USA > Iowa > Polk County > Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa, and reminiscences of early days, Vol. II > Part 19
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In 1856, he was appointed by Judge Gray, Bailiff of Polk County District Court, and served through the terms of Judges Gray, Nourse, and Maxwell. It was during Maxwell's term, December Fifteenth, 1874, that Charles Howard was taken from the jail by a Vigilance Committee, and hanged to a lamp-post for the murder of John Johnson.
"Uncle Davy" was also appointed Sheriff of the State Supreme Court, in 1857, and served when Stockton, Baldwin, Wright, Lowe, Dillon, and Cole were on the Bench, nearly twenty years.
Ile was appointed Crier of the United States District Court for life by Judge Lowe, and served twenty-one years, when he
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resigned, in 1888. His memory was remarkable, and his fund of stories of incidents and happenings in the several courts, embrac- ing all phases of human existence, was ever a treat, spiced with his quaint humor, to a group of listeners. He always looked at the bright side of things. He would never admit that he was growing old, even after he had passed the ninetieth post. He was always jolly, weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds, and was per- sona grata with the judges of the State Supreme Court, especially Baldwin, who weighed over three hundred pounds.
One day, Baldwin lost twenty dollars, and "Uncle Davy" found it. He handed it to Judge Wright, saying, with a twinkle in his eye, that he had found it under very incriminating circumstances. Those who knew Wright will appreciate the humor, irony, and sport of the jibes given Baldwin, as to where and how he lost his money. Baldwin always declared that "Uncle Davy" had lied a little to Wright.
Not long after, sitting around their long table in a social way, Baldwin said to "Uncle Davy":
"Where were you born ?"
"In Maryland," was the reply.
"I never saw but one honest man born in Maryland,' retorted the Judge.
"Did you ever see anyone born in Maryland but me?" queried Norris.
"No-o-o," responded the Judge, with a chuckle."
In the very early days, the rivers abounded with fish, and fur- nished a generous food supply to the community. When Hall's dam was built, at the foot of Center Street, it was a favorite spot for anglers. One day, "Uncle Davy" and Wiley Burton went there for some sport. Wiley had a dip net, and immediately on drop- ping it into the water, withdrew it, landing a whopping big pike. Lowering it again, it stuck. Getting a good brace on himself, declaring he had got the biggest fish in the river, he landed a small boy, about four years old. They rolled, punched and pounded him for a long time, when he recovered himself, sprang to his feet, and away he went, saying, "I'll go and tell my mamma all about it." How he came there, or who he was, they never found out, but
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the conclusion was that he fell into the water above the dam, and was sucked down through the chute in the dam into the net.
One hot day, in August, "Uncle Davy" was sitting on the hand- rails of the rear platform of one of Doctor Turner's old horse cars, when the car stopped in front of the old Savery House, and a pretty young woman got aboard. Just as she was entering the car door, the mules gave a quick start, which threw the woman back- ward into "Uncle Davy's" lap. He threw his arms around her, to prevent her going overboard, and, on righting herself, she thanked him politely and profusely. When she left the car, she again prof- fered him thanks; whereupon, said he, "Well, aren't you going to invite me to dinner ?"
One day, there was a lot of young fellows down rear the river, and they got to boasting and bantering one another as to what they could do in an athletic way. Among them was John Elliott, over six feet tall, and slim as a telegraph pole. After listening to them a while, "Uncle Davy," who was short in the legs and pudgy, said to Elliott, "I'll run you a footrace to the Court House for a dol- lar." The challenge was so absurdly ridiculous, the crowd spurred it on, for the fun of it. Elliott accepted, and off they went. After running a few-rods, "Uncle Davy," with Elliott far in the lead, going like a quarter horse, stopped and went back. Elliott went over the course, went back, and claimed the wager. "Oh, no," said "Unele Davy," "I won. I agreed to run a footrace to the Court House, but I didn't say I would get there first." The langh was on Elliott, and that was all "Uncle Davy" wanted to make out of it.
That was only one of the many ways the very early settlers sought amusement. There were no outside sources, and they had to improvise for themselves with concerts, dances, footraces, ball games, etc., as the spirit moved them, but they usually found abun- dant means for enjoyment, and as a community they declare they were happier and enjoyed life better than people do now.
In 1856, during the memorable contest between the East and West Sides over the location of the State House, "Uncle Davy" was a valiant West Sider, and subscribed five hundred dollars to the War and Defense Fund. Later, when the East Side made a
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strenuous effort to prevent the building of the second Court House on the West Side, he stood with Judge Napier and the West Side.
He was a charter member of the Old Settlers' Association. February Twenty-sixth, 1868, thirty-two of the earliest and most influential settlers of the county met in the rooms of the City Council, and adopted the following resolution :
"Resolved, That we, the settlers of Polk County previous to January First, 1856, and now present, do form a brotherhood of the early settlers of Polk County, Iowa, and in furtherance of this project, now adopt the following constitution :
"ARTICLE I .- This brotherhood shall be called "The Associa- tion of the Early Settlers of Polk County."
This was followed by the usual regulations for the government of the association. The following are the names of those who signed and the date of their arrival: Thomas Mitchell (elected President), 1844; David Norris, Isaac Cooper, F. Nagle, Rever- end Ezra Rathbun, Thomas McMullin, H. H. Saylor, 1845; P. M. Casady, Hoyt Sherman, John Hays, R. W. Sypher, J. C. Jor- dan, William Deford, Peter Myers, 1846; R. L. Tidrick, 1847; Reverend Thompson Bird, W. W. Williamson, Thomas Boyd, 1848; Madison Young, 1849; J. M. Griffith, 1850; Reverend J. A. Nash, Doctor William Baker, W. A. Galbraith, 1851; Harry H. Griffith, 1852; S. F. Spofford, C. S. Spofford, J. B. Bausman, R. R. Peters, G. W. Cleveland, 1855 ; J. S. Clark, 1856.
September Twenty-third, 1880, three hundred of the old set- tlers gave "Uncle Davy" and his helpmate a generous and hearty house warming, on the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding-day. The oldest man present was Richard Stanton, aged eighty-four, robust and sprightly as a youth of twenty-four. The oldest woman was "Mother" Githen, aged eighty-one. An elaborate banquet was spread, and the event was the most memorable one in the history of the association. It was the first golden wedding of any member of the association.
"Uncle Davy" was always a Democrat. In the early Sixties, his many friends urged him to become a candidate for Justice of the Peace for Des Moines Township, against Absalom Morris, a Democrat, who had been proprietor of the old Marvin House, and
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a very popular man. "Uncle Davy" did not want the office, but he did want to beat Absalom, and he won. He, however, refused to qualify. Morris took it and served until his death, proving to be a capable and meritorious official.
Socially, "Uncle Davy" was unique in many ways. He was plain of speech, of genial, happy temperament, an inveterate joker, a friend with everybody, public-spirited, a highly esteemed neigh- bor and citizen.
He deceased in 1897, at the age of ninety-six.
January Thirteenth, 1907.
FREDERICK M. HUBBELL
FREDERICK M. HUBBELL
A N early settler, whose name has been prominent in civic affairs of the city and county during the past forty years, is Frederick M. Hubbell, or Fred., as he is universally called. He came to Des Moines like many another lad, poor in purse, but rich in determination and ability, and to-day he ranks as Des Moines' and Iowa's wealthiest citizen. His vast properties are organized in an estate in trust for ninety-nine years, and their value mounts up into the millions.
Born in the town of Huntington, Connecticut, from whence come the proverbial wooden nutmegs, January Seventeenth, 1839, of English ancestry, he lived with his father, who was a stone- mason and farmer, milked the cows, fed the pigs, cut the wood, ransacked haymows for hens' nests, made himself generally useful, and went to the District School until he was thirteen years old, when he took a three-years' course in the Derby High School.
When he was sixteen years old, in 1855, his father concluded that Iowa was a better country, and with him Fred. came to Rock Island by railroad, thence by steamboat to Muscatine, thence by stage coach to Fort Des Moines, arriving May Seventh, and taking quarters at the Everett House, kept by that genial, jolly Falstaffian boniface, Absalom Morris. There was not much of a town, and very little doing except speculating in real estate and land hunting. His pocketbook was sadly collapsed, and bread and butter were the first problems to be solved.
The next day after his arrival, he got his first job, as clerk with P. M. Casady, Receiver of the United States Land Office, at eight dollars and thirty-two cents per month. The job was no sinecure, for the rush of land-buyers was immense, the daily receipts often reaching twenty-five thousand dollars in gold, which was the only money recognized by Uncle Sam.
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Judge Casady, on his retirement from the Land Office, formed a partnership with J. S. Polk, and in 1861, Hubbell became a clerk in their office. The year following, he became a partner in the firm, the business of which was law and real estate. In 1864, Casady retired from the firm, and it became Polk & Hubbell, which, for more than a score of years, was closely identified with nearly every public enterprise in the city, as backers and boosters.
Their most important undertaking was in connection with the building of the Iowa and Minneapolis narrow-gauge railroad to Ames.
At a meeting of citizens in the Court House, February Sixth, 1866, the Iowa and Minnesota Railway Company was organized, articles of incorporation adopted, and B. F. Allen, P. M. Casady, J. M. Tuttle, Hoyt Sherman, T. K. Brooks, J. B. Stewart, Wesley Redhead, George G. Wright, B. F. Roberts, S. F. Spofford, C. B. Bridges, John Scott, L. Q. Hoggatt, John Porter, John Cheshire, T. B. Knapp, and M. D. McHenry were elected Directors, who immediately elected P. M. Casady, President ; B. F. Roberts, Vice- President; B. F. Allen, Treasurer, and Hoyt Sherman, Secretary.
The object of the company was the construction of a narrow- gauge road to the north and south lines of the state. On the Eighteenth of July, the survey and location of the road to Ames and to Indianola was completed. On the Twenty-eighth of July, the contract for bridging and grading was let. The contractors graded a portion of the road to Polk City and some toward Indian- ola, when their finances got short, and after several delays they gave up the job. The company struggled along, with frequent change of officers, the project getting into disrepute, with every- body trying to let go of it, until November, 1868, when work was stopped. Creditors then bombarded it with law suits and judg- ments, until there was no hope of resurrection. April Thirtieth, 1869, the road was divided, and that portion from Des Moines to Ames was sold at Sheriff's sale and purchased by Polk & Hub- bell. August First, 1870, a new company, the Des Moines and Minneapolis, was organized, with B. F. Allen, J. S. Polk, J. B. Stewart, J. M. Walker, A. S. Welch, as Directors, Allen, Presi- dent; Walker, Vice-President, and Polk, Secretary, for the first
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year. Aid from townships was solicited, and subsidy taxes were voted as follows:
Des Moines Township $ 34,000
Madison Township 16,000
Lee Township 16,000
Washington Township 12,000
Polk County, swamp land
40,000
Total $118,000
Polk & Hubbell then assumed the financing of the project. The subsidies were offered to the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company to induce them to build the road, and repeatedly, during 1871-1872, but the Northwestern did not seem to have much fancy for Des Moines, and kept dallying with it. Probably it had not forgotten that in 1864, when it was building across the state, and had reached Marshalltown, it offered to build from that city to Des Moines for a bonus of thirty-five thousand dollars and right- of-way through the town; the town tiptilted her nose and scorn- fully replied that the Capital of the State of Iowa was not buying railroads-a mistaken notion, it is true, but it went, and the Northwestern steered straight for the Missouri River, leaving Polk County several miles to the southward.
Meanwhile, more than two hundred tax-payers began a crusade against the narrow-gauge company, to get court injunctions and stop the collection of the taxes voted in Des Moines, Madison and Lee townships, thus reducing the expected aid which, with the expense of defending suits in the courts, seriously jeopardized the prospects of the company.
Early in 1873, the company decided to abandon the subsidy plan and get stock subscriptions, to which citizens of Des Moines responded with twenty-two thousand dollars, Ames, ten thousand dollars, and Madison Township, five thousand dollars.
In September, the capital stock was increased to three hundred thousand dollars. Polk & Hubbell, having got tired of it, trans- ferred the right-of-way and roadbed situate in Polk and Story counties to the company. New officers were elected, to-wit: Sam- uel Merrill, President ; J. B. Stewart, Vice-President; F. M.
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Hubbell, Secretary ; James Callanan, Treasurer ; Frank M. Pelton, Civil Engineer.
Track-laying commenced January Twelfth, 1874, Governor Carpenter driving the first spike. July First, it was completed to Ames, and the road equipped for business at a cost of three hun- dred thousand dollars.
Angust First, 1879, the road, with all its franchises, was trans- ferred to the Chicago and Northwestern, the gauge changed, and Sunday, July Eleventh, 1880, the first passenger train of the Northwestern entered the city on the broad track.
In 1866, Polk & Hubbell, Doctor M. P. Turner, and U. B. White obtained a charter, and built the first mile of street railway in the city. It started from the Court House on Court Avenue, and extended to the foot of Capitol Hill. The motive power was a pair of horses. Subsequently, the track was extended north to Walnut, west to Fifth, and south to the place of beginning. It was not a very great dividend producer, and in 1868, Polk & Hubbell got tired of paying bills with no income, and sold their interest to Turner.
In January, 1867, at a meeting of citizens to form a life insur- ance company, P. M. Casady and Hubbell were requested to pre- pare articles of incorporation, which, at a subsequent meeting, were adopted, and signed by Hubbell, Casady, J. M. Tuttle, Isaac Cooper, Wesley Redhead, J. S. Polk, Lampson P. Sherman, B. F. Allen, R. L. Tidrick, W. W. Williamson, J. B. Stewart, Peter Myers, F. R. West, J. C. Jordan, H. L. Whitman, and Hoyt Sher- man. The first officers were: Casady, President ; Redhead, Vice- President ; Hubbell, Secretary ; Allen, Treasurer ; Hoyt Sherman, Actuary ; Whitman, Medical Examiner. The company was named the Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa. The first policy issued was to Hubbell, and is still in force.
In 1868, Hubbell resigned as Secretary, but retained his place with the Board of Trustees. In 1888, he was elected President, and so continued until the Jannary meeting in 1907, when he declined a reelection, having served nineteen years, and leaving the office with a business, as shown by the annual report, January First, 1907, of twenty-two thousand and ninety-four policies in
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FREDERICK M. HUBBELL
force, representing thirty million, eight hundred and seventy-four thousand, three hundred and nineteen dollars, and assets of five million, four hundred and forty-seven thousand, one hundred and nineteen dollars and thirty cents. The company has never had but one suit in court respecting a risk, and in that the judgment was for the company. Its growth and prosperity evidence its wise management. Mr. Hubbell, however, remains with the Board of Trustees.
In 1871, the city had grown to proportions requiring better pro- tection from fires than was afforded by the system of large cisterns in the streets, and the voluntary services rendered by two or three hose companies, and April Third, Polk and Hubbell organized the Des Moines Water Works Company, with a capital of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, of which B. F. Allen was President and Treasurer, and J. S. Polk, Secretary. May Second, a charter was granted by the City Council, and the erection of works immediately commenced, where they now are. The system adopted was that known as the "Holly," which is in use to-day, and Des Moines is the largest city in the United States using it. The water is taken from large chambers excavated deep and broad under the bed of the 'Coon River, and being thus sand-filtered, gives the city the purest and best water of any city in the Union. The city is also provided with an adequate and reliable fire service.
Soon after the company was organized, the works passed into the hands of Polk & Hubbell, the latter was made Secretary, and served until 1880, when the works were sold to a joint stock com- pany.
In 1882, work commenced to build a narrow-gauge road to Waukee, by "Ret" Clarkson, John S. Runnells, and a few other, who had organized the combination known as the Wabash Syndi- cate, to build the Wabash from Albia to Des Moines. Later, Polk & Hubbell joined, and from Waukee the road was extended to Fonda, and a branch from Clive to Boone. It is now a part of the Chicago and Milwaukee System.
In 1884, Hubbell disposed of a portion of his shekels by pur- chasing the well-known B. F. Allen property, at Terrace Hill, on Grand Avenue, the most costly residence in the state.
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In 1887, Polk & Hubbell dissolved partnership that had existed twenty-five years, and Hubbell turned his attention to real estate, since when that has been his hobby, and he has succeeded in get- ting possession of an extensive valuable area of the fifty-four square miles of the city. On some of it he has erected fine buildings, among which are the Victoria Hotel, at Sixth and Chestnut; Mer- chants' Transfer Company, three-story warehouse, at Ninth and Tuttle, and the Hawkeye Transfer Company, at Seventh and Elm. As an earnest, active member of the Booster Committee, he stands ready to erect other buildings for industries seeking a place in a city which does things.
I asked him one day how he had accumulated the three million or more accredited to him. He very frankly and courteously replied that for several years, as a broker, he handled bonds and securities for capitalists ; took advantage of opportunities for safe investment in real estate; practiced economy and industry, laying aside each year a surplus over expenses ; did not make a dollar in the Water Works deal; made a good investment in Terrace Hill property, and some of his other holdings; that he had accomplished only what was possible to any young man who, for fifty-six years, would pursue a like course of action.
Politically, Hubbell is what has come to be known as a "pro- gressive" Republican. He is not a politician-was not built that way. In local government affairs, he gives his influence to what he deems the best interest of the town, regardless of partisan poli- ties. He has never held but one public office. In 1857, the money panic paralyzed the industries of the state, spreading wreck and ruin in all directions. The year following, the state was flooded with high water, there were no railroads, the country roads were in such horrible condition freight hauling from Keokuk was nearly impossible, farmers could not get into the fields with reapers and mowers at harvest time, and business languished generally. The stagnation extended into 1859, and there was little or nothing doing in Des Moines. Fred. was "on his oars," so to speak, and wanted to be doing something-he was seldom idle. In 1852, Judge Casady, as Senator iu the Legislature, had engineered the passage of a bill locating and naming twenty-three new counties,
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FREDERICK M. HUBBELL
among which was Sioux. The Judge suggested to Fred. that he go up there and start something. "There is a whole county," said he, "just as Nature made it, waiting for civilization." Fred. took the cue, and with three other wide awake young fellows, went, got an order from the courts to organize the county and make the necessary preparation for an election to elect county officers, and set the machine going, which was done to their most eminent satis- faction. They fixed the County Seat, and named it Calliope. While their project was incubating, prairie chickens, quail, and rabbits afforded recreation and amusement. At the election in October, they voted for Sam. Kirkwood for Governor for his first term, and elected themselves to the county offices, Fred. taking that of Clerk of the District Court, which he held eighteen months and resigned.
Socially, Hubbell is courteous, affable, reticent, of positive tem- perament, has the courage of his convictions, which, once fixed, are not easily changed. He takes little or no part in social affairs, as society goes, is not a member of any clubs or fraternal organiza- tions, is always ready to promote the welfare of schools, charitable organizations, and the public. The narrow-gauge roads projected by him and Polk forty years ago were valuable publie improve- ments, the purpose being to connect Des Moines by roads of cheaper and lighter construction than the ordinary steam roads, with towns in a radius of one hundred miles, and bring their trade to the city. It was the same purpose now being more fully developed by electric interurban roads, electricity as a motive power for railroads not then being known.
Hubbell is not a member of any religious denomination, but the records will probably show that he has more or less money accred- ited to him in all the churches of the city.
January Twentieth, 1907.
Top Row MRS. FRANCES MICHAEL BALL
BOTTOM ROW MRS. ELIZA SAYLOR MEYERS
MRS. AVIS SAYLOR McQUISTON
MRS. ELIZABETH BALES FISHER
MRS. MARTHA BALES SAYLOR READ FROM LEFT TO RIGHT
THE SAYLORS
T HE historian of Polk County will find, if he attempts to trace the genealogy of the pioneer settlers, that the Saylors were numerous, quite prominent, and even to-day they, or their descendants, form a large portion of the body politic. The stork was very generous toward them. They came here before the county was organized, or Des Moines had a legal existence. The first-comer was John B., who arrived in April, 1845. The county merely had a place on the maps, set forth by metes and bounds. It had no courts, no officers, no civil government. It was under the military control of a garrison of infantry and dragoons, the terri- tory being occupied mostly by Indians, who were waiting the expi- ration of their title to the land they had sold to Uncle Sam.
The garrison was not self-sustaining; its source of supplies was hundreds of miles away, transportation difficult, and often impos- sible. Provisions were necessary for men and horses. Captain Allen, Commandant of the garrison, issued permits to those who gave satisfactory evidence of good intention, to select land for home purposes, provided they would raise hay, grain, and beef cattle for the garrison. John got a permit, went up north, at what is now a part of Saylorville, selected a fine tract, skirted with a belt of timber and a creek, built a log cabin, and, with his good wife, started the first settlement north of Des Moines. There was noth- ing between them and the North Pole. They entered upon their new life with courage and cheerfulness, endured its hardships and privations, buoyed with the hope of better days, and the coming of friends and neighbors. The isolation was a serious trial to the mother, for John was frequently absent on business. At one time, she was alone with her little tots six weeks, having to take care of the live-stock, bring water and fuel for the house. when Indian bands were roaming about the country, visited the cabin, and, though apparently peaceable, the uncertainty of what they might
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do was a constant source of terror. Wolves were numerous, always hungry, would chase the house dogs even to the cabin door, and made night hideous with their howls and prowling about the prem- ises. To withstand such conditions required courage. Beside that, housekeeping utensils were scarce. Boxes anl stools had to be used instead of tables and chairs. For a tray in which to mix bread, one was hollowed out of a log. Bacon was the staple meat, as the Indians kept the wild game scarce. Wild crabapples were the des- sert, parched corn or roasted acorns were substitutes for coffee.
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