USA > Iowa > Polk County > Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa, and reminiscences of early days, Vol. II > Part 11
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He opened an office in a small frame building on the north side of Walnut Street, near Fourth, and soon found demand for his services. There were but few settlers in the county, and the long drives over bad roads, or no roads at all, in sunshine and storm, were wearisome, and added much to the labor of his town practice, but he never refused a call. His sympathetic nature, and loyalty to the principles of his profession, dominated all idea of pecuniary profit. He soon won the most implicit, abiding confidence and trust of the people. In every home, his presence was welcomed as a benizen of helpfulness. His practice assumed such proportions, it was a marvel how he could do so much, for he was a regular contributor to leading medical journals, and had extensive business interests.
In 1858, he originated the movement for the organization of the Polk County Medical Society, was elected its first President, and held the place several years. He was a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association, and the Iowa State Medical Society. He stood very high in the profession, and took great interest in the honor and standing of its membership. Charlatanism and quackery in all their forms he did not hesitate at all time, and in all places, to denounce in terms unmistakable-there was no ambiguity about it. He was a "Regular" in all the term implies, a model, talented, educated physician.
In 1871, when the Citizens' Bank was organized, he became a stockholder, and when, in 1872, it was reorganized by Governor
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DOCTOR HENRY L. WHITMAN
Merrill as a national bank, he was elected one of the Directors, a place he held during his life.
Politically, he was a Whig, but always opposed to slave-holding, and, with the earnestness of an Abolitionist, advocated the emanci- pation of the slaves in the South long before the Civil War came, a position which, at that time, required some moral courage, for there was a strong pro-slavery sentiment in the body politic of Polk County. The Doctor, however, was not a politician, took little or no part in it. His mind and efforts were engrossed in helping the sick, the needy, and community generally.
During the war period, when its terrible effects began to impress themselves on the families of the men engaged on the battlefields, and charity was needed for their relief in many ways, the Doc- tor's patriotism was most generously manifested. During the entire war, a call from the family of a soldier was responded to as quickly and cheerfully as though a millionaire's dollars were behind it-in fact, more so. For all such service, he refused com- pensation, and seemed only pleased that he could render aid.
He was a sanitarian, and believing the healthfulness of a com- munity depended largely on its cleanliness, he took great interest in the sanitary affairs of the town.
Socially, he possessed great conversational powers, and scholas- tic attainments of high degree. He was modest, affable, and com- panionable. In all the relations of life, he was the exemplar of ideal manhood. He was a stern moralist, excluded from his inti- macy all who did not meet his standard of rectitude, yet his sym- pathies reached all humanity. He regarded his profession as intended for the good of those with whom he lived, and so it was he won his way into the hearts and homes of the community to a notable degree. It was said of him by Doctor Ward, one of the well-known old-time physicians of the town: "No man more com- pletely had the hearts and affections of the people than Doctor Whitman."
He was an active member of the Old Settlers' Association, and heartily welcomed at its periodical gatherings.
He was public-spirited, and actively supported all measures to promote the church and school.
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Religiously, he was a Congregationalist, but on coming to Des Moines, there being no organization of that faith, he affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, and formed a companionship with Father Bird which intensified as the years passed, so long as they lived. When the Congregational Church was organized, he became a member of it. He was a true, Christian man, whose highest ideal was to render full service to God, his fellow-man, his family, and himself.
In 1875, he retired from practice, devoting his time to business affairs and literary work, until 1884, when his health failed, and he went to Duluth for recuperation, where he was attacked with a severe cold, which, despite the skill of the best medical men, ter- minated fatally, August Seventeenth, 1885, and caused profound sorrow throughout the town, county, and state. Expressions of love and esteem of him were received from all directions. The homes of Des Moines had lost a friend in need, a wise counselor and comforter in adversity.
On receipt of notice of his decease, the County Medical Society, in special session, adopted resolutions expressive of its profound esteem for him, his professional integrity, devotion to principle and honor, his irreproachable character, and worth as a citizen.
August Twelfth, 1906.
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L. D. SIMS
M Y reminiscences of early settlers have been confined princi- pally to those of the town, but there were many, after severe trials, privations and struggles, became prominent in public affairs, and aided largely in advancing the public good, who did not live in the town.
A notable example of the hardships of pioneer life was that of L. D. Sims, who came in a wagon with his family from Ohio, arriving in October, 1848, and went to work for Peter Newcomer, on his farm, about two and a half miles down Des Moines River. There was a small building used for a workshop on rainy days, in which he placed his family, his household goods, consisting of a pine box for a table, wooden benches for chairs, and a shakedown bed. He received fifty cents a day for his labor, husking corn and doing odd jobs about the place.
In December following his arrival, Sims took a farm on shares, his portion being one-half the product of ten acres of corn. The Winter was severe, the snow about three feet deep, and many hard- ships were endured by himself and family. Few luxuries were had in the home, or on the table, but wild game was abundant, deer and wild turkey often adding to the supply.
Early in the Spring of 1849, he began work in earnest, but one morning when hitching his team for plowing, one horse suddenly sickened and died. Despite the delay, with the kindly loan of neighbors' horses, he planted twenty-six acres of corn, sixteen of which was known as sod corn, and five acres of wheat. In the Fall, he cut the wheat with a cradle, the first one used in the county.
In Angust, his other horse was killed by lightning. He invested thirty-five dollars, all the money he had, in a yoke of oxen, gathered his corn crop of one hundred and fifty bushels, and sold it to Alex. Bowers for twenty-five cents a bushel, with which he purchased the much-needed clothing for himself and family.
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In the Fall of 1849, he made a claim in Bloomfield Township, and, with the aid of his wife, built a log cabin, minus floor, doors, chimney, and chinking between the logs, into which, in February following, he moved. To keep the snow from blowing in on the beds at night, the wagon cover was hung on the wall, and sometimes the wagon box placed over the children's bed on the floor. So intense was the cold, the family remained in bed on several days to keep from freezing.
The next season, he planted sixteen acres of corn, cut and split rails to fence thirty acres, worked out a month for fifty cents a day, walking seven miles morning and evening to and from his work.
In 1856, on the site of his first cabin, he built a hewed log house with four rooms, doing all the work except making the doors. In the Fall, he sold the farm, and resolved to go to Kansas. He spent the Winter seeking a location, but his wife so seriously objected to leaving Iowa that he abandoned the project. In August, she passed to her eternal rest, leaving him with eight children. Soon after, he purchased a wild, uncultivated tract in what is now Grant Township, carved out of Lee Township, adjoining the east- ern part of the city, and began again, with his children, to make a home, a task the present generation know little or nothing of. The fortitude, pluck and energy which had overcome obstacles before which most men would have quailed, was still inherent within him, and, beginning with the breaking plow, he soon had under way valnable permanent improvements.
The old breaking plow was one of the most prominent factors in promoting Western civilization. It was often ungainly, uncouth, and roughly fashioned, but it served its purpose. In the very early settlements, there were usually mechanics who had not forgotten their trades, and, joined together, they could construct a plow, adapted to the purpose. The beam was usually about ten feet long, fashioned from the very toughest timber. Near the front end were two small wheels, one about four inches larger than the other, to run in the furrow, the smaller one running on the sod, thus keeping the plow level with the ground. A long lever reaching from the front end of the beam to the plow holder was used to fix the depth
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of the furrow by raising or lowering the lever, and, by dropping it to the beam, the plow could be thrown entirely out of the ground. The mould-board was made of wood, on which thin strips of steel were fastened by a blacksmith, and so shaped as to turn the sod over flatwise. Attached to the board was the share, made from good steel, with one edge and a point sharpened to a keen cutting edge, to cut the tough, fibrous mass of roots of grass and weeds, and often roots of shrubs and grubs, which had been killed by prairie fires. Fastened to the beam vertically, and extended to the point of the share, was a coulter, as it was called, made of the best steel, the lower six inches sharpened to a keen edge to rip the turf above the point.
The plow being ready, a string of three to six yoke of oxen would be hitched to it, and with slow plodding pace a strip of soil twenty to thirty inches wide would be turned over to the sun's rays.
In the rush of the first settlements, there was a scarcity of break. ing plows. The first effort of settlers was to get a crop of corn and wheat, and it was the custom to help each other by loaning their oxen, and have the plow take turns in the settlement. If the new- comer arrived early in the Spring and got a tract broken up in April, he would go into the field, and, following each second or third furrow, with an axe make a deep cut in the turf, into which a small boy or girl, often the wife and mother, would drop a few kernels of corn and give it a stamp of the foot. There was no fur- ther cultivation, and the resultant crop was known as sod corn, a great boon to many of the pioneers. There are many of the present generation living in luxury who, as boys, have vivid memories of bread made from sod corn, not even ground into meal.
The old breaking plow has gone, and with it the sod house, the log cabin, the trials of pioneer life, the common humanity, generous hospitality, the helpfulness of one another, the unity of thought and purpose, but they left an heritage on which has been built a civic community second to none on earth.
In due time, Sims developed his farm to one of the best in the county, and surrounded himself with all the means to enjoy the reward of his toil and settle down to a quiet old age. His upright- ness of character so won public esteem, he was often called to
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public office. He took great interest in public schools, and was the projector and most liberal contributor for building the first school- house in Grant Park. For many years, he was the leading mem- ber of the School Board. His purse was always open to help public improvements When the fund was being raised by citizens of the city to purchase ground for the State Fair, he gave one thousand dollars.
Politically, he was raised under the tutelage of the Democratic party, but he opposed its Free Trade policy, and cast his first vote for "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," and remained a Republican, but in local affairs he was independent. In 1847, he evidenced his patriotism by enlisting in the Fourth Ohio Infantry, for the Mexi- can War, went to Vera Cruz, where he was stricken with Yellow Fever, and, after partial convalescence, was honorably discharged for disability. In the Civil War, he served as wagon master in the Fourth Iowa Infantry.
Socially, he was genial, courteous, a kind neighbor, popular and influential in social affairs of the community. He was a prominent member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. He died in 1895.
October First, 1905.
GENERAL M. M. CROCKER
GENERAL M. M. CROCKER
R ESPLENDENT with military fame, and conspicuous in the civic pride of Des Moines, stands the name of Marcellus M. Crocker. To detail his military record, brilliant with great achievements, would fill all the columns of the Sunday Register and Leader. I can only make desultory reference to it now.
Born in Johnson County, Indiana, in 1831, he lived there until 1844, when he came to Iowa, with his father, who stopped at Fair- field, and soon after made a claim on Government land two miles northwest of Lancaster, in Keokuk County, when Marcellus trans- ferred his activities from school to assisting his father in break- ing up the wild prairie and improving the farm, with all the trials and experiences usual with the pioneers. In the meantime, Shep- herd Leffler, a prominent Democrat and Representative in Con- gress from the Second District, which comprised the south half of the state, became attracted to the young man, and, having the right to select a cadet to West Point Military Adacemy, in 1847, gave it to Marcellus, who, anxious to acquire an education, at once went to West Point, where he remained until the Fall of 1849, when the death of his father necessitated his return to the farm to care for his mother and sisters, and settle the affairs of the estate.
In 1850, the venerable Judge Olney, well known to every old settler in Van Buren County, suggested to Crocker that he read law, and offered to give him instructions and the use of his library free, which was most thankfully accepted, and at stated periods the Judge went to Lancaster and gave instructions to his student.
In 1851, Crocker was admitted to the Bar, began practice and acquired a successful business. He remained at Lancaster until 1854, when he came to Des Moines, and formed a partnership with "Dan" Finch, one of the best lawyers in the state, and at once took rank with the best of them. Soon after, Judge Casady joined the
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partnership, and not long after, Jeff. Polk, making a law firm without a peer in the state.
A well-known character in the very early days was Ben. Bry- ant. He came here when The Fort was established, served two terms as County Treasurer, and then was elected Justice of the Peace. He was rather illiterate, but prided himself on seeing a "law p'int" with the best of them, and made a very creditable showing. He was a Democrat of the "blue-bellied" variety, and, having served one term, started in for a second. The Whigs started a story that he was not a proper person for the office, that he was completely under the control of Crocker. Ben. denied it in robust language. "Just give me a chance," said he, "and I will show you that Crocker don't own me." Among other things, Ben. was lax respecting his creditors. Soon after his campaign opened, Crocker had a case before him, and during the hearing made several objec- tions to his opponent's method of procedure. Ben. overruled them straight, declaring, "Your p'int ain't good," until after several knockouts, Crocker turned upon His Honor, saying, "I can't under- stand the action of the Court in this case. I believe somebody has been tampering with it." "I fine you ten dollars for contempt of court," replied Ben. "Very well," said Crocker, "I'll just indorse it on this promissory note of yours," drawing the paper from his pocket. That was a "p'int" in equity Ben. hadn't considered.
In 1836, when the contest was on between the East and West Sides over the location of the State House, Crocker was a West Sider, but he didn't have any money to invest in the "war fund," and thus escaped the "grab" which went to the pockets of certain of the locating Commissioners.
In 1858, McFarland's term as District Judge expired, and Crocker, who was a Democrat, decided to make a run for the place. He was very popular, a fine lawyer, and his friends relied upon those attributes to carry him through. The Democratic Judicial Convention cordially indorsed him with its nomination. The Republicans had become quite strong in the district, and though prominent men of that party desired to support Crocker, they could not abjure fealty to their party, and John H. Gray was elected by a small majority, the first Republican elected to that office in the district.
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The two years spent by Crocker at West Point had stimulated the military fervor in him, and in 1857, I think it was, he began to agitate the organization of a State Militia. There was no militia law. Dubuque had two military companies, the Governor's Guards and Washington Greys. Davenport, I think, had a company, but they were organized principally for dress parade and Fourth of July celebrations. General G. M. Dodge had, in 1856, organized the Council Bluffs Guards, for the purpose of protecting the fron- tier, then exposed to depredation by Indians, having secured, with the special aid of Governor Grimes, the necessary arms and equip- ment, it being understood the company was to be deemed a special frontier guard.
Crocker, however, wanted some provision by law for arming, equipping and uniforming an active State Militia, with independ- ent companies. He and Dodge got together and prepared a bill, similar to the militia laws of the older Eastern states, but adapted to the financial conditions and population of Iowa, which was pre- sented to the House of the Seventh General Assembly. It was known as House File Number Forty-seven, and when it came up it was made the butt of jests and gibes; all kinds of farcical and ridiculous amendments were piled on it ; its head was cut off, and so otherwise emasculated as to lose its identity. Crocker and Dodge were taunted with hinacy in presuming to ask the Legislature to create a standing army in Iowa. Several members boarded at the Savery House (now the Kirkwood), and Crocker laid in wait for them one evening. He was mad, and those who knew him can readily understand what he gave them. He was an expert in the use of invectives, and could swear like a Flanders trooper. He denounced them in the most caustic terms, and they promised to give the subject due consideration. Dodge got disgusted and went home. The House then went on and passed a bill authorizing the Governor to organize companies of "Minute Men" among the set- tlers for the protection of frontier localities against depredation by Indians, the companies to be limited to twelve men, and their pay to be seventy-five cents per day when actually in service, and fur- nish their own guns. It went to the Senate, where a substitute was rut up against it, and that was the last heard of it in that session.
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It went over to the Eighth General Assembly, in 1860, when an Act was passed authorizing the Governor to select not exceeding twelve companies, among the settlers, to which he was to furnish such arms and ammunition as he deemed necessary; they to hold themselves in readiness at all times to meet hostile Indians ; that of the said Minute Men, not exceeding four should be employed as active police, and to be paid only for the time actually employed. The sum of five hundred dollars was appropriated for the purpose of the law. That was as near as Iowa ever came to having a State Militia until the National Guards came into existence.
Crocker, however, though disgruntled, was not discouraged. The military spirit was in him, and late in 1860, I think, he organized a company which took the name of the Capital Guards, and he was elected Captain. Plans were made to procure arms and uniforms. In April, 1861, while attending court at Adel, came the report that Fort Sumter had been fired upon by the Rebels. Three days later came the call of the President for volunteers. Crocker turned over his cases in court to other lawyers, came home and tendered the services of himself and his company to the Government, but so inadequate were the facilities for communicating with the Gov- ernor that Eastern cities in more direct communication with him quickly filled the one regiment which had been allotted to Iowa, and which was to serve only three months. Soon after came the call for three-years enlistments, and the Capital Guards were assigned as Company D in the Second Regiment. Crocker was promoted to Major of the regiment, May Thirty-first; Lieutenant- Colonel, September Sixth; to Colonel of the Thirteenth Regiment, October Thirtieth. Immediately after the Battle of Shiloh, the Iowa Brigade, composed of the Eleventh, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth regiments was organized, and Crocker was placed in command as Brigadier General, November Twenty-ninth, 1862. It became one of the most distinguished brigades in the Army of the Tennessee, and was known throughout the army and at the War Department as the "Crocker Greyhounds." With that brigade, at Shiloh and Corinth, he made one of the most brilliant pages of history. He continued with it until April, 1863, when he was placed in temporary command of the Seventeenth Army Corps, during the temporary absence of General Quimby.
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GENERAL M. M. CROCKER
Being of frail physique, his health failed under the hardships and exposure of his vigorous campaigns, and on the return of Quimby to his command, Crocker was placed temporarily on the staff of General Grant, their tents being near each other. Grant's attention was attracted by the constant and severe coughing of Crocker, and, meeting him one morning, said to him: "Was it you I heard coughing so last night ?" "Yes," replied Crocker. "Well, then, my dear fellow, you must go straight home, for you will die here."
In June, 1863, he was given a sick leave and came home in bad physical condition. The seed of the "White Plague" had been sown in his system. Soon after his arrival, the State Convention of the Union party was held in Des Moines, and during the ses- sion he visited the hall. He was greeted with a perfect salvo of cheers. There was a bitter contest in the convention over the nomi- nation for Governor, and Crocker's friends tried to induce him to consent to the use of his name, but he objected, saying, "If a sol- dier is worth anything, he cannot be spared from the field; if he is worthless, he will not make a good Governor. If I was Governor, I would die in a short time with dry rot. I am a soldier, and a soldier I will remain until the war is ended, or I am knocked out," and, despite the fact that he would have been nominated by accla- mation, his name had to be dropped. He made a short, brilliant, patriotic speech to the convention, in which he flayed the Knights of the Golden Circle, the "Copperheads," and Democrats, who, he declared, "want the Union as it was and the Constitution as it is. I want the Union as it is and the Constitution as it ought to be."
In the Fall of 1863, he rejoined his old corps (the Seventeenth) in the famous march of Sherman to the sea, but his frail body failed to respond to his indomitable spirit, and he was relieved from duty, but early in the Summer, he was tendered a command in the Department of New Mexico, at Santa Fe. Believing the change would be beneficial, he accepted. He remained there until the Spring of 1865, when, not regaining his health as expected, he asked to be transferred again to his old field, which was granted, and the following order was issued:
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"DEPARTMENT OF NEW MEXICO,
"ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, "SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, MARCH ELEVENTH, 1865. "SPECIAL ORDERS NUMBER EIGHT.
"IX. In compliance with Special Order Number Four Hun- dred and Seventy-seven, series for 1864, from the Headquarters of the Army, Brigadier General Marcellus M. Croeker, United States Volunteers, is relieved from further duty in the Department of New Mexico, and will proceed without delay and report in person to the General commanding the Army of the Cumberland for assignment of duty.
"The General commanding the Department of New Mexico takes this occasion to express his warmest thanks for the efficient and judicious manner in which General Crocker has conducted the affairs pertaining to the important post of Fort Sumner, and to the reservation at the Bosque Redondo, with its nine thousand captive Indians; a duty which required an exereise of great judgment, moderation, firmness and forecast ; and a duty which has been performed in sneh a manner as not only to give the utmost satis- faction to those connected professionally with the military affairs of that post and of the department, but to win the affectionate regard of the Indians themselves, who are receiving their first. impression of civilization, and their first lessons in the art, liter- ally, of earning their bread by the sweat of their brows.
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