Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-26
12, 1882, and again on January II,


1t is estimated that 10000 persons
visited Des Moines and swelled the
crowds of citizens who packed into
the new state capitol building in which
Governor William Larrabee was first
inaugurated. The people are said to
have come from everywhere" This
was partly due to the popularity of
Governor Larrabee. but more especial
ly to the fact that the state had new
capitol and the people thought it was
large enough to hold the entire popu-
lation of the state. After they had
packed the rotunda, the grand stair
case and every available inch of space
in the corridors and outside entrances,
and still a mass of people on the outer
steps were clamoring for entrance, the
idea of the new buildings capacity
was somewhat reduced in size
Even lifelong republicans are will
ing to admit that the biggest inaugur-
al celebration in the history of Iowa
was when Horace Boies, the first dem
ocrat since the retirement of Hemp
stead in 1850, took the oath of office.
Just to show that they fully appre-
ciated the situation the democrats
sent to Chicago and imported band
and 300 politicians of more or less
prominence. o.
The Chicago delegation arrived, ar
rayed in their best blacks But, alas
for their purple and fine linen, the
biggest rain and sleet storm which
the state has ever witnessed ragged all
day long. Three hundred umbrellas
were carried over 800 silk tiles, and
300 pairs of shoes reached the capt.
tol building encased in a mixture Of
snow and soft mud.
The republicans declared it was a
Judgment on the democrats. But this
did not dampen the enthusiasm of
those in power The state house fair
ly seethed with the overtlowing good
spirits of the party which took the
reins of government. And in this con-
nection an amusing incident is recall
ed by some of those who sat upon the
platform.
The program had been moving along
smoothly, when Senator Pete Balm
gall, the late democratic politician
well known not only in southeastern
Iowa, where he lived, but all over the
state, arose to announce piece of
music. Through some oversight he
stated that the band would play Near
er, My God to Thee" There was an
awkward pause. The Chicago band
looked at the speaker in a bewildered
manner. Then the leader, with an
amused expression on his face, turned
to his men and exclaimed in an under
Tone audible to nearly every person
on the stage:
MY God. boys, he certainly must
have made a mistake. There isn't a
man in Chicago who knows Nearer, My
God to Thee
Senator Ballingall had by this time
recovered himself and announced
America which was the piece SEIZED
uled In speaking of his mistake af-
terward he said
Il can't account for it in any way,
except that l never felt so good in my
life before, and | suppose | thought it
was time to sing something religious"
| 1t is also related that in the even
ing of this day. the Chicago politicians,
to end up in ronnd of good cheer,
called at what was then known as
"Harney's Place a joint. on the north
side of Locust street just east of West
1 Fourth street. They are said to have
been imbibing freely when the noted
Frank Pierce OF wild man fame, who
was then constable, entered and con.
1 fiscated all the liquor in sight those
being the days of prohibition, only
compromising short. of the arrest OF
the entire party, on promise that they
would leave the city that night.
When Governor Boies was inaugur-
ated for his second term, two years
In fhnra rctr
Then came Governor Jacksons inau
guration on January IL, 1894 Cover
nor Jackson was the first Des Moines
man to be elected governor and the
town made great demonstration. In
the evening the national guard gave
1 a grand ball at the state house and il
is remembered by many how Governor
Jackson appeared in the Chicago pa
pers the following day as the CHIEF
figure in several cartoons which repre-
sented him as the foremost dancer al
the ball, his feet describing circle ir
mid air and his dress coat at rish
4 angles with his body.
II Governor brakes Inauguration ii
! 1892 was a quiet one. AT the after
J noon ceremonies the students of Drake
university, the university founded b.
the chief executive attended the eXer
cises in a body. In the evening ther,
: was another national guard ball. TIL,
Inauguration of Governor Shaw in 1889;
and again in 1900 was not marked b,
!; land distinguishing features, and boil
occasions are fresh in the minds of tn,
citizens of Iowa who attended.
, The following is a list of the cover
nors of Iowa, together with the date.
/ of their Inauguration and the hours a
, which they took the oath of office:
J Ansel Briggs-December 3, 1916, a
10 a. m.
Stephen Hempstead-De 4
1850, at 2 p. m.
James w. Grimes-December 9,1S54
: at 2:30 y m.
! Ralph P. Lowe-January IA. 1853, a
: IL a. M
) Samuel ]. Kirkwood-January II
: 1860, at 2:30 p. m.
William M. Stone-January IA, 1864
at 2 D. m.
William NJ Stone-January IL, 1856
at 2 p. m.
Samuel Merrill-January Is, 1865
| at 2 y. M.
4 Samuel Morrill-Jap,or1, 10 1870