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 86
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Grimes
450
Bates 450
The story, therefore, has a firm foundation, in fact.
The sixteen Democratic hog drivers did not get home until the election - was over, and thus for the first time the Democrats were beaten in Polk county. They were terribly mad then, but they relate the incident now with hearty glee.
Immediately after the location of the capital a strife sprang up in other parts of the State for a relocation, which continued until the Constitutional Convention, in 1857, permanently located it at Des Moines, by a provision in the constitution, and in December of that year the archives of the State were hauled by oxen on sleds from Iowa City and deposited in the state- house, and Des Moines was happy once more.
April 13, 1870, the Legislature decided to erect a new capitol of dimen- sions and character which should be commensurate with the growth and prosperity of the State for all future time. No sooner had this determina- tion been made than strenuous efforts began to develop to defeat it by rival
705
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
localities, who had not yet abandoned the hope of removing the capital from Raccoon Forks. These culminated in opposition to the first appro- priation to the construction of the edifice. No bill before the Legislature ever received so cunningly devised and so powerfully wielded an opposi- tion as was arraigned against that bill, for its passage settled beyond ques- tion the permanent location of the capitol. The bill was admirably man- aged in the House by Hon. John A. Kasson, and in the Senate by B. F. Allen. So close was the contest a direct vote was several times postponed, the friends of the bill not daring to venture the risk unless every member of the Legislature was in his seat, and the vote was not reached until near the close of the session. When the day was known it was to be decided there was intense excitement. The halls were crowded. The bill passed the Senate and was taken up in the House at once. During the roll call there was an impressive silence. Every member had a tally sheet. Mr. Kasson was on his feet alert, and watching the answers of members. When the last name was called three votes were wanting to pass the bill. The mem- bers had not voted. Mr. Kasson quickly passed to two of them, while the clerk was counting up the vote, and as he was about to hand the Speaker the result they arose and offered their votes. In the rear of the chamber was an Irish member, who was inclined to "dodge." Rev. Father Brazil, always interested in the prosperity of Des Moines, stepped quickly behind him, took him by the coat collar and raised him up, and told him to vote, which he did, and the bill was passed by a majority of two votes. On the 17th day of August, 1871, the first stone on the foundation was laid, and November 23, 1871, amid a cold, raw, sleety storm, the corner-stone was laid with imposing civic display, since when the building has been rising in magnificent proportions. Two years will be required to complete what will be one of the finest buildings in the Union.
In 1865 Congress decided, through the influence of John A. Kasson, member from this district, to erect a post-office building in Des Moines. Mr. Kasson was appointed to locate and secure a site for the same, a fact which was not made public for financial reasons. In those days the city was badly afflicted with "manifest destiny." Railroads and other import- ant projects must come to the State capital per force. Corner lot specula- tion was rife, and everybody was exalted with "great expectations," and were watching for what was inevitable, the location and building of a post- office. Nearly all the business of the city was done below Fourth street, and owners of eligible property below that point were anxious to furnish Uncle Sam with the desired site. Mr. Kasson quietly purchased the en- tire block, corner of Court Avenue and Fifth, for the government, and the erection of the building was begun in 1867, and cost, when completed, $210,000. It was erected under the supervision of George Whitaker. In it are located the U. S. court-rooms, land office and revenue collector's office.
In 1867, when the War of the Rebellion had closed, it became necessary to provide a safe deposit for the records and relics of the war. Adjutant-Gen- eral N. B. Baker, whose name will never be forgotten in connection with the events of that period, devised and carried through to completion the erec- . tion of an arsenal building, constructed entirely of brick, iron and stone, on West First, between Walnut and Locust streets, for that purpose. It is two stories high, and, though not an imposing structure, it is the central point of interest and attraction in the city. In it are stored relics of the war, and
706
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
the torn and battle-scarred flags of the different Iowa regiments who took part in the Union army.
In 1876 a stock company was formed which erected on Walnut street, corner of West Ninth street, the Exposition building. It is 132 feet square and three stories high. Its cost was $75,000. It was designed for annual exhibitions of the mechanical industries and art, and was formally opened October 5 of that year.
HOTELS.
According to the memory of the early settlers now residing in this vicin- ity, the first hotel or tavern in Des Moines was kept, in 1846, in a log cabin on the spot where Bennett's woolen mill now stands, on the east side of the river, by Esquire Meacham. It was a primitive institution, and its proven- der was principally bacon, corn bread and potatoes. It was subsequently enlarged and became the Capital House. About the same time, a tavern was opened on the West Side, near 'Coon Point, kept by Martin Tucker; who signed his name by proxy, with an X, in one of the old barracks build- ings. Also, the Pennsylvania House, in a barrack building, which gave way for the Des Moines House. The price of a meal was ten cents, lodg- ing, twenty-five cents; keeping team, fifteen cents. If wheat biscuits were served, a meal was fifteen cents. Among the guests in May, 1846, was George Beebe, who stopped over night and the next day went to Madison township to set up his cabin, where Polk City now is. Between his cabin and the Minnesota State line there was not a cabin or trace of civilization. Simultaneous with Tucker's tavern, B. T. Hoxie opened a tavern in a log building on Third street, on the lot north of Harbach's furniture store. In 1852 an addition was made to it, and it became the stage company's head- quarters, and in that year it was sold to James C. Savery and the name was changed to City Hotel. It was torn down in 1876.
Mr. Tucker did not propose to be outdone in the tavern business. He purchased an old blacksmith shop standing where the Des Moines & Fort Dodge depot now is, "put a condition to it," "run an avenue through it," and opened it as a first-class house, and such it became. It was afterward sold and became the Collins House, under which name it was torn down in 1866. Then followed the Des Moines House, corner Walnut and First, American, on West Third, Cooley House (now Loper), on East Fifth, also Walker and Scott, on the East Side; the Buckeye, corner West Walnut and Third, the Cottage on Court Avenue, opened by John Hays. The Scott was sold to Mr. Slatten, who changed the name to Slatten House, which was next changed to Hawkeye House. It is now a brick ruins near the east end of the Keokuk & Des Moines railroad bridge. In 1853-54 Conrad Stutsman purchased the Pennsylvania House, moved it to the south and erected a large two-story building for a hotel. In 1854 he sold one- half of his interest to J. C. Warner and one-half to John Yost, who opened the hotel in April, 1855. When the question came up for a name, it was decided to call it after the name of the town, but how to spell it was the problem. There was a strife between the East and West Side on that as in everything else at that time. Mr. Dean had laid out and platted a town on the East Side and named it Demoine. When questioned as to the or- thography, he replied he didn't care anything about them literary fellows on the West Side; he was going to have it as it was pronounced, and so it remains to this day. Warner & Yost adopted the same logic and the hotel
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
was christened the Demoine House. In October, 1855, Col. S. F. Spofford, who came to Des Moines in September previous, purchased Yost's interest for $7,500, and the following April purchased Warner's interest for $9,500 and became sole owner of the property and landlord, which position he oc- cupied until 1876, when he leased the property. It was torn down in 1878.
There are several early settlers now residents of the city who have a vivid remembrance of laughable scenes enacted in the old Pennsylvania House. It was one story and a half high, the upper story being in one long room with a row of beds on either side, without curtain or partition. Three in a bed was very often the case, and strange bedfellows were fre- quently thrown together. It was the custom to deposit all cast-off cloth- ing, boots, shoes, hats, etc., under the beds with a vigorous kick, and it is related by an eye-witness that at one time when some repairs were to be made it was necessary to clear the room. The wreck of wardrobes was pitched out of a window and made a pile from the ground to the window.
This brings us to the date of modern hotels, the first of which was the Savery House, which was commenced by a stock company in 1856, in which $60,000 were invested. It was completed and opened by Geo. C. Savery in the fall of 1863, by whom it was kept several years, when it passed into the management of Fred. C. McCartney. It was closed No- vember 5, 1878, and in 1879 remodeled, refurnished and re-opened by Bogue & Wyman as the Kirkwood House, in honor of the old War Gov- ernor, Samuel Kirkwood, May 12, 1879.
In 1865 George W. Jones purchased of H. H. Griffiths the brick build- ing on East Sycamore near Fourth, and in 1869 erected an additional building. The upper stories of the two buildings were arranged for a ho- tel, and February 15, 1871, was thrown open to the public as the Jones House, the first large and commodious house on the East Side. In 1877 the house was leased to Charles E. Dean, and the name changed to Capital City House.
In 1869 Dr. W. S. Aborn purchased the residence property of B. F. Allen, corner of Court Avenue and West Fourth Street, with the intention of erecting a large medical institution. The plan was subsequently changed to that of a first-class hotel, which was completed, furnished in elaborate style and opened by C. B. Linton May 1, 1873. It afterward passed into the control of G. B. Brown, who died April 26, 1879. May 1, 1880 it passed into the management of Risley & Vail.
Next to the foregoing leading hotels, which are second to none in the West, are the Given House, Gault, Fanning, Morgan, International and Shamrock, on Second, which was originally built in 1854 by Michael Mc- Tighe, and rebuilt in brick a few years ago in more modern style.
COAL MINING.
One of the most valuable resources of Des Moines is its coal beds. Prior to 1865 but very little coal was used in this section. It was gathered here and there in the bluffs along the Des Moines river in wheelbarrows, dumped into wagons, thirty bushels being called a load, without weighing, and the probabilities are that the thirty bushels would never have weighed over twenty-five bushels. In November, 1864, Wesley Redhead organized the first coal company and began the first systematic coal mining. Soon after
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
others became interested with him, and in August, 1865, was organized the Des Moines Coal Company, consisting of Wesley Redhead, James M. Starr, William Vincent, B. F. Allen, William Phillips, Hoyt Sherman, John Teesdale, James W. Davis, L. W. Dennis, Frank Butler and E. Sandford. Wesley had been burrowing about in the north part of the city on the old Peet farm and when this company was organized work was carried on more extensively and systematically: A set of Fairbank's scales was procured and the first coal weighed in the city was done by Mr. Redhead. The coal was deposited in " pockets," so called, which quickly became exhausted, re- quiring frequent removals and changes of location, and in a short time the whole supply became so exhausted as to render further mining in that local- ity unprofitable.
The subsequent operations of Mr. Redhead have been detailed on page 275. He gradually purchased the interest of the other members of the company, and in 1874 constituted the sole owner. In May of the present year, James P. Clark was admitted as a partner, and the name of the company was changed to Pioneer Coal Company.
In the winter of 1867 was organized the Watson Coal Company, consist- ing of wealthy Boston capitalists, with Rufus Ford as president. Its capi- tal stock is limited to $200,000. A shaft was sunk east of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad round-house, along beside the railroad track.
In 1867 the Iowa Central Coal Company was organized by A. Y. Rawson and Henry Wightman. A shaft was sunk on School street, West Side, be- tween Fifth and Sixth, which was operated until 1879, when the shaft was abandoned.
In 1872 the Hawkeye Company was organized by W. W. Fink and A. G. Smith and a shaft sunk north of the city about one mile.
In 1873 the Eclipse Company was organized with T. D. Yoemans as man- ager. A shaft was sunk just outside the southern limit of the city.
In 1874 R. W. Sypher opened a shaft south of the city, which is now called Polk County Coal Company.
In 1875 Pleasant Hill Company was organized and a shaft sunk south of the city, on the line of the Winterset Railroad.
In 1875 the Eureka Coal Company was organized and a shaft sunk south of the 'Coon, near the school-house.
There are several other smaller mines operated in the vicinity.
The extent of the coal mining interest of the city has reached a point of considerable importance. The following is the estimated product of the various mines in tons per year:
Pioneer
22,500
Eureka
20,000
Watson
20,000
Eclipse
20,000
Polk County
17,500
Six others .
15,000
115,000
The amount of capital employed is about $350,000. There are employed about five hundred miners. The bulk of coal now mined here is consumed
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
by the railroad companies, who find it to be of superior quality. The open- ing of railroad communication the present year direct with St. Paul, Min- neapolis and Dakota will create a demand for immense quantities of coal, which will serve to further develop and bring to the surface the millions of wealth which lie buried beneath the soil of Polk county. The coal-meas- ure which is now being worked is evidently the lower, which lies at a depth of one hundred and fifty to one hundred and seventy-five feet below the sur- face, hence it is quite apparent that the measures which crop out here are the two upper, and that the lower measure lies much lower than was sup- posed by the State geologist. In fact, explorations have disclosed a much broader extent of the coal-field, in a northerly direction, than is defined in the State geological report.
MANUFACTURES.
The natural facilities for manufacturing possessed by Des Moines are un- surpassed by any city in the West. Two broad rivers with ample fall, coal underlying the entire city and nearly the entire county, thus furnishing cheap fuel, inviting the intelligent, ambitious manufacturer who will keep pace with the rapidly developing country and the progress of the city which, within ten years has advanced from fifth in rank to first position in the State. It is foreign to the purpose of this book to enter into a detail of every manufacturing establishment in the city. Every branch of industry, nearly, is represented, and to individualize all would swell this volume be- yond reasonable space. The leading and most important in point of pro- duct are herein mentioned.
Pork Packing .- The packing of pork in Des Moines dates back to 1858, when Rollins & Winters, in a small way, killed about one thousand hogs. They were followed, two years later, by Albert Grefe, who erected a small packing house in the west part of the city.
The same season James Tuttle began packing in the cellar of Sherman Block, on Court Avenue, and in the winter of 1862 Dr. M. P. Turner, James Miller and Martin Winters joined him, and fitted up a packing house on Third street, which is now occupied by Smith & Rollins as part of their grocery. They killed about three thousand hogs, for which they paid $1.91 per hundred pounds, and sold the product at prices which cured all except Tuttle of afterward curing meats. The net profit of their busi- ness was $56, or $11.20 for each partner. Those who know Mr. Tuttle are aware that pluck is one of his predominant traits of character. The next season he with his son built a packing-house on Fifth street, on the lot adjoining the Methodist church. Prices for pork ruled low early in the season, but advanced rapidly, the war demand for provisions beginning to make itself felt throughout the country. They killed that season about 3,500 hogs. Simultaneous with them Getchell & Miller, Rawson & Har- mon, and Rollins & Winter packed hogs in a small way. In 1863 B. F. Murphy, of Chicago, erected a packing-house south of the city, which for several seasons was used only for preparing dressed hogs for shipment. No packing was done. In 1867 General J. M. Tuttle and his brother Martin purchased Mr. Murphy's interest and made the necessary improve- ments for packing and curing meat. In 1870 Martin Tuttle retired from the business, and in 1873 Lewis Igo joined General Tuttle, the old packing- house was demolished, and a new one erected, with a capacity for assassin- ating 1,500 hogs per day. In 1875 Mr. Igo retired. In 1871 the business
710
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
passed into the hands of the Stowers Packing Company, and in 1873 to J. H. Windsor & Co. Extensive buildings and improvements were made for winter and summer packing. The business is now done by the Des Moines Packing Company, with J. H. Windsor as manager.
In 1869 Murphy & Co. erected a small packing-house, and in 1872 the business was transferred to Joseph Shissler. He was succeeded by W. S. Elsworth, who has made large additions, and is now engaged in packing. The number of hogs packed in 1879-80 was about 100,000, of which the Des Moines Packing Company killed over three-fourths. The amount of money paid farmers for hogs was nearly one million, a large portion of which is a clear gain to the producer over the prices paid when hogs were bought only by shippers, as may be seen in the comparative price of $1.91 per 100 pounds in 1861 and $4.40 at the date of this writing, August 26, 1880.
Among those who early did a packing business was Capt. James Davis, who made a specialty of sugar-cured hams, which attained a high reputa- tion from San Francisco to Boston for their superlative goodness. He was followed by Dennis & Keyes, who continued the reputation established by Mr. Davis, and in 1874 cured 25,000 hams, in a building erected for that purpose on the corner of Vine and West Third streets, now occupied by R. C. Webb & Son as a wholesale grocery house.
The Des Moines Packing Company and the Ellsworth Packing Company are the only houses now in the business, except F. Meek, who is doing an extensive business in curing hams on West Sixth street, and has established a reputation for a most excellent article.
Pork packing is becoming one of the most important industries of Des Moines, and during the packing season gives employment to a large force of men and boys. The boxes are made in the houses, the meats are packed, and mostly shipped direct to Liverpool, England.
The Western Newspaper Union .- Prominent among the business enterprises of Des Moines is what is known as the Western Newspaper Union. Its business is the printing of co-operative or auxiliary newspaper sheets, and the purchase and sale of printers' supplies. It was originally incorporated January 1, 1873, under the name of "State Printing Com- pany," with Samuel Merrill, P. M. Casady, John A. Elliott, S. F. Spofford and B. F. Gue as incorporators, the limit of capital stock being fixed at $40,000. The first officers were: S. F. Spofford, President; A. R. Fulton, Secretary; John A. Elliott, Treasurer; and S. F. Spofford, J. H. Brooks, Wesley Redhead, Samuel Merrill and B. F. Gue, Directors.
The company commenced business in January, 1873, with a list of about twenty-five papers.
By a reorganization, February 15, 1876, the name was changed to "Iowa Printing Company." Up to February 15, 1877, the business management was successively in charge of B. F. Gue, H. B. Speed and E. T. Cressey. At the date last mentioned W. E. Andrews became the manager, which position he still retains. During the summer of 1879 the company erected a commodious and substantial business block on Fourth street, in Des Moines, known as "Printing Block," at a cost, including ground, of about $20,000.
On the 11th of June, 1880, the "Western Newspaper Union," with a capital stock of $100,000, became the successor of the Iowa Printing Com- pany, with the principal place of business at Des Moines, and branch
711
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
offices at Kansas City, Mo., and Omaha, Neb. The new organization is the successor of three auxiliary printing companies, viz .: Iowa Printing Company, of Des Moines; Kansas City Newspaper Union, Kansas City; and Omaha Newspaper Union, Omaha.
The company is now furnishing auxiliary sheets to about three hundred publishers in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. It uses an average of about four car loads of white print paper monthly, at a monthly cost for the same of about six thousand dollars. The Des Moines house gives em- ployment to from twenty to twenty-five persons, as foremen, compositors, pressmen, etc. The daily transmission of packages from this establishment is no inconsiderable item in the business of the express companies. The product of its large steam-propelled printing presses is steadily increasing, and the " Western Newspaper Union" now ranks among the most sub- stantial and prosperous business enterprises of Iowa.
Plow Factories .- The first plow factory was started by Stanton & Given in 1851, corner of West Third and Vine streets, where the Given House now stands; subsequently the firms became Stanton & Skinner, Skinner & Skinner and in 1859 the firm divided, Skinner Bro's going to Front street, where the American Foundry now is, and Given & Co. retaining the old place. The same year Skinner Bro's erected a large brick building on the corner of West Second and Elm streets, where the first drug store and the Star office stood. They did an extensive business for several years, and in 1879 removed to Second street, north of Locust.
In 1861 Mr. Given disposed of his business to a stock company, which had been organized for that purpose, with H. C. Hargis as president, and known as the Des Moines Plow Company. Increased facilities were added, the business greatly enlarged, and other implements added to the list of manufactures. When Skinner Bro's vacated the premises on Front street they were occupied by Platt & Speith, who still are engaged in the manu- facture of plows.
In the fall of 1856 H. N. Heminway started the first iron foundry in the city, on the East Side, and shortly after, the same year, S. J. Loughran started a foundry on the West Side, on the river bank at Locust street, and still continues the business, under the firm name of Loughran & Hillis.
In 1863 Otis & Rollins established the American Foundry, on Front street, adjoining Platt & Speith. The next year Mr. Rollins was succeeded by Joseph Heimer; and in 1866 the foundry was sold to Brooks & Straw- bridge; in 1867, Mr. Strawbridge was succeeded by George Lendrum, who, in 1873, was succeeded by William Stein. In 1879 Mr. Brooks died.
In 1872 a corporation was formed and known as the Eagle Iron Works, with George C. Lendrum, President, and D. E. Perkins, Secretary. The works are located on Court Avenue, corner of East Third. The capital stock is $30,000. The business of the corporation is the manufacture of machinery, engines and mill furnishing. One of the best specimens of a horizontal mill engine of 150 horse-power made at these works may be seen at the barbed wire factory on Front street, near Market, West Side.
The first steam boiler works was started by N. S. McDonald, in 1861, on Court Avenue, near the river, and he made the first boiler in the city, which was for the Heminway foundry. It was a hard struggle for the proprietor. There was but a limited demand for boilers, and most of his work was repairing, but as the surrounding country developed the business increased, and Mr. McDonald, being a superior workman, received his
712
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
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