USA > Iowa > Polk County > Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa, and reminiscences of early days, Vol. I > Part 6
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
In 1850, the Doctor was the Whig candidate for Probate Judge, his opponent being J. C. Jones. Probably owing to the Doctor's profession, the Democrats didn't want him to administer their estates, and they elected Jones by a vote of seventy-six to one hun- dred and eight.
In 1852, the farmers, beginning to have ambition and pride in their doings, had an agricultural Fair in the Court House yard. Brooks, who was a lover of the horse, drove some fine steppers, a pseudo farmer, exhibited some good equine specimens merely to set "the boys" thinking.
75
DOCTOR T. K. BROOKS
In 1853-4, the Doctor, with W. A. Scott, John S. Dean, J. M. and Harry Griffiths, and the two Lyons, began to build up a town by laying out and platting additions on the East Side. They were all hustlers, sharp, shrewd, and, to emphasize their individuality, disregard and disrespect for The Fort, they adopted "East Demoin" as the corporate name of their new town, and so it went in their real estate conveyances and on record. The Doctor built a fine residence near the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, in which he resided until his death.
In the Spring of 1853, the State Agricultural Society was formed, and its first Exhibition was held at Fairfield, in the Fall. The Doctor, "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell and Judge Wm. McKay were the Directors for Polk County.
In 1855, when the contest for the permanent location of the State House came on, the Doctor, with Scott, the Griffiths, the Lyons, Doctor A. B. Shaw, and others, formed an Association-a sort of close corporation-so close its ways were never disclosed- to provide the necessary means to induce the Legislative Commis- sion, who were authorized to receive bonus, lots or aid of any kind, to fix the location on that side. The West Siders wanted it put on Grimmel's Hill, between Fourth and Eighth streets, School Street and Grand Avenue.
They subscribed to a fund $159,250, to be paid if there located. By some peculiar system of financiering, the East Siders won. The West Siders were mad. They charged all sorts of sculduggery against the East Siders-that, whereas the money subscribed on the West Side was to be paid to the State, on the East Side it all went into the pockets of somebody else. It is a fact, however, that some of the men in it lost large sums, and if the truth was known, some of the Legislative Commission got more than their two dollars per diem while making their investigation.
During this year, the Doctor was drawn to serve on the Grand Jury, and was made Foreman. In those days the County Com- missioners issued licenses to keep "groceries," which, being inter- preted, meant the privilege to sell "corn juice" and "tangle-foot" with tea, coffee, and sugar. The traffic, however, became so demor- alizing that the Legislature cut it out, and prohibited the sale of
76
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
intoxicating liquors except by a duly authorized County Agent. The agent for Polk County was Doctor D. V. Cole. He was given one thousand dollars with which to purchase a supply of "pure, unadul- terated liquor for medical, mechanical and sacramental purposes," -so runs the record. The "purposes" were often very "mechan- ically" construed by purchasers, whose veracity was not very seri- ously questioned. It was not surprising, therefore, that there was notable increase of "sickness" and "mechanical industries," or that the "County Grocery" did a thriving business. The record, how- ever, does not disclose any spiritual revival among the churches.
When Judge McFarland came, with his District Court and Grand Jury, he was unusually sober. He instructed the jury that it was a part of their duty to look for probable infraction of the laws, and especially the sale and quality of the "goods" kept at the County Agency. The jury-fifteen of them-proceeded forthwith to the examination, spending several hours testing the liquor, espe- cially for purity, at the suggestion of the foreman. They finally returned to the Court House filled with the satisfactoriness of their work-in fact, it was said, too full for utterance-filed their report, at once adjourned, and went home. The Judge, learning the jury had returned, ordered the bailiff peremptorily to bring them into court. Being told that they had gone home, he inquired if there was "anything left." He was told there was a sample of "the best" on file in the Sheriff's office; he thereupon adjourned court, and invited the lawyers to go with him and "test it."
On another occasion, when the Judge was "full," the jury appeared before him for instructions. Straightening himself up, he said :
"Gentlemen of the Jury: You will (hic) find the law of Iowa in the laws of Iowa. It is your (hic) duty, gentlemen, to see that the law (hic) is obeyed, and that it is not violated. You are made (hic), gentlemen, a body to inquire into every breach (hic) of the law, and to do this you're duly sworn (hic)-sworn-sworn. If you have prob'ble (hic) cause to believe that liquor has been sold by the dram (hic), you must make presentment to the court. For your instructions (hic), I will say that a dram of whiskey is a (hic) mule's ear full. Mr. Foreman, you will indict (hic) every
77
DOCTOR T. K. BROOKS
man in the world (hic). Mr. Clerk, you will let (hic) Mr. Fore- man have all the books in the (hic) world. You will retire, gentle- men to your (hic)-adjourn the court, Mr. (hic) Sheriff, to one o'clock."
The Doctor was especially interested in educational matters, and gave to public schools his earnest, vigorous support. In 1856, when the Lutheran Church State Conference decided to establish a col- lege here, he was elected one of the Board of Trustees. The hard times of 1857 brought failure to the project, and the property passed to Elder Nash, and became what is now Des Moines College after several changes of name and location.
In 1860 and 1867, the Doctor was the Alderman from the Sixth Ward in the City Council, and a vigorous, active member of that body.
In 1864, the Soldiers' Relief Society was organized, with Mayor Leas President and the Doctor Vice-President. In December, a festival was held, at which the net proceeds were four thousand two hundred and forty-five dollars and twenty-eight cents. Every- body was open-handed, and during the year the society raised seven thousand two hundred and sixty-one dollars and thirty-five cents. Added to this were generous donations by civic societies, churches and individuals. In this benevolent service, the Doctor devoted his most earnest effort; for with him relief to the call of suffering was paramount.
He died in 1868, after a short illness, of pneumonia, aged fifty- seven, leaving a record of earnest, forcible effort to promote the prosperity and best interests of the city and county.
June Nineteenth, 1904.
ROBERT L. TIDRICK
ROBERT L. TIDRICK
O F the pioneers of the city, none were more thoroughly identi- fied with its history, or a part of it during the first thirty years, than R. L. Tidrick. He arrived here in May, 1847, fresh from a law school, and at once opened a private school in one of the log barrack buildings on 'Coon Row. That the school was popular is evidenced by the large attendance of scholars from all parts of the county. In the Fall, he joined Major William McKay, who subsequently became Judge of the District Court, in the prac- tice of law.
In the Spring of 1848, he was appointed Postmaster, to succeed Doctor Brooks, and removed the office to the law office of P. M. Casady, on Second Street, near Vine. He held the office one year, when he formed a partnership with Casady in the law and real estate business, the land business having increased to large propor- tions by the influx of settlers.
In April, 1848, at a meeting of citizens of the county, the Set- tlers' Claim Club was organized, consisting of one hundred mem- bers, for the purpose of protecting settlers from speculators and claim jumpers. For some time before lands were surveyed or open to homestead entry, settlers had come, staked out claims and com- menced the cultivation of farms and building of houses, awaiting the time when they could be formally entered and secured through the Government Land Office. Meanwhile, speculators from the East, with ample funds, went all over the country, selected the most desirable spots, and made a record thereof, with the intent to over- bid the settler and real claimant when the lands were offered for sale at the Land Office. Claim jumpers also abounded, who would take advantage of a settler's temporary absence or sickness, so as not to be present at the land sale. In other parts of the state there had been very many of these claim troubles. Actual and bona fide settlers were despoiled and robbed of their homes, even murders
79
80
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
were committed, and in some counties mob law reigned. It was to provide better protection and prevent mob violence that the club was formed here. Rules were adopted and committees elected to enforce the rules, the first of which was :--
"We will protect all persons who do or may hold claims, against the interference of any person who shall attempt to deprive such claim holders of their claims and improvements, by preemption or otherwise."
It was also declared that every person who attempted to interfere with the rights of a claim holder should be deemed a nuisance, and abated; and they be notified by the proper committee to leave the vicinity and county, with pledged authority to enforce the order to travel.
Strict vigilance was kept by members of the club. Strangers going through the county found it eminently proper to keep their hands off from land claims. If they became suspicious of any scheme against a settler, they were emphatically and convincingly shown that their personal safety was in their absence from the community.
A short time prior to the land sale at Iowa City, an immense meeting of the club and settlers was held, and Tidrick was elected bidder to attend the sale at Iowa City, and a platoon of stalwart men were selected as his body-guard, to go thoroughly equipped to meet what might come. Their presence was sufficient to secure the adjustment of nearly every claim presented from this county, at the minimum price of one dollar and a quarter per acre. Not a speculator dared to raise a bid when made by Tidrick. By this unity of action and the cool-headedness of Tidrick, the county was saved the turmoil and disturbances which prevailed elsewhere. Subsequent to this, whenever dispute arose respecting a claim, the Club Committee settled it. There was no appeal from it. If one of the contestants was suspected to be a speculator, he was informed that the roads were in good condition for traveling, and fence rails, tar and feathers accessible.
A single incident will illustrate the methods. It was after the Land Office had been removed to Des Moines. A man came here named Bates, who disported himself with considerable pomposity
81
ROBERT L. TIDRICK
about the taverns. The land sales were brisk. The town was full of settlers entering their claims and making purchases. He made it known that he was here to buy land; that he had money, plenty to buy all he wanted and pay the price according to law. He didn't care a continental about Claim Clubs. He would buy a claim if he got a chance. One morning when the sale opened, a settler's claim in Walnut Township was put up and he made a bid on it. Instantly he was surrounded by a group of stalwart, determined men, and two rails planted vertically in front of him, with several old shotguns and pistols outlying. He was politely invited to take a walk. He was escorted to the river bank. He sat down. A strong guard was left with him. The water in the river was cold. What might happen after night came on was uncertain. The doings of the Club Committee in such cases were never made public, as a rule. He pondered over the subject until darkness came, when he collapsed, and made a pledge that he would offer no more interfer- ence with settlers' claims, and he was permitted to travel.
"Jim" Miller, over here in the post office, remembers one night when he was living over east of Capitol Hill. He was awakened from sleep by some disturbance outside. He hustled out to learn the cause. A few rods from the house was a deep well, near which could be dimly discerned a posse of men. "Jim" advanced to see who they were, when he was told to stay where he was, and "in the morning go to Moody's store and get a well rope." He obeyed orders. The next morning the well rope was gone, and at Moody's a new well rope sixty feet long was waiting for him, charges all paid, but by whom he never knew. He asked no questions. There were occasions in those days when inquisitiveness was folly.
In November, 1850, Tidrick was appointed Prosecuting Attor- ney, to fill a vacancy, and served until the next election, in April, when J. M. Perry, a loquacious and somewhat consequential law- yer, was elected, who gained some notoriety on one occasion by running up against Judge Byron Rice, an incident more properly to be noted in sketches of the Judge later on.
In 1852, the rush for land by home-seekers throughout the cen- tral part of the state began to increase rapidly. For them to tra- verse the country to make their selection, often fifty to a hundred
VOL. I-(6).
82
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
miles, then go to Iowa City to make a formal entry and pay for it was an enormous expense, for those, in most cases, unable to bear it. After repeated petitions of the Iowa Legislature for relief from the Government, in September, a Land Office was established here, and the following April Tidrick was appointed Register, held the place one year, and resigned because of bad health. The office was in the Exchange Block, corner of Third and Walnut streets. The tide of land-seekers at once set in here; the town was crowded day and night. With it floated in the speculators. Everybody was on the rush. The man who had selected a tract a hundred miles away was in a hurry to get it entered lest it be done by another who had been there before him. The jurisdiction of the Polk County Claims Club didn't extend to this traffic, which covered all the state north and west of Polk County, and west of Grundy County. For two or three years this was a lively town.
In 1855, having been out of business for two years by bad health, Tidrick became a partner with Hoyt Sherman and Judge Casady in the banking and real estate business at Third and Wal- nut streets.
When the State House contest between the East Side and West Side came on, Tidrick put up one thousand dollars to have the Capitol placed on Grimmel's Hill, and was very active to beat the East Siders.
In 1856, the Sherman Block, at Third Street and Court Avenue, was built, and occupied by the banking firm of Sherman, Casady & Tidrick, the post office, general business offices, then for county and city offices. It was for several years the trade center.
In 1857, when the prefix "Fort" was dropped and the city sim- ply became Des Moines, at the election in April, Tidrick was elected Alderman from the Fourth Ward, and in 1879 was elected Mayor.
In 1860, he organized the Des Moines Iron Works, which, with several mutations and expansions, is still doing business at East First Street and Court Avenue, as the Des Moines Manufacturing and Supply Company.
In 1876, he joined the Association which built the Exposition Building, at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars, at Eighth and Walnut streets (now the Iliad), for the permanent exhibition of
83
ROBERT L. TIDRICK
Art and Industry of the state. With persistent boosting and energy of the promoters, it was a success for a couple of years, but, being ahead of time, it failed for want of support, and was transformed to a printing house by Frank Mills, who occupied it until he quit business, when it was changed to its present form. The original promoters sunk several thousand dollars in the enterprise, which was intended not so much for profit as a benefit and help to the city.
In May, 1888, Tidrick was again appointed Register of the Land Office, and held the office one year, when he retired from all active business.
He was an efficient, active member of the Brotherhood of Early Settlers, and for many years its Recording Secretary. It was what is now known as the Old Settlers' Association.
He was a quiet, unostentatious man, not a politician or a place- seeker, yet often selected for places of trust. He was a man of few words, without forensic ability, quite unlike his long-time business partner, Judge Casady, yet in his own way, beginning with an edu- cational effort, he helped materially to mould and build the city, and became quite wealthy. He died October Twenty-fourth, 1894.
July Third, 1904.
DR. FRANCIS C. GRIMMEL
DOCTOR FRANCIS C. GRIMMEL
O NE of the very early settlers here who made their impress upon the city, and for sixteen years was one of the foremost, energetic, respected citizens, was Doctor F. C. Grimmel.
In August, 1846, in Ohio, he gathered together his family, con- sisting of his wife, three sons and two daughters, and, with four wagons loaded with household goods and a small lot of drugs, drawn by ten horses, he set out for Fort Des Moines. He arrived here late at night, October Fifteenth, having to ford the river between Grand Avenue and Walnut Street, there being no bridges. There was not a place for them to unload, and they camped out, as they had every night during the journey.
The next morning, the only vacant or available place to be had was the large, oblong, log Guard House used by the soldiers, which stood near the present northeast corner of Third and Vine streets, and fronted on the Parade Ground, the north line of which was Vine Street, east line Fourth Street, west line Sixth Street, south, 'Coon River.
The house was divided into two compartments about fourteen feet square, with small iron-barred windows. The chinking between the logs had broken away, and, to make it endurable, the wagon covers were fastened to the walls. The Winter was severe. In con- tradistinction from the "old-fashioned" Winters talked of nowa- days, that was a typical one. The mercury fell to thirty-six below zero, many cattle and hogs froze to death; the earth was frozen so hard, to dig a grave for the burial of a person, logs and wood had to burned to thaw it so as to render it penetrable with a spade. Provisions were scarce, and there was much suffering throughout the country. The Doctor's family got out of meat. Doctor Brooks came over one day to make a friendly visit with the new comers, discovered the paucity of their larder, and, with his proverbial goodness, at evening brought a quarter of beef. There was no place
85
86
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
inside to put it. There were seven persons and a drug store in two small rooms. Ice boxes and refrigerators had not materialized ; there was no cellar. It was hung on the outside wall, where it was cut from daily as wanted, an exposure that would hardly be wise in these days of higher civilization. But they didn't have locks on their doors on those days. The pioneers were all friends and neigh- bors; their doors and hearts were open always; they shared with each other whatever they had. A common interest and common sympathy bound them together. It was in the very nature of things that each person's protection was in the good-will of the community about him.
Reverting to those days, said one of the old-timers, who passed through trials and privations of which those of the middle age to-day can have no conception whatever:
"We were all on an equality. Caste would not have been toler- ated. What one had, we all had. It was the happiest period of my life. But to-day, if you lean against a neighbor's shade tree, he'll charge you for it. If you are poor and sick, you may lie and suffer unnoticed, uncared for, and probably go to the Poor House, and the man who reported you will charge the county for doing it."
The first Winter was passed in the Guard House. The first move in the Spring was to get out of it. The Doctor purchased the Government warehouse, which was on the East Side, a story-and-a- half structure of two-inch walnut plank; tore it down, removed it to near where the Sisters of Mercy now reside on Sixth Avenue, rebuilt it, and lived in it during the Summer while he was building a permanent residence. One portion of it was used for a stock of drugs and his office until 1852, when he built a frame store at the corner of Sixth and Grand avenues, which he occupied several years, when the lot was sold to the Catholics and the store removed to Mulberry Street. In it Rev. Ezra Rathbun lived and died.
In the Spring of 1847, the Doctor made a claim of eighty acres lying between what is now Grand Avenue and School, Fourth and Ninth streets.
So soon as the Doctor had made his claim, he selected the site for a residence "away out on the hill," as they said at the post office, down near "The Point," when anybody inquired for the Doc- tor professionally.
87
DOCTOR FRANCIS C. GRIMMEL
The timbers for sills, joist and rafters were cut and hewn on the claim between Park and School streets. The weatherboards were sawed at Parmalee's mill, near the mouth of Middle River, in Warren County. The shingles and lath were made by hand. The frame was the regular down-east mill style, with mortise, tenon, braces and pinned jointures. When put together, the carpenters declared it could be rolled all over town. The top plate was syca- more, the corner posts oak. One night, after the frame was put up, lightning struck one upper corner, passed down the oak post, sliver- ing it and the tenon, without injuring the tenon mortise in the sycamore plate.
It was late in the Fall, help being scarce, before the house was ready for plastering, but there was no lime nor plasterer. Cloth was fastened to the walls and ceiling, and another Winter passed in discomfort. In June following, the Doctor's daughter, Augusta, and P. M. Casady (now known as the "Judge") were married therein. It was a notable, jolly affair. The groom was popular, a lawyer, and candidate for State Senator. The groomsman was Doctor Fagen, who, for two years, had been a roommate and chum of the groom, and who was the Whig candidate for Senator against the groom. For the fun of it, a vote for Senator was taken by the whole crowd, and the Doctor beat the groom by a large majority, every blessed one of the girls voting against him-they didn't like the breaking up of their social circles by marriages-but their vote was soon after verified by the marriage of the Doctor to the brides- maid, Melissa Hoxie.
The second Fall, the house was completed, a plasterer having come to the town, and it became famous afterward for weddings and social gatherings. It was a cherished place for young people. In it, in 1855, was held the meeting for organizing the first Luth- eran Church, the Doctor and his good wife being earnest, active Lutherans. It was the first complete timber frame house built in the town.
In Summer time, the pet family horse, who grazed in the large field about the house, could be seen with head and neck thrust in an open window to receive the benefactions so proverbial within. The house was destroyed by fire in 1889, the lot then sold, the hill cut away, and the Catholic Church built thereon.
88
PIONEERS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA
Simultaneously with the making of the claim by the Doctor, Edwin and Edward Hall, twin brothers, who built the dam at the foot of Center Street, made a claim westward from the river along Center Street. In 1854, when the claims were made additions to the city, in locating the streets it was discovered the claims over- lapped. To avoid expensive litigation, for land was cheap, the claims being covered with timber and tangled underbrush, and prospective purchasers scarce, a compromise was made, which explains the jog the length of one lot in Fourth Street at Center.
In 1855, at a meeting of the State Lutheran Convention here, it was decided to establish a college of the Church. Through the earnest effort and influence of the Doctor and his estimable wife, Des Moines was selected for its location. A corporation was formed, a site purchased on Pleasant Street, where Younker's residence now is ; the Doctor gave ten thousand dollars to the project ; he was elected one of the trustees ; a building was commenced, the corner- stone laid May Twenty-sixth, 1856, when hard times came on, material difficult to obtain, the project was abandoned, and the property sold to the Baptist denomination.
In the State House location fiasco, 1855, the Doctor was an enthusiastic West Sider, subscribing ten thousand dollars to the "war fund." He offered ten acres of his claim, and Richard Hol- comb, who had a claim adjoining that of Grimmel's on the west, and lived in a log cabin on the hillside, near where Irving School is, offered ten acres also, or more, if wanted, for a building site, and ten thousand dollars to the "war fund."
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.