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 87
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full share. In 1866 he was joined by James Meara, since when the busi- ness of the firm has rapidly increased, enlarged buildings and new ma- chinery have been added until the establishment has become one of the best in the State and is crowded to its utmost capacity. During 1879 Mr. Meara, while riveting a boiler, was struck in the eye with a chipping of iron which resulted in the entire loss of sight. He is now represented in the partnership by his wife.
The Des Moines Iron Works, now Capital City Iron Works, as has been stated, were first started by Mr. Heminway; subsequently they passed into the hands of Tidrick & Hippee, in 1860, and various other proprietors un- til in 1878, they were closed. During the present year they have passed into the control of a new company.
Oil Mills .- In September, 1866, W. R. & J. A. Ankeny started the Central Oil Works, corner of East Fifth and Vine streets, for the manu- facture of linseed oil from flax-seed. The project at first met with limited success, owing to the disinclination of farmers to raise flax. The firm the first year, with much difficulty, loaned to farmers 450 bushels of seed, making at the same time a contract to take their entire crop of seed at a certain price per bushel, the farmer therefore running no risk except the uncertainty of the crop. The venture was a success, and now they have no trouble in finding customers for 40,000 bushels of seed. The business has increased each year, additions have been made until now the buildings occupied are 51x127 feet, three stories high, with basement. They con- sume nearly 100,000 bushels of seed annually, producing over 600 gallons of oil and over six tons of oil cake per day. The cake is principally sent to Europe, where it is used for feeding live stock, the superlative value of which Western farmers have not yet learned. The oil is shipped East and South, and sales are limited only by the capacity of the works. Experience has proved flax-seed to be one of the most certain and profitable crops cul- tivated in Iowa.
In 1873 works were started on the East Side for the manufacture of gunny bags, etc., from flax straw; but soon after, Congress abolished the duty on jute, so that Western manufacturers could not compete with those of the East, and the business was abandoned. Subsequently, in 1875, George W. Werum fitted the buildings for the manufacture of linseed oil, and has since continued the business, consuming about 35,000 bushels of seed annually.
Millwrights .- In 1879 Johnson & Jarrett started business as mill- wrights and contractors, on Court Avenue, between Third and Fourth streets, East Side, and are doing a heavy business in erecting mills and elevators, and furnishing the necessary machinery for the same, thus adding a new and important industry to the city.
Planing Mills .-- The first planing mill was started by Gilcrest Bros. on the East Side, corner of First and Market, which was burned in 1869. In 1865 A. J. Jack & Co. started a planing mill on Market street, near West Fifth, which was sold to Carver & Young. In 1869 the mill was burned, and immediately was erected the present mill. New machinery was added and the business largely increased, extending over Iowa, Kansas and Ne- braska. The entire inside woodwork, windows, doors, etc., of the Union Pacific depot at Council Bluffs was done at this mill. Their business now embraces everything in the woodwork line, and has become very extensive.
713
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Some of the finest dwellings, churches, banks and stores in the West have been furnished at this establishment.
School Furniture .- In March, 1867, Rankin & Roberts organized the Iowa School Furniture Company, and began operations on the East Side. In January, 1874, the business passed into the hands of a new company, with F. A. Percival as President and Tyler Scoville as Secretary. A large factory has been erected on Court Avenue, East Side, and the busi- ness is yearly increasing, extending throughout Iowa and adjoining States. They have the exclusive manufacture of the Climax desk, covered by the Roberts patent; also, make a large variety of school, church, office and bank furniture.
Scales .- In 1872 the Des Moines Scale Company was organized, with F. R. West, President, S. F. Spofford, Vice-President, George A. Jewett, Secretary, and Wesley Redhead, Treasurer, under which management it continued until 1874, when the establishment was leased to Dickerson, Berry & Sargent. In 1875 Wm. Dickerson became the sole lessee. In 1876 a new company was formed, Mr. Dickerson continuing as manager. The business of the company is the manufacture of the Des Moines scale, Fairbanks scale, Storm King wind-mill, and Hawkeye butter worker. In 1880 the company was reorganized as the Union Scale Company, and though one of the youngest, promises to be one of the most successful. It is under the management of L. D. Berry and John M. England. The latter gentleman was for twenty-one years the foreman of the Fairbanks Scale Company of Chicago, and brings to this business the best of qualifications. The company is now employing about twelve hands, and is running extra hours to fill orders. They are making a scale, invented and patented in 1879 by L. D. Berry, which is constructed upon a new system entirely, avoiding the check rod, which has been a serious objection with all other scales, and which inventors for twenty-five years have vainly striven to overcome. It is claimed the economy of space, perfection, durability and low price will insure it a leading place among scales, and give to Des Moines another large and profitable business.
Marble Works .- The first marble workers in the city were Monroe & Kinsey and Fox & Boydston. The most extensive works in the city at present are the Des Moines Marble Company's, corner of West Seventh and Locust streets, and I. N. Webster's, on Walnut, corner of West Sixth .. Monuments, mantels and tablets are manufactured from American and foreign marble and granite. Mr. Webster established his business in 1873. The Des Moines Marble Works were established in 1879, and are operated by a wealthy company, of whom A. G. Stein is President and F. P. Sawyer Secretary.
Brick .- The manufacture of brick has been co-extensive with the town, and the manufacture has increased remarkably. There are not less than 23,000,000 made each year. The principal makers are S. A. Robertson, Conrad Youngerman, Frank Genezer, Wm. R. Close, E. D. Janes, Lewis Hyland, N. B. Cooley, Morris & Daugherty and W. G. Bragg.
Breweries .- The first brewery was established in 1855, by Joseph and George Hierb, which is now known as the City Brewery, located on Sev- enth street. The National Brewery was established in 1858 by Kappes & Reinig, and is now known as the Munzenmeier. It is located in the south part of the city. Union Brewery was established by A. Aulman in 1865,
51
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
on Elm street, West Side. In 1866 John Kinsley established a brewery near the water-works, and in 1867 Mattes Bros. established a brewery on East Locust street, which consumes 3,400 bushels of grain and makes 1,700 barrels of beer per annum. The manufacture of ale has assumed large proportions, and become an important item in the traffic of the city.
Carriages .- The large manufactories of the East and West have so sup- plied the city with their work that manufacturers with limited capital have deemed it unwise to attempt to compete here. Yet there are establish- ments which are doing a lucrative business in supplying local demands. The first carriage made in the city was by O. W. Munsell, and F. R. West was the purchaser. Mr. Munsell started business in 1867, and for several years had an extensive trade in fine carriages, but has now practically closed the business. John Wilson, on Seventh street, has a factory, and is manufacturing some of the finest vehicles to be found in any market.
Scale Works .- In 1872 the Des Moines Scale Company was organized, with F. R. West, President; S. F. Spofford, Vice-President; George A. Jewitt, Secretary. Business was commenced on East First street, near Walnut. In 1874 the works were leased to William Dickerson, L. D. Berry and George M. Sargent. In 1875 Mr. Dickerson became sole mana- ger, having purchased nearly all the stock of the company. In the present year a new company was organized as the Union Scale Company, for the manufacture of a scale invented by L. D. Berry, possessing important and valuable features not found in any other scale made. The business of the company is increasing rapidly, already exceeding the capacity of the works, and will in a few years become one of the most extensive and profitable of any manufacturing interest in the city.
Mills .- The first mill erected in the city was by W. H. Meacham, on the East Side in 1847, near where Carpenter's Woolen Mill now is. Its motive power was a dilapidated horse. Subsequently, in 1849, J. S. Dean erected a steam flour mill on the same site, to which was added, by N. P. Jordan a woolen mill. They were burned in 1877. In 1849 B. F. Allen and C. C. Van built a saw mill south of 'Coon river, near the bridge, which is now in ruins.
In 1849 Edward and Edwin Hall were granted a permit to erect a dam across Des Moines river and keep the same in repair for fifty years. The license was fixed at twenty-five dollars. They built the dam and erected a flour mill, which is still in operation, and known as the Empire Mills, and is the only water-mill in the city. It is operated by Serrin & Fairbanks.
The Farmer's Mill was erected by Daniel Stutsman, and operated as a woolen mill on East Fifth street. It passed to Skinner Bros., who changed it to a plow factory. It subsequently was changed to a hominy mill by Wheeler, Henry & Depew. Subsequently, Williams & Keeler added a flour mill. In 1879 the flour mill passed into the hands of W. P. Gulick as the Exchange Mill, and J. D. Williams moved the hominy mill to 413-15 Court Avenue.
In 1873 D. A. Tyrrell built the Eagle Flour Mill on West Second street, corner of Vine, a three story brick, with a capacity of 50,000 bushels of wheat per annum.
In 1865 the Capital Mills, brick, three stories high, were built on West Elm and Third, with a capacity of one hundred bushels per day.
The second woolen mill erected in the city was in 1860, by N. P. Jordan. In 1866 the mill passed to Shepard & Perrior. The mill was burned in
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
1877, and rebuilt in 1878, and in 1879 passed to W. W. Carpenter. The capacity of the mill is two hundred pounds of wool per day, making the finest cloth, blankets and yarns to be found in any market.
In April, 1879, H. R. Heath erected the first oat-meal mill in the city. It has a capacity now of five hundred barrels of meal per day. The first year's business found an elevator necessary in which to store oats, and the present year one was erected with a capacity of 250,000 bushels. The meal is of superior quality, made from oats dried by steam heated air. So popular already is the product of this mill its meal finds a ready market in Scotland and all parts of the East.
Tinware .- Probably the largest manufactory of tinware west of Chicago, is that of Mason & Company, on Third street, established in 1872. The firm also manufacture for wholesale trade, Mason's patent stove-pipe, which is rapidly becoming an immense business.
Tannery .- During the present year, Percival & Company have estab- lished a tannery at 311 East Locust, using the Doty method of tanning, which is destined to become an important feature in the business enterprises of the city.
Soap .- Rich & Co. during the present year have established a soap fac- tory at 313 East Locust street, and manufacture every kind of soap for fam- ily use.
Abestine Stone .- In 1875 Conrad Youngerman began the manufacture of abestine, or artificial, stone, on West Fifth street to supply a want among builders, owing to scarcity of natural stone. It is used mostly for caps and sills of doors and windows. Several of the finest building fronts in the city are composed of this material entire, which increases in durabil- ity with age, and there is a large demand for it. In 1879 he sold out to J. A. Lewis. In 1878 D. P. Pence began the manufacture of artificial stone by a different process, and both establishments are increasing in business each year.
Stone Pipe .- In 1875 Street & Hillis began the manufacture of carbon- ated stone pipe at the corner of West Seventh and Vine streets. The product consists of drain and sewer pipe, chimneys and chimney caps.
Pottery .- The largest and most expensive pottery in the city was erected in 1875 on West Elm street by J. T. Stetson and called the Des Moines Pottery. A large business is done, limited only by the capacity of the ovens. There are two smaller potteries, one on the East Side at the cor- ner of Fourth and Lyon streets, and the Eagle Pottery, on West First street, corner of Willow street.
Book-making .- The oldest publishing house in the city, having been founded in 1856, is that of Mills & Co. Its growth and prosperity has been remarkable. From a small office, doing transient job printing, it has become one of the largest publishing houses in the West. In 1869 litho- graphing was added, in 1874 stereotyping, thus enabling it to compete suc- cessfully with older Eastern houses. It has turned out some of the finest specimens of book-making in the country. It is doing a heavy business in law book making, printing the Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Illinois Su- preme Court Reports, together with a large number of law text-books on various subjects. About one hundred persons are employed. Map and music printing are also among its specialties.
The publishing house of Carter & Hussey was established in 1864 on Court Avenue, with a small beginning. Soon larger quarters were neces-
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
sary and a fine brick building was erected on West Walnut street. Books and stationery were added to their trade, and they are now doing an exten- sive business, principally in county and township office supplies.
Sirup Refinery .- In August, 1879, was organized the Des Moines Sirup Refinery Company, with G. M. Hippee, Ira Cook, D. O. Eshbaugh, Charles W. Eaton, J. H. Merrill and E. W. Stanton as incorporators. Its capital is $50,000. The business of the company is the manufacture of sirup and sugar or gluclose from corn. A large factory was erected on West Vine street, and work began in January, 1880, but during the present summer citizens protested to the Board of Health against the offensive odor and noxious gases thrown off from the establishment and the works were closed. The company have secured a location in the east part of the city, and will at once erect larger and more complete works, with a capacity to consume 1,500 bushels of corn per day, thus affording a good market for what Iowa produces a good deal of.
Barbed Wire .-- In 1875 George C. Baker began to put in practical shape original ideas of a machine for making barbed wire. The result was a successful machine, which became patented, and he began to make fence with two machines by hand in a shop on the East Side. In November, 1879, a stock company was formed, with a capital of $100,000, lots were purchased on West Front street, near Vine, and a factory 132 feet square erected. Eight machines are now used, and four kinds of fence wire made. Over four car loads of fence per week are made, and the factory is unable to supply the demand. Another fence is also made there called the thorn- stay-fence, which consists of wooden pickets, one inch square, about four feet long, with hook eyes in the end. Through the pickets are forced at fre- quent spaces straight pointed barbs. The business of the factory is man- aged by Mr. Baker, H. A. Noble and W. Coffin.
Furniture .- The oldest and largest furniture establishment in the city is that of L. Harbach on Second and Third streets, West Side. From a small shop in 1856 with one workman, it has grown to immense propor- tions. Its sales amount to $250,000 annually. A more detailed account of this house appears on page 815.
The house of Merrill & Keeney, 314 Walnut street, carry a stock of about $50,000 a year. William Lotz, 213 Court Avenue, Patterson & Peel, East Locust, also do considerable business in this line.
Galvanized Iron Cornice .- In 1876 Comparet & Stark began the manu- facture of galvanized iron cornice and store fronts, since when the business has so increased as to demand larger facilities, and the addition of consid- erable machinery. Their business extends extensively throughout the State.
Brass Works .- In 1874 Hill & Tetley added a very important industry to Des Moines factories in establishing the Northwestern Brass Works and supplied a want which had been seriously felt by machinists and iron workers. The works furnish brass work of all kinds and is prosperous.
Steam Bakery .- The first steam bakery was started on West Second street in 1878 by John Robesky. Soon after W. T. Garton became a part- ner and continued the business as sole proprietor until the present year, when he sold to Park & Balcom.
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
PUBLIC HALLS.
To W. W. Moore, one of the oldest merchants in the city, the people are indebted for the elegant and commodious Opera House, corner of West Fourth and Walnut streets, which was built in 1873. This was followed by Foster's Academy of Music, on Walnut, near Exposition Building, cost- ing over $23,000. Lewis' Opera House, on the East Side, erected in 1878, is a large and finely appointed hall, and divides the honors with those of the West Side.
WHOLESALE HOUSES.
The wholesale trade is increasing rapidly. The following houses do an extensive business in this line: R. C. Webb & Son wholesale over $800,- 000 a year; Hewitt Bros., Watt & Cochran, grocers; White & Co., E. M. Ford, furnishing goods and notions; Stewart & Co., oil and crockery; Rol- lins & Langan, paper and twine; Mason & Co., tinware and stove-pipe; Mitchell, Bartlett & Crane, drugs; A. A. Brown, crackers; H. Marcy & Co., confection; Lederer, Strauss & Co., millinery and fancy goods. Of the wholesale dealers who have a retail department are, L. Harbach, furni- ture, whose wholesale trade is over $100,000 per annum; J. D. Seeberger, hardware, over $300,000; W. K. Bird, Isaac Kuhn, dry goods; L. H. Bush, Weaver & Maish, Wm. Baker, C. H. Ward, drugs; Comparet & Stark, George C. Baker & Co., hardware; N. W. Hunter, and W. A. Reed, harness and saddlery ware; Perkins & Gray, crockery; Redhead & Well- slager, paper, books and stationery, whose sales of wall paper last year were fifth in amount of all sold in the United States, outside the factories, which is something to boast of in a city not twenty-five years from its wigwam period, isolated for two decades from railroads and surrounded by undevel- oped country.
THE CITY.
From Taylor Pierce, who was an old trader among the Fox and Sac Indians before white people came to Des Moines, and who spoke their language fluently, the writer gathers the following:
The Indian name for the locality now Des Moines was called Ase-po-lo, which means Raccoon. The river was called Ase-po-lo-sepo, sepo meaning river.
Des Moines river was called Keosauqua, always, from its source to its mouth. The word means dark, black, inky. As the Indians usually hunted along its banks in the fall, the water of the river then had that appearance, and was caused by the drainage from the prairies which had been burned over, and were covered with charred, blackened debris of grass and weeds. Taylor says he once met a band of Fox Indians one hundred miles north from Des Moines, who were hunting, and asking them which way they were going they answered " up Keosauqua-sepo"; so that the word always signified the river now called Des Moines. This latter incident, and from his familiar acquaintance with the Fox and Sac Indians, he does not agree with Judge Negus, and others, that Keosauqua applied to the big bend in the river at the point where the town of Keosauqua now is; for if so, why did the Indians call the river Keosauqua-sepo one hundred miles north, and at the Raccoon Forks. If coming to Des Moines their answer was: Posse puckachee ase-po-ló.
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Mr. Pierce also says, the Iowa river took its name from a small tribe of Indians known as the Kiowas, who went out, or were driven out, from the Winnebagoes, in the north. The word "Kiowa" signified going over. They were driven across a river by the Foxes and Sacs, and were by them called Kiowas. The river was called Ki-o-wa-sepo, or the river which was crossed over; and the locality where the Sacs and Foxes crossed the river was always designated as Posse (pony), puckachee (travel), Ki-o-wá (place), sepo (river), or where their ponies crossed the river. The word "Kiowa" always signified crossing, or going over. The State took its name from that river, and has been corrupted to its present orthography, without adding to its euphony.
Geographically, Des Moines is in longitude 16 degrees, 43 minutes, 5 seconds, latitude 41 degrees, 35 minutes, and is nearly five hundred feet above low water mark on the Mississippi river at Keokuk. Two large rivers with eight feet fall unite within the city, from the confluence of which stretches a beautiful plateau half a mile north and west, skirted with undulating bluffs, rising to a point one hundred and seventy-seven feet as the maximum above the datum line, thus securing a thorough surface drainage for the entire city and rendering its mortality list remarkably small. In 1877, with a population of over 18,000, the deaths were but 224, or less than 1 22-100. The population for 1880 is 26,696. The deaths for 1879 were 271, or less than one and one-half per cent of the population.
Des Moines is yet young in years. Its future, in the light of the past, is promising and bright. It has already passed two perilous stages of ex- istence-the " wigwam " and " manifest destiny." Its dwellings and their surroundings are luxurious, tasteful and ornamental. The people have learned that the most successful thing is success, and that fortune helps those most who help themselves. Centralizing as is its location, surround- ed by no other overshadowing town or city for a radius of one hundred miles, possessing natural advantages and facilities had by no other city in the State, all these would not make a city without the aid and co-opera- tion of her own citizens. The first step was wisely taken. It secured the central point of the railroad system of the State and that determined her future greatness, for the means of distribution being supplied, manufac- tures will increase and commerce enlarge. There are few who are aware of the extent of the commerce of the city now. In 1879 it amounted to the following:
Groceries
$1,015,000
Agricultural implements
370,000
Hardware
425,000
Paper, books and stationery
415,000
Millinery and notions
320,000
Lumber.
316,000
300,000
Furniture, carpets, etc Drugs
20,000
145,000
Butter and eggs Oils
150,000
Confectionery
120,000
Queensware .
150,000
Cigars and tobacco
100,000
Tinware and stoves
100,000
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HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Harness and saddles
$ 100,000
Spices
50,000
Crackers
25,000
Vinegar
29,000
Total
$4,330,000
This does not include any of the various manufactories in the city, nor the packing houses, which alone do a business of over one million a year.
Already the wholesale trade has made remarkable progress. What is needed is more manufactories. Capital is always timid, but this will come. Des Moines sits in the center of a territory the richest in the world. Her two broad rivers, her inexhaustible underlying beds of coal, the rapidly developing country and surrounding towns will invite and assure capital. Des Moines, ten years ago the fifth in rank among the cities of the State, has marched to the front as the metropolis of a commonwealth, "the Massachusetts in her care of education; the new Kentucky in her fine cattle; the new Georgia in the number of her hogs; the new Illinois in the extent of her corn-fields; the new New York in the volume of her wheat; the new Sparta in the bravery of her soldiers; the new Ireland in her gal- lantry to woman; the new Scotland in her reverence for Deity; the new New England in her straightforwardness; the new Germany in her thrift, surpassing all her prototypes."
Perhaps no more graphic retrospective view of Des Moines could be given than is contained in the following poem, written by Colonel Noe W. Mills, and read before the Des Moines Literary Society in January, 1860:
A HISTORY IN RHYME.
Where Des Moines river, with unceasing roll
Passing through fertile fields, by hidden beds of coal,
Receives Raccoon's bright waves upon her breast (Than these no lovelier streams in all the West), There lies a spot with no high-sounding name Known to history, and not unknown to fame.
Time, many years has laid upon his shelf Since our great Uncle Sam possessed himself Of these domains, by nature so endowed With everything required to raise a proud Inheritance for his restless, roving sons, So prone to shouldering up their duds and guns And marching westward to some distant lands, To build them homes with their toil-hardened hands. Long had they looked this way with envious eyes, Knowing full well what a glorious prize Would all these acres be, where round about Was heard the characteristic shout Of Black Hawk's brethren, from the frequent chase Returned with streaming hair and painted face- Rejoiced to reach their huts and end their toils- Leading their ponies laden with the spoils, Consisting of the bison's shaggy hide, The timid deer's soft, tawny coat beside, The busy beaver's silky covered skin, And here and there a bloody scalp thrown in, With good store of venison, which, when dried, Until another hunt the tribe supplied.
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