Polk County IA Archives History - Books .....1885 To 1896 1898
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 14, 2006, 9:10 pm

Book Title: Annals Of Polk County, Iowa And City Of Des Moines

CHAPTER XXI.
1885 TO 1896.

DURING the first few years of this period the sheriff and constables were making
daily, almost hourly, raids upon places where intoxicating liquors were charged
with being sold, and each day the daily newspapers had accounts of from one to a
dozen or more of these raids. It was a time when Des Moines was noted throughout
the entire country for the number and frequency of these "searches and
seizures," and also a time when, with strange inconsistency, the friends of
prohibition pointed with pride to "Des Moines, the largest city in the world
without a saloon." No saloons, and yet daily raids made upon from one to a dozen
or more of them! Not only were these "searches and seizures" made, but many of
the offenders were brought before the courts and fined or imprisoned. Not only
this, but the courts issued scores of injunctions preventing persons named
therein from selling or certain places from being used for the sale of
intoxicating liquors. This injunction method was an old legal process which had
been invoked against saloons and their keepers, and was designed and intended to
do away with jury trials in this class of cases. Its constitutionality had been
doubted by some of the best legal minds, but the Supreme Court upheld it as a
legal procedure—when applied to the sale of intoxicating liquors.

   Many are the stories told of these times in Des Moines, and while true seem
even now strange to those familiar with them, and will appear more strange to
others in the coming years. They will wonder how such a state of affairs could
have been allowed to exist in a civilized city, making claims to enlightenment,
law, order and common sense. During the prevalence of these liquor raids there
were many exciting occurrences, unfortunately in one or two cases resulting in
death and in others in wounds and bloodshed. On several occasions feeling ran so
high that it was difficult for a. time to prevent mob law from getting the upper
hand. All that prevented this was the sober good sense of the people. And during
all this time the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors went on, and it was
seldom very difficult for any citizen to procure all the liquors he wanted, if
he had the money to pay for it. True, the traffic was to a certain extent driven
from the public streets, and forced to more quiet places, but the traffic
continued, and unfortunately was more confined to the stronger and more
intoxicating liquors, the latter being more portable and more easily hidden from
the eyes of the searchers.

   In 1886 Louis Harbach erected the large and fine building on Walnut street,
immediately west of the Kirkwood House, which he has since used as retail
salesrooms for his immense furniture trade. This was only one of a number of
buildings erected by Louis Harbach in Des Moines, before and since that year.
Among these were several large brick buildings on Second street, on Third
street, on Locust, and large warehouses near the railroad tracks. And some years
ago he built one of the best residences in the city on the corner of Fifth and
Center streets.

   In 1887 the Iowa Loan and Trust Company, which in a few years under able
management had become one of tin4 largest and strongest financial institutions
of the State, erected what was then the largest and best building in the city,
on Fifth street, on the original Methodist Church lot. This six-story
building—66x132—was thoroughly planned and thoroughly built, and since its
erection has been filled from basement to roof with business tenants, besides
giving to the company plenty of rooms for the transaction of their large and
continuously growing business.

   This year also marked the permanent location of State fair grounds in this
city. The liberal citizens of Des Moines subscribed some $50,000 for the
purchase of grounds for the purpose, and some three hundred acres were secured
about one mile or more east of the State Capitol. These grounds were
diversified, with hill and level plain, and early in the year 1880 work was
commenced in erecting buildings, arranging tracks and roadways, and making other
permanent improvements, so as to be ready for the annual fair in the following
September. The State made an appropriation for this purpose, and the fair was
duly held, the first one ever held on the Agricultural Society's own grounds.

   In 1886 William Slater, a well known business man, member of the firm of
Mennig & Slater, accidentally fell in an elevator shaft at his place of
business, and was fatally injured, dying in a few days thereafter. His death was
much deplored.

   Tuesday morning, May 25, 1880, the Daily Leader office was almost totally
destroyed by tire, entailing a loss to the proprietors of about $25,000, only
partially covered by insurance. At that time the Leader was published in the
brick building on the north side of Court avenue, between Third and Fourth
streets. With the Leader was also mostly destroyed a large job and lithographing
establishment. Notwithstanding the heavy loss the Leader was promptly issued the
following day and continued its regular publication.

   This same year came the trial of impeachment of State Auditor Brown before
the State Senate. After a hearing of some forty days Auditor Brown was acquitted.

   Herbert M. Hoxie died this year and was buried in Woodland Cemetery. He had
been reared in this county, coming here at an early day with his father, and
lived for several years with his relative, Thomas Mitchell. He had been clerk of
courts for the county, United States marshal during the war, was one of the
builders of the Union Pacific Railroad, and became a prominent railroad official
and manager. He died at St. Louis.

   The improvements in the way of building, paving, etc., in the City of Des
Monies during the year 1886 are given by the Register at $3,426,500. The
business transactions of the year are placed at $68,474,896.

   March 1, 1887, Ed R. Clapp, a well known citizen, celebrated the completion
of fifty years residence in Iowa by giving an old-fashioned dinner at his home
to a number of the early settlers. The numerous company heartily enjoyed this
reunion. Mr. Clapp can now celebrate his fifty years of continuous residence in
Polk County, he having made Des Moines his home in February, 1846.

   About 1887 suburban real estate was "booming," and continued to "boom" for
several years. Numerous tracts of land, especially to the north and west of the
city were laid out in lots, rapidly sold and generally built upon. These
buildings were mostly residences, and many of these were large, handsome and
costly. In August of this year Drake University sold at auction a number of lots
in that then village, realizing some $25,000 on the sales of one day. New towns
and villages in a few years completely surrounded the city, having local
governments of their own and vieing with each other in growth and advancement.
They were all later on included in the corporate limits of the enlarged city.
Among those most active in the laying out of these additions were: Lowry W.
Goode, Dr. Likes, Hatton & Percival, Polk & Hubbell, and a host of others. For
some years the land agents and real estate operators were as thick on Fifth
street as they were in the early days on Second and Walnut streets, when the
rush was on for government lands; and in these latter times Tom Cox daily "wrote
them up for the newspapers."

   In April, 1887, Foster's elegant new opera house was partially destroyed by
fire, but was soon rebuilt larger, better and more handsome than ever. In May
fire destroyed the home of James Stanton, an early settler, living in Bloomfield
Township, a few miles south of the city.

   The new Savery House, corner of Fourth and Locust streets, was built in 1887,
at a cost of considerably over $100,000. The citizens purchased and donated the
lots, and Eastern capitalists furnished the money for the erection of this large
and elegant modern hotel.

   The raids of the searchers and prosecutions under the prohibitory law
continued this year in full vigor, and early in the year, March 10, S. E. Logan,
a constable, was shot and almost instantly killed by Joseph Row, a teamster in
the employ of Hurlbut, Ward & Co. This shooting occurred in the ware rooms of
the firm mentioned and caused much excitement. The coroner's jury decided Row
had acted in self-defence, [sic] but he was subsequently indicted, convicted,
and sentenced to imprisonment for few years.

   By this time many of the citizens of the city and county had become
thoroughly disgusted with the prohibitory law and especially the manner of its
attempted enforcement. This resulted in many Republicans, some of whom then and
afterwards were leaders in that party, making a temporary break away and uniting
with Democrats and others in an independent political movement. They nominated a
legislative and county ticket, and after a vigorous campaign were partially
successful, securing the election of A. B. Cummins to the General Assembly and
also of Sheriff Loomis. This was a hard blow at the then prevailing "searches
and seizures," and, though continued for several years more, they began rapidly
to lose public approval and favor until they were finally abandoned.

   The Court House flowing well, which has proven such a convenience and comfort
to so many, by reason of its cold, clear but highly impregnated waters, was
drilled in 1887. It goes to a depth of 380 feet.

   In 1887 Constables Potts and Hamilton were indicted for assault, with intent
to kill, but after a few months' delay, when placed on trial, were acquitted.

   In 1887 B. F. Jaquith and the Dos Moines Saddlery Company erected, the large
building on the north side of Court avenue, between Third and Fourth streets,
now occupied by these large wholesale establishments.

   About this time there was considerable excitement: in the city and county
over the supposed discovery of reservoirs of natural gas, and many were the
speculations indulged in on the subject. Some lands were bought or leased and
several holes bored, but no large permanent supply of gas could he found, and
these speculations were soon abandoned.

   The building and other improvements in 1887 are given in the newspapers as
follows: Business houses and residences, $2,967,988; other improvements,
including public buildings, paving, etc., $1,552,800; total volume of business,
$61,891,207. "This was a considerable improvement over 1886.

   The constables continued their work during most of the year 1888, but the
tables were turned and they were occasionally themselves arrested, charged with
crime's and misdemeanors. Pierce was arrested for bribery or accepting bribes,
and being vigorously prosecuted by County Attorney Phillips, was convicted in
the District Court. He appealed, and finally the Supreme Court set aside his
conviction. Potts and Hamilton, constables, were also charged with the same
offense and Potts was convicted, in the lower court, but the Supreme Court
finally came to his relief.

   At the March election, 1888, Carpenter, Democrat and Populist, defeated
Finkbine, the Republican nominee* for mayor, by a majority of 636 votes.

   On March 11 of the same year T. B. Cockerham, of Savior Township, committed
suicide by shooting himself with a shotgun, and in the following July Daniel
Bartruff, a prominent farmer of the same township, was killed by being thrown
from his wagon.

   On April 27, the Leader printing office was again destroyed by fire,
entailing a loss of some $25,000, only partially covered by insurance. Zeigler &
Olsen were then the managers of the newspaper. The Homestead office also
suffered a heavy loss, it being in the Leader building. Both newspapers
continued publication with little if any interruption.

   During this year the platting of new additions and subdivisions continued
unabated, and among the companies formed was what was termed the "Vermont
Syndicate," which handled the Kingman Place and made of it a very valuable
addition to the city.

   In December Edward Slavin was mortally injured in an affray with some
Italians, and died in a short time afterwards. Subsequently Augustine Di Pompa,
an Italian, was indicted for the killing of Slavin, and after a trial in the
District Court, was convicted of manslaughter. He was, however, granted a new
trial and finally acquitted.

   During the year 1888 two former well known citizens of Des Moines died, Webb
T. Dart in Colorado, and Rev. Thomas O. Rice, for years pastor of the Central
Presbyterian Church, in Massachusetts.

   In 1889 Governor William Larrabee was indicted by a Polk County grand jury
for criminal libel, growing out of the somewhat noted Chester Turney case. The
Governor demanded a speedy trial, and this being had, was promptly acquitted.
This was the first time in the history of the State that the Governor was called
upon to defend himself from a criminal charge in court, and this prosecution had
little if any foundation in fact.

   In March the Leader Printing Company made an assignment to Phil S. Kell,
giving liabilities of over $18,000. The assignee continued publication of the
Daily and Weekly Leader for some time or until the entire concern was sold to
Henry Stivers, who continued its proprietor and editor until 1895.

   Some time previous a number of gentlemen had formed a new street railway
company and laid some miles of track. Litigation had ensued between the new and
the old company, and the Supreme Court decided that the old company had an
exclusive right to the streets of the city for this purpose. This was a hard
blow to the new broad <mage company, but upon a rehearing the Court modified
this exclusive right to horse cars. This let in electric and steam cars. At once
an electric company was formed, to run cars by electricity in different parts of
the city, while Dr. Likes and others started the construction of what was termed
the "Belt Line/' the cars to be propelled by steam. The City Council promptly
gave charters or permits, and in 1889 was started the first of the electric
lines which now penetrate every portion of the city. Of these mention is made
more fully in another chapter.

   In June Callanan College was injured by fire to the extent of some $6,000. A
few weeks previous Miss Belle Bennett, of Ottumwa, a scholar of Drake
University, was drowned in the Des Moines river by the upsetting of a boat.

   Public improvements, such as paving, sewering, etc., were carried on
extensively during this year, one of the newspapers stating that in August more
than eleven hundred men were then employed upon city work. And the improvements
by the citizens were many and large.

   In September, 1889, during the State Fair, came the first of the noted Seni
om Sed celebrations, which for a few years were noted throughout the country.
They were grand affairs. The main streets of the city were illuminated by
innumerable gas and electric lights, and on Tuesday night of the first week of
September came the grand procession, with its floats, tableaux and many varied
displays. It was a long and brilliant line. The business men and women of Des
Moines had taken hold in a generous and vigorous manner, and made it the most
celebrated display in the annals of the city.

   In December the notorious constables, Potts and Hamilton, in arresting a man
beat him brutally with their clubs. This becoming generally known and perhaps
magnified, that evening when the constables came upon the street they were
pursued and hustled by an angry mob of men. They finally managed to escape from
the angry people into a clothing store, and were temporarily placed in a vault
for safe keeping. It was with difficulty the entire available police force could
protect, these obnoxious constables from the excited people, but finally they
were carried off and held in the custody of the police until the excitement had
somewhat abated.

   The building and other improvements, by the city and many private individuals
during the year 1889, were placed at $3,239,158; jobbing trade for the year,
$24,193,261; and manufactures at $10,914,330. Tin1 insurance premiums received
by home companies during the year were over one and one-half million of dollars,
and the real estate transfers footed up over ten millions of dollars.

   In November, 1889, Rev. J. A. nash, the pioneer Baptist minister, met with an
accident by which his thigh bone was broken, and he was laid up for many months.

   In Grant township, January 10, 1890, a lad named Joseph Dixon was shot by
another lad, Ed. Daugherty, and died in a few days after the shooting. The
coroner's jury found the shooting had been purposely done, and Daugherty was
indicted. Upon his trial a few months later he was acquitted on the ground that
the shooting was accidental.

   On March 3, "Dude" Henderson, a young negro with not the best reputation, was
shot by Constable William Skinner, while the latter was searching the Henderson
house. The wound was a severe one, and for a time supposed to be mortal, but the
young negro finally recovered.

   In the spring of 1890 the boundaries of the city of Des Moines were extended
so as to take in nearly all the suburban towns and villages, among the latter
being North Des Moines, Sevastopol, Chesterfield, Highland Park, Drake
University, etc., covering territory in eight different civil townships, and
adding forty-six square miles to the old city area.

   April 14, the large Gilbert Starch works in the eastern portion of the city
were destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $250,000, with $200,000 insurance,
and throwing a large number of men and women out of employment. For a year or
two the ruins were left untouched, but finally the works were rebuilt larger and
better than before.

   On the night of April 9, a burglar entered the residence of George P. Grimes,
a grocer on the East Side, and being discovered by Grimes, several shots were
exchanged. Grimes was shot in or near the eye so as to cause the loss of that
organ, and the burglar was seriously wounded. The latter, who was an ex-convict
by the name of James Quin, recovered from his wound, was tried, convicted and.
sentenced to the penitentiary for twenty-five years, he was sent to the
penitentiary, but died in a short time from the effects of drinking water in
which he had steeped matches while in the county jail. Before his death he
acknowledged his crimes and admitted he endeavored to kill Grimes.

   In 1890, S. A. Robertson, Martin Flynn, and several others organized the Des
Moines Brick Manufacturing Company, and the following year had their large works
in successful operation. They led the way in the direction of making brick by
machinery, and may be regarded as pioneers in this now one of the largest
industries of the city. At the present time there are five large works in or
near the city engaged in the manufacture of paving and building brick which have
gained an enviable reputation throughout Iowa and other states.

   During this year came the charge of "boodling" made against members of the
City Council. Investigations were had and many charges made, and finally eleven
former and then members of the council were indicted for having received illegal
compensation for their services. There was much excitement and some feeling over
the matter for a time. Some of the indicted members were tried and acquitted,
and most of them refunded to the city certain amounts of money, and finally the
whole matter was in some way settled up and dropped out of sight.

   In May, two boys, Clarence Hickox and Jonas Russell, about sixteen years of
age, met with a singular accident. They had dug a cave in the bank of the river
as a place of resort, and while they were in it, a cave-in occurred, and they
were smothered to death underneath the fallen earth. Their bodies were not found
until some time after their death, and then only after a protracted search on
the part of the parents.

   June 23, Frank Pierce, the noted constable and searcher, shot Terry Chambers
in an eating house near the post-office. Chambers was severely wounded and for a
time it was feared he would die. The shooting naturally caused much excitement,
and Pierce was arrested and placed under bonds of $5,000. Chambers finally
recovered. About this time nearly all the newspapers of the city had ceased to
defend or uphold the searchers, and the Register called the attention of
citizens to the fact that fees charged up by justices and constables, nearly all
in these "whisky cases" had in six months run up to the enormous amount of over
thirty thousand dollars! And this was what the taxpayers would be called upon to
pay for these "searchers and seizures!"

   July 12, Carl Coggeshall, the bright son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Coggeshall, a
boy who was born and reared in the city, was drowned in the Des Moines river
while bathing.

   The Seni om Sed celebration of the year previous was repeated this year, and
it was claimed was much improved upon. One of the newspapers of the day spoke of
it as "the greatest procession ever seen in the Northwest." It was considered a
splendid advertisement of Des Moines, as was also the fact that the United
States census of that year gave the City of Des Moines a total population of
51,582. The 50,000 mark had been reached and passed.

   For some months the town was shocked and also at times amused at the
robberies and other depredations of a mysterious personage who was given the
name of "Jim, the climber," because of the ease and facility with which he
entered upper windows. He was finally arrested and handed over to the
authorities under the name of Connors or Fitzgerald. He has since reformed, is
in legitimate business now, and a short time since spent several days visiting
in this city.

   Sunday, October 29, 1890, Franklin Nagle and Rebecca Johnson-Nagle, his good
wife, celebrated the 64th anniversary of their marriage at their pleasant home
on the farm northwest of Saylorville, upon which they had lived for forty-five
years. Both of these early settlers are now dead.

   In these years death was busy among the early settlers and prominent men and
women of the city and county. Among the dead of 1890 were: Coker F. Clarkson,
prominent in the State and father of the Clarkson Brothers of the Register;
Jacob D. McClain, an early settler and prominent citizen of Jefferson township;
Hezekiah Monroe, an ex-alderman and noted citizen; John Mitchell, for twelve
years judge and a leading citizen; and Augustus Newton, ex-mayor and once
leading merchant. Among the dead of 1891 were: James C. Jordan, one of the
earliest settlers, a member of both houses of the General Assembly, a leading
farmer and citizen; Mrs. Anna N. Savery, wife of James C. Savery, who lived in
Des Moines many years, a noted lady;  Thomas Cavanaugh, ex-mayor and prominent
citizen; Col. W. H. Merritt, ex-editor and postmaster, who commanded the First
Iowa at the battle of Wilson Creek; George Sneer, ex-mayor, early settler and
good citizen; E. J. Ingersoll, founder of the Hawkeye Insurance Company, a
leading and wealthy citizen.

   Mary Harrity, a woman living on the East Side, died from wounds alleged to
have been inflicted by Patrick Coffey. The latter was arrested in the southern
portion of the State, and brought back to be tried for the crime charged.

   June 30, the notorious constable, Frank Pierce, got into an altercation at
the city dump, with S. H. Wishart, an old soldier and special policeman, and
shot him, giving a fatal wound from which Wishart died in a short time. Pierce
was not then engaged in his searches and seizures, but was in the business of
scavenger. Wishart had been ordered to forbid Pierce from dumping his loads at
the place and in carrying out these orders was shot and killed. Pierce was
placed in jail, where he remained for some time, and was finally released on
heavy bail. He was subsequently tried in Warren County, convicted and sentenced
to four and one half years in the penitentiary. He appealed to the Supreme
Court, and after a delay of a year or more the judgment was affirmed and Pierce
was taken to the penitentiary, where he now is.

   George W. Potts, another of these constables, who had been previously
convicted and appealed to the Supreme Court, had his sentence affirmed and he
too was taken to the penitentiary to serve out the sentence, a portion of which
was afterwards commuted by the governor.

   In December, 1891, Sim Reardon, a somewhat noted character, was shot by
Officer Skinner, and died from his wounds a few weeks thereafter. The coroners
jury, while finding the shooting in this case in the line of the officer's duty,
censured the too free use of pistols by officers when making arrests.

   In the account of the improvements in the city during the year 1891, the
total cost of public and private buildings, etc., is placed at $4,301,334, among
these being the New York Equitable Life Insurance Company's building, upon which
$280,000 had been expended during the year, and the new block of Conrad
Youngerman, upon which he had expended $125,000. The manufactures of the war
were placed at $14,196,576, the jobbing trade at $34,845,611, while the real
estate transfers footed up over nine millions of dollars.

   Sam Roan, of bad reputation, in February made a brutal assault on an old man
named Frank H. Busby, living near the water works. The old man finally recovered
and Roan was promptly placed in jail.

   Much excitement was caused at the State Capitol by reason of a brutal assault
made by State Senator George L. Finn, of Taylor County, upon H. M. Belvel, an
attache of the senate and newspaper correspondent. Belvel had written something
to which the senator took exceptions and being a stout athletic man he made a
savage attack on Belvel, who was old and weak and not able to properly defend
himself. No special action was taken by the senate in the matter, and the
senator was allowed to go unpunished.

   In March, Jeanuette Allen, a notorious woman of the town, was convicted in
the District Court, under a recent severe law, of keeping a bawdy house, and
sentenced to eighteen months confinement in the penitentiary. She served her
term and then returned to Des Moines and for a time re-entered her old business.

   In April, James Cockerham, living near the poor farm, went to a house where
his divorced wife, Nancy, lived, and with little warning shot dead W. S. Davis,
who was in the house, and while his wife was endeavoring to escape shot and
killed her. He then went a short distance and killed himself. Jealousy and
hatred were the supposed causes of the tragedy.

   In April, Frank Pierce had his trial for the killing of Officer Wishart,
before the Warren County court. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced
to four and one-half years in the penitentiary. He appealed, but the Supreme
Court affirmed the judgment and he is now serving out his sentence.

   In May, Fred Crafton shot and killed Mabel Swartz, a handsome but wayward
young girl. It was claimed the shooting was accidental, but the coroner's jury
held different. Crafton was subsequently tried and found guilty of the crime,
and sentenced to a term in the penitentiary. He was subsequently pardoned by the
governor, through sympathy for his aged mother and his young wife, and doubts as
to his criminal intent in shooting the girl.

   In May, Ed. Sheridan died from the effects of a gunshot wound, but how it was
received and by whom fired was never clearly ascertained.

   A stir was made over the indictment and trial in the United States Court, of
J. C. Newton, President of the Des Moines & Kansas City Railroad Company,
charged with an attempt to defraud the government in the weight of mails carried
by his road. After a long and exciting trial he was acquitted.

   Among the dead of 1892 were: Newton Lamb, a much esteemed old settler who
came to the county and opened the farm upon which he died, in 1845; J. P.
Casady, a brother of P. M. Casady, a former resident here and afterwards a
distinguished citizen of Council Bluffs; George W. Baldwin, a much esteemed
citizen; James Smith, the first nurseryman in the county, an eccentric but
valuable citizen; Mrs. Charles Aldrich, an estimable lady, wife of the curator
of the State Historical Department; Leopold Hirsch, a popular clothing merchant.

   In December, 1892, Peter Sutter, an old and wealthy resident of the county,
who had recently taken up his residence in the city, in a fit of passion
murdered his wife, by beating her to death with a chair or club. She was his
second wife, and had previously been Mrs. Squires. At the time of the tragedy
they were living in West Des Moines. Sutter was arrested, but while in jail
committed suicide by cutting his throat.

   The improvements made by the city in 1892 was figured at $533,704, the
buildings, etc., erected and improvements made by individuals at $2,860,190, and
the real estate transfers amounted to more than eight millions of dollars.

   In February, 1893, the Spencer block, in which was located the Daily News
office, was badly injured by fire, and the proprietors of the News suffered a
heavy loss. The publication of the News was, however, continued without
interruption.

   Sam King was fatally shot by Police Officer Seidler and died from the effects
of the wound. The coroner's jury in their verdict justified the officer and he
was not prosecuted.

   In May, Dan Stewart, a horse trainer, near the Fair Grounds, assaulted Mrs.
O. Webb Noon. He drugged her and afterwards poisoned himself and was found dead.
Mrs. Noon recovered.

   In July, Frank Le Roy was shot and killed while being pursued by Detective
Bain and Police Officer Reich. The officers were exonerated by the authorities.

   In July, came the tornado at Pomeroy, Iowa, which caused the loss of so many
lives and the destruction of so much property. The citizens of Des Moines at
once organized relief committees and donated liberally of cash and goods to help
the sufferers. Many thousands of dollars in money and goods were promptly sent
from this city. The Des Moines Insurance Company of this city, had tornado risks
on much of the property destroyed, and promptly adjusted and paid their losses
in cash, paying out between $30,000 and $40,000 for this purpose, and doing much
to help the distressed people of that unfortunate town and neighborhood.

   In July, Alexander McGarraugh and wife of Camp township, celebrated the
fifty-second anniversary of their marriage. They came to Polk county in 1849,
and always ranked among the best of the early settlers.

   Among the dead of 1893 were: Thomas F. Withrow, General Solicitor of the
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R. Company, formerly of Des Moines, but during
the later years of his life a resident of Chicago; Nicholas Baylies, an early
settler and member of the General Assembly for Polk County; Ben F. Kauffman, a
leading attorney; C. D. Sprague, for years agent here for the Rock Island
Railroad; W. H. McHenry, an early settler, sheriff, attorney, and for eight
years judge of the district court; William A. Hunt, one of the early
blacksmiths, and who had lost his arm at the battle of Pea Ridge, while a
soldier in the gallant Fourth Iowa Infantry.

   In December Governor Boies pardoned G. W. Potts, one of the constables of
search and seizure notoriety, who had been convicted of perjury, and he was
released from the penitentiary.

   In January, 1894, two little children, Sadie and Zoda Hobson, were burned to
death in a fire at the dwelling house of their parents.

   Risser's large stock of dry goods in his store on the East Side was greatly
injured by fire in February, the loss footing up some $40,000 with $35,000
insurance.

   The Register figured up that the salaries paid the county and city officers,
school teachers, etc., in Des Moines, and Polk county, reached in one year fully
$500,000, or more than one-half million dollars. These are large figures for a
town and county, neither of which had been in existence fifty years.

   John Hopewell, a well known restaurant keeper, in February committed suicide
on account of financial troubles. His wife attempted suicide at the same time
but was saved by timely help. About this time or during some three months
thereabouts, a suicidal epidemic appeared to prevail in city and county. Not a
week passed without there was reported one or more cases of suicide or attempt
at the same.

   In the latter part of April came one of the most strange sights and
experiences ever seen or felt in the county. This was the coming of Captain
Kelly and his army of "common-wealers." They had entered Iowa at Council Bluffs,
and being refused free transportation by the railroad, determined to march
across the State. Their progress on the way to Des Moines attracted much
attention, and caused no little excitement. When they arrived at Des Moines
there were more than one thousand men and a few women in their ranks. They were
almost destitute and had to he taken care of. An arrangement was made by which
they marched through the city, and finally encamped on the East Side in
buildings originally designed for stove works. Under the circumstances the
soldiers in the army behaved very well. The city, aided by citizens in town and
county, made liberal provisions for feeding this not very welcome army, but
wanted to have them move on as soon as possible. No arrangements for their
transportation could he made with the railroad companies, and finally a scheme
was originated of transporting them by boats down the Des Moines river. This
new-old idea was acted upon, and a number of roughly built flat boats were
constructed at this point, and after a delay of ten days or two weeks, Kelly's
"common-wealers" started May 9 upon their voyage to the Mississippi by way of
the Des Moines river. The citizens hailed their arrival with curiosity and
witnessed their departure with pleasure. They had had enough of them. The
"common-wealers," after many vicissitudes and the drowning of a few and the
ducking of many, reached the Mississippi river and afterwards the Ohio, but few
of them ever got through to their original destination—Washington. It is noted
that Kelly's army departed by boats from here on the anniversary of the first
arrival of troops at the new Fort Des Moines, by steamboat, May 9, 1843.

   On April 24th Michael Smith, an old railroad man, died suddenly and in such a
manner as to arouse the suspicions of physicians and others that all was not
right. Subsequently Mrs. Smith's sister accused Mrs. Smith of having caused the
death of Michael by administering poison to him. Mrs. Smith was arrested,
indicted and upon trial was adjudged guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for
life. Subsequently her daughter, Cora, step-daughter of the murdered Smith,
confessed that she herself had administered poison to her step-father, and that
this poisoning by her aunt and herself was for the two-fold purpose of putting
Smith out of the way and also to procure what was left of his savings and the
proceeds of his insurance policies. The daughter was sent to join her mother in
the Anamosa penitentiary.

   The Supreme Court having affirmed the sentence against him in the Warren
county court, in May Frank Pierce, the notorious constable, was again arrested
by the sheriff and taken to Fort Madison penitentiary to serve his sentence of
four and one-half years. It is reported that Pierce has become an expert
chairmaker in that institution, and behaving himself will reduce his term to a
little over three years.

   Great excitement was caused by the shooting and killing of Conductor Ridpath
of the Great Western Railroad, on Third street by two young foot-pads. This
murder is treated of more fully in the chapter on crime.

   In July there was some excitement in Des Moines and much in other parts of
the country over the great railroad strike, which affected several of the roads
leading into Des Moines. The strikers made several demonstrations here and at
times the excitement ran high, but fortunately there was little violence to mar
the fair fame of the railroad men and the city.

   In August there was some excitement over the applications for injunction
against a number of the mulct saloons which had been in peaceful operation in
the city for several months. After much litigation Judge Spurrier decided that
the "petition of consent" was not exactly legal or sufficient. This closed the
saloons for a few weeks, and to some extent revived the old order of things. But
the saloon-men by systematic effort soon procured a new petition of consent
signed by more than a majority of the legal voters of the city, and this being*
satisfactory even to the opponent of the saloons the latter were again opened
for business.

   In August was the celebration of what was termed "Battle Flag Day," when the
old torn and tattered flags of the Iowa regiments were removed from the old
arsenal to the State capitol, there to be deposited and preserved. There were
some four thousand old soldiers in line that day. And on September 6th the
laying of the corner stone of the State Soldiers and Sailors monument was
appropriately celebrated.

   In September George Browne was fatally crushed by a switch engine in the
yards. He was a son of John Browne, so well known for many years as the agent of
the owners of what are termed the Des Moines river lands.

   Among the dead of 1894 were: George C. Baker, an old soldier, county auditor,
barbed wire manufacturer and distinguished inventor; Rev. S. S. Hunting, an able
Unitarian minister; Dr. Hobbs, Christian minister and professor in Drake
University; Thomas Mitchell, one of the earliest and best loved of the early
settlers; Thomas S. Wright, an able attorney and general solicitor of the Rock
Island Railroad, son of Geo. G. Wright, and born in Iowa; N. B. Collins, for
years a well known and active business man and farmer; Stephen Brooks, one of
the early setters and long a resident of Delaware township.

   In September came a most severe wind and rain storm, doing much damage in the
city and country.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

ANNALS OF POLK COUNTY, IOWA,
AND
CITY OF DES MOINES
BY WILL PORTER.

"And this volume, dedicated to its people, sets forth in attractive style all
the facts and incidents that go to make up the history of which all citizens are
justly proud."
—Major Hoyt Sherman.

GEO. A. MILLLER PRINTING COMPANY,
PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS,
DES MOINES, IOWA,
1898.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ia/polk/history/1898/annalsof/1885to1849nms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/iafiles/

File size: 39.0 Kb