H. Long, D. R. Lucas, M. K. McFadden, Wm. Merrill, Thomas Morgan, Thomas G. Orwig, W. H. Sallada, Fred. S. Whiting, C. S. Wilson, J. S. Walker, Godfrey Zelle, S. K. Clifford, Jesse W. Cheek, Joel W. Witmer.

Joe Hooker Post, No. 21, was organized November 18, 1879, with the following charter members: Samuel Hilton, Edward Hyland, Abraham Ashworth, John C. Lang, H. E. Waltz, W. Bailey, Jas. Parker, A. P. Kindred, D. T. Todd, Joseph Gifford, Geo. W. Cripps, L. H. Bradshaw, A. D. Littleton, C. L. Watrous, F. Beaner, F. R. Thurber, Jno. Lewis, L. C. Freeman, John McKims, C. R. Iddings, P. V. Carey, B. H. Dear, T. B. Robinson, B. D. Bartlett, S. L. Fuller, Alf. Hammer, F. M. Tubbs, L. C. Young, Peter Lambert, J. W. Mills, W. J. Baber, A. W. Warnock.

CORPORATIONS FOR PECUNIARY PROFIT.

There are two fire and one life insurance companies in the city. The Hawkeye Fire Insurance Company was organized March 6, 1865, by E. J. Ingersoll, B. F. Allen, F. W. Palmer, James Callanan, and J. B. Tiffin. Mr. Ingersoll has been its president from the outset. Its assets have increased from $28,617.14, in 1866, to $603,190.97, on January 1, 1880. Its capital is $100,000; liabilities, $236,625.70; surplus, $266,565.27.

The State Fire Insurance Company was organized September 5, 1865, with W. M. Stone, president; C. C. Cole, vice-president; W. H. Holmes, treasurer; J. M. Shuck, secretary. Capital, January 1, 1880, $130,000; gross surplus, $243,435.97; assets, $387,763.59.

4

The Equitable Life Insurance Company was incorporated January 25, 1867, with Hoyt Sherman, president, who still continues in office. Capital, $100,000; assets, $476,408.36; liabilities, $432,408.36; amount deposited with State Auditor to secure policy holders, $315,000.

The Des Moines Gas Company was organized in April, 1864, by James M. Starr, of Richmond, Indiana. The works were located at the corner of West Second and Market streets, and on Tuesday evening, July 11, 1865, the city was first lighted by gas. In September, 1875, the Capital City Gas Light Company was organized by J. F. Marsh, who was its president. Its works were located at the corner of East First and Market. It purchased the old gas works, and on the evening of November 23, 1876, the city was first lighted by this company.

The Des Moines Water Company was organized April 3, 1871, by B. F. Allen, J. S. Polk, J. C. Savery, J. M. Tuttle, Hoyt Sherman, P. M. Casady, John A. Elliott, George Whitaker, F. M. Hubbell and Wm. Braden. The capital was originally $50,000, but was increased to $300,000. The Holly system was adopted, works were erected, and the city supplied with water in 1871. The works subsequently passed into the hands of Polk and Hubbell, and during the present year were sold to a joint stock company.

In 1854 Hoyt Sherman commenced the banking business in the town of Des Moines, which was merged in the Des Moines branch of the State Bank, January 1, 1859, with Mr. Sherman as cashier. In May, 1865, the bank was reorganized as the National State Bank, and continued until May, 1876, when it surrendered its charter, closed its business and was succeeded by F. R. West & Sons, as private bankers.

In 1863 John W. Ulm started a private bank, and the following year was joined by Samuel Coskery. In November, 1871, a corporation under the name of Citizens' Bank was organized, with Samuel Merrill, president;

John A. Elliott, vice-president; and John W. Ulm, cashier, and the bank of Ulm & Coskery was transferred to the new corporation. May 15, 1872, the bank was reorganized as the Citizens' National Bank, without change of officers, and has since continued as a national bank.

The Iowa National Bank was organized November 1, 1875, with H. K. Love, president, and George H. Maish, cashier.

In 1864 the First National Bank was organized, with J. B. Stewart, president, and Charles Mosher, cashier. In 1870, it surrendered its charter and wound up its business, Mr. Stewart having two years previously sold his interest to B. F. Allen and retired from the bank. During Mr. Stewart's presidency the bank cashed, at different times, two government drafts for five hundred thousand dollars each.

In 1864 the Second National Bank was organized, G. M. Hippee, president, and George W. Jones, cashier. In 1870 it surrendered its charter and wound up its affairs simultaneously with the First National Bank.

The Iowa Loan and Trust Company was incorporated February 13, 1872, with John A. Elliott, James Callanan, Corydon E. Fuller, John W. Ulm, James B. Heartwell, John M. Coggeshall, Samuel Merrill, John M. Owens, George A. Jewett, M. T. Russell, C. C. Carpenter, Brown & Dudley, I. N. Thomas and J. G. Weeks as corporators. Its capital is $100,000, with a limit of $1,000,000. Its business is that of making loans on real estate security.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The first organization of a system for protection against fire was perfected in 1865, by Charles S. Spofford, Charles Harrington, William England, William Neafie, Jack Sell, and John Miller, who volunteered their services as a hook and ladder company. The city purchased a small hand engine, and the company was reorganized as the Hawkeye Hose Company, with John Miller, president; Wm. England, secretary; David Utterson, treasurer; Charles S. Spofford, chief engineer; Charles Harrington, foreman; Jack Sells, assistant foreman.

In March, 1867, a fire company was organized, with Gustavus Washburne as foreman, and the city council solicited to purchase a steam fire engine. The project failed, and the company disbanded. In April, of the same year, a new company was organized, as the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company, and the officers of the Hawkeye Hose Company were made officers of the new company. In 1868, the city having purchased the steam fire engine Gen. Crocker, Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company was organized, who took possession of the old hook and ladder trucks, the Hawkeye Hose Company taking the hose cart. Both were consolidated and constituted one department, as Reserve No. 1, with Charles S. Spofford as chief. In 1870 the steamer was superseded by the water-works, the fire department was reorganized, and a consolidation perfected, under the name of Hawkeye Hose Company, No. 1 (West Side), and Fellowship Hose Company, No. 2 (East Side), and Relief Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1. The department was made co-extensive with the city. The first officers were Frank Voodry, president; R. Morris, vice-president; W. H. Brucken, secretary; John McGuire, treasurer. June 2, 1873, the city council established the fire department of the city, and the different organizations were placed under control of a chief engineer, subject to direction of the city council. William Neafie was elected first chief engineer under this code, with Frank Voodry as his assistant.

RAILROADS.

The pioneer settlers of Des Moines parted company with railroads at Chicago, and slowly groped their way with wagons to the Raccoon Forks, or shipped on some river steamboat and came to Keokuk or Montrose; thence by wagon. On the 9th of May, 1843, landed at the bank of the Des Moines river, near where the Keokuk & Des Moines railroad bridge now stands, the little steamer Ione, the first steamboat that parted the waters of that stream at this point. From her deck was landed a small body of soldiers, who constituted the subsequent garrison of the Fort.

In 1849 Fink & Walker established a stage line from Keokuk to Des Moines, which advertised to run three times a week, but passengers were more frequently content to make one trip in a week in a "jerky," with the diversion of carrying a rail to pry the vehicle out of the mud at frequent intervals. This company was superseded by the Western Stage Company, who had started from Indianapolis, slowly retreating westward before the advance of railroads. July 1, 1854, the first coach of this company entered Des Moines. Col. E. F. Hooker, as superintendent, came with it. The headquarters were at the Everett House, which stood on Third street, on the lot first north of Harbach's furniture establishment. This was an immense corporation, and possessed a large equipment. It owned a farm of six hundred acres near the city, on which it raised grass and grain and rejuvenated dilapidated horses. It occupied a good extent of territory in the town for barns, sheds, repair shop, etc. It, however, was compelled to retreat before the onward tread of the iron horse, and on the first day of July, 1870, the Stage Company "pulled out" from Des Moines for Colorado. The property of the company in the city and county was disposed of, and in 1874 the last coach was sold to an Omaha man. Mr. A. T. Johnson, who was the agent of the company from 1858, mounted the box of the last coach and rode to the depot, and doffed his hat as he parted with the old familiar coach.

In 1853 the people about the Raccoon Forks began to tire of slow coaches, and talked railroad. September 19th, of that year, at a special election, the county voted to subscribe $150,000 to aid in building the Lyons & Iow Central railroad, from Lyons via Des Moines, to the Missouri river. It was known as the ram's horn railroad. The road never progressed farther than the paper stage. It was a splendid road on paper.

September 20, 1856, the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company made it appear to the people of the county that they were building a railroad from the Mississippi to the Missouri, and would make Des Moines a point on the line if sufficient encouragement was given. The people, at an election September 20, 1856, voted to issue bonds for the benefit of the railroad company to the amount of $300,000. After waiting three years the people got mad and rescinded the vote by which the bonds were ordered issued, and thus escaped a grievous burden of heavy taxes and long litigation, which has fallen to the lot of other counties who issued their bonds to that corporation.

The people despaired of getting a railroad. In the meantime a corporation was organized to improve Des Moines river for purposes of navigation. To give a history of it would require a volume. The project was abandoned, and the franchises of the corporation passed to the Keokuk, Fort Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad Company in 1853. In 1854 the name was

changed to the Des Moines Valley Railroad Company, without change of owners. A railroad was started from Keokuk up and along the Des Moines River. It reached Eddyville in 1861, and again the people of Des Moines were doomed to wait for several years the tardy coming of the iron horse. On the 29th day of August, 1866, the road was completed to this city, and the first passenger train of railroad cars entered the city of Des Moines, stopping at the depot grounds on the East Side. It was greeted by a large concourse of citizens, who gathered to witness the full fruition of long deferred expectations. The road was pushed on immediately to Fort Dodge.

In 1866 the Mississippi & Missouri, which had become hopelessly bankrupt, was sold July 9th, of that year, under a foreclosure of mortgage, to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company, which had become incorporated under the laws of Illinois and Iowa. The road was speedily pushed forward to Council Bluffs, reaching that point in June, 1869. first passenger train entered Des Moines Monday, September 9, 1867. A freight and construction train came in, however, on Friday, August 30. The first regular passenger train pulled out for Chicago, Monday, Septem

ber 9.

The

At a public meeting of citizens on the evening of February 8, 1868, was inaugurated a movement which culminated in the organization of the Iowa & Minnesota Narrow Guage Railroad Company, which, August 1, 1870, was changed to the Des Moines & Minnesota Railroad Company. Track laying began January 12, 1874, the first spike being driven by Governor C. C. Carpenter, and in August of that year the road was completed to Ames. The name of the company was subsequently changed to Des Moines & Minneapolis. August 1, 1879, the road, with all its franchises, was leased perpetually to the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, who changed the gauge to the standard width, and on Sunday, July 11, of the present year, the first passenger train of that company entered the city on the broad gauge track.

In 1871 the Des Moines, Indianola & Missouri Railroad was built by the C., R. I. & P. from Des Moines to Indianola. In 1872 the Des Moines, Winterset & Southwestern road was built from Summerset Junction, on the D. M., I. & M. to Winterset by the C., R. I. & P. Railroad Company. In 1867 these roads passed into the possession of the C., R. I. & P. Railroad Company. In 1879 the C., B. & Q. constructed a branch from Chariton to Indianola, thus giving Des Moines a connection with the C., B. & Q.

During the present year the Des Moines, Knoxville & Albia Railroad was built by the C., B. & Q. from Albia to Des Moines, thus connecting the city direct with the C., B. & Q. trunk line. The first passenger train entered the city January 10, 1880.

In 1873 the Des Moines Valley road was sold to pay its debts. It was bisected in this city, and the south half became the Keokuk & Des Moines, the north half the Des Moines & Fort Dodge. October 1, 1878, the K. & D. M. passed into the possession of the C., R. I. & P.

During the present year the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company have built a branch from Albert Lea to Fort Dodge, connecting with the Des Moines & Fort Dodge road, and trains will be running from Minneapolis to Des Moines before the close of the year.

The Milwaukee, Marion, Marshalltown & Des Moines Railroad has been

surveyed and negotiations are pending which will probably result in the road being built by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul.

Des Moines has become the railroad center of [the State. Thirty-eight passenger trains each day now arrive and depart. No other city in the State is so favorably supplied with railroad facilities. Since their advent the growth of the city has been rapid and stable. Other roads are being projected in this direction, reaching to the north and southwest.

October 1, 1866, was organized the Des Moines Street Railway Co., with Dr. M. P. Turner, president; J. S. Polk, vice-president; U. B. White, superintendent; and Fred. M. Hubbell, secretary. The next year track was laid and cars were running on Court Avenue, on the West Side, and to Capital Hill. November, 1872, two and one-half miles of track were added, carrying the line westward on Walnut and High to Fifteenth street, and eastward, on Sycamore, to Tenth, East Side. It is keeping pace with the progress of the city in all things, and is an almost indispensible insti

tution.

PRIVATE BANKS.

The private banks of the city have been numerous. A. J. Stevens opened the first bank, in 1853, and in 1873 sold to Callanan & Ingham, who closed out in 1862. Hoyt Sherman & Co. followed Mr. Stevens in 1854, and, in 1854, his bank was merged in the State Bank. In 1855, Maclot, Corban & White, Cook, Sargent & Cook, and Green, Weare & Rice opened three banks. Maclot, Corban & White, in 1857, sold out to White & Smith. Cook, Sargent & Cook and Green, Weare & Rice closed Scott & Williamson started a bank in 1858. The private banks of that date were not of long duration, and succumbed to the monetary prowess of the State Bank. In 1873 I. N. Thomas started a bank on the East Side, which succumbed to the financial panic of 1875-6. The Capital City Bank was established in 1869 on the East Side, with B. F. Allen as president and Albert L. West, cashier. In July, 1876, it was sold to Sigler & Christy, and August 5, 1878, was incorporated under the State law, with A. W. Naylor, president; Wm. Christy, cashier. Capital, $100,000. The Valley Bank was organized Jan. 9, 1873, by G. M. Hippee and J. J. Towne, with a capital of $50,000, which has since been increased to $100,000 by the admission of several wealthy capitalists to the institution. The Des Moines Bank was started by P. M. Casady, C. H. Gatch, E. S. Gatch and Simon Casady, July 26, 1875. In 1876, A. N. Kellogg started a bank which existed but a few months.

No city in the West has better or more stable banking facilities than Des Moines at present.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

Mention has already been made of the county court-house, which was the first public building erected in the town. The most conspicuous edifice is the new capitol. It will be necessary to go back several years to trace the record which leads to the present magnificent structure adorning the eminence on the East Side.

The organization of Polk county and the contest for the location of the county-seat have already been referred to. In the winter of 1848-9, the Legislature appointed a commission, consisting of Quakers, to select and