Annals of Polk County, Iowa - 1898

Annals of Polk County, Iowa, and City of Des Moines
by Will Porter. Des Moines: Geo. A. Miller Pr. Co., 1898.

Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

Benjamin Saylor, a brother of J. B., came to this county a short time after his brother and settled at Saylor Grove. He was prominent in the early history of the county, and was a member of the first board of County Commissioners, being elected in April, 1846. He was a most excellent man, and always
ready with his aid to the building up of the material and other interests of his neighborhood and of the county generally. He aided in erecting the first school and took a just pride in his work. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Norris at an early day. He died several years ago.

John B. Saylor

To John B. Saylor belongs the credit of making the first claim or settlement on the Des Moines River above this city. He came to Fort Des Moines in April, 1845, having a contract to supply the troops with beef cattle, hay, etc. He had a permit to open a farm, and selected a splendid tract of land, upon part of which the town of Saylorville was in a few years after located. His claim was a very valuable one, the land being of the best quality, with a beautiful grove of timber and good water easily obtained. He was a brave and enterprising man, and had a most excellent helpmeet in his wife. They cheerfully endured all the hardships and privations of pioneer life and looked hopefully forward to the time when they would be thickly surrounded with neighbors and friends. Mrs. Saylor remained at home with her children during the frequent absences, some of these prolonged into weeks, of her husband on business. At first, she relates, the wolves were numerous, and they would sometimes chase the house dog to the door of the cabin and stare at her with their fiery eyes while she was engaged in her household duties. Strolling bands of Indians also often made their appearance at the lonely cabin, but they generally behaved properly and aroused but little fear and trouble. One time a party of them came when drunk to Saylor's cabin and demanded his meat. He took up a club and using it with effect drove them away.

Subsequently, another band of half-drunken Sacs came to the cabin when Mr. Saylor was absent and demanded whiskey of Mrs. Saylor, offering to trade their moccasins for the favored beverage. The lady hardly knew what to do, when her little boy remembering the action of his father, solved the problem by seizing a bean pole and lustily belaboring the drunken savages, who hastily took their departure.

Mr. Saylor was born in Franklin County, Indiana, in 1802, and did mason work and farming for a number of years. He then went to Indianapolis, where he married his first wife, Margaret S. Pogue, in 1826. She died less than three years after. He married Mrs. Mary Saylor, whose maiden name was Howard, in 1834. She then had one son by a previous marriage, Thomas J., who is now the first of the early settlers of this county. They came to Iowa, settling in Van Buren County in 1838, and removed to Polk County in 1844. Mr. Saylor, from the first, was one of the most prominent and useful citizens of the county. He took an active part in public affairs and aided in establishing the first Methodist Church. He was the contractor and builder of the first Court House of the county. He took a trip to Denver and the mountains in 1859 and was much with the army during the War of Rebellion. He died while with the army at Vicksburg, July 26, 1863.

GEORGE C. SIMS

Among the early settlers of Polk County the name of Lorenzo D. Sims is a familiar and honored one. He came from the Pickaway Plains in Ohio , where he was born, to this county, in October, 1848. This was shortly after the close of the war with Mexico , during which he had served faithfully as an Ohio volunteer. With him came his wife and three children. In 1849 he built a cabin on a claim he had a short distance south of Des Moines , and, after many struggles and hardships, had a goodly improved farm, and in 1856 replaced the first primitive cabin with a substantial and comfortable hewed log house of four rooms. Shortly thereafter he sold his farm of 320 acres for $8,500, and, after a visit to his old home in Ohio, he, with his family, went to Linn County, Missouri, with the intention of finally settling in Kansas. But the family, like many others, wished to return to Polk County , and, yielding to their desires and some inclinations of his own, they returned here and Mr. Sims purchased subsequently a tract of land east of the city on Agency prairie, and again made a good farm, which, in the course of time, became very valuable. He died, July 15, 1895 , aged 79 years. His estimable wife, whose maiden name was Christine Bowshire, died August 17, 1857, leaving eight children, the oldest being George C., the subject of the following sketch:

George was born July 28, 1844 , and was only four years of age when he became a resident of Polk County . He worked on his father's farm steadily each season, attending school in the winter, and, having a desire for learning, he acquired in early manhood a good education. Then came the Civil War, and, at the age of seventeen, George enlisted as a private in Company E, Fourth Iowa Infantry. He served as a soldier more than four years. His first battle was at Pea Ridge, in the early part of the war, and his last was at Bentonville , North Carolina , shortly before the final close of that great strife. He participated in thirty-three hard-fought battles and was twice wounded, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea, and in the great review at Washington at the close of the war. No soldier had a better record, and his is one of which he and his family may well feel proud. Mustered out at Davenport , he returned home and took up the work of civil life, mostly on a farm.

In 1871, Mr. Sims was appointed to a position in the United States Railway Mail Service, and served the government for fourteen years faithfully, when he was removed for "offensive partisanship." Shortly thereafter he was nominated on the Republican ticket and elected County Recorder , and being re-elected, held this important office four years. Under the administration of Mayor Hillis he was appointed Captain of the City Police, but, after serving two months, resigned for the purpose of devoting his attention to the erection of a brick block on the corner of East Sixteenth and Grand Avenue . In December, 1895, he was appointed a member of the City Board of Public Works, as successor to the late General Ed. Wright, and attended intelligently and faithfully to the onerous and responsible duties of this position until April 18, 1898 . Faithful and true as a son, as a soldier, as an officer, and as a citizen, George C. Sims is entitled to and commands the highest respect and confidence of all who know him.

Mr. Sims was married July 4, 1867 , to Phoebe D. Hallett, and the marriage has been a happy one. Three children have been born to them: Wilmot, who died at the age of two and one-half years; Mertie C., who is a farmer; and William D., who is engaged in business in Des Moines .