Biographical history of Page County, Iowa, containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens of Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships, Part 23

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946

USA > Iowa > Page County > Biographical history of Page County, Iowa, containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens of Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships > Part 23

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

251

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

this county and that others had to be selected [See page 410 of " Iowa Historical Com- pendium and Census Book"]: "Page County: At one time a part of ' Demoine' County. Created in 1847. Made a part of the pro- visional county of Pottawattamie County, the same year. In 1851, Benjamin Rector, William Smith and Charles Wright, re- spectively of the counties of Fremont, Pot- tawattamie and Madison, were appointed commissioners to locate and establish the county seat; for which purpose they were to meet at the house of William L. Berge, dur- ing the month of June. At the following session of the General Assembly, John Scott and Thomas M. Gordon of Fremont County and Jacob Miller of Taylor County, were similarily appointed commissioners; for whichi purpose they were to meet at the house of Philip Bolewares, March 6, 1853, or within thirty days thereafter. The name of the new county seat was by the same act made ' CLARINDA.'"

The organization was completed by the election of the following named officers:

Commissioners -- S. F. Snider, John Dun- can and William Shearer.

District Clerk-John Buckingham.

Sheriff-Robert Stafford.

. Politics did not enter into this first elec- tion, the object being simply to organize the county, and political differences had not yet appeared. But soon there came a change. Occasional differences arose which in the main were soon overlooked and forgotten, on account of their necessity and natural de- pendence for aid and convenience, as well as for common defense in their pioneer homes.

The first offices held in Page County were not paying ones, but they afforded positions of influence and preference and that might in the near future prove very convenient stepping stones to more lucrative positions;

besides, it was no mean thing to be elected to fill the first offices in tlie new county. In this regard tlrey afforded considerable induce- ment for being sought after by those who were at all inclined toward official distinction, and they called forth numerous aspirants. It should be here stated, however, that the best citizens and those leaving the most property did not seek these positions of trust and re- sponsibility, but they were left to more un- educated, incapable and at times less honor- able men.

As the first regular, general election day approached there were many questions arose in the minds of the better class as to who should control the affairs of the new county government. Who was best fitted and most trustworthy to represent the peoples' interest? These among many other questions presented themselves to the minds of voters and tax- payers, when the day approached for settling the question at the ballot-box.

At the first election in 1851 William L. Burge was elected as county judge-an office of much importance at that particular date.

Erastus Thomas was elected the first treas- urer and recorder of the county.

The date of the above election must have been in April of 1851, and those elected held until the general election in August; this is forgotten by many in speaking of the " first county officers." The first two elections were really held under what was termed the " Blue Book " laws and not under the regular elec- tion laws soon after established by the code of Iowa.

COUNTY-SEAT LOCATION.

During the Legislature of December, 1852, the following act was passed, which act was as follows: " An act to appoint the Commis- sioners to locate the seat of justice of Page Connty."

252

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, that John Scott and Thomas Gordon of the county of Fremont, and Jacob Miller of the county of Taylor, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to locate and establish the seat of justice for the county of Page *

* * and that the name of the seat of justice shall be Clarinda.

Approved December 22, 1852.

In accordance with this authority the above named commissioners located the county seat on the northwest quarter of section 31, town- ship 69 north, and range number 36 west.

The county authorities at once pre-empted the same in the name of Page County. In May, 1853, said quarter section of land was laid out into lots, as it appears on the plats of to-day. The town was laid off under the direction of William L. Burge, prosecuting attorney and acting county judge; by E. Mil- ler, surveyor; Benjamin Dodson, chairman, and Robert Stafford, axman.

The following September there was a sale of lots. Those upon which J. D. Hawley's store and the First National Bank were after- ward erected, brought $15 each. R. W. Stafford bought them. A few other lots, around the public square, were sold at $2.50 each.

There never has been any attempt made to remove or re-locate the county seat of Page County, further than talk, away back in the " '50s," of removing to a town plat known as Page City, described elsewhere. It was a real-estate boom and lots were sold at fabulous prices. But the people in whom the power of removal was lodged never felt that a change was necessary to the well-being of the county

ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.

At first Page County was divided into two civil subdivisions, known as Buchanan and Nodaway. Some years later Tarkio and Ne-

braska townships were set off. January 20, 1858, the County Court re-organized the civil townships, creating Dyke, Douglas, Pierce, and other townships, thus making smaller the former sub-divisions of the county. It will be of no value, scarcely any interest to the reader, to follow the various changes of town- ship boundary lines. It may be well, how- ever, to bound the townships as they existed under an order of County Judge J. Simonton, October 1, 1860, his order reading as follows:

TOWNSHIP

RANGE

Washington,

67 38 and 39

Amity, .

.37

Buchanan,

67 36

East River,

68. 36

Harlan,

68 .37

except sections 1 and 2, and the north half of sections 11 and 12.

TOWNSHIP

RANGE

Lincoln,

68 38 and 39

Tarkio,.

.69 . 38 and 39

Nodaway,

.69 37

Also the west-half of township No. 69, range 36 and section 27, and the north-half of sec- . tion 34, and the southwest quarter of section 34, in township 69, range 36; also sections 1 and 2, and north-half of sections 11 and 12, in township 68, range 37.

Nebraska, the east-half of congressional township 69, range 36, except section 27, and the north-half of section 34, and sonth- west quarter of section 34.

CONGRESSIONAL

TOWNSHIP

RANGE

Valley, .

70 36

Douglas,

Fremont,

70 38

Pierce,

70 .39

Various other changes have been made from time to time, until to-day (1889), the civil townships are all square, each contain-

253

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

ing thirty-six square miles except Nodaway and Nebraska-the former containing fifty- five and a quarter sections, while the latter is cut down to seventeen sections. The fol- lowing is the arrangement of the present townships:

TOWNSHIP

RANGE

Valley,

.36

Douglas,

Fremont,

Pierce,

.70

.39

Grant,

Tarkio,

TOWNSHIP.

RANGE.

*Nodaway,

.69

+Nebraska,

.69

East River,

Harlan, 68

Lincoln,

.68 38

Morton,

Washington,

.67

Colfax,

.67

Amity,

.67

.37

Buchanan

.67

* Also nineteen and a quarter sections of township 69, range 36.

+ Less nineteen and a quarter sections of territory described.

254

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Svaravara

FIRST AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

CHAPTER VI.

HE first to effect a settlement in what is now Page County, were three brotli- ers who came from Jackson County, Missouri,-George W., Henry D. and David Faarrens, who made settlement in 1841 and 1842. It is claimed by others this settle- ment should date from 1842 and 1843.

The first child born in the county was Perry Hardee, born August, 1842. He was a son of William Hardee.

The first death of a white person in this county was Lieutenant Buchanan, who was drowned within the limits of Page Conuty, as early as 1833. A detachment of troops were going across the State to the Missouri River, and when crossing the East Nodaway this young officer was drowned. It was at a point a mile northeast of where Hawleyville now stands. The stream was swollen from recent rains, and the Lientenant, in advance of the troops, became tangled in the brush, and before help reached them both lie and his horse were lost. A monument was erected to his memory, which was finally destroyed by the Indians, althoughi fragments of the tombstone are yet in existence. Buchanan Creek, and likewise the township of the same name, were more lasting memorials for him than any amount of marble slabs.

The next to die in the county was Pleasant Wilson, who passed from earth in 1844.

The first marriage license issued to Page County parties was that granted to Heury Davidson and Rebecca Sebastian, November 13, 1852. There had doubtless been mar- riages prior to that date, but the licenses were obtained, or at least the ceremony held, in Missouri.

The first mill was erected in 1847 by Mr. Stonebraker, and is now generally known as Shambangh's mill. It was built as a coll- bined saw and grist mill, and here was "cracked" all the corn, and sawed all the lumber used in a radius of probably forty miles. This mill also ground wheat, but the flour had to be sifted or bolted by hand. Stonebraker, the proprietor of this mill, died in 1849, and the property passed to Captain R. F. Connor's hands.

The first postoffice established in Page County was located at the mill now known as Shambangh's mill. Captain R. F. Connor was the pioneer postmaster. The office was established in 1850. The Government fur- nished the mail sacks, but the settlers liad to furnish their own carriers, and by this means settlers could get their inail once a week. This arrangement lasted a year, when the

255

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Government established a mail route between Maryville, Missonri, and Captain Connor's residence, the name of the office being Nod- away. Ira Cunning, now deceased, had the contract, the route extending from Maryville to Nodaway. At that time postage on let- ters carried 100 miles or more was 25 cents, payable at either end of the route. Prior to the establishment of this office the pioneers of Page County had to depend upon Savan- nah, Missouri, for all mail matter. The dis- tance was sixty miles. A little later, low- ever, an office was established at Maryville, Missouri, which was but twenty-five miles from the settlement on the Nodaway.

The first conveyance of the deed character in Page County was that of a mortgage deed granted to John Krout, by Philip Boulware, March 22, 1852. It was given to secure the payment of $460 of borrowed money. This instrument is recorded in Book "A" of deeds, and was acknowledged before County Judge R. F. Connor. It was not exactly a land deed, but it was described in the records as "The improvements made by the late John Stonebraker on the Nodaway River, three- fourths of a mile below the 'Brown's Correc- tionville line;' the same is described in the original entry book."

The records of the county show that on March 22, 1853, the first lands were entered by Page County citizens. Isaiah Houstin claimed the northwest quarter of section 12, township 68, range 37, while the same day the southwest quarter of section 31, township 69, range 36, was entered by Erastus W. Hall.

The first school-house was built of logs, on section 26 of Buchanan Township, in 1844.

The first goods were sold at Hawleyville, in 1853, by James M. Hawley. This was the first regular stock, and was valued at

about $500. There had been a barrel of whisky, some plug tobacco, and a few yards of blue calico, kept, it is claimed, at Boul- ware's place previous to this.

The first lime burned in the county was made by James M. Hawley, after a novel manner. He needed some lime to plaster his house and store with, so he quarried ont some lime rock on his place at Hawleyville, and stacked up thirty cords of wood, over which he piled the stone, the mass resem bling a miniature mountain. In less than forty- eight hours from the time fire was applied, he had a fine lot of excellent lime. This was in the fall of 1853.

The first trial jury in Page County assem- bled September 7, 1853. Judge A. A. Brad- ford was the district judge. The case set for their trial was one entitled, "State of Iowa vs. Johnson and Clark Brown, for the illegal sale of liquor." The State won the case, and the court imposed a fine of $10 and costs. This first jury were as follows:

Robert Stafford, J. Buckingham, Henry Farrens, Isaac Miller, John Brock, Ezra Heady, H. Langly, D. Rose, N. S. Pigg, A. B. Quimby, Henry Price and David Stone- braker.

The first term of District Court held at Clarinda, after this point was made the county seat, was held commencing September 5, 1853. It was held in the " shanty," near South Prominde. His Honor A. A. Brad- ford presided.

The first brick burned in Page County were manufactured by Thomas Goodman, near the village of Hawleyville, early in the '50's.

The first sermon preached from the Gospel was by the voice of Rev. Sam. Farlow, a Methodist Episcopal minister who set up the emblematic cross in Page County in 1852.

The first brick house was erected in 1860,

256

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

in Pierce Township, by A. J. Gilmore, at Franklin Grove.

The first bridge built in Page County was constructed by John McLean and A. P. Richardson, in the winter of 1857-'58. I spanned the East Nodaway River at Haw- leyville. The contract price was $700. It was to be built by subscription, but finally the county authorities assumed it, and it was paid for in swamp-land money. It was hewn from native timber, except the plank, which were sawed by a portable steam mill. The workmanship was good, and the bridge stood

ten years or longer. The same contractors built numerous bridges at an early day.

The first windmill erected in Page County was that placed on its tower in October, 1872, by Hon. William Butler, on his farm just north from the city of Clarinda. It was an Enterprise mill, made at Sandwich, Illi- nois. It stands forty feet from the ground, and is but the forerunner of thousands of these useful engines yet to pump water from Page County soil .- Page County Democrat, October 31, 1872.

257

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

CHAPTER VII.

COUNTY COURT.

RIOR to 1861 Iowa had a County Judge system, and this judge was a sort of su- preme ruler of the county realm. Ma- jor Conner was the first judge-his term being carried out, however, by William L. Burge. S. F. Snider served 1853-'55; John Wilson, 1855-'57; S. F. Snider, 1857-'58; A. H East, Prosecuting Attorney, filled out Snider's last term and I. H. Walker was elected in 1858; Jacob Simonton in 1859. From 1861 on each township had one super- visor and that board made the laws for the county and the county judge simply did probate business, until 1869, when the office was entirely abolished. The first record of a county court appears as follows in the min- ute book:

State of Iowa Page County.

Be it known that on the night of the 12th of January, 1858, all the books and papers belonging to the office of County Judge of Page County, together with the building in which they were kept were destroyed by fire. It is therefore ordered by this court that there be furnished new books in which to keep the record of said court.

In testimony hereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of Page County. Done at Clarinda in said county this the fifteenth day of January, 1858.

A. H. EAST, Prosecuting Attorney and ex officio County Judge.

It will be understood that no earlier county court records are obtainable on account of the above fire. At the January term of 1858, what was styled " Dyke " Township was set off. It comprised congressional township number 70, of range 36 west; it was named Valley Township, the next September, by a petition presented to the county court.

At this same January term the following subdivisions of Page County were set apart as civil townships:

Douglas, comprising congressional town- ship number 70 north, of ranges 37 and 38 west.

Pierce, comprising congressional township number 70 north, of range 39.

Tarkio, comprising congressional town- ships number 68 and 69 north, of ranges 38 and 39.

" Nodaway, comprising congressional town- ships number 68 and 69 north, of range 37

258

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

west; also tliat in 68 and 69 north, of range 36 west.

Nebraska, comprising congressional town- ship number 69 north, of range 36 west, east front a line running north from the southeast corner of section 33 to the north- east corner of section 34 in said township and range.

Amity Township was formed of congres- sional township number 67 north, of ranges 37, 38 and 39, with a fractional strip a half-mile wide on the east.

At the November term Washiington Town- ship was created, beginning at the northeast corner of section 25, in townsliip 68 nortlı, of range 38 west-thence west with the sec- tion line, between Page County and Fremont County-thence soutli to the county line- tlience east along said line, until it intersects the range line between townships 37 and 38 -thence north to place of beginning.

At this time the Board of Equalization consisted of Hon. S. F. Snider, County Judge; Jacob Loy, Sheriff; L. H. Wilder, District Clerk, and John Buckingham, As- sessor. They agreed on the following assess- ment on Page County lands :

TOWNSHIP RANGE

IMPROVED UNIMPROVED

67.

$6 $3

68.

36.

6 3

69. 36.

7 4

70. 37

67 37

6. 3

68. 37

69.

6 4

70.

38.

4 3

68. 38

4. 3

69.

4. 3

70. 38

4 3

67.

5 2

68.

5 2

69.

.39

5 2

5 3

The total assessed valuation of all prop-

erty in Page County, in August, 1859, was $1,181,628.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

There was but little of importance took place in the County Court throughout the years 1859 and 1860. Jannary 1, 1861, found a new era ushering itself in on the management of county government all over Iowa. The previous Legislature had enacted a new law, by which a Board of County Su- pervision took many of the former duties and responsibilities of the County Judge, who had been sole ruler of his people! Under this law, each township in the county was entitled to a representation by a member of the board.

The Board for 1861 consisted of the fol- lowing: P. West, Valley Township; J. L. Black, Douglas Township; Wilson Bellis, Fremont Township; M. A. Jones, Pierce Township; George Miller, Tarkio Township; George Ribble, Nodaway Township; Elislia Thomas, Nebraska Township; Moses Thomp- son, East River Township; William Butler, Harlan Township; John Monzingo, Lincoln Township; James Hamill, Washington Town- ship; J. A. Reed, Amity Township; Robert Maxwell, Buchanan Township.

Charles Linderman was clerk of the board. The oath each member was required to take was as follows:

" We do solemnly swear that we will sup- port the Constitution of the United States and of Iowa, and will faithfully and to the best of our ability discharge the duties of a county supervisor. So help me, God."

It should be remembered that this oath had much significance before the next four years of the civil war had passed.

George Ribble was chosen as chairman of the first Board of Supervisors.

Board of 186%: William Orme, of Valley; J. L. Black, of Douglas; Wilson Bellis, of

5 3

4. 3 67

259

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Fremont; C. W. Foster, of Tarkio; William Graves, of Nebraska; Moses Thompson, of East River; William Butler, of Harlan; D. C. McCord, of Washington; George Ribble (chairman), of Nodaway.

At the September session of 1862, D. C. McCord, of Washingtown Township, offered the following preanible and resolutions:

Whereas, Many of our citizens have left their homes and families, and are now en- gaged in battling for the maintenance of the laws of our country and to suppress the present rebellion; and whereas, we deem it our absolute duty to provide for the wants of the families of our soldiers who are in need, and therefore be it resolved, that we hereby assure our friends absent in the field, tliat their families shall not suffer for the want of synipathy, or for the necessaries of life, to make them comfortable while they are ab- sent or in case of their deatlı.

Second: That we do hereby appoint and constitute the members of the board from each township a special agent to enroll the names of the families of soldiers in their sev- eral townships, and report the same to the board. That they shall inquire after the condition of, and make provision for the wants of, such families, and report at the next meet- ing of the Board of Supervisors.

Third: That if necessary for the proenre- inent of any article deemed necessary for the family of any soldier from Page County, the clerk of the board be and is hereby authorized to draw a warrant on the treasurer for the amount designated by the agent of · the township where the destitnte person or family reside, and the same to be expended for such purpose.

Fourth: That an appropriation of the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) (or so muchi of it as may be needed to carry out the pro- visions of this act), be and hereby is inade."

Upon the vote for this measure, the board stood with a unanimous voice.

Board of 1863: George Ribble (Chair-

man), Nodaway; William Orme, of Valley; J. L. Black, of Douglas; W. Bellis, of Fre- mont ; D. S. Hunt, of Pierce; C. W. Foster, of Tarkio; William Graves, of Nebraska; Moses Thompson, of East River; William Butler, of Harlan; John Monzingo, of Lin- coln; James Hamill, of Washington; Joseph A. Reid, of Amity; Robert Maxwell, of Bu- chanan.

At the September session, the board sold the swamp- land interest of Page Connty to the American Emigration Company, for the sum of $2,500.

At their December (1863) session, Will- iam Butler, of Harlan Township, offered tlie subjoined resolution :

That the Board of Supervisors of Page County do hereby appropriate the sum of $50 to each person who will volunteer in the Union army, to fill the quota of this county at the present call, or to fill any call that may liereafter be made. Said sum to be payable, one-half July 1, 1864, and one-half Jnly 1, 1865, with six per cent. interest from date of warrant.

Resolved: That a special tax of four mills be levied on the assessed valuation of the prop- erty in Page County, as a means of raising funds for the relief of soldiers' families and to pay volunteers.

The above was enacted without a dissent- ing vote.

Board of 1864: D. T. Hunt, of Pierce; John Monzingo, of Lincoln; James Hamill, of Washington; J. A. Reid, of Amity; Rob- ert Maxwell, of Buchanan; Ed. Hollis, of Valley; George Otte, of Donglas; Wesley Hall, of Fremont; George Miller, of Tarkio; J. H. Buckingham, of Nebraska; Moses Thompson, of East River; William Butler, of Harlan.

At their January session the board resolved as follows:

Whereas, Our country is engaged in ą

260

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

great struggle for the very existence of our Government, and laboring to suppress the most infamous of all rebellions; and whereas our county has been called on to furnishi (in addition to the troops already furnished) sixty-four men;

And whereas, We believe it our duty to sustain the administration in putting down this rebellion by aiding those who shall vol- unteer from Page County, and those wlio shall be drafted, who are the heads of fami- lies, to fill the present call for 300,000 men;

Therefore be it resolved. That the Board of Supervisors of Page County, Iowa, levy a special tax of four mills on the dollar, using the assessment of 1863 as a base, and at a rate sufficient to raise the amount of $100 to each man required from this county, the samne being in addition to the snm of $50 heretofore appropriated by the board.

Board of 1865 .- Ed. Hollis, George Otte, George Miller, J. H. Buckingham, Moses Thompson, George Ribble, Wilson Bellis, D. T. Hunt, D. M. Farrens, G. R. Davidson.

George Ribble, of Nodaway Township, was elected as chairman.

Among the official acts of 1865, the board looked after the various bridges and newly laid highways. They also agreed on the fol- lowing tax levy: State tax, two mills on a dollar; county tax, three mills; school purpo- ses. one mill; relief fund, two mills; bridge fund, one mill.

Board of 1866 .- George Ribble, of Nod- away; G. R. Davidson, of Lincoln (chair- man); W. Bellis, of Fremont; D. M. Far- rens, of Buchanan; James Sheppard, of Val- ley; G. W. Newsome, of Douglas; Daniel Chesshire, of Tarkio; J. H. Buckingham, of Nebraska; Moses Thompson, of East River; J. W. Pruyne, of Harlan; W. W. Russell, of Washington; George Mccullough, of Amity.

Aside from routine bridge and road work, but little was accomplished by the board:

but such duties were hard, and to the good judgment of these men we owe much for the excellent public thoroughfares we enjoy in Page County to-day. The bridge and road ways located by them are used by the thous- ands of people of to-day, who seldom think of or give credit to this early board, who per- formed their every known duty so well.

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Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar Number of Pages: 946

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946