USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 7
USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa > Part 7
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The boundaries of the State, as defined by the constitution, were as follows:
Beginning in the middle of the channel of the Mississippi river, opposite mouth of the Des Moines river, thence up the said river Des Moines, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to a point where it is intersected by the
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
old Indian boundary line, or line run by John C. Sullivan in the year 1816; thence westwardly along said line to the "old" northwest corner of Missouri; thence due west to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri river; thence up in the middle of the main channel of the river last mentioned to the mouth of the Sioux or Calumet river; thence in a direct line to the middle of the main channel of the St. Peters river, where the Watonwan river-according to Nicollet's map-enters the same; thence down the middle of the main chan- nel of said river to the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi river; thence down the middle of the main channel of said river to the place of be- ginning.
These boundaries were rejected by Congress, but by act approved March 3, 1845, a State called Iowa was admitted into the Union, provided the people adopted the act, bounded as follows:
Beginning at the mouth of the Des Moines river, at the middle of the Mis- sissippi , thence by the middle of the channel of that river to a parallel of lati- tude passing through the mouth of the Mankato or Blue Earth river; thence west, along said parallel of latitude to a point where it is intersected by a me- ridian line seventeen degrees and thirty minutes west of the meridian of Wash- ington City; thence due south to the northern boundary line of the State of Missouri; thence easterly following that boundary line to the point at which the same intersects the Des Moines river; thence by the middle of the channel of that river to the place of beginning.
These boundaries, had they been accepted, would have placed the northern boundary of the State about thirty miles north of its present location, and would have deprived it of the Missouri slope and the boundary of that river. The western boundary would have been near the west line of what is now Kossuth county. But it was not so to be. In consequence of this radical and unwelcome change in the boundaries, the people refused to accept the act of Congress and rejected the constitution at the election, held August 4, 1845, by a vote of 7,656 to 7,235.
A second constitutional convention assembled at Iowa City on the 4th day of May, 1846, and on the 18th of the same month an- other Constitution for the new State with the present boundaries- was adopted and submitted to the people for ratification on the 3d day of August following, when it was accepted; 9,492 votes were cast "for the Constitution," and 9,036 "against the Constitution."
The Constitution was approved by Congress, and by act of Con- gress approved December 28, 1846, Iowa was admitted as a sover- eign State in the American Union.
Prior to this action of Congress, however, the people of the new State held an election under the new Constitution on the 26th day of October, and elected Oresel Briggs, Governor; Elisha Cutler, Jr., Secretary of State; Joseph T. Fales, Auditor; Morgan Reno, Treasurer, and members of the Senate and House of Represent- atives.
At this time there were twenty-seven organized counties in the State, with a population of nearly 100,000, and the frontier settlements were rapidly pushing toward the Missouri river. The Mormons had already reached there. .
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
The first General Assembly of the State of Iowa was composed of nineteen Senators and forty Representatives. It assembled at Iowa City November 30, 1840, about a month before the State was admitted into the Union.
At the first session of the State Legislature, the Treasurer of State reported that the capitol building was in a very exposed con- dition, liable to injury from storms, and expressed the hope that some provision would be made to complete it, at least sufficiently to protect it from the weather. The General Assembly responded by appropriating $2,500 for the completion of the public buildings. At the first session also arose the question of the re-location of the capital. The western boundary of the State, as now deter- mined, left Iowa City too far toward the eastern and southern boundary of the State; this was conceded. Congress had appro- priated five sections of land for the erection of public buildings, and toward the close of the session a bill was introduced provid- ing for the re-location of the seat of government, involving to some extent the location of the State University, which had al- ready been discussed. This bill gave rise to a deal of discussion and parliamentary maneuvering, almost purely sectional in its character. It provided for the 'appointment of three Commis- sioners, who were authorized to make a location as near the geo- graphical center of the State as a healthy and eligible site could be obtained; to select the five sections of land donated by Congress; to survey and plat into town lots not exceeding one section of the land so selected; to sell lots at public sale, not to exceed two in each block. Having done this, they were then required to sus- pend further operations, and make a report of their proceedings to the Governor. The bill passed both Houses by decisive votes, received the signature of the Governor and became a law. Soon after, by "An act to locate and establish a State University," ap- proved February 25th, 1847, the unfinished public buildings at Iowa City, together with the ten acres of land on which they were situated, were granted for the use of the University, reserving their use, however, by the General assembly and the State officers, until other provisions were made by law.
The commissioners forthwith entered upon their duties, and se- lected four sections and two half sections in Jasper county. Two of these sections are in what is now Des Moines Township, and the others in Fairview township, in the southern part of that county. These lands are situated between Prairie City and Mon- roe, on the Keokuk & Des Moines Railroad, which runs diagonally through them. Here a town was platted, called Monroe City, and a sale of lots took place. Four hundred and fifteen lots were sold at prices that were not considered remarkably remunerative. The cash payments (one-fourth) amounted to $1,797.43, while the ex- penses of the sale and the claims of the Commissioners for ser-
1
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
vices amounted to $2,206.57. The Commissioners made a report of their proceedings to the Governor, as required by law, but the location was generally condemned.
When the report of the Commissioners, showing this brilliant financial operation, had been read in the House of Representatives at the next session, and while it was under consideration, an indig- nant member, afterward known as the eccentric Judge McFar- land, moved to refer the report to a select committee of five, with instructions to report "how much of said city of Monroe was under water and how much was burned." The report was referred, without the instructions, however, but Monroe City never be- came the seat of government. By an act approved January 15, 1849, the law by which the location had been made was repealed and the new town was vacated, the money paid by purchasers of lots being refunded to them. This, of course, retained the seat of government at Iowa City, and precluded for the time, the occupa- tion of the building and grounds by the University.
At the same session $3,000 more were appropriated for complet- ing the State building at Iowa City. In 1852 the further sum of $5,000, and in 1854 $4,000 more were appropriated for the same purpose, making the whole cost $123,000, paid partly by the Gen- eral Government and partly by the State, but principally from the proceeds of the sale of lots in Iowa City.
But the question of the permanent location of the seat of gov- ernment was not settled; and in 1851 bills were introduced for the removal of the capital to Pella and to Fort Des Moines. The lat- ter appeared to have the support of the majority, but was finally lost in the House on the question of ordering it to its third read -. ing.
At the next session, in 1853, a bill was introduced in the Sen- ate for the removal of the seat of government to Fort Des Moines, and, on final vote, was just barely defeated. At the next session, however, the effort was more successful, and on the 15th day of January, 1855, a bill re-locating the capital within two miles of the Racoon Fork of the Des Moines, and for the appointment of Commissioners, was approved by Gov. Grimes. The site was se- lected in 1856, in accordance with the provisions of this act, the land being donated to the State by citizens and property-holders of Des Moines. An association of citizens erected a building for a temporary capitol, and leased it to the State at a nominal rent.
The third constitutional convention to revise the Constitution of the State assembled at Iowa City, January 19, 1857. The new constitution framed by this convention was submitted to the peo- ple at an election held August 3, 1857, when it was approved and adopted by a vote of 40,311 "for" to 38,681 "against," and on the 3rd day of September following was declared by a proclamation of the Governor to be the supreme law of the State of lowa.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Advised of the completion of the temporary State House at Des Moines, on the 19th of October following, Governor Grimes issued another 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 continued through the fall. It was an undertaking of no small magnitude; there was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the ·work, and the season was unusually disagreeable. Rain, snow, and other accompaniments 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 yoke of oxen, was deposited in the new capitol. It is not impru- dent now to remark that, during this passage over hills and prairies, across rivers, through bottom lands and timber, the safes belonging to the several departments contained large sums of money, mostly individual funds, however. Thus, Iowa City ceased to be the capital of the State, after four Territorial Legisla- tures, six State Legislatures and three Constitutional Conventions had held their sessions there. By the exchange, the old capitol at Iowa City became the seat of the University, and except the rooms occupied by the United States District Court, passed under the im- mediate and direct control of the trustees of that institution.
Des Moines was now the permanent seat of government, made so by the fundamental law of the State, and on the 11th day of January, 1858, the seventh General Assembly convened at the new capital. The building used for governmental purposes was purchased in 1864. It soon became inadequate for the purposes for which it Was designed, and it became apparent that a new, large and permanent State House must be erected. In 1870, the General Assembly made an appropriation, and provided for the ap- pointment of a Board of Commissioners to commence the work. The board consisted of Gov. Samuel Merrill, ex-officio President; Grenville M. Dodge, Council Bluffs; James F. Wilson, Fairfield; James Dawson, Washington; Simon G. Stein, Muscatine; James 0. Crosby, Gainsville; Charles Dudley, Agency City; John N. Dewey, Des Moines; William L. Joy, Sioux City; Alexander R. Fulton, Des Moines, Secretary.
The act of 1870 provided that-the building should be constructed of the best material and should be fire proof, to be heated and ven- tilated in the most approved manner; should contain suitable leg- islative halls, rooms for State officers, the judiciary, library, com- mittees, archives and the collections of the State Agricultural Society, and for all purposes of State Government, and should be erected on grounds held by the State for that purpose. The sum first appropriated was $150,000; and the law provided that no contract should be made, either for constructing or furnishing the building, which should bind the State for larger sums than those at the time appropriated. A design was drawn and plans and
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
specifications furnished by Cochrane & Piquenard, architects, which were accepted by the board, and on the 23d of November, 1871, the corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The estimated cost and present value of the capitol is fixed at $2,000,- 000.
From 1858 to 1860, the Sioux became troublesome in the north- western part of the State. These warlike Indians made frequent plundering raids upon the settlers, and murdered several families. In 1861, several companies of militia were ordered to that portion of the State to hunt down and punish the murderous thieves. No battles were fought, however, for the Indians fled when they as- certained that systematic and adequate measures had been adopted to protect the settlers.
"The year 1856 marked a new era in the history of Iowa. In 1854, the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad had been completed to the east bank of the Mississippi River, opposite Davenport. In 1854, the corner stone of a railroad bridge, that was to be the first to span the "Father of Waters," was laid with appropriate cere- monies at this point. St. Louis had resolved that the enterprise was unconstitutional, and by writs of injunction made an unsuc- cessful effort to prevent its completion. Twenty years later in her history, St. Louis repented her folly, and made atonement for her sin by imitating our example. On the first day of January, 1856, this railroad was completed to Iowa City. In the meantime, two other railroads had reached the east bank of the Mississippi-one opposite Burlington, and one opposite Dubuque-and these were being extended into the interior of the State. Indeed, four lines of railroad had been projected across the State from the Mississippi to the Missouri, having eastern connections. On the 15th of May, 1856, the Congress of the United States passed an act granting to the State, to aid in the construction of railroads, the public lands in alternate sections, six miles on either side of the proposed line. An extra session of the General Assembly was called in July of this year, that disposed of the grant to the several companies that proposed to complete these enterprises. The population of our State at this time had increased to 500,000. Public attention had been called to the necessity of a railroad across the continent. The position of Iowa, in the very heart and center of the Republic,on the route of this great highway across the continent, began to at- tract attention. Cities and towns sprang up through the State as if by magic. Capital began to pour into the State, and had it been employed in developing our vast coal measures and establishing manufactories among us, or if it had been expended in improving our lands, and building houses and barns, it would have been well. But all were in haste to get rich, and the spirit of speculation ruled the hour.
In the meantime every effort was made to help the speedy completion of the railroads. Nearly every county and city on the
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Mississippi, and many in the interior, voted large corporate sub- scriptions 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 municipalities tried to avoid upon the plea that they had exceeded the constitu- tional 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 judgments. These debts are not all paid even yet, but the worst is over and ultimately the burden will be entirely re- moved.
The first railroad across the State was completed to Council Bluffs in January, 1871. The others were completed soon after. In 1854 there was not a mile of railroad in the State. In 1874, twenty years after, there were 3,765 miles in successful opera- tion.
GROWTH AND PROGRESS.
When Wisconsin Territory was organized, in 1836, the entire population of that portion of the Territory now embraced in the State of Iowa was 10,531. The Territory then embraced two counties; Dubuque and Des Moines, erected by the Territory of Michigan, in 1834. From 1836 to 1838, the Territorial Legisla- lature of Wisconsin increased the number of counties to sixteen, and the population had increased to 22,859. Since then the coun- ties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population, in 1875, was 1,366,000. The following table will show the population at different periods since the erection of Iowa Territory:
Year.
Population.| Year.
Population.
1838
22,589 1859
638,775
1840
43,115 1860
674,913
1844
75,152 1863 701,732
1846
97,588 1865
754,699
1847
116,651 1867.
902,040
1849
152,988 1869.
1,040,819
1850
191,982 1870
1,191,727
1851
204,774 1873.
1,251,333
1852
230,713 1875
1,366,000
1853
326,013 1880
1,624,463
1856
519,055
The most populous county in the State is Dubuque. Not only in population, but in everything contributing to the growth and greatness of a State has Iowa made rapid progress. In a little more than thirty years, its wild but beautiful prairies have ad- vanced from the home of the savage to a highly civilized common- wealth, embracing all the elements of progress which character- ize the older States.
Thriving cities and towns dot its fair surface; an iron net-work of thousands of miles of railroads is woven over its broad acres; ten thousand school houses, in which more than five hundred
-
-
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
thousand children are being taught the rudiments of education, testify to the culture and liberality of the people; high schools, colleges and universities are generously endowed by the State; manufactories spring up on all her water courses, and in most of her cities and towns.
Whether measured from the date of her first settlement, her organization as a Territory, or admission as a State, Iowa has thus far shown a growth unsurpassed, in a similar period, by any con- monwealth on the face of the earth; and, with her vast extent of fertile soil, with her inexhaustible treasures of mineral wealth, with a healthful, invigorating climate; an intelligent, liberty-loving people; with equal, just and liberal laws, and her free schools, .the future of Iowa may be expected to surpass the most hopeful anticipations of her present citizens.
Looking upon Iowa as she is to-day-populous, prosperous and happy-it is hard to realize the wonderful changes that have oc- eurred since the first white settlements were made within her bor- ders. When the number of States was only twenty-six, and their total population about twenty millions, our republican form of gov- ernment was hardly more than an experiment, just fairly put upon trial. The development of our agricultural resources and .inex- haustible mineral wealth had hardly commenced. Westward the "Star of Empire" had scarcely started on its way. West of the great Mississippi was a mighty empire, but almost unknown, and marked on the maps of the period as "The Great American Des- ert."
Now, thirty-eight stars glitter on our national escutcheon, and fifty millions of people, who know their rights and dare maintain them, tread American soil, and the grand sisterhood of States extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, and from the rocky coast of the Atlantic to the golden shores of the Pacific.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND FARM. Ames, Story County.
The Iowa State Agricultural College and Farm were established by an act of the General Assembly, approved. March 22d, 1858. A Board of Trustees was appointed, consisting of Governor R. P. Lowe, John D. Wright, William Duane Wilson, M. W. Robinson. Timothy Day, Richard Gaines, John Pattee, G. W. F. Sherwin, Suel Foster, S. W. Henderson, Clement Coffin, and E. G. Day; the Governor of the State and President of the College being ex-officio members. Subsequently the number of Trustees was reduced to five. The Board met in June, 1859, and received propositions for the location of the College and Farm from Hardin, Polk, Story and Boone, Marshall, Jefferson and Tama counties. In July, the proposition of Story County and some of its citizens and by the
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
citizens of Boone County was accepted, and the farm and the site for the buildings were located. In 1860-61, the farm house and barn were erected. In 1862 Congress granted to the State 240,000 acres of land for the endowment of schools of agriculture and the mechanical arts, and 195,000 acres were located by Peter Melendy, Commissioner, in 1862-63. In 1864 the General As- sembly appropriated $20,000 for the erection of the college build- ing.
In June of that year the Building Committee proceeded to let the contract. The $20,000 appropriated by the General Assembly were expended in putting in the foundations and making the brick for the structure. An additional appropriation of $91,000 was made in 1866, and the building was completed in 1868.
Tuition in this college is made by law forever free to pupils from the State over sixteen years of age, who have been resident of the State six months previnous to their admission. Each county in the State has a previous right of tuition for three scholars from each county; the remainder, equal to the capacity of the college, are by the trustees distributed among the counties in proportion to the population, and subject to the above rule. All sale of ar- dent spirits, wine or beer, is prohibited by law within a distance of three miles from the college, except for sacramental, mechani- cal or medical purposes.
The course of instruction in the Agricultural College embraces the following branches: Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Botany, Horticulture, Fruit Growing, Forestry, Animal and Vegetable Anatomy, Geology, Mineralogy, Meteorology, Entomology, Zoology, the Veterinary Art, Plain Mensuration, Leveling, Sur- veying, Bookkeeping, and such Mechanical Arts as are directly connected with agriculture; also such other studies as the Trus- tees may, from time to time, prescribe, not inconsistent with the purposes of the institution. The funds arising from the lease and sale of lands, and interest on investments, are sufficient for the support of the institution.
The Board of Trustees, in 1881. was composed of Charles W. Tenney, Plymouth; George H. Wright, Sioux City; Henry G. Little, Grinnell; William McClintock, West Union; John N. Dixon, Oskaloosa. A. S. Welch, President of the Faculty, W. D. Lucas, Treasurer; E. W. Stanton, Secretary.
The Trustees are elected by the General Assembly, in joint convention, for four years, three being elected at one session and two the next.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY. Iowa City, Johnson County.
In the famous Ordinance of 1787, enacted by Congress before the Territory of the United States extended beyond the Missis- sippi River, it was declared that in all the territory northwest of
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
the Ohio River, "Schools and the means of education shall for- ever be encouraged." By act of Congress, approved July 20, 1840, the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized "to set apart and re- serve from sale, out of any of the public lands within the Terri- tory of Iowa, to which the Indian title has been or may be ex- tinguished, and not otherwise appropriated, a quantity of land, not exceeding the entire townships, for the use and support of a uni- versity within said Territory when it becomes a State, and for no other use or purpose whateverr; to be located in tracts of not less than an entire section, corresponding with any of the large divis- ions into which the public lands are authorized to be surveyed."
William W. Dodge, of Scott County, was appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury to make the selections. He selected Section 5, in Township 78, north of Range 3, east of the Fifth Principal Meridian, and then removed from the Territory. No more land were selected until 1846, when, at the request of the Assembly, John M. Whitaker, of Van Buren County, was ap- pointed, who selected the remainder of the grant except about 122 acres.
In the first Constitution, under which Iowa was admitted to the Union, the people directed the disposition of the proceeds of this munificent grant in accordance with its terms, and instructed the General Assembly to provide, as soon as may be, effectual means for the improvement and permanent security of the funds of the University derived from the lands.
The first General Assembly, by act approved February 25, 1847; established the "State University of Iowa" at Iowa City, then the Capital of the State, "with such other branches as public con- venience may hereafter require." The "public buildings at Iowa City, together with the ten acres of land in which they are sit- uated, were granted for the use of said University, provided. how- ever, that the sessions of the Legislature and State offices should be held in the capitol until otherwise provided by law. The con- trol and management of the University were committed to a Board of fifteen Trustees, to be appointed by the Legislature, five of whom were to be chosen biennially. The Superintendent of Public Instruction was made president of this Board. Provisions were made for the disposal of the two townships of land, and for the investment of the funds arising therefrom. The act further provides that the University shall never be under the exclusive control of any religious denomination whatever, and as soon as the revenue for the grant and donations amounts to $2,000 a year, the University should commence and continue the instruction, free of charge, of fifty students annually. The General Assem- bly retained full supervision over the University, it officers and the grants and donations made and to be made to it by the State.
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