USA > Iowa > Dallas County > The History of Dallas County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 54
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" By vote the quarter-master was directed to procure a sufficient quantity of 'hard-tack' to issue rations to the soldiers present. Adjourned. "E. H. CONGER, President. "J. R. JOY, Secretary."
All necessary preparation being made and no pains or effort being spared on the part of those interested, to make the occasion a success, the re-union came off at the appointed time, collecting a large crowd of witnesses and participants, and a good time generally was had on this most enjoyable oc- casion.
The Dallas County News has this to say about the occasion in its issue the following week:
" We are happy to be able to say that the Dallas county soldier's re-un- ion, held at this place last Friday and Saturday, was a far greater success than was anticipated by any. About one hundred and fifty names were enrolled, and it is safe to say that there were half that many more present who failed to enroll.
" The programme previously adopted was carried out with few excep- tions. At the election of officers, which occurred Saturday forenoon, the following gentlemen were chosen for the ensuing year:
" Colonel-A. J. Lyon. Lieutenant-Colonel-D. J. Pattee.
Major-A. Dilley. Adjutant-J. R. Joy. Quarter-Master-T. R. North.
Chaplain-A. H. Chase. Surgeon-T. J. Caldwell.
"After dinner the large concourse present gathered around the stand and listened to short addresses by Prof. Phillips, of Adel, and Rev. Chase, of Redfield. Between the remarks of these two gentlemen J. B. White read a poem written by Rev. Frisbie, of Des Moines.
" A martial band from Dexter, and the Perry and Adel brass bands fur- nished good music and thereby added materially to the enjoyment of the gathering. A great deal of praise and credit is due the gentlemen who were instrumental in working up and making a success of Dallas county's first re-union, and we know that enough interest is now awakened to insure its greater success next year."
SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA.
The following beautiful poem, which has won for its author a National reputation, and has been sung in the theaters of Europe, was written in a Southern prison by Adjutant S. H. M. Byers, at present (1879) U. S. Con- sul at Zurich, Switzerland. In his little book, "What I saw in Dixie," on page 73-4, he copies from his diary, December 25, 1865, as follows: "This is my second Christmas in prison. * * * * *
434
DALLAS COUNTY WAR RECORD.
Lieutenant Tower, of Ottumwa, Iowa, who had lost a leg in the army, and was afterward captured, is now to be exchanged and sent home. He wears a hollow, artificial wooden limb in place of the one he lost; this we packed full of letters, one of which contained 'Sherman's March to the Sea'. The Rebels little suspected our novel way of communicating with our friends. The Lieutenant went safely through, and the letters were all delivered":
Our camp fires shone bright on the mountains That frowned on the river below, While we stood by our guns in the morning And eagerly watched for the foe- When a rider came out from the darkness That hung over mountain and sea. And shouted "Boys, up and be ready,. For Sherman will march to the sea.
Then cheer upon cheer for bold Sherman Went up from each valley and glen, And the bugles re-echoed the music That came from the lips of the men. For we knew that the stars in our banner More bright in their splendor would be, And that blessings from Northland would greet us When Sherman marched down to the sea.
Then forward, boys, forward to battle, We marched on our wearisome way, And we stormed the wild hills of Resaca, -God bless those who fell on that day- Then Kenesaw, dark in its glory, Frowned down on the flag of the free, But the East and the West bore our standards, And Sherman marched on to the sea.
Still onward we pressed, till our banners Swept out from Atlanta's grim walls, And the blood of the patriot dampened The soil where the traitor flag falls; But we paused not to weep for the fallen, Who slept by each river and tree, Yet we twined them a wreath of the laurel, As Sherman marched down to the sea.
O, proud was our army that morning That stood where the pine darkly towers, When Sherman said, "Boys, you are weary. This day fair Savannah is ours." Then sang we a song for our chieftain That echoed o'er river and lea, And the stars in our banner shone brighter, When Sherman marched down to the sea.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
ADEL.
THIS town is the county-seat of Dallas county, and has a delightful situa- tion on the west bank of the North Raccoon river, on sections 29 and 32, township 79, range 27, the original "town quarter " being the east half of the southwest quarter, and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 29, in the above mentioned township. The original town was surveyed and platted by the county surveyor, Martin W. Miller-or rather by his deputy, Alfred D. Jones, of Des Moines-which work was completed May 22, 1847, the town site having been selected just previously as the proper place for the location of the county-seat of Dallas county, by the locating commis- sioners appointed by the Legislature for that purpose. The out-lots were afterward surveyed by O. D. Smalley, in July, 1851.
Several additions have been made to the town since it was first established, until it now extends its limits from the river to the west line of section 29, and south for a considerable distance on section 32, including a large tract of land within the corporation. The original plat was situated principally on a beautiful, level plane or second-bottom, near the river, on land formerly owned, or claimed, by John Miller; but now the town extends toward the west, over the high ridge of rolling land which opens back upon the prairie, and affords numerous beautiful building sites, on many of which elegant, commodious and costly residences have been built. Adel was the first town established in the county, and has been compelled to pass through many trials and seasons of discouragement to attain its present stage of progress, and hold its own against the adverse circumstances and influences surround- ing and opposing it.
Even from its beginning for many years no very great advantages or en- couraging prospects were afforded for its rapid growth and prosperity. The country around was new and uncultivated, and the settlers were yet very few and widely scattered, so that the progress in general develope- ment was exceedingly slow and somewhat discouraging for several years, during which time the town of Adel, though the first and only one in the county, made but little increase, either in size or business.
To one living in the county-seat to-day it is a difficult matter to realize what was the appearance of Dallas county and of Adel in the fall of 1847, and for a few years following.
At that early day, to one standing on the high ridge just above the present site of the public school-building and looking down on the original town site as laid off for the county-seat, only a few cabins could be seen, and no shade trees, or foliage, or two and three story brick and frame build-
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
ings interrupted the view; and then looking to the west, and north, and south, as far as the eye could see over the trackless, rolling prairies, nothing met the eye but one unbroken sea of prairie grass waving over the unculti- vated lands, or the massive tops of forest trees skirting the branches of the Raccoon. No cabins, nor fences, nor barns, nor marks of cultivation and improvement could be seen, save the few original cabins and improvement on and near the site of the county-seat.
The town when first laid out was called Penoach, at the suggestion of the deputy surveyor, A. D. Jones, and retained that name until sometime in 1849, when it received its present name, the exact date of which change of name we have not been able to ascertain, as no record is found on the county books of any order changing it. It was probably done by the Leg- islature and the record would thus appear in Des Moines.
But much of the early history of the county-seat is necessarily involved in the general history of the county, and being there quite fully given need not be here repeated. (See history of county-seat.)
The first house in town was built by J. C. Corbell in the fall of 1847, on lot 5, block 8.
It was a small log cabin used as a dwelling house and a post-office, the owner being the postmaster and mail carrier from Fort Des Moines.
Ira Sherman sold the first goods in town-as before stated-and not long after him Benjamin Greene and George B. Warden each opened stores about the same time, in 1848 or 1849, Warden occupying the old log court- house, and Mr. Greene occupying a small building which stood opposite the northeast corner of the court-house square. Each carried a mixed stock of goods, and these were then the only stores in town. Mr. Greene sold out to William Ellis, a few years afterward, who opened a mixed store in a small one-story building, which stood on lot 4, block 18, just opposite the southeast corner of the square.
About 1853 Cole Noel also opened a store, keeping a general assort- ment, on lot 4, block 17; and about 1854-5 E. D. Smith opened a small grocery and notion store on lot 8, block 7, opposite the northwest corner of court-house square.
The first two-story frame store building erected in town was, perhaps, the one which now stands empty on lot 1, block 17. It was built by Wm. Ellis about 1855, and his stock of goods was moved into it that year, just across the street from his first small store.
Among the very first frame dwellings erected was one which stood on lots 7 and S, block 13, and was afterward converted into a store building, and then, in connection with three other small buildings, it was burned, this being the largest one of the four.
The first brick building erected in the town was the small one-story building now occupied by G. W. Campbell as a tailor shop. This building was erected in 1856 or 1857.
The first brick dwelling house erected in town was one built by C. C. Baird, on an out-lot in the southwest part of town, soon after the brick · tailor shop was erected.
The first two-story brick building erected in town is the one now occu- pied by Leroy Lambert as a dwelling on an out-lot in the west part of town on Main street. This building was used as the school-house for a number of years until the present large school-building was erected in 1869. It was built about the same time, or a little before, the present court-house.
437
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
The first three-story brick store building erected in town was Risser's large and elegant store building, about 1867-8.
The first hotel in the town was a small story-and-a-half frame building which now forms part of the " Hill House," and stood on the same ground. Mr. R. R. Bailey kept hotel in it for a long time, as a stage station on the line of the Western Stage Company, from Davenport to Council Bluffs, this being the first and only hotel is town for some time.
In 1855 the " Plank House " was built by Jacob Frush on the site now oc- cupied by the "Forrester House," and when this was finished and put in run- ning order, the stage station was moved to it and thus continued until the line was discontinued. Mr. Frush kept the stage station for some time after his "Plank House" was completed, then sold out to Mr. Hale, who kept it until August, 1863, when he sold to Mr. Forrester, and has since continued under his name, but is now in the possession of A. F. Ford.
Among the first men who preached in town were Thomas Butler, Elder Castle, John P. Glenn and Elder Baird.
In 1855 there were not more than twenty-five houses, all told, in the town, and only three stores, Wm. Ellis', Cole Noel's and E. D. Smith's, as above mentioned, showing that the progress during the first seven or eight years was not very great. After that, however, buildings and inhabitants and business increased more rapidly.
The town gave two lots for church purposes at an early day; one to the M. E. Church, situated in the northeast corner of town, an out-lot, and one to the Christian Church, situated in the extreme southeast corner of town. But these were never built upon by the churches.
We are indebted to the kindness of Judge Perkins for many of the above statistics, who also informs us that not long after coming to the county and town he performed the marriage ceremony for two colored couple here in Adel, which were the first and last and only colored couple married in the town, and perhaps in the county. The first white couple married in the town we have not been able to ascertain.
Mr. Greene informns us that the first death in town was that of the wife of Isaac Miller, son of Samuel Miller, at a very early day in the town's history.
GRAVE-YARDS.
The first burying ground of Adel was south of town a mile or two, which was used for some time; but not being satisfactory to all parties, the loca- tion was changed, and a five-acre lot was secured about a mile and a quarter west of town, which was properly laid off, and deeded to the town of Adel for a public burying ground. It is fenced and now under the management of the town trustees since the incorporation of the town.
The I. O. O. F. lodge also have a burying ground of their own across the river, a short distance east of town, containing three acres, which was do- nated to them for that purpose about 1856, by Barak Michener, who re- served a lot for himself, and has since been buried there. Only two or three others have yet been buried in the ground.
It is well fenced and kept, and has a beautiful location.
POST-OFFICE.
The post-office was established in Penoach in 1847. No regular inail route passed through here at that time, but for a while a man was appointed
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
to the double work of postmaster and mail carrier, whose duty it was to go to Fort Des Moines for the mail, and also to distribute it at Penoach, until the mail and stage route passed through here.
J. C. Corbell was the first postmaster and mail carrier of this kind in the town, who held the office for some time.
The following, as near as we can ascertain, is a list of the postmasters who followed him: Stephen K. Scovell, Ira Sherman, M. C. Thomas, S. K. Scovell, Leroy Lambert, H. C. Rippey, James Robinson, N. B. Nichols, Esq., S. B. Hempstead, N. B. Nichols, Esq., G. A. Atwood, J. E. Williams and W. F. Brockway, the present incumbent, who was appointed December 27, 1873.
Adel was incorporated in 1856. Recorded in the minutes of the term of County Court, held March 3, 1856, the following order, regarding the or- ganization and incorporation of the town of Adel, appears:
"On a petition of William Ellis and forty-seven other citizens of Adel, praying for a Town Organization; and it being proven to the satisfaction of this court that there are three hundred inhabitants in the village of Adel, and that one-fourth of the legal voters of said village of Adel were sub- scribed to the petition aforesaid, it is
Ordered, That an election be held in the village of Adel, at the court-house, on the 13th day of March. A. D. 1856, in order to take the census of the inhabitants, 'for incorporation' and 'against incorporation'; and that N. B. Nichols, Leroy Lambert and M. F. Gerard be, and are hereby, appointed judges of said election; and that Wm. H. Dodge and J. Perkins be, and are hereby, appointed clerks of said election."
"ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FOR THE TOWN OF ADEL."
ARTICLE 1. All that tract of land being in township seventy-nine (79), north of range twenty-seven (27), west of the fifth principal meridian, in the county of Dallas, and State of Iowa, which is comprised in the original town plat of Adel; together with all additions here- tofore made and recorded, and all additions that may hereafter be made and recorded accord- ing to law, be, and the same is hereby, declared a town corporation, by the name and style of Adel, and the inhabitants thereof are created a body corporate and politic, by the name and style of the town of Adel, and shall have and exercise the rights, powers and duties of a corporation, from and after the tenth day of April, A. D. 1856.
ART. 2. The legal voters, who have resided within the limits of said corporation twenty · days immediately preceding any such election, shall meet at some suitable place within said corporation, on the first Saturday in April, A. D. 1856, and annually thereafter, and then and there proceed to elect, by ballot, one mayor, four councilmen and one recorder, who shall hold their offices for one year and until their successors shall be elected and qualified.
ART. 3. At the first election there shall be chosen, by the electors present, two judges and a clerk of election, and at subsequent elections the councilmen, or any two of them, shall be the judges of election, and the recorder shall be the clerk of election. The judges and clerk of elections, at all elections, shall be governed by the laws of Iowa governing gen- eral elections so far as applicable, except that the polls shall be opened at any time before twelve o'clock at noon, and closed at four o'clock in the afternoon, after which the votes shall be canvassed and the judges shall declare the election and the clerk shall, within three days, notify the persons elected.
ART. 4. The mayor shall be the presiding officer of the council when present, and shall give the casting vote when there is a tie. In his absence, the council may appoint a presi- dent pro tem from their own body.
ART. 5. The regular meetings of the council shall be held on the first Saturday in each month, and the council may provide by ordinance for calling special meetings.
ART. 6. Ordinances passed by the council shall be signed by the mayor and attested by the recorder, and before they take effect shall be posted up in three public places in said town, or published in some newspaper printed in said town, and shall also be recorded in a book kept for this purpose, attested by the mayor and recorder.
ART. 7. It shall be the duty of the recorder to keep a true record of all the official pro- ceedings of the council, which records shall be open at all times to public inspection.
ART. 8. The mayor, councilmen and recorder, before entering upon the duties of their
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
offices, shall each take an oath, or affirmation to support the constitution of the United States, and the constitution of Iowa, and faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of their office.
ART. 9. The council shall have authority to make and establish such by-laws and ordi- nances as may be necessary and proper for the good regulations, safety and health of the town and citizens thereof; to levy and collect taxes on all property within the limits of the corporation, which, by the laws of the State, is not exempt from taxation, which tax shall not exceed one per cent per annum on the assessed value thereof, and its collection may be enforced by such measures as may be deemed expedient. provided these measures be not more stringent and summary than those used for the collection of State and county taxes; to im- prove the streets and alleys; to provide drains, sewers, public wells, and keep them in re- pairs; to license, regulate, or prohibit all shows or public exhibitions, if the laws of the State are thereby not interfered with; to provide against gambling and drunkenness, and disor- derly conduct; and for the prevention and extinguishment of fires, and to make all ordinary, proper and suitable regulations for the government and well-being of the town, and impose penalties for the violation of such regulations, which penalties may be collected by civil ac- tion, in the name of the town, before any justice of the peace having jurisdiction.
ART. 10. The mayor, recorder and councilmen shall receive a compensation for their services, such compensation to be fixed by the council.
ART. 11. The board of councilmen may create such offices as they may deem necessary to carry out the intent of any ordinance passed by said town, prescribe their duties, declare their qualifications and mode of election, and may require thein to give security, if they deem it necessary.
ART. 12. Ten days' notice of all town elections shall be given, by posting written notices in three public places in said town, or by publication in some newspaper printed therein.
ART. 13. These articles of incorporation shall be subject to alteration or amendment by a vote of two-thirds of all the votes cast at a special election called for that purpose.
Done at Adel, Dallas county, Iowa, this 21st day of March, A. D. 1856.
Recorded this 9th day of April, A. D. 1856.
JEREMIAH PERKINS, E. D. SMITH,
Draftsmen.
L. D. BURNS,
County Judge.
The town continued under this organization as governed by the foregoing articles of incorporation until in August, 1867, when it gave up its former charter and re-organized under the new law of the State regarding town corporations, and has since continued as governed by that law.
The present population of the town is about 1,200.
TOWN OFFICERS OF 1878.
Mayor-S. H. Greene.
Councilmen:
A. G. Marsh, J. L. Clarkson, Geo. Mclaughlin,
J. O. Risser, L. L. Ward. Recorder-J. R. Joy. Treasurer-B. F. Lambert. Marshal-C. D. G. Rickinson.
PUBLIC SCHOOL.
Miss Anderson and James Reed were among the first who taught school in the town at an early day, the first school in the county having been taught by S. K. Scovell, a short distance east of the town, in the W. W. Miller school-house, as before noticed. The town has had three school-
440
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
houses, the first one being a one-story small frame house, on an out-lot in the west part of town, on Main street, where L. Lambert now lives. This house served the town for school purposes for several years. On the same ground, the two-story brick house-before mentioned as the first two-story brick erected, and the present residence of Mr. Lambert-was built and used as the public school-building of the town until in 1869. The present large and elegant public school-building was erected by Charles Rodenbaugh, con- tractor and builder. It is a commodious, well furnished brick structure, about 45x90 feet, three stories high, the lower two stories being used for public school purposes and the upper or third story being devoted to a Nor- mal school, as previously mentioned.
The Normal department is divided into two large rooms, well furnished, and the lower stories each have three large school-rooms, with a dressing room adjoining each recitation room, all thoroughly fitted and furnished. Mr. Rodenbaugh informs us that the building itself cost about $28,000, and counting the furniture and fixtures, the entire structure cost some $32,000, making it much the finest public school-building in the county, and show- ing that the citizens of Adel are thoroughly awake to the importance of ed- ucational interests. The interests of their public schools lie very near and dear to their hearts.
Adel is an independent school district, and spares no pains nor effort nor money to make the public school what it should be; and under the able and judicious administration of Prof. M. E. Phillips, their efficient principal, their school is making marked progress.
Seven teachers are now employed in the public schools of Adel, whose names are as follows:
Principal-Prof. M. E. Phillips.
Grammer Department-Miss Ida Twitchell.
1st Intermediate-Miss Alice Slocum.
2d Intermediate-Miss Alice Brenton.
1st Primary-Miss Mary Patty.
2d Primary-Miss Mina Lee.
Assistant, High School-Miss Jennie Allen.
There are about three hundred and sixty pupils in attendance, and the school is in an excellent condition, making most encouraging progress un- der the present efficient corps of teachers.
DIRECTORS OF SCHOOL BOARD, 1878.
President-S. L. Ward; Secretary-J. R. Joy; Treasurer-L. Lambert; J.W. Coons, Joe Geniser, R. M. Lee, R. S. Barr. D. McKay.
BUSINESS OF ADEL.
FIRMS AND THEIR BUSINESS, AS THEY STAND AT THE CLOSE OF 1878.
J. Risser & Son, dealers in dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, car- pets, trunks, notions, etc. West side of square.
M. B. Cole, dealer in dry goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, notions, etc. West side of square.
D. A. Blanchard, dealer in groceries, boots and shoes, hats, caps, gloves, notions, etc. Also hardware, stoves and tinware. South side of square.
Jonathan Boppard
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
Allen & Chapman, dealers in groceries and hardware. Southwest of square. J. M. Jolly, dealer in groceries, Yankee notions, confectionery, etc. Also furnishes warm meals at all hours. Upper end of Main street.
T. J. Boak, dealer in groceries, glassware, crockery, etc. Also agricul- tural implements. South of square.
L. W. Garoutte, dealer in groceries, stoves and agricultural implements. West side of square.
M. E. Coons, groceries and notions. Also furnishes warm meals. East side of square.
S. Sweeley, groceries and notions. South side of square.
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