USA > Iowa > Benton County > History of Benton County, Iowa. From materials in the public archives, the Iowa Historical society's collection, the newspapers, and data of personal interviews > Part 6
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1870 22.454
1890 24,178
1875
22,807
1895
24,244
1880
21.888
1900
25,177
1885 23,902
1905
24,117
In line with the increase of population, the increase of taxable property in a county is a conclusive proof of its material develop- ment. But in the consideration of such figures it must always be remembered that the assessed valuation is not the cash value of the property. In the figures given below, the valuations for 1855 and 1865 are on the full cash basis; those for 1875. 1885 and 1895. one-half the cash value, and for 1908, one-fourth.
It is evident from the condition of the assessors' book of 1855 that a more or less futile attempt was made in that year to collect the desired figures from its countrymen and townsmen. At that time the goverment owned most of the land, which it sold for
45
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
$1.25 per acre, and the towns in the county were confined to Vin- ton. Benton City. Marysville ( Urbana) and others of even less importance. So far as the record of assessments is decipherable, the statistics for that year appear as follows:
Townships
Land. 6,950
$43.590
+f.
Monroe
21,777
4.328
Benton
93,578
45.635
6,261
Eden. Taylor, Big Grove
266,998
69.813
36,230
Che (Fremont. Florence)
128,730
6.438
Bruce. Canton
119.060
71.436
C'edar
85,371
15,423
Ilarrison
63.299
12,440
Le Roy, St. Clair
173.766
4,089
Polk
78,574
21.414
1,590
Omitting Union and Eldorado townships entirely, the total for land assessments was $1.008,103; for personal property, $297,526,- and lots (town property). $44.081. Assuming that the figures for the two townships named would be about the same as for Leroy and St. Clair, directly to the south. The total assessed and cash value of Benton county property in 1855 was as follows: Land, $1.181.000; personal. $301.000; and lots. $44.000.
POPULATION OF TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS.
The population of the towns and townships of Benton county, as shown by the last census is as follows:
Male Female Total
Belle Plaine, Ward No. 1
527
527
1,054
Belle Plaine, Ward No. 2
807
841
1.648
Belle Plaine, Ward No. 3
293
327
620
Benton Township
265
213
478
Big Grove Township
352
313
665
Bruce Township
305
245
550
Canton Township, exclusive of Shellsburg
298
269
567
Shellsburg
284
281
565
Cedar Township
536
466
1,002
Eden Township
331
263
594
Eldorado Township
4-18
395
843
Florence Township, exclusive of Norway
408
347
755
Norway
260
283
543
Fremont Township
455
385
810
Personal.
Lots.
Iowa
46
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
Male Female Total
Harrison Township
280
257
537
Homer Township
337
281
621
Jowa Township, exclusive of Belle Plaine and Imzerne
374
331
705
Jackson Township. exclusive of Garrison
353
297
650
Garrison
247
257
504
Kane Township, exclusive of Keystone
322
300
622
Keystone
167
189
356
Leroy Tp., exclusive of Blairstown and Luzerne 343
231
6744
Blairstown
271
323
594
Luzerne
S2
82
16-1
Monroe Township
313
273
586
Polk Township, exclusive of Urbana
507
191
998
Urbana
181
169
350
St. Clair Township
335
316
65
Taylor Township, exclusive of Vinton
148
382
830
Vinton, Ward No. 1
513
539
1.052
Vinton, Ward No. 2
398
382
780
Vinton, Ward No. 3
429
475
904
Vinton, Ward No. 4
348
403
751
Union Township, exclusive of Van Horne
293
274
567
Van Horne
240
257
497
Total
12350 11767 24117
PROGRESS IN AGRICULTURE.
The opening chapter of this work presents, from a scientific authority, the natural reasons for the unsurpassed fertility of the soil of Benton county and its advantages as a thoroughly drained and watered country. Both its natural and its industrial resources are there depicted, and its preeminence noted as an agricultural section of the state.
For several years after the departure of most of the Indians from Benton county. in 1845-6. there was little land within its limits which could not be bought for the old Government price of a dollar and a quarter an acre, and as late as the closing period of the war from six to eight dollars per acre was a fair price. None of the pioneers of '55 and few of '65 ever expected to see the day when they, or their sons, or grandsons, would be "holding out" for even more than $100 per acre. But that very day arrived some years ago. The wonderful transformation of prices, the tre- mendons leap in valnes, was brought about by the development of transportation facilities and the consequent extension of markets
47
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
for the farmers, livestock men, dairymen and all others engaged in any form of agriculture. Fertile soil and ability to raise fine crops are of little practical advantage as long as the markets for such produce are contracted. =
The advantages possessed by the pioneer farmer of Benton county over the pioneer agriculturist of the east are quaintly de- seribed by 1. Van Metre, one of the old-timers of Union township. whose land in the '50s was in the vicinity of Van Metre's Grove (Pickaway). in the southwestern part of that township. The subjoined extract is taken from the semi-centennial edition of the Vinton Eagle, published in 1905: "Fifty years ago, what was pioneering on the rich prairies of Benton county ? We old fellows who entered land and settled upon it to make homes, are fond of impressing upon the younger generation that such fortitude and pluck as we exhibited in taking this step has seldom been equalled. If a few of us happen to meet, with a pipe or cigar in mouth, we cock our feet on a stove. lean back in our chairs, and regale each otlier with stories of the struggles and hardships of the time, until the listener stands in awe of the heroie spirit who worked such wonders. But in fact what was pioneering in a country, soil rich and ready for the plow, markets and points from which to secure supplies within fifty or a hundred miles, but a change, with most of us. from landless homes, mere renters, in countries where homes had to be hewn out of forests ! What was it but a pleasant adven- ture full of novelty and excitement to the late-landless now in full possession of the virgin soil! What was it but an inspiration which brightened every prospect in life! Why. the pioneer as he held his plow, or with gun on shoulder, went out in search of a supply of game. could almost hear the whistle of the steam engine and see the smoke of the locomotive bearing a train of cars across the state.
"The railway cars were practically on the heels of the pioneers of Towa. They had severe trials, much suffering and a measure of privations; they had difficulties to surmount and hard labor to perform under those difficulties. but they would have had to be mentally blind if they did not discern the fact that a brief span of years would see them end. Certainly they could not have expected even with all the lavish preparations that nature had made for them in fertile soil and in a climate ideal for the production of the necessaries of life, that they should be able to make homes, such as they and their fathers before them never had. withont under- going a degree of hardship. suffering. and privation. They did
48
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
well, but they scarcely could have done otherwise. They had everything at hand which if used with reasonable diligence, must insure their material, social, and political success.
"Massachusetts had had in successful operation a common school system that had been copied by Ohio and other states and that could be easily adapted to the conditions of Iowa and under the most favorable circumstances. That law was put into oper- ation here at an early day enabling the settlers to secure an edura- tion for their children practically without cost to themselves. If there were but two or three families in a township, they could build school houses and hire teachers to instruct their three or four children, now residents bearing so large a part of the burden that the little left for the settlers to pay was never felt by them. There was no exense for the children growing up in ignorance. I know how it is: The professional orators and political declaimers speak- ing before annual meetings of old settlers, cover them all over with fulsome eulogies of the old fellows for having braved dangers and with minds little less than inspired. laid broad and deep the foundation upon which our magnificent state is bnilded. And we old fellows lean forward with our elbows on our knees and take it all in while the dim eyes brighten and sparkle and the wrinkled forms swell to bursting with self-appreciation. And we old fellows nod assent and lean over and whisper in each other's ears. 'We did it. We did it.'
"I do not wish to be understood as belittling either the hard- ships suffered and the difficulties overcome by the early settlers. nor their excellencies as home-makers and state builders. but when we read of the sufferings and achievements of the pioneers who first settled on this continent or even of the difficulties of those in the older western states. Ohio. for instance, whose nearest market or source of supply was over the mountains to Baltimore. hundreds of miles away. with land to be cleared of timber before a plow or even a hoe could be put in it to any purpose and surrounded not only by blood-thirsty Indians, but by various species of ferocious wild animals --- Iowa pioneering takes on the form of a holiday pienie. We were but a few years without postoffice facilities. which put us within easy communication with our friends 'back east.' and but a little longer without railways and telegraphs. They lived all their lives before the postoffice was established nor dreamed that such a thing as a railway ear would ever come to supplant the wagon as a means of transportation. We had honses to live in and aeres of land under cultivation in two or three years. They
49
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
.
were happy if after many years of persistent toil they could close their declining years in a comfortable hewed log house and have forty or fifty acres of more or less stumpy land under the plow."
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
Benton county has had various agricultural organizations since 1859, the society now in existence having been incorporated in 1888. The first meeting, for purposes of organization, was held at Vinton June 13, 1857, when W. F. Kirkpatrick was made chair- man and Joseph Dysart. secretary. A committee of six was appointed to draw up a constitution and by-laws; but this move- ment came to naught. In June. 1859. however, the Benton County Agricultural and Mechanical Society was organized. with J. IT. Shutts as secretary. and grounds were procured near the Blind Asylum grounds, Vinton, and fitted up for the first fair, held October 13th and 14th of that year. It is reported that the most ereditable displays were made in the livestock department devoted to horses and cattle, and in the exhibit embracing sewing. cooking and other female accomplishments of the day. On the last day of the fair permanent officers were elected. as follows: 1. N. Chenoweth. president : J. F. Traer, W. C. Wiley, vice presi- dents; J. H. SImtts. secretary; and W. A. Guinn, treasurer. This society went out of existence in March, 1871, its grounds passing to Professor Thomas Tobin to be used as the site of the Tilford Collegiate Academy.
Not long after the death of the Benton County Agricultural and Mechanical Society was formed the Vinton Driving Park Association, which. in turn, gave way to the Benton County Agri- cultural Association. in May. 1872. The capital stock of the latter was $10.000, and its officers at the first annual meeting held in January. 1873. were as follows: Dr. J. C. Traer, president ; J. A. MeDaniel and James Rice, vice presidents; John F. Pyne, secretary : and Paul Correll. treasurer.
On March 19. 1888. the Benton County Agricultural Society was incorporated by JJ. W. Keith. Frank Watson. I. Mitchell. H. B. Kelley. Ira Scoville. G. W. Spears. I. M. Garn, S. Robinson and S. White. The preliminary meeting was held at the court house in Vinton, and the first officers of the society were T. C. Black. president : J. B. F. Bunton. vice president ; Frank Watson, treas- urer, and Arad Thompson. secretary : TI. B. Kelley, Joseph Sheeley, I. Mitchell. James Austin. D. Alcorn and J. W. Keith, directors. Vol. I -- 4
1
50
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
Mr. Black served as president for ten continuous years, and W. H. Hanna has been at the head of its affairs for the past five. Until the meeting of December 14, 1909, Mr. Thompson had held the secretaryship for fifteen years. The directors then clected for three-year terms were Roy Cameron, Albeit Gilchrist and A. C. Austin. The books show the membership of the society to be 170, but there is some complaint that the active membership falls considerably below those figures.
The grounds of the society comprise twenty-five acres adjoin- ing the city of Vinton on the south. aud were originally purchased of J. S. Tilford. The improvements comprise a good race course, with grandstand and amphitheater; a horse barn of one hundred stalls; a convenient office building, and halls in which are displayed products of the farm and various works of art.
THE PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.
: There is not a flourishing agricultural community in Benton county which fails to support its local grange, but for many years the political and business features of the Patrons of Husbandry have been conspienous -- for their absence. As elsewhere in the west. the order was most flourishing for several years after its establishment. The organization was introduced into Iowa in 1870. and the first granges organized were Producers No. 49. of Blairstown. and Expansion Grange. of Belle Plaine. An especial- ly flourishing store was organized in 1874, at the latter city. under the name of the Patrons' Joint Stock Company, but after a few years the enormous shrinkage in values placed a quietus on this enterprise. as it did on so many other business ventures.
In 1871. Plow Handle Grange was organized at Vinton, with W. B. Reynolds as master, and in 1872 Lone Tree and Homer Granges were instituted in Homer township. with E. Haat and P. Van Dyke as respective masters. Eden. Canton and Bruce town- ships fell into the grange column in February, 1873. with the following local organizations: Eden Center, J. M. HTill. master; Canton Center. Nathaniel Dice, master; and Bruce Grange. T. J. Sloan, master. In 1872 James MeDaniel, of Big Grove, was made county deputy of the order, and in the following year a county council was formed.
A close observer of conditions in the carly '70s thus notes a bright chapter in the history of the Patrons of Husbandry: "The order reached the summit of its growth and usefulness in 1874. and
51
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
during the winter of that year proved most efficacious means of collecting and forwarding supplies to the destitute population on the frontiers of Nebraska and Dakotah, whose crops had been devoured by grasshoppers. The people of Benton county, in common with the whole of central and eastern Iowa, collected of their abundance, both of food and clothing. to preserve the lives of the settlers beyond the Mississippi river; and a very large part of the present prosperity of western Nebraska and southern Dako- tah (speaking from the viewpoint of an observer of 1878) is due to the generous sentiment for brothers in distress manifested by the farmers of Iowa during the winter of 1874-5. If the part taken by the Patrons of Husbandry during that winter were all that the order had ever accomplished. its mission would be fully approved at the final settlement of accounts of the human race."
Since the declination of the Patrons of Husbandry as a political and business ageney. its mission as a social and educational force has been emphasized. Not only has it accomplished much in the line of the scientific and labor-saving development of agri- culture, but its members have been brought together socially and fraternally, and the necessary tedium of farm life has been relieved through dozens of avenues.
CHAPTER IN.
POLITICAL HISTORY.
FIRST ELECTION IN BENTON COUNTY-FIRST CONTESTED ELEC- TION-EXCITING ELECTION OF 1855-RAILROAD POLITICS-MID- WAR ELECTION-SINCE CIVIL WAR TIMES-COUNTY ROSTER. 1846-1-75 -- SUPERVISORS ( TOWNSHIP SYSTEM ) - SUPERVISORS ( COUNTY SYSTEM) -OFFICERS AND ELECTIONS, 1878-1909 -- OLD-TIME COUNTY OFFZ CIALS.
Considered politically, Benton county composes the forty-ninth assembly district of Iowa; is, with Tama county, a portion of the forty-fifth senatorial district of the state; with Tama and Marshall counties, it is included in the seventeenth judicial district, and in the fifth congressional district, with Tama. Marshall. Linn. Jones. Grundy and Cedar. It has an average Republican majority of about seven hundred. and has long been placed, as whole, in the columns of that party.
FIRST ELECTION IN BENTON COUNTY.
The first election in Benton county, held at Parker's Grove. in April. 1846, has already been noted. Over that initial performan ... of the voters of the county, which was all included in one previnet. Beal Dorsey, Stedman Penrose and Lyman D. Bordwell presid-1 . judges and David S. Pratt and John Royal as clerks. The vote on constables seems to have brought out the full political strength of the county, 148 votes having been cast for the different candidates. and 142 for justices of the peace. At the regular election in Autemist of the same year, three voting preeinets were in use. and it appears that soon after the precinets were erected into townships. The highest number of votes cast at this election, 161. was for county commissioners. Black Hawk county. then attached to Benton. fr- ured in the election as Black Hawk precinet. As is quite natural. these carly voters failed to show the interest in the October election
52
.
53
JHISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
for state officers which they had evinced over the affairs of the county ; and, besides, three elections in one year was doubtless quite a strain on their political enthusiasm. At all events only 41 votes were cast in the entire county for governor.
FIRST CONTESTED ELECTION
The first contested election in the county occurred in 1847. In April of that year a special election was held for proseenting at- torney, district clerk and school land commissioner. On the face of the returns Stephen Holcomb was elected prosecuting attorney over James Mitchell by 21 to 19 votes; but Mr. Mitchell went behind the returns to such effect that on the 13th of May his contention was sustained by the Justices' court in the following (verbatim) de- cision :
We, The Undersigned Justes of The peace of Benton Co., state of Iowa after examining All the Testimouy perdused Before us on A ease of the contesting of alectun of Stephen Holcomb by James Mitchel do find that the said Mitchel is chily aleeted this the 13-day of May, 1847.
(Signed) L. W. Haynes, J. P .. (L. S.) . L. D. Bordwell, J. P., (L. S.) Charles Cantonwine, J. P. (L. S.)
From the evidence "perdused" it appears that the contest hinged on the five votes from Black Hawk precinets, which were solid for Mitehell. These votes had not been received when the can- vass of returns was completed on the 5th of May. But as it was af- terward devided that the canvass should be re-opened and the bal- lots from Black Hawk counted for Mr. Mitchell, the contestant went into office with a majority of three votes.
EXCITING ELECTION OF 1855.
For some years before the Civil war the Whigs and Democrats of Benton county were considerably disorganized over such mat- ters of pure county concern as the building of railroads. In August, 1855, according to the Vinton Eagle, the Democrats were in the ascendancy. In that year the popular and able Samuel Doug- lass was a candidate for the county judgeship against M. P. Adams.
54
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
Whig, and J. F. Filkins, Democrat, was running against C. H. Johnson for recorder and treasurer. More interest attached to these two offices than any others, and the vote cast was as fol- lows:
-
Townships
County Judge
Rec. and Treas.
Douglas Adams
Filkins Johnson
Cue
12
12
łowa
16
4
20
LeRoy
3
9
4
S
Monroe
8
5
8
5
Cedar
25
13
25
12
Harrison
16
16
22
24
Polk
80
21
75
24
Benton
31
36
23
45
Canton
22
5-4
19
58
Taylor
134
112
159
87
Total
336
282
367
263
RAILROAD POLITICS.
While the routes of the first railroads to enter Benton county were in doubt, the politics of the county largely hinged ou this question, and resulted for several years before the war in rather a bitter feeling between the northern and southern townships. Jacob Springer, who was so long a leading politician of the "south slope." has this to say of the politics of these times :
"In the spring of 1858 the 'south slope' became much agitated over the question of where the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad running across the county should be located. This road. which was afterward absorbed by the Chicago and North- western, was organized by some enterprising men of Cedar Rap- ids and Marshalltown, intending to get the road located running from Cedar Rapids, following Prairie creek up through the south part of the county and striking Iowa river at what is now Belle . Plaine, and following the Towa river to Marshalltown. It was necessary in order to enable the company to build the road to get the legislature to transfer to the company the land grant which was formerly given by the State to the Air Line Railroad which was to run through Benton county near where the Milwaukee now runs. The Air Line, in failing to build the road fixed by the State had forfeited the land grant which then reverted to the State.
55
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
The business men and politicians of the north part of the county (so reported) had arranged to have both the Senators and Rep- resentatives nominated and elected from the north part of the county with the understanding that they would vote and use their influence in the legislature to prevent the transfer of the land grant to the new company unless the company would pledge itself to build the road by way of Vinton. The agitation in the south part of the county finally culminated in calling a convention of the eight southern townships to meet at Hickory Grove. now Blairs- town. At the time fixed all of the eight townships were fully rep- resented. After an all day conference it was finally unanimously decided to send a full delegation to the Republican County Con- vention to be held at Vinton, and insist upon the nomination of James McQuin for representative, conceding the senator to the north part of the county. The north part of the county treated the south part fairly by nominating for repre- sentative James McQuin, who was elected. The controversy was then transferred to the legislature at Des Moines and terminated in the road being located in the south part of the county. Ever after the Hickory Grove convention the eight town- ships were named the "south slope," which soon became somewhat of a factor in Benton county politics.
"In the winter of '59 and '60 the question of the location of the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad was finally settled and located through the south tier of townships. So soon as that fact became generally known the country for two or three miles on each side of the railroad was soon settled. The most of the set- tlers had entered the land in 1855 and 1856. In Florence there had been quite a muaber of Norwegians, Irish and Germans. St. Clair was settled mainly by Americans. After 1860 many Germans came in and settled in St. Clair township. In Leroy and lowa about the same conditions existed. Kane largely Germans. Un- ion mainly Trish. Eldorado and Fremont considerably mixed. After the railroad was built and the towns of Norway, Blairs- town and Belle Plaine were located the people began to take much more interest in the public affairs of the county. Each township soon brought out its 'local leaders.' James McQuin, D. B. Ramage and M. L. Harper. of Florence; W. Kelley, A. G. Han- nah and Jacob Springer. of St. Clair : Bassett, Morris and Dean, of Blairstown; Stocker and Snow, of Kane: Judge Smith, of Union; MeGranahan. Yonel and Anderson, of Fremont. The above named
56
HISTORY OF BENTON COUNTY
persons desired no office, consequently worked in harmony. In time they became quite influential in Benton county polities."
For a number of years Judge Douglass was the acknowledged leader of his party in Benton county, and for a time seemed to carry everything before him. The brilliant and aggressive Tom Drummond then appeared upon the scene, and had almost grasped his scepter and transferred the leadership to the Republican party. at the breaking out of the Civil war. The effect of that conflict upon county polities was to more firmly entrench the Republicans, although even during that period of a strong prevailing Union sentiment there were strong Democratie partisans. In the sum- mer of 1863 lodges of the so called Knights of the Golden Circle were organized in Benton county. with the design of encouraging a sentiment of disloyalty against the government, but the organi- zation of counter societies by the Republicans, known as Loyal Leagues, effectually squelehed all such attempts.
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