Polk County IA Archives History - Books .....1875 To 1885 1898
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Book Title: Annals Of Polk County, Iowa And City Of Des Moines
CHAPTER XX.
1875 TO 1885.
IN January, 1875, Constable George Sims was severely stabbed while arresting the
Slater Brothers and John Ballard. The latter were arrested and held to the
District Court.
During the season of 1874-75, 74,017 hogs were slaughtered in Des Moines, the
packers at that time being J. H. Windsor & Co., Tuttle & Igo and Joseph Shissler.
There was a very bad snow storm in March, entirely blockading the railroads
for some time, and causing much trouble and some loss.
In May, Henry Wilson, Vice President of the United States, visited Des
Moines, and made an address upon Decoration Day. He was given an enthusiastic
reception.
In the same month Jacob Workman, who was then living near Mitchellville,
committed suicide, and in July George H. Buzzell, an "Indian Doctor," was
drowned in Brooks Lake. Henry Lillie soon after was drowned in the Raccoon River.
In July, Belle Barton, who had been prominently connected with the Johnson
murder, and had been kept in custody for many months as a witness and had
married George Jamieson, also more or less connected with the murder, died very
suddenly at Omaha. At the time of her death she was connected with a variety
theatre.
In August a fire at the Getchell lumber yard caused a loss of some $20,000.
The State census of 1875 gave Des Moines a population of 10,443, making this
the fourth city in the State. Dubuque was first, Davenport second and Burlington
third, each having a population of 20,000.
In September there were extraordinary high waters in the rivers, and Jeremiah
and Marion Winterrowd, brothers, were drowned in the Des Moines River at
Rattlesnake Bend. In the same month a young man named Eldridge committed suicide
by the use of poison.
In September the Army of the Tennessee held a reunion in Des Moines, and were
most hospitably entertained. Generals Sherman, Belknap, and many other of its
noted members, were in attendance.
In October, Henry Clay Dean, the eccentric and noted Iowa preacher and
orator, made one of his occasional visits to the city, where he had at various
times delivered eloquent sermons and political speeches. He then made his home
in Missouri, near the Iowa line, in what he called "Rebel's Cove."
In December the Empire Mills at the old dam on the Des Moines River were
damaged by fire to the extent of some $15,000.
The Register notes that John Campbell, father of Dr. James Campbell, was then
living in comparative good health, having reached the age of one hundred years.
He came to Polk County in 1847, had been twice married, and the father of
sixteen children, of whom eleven were then living. His last wife had six
children by a former marriage, bringing the total up to twenty-two.
Among the dead of 1875 were: Richard Conine, an early settler and veteran of
the war of 1812; Charles Keeney, who settled near to and aided in establishing
the town of Avon, and owned one of the first steam mills in the county; Lewis
Jones, a much esteemed and prominent early settler; H. R. Lovejoy, one of the
largest merchants of the early days, an honorable Christian man; Mrs. Bush, wife
of Horace M. Bush, one of the pioneer women much loved; J. D. Cavenor, prominent
in business at an early day, but for some years before his death a resident of
Winterset; Robert Warren, a much esteemed early settler in Camp Township.
In January, 1876, considerable surprise and excitement was caused by the
announcement that Mrs. Ellen S. Tupper, the noted "Bee Woman," and quite
prominent in the State, had been guilty of a number of forgeries. It was charged
she had signed the names of many persons, some of them prominent and her special
friends, to promissory notes and other obligations, had raised money thereon and
used it in her business. There was no doubt of her guilt, but after a time these
matters were settled up in some way, and being released by the kindness of
friends and the plea of mental aberation from further criminal prosecution, she
moved further West with her family, and it is understood died several years ago.
In April, one Dr. Halliwill was arrested for a criminal operation to produce
abortion on a young girl named Ella D. Gray, who died from the effects of the
treatment. There was considerable excitement for a time over the affair, the
doctor was put in jail, but so far as the record shows finally escaped with
small punishment.
One Gus Cudmore some time later shot Jennette Morgan twice with a pistol, and
then shot himself. Cudmore was arrested and jailed and subsequently found guilty
of an attempt to murder. He and Jeanette were subsequently married, when his
first wife put in appearance, but refused to prosecute him for bigamy.
In July the large planing mills of Carver & Young, on the West Side, was
destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of $25,000, with no insurance.
In the same month eight prisoners made their way out of the county jail and
regained their liberty. Four of them were afterward recaptured.
In October, the Iowa Exposition was opened with much display in the large
building erected for it on the corner of Eighth and Walnut streets. Governor
Kirkwood presided at the opening, and there were several addresses, music, etc.
Many of the citizens of the city and county visited the Centennial Exposition
at Philadelphia, this year, and much enjoyed the many and varied sights there to
be seen.
In June, Hiram McMurray hung himself until dead, and in August, Fred Schoen
and G. W. Farghar were drowned in the river.
Des Moines celebrated the Centennial Fourth, 1876, in grand style, it being
one of the largest gatherings ever held in the city. The speaking, etc., was at
the old fair grounds, and it was estimated that in the procession and on the
grounds were some 25,000 people. The orators of the day were B. F. Montgomery,
of Council Bluffs, and Dr. E. R. Hutchins, and Governor Kirkwood acted, as
president of the day, with Rev. A. L. Frisbie as chaplain. In the evening it was
intended to have a great display of fireworks, but following a sultry day came
one of the most violent downpours of rain ever known here.
On that night of the Fourth of July, Bird's Run, in the heart of the city,
outdid all its previous efforts. It rose to unprecedented heights in a brief
space of time and swept away bridges, culverts and streets, doing a very large
amount of damage over a wide extent of territory. Then the most obtuse citizens
were convinced that something must he done to Bird's Run or "Calamity Creek
" as
it was often termed, to prevent its oft recurring damage to adjoining property.
At last, after many years, this run has been rendered powerless for evil, and is
made to do work as a main drainage sewer. It is related that in those years
after almost every storm the city was called upon to pay more or less damages.
On some lots it is said they paid more in the aggregate than the entire damaged
property was worth. Tired of paying damages on one lot the city wisely purchased
the same and it has now become valuable property.
Early in the Centennial year of 1876, a company was organized in Des Moines
to erect an exposition building and have therein a permanent exhibition of the
arts and industry of the city and State. The originating and moving spirit in
this enterprise was Webb T. Dart. The capital stock of the company was placed at
$50,000, paid-up capital. The officers selected were: President, Major Hoyt
Sherman; vice president, ex-Governor Samuel Merrill; secretary, L. M. Sanford;
treasurer, Alex. C. Talbott; superintendent, W. T. Dart; directors, Samuel
Merrill, Hoyt Sherman, George H. Maish, C. H. Gatch, W. T. Dart, A. C. Talbott
and L. M. Sandford. R. L. Tidrick also became interested and prominent in the
work. A handsome three-story brick building132x132was erected on the southwest
corner of Eighth and Walnut streets, Conrad Youngerman and George Whittaker
being the contractors. An excellent $5,000 organ was placed in the building, and
through the energetic efforts of Superintendent Dart and the other officers and
friends of the enterprise in a short time a most excellent collection of various
articles were placed within the building. The merchants and manufacturers of the
city cheerfully responded with displays of their goods, and citizens generally
took much pride in this exhibition, which was certainly a most creditable one.
The State Horticultural Society also placed in this building its fine collection
of fruits, etc. Many curiosties, [sic] gathered throughout the world, were also
placed on exhibition.
On the evening of September 12, 1876, a grand ball was given in the rooms,
which was attended by hundreds of the gentlemen and ladies of the city, and by
many from outside. On October 5, 1870, the Iowa Industrial Exposition was
formally opened to the public, Hon. George E. Wright delivering the address. For
a time the exposition was a very successful one, but finally interest in it
slackened, financial troubles came, and the exposition was closed. For months
the large building was mostly unoccupied, and then it was purchased by Mills &
Co., and was for a number of years used by them for their large publishing and
printing establishment, the largest of the kind then or now in the State. A few
years ago Mills & Co. sold the building to other parties, who subsequently
remodeled and changed the former exposition building into the present large and
handsome Iliad block, one of the most modern and fashionable buildings in the
city. The original builders may have lost some money thereby, but the exposition
in many respects was a benefit to the city and the people, and the hopes of its
projectors were thus at least partially realized.
Webb T. Dart, the main originator, came to Des Moines about 1860 from
Oskaloosa, where he had been reared. For a number of years he was a pushing,
enterprising merchant, of the city, and was widely known among our people. He
subsequently made his headquarters at Colfax, and did much to advance the
interests of that well known resort, and aided materially in extending the tame
of its mineral waters. Webb Dart died several years ago, a comparatively young man.
Among the dead, of this year were: Gen. N. B. Baker the noted Adjutant
General of Iowa, a generous, noble-hearted man; Jeremiah Canfield, an early
settler and prominent farmer in Bloomfield Township; J. H. Swope, Presiding
Elder of M. E. Church; William Youngerman, an early settler and good citizen of
Walnut Township.
The streets of the city had up to this period remained nothing but what might
be termed "dirt roads." True, many thousands of dollars had been expended in
cutting and tilling, grading them up or down, as the surface of the ground
required, and many miles of sidewalks had been built. But no attempt had yet
been made at paving, and at times in certain seasons of the year, some of the
principal streets of the city were almost impassable. It was in those times no
infrequent sight to note teams stalled in the mud on Walnut and other of the
main business streets and alleys, and the lots thereto adjoining. As the city
grew in extent and population every citizen became convinced that something must
be done, and that without delay, to remedy the evils so much complained of. The
city was getting a bad name, and citizens of other towns made sport of this
unfortunate condition of affairs in Des Moines.
The evil was apparent to every onebusiness, convenience and health demanded
a speedy change for the betterbut how this change was to be brought about was
the question. After much talk and several years' agitation of the question a
good beginning was made in 1878 and 1879 by the City Council inviting a noted
civil engineer of Chicago to visit this city, make an examination, and recommend
some system of sewerage and paving, which was practicable and would make the
streets of the city what they should be. This engineer, Mr. Chesebrough, came
and spent some time in looking over the city, and then suggested a comprehensive
plan for the sewerage of the entire city. The magnitude of the work and the cost
of the same startled and alarmed some of the citizenssome of whom had grown
rich off the rise in value of their city lots, and who heretofore had been
lightly touched in pocket through special assessmentbut to the credit of the
City Council be it said the plans recommended by the engineer were finally
adopted and work promptly commenced under the same.
Main intercepting sewers were constructed and the street sewers to connect
therewith were rapidly extended, and the original plan was extended in the
course of a few years, and much improved upon. Then followed street paving, and
this has been steadily pushed forward up to this time, when all the main
business streets and alleys and many of the residence streets are now well
sewered and paved. At first wood, or cedar block, paving was the most popular,
but this paving not proving as good or durable as was at first expected, within
the past ten years hard brick paving has replaced much of the first wood, and
all of the new paving has been of brick manufactured here at home. Of sewering
and paving more will be found in another chapter. Here it only remains to say
that this marked a distinct advance in the city of Des Moines, and has not only
added to the convenience, comfort and health of the citizens, but has also added
to the good name and to the population of the city, and the citizens generally
are enthusiastically in favor of continuing on in this good work.
Bev. Graves, the negro who had been convicted of the murder of Ella Barrett,
died on New Years Day, 1879, in the penitentiary. Before his death he confessed
his guilt, but claims he was not as guilty as some others. At the same time he
claimed Smith, who had also been convicted, was not guilty.
The newspapers stated that over one hundred thousand hogs were killed in the
packing houses of Des Moines in 1878, and it was also stated the public and
private building and improvement in the city during the year 1879 ran up to
considerably over one million of dollars.
Among the dead of 1879 were: George P. Russell, an able young attorney;
George B. Brown, landlord of the Aborn and other hotels; Curtis Bates, an early
settler, able lawyer and for years prominent in State and local affairs, having
been the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1854; Patrick McAttee, landlord
and owner of the Monitor House; Rev. Ezra Rathbun, one of the first Methodist
preachers of the county; John R. Henry, a well known express agent; Charles
Gray, of the noted firm of Perkins & Gray.
On February 18, 1880, Henry Osborne, a coal digger, brutally beat his wife to
death with a stone on the public streets. This murder caused much excitement,
and for a time lynch law was threatened. Osborne was subsequently tried and
finally sentenced to the penitentiary for life.
March 1, the celebrated Irishman, Parnell, with his friends, John Dillon,
John Murdoch and others visited Des Moines, and were given a most hearty reception.
In April Andrew Sneddon was fatally cut and stabbed by one Bond in an affray
in a saloon. Sneddon died a few days after the affray and Bond was indicted and
held for trial in the District Court.
There was an extraordinary fall of rain on July 7th and 8th, and much damage
was done in the city and county.
T. W. Eichelberger, the bright and popular city editor of the Register, died
in March, causing much sorrow to his many friends in this city and throughout
the State.
In September, in an affray, one Wallace shot King. The latter died a month or
two later and Wallace was arrested.
For a number of years the question of having more and better bridges over the
Des Moines River, and having the same free to the public was more or less
agitated among the people of both city and county. Toll bridges were generally
considered a nuisance, and better bridges and more of them were needed. Those in
the city also claimed that it would be but fair for the whole county, instead of
the city alone, to bear the expense of erecting and keeping in repair these
bridges, which were for the accommodation of the people of the county, as well
as those of the city. Besides it was alleged taxes collected in the city were
expended in the erection and maintenance of bridges in the county outside of the
corporate limits of the city. October 9, 1877, this proposition was submitted to
a vote of the people of the county: "Shall there be a three mill levy for eight
years to pay city bridge bonds, their indebtedness for the building of four
bridges across the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers, and make them free for public
travel?" This was voted down; yeas, 2,326; nays, 3,371. The following year
another vote was taken for free bridges and the proposition was again defeated,
but by a close vote: Yeas, 3,368; nays, 3,520. Two years later, November 2,
1880, the following proposition was submitted: "Shall an annual tax of one mill
be levied for five years, or until paid, to pay the indebtedness incurred by the
city for building bridges over the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers for the purpose
of making said toll bridges free to the public travel?" This was carried by a
majority of 1,347Yeas, 4,507; nays, 3,160. Soon after this vote was taken, all
the bridges in the city and county were made free and since that time no tolls
have been collected.
In one of the Registers of this year the following figures are given
purporting to show the population of the County of Polk in the years mentioned.
They may he correct, but their accuracy cannot be verified:
1846 1,301
1847 1,792
1848 4,214
1850 4,513
1851 5,000
1853 5,939
1854 5,368
1856 9,417
1858 11,847
The newspaper review for the year 18S0 claims that it had been a "boom" year
for the city, and business and improvements had much increased over previous
years. The figures given were:
Six hundred and fifty-three residences built and improvements $ 975,555
Fifteen business blocks 340,000
Improvements and repairs 55,495
City work on streets and sewers, etc 67,529
Grand total $1,184,039
There had been an increase reported in nearly every line of business, and the
total coal trade had run beyond one million of dollars.
In February, 1881, James Crane was killed by the cars in the western part of
the city. He had formerly been one of the early merchants of the town, but of
late years had resided on a large farm in Bloomfield Township.
During the same month August Potthoff, a well konwn [sic] keeper, and a man
of considerable wealth, committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol.
For the year ending March 1, 1881, the pork packers of the city reported they
had slaughtered 139,377 hogs and paid out for the same $1,373,413.
Thomas Thompson, superintendent of the stock yards of the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific Railroad, was caught under a car and instantly killed in
April. He came to Warren County in 1853, where for years he was a large farmer
and stock raiser and dealer, and came to Des Moines in 1870. He was a good man
and highly esteemed.
In the same month Peter Wagoner, a good farmer of Douglas Township, was
drowned in Four Mile Creek while attempting to cross that stream. This 1881 was
noted for the number of persons drowned, the total number being twelve, in the
city and county. In May, Edwin Post, Annie Post and Myrtle Cotton were drowned
in the Des Moines River by the upsetting of a boat. In July, Fred Hyland and
Mark Folsom were drowned in the Raccoon River, and in the same month Swan
Peterson was drowned. In June, J. W. McIntire, head clerk for L. H. Kurtz, was a
victim to the Des Moines River. This year the water in the river reached more
than ordinary height and considerable damage resulted.
In June, the noted amendment to the constitution of the State prohibiting
forever the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors in Iowa, was submitted
to a vote of the people for adoption or rejection. The friends of prohibition
and the churches generally were zealous in advocating the adoption of the
proposed amendment, while the opposition practically had no organization. The
result was Polk County gave a majority of 2,171 for the amendment, and it
carired in the State by a majority of nearly 30,000. Subsequently the Supreme
Court of the State declared it to be null and void, because of illegalities in
its adoption by the General Assembly.
This year the corporation of Drake University was formed and organized by the
election of the following officers: President, Francis M. Drake; vice president,
G. T. Carpenter; secretary, D. R. Lucas; treasurer, Corydon E. Fuller. Active
steps wTere at once taken and a considerable tract of land purchased in the
northwestern part of the city, then outside the corporate limits. A portion of
this land was sold at good prices and the remainder reserved for University
buildings, etc. From the start the enterprise was managed with rare skill and
much financial ability. The buildings were rapidly pushed forward to completion,
and in a comparatively short time the University was in operation, with many
students in attendance. From the beginning Drake University has been a very
successful institution.
In July, Dr. John Epps was shot dead by Fountain George. This murder occurred
on the East Side and was deliberate on the part of George, who claimed the
"Doctor" had mistreated a female relative of his. Fountain George was arrested
and on his trial was convicted and sentenced to be hanged by the neck until
dead. This sentence was never carried out, and George died some years after in
the penitentiary.
On August 21, 1881, the last religious services were held in the old Fifth
Street Methodist Church, the congregation thereafter holding services in their
fine new church on Pleasant and Ninth streets. The large Iowa Loan and Trust
Building occupies the site of the old church.
In December, Frank McCreery, a grocer of the East Side, went into John
Martelle's restaurant, on Fourth street, and after a short talk and a scuffle
shot Martelle with a pistol. The wounded man was fatally hurt, and after
lingering for some time died. McCreery claimed that the dead man had some days
before insulted his wife, and that this was the origin of the difficulty.
McCreery was at once arrested and being tried some months after the shooting was
found guilty of manslaughter. He got a new trial, and was subsequently acquitted
and released.
Among the dead of 1881 were: J. H. Hatch, who had been a leading merchant,
mayor, member of the General Assembly, etc.; Louis Ruttkay, a talented Hungarian
and nephew of Louis Kossuth; P. W. H. Latshaw, formerly a merchant, member of
City Council and leading citizen, who afterwards removed to Pitsburg, Pa., where
he died; Mrs. E. E. Allen, an early settler and noted as a nurse and physician;
Mrs. Kennedy, wife of Michael Kennedy, the first drayman, a most estimable lady;
Charles A. Corning, formerly a shoe merchant, who several years before his death
had removed to Florida; John McNamara, a well known and much respected Irishman,
who had served years in the City Council and held other offices of honor and trust.
The Register's summary for 1881, stated that there had during that year been
built thirty-seven business blocks and seven hundred and twenty-five residences
at an aggregate cost of about $2,600,000. All lines of business had increased
and the mercantile transactions alone footed up a total of $25,014,118.
Among the improvements of 1881 was the building of the International
distillery on the bottom east of the Capitol. It was stated that when completed
this was the largest distillery in the world. Its capacity was in excess of any
other in this country at that time. The main proprietor was George W. Kidd, of
New York. For several years this distillery was in operation almost continuously
night and day, and its output was very large, while an immense amount of corn
and other grain was consumed in its operation. A large number of cattle and hogs
were fattened in the pens connected with the distillery, and a large number of
men, mostly skilled workmen, were given steady employment and liberal wages. At
one time during 1882, the distillery was forced to suspend most of its
operations for several weeks, owing to an attempt said to have been made to blow
up a portion of the machinery. Several arrests were made and considerable
litigation followed, but no satisfactory explanation was ever given to the
public. The distillery, however, soon resumed operations and was successfully
carried on until later on the proprietors were compelled to shut down on account
of unfriendly Iowa laws and the threats of prohibitionists and of what was
termed "the whisky trust." It was generally understood the distillery passed
into the control of the "whisky trust," and was not operated for several years.
Then it was partly used as a malt house. It is now said to be under the control
of Mr. Woolner, of Peoria, Illinois, who, it is announced, will change it into a
large modern brewery should the Iowa General Assembly pass a law permitting the
manufacture of such liquors.
Another important enterprise commencing in 1881 was the building of the large
Gilbert Starch Works. These were located a little east and north of the
distillery. A very large and complete building was erected and filled all the
latest machinery and appliances used in the manufacture of the best quality of
starch. These starch works employed a large number of men and women, and around
them was soon built up the thriving suburban town of Chesterfield. These works
were successfully operated for several years, when unfortunately they were
destroyed by fire. Some years after this the present new and enlarged works were
erected.
In January, 1882, two children, aged eleven and two years, named Harry and
Willie Cleer, were burned to death in the home of their parents in the city.
On the night of January 11, 1882, occurred a most destructive fire. This was
the burning of the Clapp Block, on the corner of Fifth and Walnut streets. The
loss at the time was estimated at over $100,000, with insurance of about
$60,000. The main block was almost destroyed, though the vaults and rooms of the
Citizens' National Bank partly escaped. In the stores below and rooms above much
valuable property was lost. The Masons, who occupied a suite of rooms on the top
floor, lost some $5,000 more than was covered by insurance. Morris & Humphrey,
merchants, were also heavy losers. After the fire it was reported the bank had
bought the property, but this trade fell through and the proprietor, E. R.
Clapp, a pioneer citizen, soon cleared away the rubbish and rebuilt the
building, higher and more handsome than ever. The Forster building on the west,
was also much damaged, but was promptly rebuilt.
On the night of April 14, 1882, R. W. Stubbs, a prominent citizen and mayor
of Polk City, was shot and killed in his home by one or more persons whom it is
supposed had entered the house for burglarious purposes. This murder caused much
excitement throughout the country, and several persons were arrested on
suspicion of having perpetrated or knowing who were the perpetrators of the
crime. But these all escaped conviction, and this murder yet remains an unsolved
mystery.
July 4, George Crane shot fatally Herman Bleckman in Bloomfield Township, the
wounded man dying from the effects of the ball fired. The two young men had been
in town celebrating the Fourth and the difficulty which resulted so fatally
occurred at the gate leading to Bleckman's home. Crane was arrested and
acquitted by a jury in the District Court.
A brutal assault was made by one Harris upon J. B. James, a quiet, peaceable
man and grocer, in the western part of the city. Harris beat his victim
unmercifully with an iron fish plate and no certain cause could be assigned for
the brutal attack. For a time it was thought James would die, and the citizens
were terribly aroused. A large mob of excited people endeavored to take Harris
from the officers, and if they had captured him at the time he would almost
certainly have been hanged. For safety the sheriff quietly took his prisoner to
Winterset. James recovered, though he never became the healthy man he was before
the assault, and Harris was tried, convicted and sentenced to twenty years in
the penitentiary.
About this time the Register noted the fact that Mrs. Mary Freel, who came to
the county in 1850, was then living in Camp Township, in comparative good
health, at the greatly advanced age of one hundred and two years.
In October, Thomas C. Hedges, son of Col. N. G. Hedges, a prominent citizen,
acidentally shot himself at his home with a pistol and died in a short time. He
was an excellent young man, whose untimely end was much deplored.
November 6 the first through passenger train on the Wabash Railroad reached
Des Moines from St. Louis.
Among the deaths of 1S82 were: John Browne, for many years agent of the Des
Moines River Company; Moses W. Robinson, a noted farmer and stockman, who was a
member from Des Moines County of the convention which framed the present
Constitution of the State; Mrs. E. J. Ingersoll, a pleasant gifted lady; Dr. B.
L. Steete, an early settler, noted physician and politician, and one of the most
liberal and kindest of men; Thomas Hatton, Sr., an old and esteemed citizen; J.
B. Bausman, an early settler, engineer and also at one time a newspaper writer
and publisher; Mrs. Stewart Goodrell, an early settler, estimable lady and widow
of Hon. Stewart Goodrell; Mrs. Thomas Hatton, Jr., a lady loved for her high
social and musical gifts.
The statistics for 1882 of the City of Des Moines show the total building and
improvements of the year to have reached the large sum of $2,863,705; number of
dwelling houses erected, 436; business houses built, 58; churches, 5; school
houses, 4.
In the Supreme Court, January 18, 1883, Judge Seevers delivered the opinion
of the Supreme Court, holding that the prohibitory constitutional amendment,
carried by a vote of the people in the June preceding, had not been
constitutionally agreed to by the General Assembly and was therefore void and of
no effect. This decision created more excitement than any other decision ever
rendered by that court, and eventually, though wrongfully caused the retirement
from the court of Chief Justice Day, who had been upon the bench for many years.
The decision, however, proved to be the death of constitutional prohibition in
Iowa, as it has never again been submitted to a vote of the people, though
efforts have been continuously made to revive this amendment.
In January a disastrous fire occurred in the Clapp Block, damaging the
building to the amount of $40,000, and causing a total loss of more than $100,000.
One W. A. Cline was arrested, charged with complicity in the murder of Stubbs
at Polk City. After a long investigation, his discharge and rearrest, he was
finally released on bail, and some months afterwards was shot and killed in
Jasper County by his brother-in-law, John Cool.
In September, at a boarding house on Chestnut street, during the holding of
the State Fair, N. H. Lewis, a harness maker, stabbed and killed Arthur Fagan, a
harness salesman. Both the men worked in the harness house of N. W. Hunter.
Lewis was arrested and afterwards released on bail. After a trial some months
later in the District Court he was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.
At the November term of the District Court Charles Wilcox was tried for
complicity in the Stubbs murder at Polk City, the jury failed to agree, eleven
being in favor of rendering a verdict of guilty. At another trial in the
following year upon the suggestion of the prosecuting attorney the jury returned
a verdict of not guilty, and Wilcox was discharged a free man.
During 1883 some very fine business buildings and residences were erected,
among these being the Des Moines National Bank building, corner of Sixth and
Walnut, the Mills, Weitz, Mottes buildings on Fourth street, the
Stephenson-Dicks building, corner of Fourth and Walnut, the Harding residence in
the western portion of the city, and many others.
May 11, the Register in announcing the acquittal of George Crane, for the
killing of Bleckman, said: "Four murders have been committed in Polk County in a
year and not a murderer has been convicted."
In May, Jay Gould and several other railroad and financial magnates made a
visit to Des Moines. At that time Mr. Gould was much interested in the extension
of the Wabash Railroad to Des Moines. In June, Governor Boynton, of Georgia,
Col. Howell and a number of other gentlemen and a few ladies from the South,
visited the capital of Iowa and were given a most hospitable welcome.
In July, Frank Chapman was drowned in the Raccoon and A. J. Kuefner in the
Des Moines River.
In the same month the contract was awarded for the grading of the Diagonal,
now Great Western Railroad, from Marshalltown to Des Moines, the grading to be
completed in ninety days.
About 9 o'clock on the evening of July 10 two men came to the store and
postoffice in Polk City, as the postmaster and his clerk were closing for the
night, and after a few words had been spoken commenced firing at Postmaster R.
L. Clingan, who soon fell mortally wounded and died in a short time. No attempt
was made at robbery, and the murderers at once fled. The alarm was given and a
hunt commenced for the criminals. A short time after two men were pursued by
citizens in Shelby County, and a fight ensued, in which one of the fleeing men
was killed and the other captured. Before this, however, they shot and wounded
several of the posse of citizens, one fatally. The captured man, William Hardy,
was afterwards taken from the jail by a mob of citizens and hanged. It was
claimed by some these were the two men who murdered Postmaster Clingan at Polk
City.
In August, the City Council fixed the license for saloons at $1,200 per
annum. This the saloon owners claimed was too high a rate, and for a week or two
kept their saloons tightly closed. The City Council, however, remained firm and
insisted upon the high license, and finally the saloon men paid the price and
opened their saloons. In August, there were fifty-two licensed saloons in the
city, with a prospect of more by the time the State Fair was held.
April 19, Capt. F. R. West and wife celebrated their golden wedding, having
been married fifty years, over thirty of which had been spent in Des Moines.
Among the dead of 1883 were: L. J. Brown, a prominent attorney; J. M. Dixon,
the noted "Blind Editor"; Chris. Harbach, an early settler, furniture maker and
dealer, and older brother of Louis Harbach; Mrs. Maria Grimmell, an early
settler and notable woman, widow of Dr. F. C. Grimmell; Joseph Shisler, a
prominent business man; Mrs. John Wyman, a much esteemed lady; Silas W. Russell,
an old time and much respected printer; Mrs. J. P. Foster, beloved wife of
ex-Mayor Foster; Lee R. Seaton, for several years a practicing attorney in this
county.
The buildings and improvements in the city during the year 1883 were placed
at the large figures of $3,808,472.
In February, Frank Huff, an early settler, was found dead under the lower
Coon bridge. It was supposed he fell off the bridge on the previous night while
on his way to his home in South Des Moines.
Peter Johnson, whose home was on the East Side, in March shot and killed his
wife and then killed himself. The supposed cause was insane jealousy.
In April, some fifteen prisoners in the county jail made an opening and
walked forth in temporary freedom.
Scott E. Smith in May committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with
a pistol at his home in the city. Some time previously he had shot and fatally
wounded James Reynolds. The latter died not long after the shooting. Smith was
arrested and subsequently tried. The jury returned a verdict finding him guilty
of manslaughter. He was out on bail and had good hopes of a new trial, but the
killing and the trial so preyed upon his mind that his health was impaired and
no doubt led him to kill himself.
In September, the noted Gen. B. F. Butler, then a candidate for President,
visited Des Moines and addressed large crowds of people.
Among the dead of 1884 were: Mrs. Gen. J. A. Williamson, one of the most
handsome and amiable of ladies, whose husband at the time was Commissioner of
the United States General Land Office at Washington; Dr. Charles H. Rawson, an
early settler and noted physician and surgeon.
The annual report places the buildings and improvements in the city for the
year 1884 at $3,348,646; manufactures, $15,387,920; wholesale trade, $34,445,900.
In January, a large Prohibition State Convention was held in Des Moines, many
prominent men taking part and resolutions were adopted endorsing the prohibitory
laws enacted by the last General Assembly and demanding their rigid enforcement.
In March there was much local and State excitement removal from office of
State Auditor Brown by Governor Sherman, and the appointment of J. W. Cattell as
temporary State Auditor. Brown refused to give up possession of the office to
Mr. Cattell, and after some fruitless negotiations the Governor called upon
Adjutant General Alexander to oust Brown from the auditor's office. This the
general proceeded to do with the assistance of a few of the Iowa National
Guards. Subsequently State Auditor Brown was impeached by the House, and being
tried by the Senate was acquitted.
It was stated at the time that there was more cold weather during the winter
of 1884-85 than had been known in Iowa for a period of forty-seven years.
In March, the Supreme Court upheld the prohibitory laws passed by the General
Assembly the previous year, deciding the same to be in all its features
constitutional and valid. This sweeping decision settled judicially many
questions upon which lawyers widely disagreed.
In April, Harry Wolfe accused his wife of having murdered and robbed a man
some time previously on the East Side. Mrs. Wolfe was arrested and placed in
jail, and finally discharged for lack of proof of her guilt. She claimed to be
innocent and alleged the charges made were only the ravings of her drunken husband.
In May, Bentley F. Osborne, a citizen of Altoona, committed suicide, and two
young men of the city, Alexander Stevast and John Van Niewport, were drowned in
the Des Moines River.
During the year there were a number of suicides in the city and county, among
them being: James S. Conklin, on the East Side; Mrs. Minnie Skiles, on the West
Side; Miss Nellie Warren, Mrs. J. P. Empfield, Charles Cooper, Frank Rebuchadus.
And in December Albert Clegg accidentally shot and killed himself near the home
of Charles H. Ashworth, a few miles west of the city.
Among the dead of 1885 were: Mrs. H. C. Harris, daughter of A. Y. Rawson;
Sumner F. Spofford, for years landlord of the Des Moines House, mayor, a liberal
and noble-hearted citizen, beloved by all; Father John F. Boarill, for many
years pastor of St. Ambrose Church, a noted find beloved priest and citizen;
Levi Frantz, a hotel landlord for many years, and much esteemed; Mrs. Bowen, a
charming lady, wife of Attorney Crom. Bowen.
The Register, in a review of the improvements made in the city during the
year 1885, made the following showing:
Public improvements $ 530,505
City improvements 217,963
Residences 1,237,251
Business houses and factories 719,965
Suburban additions 395,525
Making total for year $3,101,209
This gives an indication of the rapid march of improvement during the ten
years embraced in this chapter. This was not confined to the city alone, as
during these years hundreds of farms were enlarged and much improved, new
dwellings, barns, etc., erected. New towns were located, and nearly all the
other towns and villages of the county gained largely in population and wealth.
According to the census of 1885 the total population of the County of Polk was
51,907, of which the City of Des Moines had 32,409. The total number of voters
in the county was 11,094.
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.
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