Charles Clinton Nourse
Charles Clinton NourseFrom Photograph by I. W. Kramer, Des Moines
CHAPTER XIX
About Prohibition
In the month of November, 1889, the democratic party of the state of Iowa, for the first time since the election of Governor Grimes in 1854, succeeded in electing their candidate for governor; to-wit, Horace Boies. This was brought about by a singular combination between the railroad and the saloon interests of the state. I have already given some account of the effect upon the question of prohibition of the foolish policy pursued by the pretended friends of temperance in securing from the supreme court of the state a decision against the right to manufacture alcohol within the limits of the state for the purpose of export, and also the foolishness and wickedness of certain pretended friends of prohibition in instituting fraudulent prosecutions with a view to making costs and fees for their own personal profit. During the administration of Governor Larrabee the railroads of the state had become very restive under the control exercised by the Railroad Commissioners of the state under the law of 1888. In the month of August, 1888, some thirty suits were commenced in the district court of Polk county against the Rock Island, Northwestern, and "Q" railroads for penalties incurred in failure to make their reports to the Commissioners as required by the statute. The railroads of Iowa had become a very potent political power. We had five railroads extending from the Mississippi to the Missouri river, and in every county of the state in which these roads were located the railroads had one or more active attorneys to look after their interests, and under such captaincy as Blythe, of Burlington, and Hubbard, of Cedar Rapids, they exercised a very important influence over the politics of the state, controlling to a large extent the nomination of supreme judges and district judges and other state officers. The people of the state had become restive under the domination of this power. The open and shameless peddling of railroad passes to the members of the general assembly had begun to lose its power as against the rising indignation of the people. In the counties of Lee, Des Moines, Muscatine, Scott, and Dubuque on the Mississippi river, and such interior counties as Johnson and Crawford, with their foreign population, the saloon power of the state, uniting with the railroads, was sufficient to cause a successful revolt against the party in power. Horace Boies, the democratic candidate for governor, openly and shamelessly declared the prohibitory law to be cruel and unjust in its provisions, and his utterances in this behalf encouraged the violators of the law to believe what they afterwards realized, that though the courts might assess penalties, yet an executive who believed the penalty to be unjust could easily be persuaded to exercise pardoning power in their remission, and such was the result. For four years during the administration of Horace Boies the effort to enforce the prohibitory law was almost paralyzed. After incurring all the expense and trouble incident to the conviction of any one violating the prohibitory law, the people had the mortification of seeing the judgments of the courts rendered nugatory by the wrongful exercise of the pardoning power, vested by the constitution in the governor for wise and proper purposes, prostituted by an unscrupulous politician for his own political advancement and that of his party.
Another cause of this successful revolution in the politics of the state arose from the absolute cowardice of the leading republicans of the state in not defending the legislation for which they were responsible. During the candidacy of Boies for his second term, a gentleman who was a candidate on the state ticket for a state office applied to me and asked my consent to publicly discuss the question of prohibition with Mr. Boies in case the state central committee of the party would arrange for such discussion. I gave my consent to such an arrangement, provided the committee would agree to the same, but he afterwards reported to me that the committee did not think it advisable. On the part of the public speakers in behalf of the republican cause the only discussion of the question of prohibition was an apology for the enactment of the law. They did not attempt to discuss the question of right or wrong, but only that the law was enacted because the people by their vote upon the constitutional amendment had signified their approval of prohibition. The result of this cowardice and the four years' domination of the democratic party had its result in the platform adopted by the republican state convention in the year 1893. Only the year before this the republican state convention had adopted a resolution promising the people of the state that the party would take no backward step on the subject of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and at this convention in 1893 they adopted the following resolution:
Resolved, That prohibition is not a test of republicanism. The general assembly has given to the state a prohibitory law as strong as any that has been enacted in any country. Like any other criminal statute, its retention, mitigation or repeal must be determined by the general assembly, elected by and in sympathy with the people and to it is relegated the subject, to take such action as they may deem best in the matter, maintaining the present law in those portions of the state where it is now or can be made efficient, and giving to other localities such methods of controlling and regulating the liquor traffic as will best serve the cause of temperance and morality.
Resolved, That prohibition is not a test of republicanism. The general assembly has given to the state a prohibitory law as strong as any that has been enacted in any country. Like any other criminal statute, its retention, mitigation or repeal must be determined by the general assembly, elected by and in sympathy with the people and to it is relegated the subject, to take such action as they may deem best in the matter, maintaining the present law in those portions of the state where it is now or can be made efficient, and giving to other localities such methods of controlling and regulating the liquor traffic as will best serve the cause of temperance and morality.
Under this platform, which merely meant the return of the open licensed saloon to Iowa in such localities in which the people would tolerate them, Mr. A. B. Cummins and his followers were all received back with open arms as prodigal sons and became at once important leaders politically in the republican party. The friends of prohibition were shocked and alarmed at this result and at once the prominent and more courageous prohibitionists of the state joined in a call for an independent republican convention favorable to prohibition. At the solicitation of a number of prohibitionists in the city of Des Moines I prepared the following address and call for a state convention, which address was adopted by a public meeting, held in the city of Des Moines:
When, through the machinations of men who, in their desire for success, have lost sight of principle, causes dear to humanity are about to be sacrificed, it becomes the duty of patriotic citizens to make an organized effort to rescue their imperiled rights.As republicans we assert our unqualified devotion to the doctrines and principles of the republican party as heretofore set forth in our national platform, and as declared by republican state conventions and put in practical effect in the state of Iowa by republican legislators prior to the meeting of the republican state convention, held at Des Moines on the sixteenth inst. We declare that through the patriotic efforts of the republican party of Iowa prohibition had become the settled policy of the state, and that any attempt on the part of the politicians to induce the party to take a backward step on that question is to repudiate a past honorable record and to uselessly endanger future success by a base imitation of a hitherto despised opposition.More than forty years ago the people of Iowa without distinction of party declared through the enactment of their general assembly, that the "people of this state would hereafter take no part in the profits of the retail of intoxicating liquors." This principle was again approved by the people of the state in the adoption of the act of 1855, approved by Governor Grimes, and more recently the people again endorsed the principle by adopting a constitutional amendment prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors for the purpose of a beverage. The people of the state of Iowa have never indicated any desire for a change of policy on this question, but on the contrary through the action of their representatives expressly elected upon this issue, they have constantly and consistently adhered to our present law.The declarations of the recent republican convention have not been brought about by any change of sentiment on the part of the republicans of the state, but in our judgment its action is the result of a combination of politicians who had other and ulterior purposes at heart, and have failed to realize that whatever may have been their own want of convictions upon the question, the great mass of people have been honest and sincere. The honest voters of the republican party are not "clay in the hands of the potter," to be molded into any fashion that may suit the professional politician. The battle that for the past quarter of a century they have been waging against the liquor power and influence, and in which they have gained so many signal triumphs, has not been prompted by a mere desire for office or place, nor have our forces been kept together by the mere "cohesive power of the hope of public plunder." Hence if the defeat of 1891 could in any measure have been attributed to the position of the party on the question of prohibition, it would not constitute a valid reason for a shameful surrender and retreat. When the republican party declared for the maintenance of the prohibitory law, and promised that the party would take no backward step on this question, the earnest and honest men of the party did not mean that the party would only pursue that policy so long as it would win, but they meant that prohibition was right and that they would maintain the right, and that they intended to fight it out on that line, not only that summer, but until the saloon should make an unconditional surrender.We have reasons to believe and do believe that the platform of the convention of the sixteenth inst., on the subject of temperance, was brought about by the same combination of railroad and saloon influence that defeated our party in the election of 1891, aided by the timid and half-hearted defense of our platform through the weakness of our state central committee.The implied threat of the same combination to repeat their opposition in the approaching election, induced the republican state central committee to unite in accomplishing this surrender. It is said and often repeated that there is no hope for the cause of prohibition except through the success of the republican party. This was undoubtedly true so long as the state platform pledged the party to maintain and enforce the law.The platform adopted on the sixteenth inst. not only does not promise to maintain prohibition as a state policy, but expressly declares in favor of "something else" in those localities where the prohibitory law was not enforced. This "something else" in the pretended "interest of true temperance" can deceive no man who does not desire to be deceived. It is a base imitation of democratic state platforms, and intends merely the "Schmidt bill" or the "Gatch bill" or some other equally objectionable attempt to abandon prohibition as a principle and as a state policy.We believe in the sovereignty of the state of Iowa, and in its undivided sovereignty over every foot of territory within its boundaries. We do not believe the general assembly should attempt to exercise the power to make an act criminal in one part of the state and license the same act in another part of the state. The constitution of our state requires that all laws enacted by the general assembly "shall have a uniform operation." If the state shall concede that the sale of intoxicating liquors may be licensed in one part of the state and saloons may be lawfully established in one city or county, with what consistency can the state punish such acts as criminal when done in another locality within her jurisdiction. The establishment of a saloon for the propagation of drunkenness is either innocent or a criminal act. We recognize no middle ground. We do not believe in compromising with criminals or commuting offenses committed against the best interests of humanity. Neither do we believe the republican party of Iowa can ever survive an act so inconsistent with principle and her former professions, as would be the repeal of our present prohibitory law or the enactment of a license system for any part of the state.We do not propose or recommend opposition to the election of any candidate for the general assembly on the republican ticket who is in favor of maintaining and enforcing our present law. The election of such is consistent with our past history and policy and will secure a republican United States senator. If, however, any candidate for the general assembly on the republican ticket shall declare for a saloon as against what has heretofore been recognized as republicanism, the responsibility of his defeat, with all its political consequences, will be upon him, and not upon those who are true to their convictions and principles and the past policy of the party.We, therefore, the republicans of Polk county in mass convention assembled, at the instance and with the coöperation of the republicans of Sac and other counties of the state, who protest and dissent from the action of the state convention of the sixteenth inst., with the view of an organized effort that may save our party from committing the great wrong and outrage attempted, do hereby invite all citizens who agree with us in sentiment and purpose to meet in delegate convention in Calvary Tabernacle at Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday the fifth day of September, A.D. 1893, at 10 A.M., to take such steps and devise such measures asFirst.Will secure the election to the general assembly at the November election of such candidates only as will maintain the present prohibitory law.Second.As will secure such action and such an expression of the will and wishes of the people of the state as will convince the republican managers that the path of honor is the only path of safety.
When, through the machinations of men who, in their desire for success, have lost sight of principle, causes dear to humanity are about to be sacrificed, it becomes the duty of patriotic citizens to make an organized effort to rescue their imperiled rights.
As republicans we assert our unqualified devotion to the doctrines and principles of the republican party as heretofore set forth in our national platform, and as declared by republican state conventions and put in practical effect in the state of Iowa by republican legislators prior to the meeting of the republican state convention, held at Des Moines on the sixteenth inst. We declare that through the patriotic efforts of the republican party of Iowa prohibition had become the settled policy of the state, and that any attempt on the part of the politicians to induce the party to take a backward step on that question is to repudiate a past honorable record and to uselessly endanger future success by a base imitation of a hitherto despised opposition.
More than forty years ago the people of Iowa without distinction of party declared through the enactment of their general assembly, that the "people of this state would hereafter take no part in the profits of the retail of intoxicating liquors." This principle was again approved by the people of the state in the adoption of the act of 1855, approved by Governor Grimes, and more recently the people again endorsed the principle by adopting a constitutional amendment prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors for the purpose of a beverage. The people of the state of Iowa have never indicated any desire for a change of policy on this question, but on the contrary through the action of their representatives expressly elected upon this issue, they have constantly and consistently adhered to our present law.
The declarations of the recent republican convention have not been brought about by any change of sentiment on the part of the republicans of the state, but in our judgment its action is the result of a combination of politicians who had other and ulterior purposes at heart, and have failed to realize that whatever may have been their own want of convictions upon the question, the great mass of people have been honest and sincere. The honest voters of the republican party are not "clay in the hands of the potter," to be molded into any fashion that may suit the professional politician. The battle that for the past quarter of a century they have been waging against the liquor power and influence, and in which they have gained so many signal triumphs, has not been prompted by a mere desire for office or place, nor have our forces been kept together by the mere "cohesive power of the hope of public plunder." Hence if the defeat of 1891 could in any measure have been attributed to the position of the party on the question of prohibition, it would not constitute a valid reason for a shameful surrender and retreat. When the republican party declared for the maintenance of the prohibitory law, and promised that the party would take no backward step on this question, the earnest and honest men of the party did not mean that the party would only pursue that policy so long as it would win, but they meant that prohibition was right and that they would maintain the right, and that they intended to fight it out on that line, not only that summer, but until the saloon should make an unconditional surrender.
We have reasons to believe and do believe that the platform of the convention of the sixteenth inst., on the subject of temperance, was brought about by the same combination of railroad and saloon influence that defeated our party in the election of 1891, aided by the timid and half-hearted defense of our platform through the weakness of our state central committee.
The implied threat of the same combination to repeat their opposition in the approaching election, induced the republican state central committee to unite in accomplishing this surrender. It is said and often repeated that there is no hope for the cause of prohibition except through the success of the republican party. This was undoubtedly true so long as the state platform pledged the party to maintain and enforce the law.
The platform adopted on the sixteenth inst. not only does not promise to maintain prohibition as a state policy, but expressly declares in favor of "something else" in those localities where the prohibitory law was not enforced. This "something else" in the pretended "interest of true temperance" can deceive no man who does not desire to be deceived. It is a base imitation of democratic state platforms, and intends merely the "Schmidt bill" or the "Gatch bill" or some other equally objectionable attempt to abandon prohibition as a principle and as a state policy.
We believe in the sovereignty of the state of Iowa, and in its undivided sovereignty over every foot of territory within its boundaries. We do not believe the general assembly should attempt to exercise the power to make an act criminal in one part of the state and license the same act in another part of the state. The constitution of our state requires that all laws enacted by the general assembly "shall have a uniform operation." If the state shall concede that the sale of intoxicating liquors may be licensed in one part of the state and saloons may be lawfully established in one city or county, with what consistency can the state punish such acts as criminal when done in another locality within her jurisdiction. The establishment of a saloon for the propagation of drunkenness is either innocent or a criminal act. We recognize no middle ground. We do not believe in compromising with criminals or commuting offenses committed against the best interests of humanity. Neither do we believe the republican party of Iowa can ever survive an act so inconsistent with principle and her former professions, as would be the repeal of our present prohibitory law or the enactment of a license system for any part of the state.
We do not propose or recommend opposition to the election of any candidate for the general assembly on the republican ticket who is in favor of maintaining and enforcing our present law. The election of such is consistent with our past history and policy and will secure a republican United States senator. If, however, any candidate for the general assembly on the republican ticket shall declare for a saloon as against what has heretofore been recognized as republicanism, the responsibility of his defeat, with all its political consequences, will be upon him, and not upon those who are true to their convictions and principles and the past policy of the party.
We, therefore, the republicans of Polk county in mass convention assembled, at the instance and with the coöperation of the republicans of Sac and other counties of the state, who protest and dissent from the action of the state convention of the sixteenth inst., with the view of an organized effort that may save our party from committing the great wrong and outrage attempted, do hereby invite all citizens who agree with us in sentiment and purpose to meet in delegate convention in Calvary Tabernacle at Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday the fifth day of September, A.D. 1893, at 10 A.M., to take such steps and devise such measures as
First.Will secure the election to the general assembly at the November election of such candidates only as will maintain the present prohibitory law.
Second.As will secure such action and such an expression of the will and wishes of the people of the state as will convince the republican managers that the path of honor is the only path of safety.
The call for this convention alarmed the leaders of the republican party in the state, and they were very active in their efforts to counteract its effect. The convention was held according to the call on the 5th of September, 1893, and we had a very large representation and a very enthusiastic convention. We adopted a platform embracing the principles indicated in the call for the convention and nominated a state ticket. Our candidate for Governor, Mr. L. S. Coffin, was not present in the convention, but Doctor Fellows, a prominent prohibitionist of the state, vouched for his entire sympathy with the movement and his acceptance of the nomination. Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, who had been president of the national W.C.T.U., was sent by politicians from Washington, D.C., and was present at the convention, for the purpose, if possible, of alienating such as she could influence from taking part in or endorsing the movement. She seated herself in the gallery over against the chair occupied by the president and scowled and looked vengeance at those who took an active part in its proceedings. When I read the call for the convention before set out she looked for all the world like Tam O'Shanter's wife when waiting for Tam's return, "Knitting her brows like a gathering storm and nursing her wrath to keep it warm." During the recess of the convention she was very busy button-holing first one and then another of the prominent prohibitionists in attendance, taking them to a private parlor in the hotel and laboring with them to convince them that the success of the republican party was more important than the question of prohibition. After our nomination of Coffin as our candidate for Governor, Mr. Lafe Young, editor of theCapital, made a visit to Mr. Coffin at his home at Fort Dodge. Mr. Coffin had prepared his letter of acceptance of our nomination, but Young induced him to cut it in two and change the latter half of it so that it would read a declination of the nomination, and by some means unknown to the public induced Mr. Coffin to take the stump and make a number of speeches on the tariff question during the political canvass that year. By some means unknown also to me, the leading railroad lawyers of the state who had supported Boies were induced to return to their allegiance to the republican party, and the party succeeded in electing Jackson their candidate for governor, and also electing a legislature in sympathy with their saloon platform. The general assembly that met in January, 1894, accordingly passed the act known as the mulct law, being chapter 62 of the laws of the 25th general assembly of the state. This act does not in terms attempt to repeal the prohibitory law then in force in the state. On the contrary, section 16 of the act expressly provides: "Nothing in this act contained, shall be in any way construed to mean that the business of the sale of intoxicating liquors is in any way legalized, nor is the same to be construed in any manner or form as a license, nor shall the assessment or payment of any tax for the sale of liquors as aforesaid, protect the wrongdoer from any penalty now provided by law, except that on conditions hereinafter provided certain penalties may be suspended."
The next section of the act provides for the circulation of a petition, and by obtaining a certain majority or percentage of the voters to sign a petition to that effect the penalties provided in the prohibitory liquor law shall not be enforced against the offender. Under this law the brewers of St. Louis and Milwaukee employed men to circulate petitions, paying them five dollars a day for their services in obtaining signatures to petitions in certain counties of the state, under which the parties who paid the required tax were secured against any prosecutions for violations of the law. I tried several cases in the district and supreme court of the state for the purpose of testing the constitutionality of this act of the legislature. It placed the pardoning power theretofore exercised by the Governor of the state in the hands of the brewers of Milwaukee and St. Louis and their employees, provided they could by such means as they might adopt, obtain the required number of signatures to such petitions. It clearly recognized that what was a crime under the law in one part of the state, might be committed provided the necessary amount was furnished and paid into the public treasury as a commutation for the offense, and that payment should be made in advance without reference to the number of offenses that might be committed. It was clearly not a law of uniform operations under the decisions of our supreme court as theretofore held, for it was a crime in one city or county in the state and not a crime in another city or county of the state; notwithstanding the law making it a crime was still left in full force and effect, except as it was abrogated in a particular locality by the signing of certain petitions. Strange to say the supreme court of Iowa, notwithstanding their former decisions to which I have heretofore referred, sustained this law and its constitutionality, and under it in all of the counties of the state where we had any considerable foreign population the legalized saloon has returned to do its deadly work and the only compensation for it is that men who call themselves republicans have been able to hold and enjoy the honors of public office. After the decision of our supreme court upon the question of the constitutionality of this act I received from the editors of a law publication east a communication requesting my views and opinions for publication in their law magazine, and I simply wrote upon the letter addressed to me the statement that the decision made by our supreme court under this law was a political necessity and that it was an old and true adage that necessity knew no law, and I had no further comments to make upon it.
Since the prominent part that I took in this canvass of 1893 my standing with the republican party has been rather impaired; nevertheless, subsequently in the campaigns of Mr. Wm. Jennings Bryan involving the national policy of the republican party, I have taken very active part. The free coinage of silver heresy of Mr. Bryan I regarded as a serious menace to the integrity and honor of the nation, and I spent very considerable time and my own private means in making public speeches condemning that wild and visionary scheme. In state politics I have taken no active part since 1894. I never belonged to or coöperated with what has been known as the "Third party" or the prohibition party as a national organization. When the prohibitionists of Iowa united with the national organization I strongly advised against it. I could not see any hope of accomplishing anything by such an organization. The states of Kansas, Iowa, and the Dakotas had become prohibition, and in my judgment the only effectual way of reaching the question of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, or the establishment of places of resort for such sale, was by the exercise of the police power of the states in the management of their own domestic affairs. The congress of the United States had no control over the subject, except in the matter of revenue laws or the taxing of the manufacture or sale of liquors. Our courts and the supreme court of the United States had agreed that the payment of taxes under these revenue laws and the issuing of what has been called a license, was really no protection as against the state law and its penalties. The general government does not exercise police power within the state but it may enforce penalties for the violation of revenue laws or enact laws regulating commerce within the states, but it cannot prohibit the establishment of the saloon or the maintenance of such a place merely upon the ground of preserving public order and morality. I could not and never have been able, therefore, to see the propriety of a national organization based upon the idea of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, or establishing places of resort for such sale.
Another objection to this third party, the national prohibition party, so-called, has been the adoption of a platform favoring universal suffrage without reference to sex. This also is a question over which the congress of the United States have not heretofore exercised any jurisdiction. The question of suffrage or the right to vote has been a matter peculiarly within the control of each state of the Union and its local constitution and laws, and is not and never has been a matter of national politics. I have always believed and still believe that if the prohibitionists had confined their efforts to the several states, capturing those in which they had some prospect of success, their cause would have grown and become stronger each year. The great centers of population such as New York City, Chicago, Cincinnati, and St. Louis, and such other cities filled as they are with foreign population, who have no sympathy with the manners and customs pertaining to these agricultural states, cannot in my judgment be brought under the control of prohibition at any time during the present or next generation of men, and I regard it as foolish to spend our time and our money in such quixotic efforts. My hope in inaugurating the movement that we made in 1893 was simply to teach the republicans of Iowa the lesson that success politically was not to be attained in this state by subservience to the saloon power, and that defeat in the election of that year might result in a return of the party to its better and higher purposes in maintaining that which was right and just and humane. That we were defeated in that effort at that time was most unfortunate, but the domination of the political power of the saloon, I still have faith to believe, will work its own destruction, and that the people of this state will return to their former convictions.
CHAPTER XX
Personal Incidents
In the spring of the year 1888 I sold my home, 707 Fourth street, and built a house for my residence on my farm. We left the old home with no little regret. It had been our place of residence since the fall of 1859, with the exception of two years in which we fitted up the property temporarily on the corner of Fifth and Center, while we built the new house on Fourth in the old location. We had planted the shade trees of hard and soft maple. Here our child had been born and had grown to manhood, here we had celebrated our silver wedding in 1878, and had enjoyed the society of many kind friends and persons of distinction and influence in the state. Bishop Andrews, the bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church, with his family, resided nearly opposite to our house, and Bishop Hearst and his family had lived on Third street nearby, and our excellent neighbors, A. Y. Rawson and his first wife, Thos. F. Withrow and his family, had been our kind friends through many years. Here we had entertained such men as Governor Grimes and Governor Kirkwood and his wife, Senator Harlan and his wife, Bishop Waldron, Bishop Simpson, and other distinguished men of the state and of the church.
The most difficult problem in my life that I had to solve was the care and education of my son. I felt that everything was at stake in his proper discipline and education. During his early childhood we sent him to school as already mentioned to Mrs. Winkley, afterwards for some years to the public school and still later to Callanan College, an institution taught by Dr. Pomeroy. When the time came for him to go from home and attend college my first thought was to send him to Iowa City to the State University, but I had grave fears in regard to the influence that prevailed in that city. The college campus was environed by saloons and public sentiment of that town was far from being what it ought to have been. Attorneys had been mobbed in the streets of the city for the offense of prosecuting the violators of the prohibitory law, and there had been no proper expression of public sentiment condemning the outrage. I consulted with a number of the best citizens of Iowa City in regard to the matter of sending my son there for his education, but I became satisfied that they knew but very little of what was transpiring in the city after bedtime. I thought it prudent to make an investigation on my own account. I accordingly took the train that left Des Moines at five o'clock in the afternoon, arriving at Iowa City about half past nine. I went to the St. James Hotel and quietly registered my name and engaged a room for the night, but did not go to bed. I waited until about half past ten or eleven o'clock, and took my hat and started out on a tour of inspection. I visited a number of the saloons on the public square and found them filled with young men, no doubt students of the college, and I met several crowds of these young gentlemen on the street headed by one of the trustees of the college in not a very sober condition. I returned to my hotel with my mind fully made up that my boy should go without an education before I would subject him to the risk of being educated in such a town. Subsequently I visited Ames in company with my wife and selected a proper room in the dormitory for my son's occupancy, and we sent him to Ames accordingly. He afterwards spent a year in California before settling down to business as an architect in Des Moines.
Rebecca A. McMeekin Nourse
Rebecca A. McMeekin NourseFrom Photograph by Edinger
He was anxious to design a country farm house that should be a credit to his own skill and ability. Our new house was completed in the latter part of July of that year. We found it somewhat inconvenient to be so far away from our church privileges and from business, but took great pleasure in improving our grounds and setting out fruit and ornamental trees for our new home. I had the old road changed so as to run east of the house. My wife soon became very much attached to the new home and here we had many pleasant reunions with our old friends and neighbors.
In 1886 I rented the farm, including the land in section 20 bought of Sneer, to Mr. Charles West for the term of three years, he carrying on a dairy farm on the place, reserving from his lease the right to occupy the orchard as well as my own residence, and also the right of pasture for a team of horses and a couple of cows. The next year, 1889, my son contracted marriage with Miss Elizabeth Baehring, and here were born my two grandchildren, Clinton Baehring Nourse on April 14, 1890, and Lawrence Baehring Nourse on October 5, 1893. My son and his wife and first child made a trip to Europe in the year 1892. In 1895 my son purchased a property on Fifth street and removed to the city and occupied the same until the fall of the year, when the children were both taken down with diphtheria. He put them both at once in a carriage and brought them out to our country home, where the oldest of the two children died September 10th. This was the first death we had in the family, and I purchased a lot in Woodland Cemetery where the little one was laid away.
The following year my health became somewhat impaired and I had a serious attack of what they called la grippe. I was somewhat overworked at that time, and under the advice of my physician I went with my wife to the state of Florida and spent the winter in St. Petersburg in that state, returning early in the spring and resuming my practice. For several successive years since then I have spent my winters in St. Petersburg, Florida.
In the year 1902 my son's health became seriously impaired, and early that fall with his wife and child he visited California, and in December of that year my wife and myself joined them. My son suffered from severe nervous condition that made it impossible for him to sleep only a few hours out of each twenty-four. He was reduced in flesh to about 117 pounds weight and I became seriously concerned for his future. Finding outdoor travel to agree with him better than treatment of the doctors, we finally in the month of April, 1903, determined upon a camping expedition and a visit to the Yosemite valley. We fitted out two teams with camp wagons and tent, and started from Long Beach about the 26th of April, traveling about twenty miles a day, going first via the coast to Santa Barbara and thence via Merced over to the Yosemite valley. At Santa Barbara my wife concluded she would not go any further with us on the trip. Our roads over mountains were very narrow, the outer wheel of the wagon only three or four feet from the precipice, and she suffered nervous apprehension that deprived her of any real enjoyment of the trip. I secured the services of a young man to accompany us on the further trip and to aid in the work incident to camp life. My son's wife had suffered from a spell of nervous indigestion and was scarcely able to do the cooking for her husband and child. I became the cook for myself and my assistant and acquired considerable skill in making coffee and flapjacks and frying breakfast bacon. The scenery upon this trip and in the valley of the Yosemite has been described by many writers more skilled than myself in putting their impressions upon paper. I can only say that we all enjoyed the trip exceedingly and were strongly impressed with these wonderful mountains and valleys and great trees that have acquired a world-wide reputation. My wife and myself returned to Iowa and to our home early in July, 1903.
During the second year of the tenancy of Mr. Chas. West I had the misfortune of losing all of my barns and outbuildings by fire. The loss amounted to about $3,500 and I only had $500 insurance on one of the barns. I immediately rebuilt the barns and granary and corn cribs, taking the precaution also to build a separate barn for my own use. A few months after my return from California in that year I discovered that one of my eyes had failed, supposed to be caused by a callous condition of the optic nerve. Soon after the other eye became affected in the same way, and later in the fall I was unable to read. I first applied to and received treatment from Dr. Pearson; afterwards I visited Chicago and took treatment of an oculist of some reputation there. The following winter I took treatment from Dr. Amos of Des Moines, and spent two weeks in the Methodist Hospital without receiving any relief or seeming benefit. These physicians were all candid enough to confess their inability to do me any good, and since that time I have been partially deprived of the use of my sight, and have not been able to read or write. My physicians promised me several years ago that I should lose my sight entirely, but in this I am happy to say they were wrong. I can still see imperfectly to get about and avoid collision with objects, but I am not able to recognize the features of friends and acquaintances.
I have continued every year to visit St. Petersburg during the winter season, and have made many pleasant and interesting acquaintances among the tourists who visit annually that place.
On the first day of November, 1906, my beautiful home was totally destroyed by fire. We lost all our furniture and clothing, except my private library and furnishings on the first floor of the house, which we succeeded in rescuing from the flames. The previous winter my wife had accompanied me to Florida and remained with me there during the season. After our house was destroyed we removed to the city and occupied apartments with my son and his wife in a block of flats then belonging to my son on Fifth street. The following winter, 1906-07, I spent in St. Petersburg, returning home in April of that year. I had been home only a few days before we made the sad discovery that my wife's health was fast failing. At her earnest solicitation, however, we rebuilt our house on the farm and in August of that year reëstablished ourselves in the location of our old home.
And now comes the saddest event of my life. On the 11th day of November, succeeding, my wife passed away. The previous 21st of March was her eightieth birthday. A short time before that date while at St. Petersburg, Florida, I received from my daughter Elizabeth a letter stating that she intended to have some friends spend an evening with my wife to have a birthday celebration, and requesting me to write some verses and also to send a new silk dress pattern to be presented to my wife on the occasion. I had a premonition that the sad event that later transpired in the fall was not far off. I wrote as cheerfully as I could under the circumstances and sent my daughter a check with which to purchase the silk dress pattern, and the following verses I composed as well as I could with my defective sight. They were read on the occasion, and those present assure me that my wife was cheerful and enjoyed their visit very much:
My Dear Wife:—Elizabeth, our daughter, writes to meThat she intends to have some friends to tea;She says she can't invite them all,Because our house is much too small,But she selected just a few,The ones she thinks are dearest most to you.She intends to celebrate, for mother dear,The birthday of her eightieth year,And she requests that I shall write to thee,What she is pleased to call some poetry,And that because I can't be thereShe'll read it from my vacant chair.She also writes, that while your health is good,That very lately she has understoodThat you are suffering some distress,And I must buy for you a new silk dress,And send it there together with the poetry,That she could have them both in time for tea.The journey has been very long my dear,And you have safely reached your eightieth year,But you will never seem so old to me,I still recall your face just as it used to be.Your brow is smooth, your eyes are bright,You still retain your appetite.This human life doth now as everDepend so much upon the liver.Some sixty years ago, I knewA fair young girl, she looked like you.We fell in love, a youthful dream,But even now, this world would seemA barren waste, if I could doubtThe love I could not live without.'Tis more than fifty years since we were wed,How rapidly the time has fled.The way has not been always smooth,I only cite the fact to proveOur love was true. That is to sayWe found some shadows o'er our way.But they were shadows only, and did not bother,For reaching out our hands to touch each otherWe kept the path until the lightShone out again and all was right.We've had our joy, our grief and sorrow,Differed today, agreed tomorrow,Forgave each other and repented,Firm one day, the next relented,But after all the truth to tellI think we've averaged very well.'Tis almost four and fifty yearsSince you, with many sighs and tears,Bade farewell to home and friends,Not knowing what your life might be,With only faith in God and love for me.I'm thinking of the time gone by,When from your home, both you and ICame west to seek and make a homeThat we might claim and call our own.Without our kindred, friends or wealth,We started forth with youth and health.Whate'er we have, whate'er we've gainedWe know we've honestly obtained,And we grew strong in faith and hope,And never thought of giving up.To our store we added day by day,And faithful friends have joined us on our way.No woman ever bore a sonMore true and faithful than our one,And when he grew to man's estateAnd sought and found a worthy mate,We got our daughter ready grownAnd took and loved her for our own.But there's another blessing yetAnd one we never can forget:Our dearest Laurence—The only grandchild we have left,Since of the other one bereft;But there is also present hereA cherub from another sphere.He comes to us from realms above,Drawn hither by the power of love.We can but feel his presence hereTo honor Grandma's eightieth year.I do not know how many moreOf birthdays you may have in store.It is not within our ken to know,Just how much further you may have to goBefore you reach the end.But whether near or far,We all will meet you at the "Gates Ajar."
My Dear Wife:—Elizabeth, our daughter, writes to meThat she intends to have some friends to tea;She says she can't invite them all,Because our house is much too small,But she selected just a few,The ones she thinks are dearest most to you.She intends to celebrate, for mother dear,The birthday of her eightieth year,And she requests that I shall write to thee,What she is pleased to call some poetry,And that because I can't be thereShe'll read it from my vacant chair.She also writes, that while your health is good,That very lately she has understoodThat you are suffering some distress,And I must buy for you a new silk dress,And send it there together with the poetry,That she could have them both in time for tea.
My Dear Wife:—
Elizabeth, our daughter, writes to me
That she intends to have some friends to tea;
She says she can't invite them all,
Because our house is much too small,
But she selected just a few,
The ones she thinks are dearest most to you.
She intends to celebrate, for mother dear,
The birthday of her eightieth year,
And she requests that I shall write to thee,
What she is pleased to call some poetry,
And that because I can't be there
She'll read it from my vacant chair.
She also writes, that while your health is good,
That very lately she has understood
That you are suffering some distress,
And I must buy for you a new silk dress,
And send it there together with the poetry,
That she could have them both in time for tea.
The journey has been very long my dear,And you have safely reached your eightieth year,But you will never seem so old to me,I still recall your face just as it used to be.Your brow is smooth, your eyes are bright,You still retain your appetite.This human life doth now as everDepend so much upon the liver.Some sixty years ago, I knewA fair young girl, she looked like you.We fell in love, a youthful dream,But even now, this world would seemA barren waste, if I could doubtThe love I could not live without.'Tis more than fifty years since we were wed,How rapidly the time has fled.The way has not been always smooth,I only cite the fact to proveOur love was true. That is to sayWe found some shadows o'er our way.But they were shadows only, and did not bother,For reaching out our hands to touch each otherWe kept the path until the lightShone out again and all was right.We've had our joy, our grief and sorrow,Differed today, agreed tomorrow,Forgave each other and repented,Firm one day, the next relented,But after all the truth to tellI think we've averaged very well.'Tis almost four and fifty yearsSince you, with many sighs and tears,Bade farewell to home and friends,Not knowing what your life might be,With only faith in God and love for me.I'm thinking of the time gone by,When from your home, both you and ICame west to seek and make a homeThat we might claim and call our own.Without our kindred, friends or wealth,We started forth with youth and health.Whate'er we have, whate'er we've gainedWe know we've honestly obtained,And we grew strong in faith and hope,And never thought of giving up.To our store we added day by day,And faithful friends have joined us on our way.No woman ever bore a sonMore true and faithful than our one,And when he grew to man's estateAnd sought and found a worthy mate,We got our daughter ready grownAnd took and loved her for our own.But there's another blessing yetAnd one we never can forget:Our dearest Laurence—The only grandchild we have left,Since of the other one bereft;But there is also present hereA cherub from another sphere.He comes to us from realms above,Drawn hither by the power of love.We can but feel his presence hereTo honor Grandma's eightieth year.I do not know how many moreOf birthdays you may have in store.It is not within our ken to know,Just how much further you may have to goBefore you reach the end.But whether near or far,We all will meet you at the "Gates Ajar."
The journey has been very long my dear,
And you have safely reached your eightieth year,
But you will never seem so old to me,
I still recall your face just as it used to be.
Your brow is smooth, your eyes are bright,
You still retain your appetite.
This human life doth now as ever
Depend so much upon the liver.
Some sixty years ago, I knew
A fair young girl, she looked like you.
We fell in love, a youthful dream,
But even now, this world would seem
A barren waste, if I could doubt
The love I could not live without.
'Tis more than fifty years since we were wed,
How rapidly the time has fled.
The way has not been always smooth,
I only cite the fact to prove
Our love was true. That is to say
We found some shadows o'er our way.
But they were shadows only, and did not bother,
For reaching out our hands to touch each other
We kept the path until the light
Shone out again and all was right.
We've had our joy, our grief and sorrow,
Differed today, agreed tomorrow,
Forgave each other and repented,
Firm one day, the next relented,
But after all the truth to tell
I think we've averaged very well.
'Tis almost four and fifty years
Since you, with many sighs and tears,
Bade farewell to home and friends,
Not knowing what your life might be,
With only faith in God and love for me.
I'm thinking of the time gone by,
When from your home, both you and I
Came west to seek and make a home
That we might claim and call our own.
Without our kindred, friends or wealth,
We started forth with youth and health.
Whate'er we have, whate'er we've gained
We know we've honestly obtained,
And we grew strong in faith and hope,
And never thought of giving up.
To our store we added day by day,
And faithful friends have joined us on our way.
No woman ever bore a son
More true and faithful than our one,
And when he grew to man's estate
And sought and found a worthy mate,
We got our daughter ready grown
And took and loved her for our own.
But there's another blessing yet
And one we never can forget:
Our dearest Laurence—
The only grandchild we have left,
Since of the other one bereft;
But there is also present here
A cherub from another sphere.
He comes to us from realms above,
Drawn hither by the power of love.
We can but feel his presence here
To honor Grandma's eightieth year.
I do not know how many more
Of birthdays you may have in store.
It is not within our ken to know,
Just how much further you may have to go
Before you reach the end.
But whether near or far,
We all will meet you at the "Gates Ajar."
In my younger days I had been accustomed somewhat occasionally to indulge myself in the attempt of writing what out of courtesy to my literary qualifications might be called poetry, though my life was too busy a life to indulge much in sentiment or even to indulge much in imagination. Some time the year before I wrote this for my wife's birthday, I composed and wrote the following for the benefit of the Early Settler's Association of Polk county, which was sung with considerable enthusiasm at several of their picnic celebrations. The song is sung to the tune of "John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the grave," and is as follows:
The early settlers' picnic has come around again,And here we are together the few that still remain,To exchange our hearty greetings and to join in this refrain,As we go marching on.Chorus—Glory, glory, hallelujah,Glory, glory, hallelujah,Glory, glory, hallelujah,We still are marching on.'Tis many years ago since we all came out westTo grow up with the country that is now the very best.God gave the soil and climate and the settlers did the restWhen they came marching on.Chorus—We left our homes in yonder for the far off Iowa.We came and saw her beauty and settled down to stay,And there's not a soul among us that has ever rued the dayWhen we came marching on.Chorus—This is the land of promise where the milk and honey flow,With corn and pumpkin plenty, and where pies and puddings grow,With every other blessing that nature can bestowAs we go marching on.Chorus—We may seem a little older for our heads are silvered o'er,But our hearts are still as young as they were in days of yore,And we still recount the blessings the future has in storeAs we go marching on.Chorus—This is a goodly land where we have lived and loved together;We have borne the heat of Summer and faced the coldest weather.Glory, hallelujah! our Iowa forever!We still are marching on.Chorus—Our nation is united as it never was before,All are happy and contented with old glory floating o'er.We are coming Father Abraham with many millions more,We all are marching on.Chorus—Our column is unbroken though some have gone before,They have passed across the river and have reached the shining shore,And are waiting there to greet us as they did in days of yoreWhen we were marching on.Chorus—
The early settlers' picnic has come around again,And here we are together the few that still remain,To exchange our hearty greetings and to join in this refrain,As we go marching on.
The early settlers' picnic has come around again,
And here we are together the few that still remain,
To exchange our hearty greetings and to join in this refrain,
As we go marching on.
Chorus—Glory, glory, hallelujah,Glory, glory, hallelujah,Glory, glory, hallelujah,We still are marching on.
Chorus—Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
We still are marching on.
'Tis many years ago since we all came out westTo grow up with the country that is now the very best.God gave the soil and climate and the settlers did the restWhen they came marching on.
'Tis many years ago since we all came out west
To grow up with the country that is now the very best.
God gave the soil and climate and the settlers did the rest
When they came marching on.
Chorus—
Chorus—
We left our homes in yonder for the far off Iowa.We came and saw her beauty and settled down to stay,And there's not a soul among us that has ever rued the dayWhen we came marching on.
We left our homes in yonder for the far off Iowa.
We came and saw her beauty and settled down to stay,
And there's not a soul among us that has ever rued the day
When we came marching on.
Chorus—
Chorus—
This is the land of promise where the milk and honey flow,With corn and pumpkin plenty, and where pies and puddings grow,With every other blessing that nature can bestowAs we go marching on.
This is the land of promise where the milk and honey flow,
With corn and pumpkin plenty, and where pies and puddings grow,
With every other blessing that nature can bestow
As we go marching on.
Chorus—
Chorus—
We may seem a little older for our heads are silvered o'er,But our hearts are still as young as they were in days of yore,And we still recount the blessings the future has in storeAs we go marching on.
We may seem a little older for our heads are silvered o'er,
But our hearts are still as young as they were in days of yore,
And we still recount the blessings the future has in store
As we go marching on.
Chorus—
Chorus—
This is a goodly land where we have lived and loved together;We have borne the heat of Summer and faced the coldest weather.Glory, hallelujah! our Iowa forever!We still are marching on.
This is a goodly land where we have lived and loved together;
We have borne the heat of Summer and faced the coldest weather.
Glory, hallelujah! our Iowa forever!
We still are marching on.
Chorus—
Chorus—
Our nation is united as it never was before,All are happy and contented with old glory floating o'er.We are coming Father Abraham with many millions more,We all are marching on.
Our nation is united as it never was before,
All are happy and contented with old glory floating o'er.
We are coming Father Abraham with many millions more,
We all are marching on.
Chorus—
Chorus—
Our column is unbroken though some have gone before,They have passed across the river and have reached the shining shore,And are waiting there to greet us as they did in days of yoreWhen we were marching on.
Our column is unbroken though some have gone before,
They have passed across the river and have reached the shining shore,
And are waiting there to greet us as they did in days of yore
When we were marching on.
Chorus—
Chorus—