USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 35
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 35
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"The yeas and nays were called for upon the amendment of W. A. Lathrop, which was as follows: 'Strike ont all of Mr. Fletcher's resolution after the word 'resolved,' and insert 'that the facts as set forth by the committee on county seat do not show that the petitioners are entitled to a vote, therefore the prayer be not allowed.'"
The amendment was carried by a vote of ten to six. But the matter was brought up again the following day by the presen- tation of a resolution rescinding the above vote, and was again beaten by a majority of six.
During this year the board is recorded as having audited and allowed numerous claims for bounty on wolves and wildcats killed.
An extra session of the board was held on the 20th of August, 1863, pursuant to a call signed by W. A. Lathrop, W. H. Long, S. H. Taylor, M. Hard, James Wil- son, J. R. Fletcher, S. Bonwell, J. J. Cris- well and G. W. Stoner, requesting a meet- ing to consider and take action upon a proposition offering a bounty by Butler county to the volunteers raised under the call of the President, for 300,000 men. The meeting was called to order by Peter Coyle, and W. A. Lathrop offered a reso- lution granting $20 to each volunteer; but this was tabled by a motion from J. Hoff- man that the whole matter be postponed until the September meeting of the board. The vote upon the matter stood eleven yeas and five nays.
At the September meeting the matter was again brought up, and in lieu of the whole a resolution was adopted instructing all the supervisors to act as relief commit-
257
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
tees for their various towns and supply the wants of the families of volunteers. How- ever, at subsequent sessions, Butler county nobly did her share in quelling the rebel- lion, appropriating about $53,000 in all.
The board of supervisors met on the 5th of January, 1863, and organized by choos- ing Peter Coyle chairman for the ensuing year. The board consisted of the follow- ing gentlemen from the various townships: S. H. Taylor Albion
William J. Nettleton. Coldwater
John M. Nichols Pittsford
John C. Hites Ripley
Peter Coyle
Madison
M. Hollenbeck .Shell Rock
H. A. Tucker. Washington
S. Bonwell. .Fremont
W A. Lathrop Jefferson
J. J. Criswell. Monroe
Milo Hard.
.Beaver
J. Gilbert.
Jackson
J Hoffman.
West Point
Milton Wilson
Bennezette
. C.Forney.
Dayton
J. R. Fletcher. .Butler
The name of the last mentioned super- visor drops from sight after the January session, as he was elected county judge, and A. J. Tompkins appears with cre- dentials of appointment, and takes his seat.
Again the county seat matter comes up by a petition to re-locate it at Shell Rock, signed by 486 voters. It was soon followed by a remonstrance. The matter was laid over until the September session, when it was again taken up and defeated.
The balance of the year was spent in attending to routine business.
For several years following, nothing of special interest was brought before the
board, therefore the names of the officers serving, alone are given:
FQR 1864,
the supervisors were the same as the year previous, except from the towns named below, who were represented by the gen- tlemen named.
J. J. Criswell. .Monroe
J. A. Chamberlain.
.Bennezette
J. Lawyer.
West Point
William Rosebrough.
. Beaver
E. B. Allen.
Jefferson
Thomas G. Copeland.
Shell Rock
Mr. Wamsley
Jackson
THE YEAR 1865.
The changes in the board for this year is recorded as being Thomas Haggerty, from Dayton; Joseph Miller, Coldwater; James Harlon, Pittsford; H. F. L. Burton and E. Fowler, Butler; W. S. Wilson, Shell Rock; W. A. Lathrop, Jefferson; J. P. Bullis, Ripley, Peter Coyle, Madison; R. R. Parriott, Washington; R. W. Shaw, Albion; the chairman chosen was Peter Coyle.
IN 1866.
The record reveals the changes for this year as follows, and the gentlemen named qualified and took their seats:
S. J. Booram Fremont
J. Lawyer. West Point
M. B. Wamsley. Jackson
Edwin Fowle.
Butler
Stephen Morse Jefferson
Oliver Evans
Bennezette
J. G. Scoby.
Shell Rock
James Collar
.Beaver
Chairman for the year, Peter Coyle.
258
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
In 1867 the first meeting was held on the 7th of January, and organized by choosing Edwin Fowle chairman. The members who answered the roll call, were S. J. Booram, J. V. Boggs, J. Griffith, O. Evans, S. B. Dumont, J. Lawyer, M. B. Wamsley, E. Fowle, J. G. Scoby, S. Morse H. Trotter, G. W. Smith, M. F. Whitney, Isaac Hall and A. Converse.
In 1868 the board met on the 6th of January, and elected S. B. Dumont chair- man for the ensuing year; the members elect were S. Bonwell, J. V. Boggs, O. Evans, B. F. Garrett, M. B. Wamsley, J. Lyle, J. Palmer, J .. J. Criswell and Amos Nettleton.
The following year the same chairman was elected, and Messrs. Bonwell, New- hard, Miller, Dumont, Garrett, Wamsley, McEachron, Trotter, Smith, Criswell Hersey Converse and Kenefick, were the newly elected members.
In 1870 the board met on the 3d of January, and was composed of the follow- ing members: S. B. Dumont, chairman; James McEachron, M. B. Wamsley, W. H. Hersey, E. Day, Isaac Hall, G. Smith. A. Converse, H. Trotter, B. F. Garrett, J. R. Jones, I. F. Newhard, J. Preston, James Griffith and W. A. Keister.
This was the last meeting of the county legislature, or supervisors made up of one member from each township. The General Assembly, by an act, changed the manner
of local government; and the board of supervisors was re-arranged so as to be composed of three, who were to be elected at large throughout the county. The first board, under this law, which is yet in force, convened on the second day of January, 1871, the members being M. B. Wamsley, H. C. Brown and A. Chrystie. The oath of office was administered by the Auditor, and the new board organized by the elec- tion of Alex. Chrystie chairman.
The members of the board from that time until the present writing are as follows:
COUNTY SUPERVISORS SINCE 1871.
1871-Alex. Chrystie, chairman; M. B. Wams- ley and H. C. Brown.
1872-Alex. Chrystie, H. C. Brown and S. Bonwell.
1873-Same as above.
1874-Same.
1875 -- Alex. Chrystie, H. C. Brown and N. H. Larkin.
1876-Alex. Chrystie, N. H. Larkin and G. Hazlet.
1877 -- Same.
1878-Alex. Chrystie, G. Hazlet and A. N. Leet.
1879-Alex. Chrystie, A. N. Leet and Milton Wilson.
1880-A. N. Leet, M. Wilson and J. J. Burn- ham.
1881-Same.
1882-A. N. Leet, J. J. Burnham and C. L. Jones.
1883-A. N. Leet, C. L. Jones and J. M. Gioat.
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259
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
CHAPTER V.
OTHER OFFICIAL MATTERS.
Following are presented various mat- ters, compiled from records and elsewhere, which will be of interest to all readers. They are given as full as space would per- mit, the subjects being of such a nature that to go into detail would be impossible.
POPULATION OF BUTLER COUNTY.
The census of 1880 gives Butler county a total population of 14,293, which is divided as follows:
Males 7,604
Females
6,689
Native
12,043
Foreign 2,250
White 14,262
- Colored
31
BUTLER COUNTY'S SUB-DIVISIONS.
After the organization of the county nothing was immediately done as to the division of its territory into townships. It soon became evident that to facilitate the successful government, this must be done, and therefore, on the 6th day of February, 1855, the county judge, John Palmer, pro- ceeded to make the division, and the fol- lowing entry, as to the territory to be embraced by the various towns, is made upon his records:
"The township of Butler to consist of Congressional townships 92 and 93, range 15, and township 92 and the east half of 93, range 16.
The township of Coldwater, of Congress- ional township 93, range 17, and the west half of township 93, range 16.
The township of Ripley shall consist of Congressional townships 90, 91, 92, range 17, and townships 90, 91, 92 and 93, range 18.
The township of Beaver to consist of Congressional townships 90 and 91,in range 15, and townships 90 and 91, in range 16."
Thus, it will be seen that the first divis- ion made the county as composed of four townships. Butler comprised the territory now known as Jackson, Fremont, Butler, and one-half of Dayton. Coldwater em- braced, in addition to what it now has, the west half of Dayton. Ripley consisted of what are now the townships of Bennezette, Pittsford, Madison, Washington, Monroe, Ripley and West Point. Beaver was then made up of the four towns which are now the southeastern corner ones of the county, i. e., Jefferson, Shell Rock, Albion and Beaver.
On the 15th of February, of the same year, a warrant was issued to Lyman Nor- ton to organize the townships of Beaver. On the 26th, William R. Jamison was ap- pointed to organize Ripley; and Aaron Hardman to effect that of Coldwater. At the same time the judge made out notices and delivered them to the sheriff, notify- ing the electors of the different townships of the election on the second of April, 1855.
260
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
In this shape the county remained until the third of March, 1856, when a second division of townships was made. Butler remained as in the former division; Cold- water remained the same with the addi- tion of Bennezette. At this time a new town was formed, called West Point, which included within its limits Pittsford. The boundaries of Ripley were changed, taking in its present limits and also the town of Madison. Another new town, Shell Rock, was formed at this time, which included the present township of that name and the territory now belonging to Jefferson. Beaver and Albion were merged together as Beaver, and Monroe consisted · of its present area and Washington.
In March, 1857, the townships of Shell Rock and Beaver were divided, and from the former, George A. Richmond was authorized to organize Jefferson; from the latter, Alonzo Olmstead was authorized to organize the township of Albion.
The townships were made to include their present boundaries under the juris- diction of Judge Converse, who came into office on the fifth of October, 1857. The county court appointed judges of election for the various new towns. On the 11th of March, 1858, the township of Jackson was formed and named after Jackson because it was Democratic, and E. D. Marquand was appointed judge of the election, which was held at the house of John H. VanDyke, on the fifth of April, and permanent organization effected.
The townships which were then set off, and represent the sub-divisions of the county, making a total of sixteen towns, were as follows:
Fremont, embracing all of township 93 north, range 15, west of fifth principal meridian.
Butler, all of township 92, range 15. Shell Rock, all of township 91, range 15. Beaver, all of township 90, range 15. Dayton, all of township 93, range 16. Jackson, all of township 92, range 16. Jefferson, all of township 91, range 16. Albion, all of township 90, range 16. Coldwater, all of township 93, range 17. West Point, all of township 92, range 17. Ripley, all of township 91, range 17. Monroe, all of township 90, range 17. Bennezette, all of township 93, range 18. Pittsford, all of township 92, range 18. Madison, all of township 91, range 18. Washington, all of township 90; range 18.
MATRIMONIAL.
When Adam was created and placed in - the garden of Eden a helpmeet was pro- vided for him in the person of Eve. This, therefore, is the natural state of man. The marriage state is a solemn one and should be sacredly protected. "What God has joined together let no man put asunder." In various lands the marriage rite is sol- emnized in different ways and by different ceremonies. In all, the acts of the con- tracting parties must be understood by each and by the community in which they live as being a mutual agreement to hold the relations toward one another as man and wife. In this State a license has always been required
The first marriage that appears on the record books of this county was solemn- ized on the 10th of September, 1854, more than twenty-eight years ago. The
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261
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
parties were Daniel W. Kinsley and Mary Farlow. They were married by A. M. Elam, justice of the peace, by virtue of a license issued on the 8th of September un- der the official seal of the clerk of the county. It was the first marriage solemn- ized in the county subsequent to its or- ganization.
In the early days young men and maid- ens were not married in the grand style which usually characterizes marriages of the present time. They did not wait for riches to come before marriage, as is gen- erally the present custom, but married and lived in simple and comfortable style, and generally lived happy and gained the re- spect of their neighbors by attending to their own business. There were no "dia- mond" weddings in those days, and the extravagance that often now attends the marriage ceremony was unheard of. The old folks were plain, economical and hos- pitable people, and the young folks were imbued with the same attributes that char- acterized their fathers and mothers. They were willing to commence housekeeping in a style corresponding with their means, trusting to the future for larger houses and more expensive furniture.
There are many amusing anecdotes con- nected with some of the earlier weddings, most of which find their proper places in the various township histories-how the rustic, blushing bride, left the kitchen, unbuckled her apron, and throwing on her sunbonnet climbed into the lumber box. wagon and .started off with "John," who yet had his pants in his boots and overalls on, for their wedding tour-to hunt up the "squire" and get "jined." An incident is
called to mind which is unlocated and can- not properly be placed in any of the town- ships. It is said that on one occasion way back in the fifties, a country couple made their way to one of the little villages in the county in quest of some one who was authorized to tie the hymeneal knot. They went to a young store- keeper, who, in the way of a prac- tical joke, referred them to the post- master, stating that the government au- thorized him to officiate upon such occa- sions. When the postmaster was seen he disclaimed any knowledge of such author- ity, and said that he had only been in the employ of the government a short time and was not yet "quite up to snuff." But if the merchant said he could, he supposed it was so. Accordingly the couple were ranged up in front of the postmaster, who in the most approved style impressed them with the solemnity of the occasion, warned them to "let no man put asunder what he had j'ined," and in closing "pronounced them Mr. and Mrs., etc., according to the postal laws of the United States. And you may go in peace. (Only $1.00 apiece, please)."
It would doubtless be of interest to many to give the record of marriages for the first ten years of the county's exist- ence, but they are too numerous, therefore only the first three years are given, as taken from the record in the office of tlie clerk of the court.
Greenberry Luck and Susan Williams, by Rev. W. P. Holbrook, on November 1, 1854.
Comfort Williams and Ducilla Smart, by Rev. W. P. Holbrook, on November 1, 1854.
.
262 HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Daniel W. Kinsley and Mary Farlow, by Justice of the Peace A. M. Elam, on the 10th of September, 1854.
Samuel E. Taylor and Julia E. Arm- strong, by A. M. Elam, Esq., on the 21st of September, 1854.
James W. Goheen and Mary Burrows, by J. H. Miller, Esq., on the 19th of December, 1854.
Robert T. Crowell and Lucretia Burton, by Judge John Palmer, on the 24th of December, 1854.
George Moore and Lorinda Poisal, by Rev. Elijah Kindall, on the 15th of March, 1855.
Orville G. Nelson and Amanda Searles, by Rev. James M. Phillips, on the 1st of April, 1855.
Moses J. Davis and Nancy J. Hall, by Thomas Clark, Esq., on the 17th of June, 1855.
Michael Fague and Elizabeth Plant, by the Rev. Levi Wells, on the 5th of July, 1855.
Randolph Mann and Christinia Low- man, by Rev. B. Holcomb, on the 3d of January, 1856.
The following are those who were mar- ried during 1856, without going into par- ticulars as to dates:
Pascal P. Parker, and Martha McEwing. John Eichar and Eliza Vincent.
George W. McClellan and Eliza Bill- himer.
Richard Kellar and Catharine P. Tem- ple
Seth Strong and Mrs. Mary Cannon.
George W. Armstrong and Miss E. Stacy.
Thomas Hunt and Nancy Farlow. Noah Hartgraves and Hulda M. Stacy.
Jonathan H. Allen and Elizabeth Har- lan.
Henry Thomas and Louisa M. Olmstead. Charles Leverich and Betsy Dixon.
William Poisal and Rachael L. Burton. Charles Clark and Harriett Dryer.
John Spowar, aged sixteen, and Rebecca Shaffer, aged fourteen.
William R. Taylor and Nancy M. Martin. Jacob Wopple and Mary Elizabeth Ed- wards.
Samuel Vim and Hannah Hollenbeck. John Dickisson and Hester A. Stone.
William Flood and Delia V. Angel. James Boylan and Frances Strong. Nathaniel Chesley and Elizabeth Brown.
Samuel Sewell and Annie C. Hush.
Richard Parriott and Miss Lilly M. Coldwell.
Martin V. Wamsley and Frances .J. Griffith.
John P. Davis and Hannalı J. Brink.
D. C. Hilton and C. M. Riddle.
M. E. Spower and Jesse Best.
The names and titles of those who per- formed the marriage ceremonies during 1856, in the cases mentioned, are as fol- lows: Judge Aaron Van Dorn; Reverends B. Holcomb, Samuel Wright, D. Blakely, Hiram Hoode, and James Murphy; Justi- ces of the Peace, W. R. Jamison, Ancel Durand, J. H. Smith, M. Hollenbeck, Asa Low, Harvey Smith and Joseph Embody.
During the last few years of the records of marriages, we notice the names of many, both ladies and young gentlemen, who are sons and daughters of the parties men- tioned above, who have themselves taken partners to their joys and sorrows. Thus, a new generation sets in.
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263
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
The following table shows the number of marriages contracted from the year 1854 to 1882, inclusive:
1854
6
1869
71
1855
6
1870
58
1856.
27
1871.
85
1857
20
1872.
82
1858.
28
1873
· 93
1859
20
1874
75
1860
4
1875.
109
1861.
32
1876.
89
1862.
20
1877
101
1863
24
1878
113
1861.
33
1879
107
1865
51
1880.
137
1866.
75
1881.
.116
1867
75
1882
111
1868.
65
Total.
1833
A glance at the foregoing figures shows conclusively that the matrimonial market is affected by the state of the times. In 1854, and for the first few years the county was too sparsely settled to furnish any in- dication of it. In 1858 banks suspended and a season of depression set in, and there were fewer marriages contracted for sev- . eral years, although this county was not visibly affected until 1860, when there were only four marriages. Again, in 1874, hard times caused a visible decrease in this respect. The war, too, caused a falling off in the number of marriages annually con- tracted, but in 1866, when the boys got home, there were a larger number of licenses issued by the county clerk than in any prior year.
FINANCIAL.
The condition of a county in this re- spect is always the result of the manage- ment it has received, whether to its credit or otherwise. We have collected the prin- cipal items in this regard as to Butler county, and they will speak louder than words as to the county's condition. .
The first levy of taxes was made on the 28th of October, 1854, by John Palmer, the county judge at that time. The total amount of tax for the year was only $698.50.6. During the following year the amount of taxes collected was $855.63.4. This shows, by comparison, the growth of the county. Only about twenty-five years ago $855.53 covered all the tax raised, and to-day $85,000 is annually levied and col- lected. It has been truthfully observed that in those days county officers did not grow very fat out of the treasury of But- ler county-if speculation in real estate was a profitable business.
From the time the county was organ- ized, in 1854, the issue of county warrants commenced and served as a path by which the county soon became involved in debt. As a rule they were marketable readily, as they drew a fair rate of interest, the discount averaging about 15 to 20 per cent, but at various times they were pur- chased at as low as 50 cents on the dollar, ranging between this and 95 cents. By the year 1861 there were outstanding about $12,000 of these warrants.
In 1858 the county bonded itself of $24,- 000, with interest at the rate of 10 per cent, for the purpose of building and re- pairing bridges. The interest on these bonds was allowed to accumulate for sey- eral years, but during the years 1862 and 1863 a tax was levied sufficient to pay both principal and interest, and the bonds were lifted.
This bridge loan served as one of the thorns which rankled the public spirit. The bridges which were erected (specified in the article upon county government) with this money were all of such cheap
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264
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
material and so poorly erected that it is said two of them lasted but one year. The funds appropriated were sufficient to have built substantial and lasting bridges; but this was one of the instances and modes by which new counties, to use a common expression, were "leached."
Then came the war, acompanied by the stringency in the money market and dc- creasing valuation of property. The county nobly did its part, issuing bounties to vol- unteer soldiers to the amount of about $40,000, besides a relief fund which amounted to about $13,000. This was all raised by taxation, and paid in money about 1866 or 1867.
From the year 1862 until 1870, a steady and successful effort was made to pay off the debt and keep the current expenses from creeping up. With what success is shown by the fact that $100,000 of debt was raised, and the county had a balance in its favor, in 1869, of about $2,000. It has kept out of debt ever since.
The first county warrant was issued on the 20th of November, 1854, to W. E. Bur- ton, for assessing Butler precinct and at- tending election board; it was for the sum of $37.75. Warrant No. 2 was issued to Judge John Palmer, for $5.00, and bore the date of December 9, 1854.
The county is to-day entirely out of debt, with no bonds of any description hanging over it. By the recapitulation of the state- ment of finances made by the auditor in June, 1882, it will at once be seen that the county is in the best financial shape, and has money on hand for the various funds, as follows:
RECAPITULATION.
State fund.
$425 00
County fund. 4,974 68
County School fund 357 44
Teachers' fund. 9,019 73
School house fund 1,061 64
Bridge fund.
8,554 15
Road fund.
1,687 89
Railroad fund 161 43
Insane fund. 3,654 19
Permanent school fund. 2,652 34
Temporary school fund 4,001 32
Contingent school fund. 3,772 53
Incorporation fund. 573 46
Institute fund. 193 18
Special State railroad fund 46 21
Board of Health fund. 5 79
War and defense bond fund. 58
Condemned sehool house sites.
51 50
Total cash on hand June 1, 1882.
$41, 194 25
The total amount of tax collected in Butler county, in 1881, was $84,662.25. This gives an average of $5,290.76 from each township. The whole amount was divided up as follows:
State tax $6,643 78
County tax
19,937 35
Special railroad tax 192 37
Bridge tax
9,965 67
County school tax.
3,321 89
School house tax. 4,591 00
Teachers' fund tax 22,760 75
Contingent fund tax
7,850 02
Road tax
5,699 35
Board of health tax.
224 41
Poll tax
1,636 00
Corporation tax 1,245 66
Total
$84,662 25
REGISTRY OF DEEDS.
The records of this office consist of about 140 books in all, of which the "Books of Deeds" are 61, having run
Jas. W. Davis.
267
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
- through all of the letters and up to number 34, which number they are at present using. There are 20 books of real estate mort- gages, running to "T;" there are 25 books of chattel mortgages, running to "W;' three books of record of mortgages of town lots, about fourteen indexes, and the rest are miscellaneous records.
The records pertaining to this county commence in 1853, and were made in Black Hawk county, having been, after Butler was organized, transcribed into the proper books.
The first article recorded is in the shape of a conveyance of land dated September the 4th, 1854, of a piece of land containing forty acres in Albion township, then not organized, from Noah Hartgraves to S. P. Wemple and J. S. Robbins, for a consid- eration of $300. It was witnessed by William H. McClure and recorded by A. G. Clark. This was the first entry upon the books of Butler county. About the same time, or a little later, is recorded the deed of conveyance of an eighty acre piece of land in the same township, for $250, from Peter and Bridget Comer to Jesse D. Butts, This is witnessed by H. C. and W. F. Overman.
The first village platted and recorded in the county was Clarksville, which bears the date of the 27th of October, 1854.
The first mortgage on record was made · on the eighth day of January, 1855, in which Robert T. Crowell and wife mort- gages to James Griffith, school fund com- missioner, in the sum of $298.14, an eighty acre claim in section 15, of what is now Butler township. This mortgage was sat- isfied in the presence of D. C. Hilton, re-
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