USA > Iowa > Polk County > The history of Polk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131
334
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
with the returns from a forgotten precinct sufficiently Democratic to over- come his supposed majority and elect one of Granger's satellites. There are few of the early settlers who will fail to recollect that unexpected turn of affairs, but probably none of them know that it was all done according to a plan suggested by Mr. Granger two days before the election and after the Democrats had entirely despaired of success.
In July, 1849, Mr. Granger began the publication of the Iowa Star. The material for starting the paper was purchased at Iowa City, it having been previously used in the publication of a paper at that place. Mr. Granger gives the following account of the circumstances attending the es- tablishment of the paper:
"In 1848 A. W. Blair issued a circular announcing to the people of Polk county and vicinity that he would soon engage in the publication of a paper at Fort Des Moines. Mr. Blair had emigrated from Indiana to Iowa in 1845 and settled first at Sigourney, in Keokuk county. He was there en- gaged in the practice of law till the beginning of the Mexican War, when he enlisted as a volunteer and served till the close of the war, when, not hav- ing anything in particular, he, at the suggestion of Curtis Bates, conclu- ded to start a paper at Fort Des Moines and issued his prospectus accord- ingly. He had some difficulty in procuring the necessary printing material and before he succeeded in fitting out the office became a victim of the gold excitement and went to California, where he afterward engaged in the prac- tice of law and had a successful career.
Some time after Blair emigrated to California Mr. Granger visited Iowa City and while there was approached by Mr. Bates, who, being an active politician and ambitious of official promotion, prevailed upon Mr. Granger to take up the enterprise which Blair had embarked in and carry it through. The latter was somewhat favorably disposed to the project, and, on looking around, found the material and fixtures of a printing office of that city for sale. He bought the material on time and Mr. Bates indorsed his paper. He then returned to Fort Des Moines and dispatched Charles Winkley and Jonathan Rathburn for the printing material. These two men loaded the type and presses onto their wagons, and after much difficulty, especially in crossing Skunk river bottom, finally arrived at the Fort with their freight.
The presses, type and fixtures were deposited in a double log cabin on "'Coon Row," where the office was fitted up and the paper published for some time. The office was afterward removed to the second story of a frame building, which still stands on Elm street, between Front and Second.
The first subscriber whose name appeared on Mr. Granger's newspaper list was Lewis Jones and the first money paid on subscription was by Thomas Mitchell.
The history of this first newspaper, in connection with the history of the other journals of the city, both past and present, living and dead, will be given at length elsewhere, but in this connection it will be proper to add that the Star was a seven column, folio sheet, published weekly at two dollars per year, and payments, like the subscription price of all country newspapers, were theoretically, to be made in lawful currency and invariably in advance. Practially, they were made at the option of the subscriber, and when made consisted of ragged bills on bursted banks, country pro- duce, snake root, rags and sourkrout.
Finding that the publication of a newspaper materially interfered with
335
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
his law and real estate business, not being particularly anxious for political honors, and soon ascertaining that the newspaper business would not very rapidly raise him him to affluence and wealth, Mr. Granger disposed of the paper the following year, after it had reached the then large circulation of eight hundred.
The Des Moines Leader of to-day is the legitimate offspring of the old Iowa Star; the different generations through which the Leader must trace its lineage before getting back to the original ancestor enthroned in that princely cabin on "Coon Row" will be noted elsewhere.
Mr. Granger continued his business as attorney at law and real estate dealer in Des Moines for some fifteen years, when, according to the intention made known to his comrade, on first coming to the place, he laid aside the cares and vexations of business and located on the beautiful and pictur- esque bluff overlooking the Des Moines river, and where he can now sit, and from the veranda of his elegant residence contemplate a city whose career and his own are indissolubly interwoven.
The foregoing is a brief and imperfect synopsis of the leading men of business who first settled at Des Moines; brief in that but a few facts and incidents connected with the career of each is given; imperfect in that there were others equally active and, prominent in the first settlement of the county, but whom, on account of the difficulty in obtaining accurate infor- mation, we have not mentioned. However, what has been given will afford a general and we think authentic account of the first settlements of the city, and from which the reader can form an estimate of the men who laid the foundation of the city's prosperity.
Lewis Whitten, one of the early county officers and the first school teacher came in 1846. Perry T. Crossman, the first clerk of courts, and Thomas H. Napier for several years county judge, were early settlers of Fort Des Moines. E. R. Clapp who is still a resident of Des Moines, and a brother of W. W. Clapp, who died many years ago, was early identified with the business affairs of Polk county. Wesley Redhead, of whom every one has heard who knows anything of Des Moines, came some later; his early career as an orphan boy and his experience as a canal employe, printer's devil and journeyman tailor in various parts of the United States and Canada, would afford material for a lengthy biography. From the time he came to Polk county till the present he has had firm faith in the country, and has done as much or more than any other individual in building up the capital city and developing the resources of the country. William McKay, at first clerk of the board of county commissioners, then the leading attorney of the county, then district judge of the Fourth Judicial District, was one of the most prominent and successful professional men who came in early times. Curtis Bates was not one of the earliest settlers, but came during pio- neer times. His location in the county dates from 1850, at which time he and Luther Johnson, a talented young man who soon after died, took con- trol of the Iowa Star. Mr. Bates was, without doubt, one of the most distinguished men who located in the county in early times. Many who came before him afterward established an enviable reputation and won a great name. Mr. Bates was a great man when he came. D. O. Finch and M. M. Crocker, at one time law partners, were also among the illustrious pioneers of Polk county. Crocker did not come till late, some time after Finch, but their connection in business makes it appropriate that their
25
336
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
names should appear together. Mr. Crocker's gallant war record and un- timely death will be treated more fully hereafter, while the name of Dan Finch, for so long a time, one of the most talented and eccentric members of the Polk county bar, will figure extensively in our chapter on the courts and early bar of the county. In speaking of D. O. Finch there is suggested the name of McFarland, who was for several years judge of this judicial district; he was a great favorite of Finch. During the time that McFar- land was on the bench his residence was at Boonesboro, but prior to locating in the latter town he and a brother, John A. McFarland, now the leading banker of Boone, located in Polk county. William H. Meacham, a mem- ber of the first board of county commissioners, kept a tavern on the east side from time immemorial. One Tucker was, however, the first landlord at the Fort. Martin Tucker was his name, Martin alone; but owing to the fact that his early education had been sadly neglected and to the accompany- ing cross which always appeared along with his name he soon became known as Martin X. Tucker. S. E. Spofford did not come to the county till 1855, but he is regarded throughout Polk and adjoining counties as one of the leading pioneers of the county and a foster parent of the capital city. Simon Casady and his wife are the first couple married who were both born in the county. Messrs Polk, West, Hippee and Dewey, who are known as among the leading citizens of Des Moines, came about the same time, in 1854 or 1855.
There are others who should not be forgotten though they moved in the humbler walks of life; such as Mr. Basgard and A. B. Fuller, who manu- factured the first plow and the first wagon; C. C. Van, who first used steam power; Jesse Dicks, who kept the first stove store; Michael Kennedy, the first drayman, and many others who, while they did not figure so exten- sively in public affairs and who were scarcely known outside the narrow limits of the then narrow town, nevertheless performed some of the hardest work and endured the severest hardships, and in their own humble sphere performed their part heroically and well, and who filled their place in the community so faithfully that they should ever be regarded as one of the most important factors in the problem of material development.
According to the plan of this work it is designed to speak definitely and more fully of the schools and churches of the county at another place, but while treating on the early settlement of Des Moines we deem it proper to allude to some of those early settlers who as ministers and educators laid broad and deep the foundation upon which were afterward built the schools and churches which now adorn the social system of the city. These first teachers and preachers were brave, heroic and able men and women. They were industrious, zealous and enthusiastic and on this account as well as from the fact that the people with whom they labored were in sympathy with their work, were they enabled to accomplish such great things. It is universally admitted that nothing is so potent in its influence to shape the social condition of a people as schools and churches. It is a fact already elicited and will become more and more apparent as the work progresses that the persons who came during the period referred to were from those localities in the East where the greatest attention had been paid to these mighty forces of civilization. Many of them had been educated at the best colleges of the East, and with a few exceptions they all availed themselves of the liberal facilities furnished by the best common school system in the world. The ancient Grecian and Roman prided himself on his devotion to
337
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
his household gods, and while he might lose on his journey a father, mother, sister or even wife without a great pang of grief, yet it was a mark of un- pardonable folly or cowardice to lose his gods. Those who have read the story of Æneas fleeing from the ruins of his native Troy, and leaving behind him in the devouring elements his beloved Creusa, and stopping on the way to bury the aged Anchises, yet amid fire and sword, amid shipwreck and famine, still clinging to his trusted gods. But there is no account of the heroes of antiquity clinging to their lares and penates with any greater tenacity or hastening with any greater alacrity to set them up on the soil of their new found home than did the first settlers of this county cling to their churches and free schools and hasten to establish them in the goodly land which they had found west of the Father of Waters.
Among the denominations first represented by a minister the Methodists here as well as in most every community throughout the West are deserv- ing of first mention; however, by reason of their peculiar sytem of itiner- ancy, the early Methodist ministers did not acquire as great personal popularity nor wield as much personal influence as did those of the Baptist and Presbyterian Churches. They did not remain long enough to stamp their individuality upon the community; the churches they established remained and continued to grow in influence; the men who organized them, loyal to their institutions, and in obedience to the command of their bishops, after having served their two or three years, moved on. Ezra Rathbun was one of the first Methodist preachers to locate in Des Moines. By some writers he has been termed a negro; this we are satisfied is a mistake. It is true that he was not a full blooded Anglo-Saxon, but from the best authority we are lead to believe that his blood was a mixture of Anglo- Saxon with that of Spanish or Moorish. He was a very modest man but of great zeal for his work and possessed of much native eloquence and fervor. He resided in Des Moines quite a while, but his ministerial work was done chiefly elsewhere. There was another Rathbun, who also preached throughout the surrounding country.
Rev. Mr. Russell had charge of a circuit in early days which included in its territory the counties of Madison, Polk, Dallas, Warren and Marion. It required much moral courage and physical endurance to accomplish the work comprehended by the bounds of such a circuit, but the itinerant found a hearty welcome and eager hearers wherever he went, and what of hardship and exposure he had to endure was borne cheerfully. The first sermon preached in Des Moines was by Rev. Ezra Rathbun, on the occa- sion of a funeral in 1845. During the same year a Methodist Church was organized by Rev. Mr. Russell. The original members of this church organization were as follows:
Joseph Solenbarger, Sarah Solenbarger, Abner Rathbun, Betsy Rath- bun, Sr., Ezra Rathbun, Jonathan Rathbun, Benjamin T. Hoxie and 'Squire Meacham and wife. Mr. Solenbarger was appointed class-leader.
The minister who in early days exercised the most influence on the set- tlers of Des Moines, and who, perhaps, more than any other one stamped his own individuality upon the community, was Rev. Thompson Bird, who located in Des Moines in 1847. He was a man of more than ordinary culture and ability, and after having been constantly identified with the religious and educational interests of the place for nearly thirty years departed to his heavenly reward, leaving behind him a record of spotless purity and a name of undying fame .. .
338
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
He was born in North Carolina in 1804 and graduated at the university of that State in 1827, and at Andover Theological Seminary some years afterward. Located at Thorntown, Indiana, in 1840, and in 1847 came to Iowa, stopping for a few months at Red Rock, in Marion county. He was appointed Missionary of the Des Moines Presbytery for Polk and adjoin- ing counties. He organized in Des Moines a Presbyterian Church in 1848, of which he remained pastor till 1865. This church organization is now called the Central Presbyterian Church, the church edifice originally having stood near the present location of Mills & Co.'s Publishing House; it was destroyed by fire in 1867.
The old Bird residence still stands on the same lot where it was first located and where for many years was the home of this eminent divine. A small stream which is formed up among the bluffs of West Des Moines and winds its tortuous way down through the city and empties into the Des Moines river near this old residence, is known as "Bird's Run," so named in honor of the gentleman who was among the first to reside in its banks.
Another minister and educator of national reputation who is still a resi- dent of Des Moines, and has been identified with the city since 1850, is J. A. Nash. He was born in New York in 1816, graduated at Madison Col- lege in 1842, and from the theological department of the same institution in 1844. He organized the First Baptist Church of this place in 1850 and was its pastor for seventeen years. He also organized the Baptist Church on the East Side, and was largely instrumental in the organization of some thirty other churches throughout Central Iowa.
Dr. Nash established a select school in the city in 1853, has been perma- nently identified with all the educational institutions of the city, was for a time State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and is at present Presi- dent of the University of Des Moines. We shall frequently have occa- sion to allude to this veteran teacher and preacher in the further account of the schools and churches of the county.
Among the first teachers of Des Moines were persons who usually fol- lowed other occupations, which they temporarily laid aside and took up the educational work temporarily, to be laid aside again at the expiration of the term.
The first school was taught by Lewis Whitten, county clerk, in the win- ter of 1846-47. The school was held on "'Coon Row," in one of the build- ings formerly erected for the accommodation of the garrison.
In 1847 R. L. Tidrick taught a school. This school likewise was held in one of the government buildings. The next year a Mr. Davis taught a school, and was followed by Andrew J. Stevens.
The public school of Des Moines was formally organized in 1849, and Byron Rice was the first teacher.
Mrs. Anna Bird, wife of Rev. Thompson Bird, established a select school at an early day, and conducted it for a number of years very successfully. She had a building erected for this special purpose on the corner of Second and Locust streets, which building still stands at the same place; and, al- though at present used for a cooper shop, is one of the most honored relics of former times. This lady had much to do with the moulding of society during the early history of Des Moines, and in the capacity of school prin- cipal and pastor's wife, was industrious, zealous and exemplary. She is still a resident of the city, and is properly an object of veneration and re- spect by all who know her. Her maiden name was Anna Parkhurst
339
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Knowlton, and is a native of Vermont, where she received a liberal educa- tion. She was married to Mr. Bird while in North Carolina, where she had gone to teach in 1838. Her long and useful life is a good illustration of the typical New England woman, who has a mind and a mission of her own. There are few women now living who can look back upon a life of such activity and usefulness.
With this brief sketch of the early settlement of Des Moines, we now pass to the early settlements of other parts of Polk county. The reader will observe that the account as given extends through a period of but four years. Many distinguished persons, both living and dead, who came to Des Moines from 1850 to 1856, the date when pioneer times are supposed to have ended, might be added to the list of old settlers of the county. A further discussion of this topic, while it would be proper and intensely in- teresting, would swell the book to a size far exceeding the proportion in- tended. In 1850 Des Moines was quite a place, and its growth from that time till 1856 was so rapid that in order to given even a synopsis of the settlements made during that period would fill a book of ordinary size.
SOUTH DES MOINES SETTLEMENTS.
We have already incidentally alluded to the fact that up till 1852 .Polk county included in its territory a strip of country which now belongs to Warren county. How it came that the strip was attached to Polk in early days and was afterward taken off and made a part of Warren are matters which will be spoken of more fully elsewhere. We refer to the matter here as some of the early settlements which we are about to describe were located in that disputed territory.
Some settlements were made in that region at a very early day; some as early as 1843. Such persons came and settled by special permission from Capt. Allen, in whose honor two civil townships-one in Polk and one in Warren-have since been named. They were in some way connected with the mill, which Capt. Allen caused to be built near the mouth of Middle . river. There was also a gentleman by the name of G. B. Clark, who settled the Warren county line in what is now Allen township, in 1846. He re- ceived permission to settle there in consideration of building a bridge over North river on the line of an old trail, which afterward became the Fort Des Moines and Knoxville road. In 1845 James Davis located in the same locality, and is supposed to have made the first rails and built the first fences in that region. Elias Compton, Joseph Williams and J. Knuckols also settled there in the fall of 1845.
A man by the name of George Leslie came from Indiana in 1843 and assisted in erecting the mill; after the mill was built he was employed in various kinds of work and as soon as it was allowable took a claim which is now known as the Reese farm, just across the line in Warren county. He lived in that county till a few years ago, when he died at the village of Hartford. He was a genial soul, a favorite of the children, to whom his bachelor ways were ever winning and pleasant. He remained a bachelor until, perhaps, as late as 1863, and died eight or ten years ago.
In 1845 Simpson Hargis came from Indiana, to which State he had pre- viously emigrated from Kentucky. He remained in that vicinity until 1852.
Anthony Smith came, in 1845, from Ohio, and settled on a tract of land
340
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
belonging to Parmelee, located about two miles east of the present site of Carlisle. Mr. Smith was a cousin of Parmelee's wife. He died in the same neighborhood some twenty years ago.
Wm. Stumbo came from Indiana in 1845, and settled on what afterward was known as the Pearson's farm. His residence was in what is now Polk county, but a large portion of the farm was across the line in what is now Warren county.
Uriah Dotson came from Virginia in 1845 and settled in what is now Richland township, Warren county.
The Myricks came from Indiana the same year and settled still further south, but in what was then Polk county. Several representatives of that family still reside near the old homestead.
During the following year came the Freels and the Phillipses, William Reynolds, surnamed " Buffalo Bill," and the Whites, all from Indiana. Old man Winpigler, Jerome Davis, Thomas Ward, Asahel Ward, William Rowe, John Parkinson, Austin Howard and the McMahans, came from Ohio; Riley Driscol came from Burlington, in this State.
In the Carlisle neighborhood, the same year, came Mordecai Disney, a blacksmith from Indiana; probably the first of that trade in that whole section of country.
David Moore came from Louisa county; he was formerly from Pennsyl- vania. He still resides near Carlisle.
This year Dr. Spear, the first physician, came; he remained only two or three years.
The Carlisle settlement was at an early day regarded as the most im- portant in the county. _ July 11th, 1851, the following notice was published in the Des Moines Gazette:
"Carlisle is the name given by the proprietors to a town just located in the lower part of this county. Its situation is high and healthy and the country adjacent unsurpassed in the State for fertility and productiveness. Every material requisite for building purposes is to be found in abund- ance and of easy access. It is about a mile and a half west of the Des Moines and close to North and Middle rivers, on which latter there are sev- eral saw and grist mills. "Uncle Jerry " says Carlisle is bound to make a town, and we should like to know who is better qualified to make the pre- diction, seeing that he has had some experience in the business. Messrs. Church and Moore, the proprietors, have a sale of lots to-morrow on the premises and an opportunity is presented to those desirous of investing to do so. "
The Uncle Jerry here referred to was Jeremiah Church, one of the pro- prietors of the town, the other one being Daniel Moore, whose name ap- pears in a preceding paragraph.
In another record we read the following:
" The first physician in the neighborhood was Dr. Spears, who cast his lines with the settlers in 1846, but only for a short time. He is said to have been a man of good attainments. The next was Dr. Huff, who came from Indiana in 1848. Squire Guthrie says he started on his westward way as a blacksmith, but ere the journey of six hundred miles was com- pleted he had blossomed out into a physician. The next, immediately fol- lowing him, was Dr. Hull, who came early in 1849. He remained, how- ever, only a short time. After him probably was Dr. Ward, who had come from Crawfordsville, Indiana, in the early part of 1849 to Fort Des Moines,
aut
miles
341
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
where he remained only a short time, when he went to Dudley, Uncle Jerry Church's latest town at that time. When Dudley was drowned out in the flood of 1851 and was removed to the present site of Carlisle, also laid out by Mr. Church, Dr. Ward went with the town and remained in it till 1862, when he removed to Des Moines, where he had for a long time been one of the leading physicians."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.