Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-28
RAILROAD HISTORY
CELEBRATION HELD IN HONOR
OF COMPLETION OF DIES
MONIES VALLEY ROAD.
ottumwans Among the Speakers at
the Exercises at Des Moines-Road
Now Part Of the Rock Island Sys.
tem-The First Through Train.


Now Part Of the Rock Island Sys-
tem-The First Through Train.
E. H. Stiles and George E. Gilaspy
Of Ottumwa were among the speakers
at the exercises held at Des Moines in
1855 in honor of the completion of the
Des Moines Valley railroad from keo-
kuk to that city. The Burlington
Hawk-Eye gives the following interest
ing account of the celebration by R.
B. B. Wood:
A History Of Lee County which lies
open before me, pretentious volume
of 887 pages, tells us that the road
was completed to Des Moines in 1864
but there is where history is certainly
mistaken and shows an instance
where sometimes an old newspaper
or newspaper clipping well preserved
and properly dated is more reliable
than even volume Of alleged his
tory in leather binding For it is from
this latter source that get the date
of the incidents to follow. ..
Road Completed In 1866.
The road was not completed to Des
ming into that city. August 20 of that
and Jack McKechie as engineer on en-
CINE No. 8, and they were recognized
as the heroes of the great event. Des
Moines was enthusiastic over the oc-
currence and an elaborate celebration
marked the occasion. Des Moines
was then a city Of about $500 popula-
ton, and a rousing meeting was held
several evenings before the announced
arrival of this first train, largely at
tended by the best citizens Of the cap
ital city, including some well remem-
bered citizens as Judge G. G. Wright,
G. @. Cole, Judge J. M. Casady, j. M.
Moody, John Morris, B. F. Allen, s. F.
Spofford and G. w. Jones. On motion
of Judge Casady, the mayor and city
council of Keokuk were invited to at
tend on the first train. Other towns
also were invited no doubt, as re-
porter of Des Moines newspaper re-
cording the affair, said:
There were 10000 people at the
depot. Not man, nor woman, nor
a baby less. We will stand by that es-
\ innate till we die. 1t looked as though
the whole valley Of the Des Moines,
from Keokuk to this city was crowd
ed within swaying and hurrahing
mass Of human beings. We may have
been mistaken, but never until Iowa
shall have the population of China, do
we expect to see such a sight again.
1t beat the army Of Xerxes consider
ably If not more. There were 800 ex-
cursionists who came on the train
from Keokuk and Bentonsport and
from Mount Pleasant and Fairfield,
and from Agency City, and from all
the region around about Jordan. They
were good looking chaps, every man
OF them and had they had the sagac-
ity to bring with them delegation of
ladies they would rave been better
looking STILL Before the immense as
semblage was dispersed three rous-
ing cheers were given for Superintend-
ent Williams and the entire directory
Of the Des Moines Valley road"
A Notable Welcome.
4 1t was notable gathering to well
come that first train Of the Des
Moines Valley road to the capital city.
VI, . mayor and city council of Keo-
kuk were welcomed in speech by
the eloquent John A. Kasson to which
liam Patterson, mayor of Keokuk,
whose memory is revered. Colonel
Leighton was called for and respond
ed interestingly at some length. Gen
erM Reid made some happy remarks.
Dr. Charles Beardsley of The Burling-
ton Hawk-Eye spoke briefly and
spoke well with reference to the gem
erous rivalry in Iowa between the
large towns. E. H. Stiles and Mr.. Gill
aspy of Ottumwa, were among the
entertaining speakers Chief Justice
Wright made rousfng speech and
was vociferously applauded. Hospital
1ty was wide open at Des Moines and
the whole affair concluded with an ex-
tensive hop at the Savery house.
From the different towns the. follow
Ing citizens went to Des Moines on
the first train of the Des Moines Val
ley road entering that city and were
participants in the celebration very
few of whom are now living, only nine
OF the Keokuk list surviving as PEGS
ent residents of the city:
From Ottumwa-Gen. J. M. Hedrick,
". 5HaWley Jr, Hon. E. H. Stiles, Geo.
=. Gilaspy, 3. M. Gibbs, l. J. Robinson,
w. H. Caldwell.
From Burlington - A. D. Wentz, L.
Z Carper, E. Chamberlain, Mark S. Foote
G. P. Sauires, James Morton, A. G. Adj
ANS, DR.. Beardsley, James Putnam,
H. q. Hunt, I. w Barhydt.
From keokuk = J. NJ. Billings. s.
J. Carter. B. Payne, w. j. Jewell, R.
Patch, E. Griswold, (Judge) Samuel