-17-
REV. THOMPSON BIRD

STANDING on a street corner, seeing the street cars, the arc and incandescent lights, the "devil wagon," the tall and stately marts of trade, in every direction the concomitants of a prosperous, contented, enlightened and healthful municipality, the mind of the old-timer naturally harks back to the days when things were not thus; to the early days and the struggles, privations and untoward experience thereto; to his coadjutors and co-workers who laid the foundation for this present superstructure, and he calls the roll of them. There was Alex. Scott, Doctor Brooks, Father Bird, Ezra Rathbun, R. L. Tidrick, Judge Rice, Jonathan Lyon, Judge Casady, Barlow Granger, "Billy" Moore, Esquire Michael, the Hippees, the Maishes, Captain Harry and J. M. Griffith, Judge McKay, Doctor Grimmel, Isaac Brandt, Isaac Cooper, Wesley Redhead, Judge McHenry, Dan. Finch, Jeff. Polk, Ed. Clapp, Ira Cook, Lamp and Hoyt Sherman, W. H. Meacham, S. A. Robertson, Conrad Youngerman, J. B. Stewart, Father Brazil, "Jim" Savery, R. W. Sypher, Captain West, Doctor Hull, C. D. Reinking, Doctor Turner, L. Harbach, Frank Mills, Colonel Spofford, Madison Young, Frank Allen, Charley Good, Judge Williamson—all prominently identified with the origin, growth and prosperity of the city, and not only them, but their good wives as well, for be it known that upon them often fell the trials, sacrifices, privations and burdens of pioneer life most grievously. Luxuries—even ordinary needs for housekeeping— were sadly wanting. Cooking was done in kettles and skillets, in fireplaces built of rough stone, mud and sticks; furniture was scarce, and with hammer, saw and axe, from old boxes, slabs and timber, must be improvised tables, stools, benches and shelving. At times the flour and meal got short, the roads were bad, streams flooded, mills fifty to an hundred miles away. To get to them and return was a task of days and weeks. The only relief was the "hominey block," which consisted of a log

about four feet long, with one end dug out in shape of a druggist's mortar, and a pestle made of a stick with an iron wedge driven into one end to crush and grind the corn into meal. Meat abounded in wild game, and in season ducks could be gathered at Sherman Lake, where the old county fair ground was, at a pond and slough where the Rock Island depot now is, and at Dean's Lake near the packing houses. There are good housewives now living in luxurious homes in the city who have not forgotten the hominy block bread. Some of them may remember a certain big picnic at which there was but one loaf of wheat bread, all other bread being made from corn.
   They were sturdy, generous, industrious, frugal, honest, plain people, engaged in home making, but they builded better than they knew. Most of them have gone to their final rest, but they are represented yet by their children—vigorous, forceful business men of the city. Some of them are with us yet—honored, respected, and, with contentment, basking in the sunset of a life well spent.
   The writer feels assured that by common consent a distinctive place should be given Rev. Thompson Bird, or Father Bird, as he was familiarly and most reverently called, known and loved by everybody. He came here in 1847 as a missionary preacher of the Presbyterian Church. His field was the southern half of the state, traversing it generally on foot, preaching in the cabins of pioneers, sharing their frugal hospitality, their joys and sorrows. It was not uncommon for him to walk twenty miles to preach in some new settlement, and at one time he walked to Cedar Rapids, over one hundred and thirty miles, with blistered feet, to attend a meeting of the snyod of the church. He organized churches wherever he went, probably a greater number than any other person in the state. While in this work, he laid the foundation of and organized the first church of that denomination in the city, of which there were but six members. He at once set about building a place for worship. It was a laborious task, often saddened by the shadows of failure. The people were poor; contributions small and far between, but with these pittances, the selling of a portion of his library and other valuables, and wit the aid of his estimable, cultured wife, who taught a private school, to get money for the

building, after six years he succeeded. It was a small, unpretentious structure, occupying the lot south of the present Western Union Telegraph office on Fourth Street, in which he served as pastor until it was burned in 1867.
   The church building completed, a bell was needed. By a clever device it was secured. He had gathered a large collection of autographs of prominent men of the country, and these he offered to Doctor Sprague, of Albany, New York, if he would provide the bell, which offer was accepted. It was not a large bell, but its tones were as sweet to the villagers as are now the chimes of Saint Paul's. It was melted and lost in the burning of the building.
   As the years passed, his physical powers weakened until, stricken with paralysis, he reached the end January Fourth, 1869. He was a lovable man, cultured, genial, charitable in all things, yet firm in his opinions, zealous ever in the advancement of Christianity, education and the upbuilding of society. He manifested great interest in civic affairs, and was one of the commissioners to form the first town charter and the first school district. He was a wise counselor, and exemplar of the best in manhood; specially fond of children, and they of him. So it was he won the reverential title of "Father" from old and young. His impress upon the early formation of society was probably more indelible than that of any other man. It can be truly said that he, with Elder Nash and Father Brazil, were the fathers of the Church and founders of the religious element prevailing in the city to-day. In perpetuation of the memory of Father Bird, the city has given his name to one of the public schools.
   When dirt was cheap, he purchased the block between Locust, Third, Fourth and Center streets, for two hundred dollars, and built a log cabin thereon, adding thereto by his own hands—for everybody had to be a jack-of-all-trades—as his family increased. There he lived many years, to the end of his days. A portion of the field was cultivated, and the writer hereof has a vivid recollection of one night during a severe thunderstorm, when it was so dark the way could be seen only when lightning flashed, of going up Fourth Street, and at the corner of Locust tumbling over the rail fence among the potato vines. From the sale of building

lots and the rapid growth of the town, Father Bird became a wealthy man.
   No mention of him would be complete without reference to his wife and co-worker. As a school teacher for several years, she had much to do with moulding the character of the children, all who in after life bore testimony of the loveliness of her character and beneficence of her tutelage. In the social life of the community she was beloved, revered and known in her later years as Mother Bird. She went to her rest in 1901, having passed her ninetieth year.

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WILLIAM W. MOORE

NO record of early days in Des Moines would be complete without mention of W. W. Moore, familiarly known to everybody in Polk County as "Billy." He came to the town when the Indians were here.
   He was born "All Fools' Day"—but he is not a fool— in Madison, Indiana, 1832. Shortly after, his parents moved to Franklin, Johnson County, Indiana. When eleven years old, he began business life as a clerk in a dry goods trade, with Wooster & Woods, for four dollars per month. The following year he enlisted with Henry Fox for twenty-five dollars per month. The third year he engaged with I. B. Whipple & Company, for thirty-five dollars a month, where he remained until 1847, when he was attacked with Western Fever, and came to Iowa, landing at Keokuk with three dollars and thirty-five cents in his pocket, no baggage. He took the trail on foot to Oskaloosa, which he reached in good condition, but without a cent—dead broke. His most pressing demand was that from an empty stomach. The first job available was table-waiting at the Kinsman Hotel, which he took and served two weeks for his board.
   While serving the hostelry he heard so much about Fort Des Moines, at "Raccoon Forks," he concluded it must be a good place for a young man with business intent, and at four o'clock on the morning of May Sixth, he set his face hitherward, arriving at "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell's, at Apple Grove, in the eastern part of the county, at eight o'clock in the evening of the same day. There he had a good night's rest and the proverbial hearty welcome of "Uncle Tommy," whom "Billy" says was "the best and most popular man who ever lived in Polk County.
   The next day, at two o'clock, he hove into town, and ran up against the Des Moines River, with no way to get across it to the West Side except by swimming, or on the ferry-boat, the toll tariff

on which was twenty-five cents. Searching his pockets, he found fifteen cents, all the money he had, the remainder of a tip he had received from a guest at the hotel in Oskaloosa. He sat down to commune with himself and the situation, but not long after, "Old Man" Fredericks, as he was called, who lived near Rising Sun, came along with a wagon, and "Billy" explained to his his predicament, whereupon he was told to, "Get right into the wagon; it shan't cost you a cent," which he did with the greatest alacrity.
   Soon after he landed on the West Side, while wandering about he fell in with another young fellow, who subsequently became the well-known and popular physician, W. H. Ward, now in Arizona, who was likewise "strapped." To emphasize his companionship, "Billy" invested his fifteen cents in "Cuba Six" cigars, and they went down by the riverside, sat down on the grass to enjoy a smoke. It being their primitive experience, the emesis properties of the tobacco soon got in their work, and a rebellious stomach kept them busy until after ten o'clock in the evening. As "Billy" put it, "We was two of the sickest kids imaginable." But it did not cure them, for the became inveterate smokers.
   "Billy's" next move was for bread and butter. B. F. Allen, or "Frank" as everybody called him, was running a dry goods store on Second Street, where all business was done, and wanted a clerk. He offered "Billy" twenty-five dollars, board and washing, per month, which was promptly accepted.
   On Sunday morning, "Billy" arose early, the stores were nearly all open, especially the "groceries"—they had no Sundays in those days at "The Forks;" there were no churches, no preachers, and the day was usually passed in such amusements as could be improvised for the occasion. During the morning a man came in from the country who wanted some goods from the store—must have them. "Billy," ambitious to do things, took him in, sold him twenty dollars and fifteen cents' worth, put the money in his pocket, locked the store door, and joined the loungers around the "groceries." The amusement that day was a "hoss" race. The starting point was not far from the rear of the Iowa Loan and Trust building, and the ending at the bluff near the Water Works. "Billy" joined the crowd to see the races. Monday morning he

was on hand at the store early, and, with considerable show of pride, counted out the proceeds of his Sunday morning sale to Allen, and was explaining to him how it happened, when a fellow came in congratulated "Billy" on his good luck Sunday, and asked how much he won. "Two hundred dollars," responded "Billy" without a quiver. Allen, who was somewhat a churchman, looked at "Billy" rather sharply for a moment, and then said, "Keep it, but don't do it again. Invest it in town lots."
"Billy's" first business venture was a drug store at the corner of Second and Market streets, and in the Star, he advertised "a choice lot of drugs, wines, brandies, candles, lard oil (kerosene and electric light was then unknown), brooms, fish and castor oil, by the steamboats Caleb Cope and Tormentor." He knew nothing of drugs, and he secured the services of Doctor Saunders to assist him. The doctor went through the drug stock, fixed the prices, and told "Billy" that in case he was absent, the price meant by the ounce; if a liquid was wanted, measure it in an ounce vial. One day a man want eight ounces of quicksilver. "Billy" hustled around, found an eight-ounce vial, filled it and delivered it, remarking that it was "danged heavey stuff."
   When the doctor returned, he discovered the absence of the quicksilver, and asked what had become of it.
   "Sold it," said "Billy," "eight-ounce bottle full for eight ounces."
   "Thunder!" said the doctor. "Why, there was eight pounds of it."
   On another occasion, a man wanted a pound of soda. According to instructions, that the marked price was by the ounce, he charged one dollar and fifty cents for the soda, which cost five cents, but he never manifested any compunctions of conscience respecting the profit.
   He soon after concluded the drug business was not his forte. He went over to the corner of Second and Vine, opened a dry goods store, hoisted the sign of "Hoosier Store." In those days the merchants did not have kodak-anti-Comstock pictures of feminine lingerie, alphabetical corsets, and cascaret tablets to illustrate their wares in the columns of the Star and Gazette; they used plain,

homespun English. For climaxes, the resorted to poetry. "Billy" mounted his Pegasus, which limped a little in spots:

"For Billy Moore is now on hand,
With goods new, rich and rare, sir;
And cords of goods at his command,
To make the people stare, sir.
He has Dry Goods of the latest style,
New Furs, Cloaks, Shawls and Laces,
Beaver hats, trimmed in style to please the ladies—
God bless their pretty faces.
Sound the trumpet, beat the drum,
  From housetop and from steeple,
For Billy Moore is now on hand,
And bound to please the people."

   On day, in `848, a fellow came into the store, and bantered him to buy the lot on Fourth Street, where the Western Union Telegraph office is. He did not want it; it was too far away from business, but the fellow persisted and "Billy," for a bluff, offered him a hand-me-down coat and pair of cowhide boots. He took the bluff, and gave a deed for the lot. It was the first property "Billy" bought in Des Moines. He sold it for fifteen hundred dollars.
   In 1852, business having moved westward, he purchased the southeast corner of Walnut and Fourth streets, extending to the alley east and south, for six hundred dollars. Reserving the corner, he sold the remainder for about twenty thousand dollars, and on what was supposed to be an Indian mound, erected a two-story frame, fronting Walnut street, and re-opened the "Hoosier Store," where he remained several years, the leading dry goods dealer in town. In the early Seventies he moved the store east, and on the corner erected "Moore's Hall," a three-story brick, the first exclusive amusement hall in the city. There Patti gave her first "farewell" concert, and there "Honest" Emma Abbott began her operatic career, when she was so small a dry goods box had to be provided for her to stand on to be seen. Later, it was remodeled and became "Moore's Opera House," and "Billy" turned his attention to public amusement. When other and more pretentious theaters came to compete for public patronage, the opera house was closed. For a few years a museum and vaudeville show was conducted

in it, known as "Wonderland." At present, "Billy" retains only an office room in the building, the remainder being rented. He is a member of the National Association of Bill Posters, which, with swapping yars with old-time visitors, occupies his time.
   His marriage was a notable event in those early days. It was solemnized in the home of L. D. Winchester, the first brick dwelling house in the town. It stood where the Valley National Bank now is, at Fourth Street and Court Avenue. Elder Nash was the officiating clergyman, as he and Father Bird were, by common consent, given the monopoly of that important function in those early days. The Elder also did the marrying for "Billy's" four daughters.
April Seventeenth, 1904.

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JUDGE P. M. CASADY

ONE of the most conspicuous landmarks of the city, as it were, in Phineas M. Casady, or "Judge," as he is familiarly called. He arrived here June Eleventh, 1846. The outlook at that time, to a young man on business bent, was not attractive. Civilization had scarcely begun. A few log cabins were scattered here and there——the heritage left by the military garrison. They stood, principally, along the two rivers; those along the Des Moines were called, "Des Moines Row;" those along the Racoon, "Coon Row." These cabins were rented from Uncle Sam on such terms as could be agreed upon with his agents, until more commodious quarters could be prepared, and with the increase of newcomers, it was often necessary to "double up." This was a little inconvenient, but everybody was neighborly and helped to make life pleasant.
   The Judge put out his sign as a lawyer on one of the cabins on 'Coon Row. Law practice in those days was unlike that of to-day. Courts were few and far between. Lawyers rode the circuit of a hundred miles, had good times, and, despite frequent legal tilts, formed social ties strong and lasting. Perhaps not so well versed in legal technicalities as are the lawyers of to-day, they were well grounded in common sense and exact justice, which is the foundation of good law. They did not get very much pay for their services, either. Money was scarce, and the people were poor. A fee of five dollars cash was uncommon. The Judge says he once had a case

of considerable importance to a man twenty-five miles away. Starting early in the morning on horseback, he went, tried and won the case, and returned home after midnight, for which the man gave him fifteen dollars, the largest fee he got in those days, and which to-day, for like service, would not be less than one hundred dollars.
   In January following, Doctor T. K. Brooks resigned the office of Postmaster, to devote his entire time to his profession, and the Judge was appointed his successor. The office, which was down near the Starch Works, was removed to his law office. The postal business was not very extensive, as he often carried the mail in his hat and delivered it to the proper persons as he met them——a sort of rural mail delivery. The salary was not sufficient for very sumptuous living, and in 1848 he resigned the postmastership and formed a partnership with R. L. Tidrick in a land and real estate business, which continued successfully until 1853.
   In 1848, Casady was elected Senator, to represent the counties of Polk, Marion, Dallas, Jasper, Marshall, Story, Boone, Warren, and Madison in the Legislature. He served through the second and third sessions, declining a nomination for the fourth.
   As Senator, his broad, conservative, practical views on all public questions; his genial, courteous bearing, made him an influential leader and director of the legislative mind. He was not an orator, but a plain commoner, winning success by logical, convincing, "heart-to-heart" talks. He aided very largely in laying the foundation for the civil government of the state, and in forming the state Constitution. He was one of the committee that formed and named nearly all the counties of the state.
   He was always true and loyal to his own county and town, and, with a score of localities vigorously pitted against him, he secured the adoption of measures whereby this city became the Capital of the state.
   While he was Senator, the rush of immigration, land seekers, homesteaders and speculators became immense, and the establishment

of a government land office was a necessity for the proper transaction of business. So soon as this became apparent, a score of cities and towns were aspirants for its location. At each session of the Legislature the Judge secured the adoption of a memorial to the Government for the establishment of a Land Office, and that it be located at Des Moines.
   After retiring from the Senate, he turned his attention to business affairs generally.
   In 1851, he assisted in organizing the First Baptist Church, was one of the charter members, and was elected Trustee of the Society. The same year, he, with Father Bird and Lamp Sherman, was elected to form a charter for the town, and under the provisions of that charter he was elected a member of the first council, which laid the foundation for Des Moines' municipal government. Their work was purely patriotic; they got no pay. He was again elected to the third council.
   In 1854, he was nominated Judge of the District Court. The district was large, and as the Whigs and Know Nothings were getting pretty thick, he took the stump. Marshall County was in the throes of a county-seat war, and to checkmate the Know Nothings, he had to resort to a little tactics; so he rode up there. The Court House was a log building, part of which was used for a stable. He was received very cordially, his horse put into a stall and fed, while he dined at the hostelry. During this visit, he and Frank Anson, a good friend and father of the noted baseball player, got their heads together and fixed up the county fences. The Judge came home and was elected by a good majority, but soon after his election he was appointed Receiver of Public Money for the United States Land Office. The compensation being better and more certain, he resigned the judgeship without holding a single hearing of court.
   In 1853, with Hoyt Sherman and Tidrick, he erected the Sherman Block, at the corner of Third Street and Court Avenue, for a State Bank and business offices, the third floor being used as a public hall. Subsequently it was used for post office and county offices, while the Court House was being built; then, for several years, as the City Hall.

   In 1857, the country was flooded with notes of wild-cat banks, having no reliability and some of them no accessible habitat. Business was demoralized; nobody knew whether a five-dollar note received one day would buy a meal of victuals the next morning. The quickest riddance of them was the aim of those who got them. To give greater stability to the money market, the Legislature authorized corporations with banking privileges, and, in accordance therewith, the State Bank of Iowa was organized, with eight branches, and the Judge was elected one of the directors of the Des Moines branch. The bank at once was favorably received, and rendered good service until Uncle Sam took control of monetary affairs with his national bank system,when the State Bank was merged into the National State Bank, May, 1865.
   In 1859, the Judge formed a law partnership with Jefferson S. Polk and General M. M. Crocker, making one of the strongest firms in practice. He was engaged in law and real estate business until 1864, when, having acquired a competency, he retired from active business, though occasionally giving aid to start some new enterprise, as in 1871 he was one of the organizers of the City Water Works Company, and in 1873 the State Printing Company, to furnish "patent insides" for newspapers, and now the Western Newspaper Union.
   He was one of the charter members of Ebenezer Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
   In 1866 was organized the Equitable LIfe Insurance Company of Iowa. The Judge was elected its first President, and held the place until 1872. It is recognized as one of the most substantial institutions in the state.
   In July, 1875, the Des Moines Bank was organized by Simon Casady and Elwood Gatch. In January, 1883, the Union Savings Bank was organized, and in October, the Des Moines Savings Bank was incorporated, and succeeded to the business of the two above named banks. In 1895, Judge Casady was elected President, and still holds the place and may be found there every day, in peaceful contentment, ready for a social chat, or to swap yarns with an old-timer, "Hank" Anson dropped in on him a few days ago, and their hilarity nearly upset the bank boys.

   In all his acts as lawyer, senator or minor public official, the Judge was ever actuated by the consciousness of responsibility and duty to the public, and it may be truly said that no one did more than he to aid the county and town during their formative period, or to secure the heritage we possess as the State Capital and a city of financial, social and educational distinction.
May Eighth, 1904