Centennial history of Polk County, Iowa, Part 7

Author: Dixon, J. M; Polk County (Iowa). Board of Supervisors
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Des Moines, State register, print
Number of Pages: 362


USA > Iowa > Polk County > Centennial history of Polk County, Iowa > Part 7


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23


COURT HOUSE.


At the October meeting, the names of Thomas Black, James Mount, and Andrew Groseclose, appear as members of the Board. October 7th, the Board bought of Thomas McMullen a lot on which to build the Court House, for which they paid twenty-five dollars. The Court House was originally designed to be of frame material, but it was af- terward changed to brick, with stone foundation, the entire


94


CENTENNIAL HISTORY


structure to be two stories high. John C. Jones was the architect.


COUNTY DIVIDED, ETC.


January 3d, 1848, the County was divided into the fol- lowing Townships : Camp, Richland, Allen, Saylor, Mad- ison, Des Moines, Linn, and Four Mile. January 5th, 1848, Thomas Mitchell was paid six dollars for arresting one Da- vis for passing counterfeit money, and for crossing river, supper, breakfast, horse-feed, horse-hire, traveling forty miles, and serving writ! At the same term, it was ordered that a lot be given to the M. E. Church, provided that a house of worship, either frame or brick, not less than 24 by 30, should be erected thereon within two years. The com- petitors for building the Court House were: W. A. Scott, Wm. W. Jones, Wm. R. Close, and John Saylor. The contract was given to John Saylor for $2,050.


APRIL AND JULY TERMS, 1848.


April 10th, W. A. and J. B. Scott were allowed to keep ferries over both rivers. Same date, Greenfield township, now in Warren county, was organized. July 6th, 1848, George A. Michael appears as Sheriff and Assessor.


OCTOBER TERM, 1848.


October 4th, B. F. Allen was allowed to build a dam across the Des Moines River. Henry Everly filed his bond, November 16th, 1848, as Clerk of the District Court. The Board of Commissioners was composed of Thomas Black, Andrew Groseclose, and John D. McGlothlen.


THE ELECTIONS OF 1849, ETC.


January 4th, 1849, Edward and Edwin Hall were allowed to build a dam at the site where they afterward erected a mill, on the Des Moines. April 2d, Lewis Whitten was


95


OF POLK COUNTY.


elected Prosecuting Attorney. July 12th, L. D. Winches- ter appears as Justice of the Peace for Fort Des Moines Township. October 21st, 1849, John McClain appears as County Surveyor; and in August of the same year, 6th day, Hoyt Sherman was elected Clerk of the District Court; James Lafferty, County Surveyor; Benjamin Bryant, Col- lector, Treasurer, and Recorder; J. M. Perry, Prosecuting Attorney; and Lewis Whitten, Clerk of the Board of Com- missioners.


COURT HOUSE AND JAIL.


November 20th, 1849, R. W. Sypher was allowed by the Board to finish the jail, which had been commenced by Jas. Gurrant and George Shell, the latter dying before the com- pletion of the work. At the same time, John Saylor was released from the Court House contract, after having been paid $225; and John C. Jones and Samuel Gray were au- thorized to finish the structure, the former doing the carpen- ter, and the latter the mason work.


JULY, AUGUST, AND OCTOBER TERMS.


July, 1850, Thomas H. Napier served as Sheriff and As- sessor.


July 24th, 1850, Granville Holland was allowed $200 for painting the Court House.


Byron Rice was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and Ame- lius T. Reynolds Clerk of the District Court, August 5th, 1850.


Josiah Hopkins appears as a member of the Board of Commissioners, October 7th, 1850.


October 9th, 1850, Delaware Township was organized from parts of Four Mile, on the petition of Lewis F. Ran- dolph, Stephen Harvey and others.


96


CENTENNIAL HISTORY


APRIL AND AUGUST TERMS.


April 10th, 1851, the name of Skunk Township was changed to Elkhart.


The last entry made by the Board of Commissioners, da- ted August 2d, 1851, was an order to pay Benjamin Bryant $3.72 for collecting $74.45. The members of the Board who were present on this occasion were Thomas Black and Josiah Hopkins; the third one, John D. McGlothlen, being absent.


PROBATE JUDGES.


The first Probate Judge was William Rickey, who went into office September, 1846 ; the second was A. C. Jones, October 4th, 1847.


The first entry of Judge Rickey is dated September 12th, 1846; and the last entry of Judge Jones is dated August 8th, 1851.


COUNTY JUDGES.


The first County Judge was F. G. Burbridge, who was elected at the August election, 1851.


The first entry made by Judge Burbridge, dated August 11th, 1851, in vacation of the Court, was an order to adopt the seal of the Probate Judge in probate business, and of the Board of Commissioners for all other matters requiring a seal, until a new one could be procured.


The first marriage license issued by the County Court, dated August 11th, 1851, authorized the union of Avery Hoskins and Amanda Michael.


The second County Judge was Byron Rice. Judge Bur- bridge died October 23d, 1851; and as Judge Rice was Pros- ecuting Attorney at the time, he became County Judge ex officio. At the following August election, 1852, he was


97


OF POLK COUNTY.


chosen County Judge. His last entry was dated June 4th, 1855.


Barlow Granger was the third County Judge, succeeding to the office July 2d, 1855. He served until August 29th, 1855.


Thomas H. Napier, the last of the County Judges to whom the Code of 1850 had given such large grants of offi- cial power, was elected to this office August 6th, 1855. Hi first official entry is dated August 30th, of the same year. He was re-elected August 3d, 1857, and served until the new order of things, following the adoption of the present Constitution, in 1857, legislated the office, as it was, out of existence. The date connected with his last official signa- ture in the record, is January 12th, 1859.


The Judges elected after the adoption of the Constitu- tion, were styled County Judges, although their powers were greatly abridged on the introduction of the Board of Supervisors in January 1861.


The fifth County Judge was J. H. McClelland, who went into office January 1st, 1860. He served three terms, or six years, and was succeeded in 1866, by Col. W. G. Bently, who resigned in September of the same year, giving place to M. W. Folsom.


Dr. John G. Weeks took the office October 17th, 1866, re- taining it until January 6th, 1868, when John B. Miller suc ceeded.


Judge Miller's last entry is dated January 2d, 1869, when he became Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, and the office was virtually abolished.


The first Judges of the County had jurisdiction simply in probate cases; but afterward, as in the times of Judges Rice and Napier, they had executive control, acquiring by law a tenure of power which was indeed formidable. Subsequent- ly, however, during the terms of Judge McClelland, and his successors, the office was modified by the introduction 13


98


CENTENNIAL HISTORY


of the Board of Supervisors, and its duties reverted to their original status. Before we continue the election record, already commenced, we propose to refer to some miscella- neous matters which seem to be appropriate in this place:


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.


In July, 1847, Boone county was set off from Polk for political, judicial, and revenue purposes. It was called Boone Precinct.


December 5th, 1851, Hardin county was attached to Polk for political and other purposes.


At the April election, 1852, the whole number of votes cast in the county, were 727.


In September, 1852, there were thirty justices of the peace, and seven constables in the county, showing quite a dis- parity in numbers between the magistrates and their minis- ters.


The year 1857 was distinguished for the number of elec- tions which occurred in it. First came the April election; and second, the August election, at which the present Con- stitution of the State was adopted. After these came the Fall election.


Sometime prior to the year 1857, the five townships which are now known as Des Moines, Lee, Crocker, Valley, and Bloomfield were joined together for civil and judicial pur- poses under the name of Des Moines township. In April, 1856, Will Porter and Benjamin Bryant were elected justices of the peace of this township. One of the competing can- didates was Madison Young. The number of votes cast at this election in the townships named, was about 1,100 em- bracing a great preponderance of the votes in the county.


BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-NAMES OF MEMBERS, ETC.


Since our organization as a county, we have had three distinct systems of county government. The executive


99


OF POLK COUNTY.


management was first vested in a Board of Commissioners. This occurred in 1846. Next came the County Judges, the last of whom was re-elected in August 1857, and retired in 1860.


On the 7th day of January, 1861, the Supervisor system went into operation, assuming complete control of County matters. At that time each township, as a rule, was repre- sented in the County Court by one Supervisor ; but subse- sequently, as the system was cumbrous and difficult to man- age, it was found convenient to divide the County into Su- pervisor districts; and at the present time we have but five Supervisors, instead of a score or more, as under the former regime.


The first members of the Board were elected November 6th, 1860. Their names are here appended:


Allen Township, A. Kenworthy; Bloomfield, Sam'l Gray; Beaver, Thomas Mitchell; Camp, Abraham Foutch; Des Moines, John Mitchell; Delaware, James O. Mason; Doug- las, James H. Mathis; Elkhart, Charles W. Gurnea; Frank- lin, James Barrett; Four Mile, Bryan Hawley ; Jefferson, John McClain; Lee, H. H. Griffiths; Madison, Geo. Beebe; Saylor, W. S. Fisher; Valley, W. W. Jones; Washington, S. J. Bachelder; Walnut, D. Wright.


John Mitchell, now Judge of the Circuit Court, was the first Chairman of the Board, and J. M. Laird was the first Clerk.


NEW COURT HOUSE.


One of the first acts of the Board was to secure control of the work on the new Court House. Judge Napier, in 1857, had given to Isaac Cooper the contract for building this edifice. Dyer H. Young was Architect and Superin- tendent. After repeated efforts had been made to compro- mise the matter, Mr. Cooper finally resigned his contract, and the Board went to work to finish the structure. For a


95200


100


CENTENNIAL HISTORY


time the Supervisors met in the old Court House; and then,, having fluctuated between Sherman Block and Exchange- Block for awhile, they at last, on the 5th day of January, 1863, took up their final quarters in the new Court House. The contract price for building this structure was sixty-four thousand three hundred dollars.


COUNTY OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES IN 1876.


Auditor-George C. Baker; Deputy, Geo. W. Bristow.


Clerk of Courts-J. H. McClelland ; Deputies, J. W. Muffly, J. L. Keyes.


Treasurer-Wm. Lowry; Deputy, E. B. Hunt.


Recorder-J. C. Read.


Superintendent of Schools-Robert S. Hughes.


Sheriff-George Lendrum; Duputies, M. K. McFadden, Ed Smith.


Board of Supervisors-Nat. Parmenter, James Porter, T.


T. Morris, H. L. Youtz, and Wm. Christy.


Jailor-A. Pearson.


County Physician -- J. F. Kennedy.


Attorney --- L. G. Bannister.


JUDICIAL OFFICERS IN 1876.


Judge of District Court-John Leonard.


Judge of Circuit Court-John Mitchell.


ELECTION RECORD.


At the April election of 1846, the following officers were chosen: Probate Judge, John Saylor ; Sheriff, Thomas Mitchell; Coroner, James Phillips; Surveyor, A. D. Jones; Recorder, Thomas McMullen; Treasurer, William F. Ayers; Assessor, G. B. Clark; Collector, Addison Michael; Board of County Commissioners, Benjamin Saylor, William H. Meacham, E. W. Fouts.


101


OF POLK COUNTY.


From the date of this election in 1846, until the Spring election of 1819, extending through a period of three years, there is no official evidence that any elections took place in the County. By reference to the article under the general head of County Government, which reports the proceedings of the Board of Commissioners, it will be seen that certain officers were acting during this period. This of course is an incomplete and irregular record, but it is the best we can obtain. During the time specified, the following officers are mentioned: Commissioners elected in August, 1846, Thos. Black, Edward Martin, and James Mount, with Lewis Whitten as Clerk of the Board. Mr. Whitten was appointed County Agent to sell lands, rent buildings, &c., September 22, 1846. Samuel Dilley was appointed Constable of Fort Des Moines Precinct, and G. B. Clark was appointed to take Census, January, 1847.


Peter Meyers, gave bonds as Sheriff, and L. D. Winches- ter, as Prosecuting Attorney, February, 1847. John M. Wallace was elected Clerk of the District Court, and Thos. Baker, Prosecuting Attorney, August, 1847. It appears also that at the same time, Andrew Groseclose was elected member of the Board of Commissioners, taking the place of Edward Martin. At the same time, likewise, James Campbell was elected Collector and Treasurer.


In July, 1848, the records of the Board show that George A. Michael was acting as Sheriff. Henry Everly was elected Clerk of District Court, and John D. McGlothlen a member of the Board of Commissioners, August, 1848. Lewis Whitten was elected Prosecuting Attorney, April 12th, 1849; and at the August election following, Hoyt Sherman was elected Clerk of the District Court; Lewis . Whitten, Clerk of the Board of Commissioners; J. M. Perry, Prose- cuting Attorney; Benjamin Bryant, Collector, Treasurer, and Recorder; and James Lafferty, County Surveyor.


At the August election, 1850, Byron Rice was elected


102


CENTENNIAL HISTORY


Prosecuting Attorney; Josiah Hopkins, County Commis- sioner; Amelius T. Reynolds, Clerk of the District Court; Thomas McMullen, School Fund Commissioner.


There is no record whatever, except as an incidental matter, of the elections which occurred in 1851. It is known, however, that F. G. Burbridge was elected County Judge in that year; Hoyt Sherman was Clerk of the County Court; A. M. Lyon was Sheriff; H. H. Saylor, Deputy Sheriff; O. D. Smalley appears as Surveyor; John Hays acted as Bailiff.


Up to the year 1852, the County records were kept in such a confused and disorderly condition, that we have found it impossible, in some cases, to give the names of the officers who were elected before that time. We have searched carefully among the archives preserved in the Au- ditor and Clerk's offices for what we have needed; and the results, up to the date indicated, have already been given. The first regular record of elections, which could be found, begins with the April election, in 1852, at which time we resume this subject:


April 5th, 1852 .- Byron Rice, elected County Judge; Wm. T. Marvin, Clerk of the District Court; R. W. Sy- pher, School Fund Commissioner; J. M. Perry, Prosecuting Attorney.


August 2d, 1852 .- Wm. T. Marvin, Clerk of the District Court; J. M. Perry, Prosecuting Attorney; A. Y. Hull, State Senator; J. F. Rice, Representative.


April 4, 1853 .- W. W. Williamson, elected Prosecuting Attorney; J. M. Montgomery, Drainage Commissioner.


August 1, 1853 .- Samuel Gray, elected Treasurer and Re- corder; Wm. H. McHenry, Sheriff; John McClain, Sur- veyor; Walter Oyler, Coroner; John M. Montgomery, Drainage Commissioner.


April 4, 1854 .- R. W. Sypher, elected School Fund Com- missioner.


103


OF POLK COUNTY.


August -, 1854 .- Richard L. Chrystal, elected Clerk; Barlow Granger, Prosecuting Attorney; Alfred M. Lyon, and Ezra Van Hozen, Representatives; J. C. Jordan, Sen- ator.


August 6, 1855 .- S. M. Dyer, Treasurer and Recorder; Walter Oyler, Coroner; John H. Miller, Surveyor; Thomas H. Napier, County Judge; D. B. Spaulding, Sheriff.


April 1, 1856 .- Wm L. Montgomery, School Fund Com- missioner; Wm. H. McHenry, Drainage Commissioner.


August -, 1856 (first Monday, -- Wm. P. Davis, and Benjamin Greene, Representatives; H. M. Hoxie, County Clerk; J. H. Gray, Prosecuting Attorney.


April 6, 1857 .- J. D. McClain, elected County Assessor; Chas. Rogers, Drainage Commissioner; Wm. M. Stone, Judge Eleventh Judicial District.


August 3, 1857 .- T'hos. H. Napier, elected County Judge; Samuel M. Dyer, Treasurer and Recorder; D. B. Spauld- ing, Sheriff; J. C. Booth, County Surveyor; G. W Conner, Coroner; For New Constitution, 1,892-against, 106. For striking "White " out of the Constitution, 65-against, 557. October 13, 1857 .- Ralph P. Lowe, elected Governor; Oran Faville, Lieutenant Governor; Wm. P. Davis, State Senator; Thos. Mitchell, Representative.


April 5, 1858 .- Samuel Bell, elected first County Super- intendent. For State Bank, 1,330-against, 48. For gen- eral Banking Law, 1,170-against, 77.


October 12, 1858 .-- John H. Gray, elected Judge District Court; C. E. Millard, District Attorney; Dan Mills, Board of Education; H. M. Hoxie, Clerk of District Court.


October 11, 1859 .- S. J. Kirkwood, elected Governor; N. J. Rusch, Lieutenant Governor; Stewart Goodrell, Represent- ative; John H. McClelland, County Judge; J. B. Tiffin, Treasurer and Recorder; John Hays, Sheriff; C. C. Dawson, County Superintentendent; N. R. Kuntz, County Surveyor;


104


CENTENNIAL HISTORY


James Stanton, Coroner; John Hartman, Drainage Commis- sioner.


November 6, 1860 .-- J. M. Laird, County Clerk. County Supervisors elected.


October 8, 1861 .- S. J. Kirkwood, elected Governor; J. R. Needham, Lieutenant Governor; J. H. Hatch, State Senator; John Mitchell, Representative; I. W. Griffith, Sheriff; J. B. Tiffin, Treasurer and Recorder; J. H. McClelland, County Judge; E D. Hawes, County Superintendent; G. W. Hall County Surveyor; A. C. Bondurant, Drainage Commissioner; Thomas Elliott, Coroner.


October 14, 1862 .-- J. M. Laird, elected Clerk of District Court; John A. Kasson, to Congress; J. H. Gray, Judge; John Leonard, District Attorney.


October 13, 1863 .- W. M. Stone, elected Governor; Enoch W. Eastman, Lieutenant Governor; J. H. McClelland, County Judge; Nicholas Bayliss, Representative; H. M. Bush, Sheriff; J. B. Tiffin, Treasurer and Recorder; S. Bar- rows, County Superintendent; J. P. Foster, County Sur- veyor.


November 8, 1864 .- John A. Kasson, re-elected to Con- gres; H. H. Griffiths, Clerk District Court; John Jack Jr., Recorder.


October 10, 1865 .- W. M. Stone, elected Governor; B. F. Gue, Lieutenant Governor; George G. Wright, Judge Supreme Court; Hoyt Sherman, and G. L. Godfrey, Repre. sentatives; Jonathan Cattell, Senator; W. G. Bentley, Coun- ty Judge; Nathaniel McCalla, Sheriff; Leonard Brown, Superintendent of Schools; J. B. Tiffin, Treasurer; J. B. Bausman, Surveyor.


October 9, 1866 .- J. G. Weeks, elected County Judge; H. H. Griffiths, Clerk District Court; I. N. Thomas, Recorder.


October 8, 1867 .- Samuel Merrill, elected Governor; John Scott, Lieutenant Governor; J. H. Hatch, and John A. Kas- son, Representatives; J. B. Miller, County Judge; Charles


105


OF POLK COUNTY.


G. Lewis, Treasurer; P. H. Van Slyck, Sheriff; C. A. Mosier, Superintendent of Schools; Jule Bausman, Surveyor; Madi- son Young, Coroner.


October 3, 1868 .- F. W. Palmer, elected to Congress; H. H. Griffiths, Clerk District Court; I. N. Thomas, County Recorder; John A. Nash, Superintendent of Schools.


October 12, 1869 .- Samuel Merrill, Governor; M. M. Wal- den, Lieutenant Governor; B. F. Allen, Senator; John A. Kasson, and G. W. Jones, Representatives; John B. Miller, County Auditor; Chas. G. Lewis, Treasurer; P. H. Van- Slyck, Sheriff; P. B. Reed, County Surveyor; J. A. Nash, County Superintendent.


October 11, 1870 .- F. W. Palmer, elected to Congress; C. C. Cole, Judge of the Supreme Court; C. H. Gatch, Dis- trict Attorney; H. H. Griffiths, Clerk District Court; I. N. Thomas, County Recorder; P. D. Ankeny, Bryan Hawley, and Edwin Oaks, County Supervisors.


October 10, 1871 .- C. C. Carpenter, elected Governor; H. C. Bulis, Lieutenant Governor; John A. Kasson, and J. M Tuttle, Representatives; J. B. Miller, County Auditor; F. R. Laird, County Treasurer; D. M. Bringolf, Sheriff; J. A. Nash, County Superintendent; G. W. Baldwin, County Supervisor; Frank Pelton, County Surveyor; A. M. Over- man, Coroner.


November -, 1872 .-- John A. Kasson, elected to Congress; John Mitchell, Circuit Judge; John H. McClelland, Clerk; J. C. Read, Recorder; W. H. Davis, Supervisor.


October -, 1873 .-- C. C. Carpenter, Governor; Joseph Dysart, Lieutenant Governor; Thomas Mitchell, State Sen- ator; Wm. G. Madden, and Isaac Brandt, Representatives; George C. Baker, County Auditor; Wm. Lowry, Treasurer; D. M. Bringolf, Sheriff; Frank Pelton, Surveyor; D. G. Perkins, County Superintendent of Public Schools; A. M. Overman, Coroner; Nathan Parmenter, Supervisor. For


14


106


CENTENNIAL HISTORY


increasing the number of Supervisors to Five, 2,180 votes for, and 1,715 against.


October 13, 1874 .- J. A. Kasson, Congress; H. Y. Smith, District Attorney; J. H. McClelland, Clerk of the Courts; J. C. Read, County Recorder; T. T. Morris, Wm. Christy, Wm. B. Butler, and H. L. Youtz, County Supervisors.


October 12, 1875 .- S. J. Kirkwood, Governor; J. G. Newbold, Lieutenant Governor; Josiah Given, and Wm. G. Madden, Representatives; George C. Baker, Auditor; Wm. Lowry, Treasurer; George Lendrum, Sheriff; Frank Pelton, Surveyor; Robert S. Hughes, Superintendent of Schools; Isaac W. Griffith, Coroner; James Porter, Super- visor.


COUNTY FARM.


Early in May, 1865, Messrs. S. F. Spofford, J. C. Jordan, and T. K. Brooks, acting as the accredited agents of the County, purchased 120 acres of land in Saylor Township, giving for the same $4,000. The land had been owned and occupied as a farm by John Yost, and considerable improve- ment had been made on it. Subsequently, in the same year, September 7th, the same parties negotiated for the purchase of an adjoining tract of land, containg 160 acres, making in all a farm of 280 acres, pleasantly located, and admirably adapted to the benevolent purposes for which the County became its owner.


The first Superintendent was J. B. Chadwick, who was followed in succession by Lewis Jones, P. D. Ankeny, G. W. Baldwin, and Nat. Parmenter. The first Directors were Lewis Jones, John McClain, and J. M. Moody, followed by J. H. McClelland, J. M. Walker, and Riley Thornton; who in their turn were followed by J. C. Jordan, and James A. Dunagan. These were succeeded by Samuel Bell, and John Youngerman; who were followed by M. W. Robinson, Wm. G. Madden, and J. C. Plummer.


107


OF POLK COUNTY.


The County physicians have been, A. G. Field, D. Beach, D. V. Cole for three years, ending in 1875, and J. F. Ken- nedy, the present one.


The following condensed history of the county farm, we have carefully gleaned from the volumes containing the records of the Board of Supervisors:


Early in 1865, the poor of the county had so multiplied, as an effect in great part of the war, the authorities deemed it imperative to institute some means by which the evil could be remedied. On the fourth day of April 1865, the Board appointed T. K. Brooks, H. Hall, John McClain, J. C. Jordan, and D. C. Martz, as a committee to select and purchase a suitable farm. At one time, it was almost de- cided to buy the property of P. H. Humphrey, of Beaver township; but ultimately the farm of Mr. Yost, five miles North of the city, was selected.


For the purposes contemplated in the purchase and initial improvement of the farm, the sum of $6,000 was appropri- ated out of the Swamp Land Fund. On the 16th day of May, the voters of Polk County decided by a large major- ity to employ this amount for the purposes indicated. Dr. Brooks was appointed to consummate the purchase of the farm, and S. F. Spofford, and J. C. Jordan became the agents of the County to buy stock and implements, employ Stew- ard, and do all other things necessary to start the enter- prize. To this last committee was entrusted a sum of $2000, which was prudently and judiciously expended.


May 22d, 1865, Messrs. Spofford and Jordan employed J. B. Chadwick and wife, on a salary of $750 per annum, to take supervision of the Farm; and during the same season, as the premises were in a state of dilapidation, many im- provements were made.


Fences were repaired, a well was dug, 50 acres of land were cultivated, and a frame house, two stories high, with a brick walled cellar, the entire structure containing twenty-


108


CENTENNIAL HISTORY


seven rooms, was speedily erected. The old story and a half residence of Mr. Yost, was put into immediate use; and before the close of the year, twenty persons had com- fortable quarters as subjects of County benevolence. Since then, improvements have been progressively made on the farm, adapting it to the necessities of the times; and in ad- dition to all these, we are informed that a substantial and commodious barn is now in process of erection.


For several years, W. S. Fisher and wife have been very efficient in the respective capacities of Steward and Stew- ardess. The reports of the County Auditor for the past few years, indicate the fact that the affairs of the farm have been well managed. The unfortunate inmates of the County House, of whom there have been many, have been made comfortable; and it is gratifying to add, too, that this benevolent enterprise to give relief to the poor, is, in a financial sense, nearly self-supporting.


The County building proper, as it now stands, with all the repairs and additions which have been made to it, is three stories high, and its numerous rooms are well adapted to the comfort and convenience of inmates. The reports of officers show, that on an average, thirty persons per year have been admitted.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.