Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-26


nobody went home until morning, so
it is related by the political sages. No
inaugural since has been the scene of
such jollification as witnessed the re-
moval of the capitol from Iowa City
to Des Moines.
So far as the crowds were concern
ed, they began to increase from TINS
time on Samuel j. Kirkwood. Iowa's
next governor, was the central figure
of the next Inauguration on January
IL, 1860. The day was pleasant and
the attendance increased over the
year previous. The beginning of Kirk
woods second term was not so pleas
ant, there being storm of rain and
sleet to greet his second appearance
before the people.
The winter that Governor VIM. NJ
Stone was inaugurated is remember
ed as the year of the big snow"
There was splendid sleighing and ma
ny of the visitors came across coun-
try through the freezing weather to
see Governor Stone, the first old sol
der elected to the governors chair,
take the. oath of Office in January,
1854.
An interesting incident is recalled
in connection with this, celebration
The hill which is prominent feature
of East Walnut street, in front of the
site of the old capital building, was
much sleeper in those days even than
it is now. 1t was used by the boys of
the city as fine coasting place.
1t is said that on the day of Cover
nor Stones Inauguration the boys of
East Des Moines were out celebrating
in riotous style. Just as an extra
large bobsled had started down the
hill party of prominent and hand
somely dressed Des Moines women
started across the street to the capitol
building. They We're walking and did
not notice the approaching coasters.
The boys shouted for them to clear
the track but it was too late. The
women screamed but the bob came
on, dashing into their very midst, and
upsetting several of the most dignifed
matrons. No one was hurt, however.
and the ceremonies were not disturbed
by the accident which was witnessed
by only few persons.
Governor Samuel Merrill followed
Governor Stones second term, taking
the oath of office January IL, 1868.
Two railroads had been built into Des
Moines by that time, the Rock Island
and the Des Moines Valley. the latter
now being branch of the former sys-
tenn. This increased the visitors from
abroad largely. There was tremen-
dous demonstration made by the old
soldiers at the second Inauguration of
Governor Merrill, all or them having
| by this time returned from the south
and resumed their former habitations.
At the close of Governor Merrills sec
| ond term Governor Cyrus C. Carpen-
ter, a union soldier and most beloved
by the people. took the oath of Office
in 1872. The crowds at these two in
augurals were decidedly larger and the
ceremonies began to be more preten-
| tious.
| Governor Carpenters second inaug-
ural was the last ceremony in the old
state house and it will never be forgot
ten by hundreds of people 1t was on
the morning of January 81, 1874, and
the old state house had been packed
to it's fullest capacity. Isaac Brandt
was chairman of the committee on in
augural ceremonies. Everything was
| in readiness for the ceremonies to pro-
coed and the senate was marching to
the hall of the house for the Joint con
| yention when the rumor was started
that the building was giving way.
This passed from lip to lip. For
some time the old building had been
pronounced unsafe, and this rumor
was enough for the crowd packed as
/ thick as sardines. The mass of PEG
pie started to move as one person
when the voice of Isaac Brant was
nh d.. l.,,t ~
Igreat effort Mr.. Brandt succeeded in
attracting attention long enough to
assure the people that the alarm was
a false one. Then the crowd Quoted
and the ceremonies proceeded.
1t was always believed, however
that this narrowly averted panic die
more toward fastening the appropria
tons for the new capitol building thar
, any other one thing, and the newspa
pers of the day helped matters along
by displaying the event in glarine
!! headlines.
The above incident was considered
sufficient cause for taking the next in
auguration ceremonies, the opening Of
kirkwood's third term, to Moore's ole
/ opera house in West Des Moines, which
stood opposite the Kirkwood house or
Y Fourth street. These ceremonies tool
place at 2 p. m. January 10, 1876. Or
February of the following year Josh
ua G. Newbold was quietly sworn il
in the governors Office at the state
house to succeed Governor Kirkwood
who had resigned to accept a seat il
the United Statess senate.
Then came the Inauguration of Gov
ernor John H. Gear, which was mark
ed by grand ball given at the ole
Aborn house. The ceremonies tool
place at p. M. and the ball followed
in the evening. his social function
was the keynote of the administration
of Governor Gear which followed, i
being noted for the cordial hospitalit.
extended to the public all through
both terms. His second term was ush
cred in January Is, 1880
1t was about this time that the gov
( ernors staff and national guard began
to figure in the inaugural parade an,
ceremonies following, but it was no
until several years later that it's ar
pearance was marked by all the gol,
lace and glory which now character
ICES it. Governor Buren, r. Sherman
took the oath of Office first on Januar,