USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > Historical and reminiscences of Chickasaw County, Iowa > Part 1
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Gc 977.701 C43p 1555854
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01081 0643
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Howvers.
HISTORICAL
AND
REMINISCENCES
OF
CHICKASAW COUNTY,
IOW.A.
BY J. H. POWERS
DES MOINES: IOWA PRINTING COMPANY. 1894.
1555854
Dedication,
-
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
TO THE OLD SETTLERS, WHO WADED SLOUGHS, SWAM STREAMS, BREASTED THE STORMS OF WINTER, LIVED ON CORN MEAL, AND GREETED ALL COMERS WITH GENUINE HOS- PITALITY.
BY THE AUTHOR.
de .. ....
Preface.
HE pages following do not pretend to reach the dignity of history. but only a rehearsal of events that were of interest at the time, and which are now recalled with the zest that time brings to events long past. In some measure, they show the way new settlers meet the loneliness of a new country, and how, out of hardship, they extracted recrea- tion, and how crude character is developed and made to play a part in crystallizing a forming civilization. They recall some of the notable actors that took part in the open- ing up of the county, and in reducing a wild. wet and unattractive wilderness, to comfort- able homes and productive fields. To the writer they recall xperiences that are revived with interest, repeated with pleas- ure, and recorded with pride,
Howa.
HE territory embraced within the present state of Iowa, is but a fraction of the vast domain originally discov- ered by French Jesuit missionaries dur- ing their frequent early incursions into the wilds of the Northwest, and taken possession of and annexed as French terri- tory by right of discovery.
In the year 1763, after almost a hundred years of peaceful possession, France ceded to the Spaniards all of her possessions lying beyond the Mississippi river, and this vast rich territory remained under the manage- ment of Spanish authorities until the begin- ning of the present century when it again came into the possession of France.
In 1803 the treaty known as the "Louisi- ana Purchase" was consummated, whereby France, in consideration of $15,000,000 relin- quished all her rights and title to the terri- tory beyond the Mississippi river west to an indefinite boundary.
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
On the 31st of October, 1803, congress passed an act providing that all military, judicial and civil powers exercised in gov- erning this new acquisition should be "vested in such persons and exercised in such man- ner as the president of the United States shall direct."
A year later (1804) the territory was divided, that part lying south of the 33d parallel becoming the Territory of Orleans, and that portion north of said line the District of Louisiana. The executive government of the latter division was placed under the con- trol of General William Henry Harrison, then governor of Indiana, and the judiciary under the direction of the judges of Indiana Territory.
In 1805 congress again made an important change. On the 4th day of July of that year this district became the Territory of Louisi- ana, with executive and judicial powers vested in a governor and three judges, to be appointed by the president, with the consent of the senate.
December 7, 1812, the territory again underwent a great change, on that day becoming the Territory of Missouri, with the addition of an important factor in its
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
government, that of a legislative depart- ment, consisting of a council and house of representatives, the latter composed of one representative for every five hundred free white male inhabitants. to be elected every two years by the votes of free white male tax-paying citizens. The council consisting of nine members, was to be chosen by the president of the United States (with the approval of the Senate) from citizens resi- dents of the territory. for an official term of five years. Vetoing power, absolute, was vested in the governor.
Congress, however, on the 29th day of April, 1316, enlarged the power of the people, granting, among other concessions, the right of popular vote to select council.
March 4. 1S21, congress passed an act defining the boundaries of Missouri, and it was admitted as a state. This division left all that vast expanse of territory of which the present states of Jowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota are a part. again directly under the jurisdiction of congress, in which condi- tion it seems to have remained until the middle of 1834, when it was attached to the Territory of Michigan.
Only as a matter of history, however, had
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
these great changes affected in the least what is now known as Iowa, for it was not until the year iS33. the year previous to annexation to Michigan, that white people manifested any special interest in its settle- ment.
The Territory of Wisconsin was organized on the 3d day of July, 1836, carrying with it the two counties of Demoine and Dubuque.
The relationship thus existing between the counties of Wisconsin under one terri- torial government, of the people west of the Mississippi river, terminated July 3, 183S, with the organization of the general govern- ment, of the people west of the Mississippi river, into a separate territory to be known by the name of IOWA.
President Van Buren appointed Robert Lucas, of Ohio, Governor, and William B. Conway, of Pennsylvania, Territorial Secre- tary.
The seventh Territorial Assembly passed an act providing for the holding of a consti- tutional convention, and designated April 6, 1.$46, as the date for the election of delegates. This convention convened at Iowa City on May 4th of same year, and adjourned May 19th, after formulating a constitution which
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
was afterwards ratified and adopted by the people at an election held August 3, 1S46, by the small majority of four hundred and fifty- ' six votes.
Under this constitution the State of Iowa was admitted as the twenty-ninth State of the Federal Union, on the 2Sth day of Decem- ber, 1846, and the first State election held on the 26th day of October, 1846, so as to be ready to assume Statehood on Congress pass- ing an enabling act.
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
Chickasaw County.
CHICKASAW COUNTY was first created as a political sub-division of the State of Iowa, in 1851, by Chapter 9, of the Acts of the Third General Assembly, Section 33 of which reads as follows: "That the following shall be the boundaries of a new county, which shall be called Chickasaw, to-wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of township 97, range 10: thence west to the northwest corner of township 97, range 14; thence south to the southwest corner of township 94, range 14; thence east to the southwest corner of town- ship 94, range 10; thence to the place of beginning." which act was approved on the 15th day of January, A. D. 1851.
By Chapter 120 of the Acts of the Fourth General Assemby the boundaries of Chicka- saw county were changed as follows:
"SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That the north half of town- ship 97, of ranges number 11, 12, 13 and 14, fol- lowing the line of the United States sub-division
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
thereof shall be. and the same are hereby, detached from Chickasaw county, and attached to Howard."
By the Acts of the Fourth General Assem- bly, Chapter 12, approved January 12th, 1853, Chickasaw county was "attached to Fayette county for election. revenue and judicial purposes."
By Section 1 of this Act "the counties of Mitchell, Howard, Floyd, Worth and Frank- lin were attached to the county of Chicka- saw."
ORGANIZATION OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
A PETITION having been presented to the county judge of Fayette county, asking that the county of Chickasaw be organized, the judge issued his warrant on the 31st day of June, 1S53, as follows:
STATE OF IOWA, FAYETTE COUNTY. S
JOHN BIRD-Sir: By virtue of power vested in me by the Code of Iowa I have this day - appointed you organizing sheriff for the organiza- tion of Chickasaw county. You are hereby required to post up at least five written notices in said county, that on the first Monday in August there will be an election held at the house of E. A.
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
Haskell in the town of Bradford, for the purpose of organizing said county and electing county offi- cers, as follows, to-wit: County judge, district clerk, recorder and treasurer, school fund commis- sioner. prosecuting attorney, sheriff, coroner, and county surveyor; and also one justice of the peace. three township trustees and town clerk, and make due returns to me of the same at my office in West Union. The above mentioned notices to be posted up at least ten days prior to the election.
THOMAS WOODLE, County Judge. June 30, 1853.
In pursuance of this commission an attempt was made to organize the county in August, 1553, and officers were elected, but not in accordance with the wishes of the organizing sheriff, and as the easiest way to prevent the opposition getting control of the county no return was made, and as a consequence no power was given to those elected to perform the functions of their office.
Acting under the same authority the organizing sheriff called an election on the Srd day of April. 1S54, at which election the following officers were elected: James Lyon, county judge; S. .. Goddard, county clerk; John Campbell, treasurer and recorder; D. A. Babcock. prosecuting attorney; Andy
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
Sample, sheriff. The only record showing date of election is the bond of John Camp- bell as treasurer and recorder, signed by G. R. Rowley and James L. Frazee as bonds- men (this was preserved from the wood box), and filed in county judge's office April 12, 1S54. On the back of the commission is ' Notice to organizing sheriff, filed December 31, 1854, in the office of county judge of Chickasaw county, J. Lyon, county judge."
Legend says that S. C. Goddard resigned as county clerk and J. A. J. Bird was appointed to fill the vacancy. The earliest record
we find of J. A. J. Bird acting as county clerk is upon the commissioner's report for the locating of the county seat, which reads as follows: "Filed in the office of the clerk of the county court August 14, A. D., 1854, J. A. J. Bird, clerk."
TOWNSHIPS.
At the organization the whole county constituted but one precinct, and was known as Bradford.
In the County Judge's record is the fol- lowing entry:
"At the March term of the county court, the 1855,
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
Ordered that the county of Chickasaw constitute five election townships.
1st. Township 94-14 and 13. to be called Brad- ford district.
2d. Township 95, Range 14 and 13, to be called Chickasaw district.
3d. Township 96, Range 14 and 18 to be called the Brink district.
4th. Township 963-97, Range 11 and 12 to be called the Obispo district.
5th. Township 94 and 95, Range 11 and 12 to be called Yankee district."
At a special session of the county court, held July 23, 1855, it was "Ordered that the Brink district be attached to Chickasaw for election purposes."
At the March term, 1856 "Application was made by petition to organize township 96, range 14, and asking for the name of Deer- field to be given the same, which was granted, and south half 97, range 14 added thereto."
"Township 94, range 14 (should have been 13) was ordered organized and called Rich- land."
"Application was made to organize 96 and south half 97, range 13, which was granted." No name given on the record, but should .. have been Washington.
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
June term of Record, says: "It appearing to this court that the township of Washing- ton failed to effect a legal organization in accordance with the order of this court made at the March term thereof A. D. 1856, there- fore the said township of Washington is attached to Deerfield township for township and county purposes." The real offense was that the vote of this town, if allowed, would have removed the county seat from Bradford to New Hampton.
February term JS57, "Town 95, range 13 was ordered to be organized under the name of Dayton."
April term, 1857, "Township 95, range 12 was ordered organized under name of New Hampton." Also, township 96, range 13, and south half of township 97, range 13 under the name of Washington; township 94, range 11 and 12, under name of Fred- ericksburg; the west half of township 94, range 12 was attached to Richland; town- ship 95, range 11 under name of Stapleton.
March term 195S, township 96, range 12, and south half of township 97, range 12 was ordered organized under the name of Jack- sonville.
Township 96, range 11 and south half of
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
township 97, range 11 was ordered organized under the name of Utica.
In 1859, township 94. range 12 was ordered organized under the name of Dresden.
Subsequently the east tier of sections of Dresden were detached and attached to Fred- ericksburg but were afterwards returned with the exception of the southeast quarter of section 12 and the northeast quarter of section 13. The northeast of the southeast and the southeast of the northeast of section 12 have been detached from Dayton and attached to New Hampton.
Thus it will be observed that we have lost as townships' names the euphonious ones of Obispo, Brink and Yankee.
CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
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CHICKASAW COUNTY IN 1S55.
BRINK
OBISPO
.
CHICKASAW
YANKEE
BRADFORD
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
CHICKASAW COUNTY IN 1856.
DEERFIELD
WASHINGTON
OBISPO
1
CHICKASAW
.
YANKEE
BRADFORD RICHLAND
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
CHICKASAW COUNTY IN 1857.
DEERFIELD
WASHINGTON
OBISPO
CHICKASAW
DAYTON
NEW HAMPTON
STAPLETON
BRADFORD
RICHLAND
FREDERICKSBURG
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
CHICKASAW COUNTY IN 1858.
DEERFIELD
WASHINGTON
JACKSONVILLE
UTICA
1
CHICKASAW
. DAYTON
NEW HAMPTON
STAPLETON
BRADFORD
RICHLAND
FREDERICKSBURG
CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
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CHICKASAW COUNTY IN 1894.
DEERFIELD
NOLDNIHSVA
JACKSONVILLE
UTICA
CHICKASAW
DAYTON
NEW HAMPTON
STAPLETON
BRADFORD
RICHLAND
DRESDEN
FREDERICKS- BURG
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
NAMES.
PRIOR to the settlement of the County, it was occupied by a Tribe of Indians bearing the name of Chickasaw-in early documents it was Chickesaw-and their chief was named Bradford. The County and the Town of Chickasaw were named after this Indian Tribe, and the Township of Bradford after its chief.
The Town of Brink was named after a man by the name of Brink, who built the " Brink House" about two miles northeast of the present City of New Hampton, on the banks of the east Wapsie.
Obispo was named by "Yankee Smith," for his patron Saint, St. Obispo.
The Town of Yankee was suggested by Fred Padden, he declaring that it was set- tled by a set of "d- Yankees."
Deerfield was named by J. A. Sawin, and the name was suggested by the vast herds of deer seen grazing on her prairies.
The name of Richland was selected at its first election by ballot.
Malachi Havelick suggested Milan, J. D.
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
Hawes Medina. and F. D. Hall Richland, remarking that the fertility of its soil would thus be expressed in its name. A motion was made to ballot for a name, and when the ballots were counted, it was found that the name of Richland had the most ballots, and that name was adopted.
Washington was named in honor of the Father of Our Country, by S. W. Byers.
Dayton was named by E. R. Gillett to commemorate the name of the man who run for vice-president with Fremont, Gillett hav- ing been his ardent supporter.
New. Hampton was named by Osgood Gowen in honor of his old home, he having come from New Hampton, New Hampshire.
Fredericksburg was named after Fred Padden, who was one of its first settlers.
Stapleton was named after Thomas G. Staples, he being her first settler.
Jacksonville was named by J. H. Dickens in honor of his old home, he having emi- grated from Jacksonville, Illinois.
Utica was named by Hugh Johnston, after his old home in Venango County, Pennsyl- vania.
Dresden, having become settled with a large per cent of Germans, they desired to
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
commemorate a spot of their father land, and named the township Dresden.
The villages of Bradford, Chickasaw, Fred- ericksburg and New Hampton, take their names from the townships in which located.
Nashua received its present name from E. P. Greeley, in honor of his old home in New Hampshire. It was at first called Bridge- port, and when Andy Sample and Dea. Woodbridge became its proprietors, Sample had it changed to Woodbridge. When Greeley became its principal proprietor he gave it its present name.
North was prefixed to Washington, for the reason there was so many postoffices in the State by the name of Washington, that the department refused to grant another.
Lawler was named after John Lawler, of Prairie Du Chien, he being the active agent representing the railroad company when the town was laid out.
Ionia is a second thought, it being first named Dover. but as the department refused to grant another postoffice by that name it was changed to lonia, but who suggested that name is not certain. Its first name was given to it by Mr. Hammond in honor of his former home.
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
Bassett was named after one of the firm of Bassett & Hunting, an extensive wheat buying firm along the line of the railroad, they both living in McGregor.
COUNTY SEAT.
At the organization of the County there was but one Precinct and that was Bradford and per force of that fact it became the County Seat.
Section Five of Chapter Twelve of the Laws of the Fourth General Assembly pro- vided
"That a majority of the citizens of any County, after becoming organized, may petition the district judge in whose judicial district the same is situated. during vacation of the General Assembly, whose duty it shall be to appoint three Commissioners from three different adjoining Counties, who shall proceed to locate the County Seat of such County according to the provisions of this act."
Under the authority here conferred a pet' tion was presented to Judge Wilson, who was at that time district judge of the Second Judicial District of Iowa, of which Chickasaw County was a part.
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
There is no record showing who was appointed except the report of the Commis- sioners, which was filed in the office of the Clerk of the District Court August 14, A. D. 1854, the filing on the back being "J. A. J. Bird, Clerk," and signed by William Mc- Clintock, of Fayette County, and John B. Onstine, of Winneshiek County. The third man not signing his name is lost in oblivion. The following is the report of the commis- sioners:
To the Honorable County Judge of Chickasaw County, Iowa:
The undersigned, Commissioners appointed by the judge of the Second Judicial District of the state of Iowa, to locate and establish the County Seat of said County of Chickasaw, respectfully report that having had the same under considera- tion, they have selected the town of Bradford in the county and state aforesaid. as the point at which said County Seat is hereby located and estab- lished.
WM. MCCLINTOCK, JOHN B. ONSTINE, Commissioners.
At the February term of the County Court, 1856, a petition of J. C. H. Miller and two hundred and twenty-four others was pre-
.
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
sented, praying " that at the next April elec- tion to be holden thereafter in said county, a vote shall be taken between Bradford, the existing County Seat of said County, and New Hampton. for the County Seat."
The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and in accordance therewith an election was held, and New Hampton received two hun- dred and thirteen votes and Bradford two hundred and six votes.
When the vote was canvassed the town- ship of Washington was thrown out, and this left a tie, giving each place two hun- dred and three votes, and as it took a major- ity to move the County Seat, the canvassing board decided in favor of Bradford.
On the sixth day of June, 1S56, an informa- tion was filed by Osgood Gowen, in the office of the Clerk of the District Court, asking for a writ of mandamus, and in accordance with the prayer, a writ was issued against the board of canvassers the same day. On the day following, two members of the board- W. E. Andrews, who was er-officio County Judge, and John Bird, Justice of the Peace, filed a response, which is given in full, as it contains nearly all the history of the case,' and is, moreover, a unique specimen of that
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
legal explicitness which is supposed to be attained only through technical verbiage.
STATE OF IOWA, In the District Court of CHICKASAW COUNTY. ) said County.
To the June Term thereof, A. D. 1856.
In the matter of the information of Osgood Gowen for Mandamus against the board of can- vassers of Chickasaw County aforesaid, in the mat- ter of an election between Bradford and New Hampton, for the establishment of the County Seat of said County.
" And the said W. E. Andrews and John Bird, canvassers of election in said information, men- tioned, come, and answering, say that they admit that at the February term of the County Court, of said County of Chickasaw, A. D. 1856, a petition was presented to said County Court, by J. C. H. Miller and two hundred and twenty-four citizens, as alleged in said information, upon which said petition an order was made by said County Court that the question of a relocation of said County Seat of Chickasaw County be submitted to a vote of the legal voters of said County in the year 1856; and that, in pursuance of said order submitting the question of a relocation of said County Seat to a vote of the legal voters of said County at the April election A. D. 1856, said ques- tion was submitted and voted on at said election. And your respondents further answering, say sev- erally and respectively, that in the returns of said
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
election and according to the same, it did appear that the town of New Hampton had received the number of two hundred and thirteen votes for the County Seat of said County, and that the town of Bradford received two hundred and six votes for the County Seat of said County as appeared on the face of the papers purporting to be said returns of the said election. And your respondents aver, and they so answer, that all the returns so made to the County Judge of said County of Chickasaw at the election so held in and for said County, were then and there to-wit: At Bradford in said County, duly examined and canvassed as the law direets, by said board of canvassers; and that after such examina- tion and canvass as aforesaid it was found that the said election returns at the election held as afore- said for the purposes aforesaid, were duly and properly made in compliance with law, with the exception of the Township of Washington in said County; and after duly examining and canvassing the returns of said election so held as aforesaid, for the purpose aforesaid for all the townships and precincts in said county, it was found that returns of the votes for the said Township of Washington were insufficient, irregular and of no effect, and utterly null and void in law, and so said respon- dents, answering as aforesaid, aver that said votes of the Town of Washington, given at said election, having been found and decided by said board of canvassers, and were then and there within the time aforesaid duly and legally rejected by said
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HISTORICAL AND REMINISCENCES OF
board of canvassers, after a legal canvass of the said votes and returns. then and there held for insufficiency, irregularity and nullity, and for no other reason.
"And your respondents, further answering, say that after said returns of all said townships and precincts of the said county of Chickasaw was so can- vassed as aforesaid, and the returns of the votes of the said township of Washington were so rejected as aforesaid, the state of the canvass was as follows, to-wit: Bradford received two hundred and three · votes; and of the votes so rejected after said can- vass as aforesaid, ten votes were cast for New Hampton and three votes for Bradford; and that your respondents there made out and signed a statement of the canvass aforesaid, specifying the said number of votes cast for the respective places aforesaid, which remains of record in the office of the County Judge of said county, by reference to which will more fully appear. And your respond- ents, further answering, deny that they have done ought in the premises aforesaid; they have acted fairly, honestly and in good faith, as they believed, and still believe, in strict accordance with law and their duties as canvassers as aforesaid. And your respondents having fully answered herein, beg to be discharged.
W. E. ANDREWS, JOHN BIRD."
It was claimed by the relators that the board of canvassers having found the returns
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CHICKASAW COUNTY, IOWA.
from Washington Township irregular, were in duty bound to return them to the town- ship officers for correction, and to stay the canvass until the returns were corrected and returned, and then complete the canvass. A change of venue from the County was applied for, and the case fell between the courts, it being claimed that the proper fees were not paid for a transcript, and the decis- ion of the canvassers remained and the County Seat remained at Bradford.
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