Settlement and early history The West Des Moines area used to be home to the Sac and Meskwaki peoples. Near the stroke of midnight on October 11, 1845, a gunshot was fired by a cattle farmer, James Cunningham Jordan (1813–1893) to declare that the area was open for Anglo-European settlement. His residence, the Jordan House, has been restored and is now home to the West Des Moines Historical Society. The Jordan House was a stop on the Underground Railroad, and abolitionist John Brown stayed on Jordan property multiple times, at least once while escorting a group of freedom-seeking slaves to Canada. In West Des Moines' early years, the town was a trading and shipping junction. West Des Moines incorporated as the city of Valley Junction on October 9, 1893.
settlement and early history the west des moines area used to be home to the sac and meskwaki peoples near the stroke of midnight on october 11 1845 a gunshot was fired by a cattle farmer james cunningham jordan (1813–1893) to declare that the area was open for anglo-european settlement his residence the jordan house has been restored and is now home to the west des moines historical society the jordan house was a stop on the underground railroad and abolitionist john brown stayed on jordan property multiple times at least once while escorting a group of freedom-seeking slaves to canada in west des moines' early years the town was a trading and shipping junction west des moines incorporated as the city of valley junction on october 9 1893