USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 4
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At the general election in August. 1855, the following named county officers were elected: Daniel M. Harris, county judge; Nathaniel Hamlin,
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AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
treasurer and recorder; Benjamin Hyatt, sheriff; Peoria I. Whitted, sur- veyor. Peoria I. Whitted was appointed swamp land commissioner.
POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS.
Since the organization of Audubon county, the districts of which it has formed parts for election and governmental purposes, have been vari- ously formed and frequently changed. In 1862 the fifth congressional dis- trict embraced the counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Clarke, Deca- tur, Dallas, Fremont, Guthrie, Harrison, Lucas, Madison, Mills, Montgom- ery, Page, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Taylor, Union, Warren and Wayne.
In 1872 the eighth congressional district embraced the counties of Adams, Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pot- tawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, Taylor and Union.
In 1882 the ninth congressional district embraced the counties of Audu- bon, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawat- tamie and Shelby. Since 1886 it has embraced the counties of Adair, Audu- bon, Cass, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie and Shelby.
Since 1886 it has embraced the counties of Adair, Audubon, Cass, Har- rison, Mills, Montgomery, Pottawattamie and Shelby.
SENATORIAL DISTRICTS.
In 1855, the twelfth senatorial district in the Legislature embraced the counties of Audubon, Buena Vista, Buncombe (now Lyons), Carroll, Cal- houn, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Harrison, Ida, Mon- ona, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Pottawattamie, Sac, Shelby, Sioux and Woodbury. In 1858 it remained unchanged. In 1860, the thirty-first senatorial district embraced the counties of Audubon, Cass, Guthrie, Harrison, Pottawattamie and Shelby. In 1862 the thirty- first district embraced the counties of Adair, Audubon, Cass, Dallas, Guthrie and Shelby.
In 1864 the forty-third senatorial district embraced the counties of Audubon, Buena Vista, Buncombe (now Lyons), Carroll, Calhoun, Chero- kee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Hancock, Harrison, Humboldt, Ida, Kossuth, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Webster, Winnebago, Woodbury and Wright.
(4)
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AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
In 1866 the forty-fifth senatorial district embraced the counties of Audubon, Carroll, Cherokee, Crawford, Greene, Harrison, Ida, Lyon, Mon- ona, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Shelby, Sioux and Woodbury.
In 1868 the forty-sixth senatorial district embraced the counties of Audubon, Carroll, Cherokee, Crawford, Harrison, Ida, Lyon, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Shelby, Sioux and Woodbury.
In 1870 the forty-eighth senatorial district embraced the counties of Audubon, Cherokee, Crawford, Harrison, Ida, Lyons, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Shelby, Sioux and Woodbury.
In 1872 the forty-ninth senatorial district embraced the counties of Audubon, Carroll, Dallas, Green and Guthrie. In 1874 the forty-ninth dis- trict embraced the counties of Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Green, Guthrie and Shelby. In 1876 the forty-ninth district remained unchanged.
From 1878 to 1882, inclusive, the Thirty-first senatorial district embraced the counties of Audubon, Dallas, Guthrie and Shelby. Since 1884, and including that year, the seventeenth senatorial district has embraced the counties of Audubon, Dallas and Guthrie.
REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS.
In 1851 the district for representative in the Legislature embraced the counties of Adams, Adair, Audubon, Beuna Vista, Buncombe (now Lyons), Carroll, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Fremont, Harrison, Ida, Mills, Monona, Montgomery, O'Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Pottawat- tamie, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Taylor, Union and Wahkaw (now Woodbury ).
In 1854 the fortieth representative district embraced the counties of Adams, Adair, Audubon, Cass, Mills, Montgomery and Union.
In 1855 the sixteenth representative district embraced the counties of Audubon, Beuna Vista, Buncombe (now Lyons), Carroll, Calhoun, Chero- kee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Harrison, Ida, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Shelby, Sioux and Wood- bury. In 1858 the sixteenth district embraced the counties of Audubon, Boone, Carroll and Greene.
In 1860 the thirty-sixth representative district embraced the counties of Audubon, Guthrie, Harrison and Shelby.
In 1862 the sixty-first representative district embraced the counties of Adair, Audubon, Cass and Guthrie.
In 1864 the sixty-first representative district remained unchanged.
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AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
In 1866 the sixty-fourth district embraced the counties of Audubon, Carroll, Calhoun and Greene.
In 1868 the sixty-fourth district embraced the counties of Audubon, Guthrie and Greene.
In 1870 the fortieth representative district embraced the counties of Audubon, Guthrie and Shelby.
In 1872 the fortieth district embraced the counties of Audubon, Craw- ford, Monona and Shelby.
In 1874 the twenty-first representative district embraced the counties of Adair, Audubon, Cass and Shelby. In 1876 the twenty-first district remained unchanged.
From 1878 to 1882, inclusive, the seventy-fourth representative dis- trict embraced the counties of Adair, Audubon and Shelby.
From 1884 to 1886, inclusive, Audubon county formed the eighty- second representative district.
Since 1888, and including that year, Audubon county has formed the thirty-fourth representative district.
JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.
In 1851 the judicial district embraced the counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, Buena Vista, Buncome (Lyons), Carroll, Cass, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Fremont, Harrison, Ida, Mills, Monona, Montgom- ery, O'Brien, Osceola, Page, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Sac, Shelby, Sioux, Taylor, Union and Wahkaw (Woodbury).
In 1853 the sixth judicial district embraced the counties of Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Guthrie, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor and Union.
In 1857 the seventh judicial district embraced the counties of Audu- bon, Cass, Harrison, Pottawattamie and Shelby.
From 1858 to 1862, inclusive, the fifth judicial district embraced the counties of Adair, Audubon, Carroll, Dallas, Greene, Guthrie, Madison, Polk and Warren.
In 1864 Cass was added to the fifth district.
From 1866 to 1868 the fifth district remained unchanged.
In 1872 the thirteenth judicial district embraced the counties of Audu- bon, Carroll, Cass, Crawford, Fremont, Greene, Mills, Pottawattamie and Shelby.
Since,1887 the fifteenth judicial district has embraced the counties of
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AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
Audubon, Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawatta- mie and Shelby.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION DISTRICT.
In 1857 the twelfth district in the third constitutional convention embraced the counties of Audubon, Buena Vista, Buncombe (now Lyons), Carroll, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Crawford, Dickinson, Emmet, Harrison, Ida, Monona, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Potta- wattamie, Sac, Shelby, Sioux and Woodbury.
CIVIL TOWNSHIPS.
From 1853, when Audubon county was attached to Cass conuty for civil purposes, it remained as but a single township called Audubon town- ship, until 1862.
On June 3, 1863, the board of supervisors-consisting of but one member, Boynton G. Dodge-entered an order dividing the county into three townships as follows: Exira township, commencing at the north- east corner of section 12, township 78, range 34 west; thence west to west line of the county; thence north on the county line to the correction line; thence west on county line to southwest corner of section 31, township 79, range 36; thence north on county line to northwest corner of the county; thence east on county line to northeast corner of the county; thence south to the southeast corner of section 36. township 79, range 34; thence east on line to northeast corner of section 1, township 78, range 34; thence south to southeast corner of said section 1. place of beginning. Audubon township, commencing at southeast corner of section 33, township 78, range 35; thence north to northwest corner of section 10; thence east to east line of the county; thence south on county line to southeast corner of the county; thence west to place of beginning. Oakfield township, commenc- ing at southeast corner of section 33, township 78, range 35; thence north to the northeast corner of section 9; thence west to west line of the county; thence south on county line to southwest corner of the county; thence east to place of beginning.
This division gave to Exira township the territory embraced in the nine northern townships of the county, and also a strip two sections wide off the north end of the other three townships. It was manifestly unjust. At
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AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
that time most of the residents of the county lived within the limits of township 78, range 35, now Exira township.
On June 8, 1863, the board of supervisors entered another order, sub- dividing the county into civil townships as follows:
Audubon township embraced the east half of township 78, range 35, except sections 1, 2 and 3, and all of township 78, range 34, township 79, range 34, township 80, range 34, and township 81, range 34.
Exira township embraced sections I to 6, inclusive, in township 78. range 35, and all of township 79, range 35, township 80, range 35, and township 81, range 35.
Oakfield township embraced the west half of township 78. range 35, except sections 4, 5 and 6, and all of township 78, range 36, township 79, range 36, township 80, range 36, and township 81. range 36, which was an equitable division. It divided the settled portion of the county fairly between the several townships.
COUNTY SEAT ASPIRATIONS.
The town of Exira, being the county seat, was supposed to hold advantages over other portions of the county, and jealousies arose which continued as long as it was the county seat. Traces of heart burnings on that account have not ceased at the present time. The causes were too numerous to mention them all; some were politic, some social, and others from business competition, etc. Nathaniel Hamlin, who lived on Trouble- 1 some creek in the new Audubon township, was one of the wealthiest men in the county. He lived on the route from Des Moines to Council Bluffs and was the most widely known business man in the county for many years. Hamlin and Hamlin's Grove were known state wide, and in other states where Audubon county land was then owned. He had founded the town of Audubon City, near his home, which had proved a failure from the start.
Daniel M. Harris (who at first had lived near Hamlin), in the year 1857, with David Edgerton, founded the town of Exira, which became the county seat in 1861. Harris at once became popular, and was by far the ablest business man in the county. He held the office of county judge from 1856 to 1861 inclusive, while Hamlin was treasurer and recorder, the financial officer of the county, from 1856 to 1863 inclusive. They became rivals in business and in local politics, although both were Demo- crats. Mr. Hamlin became prejudiced against Exira, which continued as long as he lived. In 1866 he founded the town of Louisville, and attempt-
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ed to move the county seat there from Exira, but failed. In 1872 he became interested in the town of Old Hamlin, and attempted to move the county seat there. He was also a prominent factor in enjoining the build- ing of a court house at Exira in 1872-3.
Oakfield was founded in 1858, and started the first store in the coun- ty. It was a rival to Exira from its start until the advent of the railroad in 1871, when it was eclipsed by the town of Brayton. It was the custom of Oakfield people to assume superiority over the people of Exira in social functions. They had a decided weakness in making themselves disagree- able in that way. If Exira people got up a festivity or started some local improvement, a new road, bridge, building, etc., the people of Oakfield were prone to discount it and go one better. Their picnics, dances, etc., were foolishly "cracked up" to be in advance of anything Exira could pro- duce; and so it went on, straining the cordiality and friendship that should have existed between the little towns. It is justice to say that their people did lay themselves out in their best style to entertain. But for political meetings, Fourth of July celebrations and religious meetings Exira usually came out "ahead of the hounds."
ORGANIZATION OF NEW TOWNSHIPS.
After the close of the Civil War, immigration flowed towards this county ; people came here in goodly numbers, and by 1870 the population of the county had more than doubled in the previous five years. The north end of the county settled up as never before, and was demanding more rights for schools, roads, bridges, voting precincts, etc., to which they were fairly entitled. The question of the organization of new townships naturally arose. Mr. Hamlin and his followers, with the Oakfield contin- gent, were ever ready to knife Exira in any public way. The growing interests in the north part of the county presented an opportunity to strike the fatal blow. The troubles that hovered around the fated county seat opened in 1871. Several parties, about this time, set the ball to rolling and agitated the reconstruction of the township organization in the county, suggesting various plans, but without uniform action or support. There were general demands for more voting places in the northern portion of the county.
On June 7, 1871, that enterprising, progressive, genial, energetic citi- zen, Ethelbert J. Freeman, the gentleman from Leroy, presented a petition to the board of supervisors praying for the erection of new townships.
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And the board of supervisors, consisting of William H. H. Bowen, John W. Dodge and John T. Jenkins, entered an order subdividing the county into four civil townships, as follows: Audubon township, commencing at the southwest corner of section 34 and southeast corner of section 33, township 78, range 35, thence north to southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 10, same township; thence east to the southeast corner of said northwest quarter; thence north to the section line; thence east to the southeast corner of section I, township 78, range 35; thence north to the connection line; thence west to the southeast corner of section 32, township 79, range 34; thence north to the northeast corner of section 20, township 80, range 34: thence east to the northeast corner of section 21, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of section 28, town- ship 81, range 34; thence east to the northeast corner of section 27, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of section 22, same town- ship; thence west to the northeast corner of section 21, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of section 9, same township; thence east to the county line; thence south to the southeast corner of township 79, range 34; thence east to the northeast corner of township 78, range 34; thence south to the southeast corner of said township; thence west to place of beginning. Exira township, commencing at the northeast cor- ner of section I, township 78, range 35; thence west to the southeast cor- ner of section 32, township 79, range 34; thence north to the northeast corner of section 20, township 80, range 34; thence west to the northeast corner of section 24, township 80, range 35; thence south to the northeast corner of section 36, township 80, range 35; thence west to the northeast corner of section 34, township 80, range 35; thence north to the northeast corner of section 27, same township; thence west to the northeast corner of section 29, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of sec- tion 5, same township; thence west to northeast corner of section 3, township 80, range 36: thence south to the correction line ; thence east to the northeast corner of section I, township 78, range 36; thence south to the southeast corner of said section 1; thence east to the northeast corner of section 9, township 78, range 35; thence south to the southwest corner of the north- west quarter of section 10, same township; thence east to the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of said section 10; thence north to the sec- tion line of said section 10; thence east to the southeast corner of section I, township 78, range 35; thence north to the place of beginning. Oakfield township, commencing at the southeast corner of section 33, township 78, range 35; thence north to the northeast corner of section 9, same town-
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ship; thence west to the southwest corner of section 6, same township; thence north to the correction line; thence west to the southwest corner of section 35, township 79, range 36; thence north to the northeast corner of section 3, township 80, range 36; thence west to the northwest corner of said section; thence north to the county line; thence west to the northwest corner of the county; thence south to the correction line; thence east to the northwest corner of township 78, range 36; thence south to the south- west corner of the county; thence east to place of beginning. Leroy town- ship, commencing at the northeast corner of Audubon county; thence south to the northeast corner of section 12, township 81, range 34; thence west to the northeast corner of section 9, same township; thence south to the northeast corner of section 21, same township; thence east to the northeast corner of section 22, same township; thence south to the northeast corner of section 27, same township; thence west to the northeast corner of sec- tion 28, same township; thence south to the northeast corner of section 21, township 80, range 34; thence west to the northeast corner of section 24, township 80, range 35; thence south to the northeast corner of section 36, same township; thence west to the southeast corner of section 27, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of said section 27; thence west to the northeast corner of section 29, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of section 5, same township; thence west to the north- west corner of section 3, same township; thence north to the county line; thence east to place of beginning.
The result of this action could not have been foreseen by the super- visors, two of whom were favorable to the best interests of Exira. They acted hastily, without proper consideration of the subject, and were over- reached and misled by the plotters against Exira. Their order was a con- summate blunder. The boundaries as established were unsystematic, the government township lines were ignored and without any valid reason, which was calculated to throw the records into confusion for all public use and utility. It would have required a corps of engineers to locate the limits of the several townships as thus organized. It was utterly unpractical. unsatisfactory and pleased no one, except those misguided people who rejoiced that Exira had received a "black eye." It was a ridiculous, con- temptible performance, in light of subsequent events.
Two years later, when the system had been tried out, its defects seen and the wants of the people better understood, the subject came on for further consideration. The people had then been fighting fiercely over the county seat, and the building or non-building of a court house. Party
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political lines, locally, were entirely wiped out. The people of Exira were hostile and indignant against all its opponents, and vice versa. The super- visors, as then constituted, were two to one against Exira. The matter came on for hearing upon the suggestion of Arthur L. Sanborn, Esq., of Viola, member of the board. O. C. Keith, of Oakfield, spoke in favor of the proposition. At that meeting the present writer appeared before the supervisors and advocated the organization of new townships according to the wishes of the people of the county, upon the system of making each government or congressional township a civil township.
. April 9, 1873, the supervisors, composed of John W. Dodge, John Noon and Arthur L. Sanborn, entered the following orders in the mat- ter: Township 78, range 36, and that part of township 78, range 35, as now lays in the civil township of Oakfield, be made the civil township of Oakfield; and all that portion of said civil township as it now exists north of the territory named be stricken from said Oakfield civil township. Township 81, range 34, and township 81, range 35, organized as the civil township of Viola. Township 81, range 36, and township 80, range 36, organized as the civil township of Douglas. Township 80, range 34, and township 80, range 35, organized as Leroy township.
As far as practical, Mr. Keith, who was a bitter partisan against Exira, but a personal friend of the writer, adopted the same view, except that he would not yield the favor to Exira township at that time; although he afterwards did so. We readily agreed together and the supervisors, being favorable to the general proposition, in a short time made their orders as appear below, with better feeling all around. All previous efforts to accommodate the business along the proposed line had failed. It was considered impractical. The Exira people hesitated about adopt- ing the plan, but tacitly acquiesced. never to regret it so far as known. This was the inside fact of the business, and it took place in the little old county office on the east side of the public square, Exira, to the permanent bene- fit of the people of Audubon county. It was a move in the right direction -a big day's work.
Township 79, range 34, was organized as Greeley township. Town- ship 79, range 35, and township 79, range 36, organized as Hamlin town- ship. Township 78, range 34, organized as Audubon township. Sec- tions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, II, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36, in township 78, range 35, organized as Exira township. This was manifestly unfair towards Exira township and was so intended. It was
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gracefully accepted in this form by Exira people, believing that the injus- tice would be subsequently remedied.
The following year, Isaac Thomas, one of the supervisors, caught the right idea, and emphatically declared at a meeting of the supervisors that he was in favor of making each "congregational" township a civil town- ship. His meaning was understood, adopted and followed until the entire system was carried out.
September 8, 1874, township 80, range 34, was organized as Melville township.
October 20, 1874, township 78, range 35, organized as Exira town- ship; township 78, range 36, organized as Oakfield township; township 81, range 35, organzed as Cameron township.
September 6, 1875, township 79, range 36, organized as Sharon town- ship.
June 5, 1876, township 81, range 36, was organized as Lincoln town- ship.
As now organized, the civil townships of Audubon county are as fol- low, with dates of organization :
Audubon, township 78, range 34, April 9, 1873.
Exira, township 78, range 35, October 20, 1874.
Oakfield, township 78, range 36, October 20, 1874. Greeley, township 79. range 34. April 9, 1873.
*Hamlin, township 79, range 35, April 9. 1873.
*Sharon, township 79, range 36, September 6, 1875.
+Melville, township 80, range 34. September 8, 1874. +Leroy, township 80, range 35. April 9, 1873. $Douglas, township 80, range 36, April 9, 1873.
$Lincoln, township 81, range 36, June 5. 1876. #Viola, township 81, range 34. April 9, 1873. ¿Cameron, township 81, range 35, October 20, 1874.
*Sharon township was severed from Hamlin, September 6, 1875; +Melville township was severed from Leroy, September 8, 1874; §Lincoln township was severed from Douglas, June 5. 1876; }Cameron township was severed from Viola, October 20, 1874.
PIONEER CONDITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
It is impossible, at this time, for people who have not experienced similar life and scenes, to realize correctly the privations and hardships
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which confronted the pioneer settlers; and it is difficult to delineate by pen or picture an accurate description of what they endured. It cannot be fully accomplished. When they came here an unbroken wilderness extended north to the confines of the Arctic ocean; they were twenty miles from the borders of the most primitive civilization, without a human habi- tation to shelter them, not a highway or bridge on which to cross the streams within the limits of the county; only a few trails made by the Mormons. It was a wilderness, but it was a beautiful one, not a desert. The nearest grist-mills were Tam's mill, to the east, on the Coon river, or to the south, on the Nodaway river in northern Missouri, many miles distant. The nearest stores where goods, groceries and family supplies could be obtained were at Des Moines and Kanesville (Council Bluffs), and the nearest postoffice was Des Moines.
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