USA > Iowa > Cass County > History of Cass County, Iowa; together with sketches of its towns, villages, and townships; educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of old settlers and representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, and a brief review of its civil, political, and military history > Part 8
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In the meantime, every effort was made to help the speedy completion of the mail- roads. Nearly every county and city on' the Mississippi, and many in the interior, voted large corporate subscriptions to the. stock of the railroad companies, and issued their negotiable bonds for the amount. Thus enormous county and city debts were incurred, the payment of which these mu-
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2
HISTORY OF IOWA.
nicipalities tried to avoid, upon the plea that they had exceeded the constitutional limitation of their powers. The Supreme Court of the United States held these bonds to be valid, and the courts, by man- damus, compelled the city and county authorities to levy taxes to pay the judg- ments recovered upon them. These debts are not all paid, even to this day; but the worst is over, and the incubus is in the course of ultimate extinction. The most valuable lessons are those learned in the school of experience, and, accordingly, the corporations of Iowa have ever since been noted for economy.
In 1856 the Republican party of the State was duly organized, in full sympathy with that of the other free States, and at the ensuing presidential election the elec- toral vote of the State was cast for John C. Fremont. The popular vote was as follows : Fremont, 43,954; Buchanan, 36,- 170, and Fillmore, 9,180. This was 1,396 less than a majority for Fremont. The following year an election was held, after an exciting campaign, for State officers, resulting in a majority of 1,406 for Ralph P. Lowe, the Republican nominee. The Legislature was largely Republican in both branches.
In June, 1854, a Board of State Com- missioners contracted with the DesMoines Navigation Railroad Company, an organ- ization composed principally of New York capitalists, to undertake the work, agree- ing to convey to the company lands at $1.25 an acre for all moneys advanced and expended. In the meantime difficul- ties arose in regard to the extent of the grant. The State claimed lands through- out the whole extent of the river to the
north line of the State. The Department of the Interior changed its rulings under the several administrations. The Com- missioner of the General Land Office cer- tified to the State about 320,000 acres of land below the Raccoon Fork of the river, and about 270,000 acres above it prior to 1857, when he refused to certify any more. This led to a settlement and compromise with the Navigation Company in 1858, whereby the company took all the land certified to the State at that date, and paid the State $20,000 in addition to what they had already expended, cancelled their con- tract and abandoned the work.
The General Assembly granted to the DesMoines Valley Railroad Company the remainder of the grant to the State line, to aid in building a railroad up and along the DesMoines Valley; and Congress, in 1862, extended the grant, by express enactment, to the north line of the State.
The most injurious result to the State, arising from the spirit of speculation pre- valent in 1856, was the purchase and entry of great bodies of Government land within the State by non-residents. This land was held for speculation, and placed beyond the reach of actual settlers for many years.
From no other one cause has Iowa suf- fered so much as from the short-sighted policy of the Federal Government in sell- ing lands within her borders. The money thus obtained by the Federal Government has been comparatively inconsiderable. The value of this magnificient public do- main to the United States was not in the few thousands of dollars she might exact from the hardy settlers, or that she might obtain from the speculator who hoped to
64
HISTORY OF IOWA.
profit by the settlers' labors in improving the country. Statesmen should have taken a broader and more comprehensive view of national economy, and a view more in harmony with the divine economy that had prepared these vast fertile plains of the West for the "homes of men and the seats of empire." It was here that new States were to be builded up that should be the future strength of the nation against for- eign invasion or home revolt. A single regiment of Iowa soldiers during the dark days of the Rebellion was worth more to the nation than all the money she ever ex- acted from the toil and sweat of Iowa's early settlers. Could the statesmen of forty years ago have looked forward to this day, when Iowa pays her $1,000,000 annu- ally into the treasury of the nation for the extinction of the national debt, they would have realized that the founding of new States was a greater enterprise than the retailing of public lands.
In January, 1857, another Constitutional Convention assembled at Iowa City, which framed the present State constitution. One of the most pressing demands for this con- vention grew out of the prohibition of banks under the old constitution. The practical result of this prohibition was to flood the State with every species of "wild-cat" currency. Our circulating medium was made up in part of the free-bank paper of Illinois and Indiana. In addition to this, we had paper issued by Iowa brokers, who had obtained bank charters from the Ter- ritorial Legislature of Nebraska, and had their pretended headquarters at Omaha and Florence. Our currency was also well assorted with the bills from other States, generally such as had the best reputation
where they were least known. This paper was all at 2, and some of it from 10 to 15 per cent. discount. Every man who was not an expert in detecting counterfeit bills, and who was not posted in the history of all manner of banking institutions, did business at his peril. The new constitution made ample provisions for house banks under the supervision of our own laws. The limitation of our State debt was en- larged to $250,000, and the corporate in- debtedness of the cities and counties were also limited to five per cent. upon the valu- ation of their taxable property.
The Judges of the Supreme Court were to be elected by the popular vote.
The permanent seat of government was fixed at DesMoines, and the State Uni- versity located at Iowa City. The qualifi- cations of electors remained the same as under the old constitution, but the schedule provided for a vote of the people upon a separate proposition to strike the word "white" out of the suffrage clause, which, had it prevailed, would have resulted in conferring the right of suffrage without distinction of color. Since the early or- ganization of Iowa there had been upon the statute books a law providing that no negro, mulatto or Indian should be a com- petent witness in any suit or proceeding to which a white man was a party. The Gen- eral Assembly of 1856-"7 repealed this law, and the new constitution contained a clause forbidding such disqualification in the future. It also provided for the education of "all youth of the State" through a sys- tem of common schools. This constitution was adopted at the ensuing election by a vote of 40,311 to 38,681.
65
HISTORY OF IOWA.
October 19, 1857, Gov. Grimes issued a proclamation declaring the City of Des- Moines to be the capital of the State of Iowa. The removal of the archives and offices was commenced at once and con- tinued through the fall. It was an under- taking of no small magitude; there was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the work, and the season was unusually dis- agreeable. Rain, snow and other accom- paniments increased the difficulties, and it was not until December that the last of the effects,-the safe of the State Treasurer, loaded on two large "bob-sleds," drawn by ten yokes of oxen,-was deposited in the new capitol. Thus Iowa City ceased to be the capital of the State after four Territo- rial Legislatures, six State Legislatures and three Constitutional Conventions had held their sessions there.
In 1856 and 1858 large appropriations were made for the erection of public build- ings and the support of the unfortunate classes, and a loan of $200,000 was author- ized.
During the years 1858-60, the Sioux In- dians became troublesome in the north- western part of the State. They made frequent raids for the purpose of plunder, and on several occasions murdered whole families of settlers. In 1861 several com- panies of militia were ordered to that por- tion of the State to hunt down and expel the thieves. No battles were fought, the Indians fleeing as soon as they ascertained systematical measures had been adopted for their punishment.
In 1870 the General Assembly made an appropriation and provided for the appoint- ment of a Board of Commissioners to commence the work of building a new cap-
itol. The corner-stone was laid with ap- propriate ceremonies November 23, 1871. The building is a beautiful specimen of modern architecture.
When Wisconsin Territory was organ- ized, in 1836, the entire population of that portion of the Territory now embraced in the State of Iowa, was 10,531. The Terri- tory then embraced two counties, Dubuque and DesMoines, erected by the Territory of Michigan, in 1834. Since then, the counties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population in 1880 was 1,624,463. The following table will show the population at different periods since the erection of Iowa Territory:
Year. Population.
1838
.22,589
1840 . 43,115
1844. . 75,152
1846 . 97,588
1847
116,651
1849
152,988
1850
191,982
1851 204,774 .
1852 230,713
1854 326,013
1856
519,055
1859 .638,775
1860. . 674,913
1863
.701,732
1865
750,699
1867.
.902,040
1869 1,040,819
1870
1,191,727
1873 1,251,333
1875 1,366,000
1880
1,624,463
The most populous county is Dubuque, 42,997. Polk county has 41,395, and Scott 41,270. Not only in population, but in
66
HISTORY OF IOWA.
everything contributing to the growth and greatness of a State has Iowa made rapid progress. In a little more than thirty-five years its wild but beautiful prairies have advanced from the home of the savage to a highly civilized commonwealth, embra- cing all the elements of progress which characterize the older States.
The first railroad across the State was completed to Council Bluffs in January, 1861. The completion of three others soon followed.
In 1854 there was not a mile of railroad in Iowa. Within the succeeding twenty years, 3,765 miles were built and put in successful operation.
The present value of buildings for State institutions, including the estimated cost of the capitol, is as follows :
State Capitol $2,500,000
State University
400,000
Agricultural College and Farm. 300,000
Institution for the Blind. 150,000
Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb 225,000
Institutions for the Insane 1,149,000
Orphans' Home 62,000
Penitentiaries 408,000
Normal School 50,000 Reform School 90,000
The State has never levied more than two and one-half mills on the dollar for State tax, and this is at present the consti- tutional limit. The State has no debt.
No other influence has contributed so much to the progress and development of Iowa as the newspapers of the State. No class of men have labored more assiduously and disinterestedly for the development of the State and the advancement of her ma- terial interests, than her editors. There
are now published in Iowa 25 daily papers, 364 weekly papers, and 13 monthly publi- cations. These are as a rule well supported by the people.
Such is briefly a summary of the history and resources of Iowa. There is perhaps no other country on earth where so few people are either rich or poor as in Iowa; where there is such an equality of condi- tion, and where so many enjoy a compe- tence. The law exempts from execution a homestead to every head of a family. Every sober, industrious man can in a short time acquire a home. Iowa is the home for the immigrant. The children of the laboring man have no prejudice of caste to overcome in the effort they may choose to make for the improvement of their condi- tion in life. Here all men enjoy the alien . able blessings of "life, liberty and the pur- suit of happiness," not only unfettered by legal disabilities, but also untrammeled by those fixed conditions of social and busi- ness life that elsewhere result from accu- mulated wealth in the possession of the few. As education is free, so also the ave- nues of success are open in every pursuit and calling. The highest incentives exist to exertion. Labor and effort, whether manual or mental, are held alike honorable; and idleness and crime are alone consid- ered disreputable.
Thriving cities and towns dot the land; an iron net-work of thousands of miles of railroads is woven over its broad acres; 10,000 school-houses, in which more than 500,000 children are being taught the rudi- ments of education, testify to the culture and liberality of the people; high schools, colleges and universities, are generously endowed by the State; manufactories are
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busy on all her water-courses, and in most of her cities and towns.
We quote from Judge Nourse: "The great ultimate faet that America would demonstrate is, the existence of a people capable of attaining and preserving a su- perior civilization, with a government self- imposed, self-administered and self-perpet- uated. In this age of wonderful progress, America can exhibit nothing to the world of mankind more wonderful or more glo- rious, than her new States-young empires,
born of her own enterprise, and tutored at her own political hearth-stone. Well may she say to the monarchies of the old world, who look for evidence of her regal grandeur and state: 'Behold, these are my jewels !' And may she never blush to add: 'This one in the center of the diadem is called Iowa !"'
The following is the census of Iowa by counties, as taken by the National Gov- ernment at each decade:
CENSUS OF 10WA.
COUNTIES.
1840.
1850.
1860.
1870.
1880.
1
Adair.
984
3,982
11, 199
Adams
1,533
4,614
11, 188
Allamakee
777
12, 237
17,868
19,791
Appanoose
3,131
11,931
16,456
16,636
Audubon
451
1,212
7,448
Benton
672
8, 496
22, 454
24,888
Black Hawk
135
8,244
21,768
23, 913
Boone
735
4,232
14,584
20, 838
Bremer
4 915
12, 528
14, 0-1
Bnobanan
517
7.906
17,034
18, 547
Buena Vista.
57
1,5=5
7, 537
Butler
147
1,602
5,505
Carroll
281
2, 451
12 351
Cass.
1,612
5 464
16,943
Cedar.
1,253
3,941
12, 949
19, 731
18,937
Cerro Gordo
910
4,722
11, 461
Cherokee.
5a
1,967
8, 240
Chickasaw
709
5, 427
8, 735
11, 512
Clay.
1,101
3: 873
20, 728
27, 771
28, 829
Clinton
821
18,938
35, 357
36,764
Crawford
383
2,530
12,413
Dallas
834
5, 244
12, 019
18, 748
Davie
T, 264
13,764
15,565
16, 468
Decatur
965
8,677
12, 018
15,336
Delaware.
168
1,759
11, 024
17, 432
17,9.2
Des Moines
5,577
12,988
19, 611
27, 258
93,099
Dickinson
180
1,389
1,901
Dubuqne
3,059
31, 164
38,969
42,997
Emmett
105
1,392
1, 550
Fayette
£25
12, 073
16, 973
22, 258
Floyd
3,744
10,768
14, 677
Franklin
1,309
4,738
10,248
Fremont
1,244
5,074
11, 174
17, 653
Greene
1, 374
4,627
12, 725
Grun ly.
793
6,399
12, 639
Guthrie
3, 058
7, 061
14,883
52
1,523
4,248
Clayton
2,821
3, 724
9 951
14, 293
Calhonn
4,336
10, 180
14, 534
Clarke
10,841
HISTORY OF IOWA.
68
HISTORY OF IOWA.
CENSUS OF IOWA-Continued.
COUNTIES.
1840.
1850.
1066.
1870.
1880.
Hamuitoh
1,649
6, 055
11,252
Hencock
179
999
8,453
Hardin
5,440
13, 684
17,808
Harrleun
3,621
8,931
16,649
Henry
3, 772
8,707
18, 701
21, 463
20,826
Howard
3,168
6,282
10,837
Humboldt
332
2,596
6,341
Ida
43
226
4,382
Iowa
822
8,029
16, 664
19, 221
Jackson
1,411
7,210
18, 493
22, 619
23,771
Jasper.
1,280
9,883
22, 116
25,962
Jefferson
2, 773
9,904
15,038
17,839
17,478
Johnson
1, 49L
4, 472
17, 573
24,898
25, 429
Jonea
471
3, 007
13,306
19,731
21,052
Keokuk
4, 822
13,271
19, 434
21,259
Koeanth.
416
3, 351
6,179
Lee.
6,093
18, 861
29, 232
37, 210
34,859
Linn.
1,373
5,444
18,947
28,852
37, 235
Loniea
1,927
4,939
10, 370
12, 877
13,146
Lucas
471
5, 766
10,328
14,530
Lyon
221
1,968
Madison
1,179
7,339
13, 884
17, 225
Mahaeka
5,989
14,818
25,518
25, 201
Marion
5,482
16,813
24, 436
25, 111
Marshall
388
6, 015
17,576
23, 752
Mille
4,481
8,718
14, 135
Mitchell
3,409
9,582
14,361
Monona
832
3, 654
9,055
Monroe.
2, 884
8,612
12,724
13, 719
Muscatine.
1,942
5,731
18,444
21, 688
23, 168
O'Brion.
715
4,155
Osceola
551
4,419
9,975
19, 667
Palo Alto.
132
1,338
4,131
Plymonth
148
2,199
8, 567
Pocahontas.
4,513 7,828
4,968
16,893
39, 846
Poweehiek
615
5,668
15, 581
18,936
246
1,411
8,774
Scott
5,988
25, 959
38,509
41, 270
Shelby
818
2,549
12, 696
Sioux
570
5,426
Story.
4,051
11,651
16, 966
Tama
8 204
3,596
6,989
15, 635
Union
2 012
5,986
14.980
Van Buren
6,146
17,081
17,672
17,042
Wapello
8, 471
14, 518
22,348
25,282
Warren
961
10,281
17,980
19,578
Washington
4,957
14, 235
18,952
20,375
Wayne
340
6, 409
11,287
16,127
Webater.
2,504
10,484
15,950
Winnebago.
168
1,526
4,917
Winneahiek
546
13,942
23, 570
23, 937
"Woodbury.
1,119
6. 172
14,997
Worth
756
2, 892
7, 953
Wright.
653
2, 392
5,062
Total
43, 112
192, 214
674, 913
1,191, 792
1, 624, 463
103
1,446
3, 713
Polk
11, 625
27,857
42,395
Pottawattamie
2, 923
5,691
12,085
Seo .
2,140
5, 285
16, 131
21, 5~5
Taylor.
12, 270
1, 256
5,934
15,895
Montgomery
8
2.219
Page
Ringgold
1,594
10
69
CHAPTER VII.
GEOLOGY-TOPOGRAPHY-WATER COURSES.
Geologists divide the soil of Iowa into three general divisions-drift, bluff and alluvial. The drift occupies a much larger part of the surface of the State than both the others. The bluff has the next greatest area of surface, and the alluvial least. All soil is disintegrated rock. The drift de- posit of Iowa was derived, to a consider- able extent, from the rocks of Minnesota; but the greater part of Iowa drift was de- rived from its own rocks, much of which has been transported but a short distance. In northern and northwestern Iowa the drift contains more sand and gravel than elsewhere. In southern Iowa the soil is frequently stiff and clayey. The bluff soil is found only in the western part of the
State, and adjacent to the Missouri river. Although it contains less than one per cent. of clay in its composition, it is in no re- spect inferior to the best drift soil. The alluvial soil is that of the flood plains of the river valleys, or bottom lands. That which is periodically flooded by the rivers is of little value for agricultural purposes; but a large part of it is entirely above the reach of the highest flood, and is very pro- ductive.
The stratified rocks of Iowa range from the Azoic to the Mesozoic, inclusive; but the greater portion of the surface of the State is occupied by those of the Paleozoic age. The table below will show each of these formations in their order:
BYSTR.MB. AGES.
GROUPS. PERIODS.
FORMATIONS. EPOCHS.
THICKNESS IN FEET.
Cretaceons.
(Lower Cretaceous.
Woodbury Sandstone and Sbalee.
130
( Nishnabotany Sandstone.
100
Upper Coal Measures
200
Middle Coal Measures.
20 1
Lower Cuai Measures.
200
(St. Lunis Limeetone.
75 90
Burlington Limestone.
196
Kinderhook Bede.
175
Hamilton Limestone and Shales.
2.0
Upper Silurian.
Niagara
Niagara Limestone.
350
Magnoketa Shales.
80
Trenton.
Galena Limestone.
250
Lower Silurian.
Trenton Limestone ..
200
(St. Peter's Sandetone,
80
Primordial
Lower Magnesian Limestone.
250
Potsdam Sandstone.
300
Azoio
Hurouian !.
Sioux Quartzite.
50
( Poet Tertiary.
Drift.
( Inuceramons Bed.
10 to 200 50
Cual Measures.
Carboniferons ..
Subcarboniferous.
Keokuk Limestone.
Devonian
Hamilton
CincinnatL
HISTORY OF IOWA.
70
HISTORY OF IOWA.
AZOIC SYSTEM.
The Sioux quartzite is found exposed in natural ledges only upon a few acres in the extreme northwest corner of the State, upon the banks of the Big Sioux river, for which reason the specific name of Sioux quartzite has been given them. It is an intensely hard rock, breaks in splintery fracture, and of a color varying, in different localities, from a light to deep red. The process of metamorphism has been so complete throughout the whole formation, that the rock is almost every- where of uniform texture. The dip is four or five degrees to the northward, and the trend of the outcrop is eastward and westward.
LOWER SILURIAN SYSTEM.
Primordial Group .- The Potsdam sand- stone formation is exposed only in a small portion of the northeastern part of the State. It is only to be seen in the bases of the bluffs and steep valley sides which border the river there. It is nearly value- less for economic purposes. No fossils have been discovered in this formation in Iowa.
Lower Magnesian Limestone. - This formation has but little greater geographi- cal extent in Iowa than the Potsdam sand- stone. It lacks a uniformity of texture and stratification, owing to which it is not generally valuable for building purposes. The only fossils found in this formation in the State are a few traces of crinoids, near McGregor.
The St. Peters sandstone formation is remarkably uniform in thickness through-
out its known geographical extent, and it occupies a large portion of the northern half of Allamakee county, immediately beneath the drift.
Trenton Group .- With the exception of the Trenton limestone, all the limestones of both Upper and Lower Silurian age in Iowa are magnesian limestone - nearly pure dolomites. This formation occupies large portions of Winneshiek and Allama- kee counties and a small part of Clayton. The greater part of it is useless for eco- nomic purposes; but there are some com- pact, even layers that furnish fine material for window-caps and sills. Fossils are so abundant in this formation that in some places the rock is made up of a mass of shells, corals and fragments of trilobites, cemented by calcareous material into a solid rock. Some of these fossils are new to science and peculiar to Iowa.
The Galena limestone is the upper form- ation of the Trenton Group. It is 150 miles long, and seldom exceeds 12 miles in width. It exhibits its greatest develop- ment in Dubuque county. It is nearly a pure dolomite, with a slight admixture of silicous matter; good blocks for dressing are sometimes found near the top of the bed, although it is usually unfit for such a purpose. This formation is the source of the lead ore of the Dubuque lead mines. The lead region proper is confined to an area of about 15 miles square iu the vicinity of Dubuque. The ore occurs in vertical fissures, which traverse the rock at regular intervals from east to west; some is found in those which have a north and south direc- tion. This ore is mostly that known as Galena, or sulphuret of lead, very small
C
T
6
HISTORY OF IOWA.
71
quantities only of the carbonate being found with it.
Cincinnati Group .- The surface occu- pied by the Maquoketa shales is more than 100 miles in length, but is singularly long and narrow, seldom reaching a mile or two in width. The most northern exposure yet recognized is in the western part of Winneshiek county, while the most south- erly is in Jackson county, in the bluffs of the Mississippi. The formation is largely composed of bluish and brownish shales, sometimes slightly arenaceous, sometimes calcareous, which weather into a.tenacious clay upon the surface, and the soil derived from it is usually stiff and clayey. Several species of fossils which characterize the Cincinnati Group are found in the Maquo- kers shales, but they contain a larger num- ber than have been found anywhere else in these shales in Iowa, and their distinct faunal characteristics seem to warrant the separation of the Maquoketa shales as a distinct formation from others in the group.
UPPEE SILURIAN SYSTEM.
Niagara Group .- The area occupied by the Niagara limestone is 40 and 50 miles in width, and nearly 160 miles long, from north to south. This formation is entirely a magnesian limestone, with a considerable portion of silicions matter, in some places, in the form of chert or coarse flint. A large part of it probably affords the best and greatest amount of quarry rock in the State. The quarries at Anamosa, LeClaire and Farley are all opened in this forma- tion.
DEVONIAN SYSTEM.
Hamilton Group .- The area of surface occupied by the Hamilton limestone and
shales is as great as those by all the form- ations of both Upper and Lower Silurian age in the State. Its length is nearly 200 miles, and width from 40 to 50. A large part of the material of this is quite worth- less, yet other portions are valuable for economic purposes; and, having a large geographical extent in the State, is a very important formation. Its value for the production of hydraulic lime has been demonstrated at Waverly, Bremer county; the heavier piers and other material re- quiring strength and durability. All the Devonian strata of Iowa evidently belong to a single epoch. The most conspicuous and characteristic fossils of this formation are brachiopodes, corals and mullusks. The coral Acervularia Davidsoni occurs near Iowa City, and is known as "Iowa City marble" and "Bird's Eye marble."
CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM.
Of the three groups of formations that constitute the carboniferous, viz: the sub- carboniferous, coal measures and Permian, only the first two are found in Iowa.
Subcarboniferous Group .- This group occupies a very large area of surface. Its eastern border passes from the northeast- ern part of Winnebago county, with con- siderable directness in a sontheasterly direction to the northern part of Washing- ton county. It then makes a broad and direct bend nearly eastward, striking the Mississippi at Muscatine. The southern and western boundaries are to a consider- able extent the same as that which separates it from the real field. From the southern part of Pocahontas county it passes sontli- east to Fort Dodge, thence to Webster City, thence to a point 3 or 4 miles north-
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