USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics &c > Part 59
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" This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
"Approved, December 27th, 1848."
Of these commissioners only Mr. Jones and Mr. Ware were in attend- ance, and therefore nothing further is known of Mr. Ferguson. This loca- tion was made at the appointed time, and at the session of the board of commissioners, held on August 25th, 1849, the following proceedings were had:
"At this special session the board say it was for the purpose of coming to some conclusion about the quarter section of land that the seat of Jus- tice of Warren county is located on, that is owned by a man, as we think, living in Indiana, by the name of H. Nelson. We, the commissioners of Warren county, have concluded to make the following proposals: We will give the said H. Nelson, ONE HUNDRED dollars for eighty acres, situated in the southeast quarter of the section that the seat of Justice is located on, in a square shape; and another offer we make, we will give two hundred dollars for the quarter section, and ten per cent interest until paid."
Harrison Jordon, clerk of the board was authorized to attend to pur- chasing the land that the seat of Justice is located on, and to survey the same off and advertise the sale of lots.
At the meeting of November 15th, 1849, the board records the following:
"A special meeting of the commissioners of Warren county has been called for the special business and all other business that may come before us. The commissioners have proceeded to survey the seat of Justice of Warren county, or have had the same done. Immediately after we made a purchase of the ground which includes eighty acres laying in a square form, where the seat of Justice is located on, and have ordered a sale of lots to be on the 10th day of December next. The condition of sale is to be as follows, to-wit: One-third of the purchase-money to be paid in hand, and the remaining other two-thirds to be in two equal payments, the first payment in six months hence, and the last payment in twelve months from the day of sale. The number of lots which will be sold or offered for sale on the 10th day of December next, is to be one hundred. Whereas said board values said lots at such price as will herein be specified. Price and lots described as follows ":
Lot No. 10
$5.00
3 5.00
7 5.00
15 10.00
18 10.00
22
10.00
« . 2 in Block 6 10.00
6
8.00
477
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Lot No. 10 in Block 6
$10.00
15
15.00
20 20.00
7 15.00 10.00
13 25.00
.6
16 25.00
66 25.00 "
8 15.00
7
15.00
11
20.00
18
66 20.00
These are given as showing the specimen prices of lots in the original city.
At the meeting of the 17th of November, 1849, Jolin M. Laverty's bill of 12} cents per lot for surveying the seat of Justice, was not allowed, but they say: "the said board offers to allow the said John M. Laverty the sum of $2.00 per day while necessarily employed, according to previous contract made by the commissioners with John M. Laverty."
They also "reserve the public square expressly for the purpose of pub- lic buildings and as public ground, which shall be used for nothing else.
"Joel Scott was appointed to superintend the sale of lots, which was or- dered for the 10th of December; and Harrison Jordon is anthorized and empowered to act as town agent to sell and make conveyances of lots which are specified on record by said board, and also to make deeds, and all other business thereto pertaining.
"At a regular meeting of the board on the 2d day of April, 1850, the board considered and re-valned the lots in the town of Indianola, and make some alterations in regard to the selling of said lots. They will sell two lots together by reserving two feet off eacli where they may come adjoining an alley, which will make (thein) 58 feet wide and 148 feet long, and the cor- ner lots will be 30 feet wide and 148 feet long, and the lots in the center, between the alley and street, will be 60 feet wide and 148 feet long. The tier of lots on the south will correspond with the rest, except they will be 118 feet long."
"The second sale of lots is ordered in the proceedings of February 10th, 1850, in this wise : " The board appoints Paris P. Henderson as agent to appraise the lots in Indianola according to the several lots that have al- ready been appraised, and to have a second sale of lots on the second Mon- day in August next, and to have the same advertised in some newspaper; attend the same, and they appropriate ten dollars for books and papers, and authorize him to draw the money and send for the same."
At the session of August 9th, 1850, they say: " We have agreed to build a building to hold courts for the county, and have agreed upon the follow- ing plan: twenty feet in front and thirty feet back, with three rooms above."
At this session James Nicholls appears as commissioner, instead of Dan- iel Barker.
There has been considerable curiosity, as is common concerning new towns, as to what led to the selection of the name. Upon application to Col. Henderson he supplies the following explanation :
" The name of Indianola was taken from Indianola, Texas, and occurred
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6
20 3
478
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
in this way: I was at that time taking the New York Sun. In that pa- per was the account of the United States government landing at Indianola, Texas, a lot of camels, which they were trying to introduce into the army for service on the plains. While we were at Mr. Blackford's for dinner, the day that the site of the town was located, I was reading the account. This was the first time any of us had ever heard of Indianola, or the intro- duction of camels into the army. We had been talking all day of a name for our new ' town' but had yet not found one that seemed to snit. Mr. A. D. Jones, one of the locating commissioners, then suggested the name of Indianola, which was put to a vote and carried unanimously."
Jesse Liston built the first house on the spot where Indianola now stands, before it was laid out as a town. He took a claim of the land, but soon found that it had been entered by some one else. He therefore removed his house in order to retain it, near the place where Eli Posegate now lives, on West Main street. This was early in 1850.
The first frame house was built in the spring of 1850, about where A. D. Swan's grocery now is. It was built for Z. H. Hockett, by Zachariah Nicholson. This was for a store.
J. M. Hamilton built the first frame dwelling house, southwest of the public square. It was for A. H. Barker, and was used for a hotel.
The old log house, which still stands on the west side of the square, and is owned by Dr. I. Windle, of Des Moines, was the first hotel in the town. It was called the " Iowa House," and was kept by J. F. Woodside, who afterward committed suicide in Missouri, as did also his wife.
The first two-story house was built in 1853 by Jolin S. McKimmy for James Lawrence. It comprises a part of what is now known as the Na- tional House kept by Major R. Babb.
The first frame school-house was built on the site of the present South building. It now does duty as a shop northeast of the public square.
The first school was taught in a honse which M. R. Barker had built and used for a store building. It was in the winter of 1850 and the teacher was Dr. Hezekiah Fisk. John Embree taught the second school.
A log house which stood just west of the college campus was known as the " Naturalization House " because everybody who came to town was com- pelled to live for a time in it before they could secure other quarters.
The first merchant was Z. H. Hockett, who kept a general stock in the building already mentioned.
M. R. Barker was the second, and he still remains in the mercantile business in Indianola.
In the Indianola Republican ot Feb. 21, 1856, we find that some enthu- siastic writer attempts to describe the place under the title "Indianola- First Impressions.'
"My first impressions were received abroad; Indianola has a reputation abroad. The gossip of travelers as to the comparative merits of the towns of the 'Great West,' gave me my first notions of the place. And I con- fess to a high-wrought idea of Indianola. No town is more spoken of for its beauty of site, thrift, and almost every other accomplishment by trav- elers from the East than Indianola. Last fall I was East and traveled pretty extensively through New York and Massachusetts, and wherever maps of Iowa were found, and they were plenty, you could note the places before the eastern eye by the soiled spots on the maps caused by putting the
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
479
fingers down at such points. Among other points thus indicated and com- plimented with smut was Indianola.
" My next and most vivid impression was received from actual vision; ' veni, vidi,' I came, I saw. But I came in mid-winter, when everything perforce wears a cold, repellant visage, and it would not have been singular if the temperature of my feelings had undergone a very sensible depression. But not so. The dreary reign of the bleak storm-king was over all. There was snow everywhere; in the streets, on the housetops, on the prairies, and a universal captivity done up in frost and ice, held everybody to a close account- ability for ears, noses, and toes; yet, I was not driven by anything or by all I saw to let down my idea in the least. The cold, frost, and snow formed the ' upper crust.' They seemed to constitute a temporary aristocracy with whom no one seemed desirons of associating. Those were not the 'npper ten,' but an upper trio, that haughtily repelled and repulsed all attempts at familiarity or even friendship. They had the characteristics of aristoc- racies in general, being cold, formal, self-conscions and exclusive. They were a fierce triumvirate and wielded a remorseless scepter over hill and plain, river and rill, man and beast. Sometimes this despotic trio would unbend their sternness a little and admit to their social revels the wind, and especially if it came from the frozen pole, but only seemingly to add to their aristocratic exclusiveness; but when thus joined by their high northern guest, they paraded the streets, entered people's dwellings and took all sorts of unwarrantable liberties with other folks' property, playing the deuce generally with everything from cellar to garret, until they have made themselves very unpopular, and I notice to-day that a movement is on foot to expel them from town, a movement I for one most heartily en- dorse, and as I observe our old friend the Sun is one of the executive com- mittee, I most cordially bid him ' God speed.' But I said these were only the upper crust. Beneath this frowning brow I saw a pleasant, genial eye. The shape of things pleases me. The site of Indianola is unsurpassed in the West. When I first came within viewing distance, I was struck with the magnificence of its perspective. . It does seem to me that, all poetry aside, no more grandly beautiful scope of country can be found on the green earth, in its natural shape, just as it fell from its Maker's hand, than that of which Indianola is the center; within a radius line of five iniles, un- adorned, untouched and alone in its wild, silent magnificence, this portion of country must have been lovely, indeed. I love the silent majesties of nature. There is in them a voice and an eloquence that speaks to the soul, and sluggish must be the nature that remains unmoved ainid these grand old harmonies that breath like the soul of God through all creation around. But the ' woodman's axe' has been bnsily resounding during the last few years, and to crown all there is now a thriving town of twelve hundred in- habitants, with its Sabbaths, churches, schools, refinement and intelligence springing into vigorons life, amid all the natural attractions of this region. "And it was from those signs above indicated, I got other impressions favorable to our place. A town of this size that can and will build such a church as that recently erected, need not despair of its future. That is a long step in the right direction. It is indicative of a correct idea, as to the true policy of town-makers. Liberality is the true alchemy that converts dullness into activity, unthrift and stagnant energy into thrift and indus- try, decline and dilapidation into growth and increase. I had heard of the manifestations of a generous liberality. I have special opportunities pass-
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:480
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
ing under my personal inspection of knowing something of the public spirit that pervades the community. That is right. A liberal policy is money out at twenty-five per cent. Many towns dwindle and die on account of the niggardly, close-fisted, selfish policy of their citizens. Ten dollars invested in public improvements, either in erecting churches, building school-houses, improving the public square, grading the streets, laying down plank sidewalks, planting out shrubbery and shade-trees along our streets, supporting a good newspaper, a public reading room, or anything designed to improve and beautify the appearance of the town, or elevate and refine the tastes of society; or increase the aggregate of the public and individual knowledge, is a most capital investment. It makes the town, and the town fixes the value of property generally. Property is never worth much in any one-horse town .. It is easy to make any town a one- horse town. Be niggardly, selfish, and inean, so mean that the dogs will not bark at you, be crabbed, coarse and ill-mannered to everybody, dispense with all the amenities and elegancies of polite etiquette, be stingy as a public toward every call for moneyed aid, so stingy as to sink a thousand fathoms below contempt, and very soon the whole aspect of things will indicate it. The burning sirocco would not be more inimical to the health and growth of a town than the prevalence of such a spirit.
"But over against that stands the other, and only wise, policy. I am truly gratified by the abundant signs I discover that this latter is the policy of Indianola. My first impressions on this point are altogether pleasant. But the more of this spirit of town improvement we have the better; who would not cheerfully give ten dollars to have our square re-fenced and thor- oughly ornamented with becoming shade-trees? I will for one; who next?
" Another hopeful feature about Indianola is its generally correct morals. Without the morality of the Bible, the elevated etiquette of religion, the corrective power of the gospel, being known and felt in the community all other graces pale, grow dim and die out. There is nothing enduring unless savored with the conservative power of the gospel. A religious people is always a prosperous people. Ontlaw .Christianity, make it disreputable in community to go to church and be a child of faitli, destroy the sanctity of the Sabbath, scoff at piety, encourage vice and transgressions of com- mandments, and you have done more to unharness the public from the re- straints of conscience and public sentiment and all the conservative influ- ence that cau exalt and redeem society than you can undo in an eternity. Indianola has a reputation for being a decidedly moral, temperate and re- ligious place. Never let down from that. 'Righteousness exalteth a na- tion, but sin is a reproach to any people.'"
We have not been able to secure business directories of the town at dif- ferent periods, but the following, condensed from the advertisements in the Republican for Dec. 9th, 1855, gives the earliest information of this char- acter which is obtainable:
Printing Office .- John W. Murphy, proprietor of the Republican.
Dry Goods .- A. R. & J. W. Haynes, Geo. W. Jones, Seachrest & Meek, M. R. Barker & Co., William Barnwell, I. & C. Plosegate.
Groceries and Queensware .- E. & G. Crosthwait, Geo. W. Jones, Ha- gen & Bro.
Hardware .- D. W. Van Sittert, Jacob Stark.
Drug Store .- I. Windle & Co.
481
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Pumps .- J. D. & O. M. Ingalls, D. W. Van Sittert.
Plow Shop .- Carpenter & Bro., Payne & Flesher.
Steam Mill .- Z. H. Hockett.
Jewelers .- Leach & Cross.
Land Agents .- P. P. Henderson, Seachrest & Meek, Todhunter &. Millard, Geo. E. Griffith.
Shoemaker .- W. Hargrave.
Blacksmiths .- Graham & Black, Payne & Flesher.
Physicians .- Windle & Noble, H. Fisk.
Attorneys :- Bryan & Williamson, Todhunter & Millard, and W. W. Nevison.
Butcher .- E. Hunt.
This is a meager showing for Indianola, but it was a meager town at that time. It continued however to grow gradually. The interest in edu- cation increased, the Seminary was established and grew and students mul- tiplied, business reached out for better connections, the jealousy of the county seat began to abate, and the town began to take on more important airs.
In 1860 the thriving village heard the echoes that ushered in the great war struggle that fairly shook the earth. For the honor of the old flag Indianola sent forth many of her bravest and best, and "over their ashes her most bitter tears have been shed."
But it was only the echoes of the war surges that reached Indianola. The wreck and desolation were elsewhere. The prosperity of the town was slackened, not stopped. With the return of the soldiers to the fields of activity and industry, the growth of the town was quickened. Still it was a healthful growth, even during the "wild cat" days of speculation that always follow in the footprints of war.
In 1863 it was concluded that it had reached such a point that it ought to be incorporated, which was done under the general law of the State. The following is the petition as presented to the county court:
PETITION FOR THE INCORPORATION OF INDIANOLA, WARREN COUNTY, IOWA.
To the Honorable County Court of Warren County, Iowa:
Your petitioners, citizens of the town of Indianola, county of Warren, and State of Iowa, would respectfully pray your honor that the following described territory be incorporated under the name and style of the City of Indianola, which said territory embraces the aforesaid town of Indianola, together with all its additions, to-wit: Commencing at the half mile stake on the north side of section twenty-five, township seventy-six, north of range twenty-four west, thence running due east two hundred and thirty- six rods, thence due sonth sixty-eight rods, thence due east eighty-four rods, to the halt mile line, in section thirty, township seventy-six, north of range twenty-three west, thence south to the centre of said section thirty, thence dne west to the north end of Walnut street, in Haworth's addition to said town of Indianola, thence due south one hundred and sixty rods, thence dne west to the southwest corner of said section thirty, thence still dne west fifty-five rods and twenty-one links, thence north eighty rods, thence west sixty-five rods and twenty-nine links, thence north eighty rods,
.
482
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
thence west to the centre of section twenty-five, township seventy-six, range twenty-four, which will more fully appear from an accurate plat of said described territory herewith attached and made part of this petition. Your petitioners further represent that they have selected and duly empowered Maxwell & McNeil to act as attorneys in behalf of petitioners in prose- cuting the passage of this petition to a final termination.
This is signed by ninety tax-payers.
This was met by the following
REMONSTRANCE TO THE INCORPORATION OF INDIANOLA.
To the Honorable, the County Court of Warren County, Iowa:
The undersigned, citizens, residents and voters within the limits proposed to be incorporated under the name of the City of Indianola, Warren county, Iowa, wonld respectfully remonstrate against said proposed incorporation for the following reasons:
That the incorporation of said territory described in the petition there- for, is, in the opinion of your remonstrators, unnecessary, uncalled for, and inexpedient.
That the condition of citizens residing in and upon said territory does not require that the same should be incorporated.
That if the same should be incorporated it will greatly increase taxation upon the citizens thereof, without being of any practical benefit.
That it will increase litigation which will necessarily increase taxation. That it will lead to continual broils and contentions.
That it will engender strife and difficulty between the citizens residing upon said incorporated limits and those living outside thereof.
That it will disturb the peace and quietude of the citizens thereof and lead to bitter political strife.
That it will array one part of the town against the other.
That it will lead to unpleasant crimination and recrimination.
That it will entail upon (us) all the evils of a city, without any of the benefits thereof.
We would therefore most respectfully pray your honors to refuse the prayer of the petitioners therefor.
This is signed by eighty-four citizens of the place, some of the reasons assigned for signing or for changing from favoring to opposing it, are cu- rious. A number " signed the petition for incorporation without mature consideration." A distinguished attorney now a resident of Des Moines, endorse, that he signed petition "in fun," while a physician yet remaining here, improves upon it by subscribing after the manner of Josh Billings, or Nasby, "in phun." A banker says "not in favor of incorporation for fear of high taxes;" while another, now in business in the place, says, "signed this because I am opposed to the masheen."
But the town was incorporated and none of the predicted bad results have followed.
The complete list of officers of the city from 1864 to 1879, inclusive, will give some idea of the excellent class of men who have been selected as its rulers.
Articles of incorporation of the town of Indianola were filed October 5, 1863, and the first election for town officers was held March 7, 1864.
483
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The finances of the town have been well managed, and notwithstanding large amounts have been paid for grading streets and building sidewalks, and keeping them in repair, the town is out of debt, and can boast of hav- ing more miles of good sidewalk than any town of its size in the State.
There are no beer saloons or billiard tables in the town; the price of license for beer saloons is $3,000 each, and for billiard tables $300 each.
Since its organization the town has had the following officers, viz:
1864.
Mayor-Lewis Todhunter and C. E. Moorman. Recorder - Asahel Ward. Treasurer-J. C. Read. Assessor - Asahel Ward. Attorney- H. W. Maxwell. Marshal-W. F. Wells. Street Commissioner-W. F. Wells. Trustees-J. C. Read, J. W. Bundy, M. R. Barker, J. A. Olive, John Dixon.
1865.
Mayor-Robert Longshore. Recorder-A. Ward and J. M. Holliday. Treasurer-John Webb. Assessor-Asahel Ward. Marshal-W. F. Wells. Street Commissioner-W. F. Wells. Trustees-John Dixon, L. B. Clapp, M. W. Shepherd, John Webb, E. G. Crosthwait.
1866.
Mayor-Lewis Todhunter. Recorder-Asahel Ward. Treasurer-John Webb. Assessor-Asahel Ward. Marshal-W. F. Wells. Street Com- missioner-W. F. Wells. Trustees-E. P. Davis, Wm. Coffman, T. G. Barnes, Joel Jacoby, E. W. Perry.
1867.
Mayor-R. T. Merrill. Recorder-T. H. Davis. Treasurer-P. P. Hen- derson. Assessor-M. R. Barker. Marshals-H. C. Henderson and Robt. Cleland. Street Commissioners-H. C. Henderson and Robt. Cleland, Trustees-Wesley Cheshire, J. N. Andrew, J. A. Leach, W. L. Kircher, E. W. Perry.
1868.
Mayor-R. T. Merrill. Recorder-T. H. Davis. Treasurer-P. P. Hen- derson. Assessor-M. R. Barker. Marshal-John H. Clark. Street Com- missioner-Robert Cleland. Trustees-Wesley Cheshire, E. W. Perry, J. A. Leach, W. L. Kircher, J. A. Olive.
1869.
Mayor-E. W. Hartman. Recorder-T. H. Davis. Treasurer-P. P. Henderson. Assessor-E. W. Perry. Marshal-J. H. Clark. Street Commissioner-J. H. Clark. Trustees-J. A. Olive, J. H. Eno, E. W. Fortney, A. H. Swan, Willet Carpenter.
484
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
1870.
Mayor-J. J. Cozad. Recorder-T. H. Davis. Treasurer-P. P. Hen- derson. Assessor-W. J. McGee. Marshal-John Burke. Street Com- missioner, John Burkett. Trustees-J. A. Olive, E. W. Fortney, J. H. Eno, Willet Carpenter, B. F. Swan.
1871.
Mayor-J. J. Cozad. Recorder-T. H. Davis. Treasurer-P. P. Hen- derson. Assessor -- W. J. McGee. Marshal -- T. D. Noble. Street Com- missioner-A. P. Keeney. Trustees-J. A. Olive, E. W. Fortney, Willet Carpenter, I. P. C. Martin, Furman Rogers.
1872.
Mayor-E. W. Perry. Recorder-H. T. Metcalf. Treasurer -- P. P. Hen- derson. Assessor -- W. J. McGee. Marshal-C. S. Litzenberg. Street Commissioner-John Golden. Trustees-Wesley Cheshire, A. R. Worth, Wm. Peck, A. O. Reynolds, J. E. Pritchard.
1873.
Mayor-George Collings. Recorder-A. M. Henderson. Treasurer- M. W. Judkins. Assessor-J. T. Lacy. Marshal-John Reynolds. Street Commissioner-Henry Ruth. Trustees-A. R. Worth, J. M. Fallis, J. T. Huffman, Wm. Peck, J. H. Clark.
1874.
Mayor-George Collings. Recorder-A. M. Henderson. Treasurer- M. W. Judkins. Assessor-J. T. Lacy. Marshals-Isaac Harvey and Wm. Lemon. Street Commissioner-Henry Ruth. Trustees-J. T. Huffman, Henry Ruth, W. H. H. Hursh, J. M. Fallis, R. T. Harbison.
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