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HOYT SHERMAN
 FEW men have been better known at home and abroad than Hoyt Sherman. From the beginning to the end of his days he was loyal to the city of his adoption, and gave to it the full benefit of his business talent, excellent judgment, conservatism and wise counsel. He was a man for emergencies. May time he was called to fiduciary posts, local, state and national, where integrity and fidelity were fully tested. Courteous, affable, social, he was very popular.
He came to Des Moines from a printing office in Ohio, in May, 1848, and entered the office of Thomas McMullen, School Fund Commissioner, then selling school lands grated the state by an Act of Congress. Soon after he became Deputy Postmaster under R. L. Tidrick, the office being in the office of Casady & Tidrick, on Second Street, near Vine. In the Spring of 1849, Tidrick resigned and he was appointed to the vacancy by President Taylor, the office then being designated "Raccoon River" by the Postal Department. He held the office until 1853. Soon after his appointment, he built an office on the east side of Second Street near Vine, and moved the office from the old barrack building thereto, it being the first exclusive post office building in the city.
It is a coincidence that he built the second building used as a post office, called the Sherman Block, corner of Third Street and Court Avenue, also the third post office, a two-story frame on Third Street in the rear of the Sherman Block, and disbursed the government funds for building the present post office. The identical safe used by him in his first post office is still doing business in the post office, and "Jim" Miller says it is as good as ever, but it hasn't any time lock nor fancy combination tumblers.
At the May term of the District Court, 1849, Sherman was admitted to the Bar, and became one of the prominent attorneys before the court.
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In 1850, he began to give attention to real estate. The well-known and extensive Pursely Estate was to be settled, the realty divided into five-acre lots and sold by order of the court. Sherman wanted one of the lots, but he had only one hundred dollars to invest. The sale was to be at auction. On the day fixed, he was there and was offered five dollars to act as clerk of the sale, which he accepted. When the tract he wanted was offered, it soon developed that others wanted it. Bids ran up to the limit of his pile and halted for a time, when he added the five dollars——his day's compensation——and got it. There he subsequently built the fine residence where he lived until his death, January Fifth, 1904. The property is probably worth fifth thousand dollars.
In 1852, he was elected Clerk of the District Curt and administrator of the estate of Judge Burbridge.
In 1853, was built the Sherman Block, at the northeast corner of Third Street and Court Avenue, three stories high. The corner was designed for a bank, the second floor for offices, the third an amusement hall. Subsequently, the second and third floors were used for several years as county and city offices, until the rookery on Locust Street was built.
In 1854, the demand for better facilities for handling the monetary transactions consequent upon the immense land sales, most of which was done by speculators and land sharps with wild-cat money of little or no value and doubtful parentage, became apparent and a necessity. The bank of Hoyt Sherman & Company was organized to do a legitimate banking and exchange business. The known integrity and character of the company at once brought it success, and it was largely instrumental in driving out the worthless notes of the Agricultural Bank of Tennessee.
Sherman was not a politician nor a place-seeker, but in 1855 the Whigs persuaded him to become a candidate for Sheriff, with fair prospect of success, being exceedingly popular. The Democrats got scared. They agreed that Hoyt was a hard man to beat. His opponent was D. B. Spaulding, from Big Creek Settlement, up in Madison Township. Barlow Granger, who was chief engineer of the Democratic machine, put his wits at work. Something must be done. The glory of the party must be maintained. A Whig
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in the fattest office in the county must not be permitted. A secret conclave was held in Barlow's office two days before the election. When the election returns came in, they showed Sherman's election by a small majority, and the Whigs were joyful. But a day or two after, a fellow came in from an outlying, forgotten precinct up in the northwest corner of the county, with votes enough to give the majority to Spaulding. The Whigs always charged the defeat to Barlow, but the ways of politics are past finding out. Spaulding served the term and was reëlected.
In 1856, during the State House scrimmage between the "East Siders" and The Fort, Sherman took an active part. To give aid and comfort to the "West Siders," and put the State House on Grimmel's Hill, he subscribed three thousand dollars to the "war fund."
In 1858, when, under the new Constitution authorizing banks of issue, the State Bank of Iowa was organized, Sherman was elected Cashier of the Des Moines Branch, and the bank of Hoyt Sherman & Company merged into it. It had ample capital, its notes were kept at par and redeemed on presentation. It continued in business until Uncle Sam's national banking system went into operation.
In 1861, he was appointed Paymaster in the Army, with the rank of Major, and served through the Civil War. He disbursed millions of dollars, without the discrepancy of a penny. In this, as in all his business transactions, he was personification of exactness.
In January, 1867, the Equitable Life Insurance Company, now one of the leading companies of the kind in the West, was organized and he was elected Actuary; in February following, Secretary; in January, 1874, President, holding the office fourteen years.
In 1868, he was elected Corresponding Secretary of the Old Settlers' Association, and held the place several years.
Early in 1876, the Iowa Industrial Exposition Company was organized, with Sherman President. The object was the erection
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of a building for the permanent exhibit of specimens of art an industries of the state. A fine three-story brick, one hundred and thirty-two square, was erected, a large organ put in, and the interior arranged for exhibits. In September, a formal opening was had of a very creditable display. After several years, public interest in it waned, receipts fell below expenses, stockholders became dissatisfied, and it was sold to Mills & Company, who occupied it for their large publishing and printing business until 1881, when they retired from business and sold the building to a company who transformed it to the present Iliad Block.
On the failure of Allen, at a mass meeting of citizens and creditors, Sherman was selected by an unanimous vote for assignee to settle the immense tangled affairs of the estate, and make distribution of the property, a service which, for several years, required the exercise of sterling business capacity, diplomacy and sound judgment. It was a constant, vigorous contest with lawyers and litigants in the courts, and at the end little was left for anybody.
In social life, Sherman was of courtly, dignified mien——the young maidens in the very early days used to say at their social gatherings, "He is a nice young man, but too dignified." The young people in those days enjoyed life to the full extent of their exuberant natures, with very few conventionalities. There was ample time and space for pleasure seeking. There were no classified clubs. As late as 1876 was to be seen an old, low, dilapidated building, part log and part frame, at the southeast corner of Twelfth and Walnut streets, around which cluster many pleasant memories among old-timers. It was built originally of hew logs by T. B. Hoxie, in 1848, and considered the finest house in the whole county, which then embraced a large expanse of territory. In 1849, it passed to S. G. Keene. It was the headquarters for social functions. In summer-time, in the shade of the stately trees around it, were many happy, joyous gatherings. Mrs. Keene was never more delighted than when surrounded with a lot of hilarious young people. there were but two other houses in sight then, the residence of Mr. Grimmel, north on the hill, and another where now is the corner of Third and Vine streets, later on a part of the old Monitor House. After the decease of her husband, Mrs. Keene married Mr. Sypher,
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and her residence on Fourth Street, where the Elliott Hotel and Brinsmaid's store are, became the Mecca of socialities.*
June Twelfth, 1904.
*Died June Twenty-fifth, 1904.
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DR. T. K. BROOKS
 FEW, if any, of the first settlers here were better or more intimately known than Doctor Thomas K. Brooks, whose profession led him into the homes and confidence of the settlers. His genial, jolly, sympathetic nature made him very popular. Though an excellent physician, his presence was often more beneficial than his medicine.
He came to The Fort in September, 1845, and for a time made his home with John Beach, the Indian Agent, about half a mile east of Capital Hill, on what was known as the "Four Mile" or "State Road."
The next year was a busy one. He purchased the claim rights of Phelps & Company, the fur traders, near where the packing houses are, and in the Spring began to cultivate a farm. He also floated brick down the 'Coon during high water, and in the Fall erected, not far from Beach's residence, the first brick dwelling-house on the East Side, in which he lived several years. Near it was a pretty little body of water known as Brooks' Lake.
In April, a weekly mail with Keokuk was established. The first bag was sent by special messenger. On opening the bag, a commission was found appointing the Doctor Postmaster. He duly qualified, removed the office to his residence, and next year resigned as it interfered too much with his practice.
In this year agitation arose respecting the removal of the Capital from Iowa City to a more central point in the state. In January, a bill was before the Legislature to organize Polk County. Immediately, effort was made to secure the location of its county-seat. The Doctor, who had proved an indifferent farmer, and Jerry Church, laid out their claims into towns——on paper——and Brooklyn, Dudley, and Jerico became rivals of The Fort. Each had a strong lobby at Iowa City to get the Legislature to fix the county-seat, and after a spirited contest, it finally decided to send a Commission to
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locate it within two miles of Raccoon Forks. There was then a lively scrimmage between Brooklyn and The Fort, but the latter had the most population, the greatest prestige, and the Commissioners located it there. Politics also had much to do with it. the Fort was on the west side of the river, and its voters mostly Democrats. The Doctor was a Whig and an East Sider. The first county election was held in April. There was considerable talk of sharp practice. A. D. Jones, who surveyed the original town of Fort Des Moines, and a man named Woodward were candidates for Surveyor.
Woodward was a Brooklyn supporter; Jones was a West Sider, with "expectations" if The Fort won. He spent the whole election day at the polls in Camp Precinct and did not get a vote. When the votes were returned, there were one hundred and five for Woodward from Camp and Allen precincts, and seventy for Jones from the The Fort. By some peculiar method of addition, division and silence, the election was given to Jones. That was the beginning of the feud between the East and West sides, which for ten years was more or less furious, coming to a climax in the contest for the location of the State House. It left a rankling which still exists, a fact apparent in every city divided by a river.
After the county-seat question was settled, the Doctor devoted his time to his practice, with real estate as a side line. He was an active member of the Setters' Claim Club, organized to protect settlers against claim jumpers and land sharks. He was an ardent Whig, a good speaker, and took an active part in politics, not as a place-seeker, but to prevent some Democrat from getting one.
In 1850, the Doctor was the Whig candidate for Probate Judge, his opponent being J. C. Jones. Probably owing to the Doctor's profession, the Democrats didn't want him to administer their estates, and they elected Jones by a vote of seventy-six to one hundred and eight.
In 1852, the farmers, beginning to have ambition and pride in their doings, had an agricultural Fair in the Court House yard. Brooks, who was a lover of horses, drove some fine steppers, a pseudo farmer, exhibited some good equine specimens merely to set "the boys" thinking.
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In 1854-4, the Doctor, with W. A. Scott, John S. Dean, J. M. and Harry Griffiths, and the two Lyons, began to build up a town by laying out and platting additions on the East Side. They were all hustlers, sharp, shrewd, and, to emphasize their individuality, diesregard and disrepect for The Fort, they adopted "East Demoin" as the corporate name of their new town, and so it went in their real estate conveyances and on record. The Doctor built a fine residence near the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets, in which he resided until his death.
In the Spring of 1853, the State Agrucultural Society was formed, and its first Exhibition was held at Fairfield, in the Fall. The Doctor, "Uncle Tommy" Mitchell and Judge Wm. McKay, were the Directors for Polk County.
In 1855, when the contest for the permanent location of the State House came on, the Doctor, with Scott, the Griffiths, the Lyons, Doctor A. B. Shaw, and others, formed an Association——a sort of close coporation——so close its ways were never disclosed——to provide the necessary means to induce the Legislative Commission, who were authorized to receive bonus, lots or aid of any kind, to fix the location on that side. The West Siders wanted it put on Grimmel's Hill, between Fourth and Eighth streets, School Street and Grand Avenue.
They subscribed to a fund $159,250, to be paid if there located. By some peculiar system of financiering, the East Siders won. The West Siders were mad. They charged all sorts of sculduggery against the East Siders——that, whereas the money subscribed on the West Side was to be paid to the State, on the East Side it all went into the pockets of somebody else. It is a fact, however, that some of the men in it lost large sums, and if the truth was known, some of the Legislative Commission got more than their two dollars per diem while making their investigation.
During this year, the Doctor was drawn to serve on the Grand Jury, and was made Foreman. In those days the County Commissioners issued licenses to keep "groceries," which, being interpreted, meant the privilege to sell "corn juice" and "tangle-foot" with tea, coffee, and sugar. The traffic, however, became so demoralizing that the Legislature cut it out, and prohibited the sale of
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intoxicating liquors except by a duly authorized County Agent. The agent for Polk County was Doctor D. V. Cole. He was given one thousand dollars with which to purchase a supply of "pure, unadulterated liquor for medical, mechanical and sacramental purposes,"——so runs the record. The "purposes," were often very "mechanically" construed by purchasers, whose veracity was not very seriously questioned. It was not surprising, therefore, that there was notable increase of "sickness" and "mechanical industries," or that the "County Grocery" did a thriving business. The record, however, does not disclose any spiritual revival among the churches.
When Judge McFarland came, with his District Court and Grand Jury, he was unusally sober. He instructed the jury that it was a part of their duty to look for probable infraction of the laws, and especially the sale and quality of the "goods" kept at the County Agency. The jury——fifteen of them——proceeded forthwith to the examination, spending several hours testing the liquor, especially for purity, at the suggestion of the foreman. They finally returned to the Court House filled with the satisfactoriness of their work——in fact, it was said, too full for utterance——filed their report, at once adjourned, and went home. The Judge, learning the jury had returned, ordered the bailiff peremptorily to bring them into court. Being told that they had gone home, he inquired if there was "anything left." He was told there was a sample of the "the best" on file in the Sheriff's office; he thereupon adjourned court, and invited the lawyers to go with him and "test it."
On another occasion,w hen the Judge was "full," the jury appeared before him for instructions. Straightening himself up, he said:
"Gentlemen of the Jury: You will (hic) find the law of Iowa in the laws of Iowa. It is your (hic) duty, gentlemen, to see that the law (hic) is obeyed, and that it is not violated. You are made (hic), gentlemen, a body to inquire into every breach (hic) of the law, and to do this you're duly sworn (hic)——sworn——sworn. If you have prob'ble (hic) cause to believe that liquor has been sold by the dram (hic), you must make presentment to the court. For your instructions (hic), I will say that a dram of whiskey is a (hic) mule's ear full. Mr. Foreman, you will indict (hic) every
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man in the world (hic). Mr. Clerk, you will let (hic) Mr. Foreman have all the books in the (hic) world. You will retire, gentlemen to your (hic)——adjourn the court, Mr. (hic) Sheriff, to one o'clock."<.p>
The Doctor was especially interested in educational matters, and gave to public schools his earnest, vigorous support. In 1856, when the Lutheran Church State Conference decided to establish a college here, he was elected one of the Board of Trustees. The hard times of 1857 brought failure to the project, and the property passed to Elder Nash, and became what is now Des Moines College after several changes of name and location.
In 1860 and 1867, the Doctor was Alderman from the Sixth Ward in the City Council, and a vigorous, active member of that body.
In 1864, the Soldier's Relief Society was organized, with Mayor Leas President and the Doctor Vice-President. In December, a festival was held, at which the net proceeds were four thousand two hundred and forty-five dollars and twenty-eight cents. Everybody was open-handed, and during the year the society raised seven thousand two hundred and sixty-one dollars and thirty-five cents. Added to his were generous donations by civic societies, churches and individuals. In this benevolent service, the Doctor devoted his most earnest effort; for with him relief to the call of suffering was paramount.
He died in 1868, after a short illness, of pneumonia, aged fifty-seven, leaving a record of earnest, forcible effort to promote the prosperity and best interests of the city and county.
June Nineteenth, 1904.
ROBERT L. TIDRICK
 OF the pioneers of the city, none were more thoroughly identified with its history, or a part of it during the first thirty years, than R. L. Tidrick. He arrived here in May, 1847, fresh from a law school, and at once opened a private school in one of the log barrack buildings on 'Coon River. That the school was popular is evidenced by the large attendance of scholars from all parts of the county. In the Fall, he joined Major William McKay, who subsequently became Judge of the District Court, in the practice of law.
In the Spring of 1848, he was appointed Postmaster, to succeed Doctor Brooks, and removed the office to the law of office of P. M. Casady, on Second Street, near Vine. He held the office one year, when he formed a partnership with Casady in the law and real estate business, the land business having increased to large proportions by the influx of settlers.
In April, 1848, at a meeting of citizens of the county, the Settlers' Claim Club was organized, consisting of one hundred members, for the purpose of protecting settlers from speculators and claim jumpers. For some time before lands were surveyed or open to homestead entry, settlers had come, staked out claims and commenced the cultivation of farms and building of houses, awaiting the time when they could be formally entered and secured through the Government Land Office. Meanwhile, speculators from the East, with ample funds, went all over the country, selected the most desirable spots, and made a record thereof, with the intent to over-bid the settler and real claimant when the lands were offered for sale at the Land Office. Claim jumpers also abounded, who would take advantage of a settler's temporary absence or sickness, so as not to be present at the land sale. In other parts of the state there had been very many of these claim troubles. Actual and bona fide settlers were despoiled and robbed of their homes, even murders
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were committed, and in some counties mob law reigned. It was to provide better protection and prevent mob violence that the club was formed here. Rules were adopted and committees elected to enforce the rules, the first of which was:——
"We will protect all persons who do or may hold claims, against the interference of any person who shall attempt to deprive such claim holders of their claims and improvements, by preëmption or otherwise."
It was also declared that every person who attempted to interfere with the rights of a claim holder should be deemed a nuisance, and abated; and they would be notified by the proper committee to leave the vicinity and county, with pledged authority to enforce the order to travel.
Strict vigilance was kept by members of the club. Strangers going through the county found it eminently proper to keep their hands off from land claims. If they became suspicious of any scheme against a settler, they were emphatically and convincingly shown that their personal safety was in their absence from the community.
A short time prior to the land sale at Iowa City, an immense meeting of the club and settlers was held, and Tidrick was elected bidder to attend the sale at Iowa City, and a platoon of stalwart men were selected as his body-guard, to go thoroughly equipped to meet what might come. Their presence was sufficient to secure the adjustment of nearly every claim presented from this county, at the minimum price of one dollar and a quarter per acres. Not a speculator dared to raise a bid when made by Tidrick. by this unity of action and the cool-headedness of Tidrick, the county was saved the turmoil and disturbances which prevailed elsewhere. Subsequent to this, whenever dispute arose respecting a claim, the Club Committee settled it. There was no appeal from it. If one of the contestants was suspected to be a speculator, he was informed that the roads were in good condition for traveling, and fence rails, tar and feathers accessible.
A single incident will illustrate the methods. It was after the Land Office had been removed to Des Moines. A man came here named Bates, who disported himself with considerable pomposity
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about the taverns. The land sales were brisk. The town was full of settlers entering their claims and making purchases. He made it known that he was here to buy land; that he had money, plenty to buy all he wanted and pay the price according to law. He didn't care a continental about Claim Clubs. He would buy a claim if he got a chance. One morning when the sale was opened, a settler's claim in Walnut Township was put up and he made a bid on it. Instantly he was surrounded by a group of stalwart, determined men, and two rails planted vertically in front of him, with several old shotguns and pistols outlying. He was politely invited to take a walk. He was escorted to the river bank. He sat down. A strong guard was left with him. The water in the river was cold. What might happen after night came on was uncertain. The doings of the Club Committee in such cases were never made public, as a rule. He pondered over the subject until darkness came, when he collapsed, and made a pledge that he would offer no more interference with settlers' claims, and he was permitted to travel.
"Jim" Miller, over here in the post office, remembers one night when he was living over east of Capitol Hill. He was awakened from sleep by some disturbance outside. He hustled out to learn the cause. A few rods from the house was a deep well, near which could be dimly discerned a posse of men. "Jim" advanced to see who they were, when he was told to stay where he was, and "in the morning go to Moody's store and get a well rope." He obeyed orders. The next morning the well rope was gone, and at Moody's a new well rope sixty feet long was waiting for him, charges all paid, but by whom he never knew. He asked no questions. There were occasions in those days when inquisitiveness was folly.
In November, 1850, Tidrick was appointed Prosecuting Attorney, to fill a vacancy, and served until the next election, in April, when J. M. Perry, a loquacious and somewhat consequential lawyer, was elected, who gained some notoriety on one occasion by running up against Judge Byron Rice, an incident more properly to be noted in sketches of the Judge later on.
In 1852, the rush for land by home-seekers throughout the central part of the state began to increase rapidly. For them to traverse the country to make their selection, often fifty to a hundred
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miles, then go to Iowa City to make a formal entry and pay for it was an enormous expense, for those, in most cases, unable to bear it. After repeated petitions of the Iowa Legislature for relief from the Government, in September, a Land Office was established here, and the following April Tidrick was appointed Register, held the place one year, and resigned because of bad health. The office was in the Exchange Block, corner of Third and Walnut streets. The tide of land-seekers at once set in here; the town was crowded day and night. With it floated in the speculators. Everybody was on the rush. The man who had selected a tract a hundred miles away was in a hurry to get it entered lest it be done by another who had been there before him. The jurisdiction of the Polk County Claims Cub didn't extend to this traffic, which covered all the state north and west of Polk County, and west of Grundy County. For two or three years this was a lively town.
In 1855, having been out of business for two years by bad health, Tidrick became a partner with Hoyt Sherman and Judge Casady in the banking and real estate business at Third and Walnut streets.
When the State House contest between the East Side and West Side came on, Tidrick put up one thousand dollars to have the Capital placed on Grimmel's Hill, and was very active to beat the East Siders.
In 1856, the Sherman Block, at Third Street and Court Avenue, was buildt, and occupied by the banking firm of Sherman, Casady & Tidrick, the post office, general business offices, then for county and city offices. It was for several years the trade center.
In 1857, when the prefix "Fort" was dropped and the city simply became Des Moines, at the election in April, Tidrick was elected Alderman for the Fourth Ward, and in 1879 was elected Mayor.
In 1860, he organized the Des Moines Iron Works, which, with several mutations and expansions, is still doing business at East First Street and Court Avenue, as the Des Moines Manufacturing and Supply Company.
In 1876, he joined the Association which built the Exposition Building, at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars, at Eighth and Walnut streets (now the Iliad), for the permanent exhibition of
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Art and Industry of the state. With persistent boosting and energy of the promoters, it was a success for a couple of years, but, being ahead of time, it failed for want of support, and was transformed to a printing house by Frank Mills, who occupied it until he quit business, when it was changed to its present form. The original promoters sunk several thousand dollars in the enterprise, which was intended not so much for profit as a benefit and help to the city.
In May, 1888, Tidrick was again appointed Register of the Land Office, and held the office one year, when he retired from all active business.
He was an efficient, active member of the Brotherhood of Early Settlers, and for many years its Recording Secretary. It was what is now known as the Old Settlers' Association.
He was a quiet, unostentatious man, not a politician or a place-seeker, yet often selected for places of trust. He was a man of few words, without forensic ability, quite unlike his long-time business partner, Judge Casady, yet in his own way, beginning with an educational effort, he helped materially to mould and build the city, and became quite wealthy. He died October Twenty-fourth, 1894.
July Third, 1904.
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