USA > Iowa > Butler County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 93
USA > Iowa > Bremer County > History of Butler and Bremer counties, Iowa > Part 93
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to probably twenty-five, although in the census of these two years no notice was taken of this region. In 1860, just prior to the breaking out of the rebellion, the census gave this county a population of 4,915. By the census of 1870-ten years later-this had increased to 12,528. By
827
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
the last census taken, in 1880, it had 14,081 inhabitants, which has probably been in- creased to 15,000. Its American and for- eign population is almost equally divided, the German element predominating among those of foreign birth or descent. The American inhabitants emigrated mostly from New York, New England, Pennsyl- vania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and they are as a whole, an enterprising people. The German inhabitants emigrated almost exclusively from the northern part of the German Empire. As a class they came poor, bought land at low rates on long time, making small payments and by in- dustry and frugality have since become thrifty and substantial farmers. Compar- atively few of the Germans in the county are engaged in trade or mercantile pur- suits, the various departments of which are conducted principally by Americans.
BREMER COUNTY POOR FARM.
After the close of the war it became evident that the county was in need of a place for the care of its poor, and at the June session of the board of supervisors, in 1866, it was resolved to submit the mat- ter to a vote of the electors of the county, to ascertain if they would vote to authorize the purchase of a poor farm in the county. It was shown that during the last preced- ing six months, $1,698.77 had been ex- pended for the support of the poor. Noth- ing resulted from this action. The matter again came up in 1867, and the board ap- pointed a committee "to purchase a poor . farm for the county." A re-consideration of this action was taken at the same ses- sion, and it was resolved to have the mat- ter submitted to a vote of the people. At
the same time a committee was appointed to procure information respecting the price of farms suitable for a poor farm, the cost of maintaining the poor of the county, and any other information import- ant in the premises. At the September session of the board, in the same year, the committee orally reported, re-committing the general subject to the board, but re- porting the cost of maintaining the poor for the years named, to have been as fol- lows: In 1860, $780.75; 1861, $1,256.38; 1862, $967.48; 1863, $810.87; 1864, $944.96; 1865, $891.66; 1866, $1,347.67; 1866, up to the 19th of June of that year, $1,841.95; grand total, $8,841.72. At the latter ses- sion, also, a committee was appointed to draft and submit, in its proper form, to the legal voters of the county, a proposition to purchase a poor farm at a cost not exceed- ing $5,000. The proposition was so sub- mitted at the next ensuing election, and was carried by a vote of 944 in the affirm- ative, to 261 in the negative. Accordingly, at the meeting of the board in October, 1867, immediately succeeding the election, still another committee was appointed to seek a location suitable for a poor farm, and ascertain the prices thereof, with in- structions to report at the following Janu- ary meeting. At the time directed, the committee reported that they were unable to agree, and asked to be discharged, add- ing the recommendation that another com- mittee be appointed, to examine improved and unimproved lands within five miles of the geographical center of the county, and report at the next June meeting. The re- port and recommendation were accepted. Nothing further was done in the matter until the meeting of the board in January,
828
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
1869, when, the committee last appointed having failed to report, another committee was appointed, for the like purpose of ex- amining lands within the limits mentioned, with instructions to report at the next meeting of the board. The last commit- tee, consisting of N. J. Moore, A. L. Steven- son and J. D. Woodruff, faithfully and promptly discharged their duties. In June, 1869, they reported in favor of purchasing the southeast quarter and the south half of the northeast quarter of sec- tion 24, township 92, range 13, Warren township, comprising 240 acres of land, at the price of ten dollars an acre. The report was adopted, but nothing was done regarding it. The next action was taken in 1872, when, in June of that year, a committee was appointed to have the poor farm surveyed, stones set at corners, forty acres on the south side broken, and a strip eight feet wide, around the farm on the fence line, also broken for the purpose of planting trees thereon. At the January meeting of the board, in 1873, 1,400 seasoned fence posts and 15,000 feet of lumber were ordered for fencing the farm. At the same session another com- mittee was appointed, to let the farm for that year; also, to procure plans, receive proposals, and to contract for building a house upon the farm; for which latter pur- pose the sum of $1,500, or so much thereof as should be necessary, was appropriated. Pursuant to this action, the present tene- ment house was erected.
CIVIL TOWNSHIPS.
The fourteen civil townships in the county were organized upon the following dates, viz:
Jackson township, on the 9th of March, 1857.
Dayton township, on the 10th of Febru- ary, 1858.
Jefferson township, on the 17th of Feb- ruary, 1858.
Douglas township, on the 22d of May, 1858.
Frederika township, on the 22d of May, 1858.
Sumner township, on the 27th of July, 1858.
LeRoy township, on the 27th of July, 1858.
Maxfield township, on the 6th of Sep- tember, 1858.
Franklin township, on the 6th of Sep- tember, 1858.
Lafayette township, on the 6th of De- cember, 1858.
Polk township, on the 6th of December, 1858.
Warren township, on the 21st of Feb- ruary, 1859.
Washington township, on the 21st of February, 1859.
Fremont township, on the 21st of Feb- ruary, 1859.
TOWN PLATS ..
The plats of the several towns in Bre- mer county were filed for record upon the following dates, viz:
Janesville was the first, and was filed on the 22d of July, 1854. The second plat of it was filed on the 20th of January, 1857.
Waverly-the original plat-bore the date of April 14, 1855. The last of sev- eral subsequent additions was filed Febru- ary 29, 1860.
829
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
Horton was filed on the 6th of Decem- ber, 1856.
Jefferson City was filed on the 20th of March, 1856.
Tripoli was filed on the 27th of Decem- ber, 1865.
Deanville was filed on the 16th of June, 1868.
Plainfield was filed on the 18th of June, 1868.
Sumner was filed on the first of July, 1873.
Frederika was filed on the 29th of July, 1873.
These matters are treated at length in the township and village histories.
MARRIAGE RECORD.
Marriage licenses have always been required in this State and the greater por- tion of the facts here found were taken from the clerk's record of certificates issued.
The first license issued in Bremer county bore date of August 20, 1853, and authorized the proper person to legally unite Jonas Mishler and Sarah Michael. This cermony was performed on the same day by Jeremiah Farris, county judge.
The second license was issued on the 23d of August, 1853, to Joel Bartlett and Miss Mary H. Dean. They were married by Judge Farris on the 25th of the same month.
Licenses, during the year 1853, were issued to the following persons:
Johnson Ovelerug and Debby Farris, August 23. They were married on the same day, by Judge Jeremiah Farris.
George W. Baskin and Mahala Mc- Henry, November 9. They were married
on the following day by Israel Trumbo, a justice of the peace.
John Powell and Rebecca Thorp, No- vember, 14. They were married on the 17th by Jeremiah Farris.
This comprises all the licenses issued during the year 1853. During the year 1854 the list increased materially:
James Elliot and Eleanor Buckmaster, February 6. Married February 16, by by Judge Farris.
Pyront McGee and Mary Webster, Feb- ruary 6. Married on the 9th, by Judge Farris.
Frederick Cretzmeyer and Julia Bell- kerrys, February 20. Married on the 23d, by Israel Trumbo, justice of the peace.
James Moore and Eliza Blockey, March 25. Married by Rev. Elias Pattee, on the 26th.
Phelix Cretzmeyer and Jemima Scott, May 28. Married on the same day by Rev. S. W. Ingham.
David Dewey and Ann Dudgeon, July 24. Married on the following day by Judge Farris.
Peter Heery and Abigail J. Gibson, July 22. Married by Judge Farris, July 23.
Jehial Hamory and Rhoda Boardmore, August 10. Married August 13, by Stephen D. Jackson, Esq.
Spencer W. Jackson and Margaret A. Pool, September 18. Married by Stephen D. Jackson, Esq., on the 20th of the same month.
Henry B. Boyd and Lucinda Carberry, December 23. Married on the 24th of the same month, by Rev. Isaac Waterhouse.
Lafayette Sturdevant and Sarah A. Og- den, December 23. Married on the 25th by Judge Farris.
-
830
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
Robert Messinger and Sarah Michael, January 2, 1855.
J. N. Fowle and Ann Page, February 5, 1855.
Burlin Stephens and Juliann Hinton, March 3, 1855.
Jonathan H. Goforth and Celia A. Web- ster, March 15, 1855.
Henry Deckmeyer and Sophia Bockhert, April 25, 1855.
James Edgington and Elizabeth Null, April 30, 1855.
Arial Rimon and Harriett P. Freeman, May 5, 1855.
Marquis F. Gillett and Olive A. Wol- ling, March, 1855.
Eron E. Herdy and Emma Smith, May, 1855.
Henry J. White and Elizabeth Rich- mond, April, 1855.
James Wells and Caroline Beath, July, 1855.
Daniel Hutchinson and Mary Buck- master, August, 1855.
George A. Michael and Elizabeth Trumbo, December, 1854.
Henry Messinger and Mary Buckmaster, August, 1855.
LeRoy Shippy and Susanna Mishler, July, 1855.
Cristopher Frink and Mary Ebey, Au- gust, 1855.
Daniel Clayton and Cyrena Moore, October, 1855.
Henry Griffiing and Lydia A. Thorp, August, 1855.
Henry Stears and Hannah Thurston, September, 1855.
John T. Dicken and Aldine Auney, March, 1856.
N. A. Reeves and Rhoda A. Willey, March, 1856.
Samuel Henderson and Beda Goforth, August, 1854. This license .was never returned.
William Rowen and Mary Cleavey, September, 1854. Immediately following this entry are written, in a scrawling hand, the words, "backed out;" so it is to be presumed the parties changed their minds.
Richard Miles and Adaline Phelps, Sep- tember, 1854. This license was never returned.
Solomon Belden and Maria Buckmaster, March, 1855. Never returned.
Francis M. Codner and Armeldo Mc- Henry, August, 1855. Never returned.
Norman Miller and Mary Rengory. Never returned.
Henry P. Moore and Clarinda Bussy, November, 1855.
W. E. Andrews and Frances Briggs, November, 1855.
Amos Hurst and Samantha J. Clayton, November, 1855 ..
James Hunter and Elizabeth Koop, November, 1855.
Essex Farris and Catherine Mishler, November, 1855.
Seymore Ayers and Margaret Hinton, January 1856.
John Johnson and Jane Creyton, Jan- uary, 1856.
David Down and Patience Luther, Feb- ruary, 1856.
Thomas R. Ponde and Emeline Bennett, February, 1856.
W. J. Michael and Miss Campbell, April, 1856.
William Mullin and Orvilla Boyed, May, 1856. .
831
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
George Meeder and Barbara Snider, 1856.
Nelson Lockeber and Lucinda Redding- ton, S. H. Curtis and Sarah Couse, June 30, 1856. Married on the same day by Rev. E. D. Lamb.
G. R. Baskins and Harriett Page, June 30, 1856.
H. F. Kline and Hannah Wright, June, 1856.
Lavinus Phelps, and Mary E. Eldridge, July, 1856.
But this is sufficient. Many of the names will be recognized by the settlers of later years.
The following table will show how the number of marriages, per year, has varied, and how the matrimonial market is affect- ed by the state of the times.,
1853.
5 1868.
130
1854
15 1869
123
1855.
26 1870.
111
1856.
30 1871.
118
1857.
43 1872.
100
1858.
33 1873.
.136
1859.
28 1874. .108
1860
32 1875.
.134
1861.
33 1876.
144
1862.
49 1877
118
1863.
43 1878.
112
1864.
49 1879.
128
1865.
62 1880.
120
1866.
97 1881.
128
1867.
103 1882.
.130
MARRIAGE UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
A local paper in Waverly is responsible for the following:
"A couple of children, aged fourteen and eighteen years, came over from But- ler county Tuesday, with matrimonial in- tentions. The would be head of the fam- ily walked up to the clerk's office with all the gravity of an old man, and called for a 'pair of license.' Charley Cooper asked him who wanted them. The young man from Butler answered, 'Me and Sary Ann wants them.'
"Charley looked at him with the steady gaze of a granger, and at the same time gave him the sign of 'distress.' But the work was lost, for the young man had never crossed the 'rubicon.' Says Charles, 'young man, you are not old enoughi to marry. Go back to Butler county and tarry there until your mustache has grown out, then come and I will see what I can do for you.' The young chap said: 'Look here, mister, I am a man. I have chawed tobacker and swore for more than two years. Now none of your fooling; give 'em to me.' But it would not answer, and Charley told them they must have a guar- dian appointed before they could slip nn- der the same blanket. They marched down town and Hi Brown made out the necessary papers and they went back to Butler County to get a stick for guardian timber. They came back and Charley issued the papers and they were joined in wedlock, and such Poetry has no echo more sonorious and prolonged than the heart of youth in which it is fresh born(?)."
832
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
ABSTRACT OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE YEAR 1882.
CATTLE.
HORSES.
SHEEP.
TOWNSHIPS.
Number ..
value. .
Total assessed
Per head.
Number ...
Average value. ..
Assessed value ..
Number.
Value ..
Per head.
Number ..
Value ..
Per head ..
Dayton
1,935 $17,500
$9 04
522
₹28 68
$14.970
2
$80 $40 00
48
$48 $1 00
Douglas
1,910
17,576
9 20
638
30 50
19,450
18
625
34 72
86
86
1 00
Franklin
1,739
14,590
8 45
509
31 70
16,133
9
322
37 33
73
73
Frederika.
789
7,881
10 00
232
28 30
6, 561
14
420
30 00
7
Fremont
2,322
19, 542
8 41
617
21 60
13,325
2
50
25 00
99
102
Jackson
959
9,424
10 14
414
19 80
8,178
8
142
17 75
100
100
Jefferson
1,466
13, 887
9 47
459
21 30
9,767
108
125
Lafayette
1,805
13,078
7 25
492
17 60
8,612
10
160
16 00
5
5
LeRoy
1,234
10,792
8 75
269
18 30
4,916
88
88
Maxfield
2,609
22,317
8 55
637
19 60
12,510
92
92
Polk
1,999
19,399
9 70
734
27 15
19,932
22
780
35 50
108
108
Sumner
1,609
15,376
9 56
548
25 75
14, 113
4
95
23 75
29
29
Warren.
2,258
18, 652
8 26
629
21 23
13,352
3
85
28 33
120
120
Washington
1,211
12, 812
10 58
409
26 00
10,582
6
110
18 33
12
12
Waverly
333
2,572
7 72
423
23 50
9,910
8
155
19 37
17
17
Average
$1,02
Totals.
24,176 #215, 698
7,532
..
$182, 311
106 $3, 024
992 $1, 012
...
$8 92
$24 20
$28 53
1
.
. .
MULES AND ASSES.
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
833
Abstract of Assessments-Continued.
TOWNSHIPS.
Number. ..
Average value ...
Assessed value ..
Number ...
Average value ...
Assessed value ..
MERCHANDISE-Value of.
MANUFACTURING CAPITAL ....
MONEYS AND CREDITS .
TAXABLE HOUSEHOLD PROP'TY
Dayton.
2,146
$2 00
84,450
35
$1 50
$2 25
$10
$700
Douglas
1,805
1 42
2,561
2 20
2 00
3,700
Franklin.
1,783
1 45
2,580
44
6 51
5,199
$1 92
Frederika
670
1 67
1,120
17
3 20
1,000
800
Fremont
2,299
99
2,281
30
4 65
8,900
2,760
Jackson
11,10
1 72
1,911
51
8 38
5,270
4,112
4 65
Jefferson.
1,728
1 83
3,149
62
1,146
2 05
1 30
35,949
5 13
Lafayette
1,472
1 80
2,658
8
202
4,525
LeRoy
501
1,88
9 42
5
1 05
2,300
Maxfield
2,739
1 96
5,371
43
6 15
6 45
23,472
1 70
Polk
2,169
1 74
3,772
69
1,226
2,055
1 25
15,421
367
Sumner
1,281
1 41
1,806
90
1,386
10,675
50
3,500
Warren
3,533
1 73
6,270
42
840
11,272
135
Washington
873
1 77
1,546
21
270
5,650
65
Waverly
138
1 50
2 01
2 28
4,735
36,090
2,670
67,381
3,285
Average
1 68
$10 82
Totals
24,247
$40,618
7 54
$13,769
64,620
3,630
$186,741
$5,192
SWINE.
VEHICLES.
-
-
Townships.
CORPORATIONS STOCKS.
TAXABLE FARM UTENSILS ....
OTHER TAXABLE PROPERTY ..
TOTAL VALUE ASSESSED.
No. of acres.
Average value ....
Value ..
VALUE OF TOWN PROPERTY,
Dayton
$637
$39,370
22,821
$6 37
$164,943
Douglas.
$50
50
44,518
23,309
5 98
139,300
Franklin
543
40,283
22, 856
6 31
163,784
Frederika
50
390
18, 549
11,703
4 98
58,226
$3,556
Fremont
2,555
49,980
23,130
7 22
185, 414
8,491
Jackson
$150
315
31,205
14,997
8 51
141, 692
13,501
Jefferson
155
131
65, 157
15, 124
9 67
146,248
1,670
Lafayette.
225
88
29,553
19, 457
9 15
178,659
LeRoy
19,143
13, 713
4 58
57,206
Maxfield
210
65,402
22, 514
8 73
144, 223
Polk
1,354
64,539
23,019
8 63
197,694
15,799
Sumner.
320
47,350
20,192
7 41
118, 152
15,200
Warren.
160
50, 886
23,121
8 17
188, 918
Washington
60
31,107
16, 711
9 19
153, 584
Waverly.
1,300
2,800
131, 116
1,959
19 94
33,966
129,780
Average.
$7 56
Total.
$1,450
$690 $9,403
$728,158
276.726
$7 56 $2,077, 059
$187,997
1
834
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
Abstract of Assessments -- Continued.
-
1881
LANDS [Assessment of 1881].
-
-
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
835
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST.
In addition to the abstract, a number of other items taken from the auditor's re- ports, are here given:
Lands, exclusive of town property,
in acres. 272,385
Total exemptions for trees planted. .
17,050
Valuation of above, after deducting exemptions $2, 093, 474
The value of realty in the towns of the county, as per assessment of 1882, is as follows:
Frederika and Tripoli $3,416
Tripoli. 7,647
Janesville. 12,162
Jefferson.
1,670
Bremer
77
Plainfield and Horton.
15, 499
Sumner
18,489
Waverly
150, 706
Aggregate $210,666
Total value of railroad property
134, 689
Total value of personal property, includ -
ing horses, cattle, etc.
728, 158
Total valuation of the county.
$3,166,987
LIVE STOCK.
Number.
Valuation
Cattle assessed in the county
24,176
Horses
7,532
$215,698 182,311
Mules
١٠٠
106
3,024
Sheep.
992
1,012
Swine
24,247
40,618
Valuation of live stock.
$442,662
TAX LEVIED.
The total tax levied in the county, in 1882, was $75, 453.73.
FINANCIAL.
The following items shows the value of taxable property, and tax levied each year, from 1863 to 1882:
1863.
Value of lands in the county.
$927,987
Value of town lots.
78, 234
Value of personal property.
182,469
Total as'es'd value of all property $1, 188, 690 Total tax levied. $22, 874
1864.
Total value of lands.
$933, 573
Total value of town lots.
78,881
Total value of personal property
254, 683
Total assessed value of county .. $1, 267, 137
Total tax levied.
$30,408
1865.
Value of lands. $973, 939
Value of lots.
88, 034
Value of personal property.
340, 834
Total valuation.
$1,402, 807
Total tax levied.
$47,019
1866.
Value of lands. $976,954
Value of lots. 87,779
Value of personal property.
380,037
Total assessed value.
$1,444,770
Total tax levied.
$51,179
1867
Number of acres. $269,658
Value of lands. $1,398,909
Value of lots.
210,511
Value of personal property
374,718
Total assessed value.
$1,984,138
Tax levied.
$76,797
1868
Number of acres assessed in the county 271,012
Assessed value of land. $1,399,031
Assessed value town lots 211,761
Assessed value personal property.
411,663
Total valuation.
$2,022,455
Total tax levied. $60,990
-
7
..
1
836 HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
1869.
Value of land
$1,446,933
Value of town lots.
221,913
Value of personal property.
427,146
Total value all property
.$2,125,992
Total tax levied.
71,923
1870.
Value of land.
$1,452,996
Value of town lots.
221,873
Value of personal property.
479,996
Total value of all property
$2,154,865
Total tax levied.
61,197 25
1871.
Value of lands.
. $1,736,119
Value of town lots.
246,282
Value of personal property.
395,471
Total value of all property
$2,377,872
Total tax levied.
$139,356
(This includes the railroad tax which was collected in 1872, of $50,000.)
1872.
Total value of lands.
.$1,735,211
Total value of town lots 246,526
Value of personal property.
476,585
Total value of all property
$2,458,322
Total tax levied. .
$92,956
The following was the way in which the total value was divided among the various townships:
Total value.
Dayton township
$
95,092
Douglas
113,387
Franklin 114,902
Frederika. 59,352
Fremont. 124,718
Jackson 243,711
Jefferson 160,638
Lafayette
209,956
Le Roy 67,413
Maxfield
154,018
Polk
260,084
Sumner
$102,369
Warren
180,547
Washington.
218,676
Waverly City
353,509
1873.
Value of land.
$1,846,781
Value of lots.
188,143
Value of personal property.
516,013
Total value of all property.
$2,550,937
Total tax levied.
$77,015
1874.
Value of land.
$1,843,238
Value of lots.
188,254
Value of personal property.
504,909
Total value of all property
$2,536,401
Total tax levied in 1874.
$84,546
1875.
Value of land
$1,974,795
Value of lots.
214,612
Value of personal property.
564,218
Total value.
$2,753,625
. Total tax levied.
$74,714
1876.
Value of land.
$1,969,722
Value of lots.
214,704
Value of personal property.
588,146
Total value of all property
$2,772,572
Total tax levied.
$82,957
1877.
Value of lands.
$2,093,042
Value of lots.
209,514'
Value of personal property.
587,689
Total value of property.
$2,890,245
Total tax levied.
$81,558
1878.
Value of land.
$2,090,429
Value of lots.
210,764
Value of personal property.
608,437
Total value
$2,909,630
Total tax levied.
$85,202
-
Y
837
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
1
1879.
Value of lands $2,007,739
Value of lots. 210,997
Value of personal property . 645,369
Total value. $2,864,105
Total tax levied
$67,665
1880.
Value of lands. $2,005,700
Total value of lots.
210,702
Value of personal property 688,804
Total value of property $2,905,206
Total tax levied.
$78,982
1881.
Value of lands. $2,092,999
Value of lots. 208,916
Value of personal property 815,183
Total value of property $3,117,098
Total tax levied.
70,050
1882.
Value of lands. $2,089,747
Value of lots. 208,826
Value of personal property. 869,656
Total valuation. $3,168,229
Total tax levied. $75,453 73
The different townships show total value of all property as follows:
Dayton. $ 186,510
Douglas 182,817
Franklin 186,764
Frederika. 80,201
Fremont
236,501
Jackson
209,525
Jefferson
212,929
Lafayette.
222,895
LeRoy
84,385
Maxfield.
267,467
Polk
296,790
Sumner
221,444
Warren. 252,202
Washington 198,904
Waverly 328,895
Total.
$3,168,229
TREASURER'S REPORT.
By the last report of the county treas- urer, S. F. Baker, the following is a sum- mary of cash on hand for the county, and credited to the various funds, as follows:
SUMMARY OF CASH ON HAND.
State revenue $ 581 20
County. 850 87
County school 188 72
Bridge 2,724 20
Insane
373 09
Incorporation 384 81
Dubuque & Dakota Railroad 439 47
Penal Fines 32 51
Institute 133 50
Sanitary 5 41
Road.
326 87
Teachers
2,116 99
Contingent
798 86
School house.
206 19
Permanent school fund. 4,068 62
School fund interest.
1,435 37
School fund apportionment
720 76
Total cash on hand.
$15,387 44
REGISTRY OF DEEDS.
As has already been stated, before its organization, Bremer county was at- . tached to Buchanan county. The first , transfers of land therefore were recorded in the books of Buchanan county, and were afterward transcribed into Bremer county books.
The first entry affecting land in Bremer county was recorded as being filed March 13, 1852, and conveyed from Samuel and Tabitha Armstrong to William Thorp, the east half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 34, in township 90, north of range 13 west, for the consideration of $100. This was witnessed by Israel Trumbo, justice
838
HISTORY OF BREMER COUNTY.
of the peace for Bremer township, on the 25th of February, 1852.
After Bremer county was organized, books were procured and records kept at Waverly, William Hunter being the first recorder of deeds. These differ very much from those now in use in the county. As a fair sample, the first record is here given as it appears upon the books, the original spelling retained:
"Know All men by these presantz, that i, William Thorp, of the County of Bree- mer and State of iowa, am held and firmly Bound unto Richard Holtom, Henry Stears and John Stears, of the County of S. T. Irsep, State of Mishigan, in the Sum of five hundred Dollarz, lawful money of the United states, to Bee paid to the Said Richard Holtom, Henry Stears and John Stears, their Executors, Administrators or assigns, for which payment well and truly to Bee made, i Bind My Self, my heirs, Executors, Administrators and Each of them, firmly by these Presants. sealed with my Seal, this 20 day August, A. D., 1853."
The document then goes on to state the conditions, which, as the record says are "as fowloing."
There are now thirty-five books of deed records, the recorder now using No. 35, having run through the alphabet and then taken numbers.
The first mortgage recorded bears the date of March 20, 1856, in Book A, of Mortgages. In the sum of $400, Philander and Cornelia Olmstead mortgaged certain lots in the city of Janesville, to William McHenry. This was recorded March 27, 1856, by W. B. Hamilton, and was satis- fied in October of the same year.
There are now twenty-four books of mortgages, being nineteen of real estate and five of town lots.
The following is a list of the various plats that have been recorded in the plat books of the office:
Waverly proper, Cretzmeyer's addition, Gothard's addition, Hess' addition, incor- poration of Harmon and Le Valleys, Wm. Sturdevant's addition, Bremer, Horton, Janesville, Jefferson City, Monroe, Syra- cuse, Tripoli, Deanville, Plainfield, Sum- ner and Frederika.
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