USA > Iowa > Guthrie County > Centennial history of Guthrie county, Iowa > Part 14
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The judge's famous charge to the grand jury, at its
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session in April, 1858, has been published several times, but will bear repeating.
After appointing Thomas Roberts foreman, he called him 'Squire. Just able to hold up his head, his tongue loth to perform its wonted task, he began; "Gentlemen of the Grand Jury: (hic) you will find the law of Iowa (hic) in the laws of -- (hic) of-of Iowa. It is your duty, gentlemen, to see that the said law is not-(hic) not-vi'lated (nodding). You are made, (hic) gentlemen, a body to enquire into every (hic) breach of the-(hic)-the law, and to do this is your sworn -- sworn-sworn duty. 'Squire, you will indict" -seeing the jury and every body else ready to laugh, he finished as hurriedly as his "tired condition " would allow. in this lucid strain: 'Squire, you will-(hic)-you will indict every body in the (hic) world, except this court. Mr. Clerk, you will let the 'Squire have-(hic)-have all the books in the world. You will retire, gentlemen, to your -- (hic)-Adjourn court, Mr .- (hic)-Mr. Sheriff, to -- one -- o'clock," and his head, unable to keep its "balance," dropped upon his breast.
The next thing in order was to put the Court to bed, until she " sobered off."
This term of court was held in the Presbyterian church, which then stood east of the square.
Judge McFarland's home was in Boonsboro. In politics he was strongly democratic.
He was chosen a delegate to the Cincinnati convention, which nominated James Buchanan for President, in June, 1856, and took an active part in the campaign following the nomination. In a speech at Newton, he held up his right hand saying, "There, gentlemen, is the hand that drew the Cincinnati Platform." If there was honor in that let him have it.
In physique and appearance he was remarkably fine; he was a man of scholarly attainments, and possessed of a warm and generous heart, but the destroyer of so much that is good and noble in man, clouded his better nature,
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leaving prominent only his coarser self; but in the language of one of his friends: "Whatever may have been his faults, we will call them eccentricities, and kindly draw the veil of charity over them."
The first resident attorney in the county was Isaac Par- rish, who was appointed District Attorney in 1855. About the same time came B. F. Dilly, a protege of Mr. Parrish. Next came Col. Nichols, W. L. Henderson, and Charles Haden. The latter gentleman will no doubt recollect his first office in the famous first treasury building, over Good- speed's store. B. T. H., not having seen the "new lawyer" for several days, was anxious to know what had become of him; so he went into the store one day, and, being a little deaf himself, talked -- as deaf people are apt to do -- a little louder than was necessary for ordinary hearers. " Zinn," said he, "what's become of that long-legged lawyer?" "Oh! he's around somewhere." "I hear he knocks the socks off the boys." "The boys," being some of the other lawyers. The long-legged attorney was in the attic and heard the conversation, and some body had to treat, of course.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
TREASURERS.
T. M. Boyles was elected in August, 1851; resigned Feb- ruary 9, 1852.
M. Leinart appointed March 29, 1852; settled September 9, 1852.
Nathan Maynard, elected August, 1852; resigned June 6, 1853.
Wm. Jones, appointed September 22, 1853.
John H. Miller, elected in August 1854, resigned October 15, 1854.
Lew Harvout, appointed October 15, 1854.
Frank Revelle, elected in April, 1855, resigned June 4, 1855.
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Thos. Seely, appoined June.5, 1855.
T. Bryan, elected August, 1855; died November 13, 1856. W. L. Henderson appointed to fill the unexpired term.
J. T. Mount, elected August, 1857; took possession No- vember 4, 1857, and died November 19, 1857.
W. L. Henderson, appointed November 5, 1857; served to October, 1858.
B. T. Hook, elected October, 1858; re-elected October, 1859.
T. E. Harbor, elected October, 1861; served three terms or 6 years.
G. W. Harlan, elected October, 1867.
Jos. Kenworthy, elected October, 1869.
E. J. Reynolds, elected October, 1871, and is serving his third term.
Previous to 1855 the salary of the treasurer was $50 per annum. In 1855-6 it $150. In 1857, $300. In 1862, $1,500.
The first treasurer's office was his residence, and the first safe, his pants pocket. When the office attained the dig- nity of a separation from domestic scenes, it was kept in the attic or loft over Goodspeed's store. This was reached by means of a ladder, and was so low, that an ordinary sized man could not stand erect in it.
There is a dispute as to what constituted the treasury vault. Some say it was the treasurer's hat, others say it was the old ballot box, while a third party assert that it was an old trunk; as far as the fire and burglar proof qual- ities are concerned, I think one would have been as good as the others.
The building is the one now occupied by A. Fountain as a residence.
In 1856 the treasurer's office was moved to the house of Mrs. Betsey Harris, then a hotel, and kept in a " general " sleeping room, to which they boys gave the cheerful name of "The Potter's Field."
The Guthrie Sentinel, by J. E. Parrish, was published in this room.
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
Upon the resignation of T. M. Boyles, first treasurer, it was necessary to make a settlement; it was found that he had collected the total amount of $18.50, and his vouchers amounted to the same. During Boyles' administration, the first marriage license was issued by Judge Bryan, on the 30th of March, 1852, to Michael Messinger and Lucinda Casteel.
In those days the candidate for matrimonial happiness paid the treasurer one dollar, for which he got a receipt; upon presentation of this receipt, to the county judge, he received his license; that is, if his examination by the judge was satisfactory to that worthy.
About the first business Mr. Leinart did as treasurer, was the issuing of an order for marriage license to Israel Van- deventer and Rachael Moore. He was standing upon a log, chopping, when Mr. V. came up and inquired: "Are you the treasurer?" "Yes, sir." "Well, come. to the house, I've business with you." "All right, sir; what can I do for you?" " Well, the fact of it is, I want to get mar- ried, and I want an order on the judge." "All right again, if you've got your dollar."
What do you think of that way of doing business, Cen- tennial young gentlemen?
One young man wanted to get his license on credit; this the treasurer, at first, refused to grant, but finally, taking pity on the poor fellow, gave him the necessary receipt; true love in his case didn't " run smooth," and he was not mar- ried for several weeks. In the mean time he had earned the (to him) mighty dollar, by trapping and hunting.
Upon the settlement of county officers, on September 9, 1852, in view of the depressed state of the county finances, they all agreed to give to the county, the amount due them, for services to the same, except such sum as they might have in their pockets at the time. The treasurer had in his pocket the enormous sum of $5 which he had collected, and which was the amount of salary retained by him, for his six months service.
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
SHERIFFS.
Michael Messinger, elected in August, 1851.
J. W. Cummins, elected in August, 1853.
James Cline, elected August, 1855.
Levi Brumbaugh, elected August, 1857; failed to serve his term out, and P. Roberts appointed, but resigned in a short time, and Wm. Holsman was appointed to fill va- cancy.
Wm. Holsman was elected August, 1858.
E. A. Porter was elected October, 1861.
Wm. Holsman, elected October, 1863.
J- W. Cummins, elected October, 1865. J. W. Cummins, elected October, 1867.
T. Turner, elected October, 1869.
M. McDonald, elected October, 1871.
M. McDonald, elected October, 1873.
James McMillan, elected October, 1875.
COUNTY JUDGES.
T. Bryan was elected August, 1851.
T. Bryan was elected August, 1853; resigned in 1854.
James Henderson appointed to fill vacancy.
James Henderson, elected August, 1855.
Aaron Hougham, elected August, 1857.
T. E. Harbor, elected August, 1859. James Berry, elected October, 1861.
Thomas Moffitt, elected October, 1863.
Howard Brown, elected October, 1865.
Wm. Elliot, elected October, 1867.
In 1868 the office of Auditor was created by the Legisla- ture and that of County Judge annulled.
Wm. Elliott, being County Judge, was ex-officio the County Auditor, but failing to serve his term out, Wm. Ivers was appointed to fill the vacancy.
E. Mount was elected in 1869.
Joshua Prior, was elected in 1871.
-
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
H. K. Dewey, was elected in 1873.
H. K. Dewey, was elected in 1875.
COUNTY CLERKS.
Silas G. Weeks was elected August, 1851.
Ed. Serry, was elected August, 1853.
Ed. Serry, was elected August, 1855; resigned in the summer of '56, and Wm. Tracy appointed; served one month.
- Wheelis was elected in 1857; committed suicide, and Theo. Parrish appointed November, 1858.
J. P. McEwen, elected October, 1860.
Theo. Parrish, elected October, 1862.
Wm. Maxwell, elected October, 1864.
Wm. Maxwell, elected October, 1866.
C. W. Hill, elected October, 1868.
C. W. Hill, elected October, 1870.
C. W. Hill, elected October, 1872.
C. W. Hill, elected October, 1874.
Clerk Wheelis tried to cut his throat with a razor, but he didn't cut deep enough (perhaps the razor was dull), so he took strychnine and finished the work.
In the winter of 1855 Edward Serry kept his office in a little log building, which stood on the east side of the Square, on what is now a vacant lot belonging to Colonel Nichols, where he also kept a general store, including whisky, which, in winter, he sold by the pound, chopping it out with a hatchet (this latter commodity would scarcely have accommodated the old settlers, who, before starting on a trip across the prairies, poured whisky in their boots, to keep their feet from freezing).
Serry may have kept his powder dry, but he certainly did not keep it in a very safe place, or perhaps a better statement would be, that he didn't sleep in a very safe place. He slept upon his counter, beneath which, stood a keg of powder. It was his habit to spend some time in reading, after he had retired to rest on his counter-bed.
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One night after having been thus engaged, he blew out his candle, and a spark went into the keg of powder. Instan- taneously the roof parted and Serry was blown a distance of sixty feet. In an instant he jumped up, his clothes burned entirely off him, and one eye gone, and ran to the well for water to extinguish the flames, calling at the top of his voice, "Save the books, boys, save the books." He afterwards went to Sioux City where he died. . The build- ing has been repaired and moved to the south side of town where it is used as a residence.
I believe there has nothing very [dreadful befallen any of the other Clerks.
J. P. McEwen went to Ohio, several years ago, was mar- ried and has settled down on a nice farm, where he is happy and contented, and we can but hope that our loss is the Captain's gain. Brave in war; gentle, yet manly, in peace; in friendship, true, generous and warm-hearted; steadfast in principle, even to stubbornness; self-sacrificing, -- refusing military and other preferment, that his friends might profit thereby-intelligent, social and refined; and noble in all things, he is truly a desirable citizen and neigh- bor, and we regret that he left us.
RECORDERS.
Previous to 1864 the Treasurer was also the Recorder. His duality was acknowledged by his having to give sep- arate bonds as such officers. In 1864 the office of Recorder was made separate and distinct from that of Treasurer, and Chas. Haden was elected first Recorder.
Howard Brown, elected in 1866. Godfrey Jerue, elected in 1868.
Godfrey Jerue, elected in 1870.
Benjamin Levan, elected in 1872.
James H. Rogers, elected in 1874.
James H. Rogers, nominated in 1876.
The first deed on record is from J. C. Culbertson and
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
wife to Benjamin Marlenee and the first mortgage to school Fund.
SUPERVISORS.
The Board of Supervisors was created by the Legisla- ture, March 22, 1860; took effect July 4, 1860. The first Board in Guthrie County was organized January 7, 1861, and was composed of the following named gentlemen:
Thomas M. Coleman, from Beaver township.
Nathan Davis, from Bear Grove township.
Joseph Dyson, from Cass township.
Thomas Seely, from Centre township.
Isaac H. Sutton, from Dodge township.
A. Littlejohn, from Highland township. Jesse B. Moore, from Jackson township. S. H. Hammond, from Orange township.
Collin Marshall, from Penn township.
D. B. Reese, from Thompson township.
Theodore Parrish, Clerk of District Court, ex-officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
As will be seen, we had one Supervisor from each town- ship; in 1870 the system was somewhat modified, by reduc- ing the number to three, from the county at large.
Members of the present Board are, T. M. Coleman, Wm. Anderson and W. S. Mount. These gentlemen are all prominent and much respected citizens.
Mr. Coleman, besides being prominent in the affairs of the county, is well known as a man of more than ordinary literary ability. His writings reveal a mind uncontam- inated by contact with the world, and we know he has at heart the best interests of the people.
Mr. Anderson is a prominent citizen of Thompson town- ship, a well-to-do farmer, and his highest aim is not the accumulation of broad acres, but the cultivation and devel- opment of a good farm and the making of a home, in the true sense of the word.
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Mr. Mount, we claim as one of Guthrie's children, as he has been brought up here. He enlisted at the age of nine- teen and served four years in the late war.
MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
In 1875 Col. S. D. Nichols was elected State Senator, and is the first and only Senator Guthrie county has had.
In 1854 Judge T. Bryan was elected to represent this dis- trict in the Senate, but his election was contested by Mr. Jordan, of Polk connty. The Legislature was in favor of Bryan's taking the seat, but as there was some chicanery in counting the votes, he refused to accept it.
Our first Representative was Dr. E. B. Fenn, who rep- resented us in 1864.
Wm. H. Campbell, represented us in 1870.
Wm. Maxwell, in 1872.
H. F. Cardell, in 1874.
G. J. Maris, in 1876.
The above dates are the years in which the Legislature held its sessions; each Representative was elected the year previous to that in which the session was held.
The most remarkable thing I recall in the Representative career of these worthies, is in the case of Dr. Fenn. A young and handsome lady of Des Moines was sent to the Capitol to deliver to a gentleman a verbal invitation to a little social gathering. She delivered the message to our Representative, when upon some remark by him, she dis- covered he was not the gentleman she sought. She made a saucy apology by saying she had been instructed to invite the homliest man in the House.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
From Tuttle's History, I condense the following, in rela- tion to the Constitutional Convention, as being of especial interest to Guthrie county, as one of the prominent workers in that body was Capt. Thomas Seely, who represented Guthrie, Dallas and Polk counties.
12
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
"The Fifth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, met at Iowa City, and commenced its regular session on the 4th day of December, 1854. At this session an act was passed for the revision of the constitution of the State, and pro- vided for an election on the first Monday in August, 1856, for taking a vote of the people for, or against, the constitu- tion. The result of the election was a majority of 18,628 in favor of holding the convention and carrying out the law.
An election for delegates was held in November, 1856, and the Convention met at Iowa City on the 19th of Jan- uary, 1857. The clause in the old constitution, limiting State indebtedness, and also the one prohibiting banking, were stricken out by the Convention. A State Board of Education was created, the office of Lieutenant-Governor, and a grant of privileges of banking to corporations.
On the 3d day of August, 1857, the constitution was sub- mitted to the voice of the people, at an election held on that day, and the result was a majority of 1,630 for the constitution, and the same took effect by proclamation of the Governor, on the third day of September, 1857."
CONGRESSMEN.
From the District in which Guthrie is situated:
From 1851-1853, Bernhart Henn, of Fairfield.
From 1853-1855, Bernhart Henn, of Fairfield.
From 1855-1857, Augustus Hall, of Keosaqua. From 1857-1859, Samuel R. Curtis, of Keokuk.
From 1859-1861, Samuel R. Curtis, of Keokuk; resigned and went to the army and James F. Wilson elected to fill vacancy.
From 1863-1865, Jno. A. Kasson, of Des Moines. From 1865-1867, Jno. A. Kasson, of Des Moines. From 1867-1869, G. M. Dodge, of Council Bluffs.
From 1869-1871, F. W. Palmer, of Des Moines.
From 1871-1873, F. W. Palmer, of Des Moines. From 1873-1875, Jno. A. Kasson, of Des Moines.
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY. .
THE FIRST REPUBLICAN CONVENTION,
In Guthrie county, was held March 15, 1856, of which Richard Gilbert was chairman, and Charles Campbell, sec- retary. The County Committee appointed was: Jackson township, J. W. Cummins; Bear Grove, Thomas Seely; Dodge, Thos. Moffitt; Cass, S. E. Zinn and A. Trout. B. T. Hook was nominated for School Fund Commissioner, and was elected at the spring election. At that time there were two elections a year.
COUNTY SEAT AND COURT HOUSE.
At the June session, 1853, of the County Court, it was ordered that a court house be built, and the funds arising from the sale of lots be appropriated to pay the expenses of the same. The contract was let, but the project was not carried out.
The first Monday in April, 1859, a vote was taken to re- move the county seat from Panora to Guthrie Centre, (the argument of the latter place being its central location) which resulted in a majority of 18 for Panora. The same year the court house was built at a cost of $2,400.
At the April election in 1860, another vote was taken to remove the county seat to Guthrie Centre, and the result was. a majority of 20 in favor of the latter place. Here it remained two years, when, in April, 1862, it was voted back to Pa- nora by a majority of 57.
In 1870 a vote was taken for its re-removal to Guthrie Cen- tre, which failed of its object. This, however, was accom- plished in 1873, and Gutbrie Centre is still the seat of jus- tice. The jail was built in 1868, at a cost of $4,400; it is 30x20, two stories high; first story of stone, three cells and a hall; the upper story of brick, is fitted up for a residence for the jailor.
The importance of the result of the elections in the county seat fight was so great as to cause considerable excitement and some feeling among the adherents of the rival towns.
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
They had some sport too. At the election of 1860 both parties had prepared bonfires, hired anvils and anticipated a jollification. Centre "jubilated " in earnest, and Panora to make herself believe she was not disappointed.
As soon as the result of the election was announced by the Board, the Centerites, anxious to take possession of their long-sought but newly found treasure, came over in full force, with a carriage in which to convey the Judge, (Harbor) a "ten ox team " and wagon for the safe, and a procession, a dozen "wagons strong," to give dignity to the occasion. Returning, they met a reinforcement of five yoke of oxen, which were attached to the wagon containing the safe, making a team of twenty oxen. They marched tri- umphantly into Centre and deposited the safe in a building prepared for its reception by E. B. Newton. Buildings for the different county offices were furnished by the citizens, free of charge.
A great many laughable incidents are connected with these contests, one or two of which I may be permitted to relate. An old gentleman was sent over to Centre to see that the ballot box was not stuffed nor tampered with. The "boys" enticed him, with the one thing dear to his stomach, and too frequent indulgence in the same, prevented his return- ing in time to deposit his own vote. The next morning he was taken to task "for not getting in in time to vote." " What was you doing ? Why didn't you come back ?"
The old man had one stiff finger, which did duty in clean- ing out his old pipe, which operation he was performing when the question was put. Ramming his finger down into the pipe, and boring vigorously, he replied : "Gad, I was watching the movements of the boys."
The crowd thought the joke so good, they forgave him the loss of his vote.
When the county seat was returned to Panora in 1862, the waters were so high, a raft had to be built, upon which to float the safe across the river. It was now Centre's time to "feel bad;" and it appears their man didn't succeed any
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
better in "keeping watch of the movements of the boys " than did the Panora man.
Mr. S-n will remember his midnight ride -- almost equal to Paul Revere's -- when he and his friend rushed fran- tically over to Casey, to get some tickets printed. Return- ing at midnight, cloudy, and as dark as Egypt, they were lost on the prairie, and stumbling accidentally upon a sign post, they sought information from it, but alas, it was too dark to see the board. They lighted matches, but the wind blew them out. What could they do ? "Lost; 'lection coming off to-morrow, no tickets for distribution, oh my!" They were desperate. A happy thought struck Mr. S. "I have it; I'll climb the post, and one single flash of a match will show me where we are. Elated almost beyond control he started up with the agility of a squirrel, but when he was about half way up, he came down with the thump of a bear; he had over-estimated the strength of the post, or else un- derestimated his own weight, but no difference, the result was the same. As he lay there upon his back, wondering whether it were best to get up or lie still, his -- his-well, his thoughts " were not loud but deep."
Happily they returned before it was time to open the polls, and now Mr. S. believes in foreordination. This ride was taken in the interest of the last contest.
In Feb., 1876, by a vote of the people, it was decided to devote two-thirds of the Swamp Land Fund to the building of a court house. This is now under contract, will be built of brick, and will cost, when finished, $22,000.
The Assembly of 1855 attached Carroll County to our county for civil purposes, and called it Carroll township. Its first election was held the 2nd of April, at the residence of Henry Copeland. In August the township was author- ized by Judge Henderson to elect its own county officers, and Guthrie's jurisdiction over her ceased.
In July, 1855, under act of the Legislature, Guthrie county commenced the sale of spirituous liquors, and John Bob- lett was appointed first agent, giving a bond of $1,000. The
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HISTORY OF GUTHRIE COUNTY.
county furnished $60, to which the agent added $20 more, and purchased one barrel of whisky, one keg of brandy and one keg of wine. During his agency of six months, the profits on the sale of liquors were $30, and his commis- sion amounted to the same. This was not profitable to the county, so J. J. Owen was appointed. Mr. Owen first es- tablished himself in an old smoke house, on the Alex. Wasson place, but afterward moved up to town. It seems this agent was not very scrupulous in his sales, nor in the quantity of water he mixed with his whisky.
A man from up country, whom the old settlers will re- member, bought two gallons of whisky for mechanical pur- poses. After his jug was filled and the whisky paid for, the agent remarked, "Mr. V., I was not aware that you were a mechanic ?" " O, yes," said the honest mechanic, "I am shaving shingles."
Seeing the great mistake in establishing this agency the Legislature, in 1856, abolished the same.
A man by the name of Snow kept a " shop," -- a private institution-and, selling contrary to law, his goods were. confiscated, and a receiver by the name of Smith appointed. When the whisky was called for by the county authorities they found Smith had received it so effectually there was none left for revenue purposes.
In the early days, it was not considered out of place to drink a little just for the stomach's sake, but some how it very often went to their heads, some times producing bad thoughts. The Rhoades and Trogler affair came about as the incidental result of one of the early marriages, and the accidental result of being able to buy whisky by the buck- etful.
The foolish and disgusting charivari was then in vogue, and to quiet (?) the rioters, the bride-groom went to the " grocery " and bought a pail full of whisky, gave them a tin cup, and told them to help themselves. While the rest of the "boys " were thus engaged, the robbers broke into Serry's store, and robbed it of $170.
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