USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 11
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The board of supervisors for 1876 consisted of the following members : Robert Hope, chairman ; Robert Bell; J. D. Jones; Levy Bishop; and Cornelius C. Green. L. Cornwell was treasurer and A. D. Molony auditor; N. F. Smith. superintendent; William Iseminger, coroner; A. C. Smith, sheriff; with W. J. McAhren and J. G. Smith deputies; G. W. Heston, surveyor; and Josiah Mc- Henry is noted as the first mayor of Vail. The herd law had been submitted at the October election, 1875, but for some reason the result was not properly entered and advertised. The new board refused to legalize and to quote from their minutes: "We leave the matter at the mercy of the people." In June the law was ordered submitted and also the question of a county poor farm.
As showing the growth of the county we may say that the school census gave the number of children of school age as 2,377. Denison township had most, with 426, and Charter Oak the least, having but 27.
In the year 1876 the county was stirred literally to its very depths by a search for coal. A certain gentleman by the name of W. P. Fox, who evidently did not belie his name, came to the county and professed to believe that there were large bodies of coal to be found in paying quantities and at not an ex- ceeding depth. Reports which he published in the Denison papers at that time were most flattering and were a queer admixture of alluring bombast and scien- tific jargon. Professor Fox made what was supposed to be a geological survey of the county and in his published report he prophesied that coal would be found in numerous places, but said the most flattering prospects were on the Molony farm, about one mile from Denison. Mr. Fox submitted the following proposition to the board: "In order to back up my judgment as regards the local deposits of coal in this county I am willing and anxious to sink one hole
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at least to test the coal. If your honorable body will pay hired help every Saturday night I will see that the hole is put down forthwith. Foreman's pay will be three dollars a day, including drilling tools, etc., you can employ your other men to work under my foreman to suit yourselves, and if this hole proves a success then I will leave it to your own generosity what pay I shall have. All I ask is for my board to be paid when here on duty. If only one hole is sunk, I would recommend the one on section 12, Denison township."
The board accepted this proposition and C. Green was authorized to "hire help to bore hole and to have general supervision of same, to depth of two hundred and seventy-five feet." The work was pushed with vigor and on October 25 the Review states: "At present writing the hole being drilled for coal on Mr. Molony's place has reached a depth of one hundred feet. The drillers state that they would have been down over two hundred feet had not the sand and gravel drifted in on them, to remedy which they had to tube the hole with boards, which delayed the process of drilling." On September 20th of the same year the Review strikes the following despairing note: "China or coal has ceased to be the motto of the county coal miners. At two hundred and twenty-five feet they struck quicksand, which we are told is an unfavorable symptom. We are sorry that this investment did not turn out better-par- ticularly as the shaft was sunk on A. D. Molony's land. The coal question of Crawford county may be regarded as being settled for some years at least."
By this time Crawford had become the sixty-eighth county in Iowa in point of population, and the November election showed a very respectable vote. The canvass shows the following results: For president, Hayes, 1,043; Tilden, 638; clerk, W. S. Wilson, 1,105; Thomas Rasp, 583; recorder, J. D. Poitevin, 900; Nick Miller, 766; supervisors, Robert Hope, 1,023; Robert Bell, 663; W. W. Jackson, 1,008; Henry Stamer, 657; for herd law, 817; against, 344; for poor farm, 459; against, 535. The board of supervisors in 1877, therefore, consisted of Robert Hope, chairman; J. D. Jones, Harvey Bishop, C. Green and W. W. Jackson. The value of lands continued to rise and for the first time we note that prairie land is apportioned as being more valuable than timber land. The school census showed a total of 2,884. The prices of land as reported by the assessors of the different townships varied from four dollars, seventeen cents per acre in Soldier to six dollars and nine cents in Hayes. This year, 1877, Mr. J. Fred Meyers was appointed to represent this county at a meeting of the state board of equalization to be held at Des Moines.
Very little of importance was recorded during this year or in the year 1878, until on May 8th a special session of the board of supervisors was called to take measures for the relief of tornado sufferers in Hanover, Otter Creek and Stockholm townships. The story of this fearful visitation, the loss of life and the devastation of many happy homes, will be told in another chapter. But something of the magnitude of the disaster is shown by the following record of claims allowed and appropriations made in behalf of the sufferers. "Claim of Bond Brothers for coffins, bedsteads, chairs and table for Zage, Marquardt, Larsen and Nelson families, tornado sufferers, Otter Creek township, fifty-seven dollars, fifty cents. E. S. Plimpton, medicine furnished children of John Lar- sen, Otter Creek township, deceased by tornado, twenty-two dollars, six cents." Vol. I-7
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Further items for clothing and merchandise furnished totaled three hundred forty-nine dollars, forty cents, in addition to which we find medical services, thirty dollars; medical fees, tornado sufferers, twenty-eight dollars ; inquest over body of Algo Zage, twelve dollars, sixty-five cents; inquest, body of Fritz Zage, eleven dollars, forty-five cents; inquest, Anna Carlson, thirty-two dollars, fif- teen cents; relief of tornado sufferers one hundred and ten dollars; nursing tornado sufferers, fifteen dollars; coffin for N. Molfer, twelve dollars." Again in October "twenty dollars for the relief of tornado sufferers." This was the greatest calamity that ever befell the county and we are glad to know that both as a county government and as individuals the people rose to the emergency with quick and ample relief.
In 1879 the board consisted of Robert Hope, chairman; W. W. Jackson, Henry Van De Vere, Clark Winans and A. McMartin. The auditor made a special report of the financial expenditures of the county, which were as fol- lows: "General, $11,158.79; courts; $5,119.27; poor, $2,423.16; tornado suf- ferers, $589.40; swamp land, J. W. Denison, $2,998.80; Glenwood Asylum, $13.27." Under general expense the premiums on wild animals amounted to $265.24. The swamp land expenditure was made up as follows: Judgment, $2,637.80 ; attorneys, $200.00 ; costs, $161.00; total, $2,998.80. Auditor Molony further states that "during fourteen years the permanent school fund has not lost one cent, either principal or interest."
In the election of 1878 the board was authorized to purchase a county farm. In pursuance of this election one hundred and sixty acres were purchased from D. R. Gillette at fifteen dollars per acre. Messrs. Hope and Van De Vere were appointed to visit Marshall and Boone counties and investigate poor farms and purchase lumber for poorhouse. They were also instructed to construct neces- sary bridges on the farm and to make arrangements for cultivation. By July, 1879, all paupers were notified that poorhouse was ready and that outside aid would thereafter be refused. This latter order, however, was never made ef- fective. It was in this same year that Denison first made provision for fire protection and the board donated the use of the southeast corner of the court- house square on which to erect a building for fire purposes. In July, 1879, we have the first note of the election of a county physician in the person of Dr. W. W. Holmes.
The county started the year 1880 with the board of supervisors composed of Henry Van De Vere, Clark Winans, A. McMartin, J. P. Miller, and M. Smith, who was chairman. The financial statement for 1879 showed that the total expenditures for the poor farm building and equipment was $11,603.00. The number of school children had increased to 3,727. The rate of interest on school loans was reduced from ten per cent to eight per cent. The herd law was again submitted.
In 1881, August Schultz succeeded Henry Van De Vere on the board by election, and J. P. Fitch succeeded by appointment to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of M. Smith, who had been elected recorder. In this year, 1881, was the first time that a German paper was recognized as one of the official papers of the county. This year was also characterized by the com- mencement of a county jail. In answer to a petition, J. P. Fitch, chairman of
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the board, answered that there were no county funds available and recommended a tax levy of one mill. From Shelby county it was learned that the probable cost would be about eight thousand, five hundred dollars; in October of the same year J. P. Miller was authorized by the board to purchase a steel or iron cage for jail purposes and to erect a suitable building to contain the same in the town of Denison.
In 1882 the members of the board were J. P. Miller, chairman; Robert Hope, Charles J. Johnson, August Schultz, and Morris Chambers. Messrs. Chambers and Johnson were ordered to report as to the advisability of the erection of a jail the cost not to exceed five thousand dollars, and in April they reported adversely. The county records are given something of a wild west flavor at this time by the allowance of a claim to J. D. Jones for conveying "Cayuse Bill" to Council Bluffs.
The year 1882 was memorable on account of the statewide special election on the prohibitory amendment. Although it carried in the state it was lost in this county, the vote being 958 for and 977 against. In the general election following, Crawford for the first time in many years, in fact for the first time after the war, gave a majority against the republican party. It was in 1882 that the first of the little frame additions to the courthouse, familiarly known as "the warts" were authorized.
The board of supervisors in 1883 consisted of August Schultz, chairman; C. J. Johnson, Morris Chambers, C. P. Harvey, and C. H. Evers. At this first session West Side township was divided into two voting precincts, the west half to be called the Vail precinct and the east half to be called the West Side pre- cinct. It was in April of this year that we find first mention of "Kate Molony," as deputy auditor. In spite of the bad luck of former years the search for coal was not entirely abandoned, and a reward of one thousand dollars was offered by the county for the discovery of coal in paying quantities. So far as we know, this reward has never been claimed and is still outstanding. In June, 1883, Dr. W. T. Wright succeeded Dr. Holmes as county physician.
Among the county officers in 1884 were A. D. Molony, auditor; E. M. Ainsworth, superintendent; John Seemann, sheriff; Kate Molony, deputy au- ditor; Henry Bell, deputy sheriff ; Morris McHenry, surveyor; Henry Grone- meyer, deputy sheriff; Lily V. Heston, deputy clerk; and John B. Poitevin, treasurer. Conner & Shaw were employed as county attorneys for the year 1884. It was in this year also that the public platform where so many of our Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations were held, was erected. The main line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad went through the southern part of the county in 1883 and Astor gave promise of being one of the important towns of the county. It was in recognition of this that the road known as the Denison & Astor Short Cut Road was established. In 1884 a violent hailstorm visited Union and Washington townships and the board found it just to remit the taxes of hailstorm sufferers in proportion to their losses. These ran all the way from total loss to a slight percentage.
In 1885 the board remained the same as in the year previous. N. J. Wheeler was clerk of the district court, and in January the resignation of County Treasurer John B. Poitevin was tendered and accepted. Mr. Poitevin
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stated that the new law placed added duties upon the treasurer without added compensation, and he did not wish to continue in the office. After several ballots D. O. Johnson was elected treasurer by the board. The question of the erection of a jail was submitted to the people in 1884, and in February, 1885, the contracts were let to P. J. Pauly & Brothers, of St. Louis, for a total of ten thousand dollars, and the site of the jail was fixed at ninety-one feet north of the courthouse. In the summer of 1885 there was another severe hailstorm in Morgan, Soldier, Hanover and Goodrich townships. The question of af- fording relief by the remission of taxes became a serious matter when the de- vastating storms came so frequently, and the question of affording relief was submitted at the general election, when it was not carried.
W. A. Davie was the only new member of the board in 1886. By 1887 the appraised valuation of lands had increased materially and all lands were as- sessed at from four dollars to twenty dollars per acre. It was at this time that the branch line of the Milwaukee was built, the first indirect mention in the annals of the board being the establishment of the Kenwood road in Septem- ber, 1887. Having been elected a member of the legislature, W. A. Davie re- signed as a member of the board of supervisors, and J. F. Wiley was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy. On the following day, however, Mr. Wiley's ap- pointment was withdrawn and L. Cornwell was appointed.
The opening of the year 1888 was a memorable time in our county history for it marked the close of the career of Andrew D. Molony, for many years one of the best beloved of our citizens. Mr. Molony had, as we have before stated, been the main prop of our county government for a quarter of a cen- tury. He grew old and feeble in the service and during the last years his con- nection with the auditor's office was merely nominal, its business being in the hands of his capable daughter, known then to all the county as Kate Molony. It had become almost a tradition with the democratic party of the county to nominate A. D. Molony for auditor every two years, and it had become almost equally traditional for the people to elect him by handsome majorities. Politics is no respecter of persons, nor of age or infirmity, and the demand of active and younger democrats of the county for this nomination finally became too strong to be resisted and Mr. Allen, agent of the Northwestern at West Side, was nominated by the democratic party after a bitter convention fight. The republican nominee was Mr. N. L. Hunt, then of Deloit, and he was pledged to the retention of Miss Molony as his deputy. The campaign was fought along these lines, and Mr. Hunt was successful by fifty majority. While this was a vindication for Mr. Molony and his friends it nevertheless left him without official position. It was therefore with sadness that his friends saw the Ist day of January approach when he should abdicate the position which he had held so long. He often stated to his friends that he had hoped to die while still in the service of the county. Although large sums of money had passed through his hands and he had been in a position for many years where he could have benefited himself without injury to the county, Mr. Molony's hon- esty and generosity had kept him comparatively a poor man. This fact, to- gether with the excitement of a hard fought campaign in which he was greatly interested, hastened his physical decay and in the last days of December it be-
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came known that he was seriously ill. The first day of January fell on Sun- day, and therefore the turning over of the county offices could not take place until the following day. It was on the Ist day of January, 1888, that Andy Molony died, and thus by the hand of an all wise Providence his last wish, that he might die in the service of the county, was fulfilled. We believe that Mr. Molony held a place in the affections of the people of this county which has been taken by no other man, and we therefore believe that it will be proper at this place to give a brief account of his life, and of the gloom which fell upon this county at his death.
Mr. Molony was born in Queens county, Ireland, in 1819. He came to the United States in 1836. At Lexington, Kentucky, he was married on April 20, 1854, to Miss Bridget Sheeran, with whom he lived thirty-four years, and who now survive him. He came to Crawford county in 1861 and the same year was appointed clerk of the board of supervisors to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Purdy. For eleven years, down to 1874, he held the offices. of both auditor and county clerk; being in the canvass each year. His indorse- ment thus often by the people was a high certificate to his sterling traits of character and his integrity as an official. During his term of office he handled some eighty-three thousand dollars worth of the permanent school fund, which he loaned in such a manner that no losses came to the county and the interest on the same was a material aid to the school fund.
The Catholic church at Denison was filled to overflowing with those who wished to show respect to Mr. Molony. The services were conducted by Rev. M. J. Farrelly of Denison, and Rev. B. C. Lenihan, of Boone. The former priest made the remarks at the church. He spoke in most eulogistic terms of the departed, as a member of the Catholic church, a citizen, a husband and a father. He said he came from one of the best and purest Catholic families, his brother having been a most respected priest. His long tenure in office showed that as a citizen he was highly indorsed by the people of the county. As a husband he had been most kind and tender, and as a father had reared a family of children whose virtues were extolled on every hand. The follow- ing citizens were selected as pall bearers: S. E. Dow, E. Howorth, Morris Mc- Henry, Robert Hope, Robert Bell, and L. Cornwell. The assistant bearers were Tracy Chapman, August Schultz, C. J. Johnson, Thomas Griffin, Michael Haley and Joseph Brogden.
Speaking editorially of Mr. Molony, his friend, J. Fred Meyers said in the Denison Review the week before Mr. Molony's death :
"Mr. Molony is, therefore, the only auditor Crawford county has ever had. He was elected for the office during the long period down to 1883, when the republicans had a majority of from two hundred to six hundred, often run- ning ahead of his ticket from four hundred to six hundred votes. At the last and final election Mr. Molony was chosen unanimously-the republicans de- clining to make a nomination against him. Nearly four years ago his health began to fail and for the past two years he has been auditor in name only. He was twice stricken with paralysis and is unable to converse freely, though he is perfectly conscious and recognizes his friends. Miss Kate Molony became
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deputy auditor some four years since and took up his work. Aided by her sisters in the clerical duties, she has for the past two years been the head of the office. Many citizens, without regard to party, would have been glad to elect her in her father's place and would have voted for her had they had the opportunity. If Uncle Andy is not rich today it is owing to the boundless liberality in his days of health and to his inability to say 'No' when asked to loan money or to go on the bonds of others.
"May the peace that comes from a clear conscience, the joy which comes from the administration of an affectionate family, the hope which is fed by the consolation of religion, and the resignation which comes from long suffering, abide with him on his bed of pain and may the mercy of the Infinite, with sins pardoned and burned out by suffering, place him among those of whom it is said : 'Well done, good and faithful servant.'"
The county was plunged in greatest grief by the news of Mr. Molony's death and the funeral was notable as the largest that has ever been held in Crawford county. The board of supervisors appointed Mr. August Schultz and Mr. O. M. Criswell as a committee to draft resolutions expressive of the sympathy of the board, and the following were adopted :
Whereas, it has pleased a Divine Providence to remove by death from our midst Auditor A. D. Molony, who has been for twenty-seven years the sec- retary of this board and a faithful official, again and again indorsed by the people for his fidelity,
Resolved, That by the death of Auditor A. D. Molony Crawford county has lost one of its oldest pioneers, who shared with the earliest settlers the incon- veniences and privations of pioneer life, a faithful official and warm friend, a worthy citizen of exemplary hospitality to all classes, and of great liberality to the poor,
Resolved, That we share the sorrow of the family in its bereavement, and in testimony of our sympathy it is ordered that this resolution be spread upon the minute book of this board, and that an engrossed copy thereof be trans- mitted to Mrs. A. D. Molony.
Resolved, That in further testimony of our respect this board will attend the funeral of the deceased in a body on next Wednesday, January 4th, and will adjourn until Thursday morning, January 5, 1888.
These years were prosperous ones for Crawford county. The main line of the Milwaukee had been completed and later the Sioux City branch of the Mil- waukee had been constructed. The total railroad mileage of the county in April, 1888, is given as forty-six and ninety-eight one hundredth miles. The number of school children in the county was 5,976. Manilla and Char- ter Oak had become thriving towns, Manilla having a school census in 1888 of 213. The expense of county government for the year 1888 was about forty- three thousand dollars. It was in 1889 that the first real efforts were made toward the erection of a new courthouse and the proposition was submitted and defeated at a special election held on August 27th.
In 1892 the Australian ballot was used for the first time. This law created much confusion at first and in 1893 the poll boxes of Union and Charter Oak
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townships were rejected, not having been signed by clerks and judges of elec- tion.
In 1893 we find the first mention of the name of John T. Carey as deputy treasurer, thus commencing an official career which in some capacity has con- tinued almost without interruption to the present day. In 1894 the statewide prohibitory law was amended by the additions of the mulct tax provisions, and the first petition under this new law was circulated with success in June, of 1894. 1893 witnessed the establishment of the soldier's relief commission, of which George L. Wright, L. F. Morris and Isaac Gillmor were the first mem- bers, Mr. Morris still holding a position on that board.
We leave to another chapter the political history of the county and the re- sults of elections, noting, however, that in November, 1895, Mr. Charles Wenzel resigned as a member of the board and Mr. F. O. Ivens served for a short time in his place.
By the year 1900 the branch lines of the Northwestern and the Omaha ex- tension of the Illinois Central had been completed and the total railroad mileage in the county was increased to one hundred, fifty-six and twenty-six one- hundredth miles, this being the last railroad building in the county excepting a short distance traversed by the Chicago & Great Western in its line from Carroll to Omaha.
In 1900 the courthouse question was again submitted and again rejected by the people. During this year two places were filled by appointment, John Holland being appointed supervisor vice John White, deceased; and H. H. Klinker being appointed coroner vice M. N. Smith, resigned. The new election law took effect in this year and caused some confusion as to the expiration of terms of office. Mr. George W. Langley claimed his seat as a member of the board of supervisors on the ground that the term had been continued under the new law. This claim was not allowed and Mr. William Flaherty, who had been elected, was seated. In order to prevent any misunderstanding, Mr. Carey, who was auditor, tendered his resignation and M. J. Collins, who had been elected, was appointed.
The minutes of the board for the next two years show only routine busi- ness. On March 20, 1902, J. G. Smith resigned from the board after serving less than three months, and Mr. Charles Dugan was appointed in his stead. In June of 1902 the courthouse proposition was ordered again submitted. The election was held with the regular election in November and was carried by a vote of 2,165 for to 1,697 against. During 1902 and the preceding years, there had been a number of serious criminal offenses at or near the town of Arion which, being at the junction of three roads, became a convenient way station for vagabonds and criminals. The crimes committed ran all the way from dis- orderly conduct to hold-ups and murder, and in order to preserve the peace a special deputy sheriff was appointed to reside at Arion. This office was con- tinued until January, 1908.
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