in the enterprise. He heartily approved the movement and offered the two college buildings and ground on Pleasant Street, which had cost him eighty thousand dollars, at a valuation of sixty thousand dollars, for thirty thousand dollars. The proffer was accepted, and the property was deeded to the Association. The remodeling of the building was at once commenced. Callanan had great con- fidence in the lay members of the Hospital Association, as he had
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also deep interest in the institution, and two years ago gave the Association thirty thousand dollars cash, conditioned that he be paid semi-annually six hundred dollars during his lifetime. The annuities were paid promptly-three of them-when he passed away. He was solicited to permit the hospital to bear his name, but he refused.
One of the directors of the Association, who was an intimate friend of his, and who probably knew the humanitarian side of his life as well as any other person, said to me:
"I held him in higher regard than any layman I ever knew, as being, in a high and good sense, the greatest and best man Iowa has produced. While there have been in public life men who have suc- ceeded in public careers, men of greater minds, none had the great brain and kindly heart which he possessed, and so I regarded him as the peer of them all."
The hospital is now practically completed, a magnificent fire- proof structure, equipped with the best and most approved appli- ances, and has a capacity to care for three thousand persons annu- ally, regardless of nationality, religion or color-a notable public improvement, and a credit to the public-spirited members of the Association who planned and secured it.
While Callanan was public-spirited and always interested in civic affairs, it is to the humanitarian side of his life the city is most indebted. I have stated that he invested extensively in tax titles by purchasing land sold for delinquent taxes. In numerous instances, where he found on examination-it was never in his heart to do wrong to any person-that the delinquency was caused by some misfortune, that the owner of the property was honest, temperate and industrious, possibly a widow struggling against poverty with a family of small children, to give them his deed to the property and throw in the taxes, with the request to say nothing about it.
I recall an instance of a promising young man, whose physical system had become seriously impaired. He applied to Callanan for assistance to procure medical aid. He was loaned money, for which he gave his promissory note. He was sent to a hospital in Chicago, his expenses paid, and on his return his note was surren- dered to him.
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The poor people, regardless of race or color, and dumb animals, and the amelioration of their condition, were constant objects of his thought and studied effort. When the storms of Winter came, "What will become of them ?" worried him, and in many untold ways he brought relief to poverty-stricken houses, and rescue to dumb animals. Said L. M. Mann to me a few days ago: "I went one morning to his office, and he seemed greatly depressed, and not in good spirits. He said to me: 'I was greatly troubled all last night; could not sleep, for all through the day yesterday, through the Humane Society, there was poured into my ears tales of suffer- ing and want of poor people, dumb animals poorly fed, unshod horses falling when forced to draw heavy loads over the slippery streets, or being cruelly beaten by their drivers.'"
So it was, naturally, that when the Des Moines Humane Society was organized, he was made its President, and so continued to his death. It was the special object of his support and care. No limit was put upon its benefactions, except that of reason and good judg- ment. Whatever was required or necessary must be provided, and the means thereto were furnished while he lived, and in his last will and testament he gave the Society twenty thousand dollars, conditioned that Mrs. Elizabeth D. Jones be retained as Secretary during her life, and that she be paid an annual salary of eight hun- dred dollars out of the bequest. A further sum of fifty thousand dollars was given for general charitable purposes. He was prouder of being President of the Humane Society than of the places held in banks or financial institutions, or of all his stocks and bonds, for through it he could help the helpless.
He was especially fond of children. The number of friendless boys and girls who have received his generous help will never be known.
He was not a churchman, but to churches of all denominations he was a liberal giver.
He was a friend of the colored race, and embraced every oppor- tunity to improve its condition, through churches and schools. From 1866 to 1870, H. S. De Forrest, D. D., was pastor of Plym- outh Congregational Church, in Des Moines. During his pastorate, he and Callanan became firm friends. After the close of his pastor- ate, De Forrest went to Talladega, Alabama, where, in 1879, he
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was elected President of a flourishing industrial school for the negro race. Callanan and Ex-Governor Samuel Merrill purchased a fine, large mansion and presented it to the College for a home for De Forrest, who occupied it until 1896, when he was accidentally killed. Callanan's great interest in the college prompted his munificent bequest of one hundred thousand dollars in his will.
To Des Moines Benedict Home for Unfortunate Girls he gave ten thousand dollars ; to the Salvation Army, twenty thousand dol- lars; to Des Moines College, five thousand dollars; to the Iowa Humane Society, fifty thousand dollars.
March Nineteenth, 1905.
CHARLES WEITZ
CHARLES WEITZ
I
CANNOT avoid mention in these reminiscences of old-timers of friend Weitz, who, from his genial nature, good humor, and sociability, was known as "Charley" by everybody here in the early days.
He was born in Schotten, Germany, about thirty miles from the city of Frankfort, in Hesse-Darmstadt, May Fourth, 1826. His father, Heinrich Weitz, was born in the same locality, and spent his entire life there. The son, Charles, one of four children, attended school until he was fourteen years of age, and was then apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, with whom he remained for two years. At the termination of this apprenticeship, he took his future entirely in his own hands, and started out full of ambition and vigor, to increase his knowledge by visiting most of the large cities in Germany, France, and Switzerland. He not only added this to his equipment for success in his chosen vocation, but also developed a broader mental culture, an ambition characteristic of his entire life. He learned to speak French and English as fluently as he did his native tongue. In 1847, he was drafted into the army, and served two years during the War of 1848. In 1850, he determined to visit the New World, so in the Spring of that year, he and his brother, Christian, sailed for New York. There he remained but a short time, coming west to Ashland, then to Columbus, Ohio, where he began to work at his trade in earnest. A chance news- paper item caught his eye, telling of the removal of the Capital of Iowa from Iowa City to Des Moines. He concluded that the Capital of Iowa would be a good place to plant himself and grow up with the country. Accordingly, he sailed into Des Moines, early in 1855, in a prairie schooner, propelled by two mules, so he says, crossing Des Moines River on "Aleck" Scott's flat-boat, there being no bridges. His first move was to find a place to live. Houses were scarce, and most of them contained two or more families.
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Being a carpenter, he decided to build a house for himself, and meanwhile domiciled as best he could. He purchased a lot on the corner of what is now Eighth and Pleasant streets, for which he paid five hundred dollars, a big price at that time for so isolated a spot, but he wanted to live in the shadow of the State House, which was to be placed on Grimmel's Hill. He didn't know the East Siders as well as he does now.
The lot secured, the next move was for lumber, of which there was none in the town. He went down the river several miles, selected and bought trees, had them cut down, sawed into lumber at Newcomer's mill, hauled it here, and built a small one-story house of two rooms. He had got it enclosed when, about the middle of May, Dan Vieser, a cabinet-maker, well known in early days, made his appearance in search of a job and place to live. So soon as he got across the river, he accosted the first man he met, which was down near Second Street, with:
"Can you tell me where 'Charley' Weitz lives ?"
"Do you see that small new house away out yonder in the grubs, on the side hill ? That's his house," was the answer.
Dan. was not long in reaching it, and making known to "Char- ley" his wants.
Early settlers were hospitable and kind. There was not much refinement, but there was generosity, good fellowship, and com- munity of interest which prompted them to help each other. So "Charley" offered Dan and his wife half of his house, and to feed them until they could get a better place.
There being no machinery here for making what is called "matched flooring," loose boards were laid to set the stove on, a few others on which to set a dry goods box, used for a table, also for a cupboard, which, when the meal was over, was pushed into a corner and the boards shifted about to set the bed on. Seats were impro- vised from whatever was handy. The walls were not plastered. The lumber was green and filled with sap. It so shrunk in drying that when the Winter storms came, the snow drifted in, so that it was often necessary to turn out in the night and move the bed and the floor, repeating the process if the wind shifted, or sleep under a snow-drift. One night, Dan. turned out, stepped on the loose end of a board, which tipped up, landing him in the cellar.
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In due time, came an increase in "Charley's" family, and more space was required. The small house was removed, and a larger one, of two stories, erected to accommodate his seven kids. It was sufficient for several years, but was removed and the present elegant and modern residence erected.
"Charley's" second objective point after landing was bread and butter. His first job was putting the windows in the basement of the Savery House (now the Kirkwood), which the genial host of that hostelry may be pleased to know was first used for cutting, curing and packing pork.
"Charley" had difficulty in getting work to do. For some reason, the bosses would not employ him. He therefore decided to be his own boss. His first contract was to build a drug store down near 'Coon Point, on Second Street. It was built, with all its inside fittings, of black walnut lumber. He thus became the first building contractor in the town. His merit as a mechanic, integrity and good fellowship soon secured him abundant business, and for many years he has been one of the largest contractors in the city.
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