USA > Iowa > Adair County > History of Adair County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 3
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Auditors
N. S. Taylor, the last county judge, elected in 1867, became the first county auditor, ex-officio, when the former office was abolished. Following him came: J. H. Bailey, 1869-71; J. H. Bailey, 1871-3: W. B. Martin, 1873-5; W. B. Martin, 1875-7; D. W. Marquart, 1877-9; D. W. Marquart, 1879-81; D. W. Marquart, 1881-3; George H. Smith, 1883-5; George H. Smith, 1885-7; D. W. Young, 1887-9; D. W. Young, 1889-92; D. W. Young, 1892-4: L. B. Davis, 1894-6; L. B. Davis, 1896-8: J. D. Friel, 1898-1900; J. D. Friel, 1900-02; R. B. Oldham, 1902-4; R. B. Oldham, 1904-6: Charles E. Clark, 1906-8; Charles E. Clark, 1908-10; S. E. Alley, 1910-12; S. E. Alley, 1912-14: M. A. Gettis, 1914-16.
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
Treasurers
The office of treasurer originated with the official position known as "treasurer and recorder." Joshua E. Chapman was elected to fill the dual position in 1854 and was succeeded by Francis M. Corr, 1857; S. W. Armstrong, 1858; Dr. T. M. Moore, 1861; G. F. Kil- burn, 1863. During the latter's term of office the position of recorder was separated from that of treasurer and thus Kilburn became the first county treasurer. He served until 1866 and following him came: T. M. Moore, 1866-7; James C. Gibbs, 1867-9; James C. Gibbs, 1869-71; John Shreeves, 1871-3; L. J. Gray, 1873-3; L. J. Gray, 1875-7; John E. Hill, 1877-9; John E. Hill, 1879-81; John E. Hill, 1881-3; S. M. Shattuck, 1883-5; S. M. Shattuck, 1885-7; James A. Hetherington, 1887-9; James A. Hetherington, 1889-91; A. D. Crooks, 1891-3; A. D. Crooks, 1893-5; J. S. Hulbert, 1895-7; J. S. Hulbert, 1897-9; S. H. Moffitt, 1899-01; S. H. Moffitt, 1901-03; G. W. Van Camp, 1903-6; G. W. Van Camp, 1906-8; S. M. Mercer, 1908-10; S. M. Mercer, 1910-12; R. M. Wilson, 1912-14; R. M. Wilson, 1914-16.
Recorders
The office of recorder becoming separate from that of treasurer in the latter part of 1864, at the election that fall W. H. Brainard was chosen to fill the position for one term. Following him came: Wesley Taylor, 1866-8; Wesley Taylor, 1868-70; Wesley Taylor, 1870-2; R. O. Brown, 1872-4; R. O. Brown, 1874-6; R. O. Brown, 1876-8; John A. Easton, 1878-80; John A. Easton, 1880-2; E. S. Chenoweth, 1882-4; E. S. Chenoweth, 1884-6; William Bacon, 1886-8; William Bacon, 1888-90; R. O. Brown, 1890-2; R. O. Brown, 1892-4; T. W. Brown, 1894-6; T. W. Brown, 1896-8; John Cham- bers, 1898-1900; John Chambers, 1900-2; J. W. Roberts, 1902-4; J. W. Roberts, 1904-6; J. W. Roberts, 1906-8; M. G. McCreight, 1908-10; M. G. McCreight, 1910-12; Mrs. Tillie Hoadley, 1912-14; Minnie Barnett, 1914-16.
Sheriff's
Abner Root, 1854-7; Levi C. Elliott, 1857-9; John Ireland, 1859- 61; J. K. Valentine, 1861-3; John Shreeves, 1863-5: P. G. Sage, 1865-7; Abner Root, 1867-9; George Salisbury, 1869-71; Solomon Garrett, 1871-3; C. B. Hunt, 1873-5; C. B. Hunt, 1875-77; C. B. Vol. 1-2
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
Hunt, 1877-9; W. C. Libby, 1879-81; W. C. Libby, 1881-3; W. C. Libby, 1883-5; G. A. Callison, 1885-7; A. J. Kingery, 1887-9; A. J. Kingery, 1889-91; J. H. Curley, 1891-3; J. H. Curley, 1893-5; D. A. Patterson, 1895-7; D. A. Patterson, 1897-9; Charles L. Swinehart, 1899-01; Charles L. Swinehart, 1901-3; B. H. Kenworthy, 1903-6; B. H. Kenworthy, 1906-8; B. H. Kenworthy, 1908-10; H. J. Har- bour. 1910-12; H. J. Harbour, 1912-14; J. W. Porter, 1914-16.
Coroners
Robert Wilson, 1857 (did not qualify) ; James P. Kenney, 1858; Philip Augustine, 1859-61; Philo G. Sage, 1861-3; Philip Augustine, 1863-5; J. McMaster, 1865-7; G. F. Kilburn, 1867-9; J. S. Waggener, 1869-70; N. S. Taylor, 1870-1; Joseph Gadd, 1871-3; N. S. Taylor, 1873-5; A. S. Carmichael, 1875-7; M. L. Bates, 1877-9; A. E. Markle, 1879-81; N. S. Taylor, 1881-3; E. B. Hicks, 1885-6; John C. Mason, 1886-7; E. B. Hicks, 1887-8; N. S. Taylor, 1888-9; W. H. Romesha, 1889-91; W. H. Romesha, 1891-3; W. H. Romesha, 1893-5; W. H. Romesha, 1895-7; W. H. Romesha, 1897-9; W. H. Romesha, 1899-1901; W. H. Romesha, 1901-3: E. Babcock, 1903-6; E. Babcock, 1906-8; E. Babcock, 1908-10; E. Bab- cock, 1910-12; E. Babcock, 1912-14: E. Babcock, 1914-16.
Surveyors
S. W. Pryor, 1857-9: Simon Barrows, 1859-61-3; S. W. Pryor, 1863-5-7-9; J. M. Joseph, 1869-71; Waldo E. Adams, 1871-3; A. R. Dew, 1873-5; W. A. Prior, 1875-7; W. D. McCollum, 1877-9; W. R. Cochrane, 1879-81-3; F. M. Bates, 1883-5-7; George F. Clark, 1887- 9-91; Frank Sargent, 1891-3; Eugene Wilson, 1893-5-7: George F. Clark, 1897-9-1901-3; A. C. Mayes, 1903-6-8-10 -. The office of surveyor at this time was abolished and a county engineer appointed by the board of supervisors. C. H. Lehmkuhl has served contin- ually as such.
Representatives
Joseph L. Sharp, 1852-4: Richard Tutt, 1854-6: M. L. McPher- son. 1856-7: E. D. Smith, 1857-61; Collin Marshall, 1861-3; E. B. Fenn, 1863-5; A. L. MePherson, 1865-7: G. F. Kilburn, 1867-9; W. H. Merritt, 1869-71: Oliver Mills, 1871-3; W. H. Easton, 1873-
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
5; M. K. Campbell, 1875-7; J. A. Hallock, 1877-9; Platt Wicks, 1879-81; Platt Wicks, 1881-3; John A. Storey, 1883-5-7; A. D. Crooks, 1887-9; P. McDermid, 1889-91; George F. Clark, 1891-3; W. B. Martin, 1893-5-7; K. R. Madden, 1897-9; Jerry M. Wilson, 1899-1901; W. H. McClure, 1901-3; R. W. Hollembeak, 1903-6; E. J. Sidey, 1906-8; J. T. Dalby, 1908-10; G. W. Van Camp, 1910- 12; E. J. Sidey, 1912-14; Pierre McDermid, 1914 -.
Senators
James Redfield, 1861-3; B. F. Roberts, 1863-5; J. R. Reed, 1865-9; Benjamin F. Murray, 1869-73; Lafayette Young, 1873-77- 81; C. B. Hunt, 1881-5; Lafayette Young, 1885-91; A. L. Hager, 1891-3; L. M. Kilburn, 1893-5-9; J. J. Crossley, 1899-08; A. C. Savage, 1908 -.*
School Superintendents
George White. 1858-9-61; Simon Barrows, 1861-3; James Ewing, 1863-5; Wesley Taylor, 1865-7: C. J. Bowman, 1867-9; J. W. Peet, 1869-71; H. J. Morgan, 1871-3: Mary Childs, 1873-5; M. W. Haver, 1875-7-9; J. W. Boyer, 1879-81-3: M. W. Haver, 1883-5-7; C. L. Wilson, 1887-9; Bessie R. Wagstaff, 1889-91; C. L. Wilson, 1891-3; A. A. Taylor, 1893-5-7-9: A. B. Chantry, 1899-01 : Ella C. Chantry, 1901-3-6; Omer Vandivier, 1906-8-10; Adaline Brooks, 1910-12 -.
County Attorneys
D. M. Valentine, 1856-62: John Leonard, 1862-4; H. W. Max- well, 1864-6; S. D. Nichols, 1866-70; C. H. Gatch, 1870-4; H. Y. Smith, 1874-8; William Connor, Jr., 1878-82; A. W. Wilkinson, 1882-6; C. W. Neal, 1886-8-90: F. H. Gaines, 1890-2-4; F. E. Gates, 1894-6-8: C. T. Launder, 1898-1900-2; George D. Musmaker, 1902-6; Ed R. Brown, 1906-8-10; M. C. Atchison, term ending December 31, 1910; O. W. Witham, term commencing January 1, 1911; O. W. Witham, 1912-14; D. A. Crowley, 1914-16.
COURTHOUSE HISTORY
The first courthouse in the county was located, of course, at Fontanelle, the first county seat. It was constructed in 1856 by order of the county judge, J. J. Leeper. The county owned a quarter
* In compiling the names of senators and representatives the names are those of the men who received the largest number of votes in Adair County and all were elected by the district vote and served their respective terms in the General Assembly.
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
section of land which was divided into town lots and sold and the money derived therefrom devoted to the building of the house of jus- tice. The house was twenty-six feet wide, thirty-six feet long and ten feet high. When the building was ready for a roof it was decided to add a second story. Native lumber was used in the construction of the building and the hardware fixtures were hauled from Keokuk by wagon. The courtroom was located on the lower floor and the second story was used for the office rooms. After the removal of the county seat to Greenfield the courtroom was used as schoolhouse, church, by fraternal societies and for entertainments. In fact, school and church had been held there all the time. This old courthouse was destroyed by fire on January 5, 1910. It was in use at the time as a town hall.
When the seat of justice was located in Greenfield court convened in a large two-story frame building erected in 1874 by the Green- field Building Association on lots donated by A. P. Littleton. This building cost nearly eight thousand dollars and was located on the east side of the square, where Warren's store is now situated. This building served its purpose until September, 1883, when it was destroyed by fire. The Transcript has the following to say of this fire :
"At 5 o'clock on Thursday morning Joseph Valentine, brother of James Valentine, proprietor of the Bon Ton Bakery, discovered that the rear portion of the building was on fire. It was already well under way and rapidly encroaching. The alarm was at once given and as soon as possible the bells were rung and the populace aroused. With no fire organization and no facilities for fighting the fire or pulling down buildings in its path, it seemed almost inevitable that all of the buildings on the southeast of the square would be burnt. Indeed nothing but the fact that there was little wind and a slight shower falling at the time, together with the almost superhuman exertions of the citizens, saved the entire east business part of the town.
"The fire soon spread to Bruce's stable in the rear of the Bon Ton and also swept its way along the row of buildings consisting of Ran- dolph's meat market, Porter Brothers' barber shop, and Martin & Gray's land office, to the courthouse which was soon wrapped in flames. At the same time the fire leaped across the sixteen-foot alley to the stable of the Methodist Episcopal parsonage. From this there was almost a solid block of about twenty buildings westward along the south side of the square to Adair Street, with here and there a
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
space of only three feet between them. It spread rapidly along this row, taking John A. Storey's stable, John Shreeves' furniture store, and C. N. Wilson's flour and feed store. Between this and the post- office building there was a passage of three feet. If it could be stopped there the rest might be saved; if not, the whole group must go. More heroic valor was never shown upon the battlefield than was shown here. A line was formed and water in great quantities was carried and thrown over the postoffice building constantly. And men actually stood and worked in that narrow pass of three feet, throwing water over themselves and the building until the Wilson building burned down and the wall caved in, thereby saving the postoffice and preventing farther progress of the flames. Some gave out exhausted and others held their places until the victory was won.
" The courthouse had just been insured for $2,400 and the county records were saved in the vaults."
Court was then held in the opera house and in a small one story frame building which was erected to cover the vaults. In November, 1890, the people decided by a satisfactory majority to erect a new building and on July 4, 1891, the cornerstone of the building was laid. The stone was laid by the Masonic fraternity, according to their rites and customs, the exercises being conducted by Grand Master Bowen of Des Moines. The following articles were placed in the cornerstone :
Holy Bible, donated by Teague and Sampson.
Constitution and by-laws of Crusade Lodge, 386, A. F. and A. M., with list of officers and members.
Constitution and by-laws of Fontanelle Lodge, 138, A. F. and A. M., with list of officers and members.
Officers and members of St. John's Chapter, 73, R. A. M., Fon- tanelle, Ia.
List of officers and members Greenfield Chapter, O. E. S.
Abstract of history of Adair County, by J. M. Gow.
One bottle each of corn, wine and oil.
Brief history of the city of Greenfield, from December 10, 1856, to date, by A. L. Hager.
History of Greenfield Transcript, by J. M. Gow.
History of M. E. Church, Greenfield, by Rev. A. W. Armstrong, pastor.
List of county officers of Adair County.
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
History of the organization of the Citizens Bank of Greenfield, with note, check, draft, notice and three pieces of coin, by J. J. Heth- erington.
Letter by D. Heaton, to be opened by the oldest man present when taken out.
Duplicate tax receipt, by James A. Hetherington, treasurer.
A letter to be opened by Crusade Lodge, 386, A. F. and A. M., on opening the casket, by E. H. Bickford.
A letter by the members of Crusade Lodge, 386, A. F. and A. M., to the brethren who may open the casket.
A short business biography; also a record of the destructive fire of 1889, to be opened by the oldest merchant present in business in the City of Greenfield when opened, by E. E. Warren.
A piece of millstone, with history, by W. E. Chamberlain.
Professional card of T. W. Mulhern, M. D.
History of Greenfield schools from organization of town to date, by M. W. Rodgers and S. C. Vance, to be opened by president of school board.
Copy of the Greenfield Transcript.
Copy of Adair County Democrat.
Copy of Adair News.
Copy of Fontanelle Observer.
Copy of Des Moines Leader.
Copy of Des Moines State Register.
A nickel, issue of 1891, by J. M. Timberlake.
History of Crusade Lodge, 386, A. F. and A. M., by J. E. Howe.
The building was completed and accepted by the board of super- visors on March 25, 1892. It is located in the center of the public square, with a frontage of fifty-seven and a half feet and a depth of ninety-two feet, built of pressed brick and hewn stone. The total cost. including furniture, was only $26,768.
JAIL
The new jail building was formally accepted by the Board of Supervisors of Adair County on December 8, 1903. The contract for the jail was let in April, 1903, to the Pauly Jail Building Com- pany of St. Louis; the contract price being $11,990. The Pauly people sublet the contract, excepting the cell work and plumbing, to M. D. Clark & Sons, local contractors, who did the masonry and carpentry work on the structure. The plumbing was done by the
ADAIR COUNTY COURTHOUSE, GREENFIELD
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
Creston Heating & Plumbing Company, which also put in the steam furnace. The Pauly people sent one of their men here for about two months to put in the steel work of the cells and to oversee the finish- ing of the work.
The new jail contains seven living rooms for the jailer, three rooms on the first floor and four rooms upstairs, ample closet room, as well appointed a kitchen, fitted up with range and hot and cold water, as any housewife could wish, lavatory and bathroom, and is in fact a model residence.
The residence portion is in the front part of the building. In the rear. separated from the residence by a fire proof cement wall and massive iron door, is the jail. Here as in the residence part every- thing is up-to-date, and the best system known to the prison builder's trade is used here. On the first floor of the jail are four cells. Two of these, separated from the main cells, are for women prisoners. They are fitted with folding wall bunks, have hot and cold water in each cell and are so arranged that the occupants can shut themselves from the sight of the public.
On the first floor are also two cells to be used for the detention of desperate criminals. These cells are of hardened steel and completely surrounded by a jailer's corridor. Opening from these two cells is an exercise corridor for the prisoners, containing a lavatory and water closet. The doors to these cells can be operated at will from the jailer's corridor by means of levers which operate the doors either singly or together as the jailer desires. The lock on these cells is a combination and key affair. The key cannot be used without first working the combination, thus making the locks doubly secure. There are four hammock banks in each of these cells.
There are two cells on the second floor and these are also sur- rounded by a jailer's corridor. The locking device for these cells, while not the same as on the cells downstairs, is worked by combina- tion and key. There is an aperature in each cell through which to pass the prisoners their food. By this means a woman can feed the prisoners without placing herself in the least danger.
The plumbing and heating seems to be perfect. Steam heat is used and hot and cold water is furnished all over the building. There is also a bathroom in the jail.
The masonry and brick work is said to be as fine work as can be done. The walls in the residence portion are white finished and the rooms are finished in hard pine, natural finish.
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
In the basement is a pressure tank which furnishes water for the building. The furnace is of the latest, improved pattern and is more than ample for heating the building.
Prior to the building of the new jail, prisoners were taken to sur- rounding counties for safe keeping.
COUNTY POOR FARM
Prior to the acquiring of a county poor farm the care of the poor, the destitute, the helpless and insane was a serious problem. Certain families residing here were generally paid by the county for caring for one or more unfortunates, a method which was not only expensive, but often resulted in lack of care to the individual compelled to seek assistance. At length, on February 4, 1885, a tract of ground on the southwest quarter of section 32, Grove Township, was purchased of D. Heaton and wife for the sum of $2,000. Buildings were added to this farm and it was created a county poor farm. Samuel Ewing was the first steward, receiving $500 per annum for his work, which was just half of what is now paid. Usual farm occupations are offered to the inmates of this institution.
CHAPTER III
THE COUNTY SEAT WAR
During the first three decades of Adair County's existence con- siderable strife occurred over the question of the location of the county seat. Similar troubles have arisen in other counties of the state and in each there has been for years an element of hard feeling which refuses to be quenched. Whether this feeling has been eradicated from Adair County or not, cannot be definitely stated. Among the mass of the people the answer would be in the affirmative, but among certain individuals there would be a decided negative. It is not the purpose of this chapter to take one side or the other, but to observe strict neutrality, to state the cold facts and permit the reader to form his own opinion.
When the county was organized in 1855 three commissioners were appointed by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa to locate the seat of county government. The men upon this committee were George B. Hitchcock, Elias Stratford and John Buckingham. In pursuance of their assigned duties they selected the southwest quar- ter of section 17, in township 75, range 32, as the point at which the future town was to be laid out and considered the county seat of Adair. To this place they gave the name of Summerset, which was afterwards changed to the present title of Fontanelle.
The Town of Greenfield was laid out in 1856, located near the center of the county. From this time Greenfield fought her hardest to get the county seat removed from Fontanelle to her site. The first time this was mentioned upon the records was upon March 1, 1858, when S. W. Armstrong, as attorney, appeared before the County Court and presented a petition bearing the signature of ninety- one of the legal voters of the county, asking the court to order that a vote be taken at the following April election on the question of the removal of the county seat to Greenfield. Immediately J. H. Cooper presented a remonstrance to the above petition, signed by 137 of the legal voters of the county, asking that the question of
25
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
relocation of county seat be not opened nor voted upon. Thereupon Mr. Armstrong presented a paper signed by seventeen of the legal voters who had attached their names to both papers and asked that their said names be stricken off the remonstrance. Issue now being joined, the court heard the counsel for both sides, and, being advised in the matter, decided, that inasmuch as there was no proof of notice, or that notice had been published twenty days prior to the presenta- tion of the petition, that no vote should be taken upon this question at the April election.
With this decision the people of Greenfield were compelled to be content for a time. Shortly the Civil war opened and the attention of the people was drawn to that conflict and the question of the county seat location was shelved. However, in the fall of 1865 the matter was again brought into view and the board ordered the question to be submitted to a popular vote of the people. This election occurred on October 10th and resulted in a vote of 139 to 130 in favor of retaining the county seat at Fontanelle.
At the June term of the board of supervisors in the year 1869 T. M. Ewing, a member of that body, presented a petition praying that the county seat of Adair County should be removed from Fon- tanelle to Greenfield. This action naturally created a great excite- ment and it is said that a heated argument occurred between Messrs. Shreves, Elliott and Vance, members of the board, with the result that the matter was referred to a committee of three who were ap- pointed to investigate the affair. This committee consisted of John Shreves, William Stevens and S. C. Vance and after deliberation they made the following report:
"We, the undersigned, a committee appointed to examine the petition, together with the remonstrance, for the removal of the county seat to Greenfield, after an examination, would report in favor of granting the prayer of the petitioners."
This petition which was granted by the board was as follows:
"We, the undersigned petitioners, resident citizens and legal voters of Adair County, State of Iowa, would respectfully represent. that the best interests and general welfare of a large majority of the present citizens of said county demand a relocation of the county seat of the said county. That said county seat be removed from the Town of Fontanelle, Adair County, State of Iowa, where the same is now located, and that the same be relocated and established, permanently, at the Town of Greenfield, which is situated in the south half of sec- tion 7, in township 75 north, range 31 west of the fifth principal
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
meridian, in Adair County, State of Iowa, as is shown by the original plat of said Town of Greenfield, now on record in the recorder's office of said county. Your said petitioners, therefore, ask that your honor- able board make an order that a vote be taken, at the next general election between the above-designated places, to wit: Greenfield, and the present county seat, to wit: Fontanelle; and that you cause the proper notice, therefore, to be given in pursuance and according to law; and that, if the said Town of Greenfield shall, at said election, receive a majority of all the votes cast, that you make a record thereof, and declare the same to be the county seat of said Adair County, State of Iowa, and that you cause the records and other documents to be removed thereto, as early as practicable thereafter and for this we shall ever pray."
To this petition there were signed about 443 names.
The board ordered at this time that the question be submitted to a general vote of the people at the next election. This election occurred on October 12, 1869: it resulted in a vote of 375 to 310 in favor of keeping the county seat at Fontanelle.
This defeat of the Greenfield clan was but a prophecy of the strife which was to come later.
At the June term of the board of supervisors, 1874, the follow- ing resolution was passed by that body:
"It appearing to the board that a proper notice of the presenta- tion of a petition for the removal of the county seat from Fontanelle, where it now is, and to relocate the same at Greenfield, has been given, and a petition praying that said county seat be removed from Fonta- nelle and relocated in Greenfield having been presented, signed by more than one-half of the legal voters of the county, as shown by the last census,
"Therefore it is ordered, that, at the next general election, a vote be taken between Greenfield and the said existing county seat at Fontanelle."
In August of the same year a remonstrance was presented against the ordering of the vote, based upon the legality of the notice given of the presentation of petition. This remonstrance was signed by about twenty of the citizens of Fontanelle. The board considered the remonstrance and decided that the petition was legal, hence defeat- ing the remonstrance.
Then there came a period of bitter strife which lasted until Octo- ber 13, 1874, the date of the momentous election. This election resulted 852 to 500 in favor of removing the county seat to Green-
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HISTORY OF ADAIR COUNTY
field. The board of supervisors immediately passed the following resolution: "It is hereby ordered by the board of supervisors of Adair County, Iowa, that the public records and documents of the different public offices, including those of the county treasurer, county auditor, county clerk, county recorder, county sheriff, county sur- veyor, county superintendent and coroner, together with all official furniture, fixtures, and things of every description pertaining to, or belonging to said offices, be removed from Fontanelle to Greenfield, the county seat of Adair County, immediately after the decision of Judge Cole is received, refusing to grant an injunction restraining the removal of the said records, etc."
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