USA > Iowa > Polk County > Pioneers of Polk County, Iowa, and reminiscences of early days, Vol. II > Part 24
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On June Ninth following, he was rewarded with the star of a Brigadier-General. During the Fall of 1862 and Winter follow- ing, he was in command of a Division at Cairo. In the Spring of 1864, he was placed in command of the Third Division, Fifteenth Army Corps.
In September, 1864, he resigned, returned to his home, and soon after came to Des Moines, and for two years engaged in farming, until 1867, when, with his brother, Martin, he purchased the Mur- phy packing house, enlarged it, added a basement story, tanks, etc., for pork packing on a large scale. In 1873, the buildings were demolished and replaced with a massive stone structure, equipped for disposing of fifteen hundred hogs per day, and he continued in the packing business several years.
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In his packing business, the want of transportation facilities was a serious drawback. However extensive his business, to get a market for it was an important item. In 1866, when at a mass- meeting of citizens, the Iowa and Minnesota Narrow-Gauge Rail- road Company was organized, he was chosen one of the Board of Directors.
In April, 1871, when the Water Works Company was organ- ized, he was one of the incorporators.
In October, 1871, he was elected Representative to the Four- teenth General Assembly, and displayed some of his fighting ability in the third, last and most important contest to secure the perma- nent location of the Capital in Des Moines. Another important measure before that Legislature was a radical change in the law respecting the taxation of the property of railroads, which, prior thereto, had paid to the state treasury a percentage of their gross earnings. The change was to tax such property the same as that of individuals, and substantially what the law is now. John H. Gear, who afterward became the popular Governor and known as "Old Business ;" Ed. Campbell, of Ottumwa; John P. Irish, of Iowa City; Fred. O'Donnell, of Dubuque; John A. Kasson and John A. Greene, of Davenport, able debaters, opposed the measure, backed by a powerful lobby, at every step, and after it had passed the House, put on record a strong protest against it, but the General took the side of the people.
Politically, the General was a Democrat, but in no sense what- ever a politician. When the tocsin of war was sounded, he joined with Baker, Crocker, Bussey and others to save the Union. In 1863, when he was in the field, he was nominated by his party for Governor, without consulting him, or his knowledge. He assented to the honor conferred, and issued an address to the people, declar- ing his position respecting the all-absorbing political questions then before the people:
"I am in favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war to the full extent of our power, until the Rebellion is suppressed, and of using all means that may be in our possession, recognized by honorable warfare, for that purpose. I am for the Union without an if, and regardless of whether Slavery stands or falls by its restoration ;
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and in favor of peace on no other terms than the unconditional submission of the Rebels to constituted authorities of the United States."
His opponent was William M. Stone, and the Republicans being so largely in the majority in the state, he was defeated.
In 1866, he was nominated by the Democrats for Congress, against General G. M. Dodge, but the district being overwhelm- ingly Republican, he was again defeated.
In 1882, he had become a Republican, and he was again elected Representative to the Twentieth General Assembly, and was the leader in the House in support of, and securing the passage of, the Prohibitory Law, which placed ale, wine and beer in the class with intoxicating liquors.
His last civil office was in 1886, as President of the Board of Commissioners of the Iowa Soldiers' Home, which stands a fitting testimonial of his patriotism and fidelity, for to his untiring deter- mination and wise legislative management, was it secured.
When he closed his packing business, he held a large stock of meats, and soon after, the market fell away until it forced him to sacrifice nearly all he possessed except his home, to hold it for an upturn, which did not come until too late for him. He then sought to recuperate his losses by engaging in gold and silver mining at Casa Grande, Arizona.
October Twenty-second, 1892, he received a paralytic stroke, which terminated fatally on the Twenty-fourth.
As a citizen, he took an active interest in public affairs, and was helpful in many ways to the community, all unknown to it. He was of sanguine, bilious temperament, large physique, slow of action, but sure ; unostentatious, cared nothing for public eclat, or the tinsel and show of fashion; belonged to the plain people; was direct and decisive in speech; brusque in manner, but his heart pulsated with good-fellowship toward those who got on the warm side of him, or who were worthy his regard and confidence.
His dominant trait was persistency, even to obstinacy. He knew no such thing as defeat, whether as a soldier or in civil life.
Socially, he was, to the masses, reticent, and not what is termed a good mixer. He was not a member of any fraternal organization
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so far as I know, except the Grand Army of the Republic, to which his attachment and fidelity was only equaled by his loyalty to the Union, a fidelity notably demonstrated at the National Encamp- ment at Saint Louis, by his vigorous and successful effort to pre- vent the perversion of the encampment to partisan purposes, and his emphatic opposition to a return of Rebel flags captured during the war. He could never compromise with rebellion against the Government ; he could not forget nor forgive it.
He was emphatically domestic. His home was to him all in all. Therein lay his happiness. With his wife, children, neighbors, and congenial friends around him, he was content, and it was there he was seen as he was, genial and happy in striving to make them happy.
It can be truly said of him that as a soldier, he won a fame that will remain so long as the victory at Donelson shall have a place in the history of the Republic. Very singularly, he seldom spoke of what he did during his service, yet often referred to acts of heroism and gallantry done by some of "his boys," for whom he had the closest attachment. Though sometimes apparently reck- less, he exercised excellent judgment, was considerate of them, had implicit confidence in them, and they in him. He had only to give the sign for them to go in, and, mirabile dictu, how they would fight.
He died in Arizona, October Twenty-fourth, 1892.
May Fifth, 1907.
BARTRUM GALBRAITH
BARTRUM GALBRAITH
A PIONEER who made considerable noise in this community in the early days was Bartrum Galbraith. He was born August Ninth, 1832, in Jefferson, Greene County, Pennsyl- vania, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His father was a physician. Bar- trum passed his boyhood days going to the common school ten hours a day, and doing the usual boy's stunts about the home.
In 1849, when seventeen years old, he went to Brownsville, Pennsylvania, to learn the trade of blacksmith, and served an apprenticeship of three years. In 1852, he returned from Browns- ville and worked until 1853, when he was attacked with the West- ern fever, his brother, William A., a merchant, who had preceded him, having sent to the old home glowing accounts of the business prospects at Fort Des Moines, and, with Doctor A. B. Shaw, the noted florist and one of the founders of the State Agricultural Society, came by steamboat to Keokuk, where they arrived June Thirteenth. There they, with William T. Marvin, boarded a Frink & Walker "jerkey," and the first day reached Fairfield, the second day Oskaloosa, the third day Fort Des Moines, Marvin landing at the Hoxie House, which he subsequently purchased, and it became the well-known Marvin House, and Galbraith, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, where the Northwestern Railroad ticket office is, then owned by his brother, W. A.
His first job was in the plow shop of John H. Given, on Vine Street ; his second, with P. H. Buzzard, on Market Street. The coal in the shop was pried up with crowbars from the bed of the Des Moines River, down at Rattlesnake Bend, and hauled in wagons.
His last job as a journeyman was with Hutsonpillar & Dil- linger, who had a shop in one of the double log cabins of the gar- rison on First Street, a little south and rear of the old Demoin House. It was in one part of the cabin "Uncle" Thomas French,
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a well-known bachelor old-timer, made his home for several years. For that shop, the coal was got out of the river bank on the old Thompson farm.
In the Spring of 1856, Galbraith formed a partnership with Isaiah Maple, father of Doctor W. W. Maple, now a resident of the city, and they built a shop on Third Street, between Walnut and Locust, on what was called the Kellogg property, owned by Samuel Kellogg, a private in the infantry regiment of the garrison.
In 1857, Galbraith concluded to go back to the old home and get the girl he left behind him in 1853. He had accumulated three hundred dollars of Agricultural Bank notes, which were not worth much outside of Polk County-in fact, there was very little good bank currency in the whole state of Iowa, for the entire West was greatly embarrassed with a financial panic. He went to Hoyt Sherman & Company's bank and exchanged his Agricultural money for such of Eastern currency as would be good until he could get to Pittsburg with it. When he got back to Fort Des Moines with his bride, the Agricultural Bank had collapsed, and he congratulated himself that in the transaction he had escaped the loss of his three hundred dollars and secured a good wife.
Referring to the event a few days ago, he said: "We went to housekeeping in a three-room house on Fourth Street, owned by William Minson, at thirteen dollars a month rental. Living was not very high ; porterhouse and loin steak was eight to ten cents a pound; a hind quarter of beef, four to five cents; butter, ten to fifteen cents; good wood, two dollars and fifty cents to three dol- lars a cord. Everybody burned wood in those days. Our principal fruit was wild crabapples and wild grapes. Our bill of fare would not compare very favorably with that of to-day, but it was health- ful and went right to the spot."
In 1858, a lot was purchased at the northeast corner of Third and Locust, known for many years as the "Church Property." While negotiations were being made for the lot, one Mercer, who was somewhat eccentric, got it into his head that Galbraith and Maple were working a swindling scheme against his wife, who was interested in the property, and he went to Esquire Madison Young -the well-known old bachelor lawyer and Justice of the Peace --
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and asked him to "read him up on the Law of Frauds." The Esquire listened to his story, said to him: "If you want to know anything about frauds, go to some schoolma'am," turned to his desk and closed up like a clam.
"Jim" Campbell and other old-timers used to tell the tale of the Esquire that at one time there was a flood, the rivers were rising very rapidly, and the Esquire, to satisfy himself as to how high they were getting, drove a nail into the side of the ferry boat, and frequently went to inspect it.
The eastern portion of the lot was sold to the German Lutheran Church Society, and the shop moved to the corner, and there Gal- braith swung the hammer and pounded the anvil until 1897, thirty- nine years' occupation of the same spot. In the early days, his customers came from a radius of fifty miles, for he was consid- ered the best workman in these parts.
One day, in 1858, Galbraith wanted some alcohol. The cast- iron prohibitory law was in force, and intoxicating liquors could be got only from Doctor D. V. Cole, whom Judge Napier had made the County Liquor Agent. The Doctor told Galbraith he could get the liquor for medical, mechanical and sacramental pur- poses only. As Galbraith wanted the stuff for his boots, he thought it would come under the rule for mechanical purposes, and the Doctor let it go.
In the Winter of 1861, William A. Spruance, a young fellow of seventeen years of age, known by Galbraith, wandered off to Denver to grow up with the country, but concluding Iowa was a better country, began working his way back, doing what jobs he could get. He stopped at Dennison, in Crawford County, to work in a saw mill, but didn't like it, and started for old Carroll on foot across the wild prairie. A blizzard came up, he got lost in the whirling storm, and wandered around from Friday morning until Sunday afternoon before he found shelter. One leg was frozen badly. Galbraith was notified, and went after him, but when he got to him, his leg had been amputated, for which he paid the man who sawed it off sixty dollars. He left the young man to come on when convalescent, but he brought the severed leg home, packed it in a box, and with a bottle, in which was an explanatory note,
VOL. II-(21).
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buried them in the lot east of his shop. When the cellar was dug for the brick building a few years ago, the diggers unearthed the box and bottle, read the explantory note, turned the whole over to Galbraith, who took possession of the leg bones, which were per- feetly preserved, and he has them yet, a gentle reminder of an Iowa blizzard.
Politically, he is a Republican. He cast his first vote for Pres- ident for John C. Fremont, and has not changed his politics. He has never taken any part in politics as a politician ; is content to be classed with the common people. When he laid down his ham- mer in 1897, he retired from active business.
Socially, he is companionable; inclined to reticence; is of posi- tive temperament and fixedness of purpose; is not a member of any club or fraternal society.
Religiously, he affiliates with the Baptist Church.
May Nineteenth, 1907.
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E. J. INGERSOLL
E. J. INGERSOLL
O F the many old settlers of Polk County who impressed them- selves upon the community, few were more conspicuous than Ebenezer Jared Ingersoll.
Born in Pulaski, Oswego County, New York, March Twenty- eighth, 1828, of English ancestry, which embraced the names of men eminent as ministers, lawyers, and statesmen. He lived with his parents until twenty-one years old, and acquired a thorough academic education. After reading law in the office of Judge Huntington, of Pulaski, he entered the United States Law School at Balston Springs, and was graduated in 1832, with the degree of Bachelor of Law, and was admitted to practice in the state and federal courts. He opened an office in Adams, Greene County, New York, where he secured a large and profitable practice.
In the Fall of 1858, he joined the tide of emigration westward and came to Des Moines, where he was admitted to the Bar and at once took high rank with the members of the profession. A man of optimistic temperament, remarkable force and energy, he soon discovered greater possibilities for the Capital City, and became a booster and promoter of business enterprises, not only in the town, but throughout Central Iowa. He demonstrated his faith in their growth and prosperity by engaging in several business enterprises. He also purchased several farms and engaged extensively in rais- ing thoroughbred stock.
One day, in 1860, Ingersoll, S. R. Ingham, J. M. Elwood, and John Browne were sitting in a social game of whist in the old Exchange Building, at Third and Walnut. Browne had been the Western agent of the Globe Insurance Company, of Utica, New York. During the play, insurance was discussed, quite naturally, as the Globe Company had just collapsed, and Browne said to his friends: "Why don't you start an insurance company ?" Inger- soll at once began to consider it, but the Cival War came on,
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during which there was little inducemeut to undertake enterprises of that kind. He, however, with his usual pertinacity, stuck to it, and March Sixth, 1865, with B. F. Allen, Frank W. Palmer, James Callanan, and J. B. Tiffiu, organized the Hawkeye Fire Insurance Company. For three years, the company did business as a partnership. Ingersoll was elected President, and held the office until his death, in 1891. He was the pioneer in a business system which has expanded until Des Moines is now known as the "Hartford of the West."
April Seventh, 1868, the company was incorporated under the laws of Iowa, the following persons signing the Articles of Incor- poration : F. W. Palmer, J. B. Tiffin, B. F. Allen, James Calla- nan, Junior, W. S. Pritchard, and E. J. Ingersoll. Mr. Callanan was elected Treasurer, and held the place several years. The cap- ital stock was fixed at one hundred thousand dollars.
In 1870, Mr. Ingersoll abandoned his other enterprises, aud devoted his time and energy to build up the Hawkeye. It was uphill work. The older Eastern companies, represented by agents, interposed every possible obstacle to his progress, but they reck- oned without their host when they struck Ingersoll, for he was a man of indomitable will and courage, denoted in every line of his face, which, like an electric current, became stronger as resistance against it increased. Opposition only intensified his force. The Hawkeye was his creation. He was the moving spirit of it, mak- ing it one of the strongest financial institutions of the state, but he had to fight for it, step by step.
As a business man, he was eminently successful. He was a person of athletic build, nervous, lymphatic temperament, brusque and plain of speech, often using very vigorous swear-words; was no hero-worshipper; was strong in his convictions, which, once fixed, were not easily removed. I remember an incident which occurred soon after the Legislature had made a change in the insurance laws, tending to protect the public against the watering of stock, and among other requirements was one that joint stock companies must have the words, "Stock Company," prominently printed on the face of their policies. His supply of blank policies having become exhausted, he ordered several thousand printed by
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Mills & Company, and one day when they were running through the press I called his attention to the omission of the words, "Stock Company," which the statute required put in, supposing that it was an error which sometimes occurs in the best-regulated printing offices, and that he would order the presses stopped to make the correction, but, instead, he retorted: "I don't care a d-n what the d-n fools over at the State House require. I'll have my poli- cies printed the way I want them." The job was finished, but a few days after, he ordered another lot printed, with the required words in place, but he never changed his opinion respecting the Legislature.
Politically, he was a Democrat, of the ultra variety, but abjured politics entirely. He was not built for a politician, and would have failed had he attempted to play the game.
Socially, he was a person of high ideals. Brusque and blunt as he was, his heart pulsated with tenderness and sympathy for those in want or suffering, and his purse was always open to such for relief. He was not a good mixer, but his friends were those who knew him as he was, a man of probity, honesty of purpose; and they never faltered in their attachments. He was not a member of any clubs or fraternal organizations.
He died in 1891.
June Ninth, 1907.
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COLONEL GEORGE L. GODFREY
COLONEL GEORGE L. GODFREY
A N old settler who has been largely identified with public affairs of the city, county and state is Colonel George L. Godfrey, a Green Mountain State boy, born at Hardwick, Vermont, November Fourth, 1838.
He passed his boyhood days on a farm in that rock-ribbed sec- tion, attending the common schools, and as he advanced in years attended Barre Academy. In Winter, he taught school in the country, and in Summer worked on a farm.
In 1855, his brother gave him money to pay his expenses to Dubuque, where he taught a district school during the Winter, and in the Spring of 1856, he came to Des Moines, and soon after went to Sioux City. The United States Land Office had just opened there, and the town was crowded with land-seekers. He got on the warm side of the Chief Clerk of the Land Office, who gave him some pointers. He traveled over the country to get the "lay of the land," and mapped it out with field notes, so that when a settler wanted to make an entry of land, he was prepared to direct him to what he wanted, for which they were ready and will- ing to pay a liberal fee. In this way, he accumulated about one thousand dollars. In the meantime, he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land for himself, sold one-half of it for what the whole cost him, and had eighty acres left. He then came back to Des Moines, and in 1859, began reading law in the office of Judge Cole.
One day, in 1861, he and the Judge went to Indianola on busi- ness, and on their way home were met by a man who informed them that Fort Sumter had been fired upon. Both were Demo- crats. They started on, and the Judge said : "Well, Godfrey what is to be done ?" "We must save the country," replied Godfrey. "I think that is so," responded the Judge. "I know what I shall do," said Godfrey. The next morning he learned that M. M.
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Crocker had organized a company the night before, and he went to his office to enlist. Crocker told him the company was full, and, further, that he did not think Godfrey wanted to enlist as a pri- vate and sweep cigar stubs from an officer's headquarters. Godfrey said he didn't know the difference between an officer and a private, and insisted on being enlisted as a private. May Twenty-first, he signed the enrollment, and was elected Corporal of the company. The company was assigned to the Second Regiment, as Company D. December Fifth, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant; June Twenty-second, First Lieutenant, and the same day, Adju- tant of the regiment. The regiment was attached to the Third Brigade, District of Southeast Missouri, where it served until February, 1862, when it was attached to the First Brigade, Sec- ond Division, Army of the Tennessee.
His company took part in the memorable charge at Fort Don- elson. In that engagement, Godfrey was seriously injured by a Rebel bullet, which struck him on the breast.
He was in the "Hornet's Nest" of shot and shell at Shiloh, on the Sixth and Seventh of April, 1862. On the afternoon of the first day's fight, when it was supposed General Tuttle's brigade was holding its position-a very important one-successfully, at the right of the brigade, along a ridge, Godfrey saw the Rebs. pouring down a ravine to the right like a flock of sheep. He instantly suspected it was a move to get around the Second and Seventh regiments by the right flank, and he reported it quickly to Colonel Mills, who ordered him to report to General Tuttle, which he did with a rush. "Oh, you're rattled," responded the General. "Well, by G-d, you'll get rattled pretty soon if you don't get a move on you," retorted Godfrey. The General soon discovered the objective point of the enemy's movement, and ordered the Second and Seventh to fall back. The Rebs., seeing their plan was frustrated, withdrew, and thus the Second and Sev- enth regiments were saved from certain capture by the sagacity and quick action of Godfrey. As Adjutant of the regiment, he was in the thickest of the fight, and stood where he could have placed his hand on General W. H. L. Wallace when that gallant officer fell. The last gun was fired before two o'clock on the
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afternoon of the Seventh, and Grant's army marched back victor- ious to their previous encampment, and took a rest.
Godfrey was also in the battle of Corinth, October Third and Fourth, 1862, where was fought one of the most decisive contests of the South and West. The Confederates numbered over forty thousand men, and as their ranking officer, Van Dorn, said, suf- ficient to capture the city.
The Second Iowa was among the troops sent out to encounter the enemy, and formed a line of battle at the front. Frequent changes were made in position to checkmate the advances of the enemy, and it finally became hotly engaged near what was known as the White House. It was stationed on high ground, on the edge of timber. In its front, the country was open, affording an almost unobstructed view for a mile or more to the right and left. In this position, it was assaulted in force by the enemy, who, by a charge, endeavored to break the Federal line, but they were repulsed. They did not renew the charge, but came back to within musket range, and from behind stumps and old logs, opened fire with the rifles. The fighting continued for an hour, when heavy columns of Rebel reinforcements were seen coming in the distance. For the regi- ment to remain where it was, and allow the enemy to hold their position in the immediate front until the reinforcements arrived, would result in certain defeat. Colonel Baker ordered a charge, and, as the enemy was being routed, he fell from his horse, mor- tally wounded.
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