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HON. JOHN A. KASSON
 JOHN A. KASSON was born near Burlington, Vermont, January Eleventh, 1822. He received his education at the University of Vermont, graduating in 1842. His legal studies were prosecuted in Massachusetts, where he was admitted to the Bar.
He came to Des Moines early in 1857, and at once began the practice of law. During the Fall of that year, the Seat of Government was removed from Iowa City, and he was appointed by Governor Lowe as chairman of a commission to investigate the conditions of the several state offices.
The contest between the East and West Side over the location of the State House was still brewing. The West Siders had filed a protest with the Legislature against the decision of the Commissioners respecting the location, charging violation of the statutes, bribery and corruption; "that, notwithstanding the people and citizens on the west side of Des Moines River offered to donate to the state sufficient land for public use, and to make a donation of funds to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars besides, to have the Seat of Government located on that side; that the Commissioners did locate it on the East Side, without any donation of land other than for public buildings, and did receive in consideration for said location, in land and money, amount to from seven thousand to ten thousand dollars to each Commissioner, all in the year 1856."
A committee to make a full investigation of the matter was requested.
The East Siders denied all the allegations and laughed at the allegers, declaring that two hundred thousand dollars offered by the West Siders was never intended to be paid, and was made by a lot of fellows who couldn't pay it if they would.
The investigation began in February, 1858, and Mr. Kasson was employed as an attorney for the West Siders. The evidence given before the committee showed that two hundred and fifty lots
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were put up on the East Side, to be used to the best advantage in securing the location; that one John Baldwin was a go-between the Commissioners and the bonuses; that he offered to secure a location on the West Side for fifty thousand dollars; that he lived and slept with one of the Commissioners; that one of the Commissioners publicly declared he must have ten thousand dollars of the fund.
When Baldwin was on the stand, he said he was here on real estate business, and the committee had nothing to do with his private affairs. Asked if he did not know that some of the Commissioners got an interest in some of the lots, the title being in other persons, he refused to answer.
Several witnesses, when asked if they did not know of certain Commissioners who, at the time of, or soon after the location, procured an interest in lots on the East Side, or the right to procure a title in certain contingencies, refused to answer, because it "would tend, if answered affirmatively, to bring them to public scandal."
J. A. Williamson, attorney for the East Siders, didn't hesitate to give his part in the matter. When asked if he knew of Pegram (one of the Commissioners) received any interest in property on the East Side, at, or soon after the location of the Capitol, replied, "Yes."
Question.—— "What was the number of the lots?"
Answer.—— "About fifty."
Question.—— "Do you know of any other Commissioner having an interest in lots here?"
Answer.—— "I don't. I heard such things."
Question.—— "Eo you know of any property or money being given to Baldwin?"
Answer.—— "If I do, it is of a professional character."
Question.—— "Did you know of any attempt to influence the Commissioners in the location of the Capitol?"
Answer.—— "I do. I used all lawful means to get it, including Cheaspeake and Sardinian appliances and any quantity of whiskey. I solicited donations, knowing that similar appliances were being made on the other side of the river. I found one person willing to trust ten or fifteen lots in my hands, but that is my private business."
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Question.—— "Did they receive any gratutity in lots of money before or after the location was made?"
Answer.—— "It is possible they may have had some presents. I know some of them have property here."
Question.—— "Did Baldwin say to you, if you would give one thousand dollars in addition to the lots, he would secure the location on the East Side?"
Refused to answer.
W. A. Scott testified that the Capitol was located partly on his and Lyon's addition to the Town of Demoine.
Asked if he, at or about the time of the location, did convey, or agree to convey or hold in trust, any part of his property to any of the Commissioners, he refused to answer.
Lyon testified that he let Baldwin have ten lots in consideration of his influence, to get the location on the East Side.
The West Siders all testified that they offered ten or twenty acres for a site and a subscription fund of one hundred and fifty thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars as a bonus to the state.
Lovell White testified that he owned property on the West Side, was a witness by compulsion, and under protest; that three days before the location was made, Baldwin told him the West Side must put up money; that for twenty thousand dollars guaranteed to him, he would secure the location on the West Side. The next day he offered if for fifteen thousand dollars; the West Siders at once raised twelve thousand dollars, and notified the Commissioners they were ready to meet with them, and the next day was set for meeting them to consider their proposition; that the subscription was increased nearly two thousand dollars; that at the appointed meeting it was offered to the Commissioners, when they were informed that the location was made the previous night.
The committee reported to the Legislature that in their opinion Pegram was bribed; that Baldwin had the Commissioners for sale to the highest bidder on both sides of the river; that all of them could not be identified with fraud and corruption because testimony was withheld, and the committee had not the power to bring it out; that nothing was found on which to base a charge against Commissioner Goodrell.
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The report was pigeonholed and never heard of again, the West Siders claiming that Governor Grimes was mixed up in the deal, and further publicity would cause greater scandal.
Whatever may be the true history of this affair, it is true that W. A. Scott and Harrison Lyon, and a few others, fulfilled their agreement, furnished the site of the present Capitol, built a temporary State House, and gave them to the state, with a sacrifice nearly reaching bankruptcy.
In 1858, Mr. Kasson was elected Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, and under his skillful management the Republicans carried the county, except the county offices, but that was the last victory for the Democrats.
In 1860, he was elected a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated Lincoln for President, and Horace Greeley said Kasson was the author of the memorable platform put forth by the convention.
In 1861, the second appointment made by President Lincoln was that of Mr. Kasson, as First Assistant Postmaster General. While in that office, he revised all the postal laws, secured a uniform rate of postage at home and with foreign countries.
In 1862, while he was attending the International Postal Convention in Paris, he was nominated for Congressman from this district, then comprising twenty-three counties. On his return, he accepted it. During his term, one of the most important periods in our national history, he proved of great value to the Government.
At the end of his term, he was renominated, his opponent being "Dan" Finch, his law partner. The two were the most eloquent and effective speakers in the state. They traveled, roomed, ate, and slept together, and had a lively campaign. The only discouragement experienced during the torrid season, they used to say, was the voracity of the bedbugs at some of the rural hostelries. In the contest, "Dan" lost his case.
Soon after his election, Mr. Kasson was delegated by the Postoffice Department to select a site for a new Postoffice in Des Moines. business was then all below Fourth Street, the town was growing rapidly, and corner lots in that section were held at big figures. Kasson resorted to a little strategy. He had a personal friend purchase the block where the Postoffice now is, at a fair valuation for
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property outside of the business district, "merely as an investment." The Methodist Church stood north of it on Fifth Street, and the VAlley Bank east of it on Court Avenue. On the block where the Youngerman Block is was a small one-story dwelling with a "dug-out" cellar beside it. When the Government got ready to erect the building, the site was deeded to Uncle Sam, to the great surprise of corner-lot speculators.
In 1867, Kasson was nominated for Congressman, but Frank Palmer, editor of the Register; Tom Withrow, a leading lawyer, and C. C. Nourse, Judge of the District Court, were opposed to him, and there ensued one of the most bitter, acrimoious contests ever known in the party. Domestic affairs were bruited with great venom, engendering personal and social animosities, which existed for many years. Kasson was defeated.
Nourse's term was near its end. He was a fine lawyer and able judge. Under other conditions, he would have been reëlected, but the friends of Kasson determined to rebuke him for his action in the Congressional contest. They packed the Judicial Convention and defeated his nomination. He at once resigned the office and returned to law practice.
Soon after his defeat, Kasson was commissioned by the Postal Department to the International Postal Convention at Paris, where was established the system of uniform foreign postal rates.
While he was absent, agitation began for a new State House, on the beautiful site which belonged to the state. The old State House, hastily built, was inconvenient, and had become unsafe. It was urged that the time had come to utilize the property. There were also indications that delay might give rival localities opportunity to obstruct proceedings. Polk County became aroused and determined to push things. From his long experience in public affairs, and his well-known attachment to his home town, public sentiment naturally turned to Kasson, and, during the Summer of 1867, he was nominated Representative in the Twelfth General Assembly, while he was in Europe. On his return, he was informed thereof, and the reasons for it. He accepted, and was elected by a large majority.
Early in the session, he prepared a bill providing for a new Capitol, to cost not exceeding a million and a half dollars. So
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soon as presented, rival localities showed their hands, by amendments, to cut the cost all the way to six hundred thousand dollars, and dilatory motions, one being to postpone all action until the Chicago and Northwestern Road was completed to Des Moines, so that stone and lime could be transported——thus showing the earmarks of Marshalltown——all of which, after prolonged struggle, were defeated, and the first week in March, the bill passed the House, and went to the Senate, where the opposition had so solidified itself as to succeed in so amending it as to change it entirely, and sent it back to the House so late in the session Kasson and his friends decided to let it go. It provided for a Board of Commissioners, who were to receive competitive plans for a Capitol, to cost a million, a million and a half, and two million dollars, to receive specimens of stone from quarries within the state, the same to be tested for durability, color, quality, absorption of moisture, and freezing, and to make the necessary repairs on the old State House, and report to the next General Assembly.
Mr. Kasson was reëlected to the House, and Frank Allen, then in the height of his influence and popularity as a banker and business man, was sent to the Senate.
At this session, Kasson changed his plan, and sent his Capitol bill first to the Senate, where it was quickly sent to a committee, who had the plans and specifications provided by the Act of the previous session. With slight amendments, the bill passed, and was sent to the House, where Kasson was confronted with a new opposition element. There was in existence what was called the "Appropriation Ring," composed of members representing the different districts in which were located the several State Institutions, which practically controlled all legislation. It fixed and parcelled out the sums wanted for their institutions, and no important bill could get through either house unless by consent by this Ring, which demanded first that its claims be conceded. A personal observation and attendance at each consecutive session for more than twenty years demonstrated the continuous presence of this pernicious element. In 1878, Tom Updegraff, of Clayton, determined to break it up. There was asked an extraordinary appropriation of seventy-five thousand dollars, for the central dome and four turrets of the Capitol. The Ring resorted to its usual tactics, and
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relegated the Capitol to the foot of the calendar, as the tail-ender. Tom got wrathy, and one day arose to smite it. He was a splendid speaker, and had a vocabulary replete with keen, cutting sarcasm. He charged the Ring with wilful abuse of legislative duties; he cited the vote from each roll call of each member of it, showing its vote as a unit on every important measure. Instantly, the House was in an uproar. He was called to order, but he went on, and closed in these words:
"Gentlemen of the Ring, you may go on and block the wheels of legislation, but I warn you there is nothing, save the wrath of Almighty God, so terrible as the vengeance of an outraged, indignant people."
That speech sent him to Congress, and broke the Ring for that session. In addition to this Ring, Kasson found the opposition more completely organized, under the leadership of M. E. Cutts, of Mahaska, master of rhetoric, sarcasm, and innuendo. He coddled the Ring, and scared the timid with stupendous grabs, taxes, and folly of the Capitol scheme, concocted solely for the benefit of Des Moines. For a whole month, Kasson sought, with all his skill and tactics, to get the bill made a special order for March Eighth, when it was taken up, and after the most exciting debate ever known in the House, it was ordered engrossed for final passage by a vote of forty-nine to forty-eight, and there Kasson stopped, for Cutts had so terrified the timid and unified the Ring for four weeks, he did not dare to call it up.
Finally, he fixed April Eighth as the day for a final contest, with assurances of a full house. The House was densely packed. The bill was quickly taken up, and met with dilatory motions, which were finally lost, and the roll call began, the clerk reading very slowly, amid breathless silence. Every member was keeping close tally. On verifying the call, Kasson's "Aye" was missing. In his intensity of tally-keeping, he answered his call with "twenty," he being the twentieth in his list of "ayes." The error was soon corrected, and the vote stood fifty-two to forty-six, three members dodging or being absent. There was a shout which made the walls shake.
The bill went over the the Senate, where it quickly passed, and the second contest was ended.
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A mass meeting of citizens was held, and, with a band of music, went to Kasson's home, and after congratulations on his success, presented him with a fine gold-topped cane, which Charles Aldrich now has in his state collection of curios.
The nine Commissioners provided for in the Act were elected at a joint meeting of both houses, and went on to lay the foundation of the new building. They brought a huge red granite boulder from Buchanan County, which was formed into a large cube, on which they had cut, conspicuously, their several names. They also prepared small cubes of various kinds of stone offered for the super-structure, which were sent to experts to be tested, and be returned in sealed wrappings, on which was to be inscribe nothing but the test. From these, a selection of stone was made. During the next Winter, the frost so disintegrated the foundation that it tumbled into the pit. The appropriation was exhausted, the Commission could go no further.
When the next General Assembly convened, the prospect was dismal. The wreck and waste in that foundation was foreboding. The air was full of charges and counter-charges, while rumors were current that the stone quarry selected to furnish the stone for the superstructure had come into possession of one of the Commissioners. Amid all this was the fear that the whole project might be lost to Des Moines.
The Senate at once began measures to fix the responsibility for the defective foundation, and certain suspicious contracts. A Joint Resolution was adopted, providing for an investigation by a joint committee. Its own Committee on Public Buildings was also instructed to make investigation. The result was the condemnation of the whole business in emphatic terms, and the Commissioners' names erased from the corner-stone.
The field was then open for a new contest. Kasson, who had again been pressed into service, at once prepared a bill, amending the former Act, providing for the appointment of J. G. Foote, of Burlington, Maturin L. Fisher, of Clayton; Robert S. Finkbine and Peter A. Dey, of Johnson——two Republicans and two Democrats——as Commissioners to construct the building, The Governor to be ex-officio chairman, and the appropriation of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars annually. The old fight was resumed.
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Cutts had been left at home, but Ainsworth, of Fayette——who, though unequal to Cutts, was an antagonist Kasson found not easily handled——took the opposition leadership, and tried to cut the appropriation to a total sum of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, but after a long contest, with dilatory motions and amendments, Kasson succeeded, with the agreement that the Commission must keep in view one million five hundred thousand dollars as the cost, whereupon Ainsworth revealed the presence of the old Ring by moving that all other appropriations must be paid first. So adroitly did he put it, the House adopted it, Kasson shrewdly not resisting, relying on the Senate to squelch it, as it did the next day, and sent it back to the House, where it was taken up and passed the same day, by a vote of fifty-three to thirty-eight, and the five years' eventful contest ended.
The new Commission at once removed the rotten foundation, cut the names of the former Commissioners from the corner-stone, and substituted the word "Iowa"——only that, and nothing more——went forward and completed the building with honesty and fidelity which received universal commendation from beginning to end. Not a dollar was lost or mispent. Every contractor for material learned early——some to their severe cost——that a contract must be executed strictly according t terms, without hope of change, concessions or rebates. An instance of their rigidity of rule is that one day I went to their office, and found General Ed Wright, their Secretary, with a large table spread with bills and vouchers, and very much excited. Asked if they were going to move. "No," he replied. "That man over there (indicating Foote) in the corner, is short two cents in his last quarterly account, and he has kept this office stirred up for two weeks to find where they went. 'Bob' and I offered to give him the pennies, but he won't have it." Finally, among the thousands of bills was found one in dubious writing. It was returned to the maker for a duplicate that could be deciphered. In the duplicate, it was found a figure five in the cents column had been mistaken for a figure three.
When the building was completed and the Commission closed their accounts, there was a discrepancy of about three dollars, but wherein, the Legislature never sought to learn.
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In 1873, Kasson was again elected Congressman; reëlected in 1875; declined renomination in 1877; was appointed United States Minister to Austria, served four years, and while absent in 1881, was again elected Congressman, reëlected in 1883, served one year, and resigned, when he was immediately appointed United States Minister to Berlin, resigning in 1885. In 1889, he was again sent to Berlin to attend the International Conference to settle difficulties between the American, German, and English governments, and upon the accomplishment thereof, he came home.
February Fifteenth, 1905
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SAMUEL A. ROBERTSON
 EARLY in the Spring of 1856, there strolled into the town a young man not twenty years old, looking for a job. Having learned it was the Capital of the state, that a new Capitol was being built, he thought there must be a chance to join the body politic and grow up with the country. Securing lodging at the Marvin House, on Third Street, where Harbach's Building now is, he went out to reconnoiter the place and interrogate the inhabitants. It did not require much time; there was not much of a town. All its business was done below Third Street, mostly on Second. He concluded there was nothing doing, times hard, money scarce; that there was no place for him, and, like Barlow Granger, he gathered up his carpet-sack, shook the dust of the town from his feet, went on board a steamboat lying in the river, and started for a more promising location. On the boat, he met J. C. Savery, to whom he related his experience. Savery told him he was just the man he was looking for; that he was on his way to St. Louis to get plans for a big hotel, and if he would go back, he would give him the job of building it. The young man thought that was a good thing. He left the boat at Pella, came back, has grown up with the town, and had a conspicuous part in its growth and prosperity.
So soon as plans were completed, he began work on the Hotel Savery, now the Kirkwood, but soon after, money and material being scarce, the work stopped. The Court House was then being constructed, and he went to Isaac Cooper, the contractor and builder, for work, and was given a place at two dollars and a half per day. cooper used to say he would lay more brick in a day, and better, than any two men on the job. After working three months, without getting any pay, the Fourth of July came, and a big picnic was planned to be given at Horseshoe Lake, then the popular place for all outdoor social events, and he decided to take it in. He hunted up Isaac, explained the situation, emphasizing it with the statement
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that he had promised his wife to go, and must have some money. Isaac responded with: "I am dead broke;" but, searching his pockets, he fished out a gold dollar——the only money everybody "salted" when they got it——which was given to him.
On another occasion, his wife being in Cincinnati, Mr. Robertson planned to bring her home. He laid sidewalks during the Summer and accumulated about two hundred dollars. The country was flooded with "stump-tail," "red-horse," "wild-cat," "brindle-pup" currency of doubtful character, it being the special prayer of every banker each day to have it checked out before the closing hour. He therefore went to James Callanan, who was running a bank, and asked for money that would be good until he could reach Cincinnati.
"The best I've got is Illinois currency," was the response.
The Illinois currency was listed by bankers then as "Western Mixed," which included all the "wild-cats," but, as it was the best in the bank, he took it, and started for Cincinnati. Arriving at Saint Louis, he stopped at a hotel, and in the evening met a man who was manager of what is now the "Big Four" railway system, to whom he told his destination. His friend gave him a letter which was said "might be of some use to him." The next morning, when he went to pay his hotel bill, his Illinois currency had depreciated to nothingness——wasn't worth a cent. He borrowed enough to pay his bill, and ten cents for ferriage across the river, trusting luck to get him further. Having been considerably connected with railroad building in Ohio, he thought he would try it on the Superintendent of a Cincinnati road for transportation, but he was rebuffed with a complacency which quite upset him. Pulling the friend's letter from his pocket, he gave it to the obdurate functionary, who, after reading it, said it was good for any favor desired on their line. The letter was signed by a man who once ran for President——George B. McClellan.
Returning, Mr. Robertson began to branch out as a contractor, but money was scarce, people couldn't pay their taxes, work on the Court House was held up, the city had no money, and was issuing script of fractional amounts, which soon became unpopular and went out of circulation, the money in use being the "red-dog"
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variety, and of little value. As an incident, a man was driving into town one day, on woodland Avenue, with a load of wood, when he was halted by a citizen who asked the price of the wood. "Four dollars a cord, gold; in banknotes, cord for cord."
To keep business moving, he made a contract with Martin Tuttle to build a house and take his pay in groceries; another with "Billy" Moore for a house, to be paid for in dry goods; another with Stacy Johns, to be paid for in boots and shoes, and it is still standing, at Fifth Street and Grand Avenue, and known as the "Montague Treatment" place. Another contract was made with W. S. Terry, to be paid for in harness; another with John Hays, for which he took a note, which he sold to Judge Williamson for a house on Woodland Avenue, the first home he owned in town. By this time, he could pay his workmen in orders on his several credit depositories, which they were glad to get. "Talk about hard times," said he one day, when in a reminiscent mood, "the present generation don;t know what that means. I worked nine months at one time, and received only thirteen dollars in money. A laboring man had to take his pay in trade. If he got money——banknotes——he had no assurance it would buy him a pound of bacon the next day."
When the Postoffice was remodeled, he was selected to do the work. He went to Washington, secured two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, made large additions to the ground area, added a third story and a clock tower, and returned thirty-nine thousand dollars of unused funds to Uncle Sam, for which unexpected favor and fidelity he was specially commended.
When the new Capitol was ordered built, he made a contract to furnish the stone, the statute requiring the stone must be from within this state. A quarry at Earlham was selected by the Commissioners, and he laid a side-track to it. Another quarry was selected at Rock Creek, in Van Buren County to which he built a railroad. From these quarries, immense quantities of stone were delivered. It was, in stonelayers' parlance, "green"——that is, filled with moisture, and with the foundation for the building was laid. The Winter freezing so disintegrated the stone that in the following Spring, the foundation had tumbled into the pit, and hundreds of tons of uncut dimension stone block were broken into
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fragments. Some of them can now be seen on Ninth Street, not far south of Court Avenue. He pocketed a loss of forty-eight thousand dollars in the transaction.
While at work on the Court House, he made plans for a County Jail and residence for the jailer, for which Judge Napier ordered he be paid ten dollars, but the jail succumbed to the hard times and was not built.
In 1864, he narrowly escaped an end to his life. He was standing in front of Ensign's stable, on Walnut Street, where now is the Dickenson Building,when a drunken soldier passed, threatening to shoot him, but he got away, while the soldier went on, and, meeting a negro, shot him. The soldier was spirited back to the army, came home after the war over, but was never tried for murder.
In 1878, the city came to the conclusion to get out of the mud, and avoid being washed away by freshets. There were no pavements, nor sewers. In wet seasons, the clay mud was so deep and sticky as to render travel almost impossible, and in heavy rainfalls the rush of water did serious damage to streets and private property. Bird's Run, an open ravine,draining the whole northwest and central part of town, was a perfect terror. A remedy was imperative, but how to get it was the problem. Public attention turned to Robertson as one having had large experience in public improvements, and though a Democrat of the radical persuasion, residing in a ward radically Republican, he was elected to the City Council, and at once so vigorously and persistently pressed the subject there and elsewhere that a general system of sewering and paving was planned, and begun. Bird's Run was harnessed within a wall twelve feet in diameter, over which was built the Auditorium, and intercepting sewers laid, to which have been added many miles of like construction. Robertson may be justly called the father of the sewer system of the city.
In 1890, he organized the Des Moines Brick Manufacturing Company, installed a large brick-laying plant, and demonstrated the value of the clay industry, which has become one of the most valuable in the city, the superiority of its product being admitted all over the country.
He was a director and heavy stockholder of the Iowa National Bank, and for several years its President. He is one of the
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Board of Directors of the Royal Union Mutual Life Insurance Company. Latterly, however, he has withdrawn from all financial institutions.
During his forty-eight years' residence, he has been prominently identified with public improvements, financial interests, and every undertaking to promote the prosperity of the town, and in many ways may be said to be one of the most prominent builders of Des Moines, and especially as a contractor. On nearly every street in the city are public buildings, business blocks, and residences erected by him. Of the most prominent, which I can recall, are the Congregational Church, which stood where the Chamberlain Hotel now is; the Aborn House, now the Iowa Hotel; three schoolhouses on the West Side; two on the East Side; the block at Fifth and Vine streets, occupied by the Hammond Packing Company; the block occupied by Chase & West, on Walnut Street; the Graefe House, on Walnut Street; "Billy" Moore's Opera House; basement story under the old Capitol; the original building now the Elliott Hotel, on Fourth Street; the present Savery House; the Robertson Block, on East Locust Street, and commenced the first Savery Hotel, now the Kirkwood, which was temporarily abandoned by the panic of 1857. Beside these, are hundreds of costly residences.
His correct business principles and trust of the people have secured to him a competency sufficient for the years which are to come to him.
February Twenty-second, 1905.
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WILLIAM ALEXANDER SCOTT
 IN an unhonored grave, in a dreary, neglected spot in Des Moines, without stick or stone of any kind to commemorate his life or his public services and benefactions, lies the man who personally built and paid for the first State House in Des Moines, and who gave to the State of Iowa a part of the ground upon which now stands its present magnificent Capitol building.
In an early day, William Alexander Scott was a man of some influence and honored standing in Des Moines and Polk County. To-day only a few, the men who were pioneers with him, remember his name, even, and still fewer men know the disgraceful neglect that has made his last resting-place, on the bluff overlooking the Des Moines Valley, a shame to the public spirit and generosity of Des Moines.
His grave is located in a spot that would never be guessed as a human burial place. It lies just south of Vine Street, midway between East Eleventh and East Twelfth streets. Buildings have crowded around it on three sides——not sightly dwellings, but barns and outhouses; one outhouse stands within ten or fifteen feet of the grave. There is nothing now to mark his resting-place. Once there was a fence about the grave, placed there by a brother long since dead, but ruthless hands have torn it down, bit by bit, for ne vandalistic reason or other. A year ago, there stood at the side of the grave a tree that was planted there by thoughtful hands, and which, through the years, had grown large enough to cast its protecting shade over the spot, but last Spring or Summer that, too, was ruthlessly cut down, and all that remains now to mark the grave is the shattered stump of that tree.
How did Scott come to be buried there? It is an interesting tale, and characteristic of the love the old pioneer felt for the Des Moines Valley. One day, years ago, when an old man, he was standing with some friends on the point of the bluff south of the
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present Capitol, overlooking the grand view of the river valley and his fine farm on the plateau. He said, in a very impressive way: "When I die, I want to be buried here, where we stand."
In accordance with that desire, his body was brought here by his brother John, followed by a cortáge of his loving friends and citizens, and there buried. The burial plat was purchased and deeded to Lee Township. A tree was planted, and for a time friends, now dead, maintained a cheap board fence about the grave. Now it is marked only by gross neglect, to the shame and ingratitude of the richest state in the Union, and of a people who profess a love of justice, of patiotism, of public spirit, and the exaltation of the righteous.
A pioneer of pioneers was William Alexander Scott, or "Aleck," as he was usually called. He came here in 1843, with the dragoons, and was given use of a section of land to cultivated for furnishing farm products for the garrison. He remained until the Indians were removed, when he went with them to Kansas as an Indian trader. When the military post was abandoned, and land entries were permitted, in 1846, he returned and purchased five hundred acres lying along the Des Moines River, comprising a large portion of what is now the East Side. He built a large double log house, a few hundred yards southeast of the present Soldiers' Monument, on the bottoms. A double log house consists of two houses with an open space between equal to the length of each house, and covered with a roof for the shelter of wagons, plows, harness, etc., one house being used for dwelling, the other for stabling.
The East Side, for some distance from the river, was covered with a dense thicket of underbrush, the principal occupants being rabbits.
One of the early questions to be solved by Scott and other pioneers was the river crossing. The center of population and business was at The Fort, and travel was in that direction. During a portion of the year, neither the Des Moines nor the 'Coon could be forded. For a time, skiffs and small boats were provided for ferrying of individuals, but teams had to be left on the farther side. In 1846, Scott put on a flatboat ferry and did a lucrative business, as emigrants moving west passed through here, the numbers increasing rapidly. During the California emigration, over six hundred
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horses, and as many people, were farried in a single day, and "Aleck," as everybody called him, charged stiff prices, as the travelers were generally well supplied with the lucre. It is related that on the day of the last session of the first Legislature in Des Moines, the Anti-Prohibition members had a jamboree, and about three o'clock in the morning came wobbling to the ferry. The ferry was closed, and they were informed that it would cost fifty cents a head to get across the river, whereat they demurred, raged and swore. Money was scarce, and some of the men had no fifty cents, but "Aleck's" demand was inexorable, and after some parleying, they raised the funds and were landed on the West Side.
Those ferries were a great convenience to the people, and aided very materially to increase the business and prosperity of The Fort.
Judge Williams, who held the first District Court in Polk County, and subsequently became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, used to tell a story on himself to his friends. He was a jolly, sociable person, always ready for fun, a good story-teller, and enjoyed joking. He boarded on the East Side, and would get ferried over the river in a skiff rather than take "Aleck's" cumbersome craft. One day he wanted to get across, but there was no boy nor man in sight with a skiff. However, Mary Hayes, a buxom young woman, was washing clothes near the river. Accosting her, he asked: "Mary, how am I to get across the river?"
"Why, in the skiff, I suppose." she replied.
"But there is no one to bring back the skiff, and I am a very poor rower. Now, Mary, can't you take pity on a man in my predicament and row me over. I'll pay you in any number of kisses."
"Certainly, I'll take you over, but as to the kisses, Mr. Judge, I don't want any from such an old scrub as you."
"Oh, I suppose you have had a surfeit of them. Has Jim——"
"Now, look here, Judge, if you want to go across, get in, sit still, and be still."
The Judge got in, and was silent until they were well out in the river current, and Mary was pulling the oars like a sailor.
"Mary!"
"Sir?"
"Suppose I turn this boat downstream, and carry you off and marry you. Wouldn't that be delightful?"
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Mary's eyes snapped with ire.
"You carry me off! You marry me! I wouldn't have such a dried-up old cracklin. I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on earth, and I couldn't get to heaven without a husband, and if you don't stop your nonsense, I'll pitch you into the river, and you can go as far as you please, but you don't take me with you."
The Judge used to tell the story among his friends with great enjoyment.
In 1847, "Aleck" was given a license by the County Commissioners to run a ferry across the Des Moines and 'Coon rivers, the seal of the Commissioners being affixed with a silver half dollar, the county having no seal.
When the town of Fort Des Moines was organized, the Town Council concluded "Aleck" was making too much money with his ferries, and it was time the town got some benefit from them. A Ferry Committee was appointed, to devise ways and means therefor. The ways were numerous, but the means were few. The Ferry Committee was instructed to provide a license for ferries, but "Aleck" claimed he had a perpetual commission to ferry from the old Indian chief, Keokuk, and the County Commissioners, having lost their jurisdiction, "Aleck" held on. The Council then ordered a foot bridge constructed, which the Ferry Committee sat down on. After a time, a compromise was made with "Aleck" to run a ferry over the Des Moines and 'Coon rivers, the doctors and mails to be carried free. After wrestling with the problem nearly two years, an agreement was made with "Aleck" to put in a float bridge at what is now Grand Avenue, the Sycamore on the West Side, and Keokuk on the East Side. It was serviceable only a portion of the year, for in high water it was too short, and in low water is was too long, making it difficult to get on or off from it. It was also a single track, and if teams met on it, there was trouble, for one must back out, but it was a mighty good thing for the fishermen, and some of the fish caught from that bridge would surprise the fishers of to-day. The bridge was not a success, and "Aleck" kept right on with his ferry until 1856, when he built a trestle over the river. It was weak in the joints and shaky, an in 1859 broke down.
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In April, 1849, occurred what is known as the Fleming War. One Asa Fleming, a school teacher, son of a preacher, had taken a claim not far south of The Fort. A man named Perkins endeavored to preëmpt the claim——in fact, did file in the Land Office his intent to do so. Both were members of the County Claim Club, which was governed by the following rules:
"One.——We will protect all persons who may hold claims against the interference of any person or persons who shall attempt to deprive such claim holders of their rights by preëmption or otherwise.
"Two.——We will, in all cases, discountenance the speculator or other person who shall attempt any innovation upon the homes of the rightful settlers; that we will not hold any fellowship with such person, and that he be regarded as a nuisance in the community.
"Three.——No person shall be allowed to preëmpt or purchase in any form from the Government any land which shall be held as a claim, unless he shall first obtain the consent of the claimant.
"Four.——The filing of an intention to preëmpt contrary to the rights of the settler shall be regarded as an attempt to wrongfully deprive the citizen of his home and his claim.
"Five.——It shall be the duty of the Committee [Standing] to notify and person who shall preëmpt or attempt to do so, by filing his intention to preëmpt, the claim of another person, to leave the vicinity and the county; and they have authority to enforce a compliance with said notice, and we will sustain the Committee in the discharge of all their duties.
Adopted April Eighth, 1848.
One day Fleming saw Perkins hovering about his claim. He quickly gathered together some of his friends, and, armed with guns, started for vengeance. In those days, misdoers, claim-jumpers and horse thieves were disposed of by Judge Lynch.
Perkins learned that the possé was after him. He knew, as a Club member what that meant, and quickly mounting a fleet horse, without coat or hat, fled to The Fort, barely escaping several shots sent after him. Eluding his pursuers, he reached the ferry in a perfect tremor of fight and fatigue,and begged "Aleck" to get him across the river quick, which was done. He went into obscurity
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for several days, and after recovering from his fright, became valorous, and procured a warrant for the arrest of Fleming, on a charge of attempt to murder. Fleming was arrested and brought before Esquire Luce. His friends quickly rallied for his defense, and while the court was getting ready for business, swooped down on the crowd, seized Fleming, and carried him away. He was soon after re-arrested and brought to The Fort, when his friends——eight of them——again rallied, armed and equipped for another rescue. Arriving at the ferry, they demanded immediate crossing, but "Aleck" hesitated, he didn't seem to be in any haste, when he was told that if he did not take them across, they would shoot up the whole town. They threatened and cursed him in several languages, but he didn't scare. While this disturbance was going on, The Fort got stirred up. Coroner Phillips, full of spiritus frumenti, declared Martial Law, and ordered all stores and business places closed, which gave the West Siders acceptable opportunity to turn out and see the scrimmage.
"Aleck" was obdurate. He told the mob that not a man could cross the river until all guns were stacked and weapons laid aside. Very sullenly they finally surrendered, and were taken over to the West Side, which, under Phillips' Martial Law, was quiet and in good order to receive them. Fleming was duly examined, the charges against him were sustained, and he was bound over to the Grand Jury, but was released on giving an appearance bond. The Grand Jury did not indict him. In the meantime, public sentiment had rendered Perkins quite unpopular. Legal proceedings were had against him, and he gave a bond to let Fleming alone, but he always claimed that Fleming's claim covered more land than he was entitled to, and it was only the excess he was trying to get, but Fleming's father being a Methodist preacher, and the settlement nearly all Methodists, they joined together against him.
There was a man named Holland, a land speculator,who, it was rumored, furnished Perkins the money to preëmpt Fleming's claim, and thereupon a Vigilance Committee of about thirty, well armed, surrounded his house one day and ordered him to come out, which he quietly did, assuring the crowd that he was ready to meet his doom, but requested the privilege of making some remarks, which
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was granted. He was a good talker, and so forcibly and eloquently appealed to the crowd with his defense, that it relaxed its vengeance into a broad smile, shook hands with him, and, at his request, went to the corner "grocery" to quench its thirst for gore with corn juice, and thus ended the Fleming War.
In 1849, Scott had his land platted and annexed it to "East Demoine." He built several dwellings and a large brick house near what is now the east end of the Rock Island Railroad bridge, which, for several years, was known as the Scott House, later the Slatten and the Hawkeye, and still later, the Refuge of Sin and Prostitution, until it was torn down soon after the railroad was completed.
Immediately after the Seat of Government was located here, public attention became aroused respecting the location of the State House. Both sides of the river were ambitious and eager to secure it. In 1855, Scott, A. M. Lyon, and a few others formed an Association to get the location on the East Side. Citizens outside of the Association also joined in the project, and a large number of town lots were put into a sort of pool as a bonus to influence a decision of the State Commissioners in the location. Scott's Association offered to give forty acres of land——nearly all of which was owned by Scott——to build a State House. The West Siders offered the necessary land and about three hundred thousand dollars as a bonus to the state. Then ensued one of the most exciting contests known in the history of the town, and in which was engendered strife and animosities which have not yet been obliterated.
In that contest, Scott was the victim of unscrupulous speculators, through his innate honesty, and over-weening faith in Humanity. He executed his agreement to the very letter, at a great loss to himself, carried the first State House to completion, donated the site for it, and also most of that on which the State House now stands, though then quite unlike what it now is. It was covered with forest trees and underbrush so dense that several women once got lost in attempting to go through it, causing considerable alarm to friends for several hours. On the west and south sides, it was twenty feet above the present elevation.
When the State House deal was over, Scott had little left.
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When the Legislature convened at its first session in Des Moines, Scott gave a very elaborate reception in his new brick hotel to the members and state officers, and he was the observed of all observers as "the man who built the State House." It was a very popular hostelry with legislators and lawyers.
Politically, Scott was a Democrat, but not a politician. In 1857, at the urgent request of friends relying on his popularity, he ran for Representative to the first Legislature held in Des Moines, against "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell, and, while he carried Lee Township by a vote of one hundred and sixty to one hundred and fifty-four, he was defeated by a vote of one thousand and eighty to eight hundred and ninety-four in the county. At this session, a law was passed providing for the placing of draws in all bridges over the Des Moines River, from its junction with the 'Coon to its mouth, thus practically declaring the river above Des Moines an unnavigable stream. In 1860, some difficulty arose over Scott's bridge, as an obstruction to navigation, and an Act was passed providing that so much of the Law of 1857-8 which provided for draws in bridges, and declaring the river not navigable above Scott's bridge, be repealed, but the multiplicity of bridges within the city evidences little regard for the repeal,a nd navigation above The Forks is not a disturbing question.
Scott married a very intelligent Indian woman, who was a good wife, but she had an appetite for "fire-water," and periodically would lock herself in a room, put on a full Indian dress, and have a spree for a week,when she would resume her wifely duties in a very proper manner.
"Aleck" was a big-hearted man, with liberal impulses, and generous to a fault. He lacked fortitude to resist a solicitation for aid or accommodation. He indorsed the obligations of others, which he had to pay, and to do which he encumbered his property with mortgages. The wide-spread financial depression caused by the panic of 1856-57 cut off all sources of recovery from his embarrassment, and with hope that fortune would favor him and enable him to redeem and save his property, he started for Pike's Peak, but when crossing the plains was taken ill and died in a tent, June Twenty-third, 1859.
February Twenty-ninth, 1905.
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