Historical Reminiscences of the City of Des Moines,
together with a full description of the city and county.
Transcribed by Ralph Leonard.
To
State Historical Society of Iowa,
This Volume is Respectfully Dedicated,
By the Author.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in
the year 1857, by
H. B. TURRILL,
In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the District of Iowa.
CONTENTS.
| PREFACE. | 3 |
|---|---|
| CHAPTER I. | |
| Treaty with the Indians, | 9 |
| Establishment of a Garrison at Fort Des Moines, | 10 |
| Arrival of the first Steamboat, | 10 |
| Number of the troops, | 11 |
| Capt. Allen’s Quarters, | 11 |
| Early Residents, | 12 |
| American Fur Company, | 12 |
| First Dwelling House built in Polk County, | 12 |
| Indian Traders, | 12 |
| Residence of Interpreter and Indian Agent, | 13 |
| Jonas Carsner's Feat, | 14 |
| Sketch of Keokuk and Powesheik, | 15 |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Expiration of Indian Title, | 16 |
| Eagerness of Settlers to make Claims, | 16 |
| Organization of Polk County, | 17 |
| Its Boundaries, | 17 |
| Commissioners to locate County Seat, | 17 |
| First County Election, | 18 |
| Officers Elected, | 18 |
| First District Court | 19 |
| Names of First Grand Jury, | 19 |
| Anecdote of Judge Williams, | 20 |
| Laying out of the Town of Fort Des Moines, | 21 |
| Sale of Lots, | 22 |
| Prices then and now, | 22 |
| First Groceries, | 22 |
| Post Office, | 23 |
| First Wedding in Polk County, | 24 |
| Early Church History, | 24 |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| First Land Sale, | 25 |
| Value of Claims, | 25 |
| Fears of Settlers, | 26 |
| Organization of the Claim Club, | 27 |
| Proceedings of the Meeting, | 27 |
| Signers of the Club-Laws, | 29 |
| Other Meetings, | 30 |
| Appointment of an Agent to go to Iowa City, | 30 |
| The Reeves Mob, | 31 |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| The Perkins and Flemming War, | 35 |
| Perkins rides for his Life, | 36 |
| Arrest of Flemming and his Forcible Liberation, | 37 |
| His Re-arrest, | 37 |
| Efforts of Mob to again set him Free, | 37 |
| Coronor Philips turns U. S. Major, | 38 |
| Coolness of Alex. Scott, | 38 |
| Trial of Flemming, | 38 |
| Perkins obliged to yield to Popular Demands, | 39 |
| Erection of Court-House and Jail, | 39 |
| Holland Mob, | 39 |
| Its cause—objects—and results, | 39 |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| Incorporation of Fort Des Moines, | 42 |
| Committee to draft Town Charter, | 42 |
| Boundaries, | 42 |
| Election of First Town Council, | 43 |
| Great Flood of 1851, | 43 |
| Specimens of Dogberrian Learning, | 44 |
| Examples of new forms of Pleading, | 45 |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| Grant of Lands for Improvement of Des Moines River, | 51 |
| Extent of Grant, | 51 |
| Decision of Stuart, | 51 |
| Effect of contract made with Bangs Bro. & Co., | 52 |
| Price of River Lands raised, | 52 |
| Indignation of the Settlers, | 52 |
| CONTENTS. (Cont.) | |
| River Land Meeting at Fort Des Moines, | 53 |
| Resolutions adopted, | 53 |
| Failure of Bangs Bro. & Co., | 55 |
| Incidents at Land Sales, | 56 |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| Establishment of U. S. Land Office of Fort Des Moines, | 57 |
| Incident at Land Sales, | 57 |
| Incorporation of Fort Des Moines, | 58 |
| Efforts to make it the Capital of Iowa, | 58 |
| Their Success, | 58 |
| Incorporation of the City of Des Moines, | 60 |
| Its Boundaries, | 60 |
| Kidnapping Scheme of Meacham, | 60 |
| War at Fort Dodge, and consequent excitement at Des Moines, | 61 |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| History of the Des Moines Newspapers, | 66 |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| Polk County—General Summary, | 69 |
| City Charter, | 73 |
| Descriptive Sketch of Des Moines, | 85 |
| Inducements to Immigration, | 104 |
| Des Moines Business Directory, | 115 |
| CONTENTS OF BUSINESS DIRECTORY. | |
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