USA > Iowa > Delaware County > History of Delaware County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 25
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
PAYS GLOWING TRIBUTE TO THE WOMEN
While the husband, father or brother was absent, the noble women of Dela- ware County were organized into aid societies. They held their meetings at each others' homes and there made various articles of convenience, stockings, handkerchiefs, pin and needle cushions, and also forwarded to the hospitals many useful articles of general use for the sick and wounded, confined in those places. And as they seraped the lint and rolled the bandages, they did not stop to think whose wounds those bandages would bind up, nor did they know what soldier might be benefited by them. But the hospital and other supplies were sent forward for the benefit of any person who might need them. No women were more patriotic or more self-sacrifieing than the noble women of Delaware County in the effort to alleviate the suffering of the boys in blue.
As the history of the many daring deeds and brilliant achievements of the boys in blue have been written up in the history of our state and nation, I will refer the reader to them. Although much has been written and the stories of those dark and gloomy days have been told by fathers to sons, there yet remains an untold history that would fill many a volume were it all written out. Many of the soldiers who went from Delaware County were sons of the early settlers. They were not only skilled in the use of firearms but were more used to an out- door life. To be deprived of the comforts of civil life and to endure the hard- ships and hunger incident to army life, they were better prepared to stand the privations to which they were subjected than they would have been had their boyhood days been spent in luxury. They were physically prepared for the conflict by the manner of life in which they had grown to manhood. History cannot tell. language eannot deseribe, nor words picture the mental suffering endured by the fathers, mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts of the boys in blue, while the dark clouds of grim visaged war hung over our country. The mails were watched and waited for. If one person got a letter the rest of the anxious inquirers were informed of its contents. The telegrams announce a great battle has been fought ; a week or ten days intervene before the papers can give a detailed report as to who has fallen in the contliet. The anxious wife and mother lives between hope and despair, not knowing what the news may be as to the safety of her loved ones. but in anxiety and grief waits pa- tiently, trusting in God that all is well.
RETURN OF THE GRAND AARMY
The volunteer soldiers at the close of the war returned to their homes, taking up the duties of life and citizenship where they had laid them down. They dropped into civil life without a ripple upon the surface and took an active part in the duties of rebuilding both our state and nation.
CHAPTER XVII
DELHI TOWNSHIP
Delhi Township was one of the first to be accorded politieal importance. having been organized March 24, 1847, and is congressional township 88, range 4. It lies in the second tier from the south and is bounded on the north by Oneida, on the east by North Fork, on the south by Union and on the west by Milo. The locality has contributed largely to the county's early history, which makes it of special interest not only to the people living within its confines, but to the county generally.
The land here is highly cultivated and the homes of the husbandmen are of the best. The same may be said of all improvements, that go to make the surroundings comfortable and a happy, contented people. The land is traversed by the Maquoketa, its tributaries and Plum Creek, which afford ample drain- age and water. This section of the county is well adapted to general farming and stock-raising.
The first settler. John W. Penn, came as early as the spring of 1838. He was a Virginian by birth, and in 1833, left the Old Dominion for the almost unknown west, stopping at Dubuque. Coming to Delaware County, he took up a claim in this township, on section 9, in a beautiful grove, which afterward became generally known and designated as Penn's Grove. In 1846, Mr. Pon married the widow of Drury R. Dance. The latter was treasurer of the county and in February. 1845, before the expiration of his term of office, was foully murdered. Penn was one of the prominent figures in Delaware's history, was one of her first county collectors, served ten years as sheriff and held other positions of trust.
John Corbin and wife came from Ohio over the trackless prairies to Delaware County in 1839, and settled in Delhi Township. At the time of his locating here. there were no actual settlements in this part of the county. He was an active. industrious man. and was highly respected. He died in 1883 and his widow survived him many years. A son, Doran S. Corbin, was born in his father's log cabin in 1850, and his farm, adjoining the Village of Delhi, was one of the finest in the county. JJohn W. Corbin, another son of John Corbin, was born in January. 1841. Ilis is credited as the third birth in the county. Ile served in the Civil war, married Augusta Plash in 1866, and served the county as sheriff from 1875 to 1877.
William H. Baker was a native of New York. His parents came to Delaware County in a very early day. The father was an able lawyer and died at his son's house in Delhi, in 1856.
Rheinard Kahmer left his adopted state of Illinois in 1839 and settled in Delhi Township when it was but a wilderness. At the age of forty-five years
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
he enlisted in the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-first lowa Infantry. Ife lived to see the county grow and prosper for over a half century.
Charles W. Hobbs was one of the early and chief factors in the settlement and organization of Delaware County. He settled near Gilbert D. Dillon's, in North Fork Township, in 1840. and in the following year he removed to Penn's Grove. This pioneer was born in Queen Annes County, Maryland, in 1805. From October, 1836, to October, 1837, he served as elerk in St. Louis and in the latter year went to Dubnque. Leaving Penn's Grove in the spring of 1841, he removed to Delhi Township and built a cabin on his land, just outside of the confines of Delhi. The stone chimney of this primitive home remains stand- ing as a landmark of the first habitation in that locality. In the year 1857 Mr. Hobbs left Delhi for Osage, where he served two and a half years as re- ceiver of the land office. The office was then abolished and he returned home. He was the first clerk of the District Court of Delaware County and also elerk of the Commissioners' Court, which position he held for seven years. Mr. Hobbs was also recorder of deeds one term, took the United States census for the county in 1860, was justice of the peace several years and also postmaster at Delhi.
Benjamin F. Moffatt settled on Plum Creek, east of Delhi, near Schwartz' place in 1840.
George and John Cutler built their cabins on land located between Moffatt's and Penn's Grove, and near them Moses Pennock settled at this time, which was the year 1840.
The Lindsay family, formerly of Eads' Grove, also located in this com- munity at this period.
In 1841 Simeon Phillips and his son, Fayette Phillips, settled near the Jake.
George Pease, with his family, consisting of wife, two sons and two daugh- ters, came to Delaware County in 1845 and entered a quarter section of land near Delhi but lived near Bailey's Ford. In Angust. Mrs. Pease died and was buried close beside the road, about a half mile east of Bailey's Ford. Soon after his wife's death Mr. Pease returned to the State of New York.
Charles F. Fleming was an early settler here. He was a native of Sweden. "a '49er" of the goldfields of California, and coming to this township, at one time was the possessor of over two thousand acres of land. When he first lo- cated here he built a steam grist mill on the banks of Silver Lake and afterward purchased the Rocky Nook Mill property on the Maquoketa.
Leonard Norris was among the earliest of the hardy land-seekers who came to this county in 1843. when but few white people had ventured into what was thought a wild and cheerless Eldorado. With his young wife he settled on section 14, entering the land and building a cabin thereon. This was his home for many years.
Isaac Smith moved from Ohio to Delaware County in 1847, eoming overland by wagon and carrying such household and other effects as could be conveniently carried by wagon. He settled in what was known as the Bay neighborhood in Delhi and Union townships. He was a member of the celebrated "Gray Beards," of the Thirty-seventh lowa Infantry. His son, Perry L. Smith, came with them, and in 1856 removed to Delhi, where he clerked in the dry-goods estab-
FURMAN'S MILL AND HARTWICK BRIDGE ON MAQUOKETA RIVER, NEAR DELHI
FLEMING MILL AT MAQUOKETA RIVER, NEAR DELHI
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
lishment of Elisha Brady five years. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fourteenth lowa Infantry and served until the close of the war.
Il. O. Hull, a native of Hlinois, came to Delaware County about 1849 and entered land in Delhi Township. At the time there were only a couple of small buildings where Delhi now stands. A son, Charles N. Hull, who became a prom- inent live stock dealer at Hopkinton, was born in Delhi Township in 1850.
Jeremiah B. Boggs came to Delaware County in 1850 and settled in this township. He was married to Catherine A. Black in 1861, served as deputy sheriff in 1857 and 1858, was elected sheriff in 1861, county judge in 1865 and allelitor in 1869.
Junius A. Griffin was born in New Hampshire and came to this county in 1851 with his father, who entered land on section 15.
George Tubbs was one of the pioneers of Delhi Township. He was a native of New York State, where he married Amy Swift, who came with him to the prairies of lowa in 1851 and settled in this township. For many years they lived on section 16.
Samuel Allison, Sr., who lived for many years on section 26, came to this township from Ohio in 1852. Ile soon thereafter returned to Ohio, where he married Rachel Bell, and then took up his residence here. He became one of the large landowners of this section.
Ethan S. Cowles was born in Massachusetts. He came to Delaware County in 1852. He soon thereafter went to Illinois and married Phebe Eddy in 1854. They settled in Delhi but in 1856 removed to Richland Township, where he entered land and was appointed the Campton postmaster in 1857. In 1877 Mr. Cowles became sheriff of the county and again took up his residence in Delhi, then the county seat.
Andrew Stone, one of the early settlers of this township, immigrated from the State of New York in the spring of 1854 and settled on section 9, Delhi Township. where he resided one year. He then removed to the Village of Delhi and served as justice of the peace, township trustee, director of the poor house and in other official capacities.
Benjamin Thorpe. Sr., was a native of Connecticut. He removed to New York and from there immigrated to lowa, settling in this township in 1855. In the following year he became a merchant in Delhi.
J. B. Swinburne was born in England and came to the United States in 1852. first settling in Illinois. In 1855 he located in Delhi and in 1859 went into the printing office of the Delaware County Journal, then under the editor- ship of .I. L. MeCreery. In later years he worked on the Dubugne Times and the Delaware County I'nion at Manchester. He took charge of the Delaware County Recorder at Delhi in 1872, and in the fall of that year bought the Recorder, changing its name to the Delhi Monitor. He is still a resident of Delhi and was elected mayor of the village at the time of its second incorpora- tion in 1909.
One of the pioneers of Delaware County was George Wattson, who came from Michigan in 1856 and settled near Delhi.
Elisha M. White, a New Yorker by birth, settled in this township in 1856. The following year he married Betsy Tubbs, daughter of George Tubbs.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
DELIII-THE FIRST COUNTY SEAT
The acquisition of the land on which Delhi stands was by entry from the Government by the county. details of which have been given in a former chap- ter, together with a relation of the difficulties encountered by the Commission- ers' Court in raising sufficient funds to pay the price of the land-the sum of $200. However, after Delhi had been chosen the seat of government, Joel Bailey. county surveyor, in March, 1842, assisted by Charles W. Hobbs and Fayette Phillips, ehainmen, and John W. Penn, stakeman, surveyed and platted the town site, but the plat for reasons heretofore mentioned, was not recorded until March 31. 1846. The land selected lies on section 17, Delhi Township, and the town was named Delhi by order of the Commissioners' Court.
As will be seen elsewhere in this volume, the first building erected in Delhi was a log cabin-like structure, built by the settlers for a courthouse, on the southeast corner of the quarter section. This was the only house on the town site until the county secured title to the land on which it was situated. Close by, however, but on a contiguous quarter seetion, was the cabin of Charles W. Ilobbs. No other improvements were made in the proposed town until 1846, when the county was enabled to sell lots and give good titles thereto, but in that year several lots were sold. upon which log structures were erected. The first to be put up was a cabin by Levi Ellis, and the second by John W. Clark. The latter's ernde habitation was built near the "Big Spring, " which was the first and only cabin in the town until 1851. William Phillips built a log structure in the place about this time. Along abont 1847. Arial K. Eaton, who became one of the prominent lawyers and business men of Delhi, built another near the southwest corner of the town. It might be here stated that the town lots were offered at $5 each. but not many of them were sold even at that price until 1851. when a new spirit seemed to have taken possession of the place and its advancement was accelerated. Probably the incentive to this new departure might have been attributed to the earnest and enterprising efforts of Frederick B. Doolittle and others, who took up their residence here at this time, or a little later.
One of the most active leaders in the affairs of Delaware County for over a half century was F. B. Doolittle, a native of New York State, who left the scenes of his boyhood for the forests of Michigan. In the fall of 1849 he set out and came to Delhi, Delaware County, and after viewing the country. con- cluded to settle bere. He then went back to Michigan, made arrangements for a permanent settlement and returned in the spring of 1850 with about three hundred dollars. The first summer he worked on farms at 50 cents a day and in the meantime made preparations and later started the Silver Lake Nursery. He introduced many valuable varieties of fruit, inspired settlers to cultivate all the hardy kinds and published a pamphlet on fruit culture, which was copied extensively in horticultural and agricultural reports. The remained in the nursery business some fifteen years, giving employment to a large num- ber of men, and then located in Delhi, where he fountl a field in real-estate dealings and continued in that vocation until he acquired for himself at one time over two thousand acres of land. Judge Doolittle built one of the finest residenees in the county, on the banks of Silver Lake, and was a prominent
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
figure among the men who organized a company to build a railroad to Delhi. HIe did effectual work in organizing the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad Com- pany, also the Delaware County Construction Company, for the purpose of building the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad through Delaware County-a dis- tance of thirty miles. He was elected treasurer of the company and general manager to manage its business. He was the founder and laid out the Town of Delaware in this county and indneed the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad to make its crossing at that place. Ile was elected judge of Delaware County in April, 1855, to fill a vacaney and afterward was reelected for the full term. He was the first United States revenne collector in Delaware County and held the office five years. He died a short time ago.
One of the first industries established in Delhi was a blacksmith shop by one Mitchell, who located in the place in 1849.
Daniel Baker built the old lowa House in 1851, on a lot donated for the purpose by Frederick B. Doolittle, who had, in connection with William Price, helped to hew the timber for the log courthouse and taken his pay in town lots at $5 each.
The "Blue Store" was opened by Thomas Hehn, on a lot donated by F. B. Doolittle, and several other buildings were erected that year, even though some of the lots had advanced to the high ( ?) price of $25. For several years there- after the town grew and by 1856 it was an active, thriving, industrious trad- ing point. In the meantime, in 1853, the new courthouse had been completed. The Harding Hotel was also built that year and for two years thereafter a steady advance was in evidence on every hand. G. W. Ashburn became land- lord of the Harding House, and he had all that he could do to provide a place to sleep for his many guests. But the swerving of the Dubuque & Pacific
Illinois Central) Railroad three miles north from town and the financial dis- tress of 1857 dealt such serious blows to the prosperity of Delhi, that it never recovered from the results, although it secured railroad facilities in the build- ing of the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad through the place in 1872. But the effect thereof was of no lasting benefit.
DELIN IS INCORPORATED
Upon petition of a number of the citizens of Delhi, JJudge Benson, of the County Court, in December, 1854, ordered that an election be held January 15. 1855, to decide the question as to whether or not the town should be incor- porated, and appointed William F. Tanner, William Phillips and George Shel- don judges; C. W. Hobbs and S. F. Parker, elerks of the election. Thirty- seven votes were east for the measure and none against. The court then ap- pointed January 27, 1855, as the day on which the citizens were to select by their vote five persons to prepare a charter for the government of the town. On that day Arial K. Eaton, James Wright, W. K. Griffin, Daniel Baker and S. F. Parker were elected. The charter as prepared was by order of the court submitted to a vote of the electorate February 28th, and was accepted by unanimous vote of twenty-eight. The charter is herewith given verbatum, be- cause of the unusual history connected with it. Few towns have permitted their charters to lapse through nonuse of the privileges therein granted.
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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
"CHARTER FOR INCORPORATING THE TOWN OF DELHI, DELAWARE CO., IOWA.'
"See. 1st .-- Be it ordained and established by the People of the Town of Delhi Delaware County State of lowa with the sanction of the majority of the votes of a public Election held in said Town for that purpos
"That the South East quarter of section seventeen in Township Ss. North of Range Four West of fifth pr. mr. in Delaware Co. State of Towa, be, and the same is hereby declared a Town Corporate by the name and style of the Town of Delhi. And its Inhabitants are hereby created a body corporate and politie by said name, and by that name shall have perpetual succession and shall have and use a common seat which they may alter and change at pleasure.
"See. 2d .- When any tract of land adjoining the Town of Delhi shall have been, or shall hereafter be laid out into town lots and duly recorded. the same may by a majority of the Votes cast at any regularly notitied meeting be annexed to said town and form a part of it.
"Sec. 3 .- Said Charter shall take effect and the said Town shall berome duly incorporated on the first day of March A. D. 1855.
"See. 4th .- The inhabitants of said town by the name and stile afforesaid shall have power to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded. answer and be answered and to defend and be defended in all courts in law and equity and in all actions whatsoever, to purchaise receive and hold property Real Personal & Mixed for the use of said town and to sell lease improve and protect the same
"See. 5th .- There shall be a local Legislature or board of Trustees to con- sist of a President and Five Trustees who shall be elected on the second Monday of March 1855 and each year there after who shall hold their office for One year and untill their successors are duly Elected & qualified
"There shall be elected at the same time and place One Treasurer One Recorder and One Assessor who shall hold their office for the firm of one year and untill their successors are Elected and qualified. The Treasurer shall give bonds to be approved by the president. And all Officers herein specified before entiring upon the duties of his station shall qualify by giving bonds ( when required so to do). And takeing the usenal Oath of Office
"Sec. 6 .- If at any time the board of trustees shall think it necessary to change this Charter, they shall give public Notice of said proposed alteration, then said alteration shall become a part of this charter. Alterations to this charter may allso be submited to the people, upon the petition of one half of the Voters in the town and the conenrance of three of the trustees, and desided as above specified
"Sec. 7 .- The board of trustees is hereby invested with power to divide said town into wards, and change the same from time to time as them may deam advisable And fix the member of trustees to which each ward shall be entitled to
"See. S .- A majority of the board shall constitute a quoram, And said board shall be the Judge of the Election & qualifications of its member, Determin the rutes of its proceedings and cause a record to be kept & preserved of the Same
"See. 9 .- The President shall preside at all meeting of the Board of trus- tees, when present and shall have no Vote except when there is a tie, when he
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IHISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY
shall have the Casting Vote, in the absence or inability of the President to aet the Board shall appoint one of their number President pro tem, who shall dis- charge the duties & exercise the powers of the president during the Absence or Inability of that Officer to act. It shall be the duties of the President to sey that the laws & ordinances are faithfully Exeented Sign all Warrants For the collection of taxes draw all orders on the Treasurer, Certify all necessary pro- ceding under the Seal of said town of which he shall be the keeper
"Sec. 10 .- The board shall hold a meeting within ten days after their elec- tion at which time when so conveined they may appoint such other officers as they shall deam necessary, preseribe by Ordinance their duties, terms of office . and Compensation and require from them the proper bonds to approved by the president
"Sec. 11 .- Ordinances passed by the board shall be signed by the presiding officer & attested by the recorder and shall be posted up in three or more public places in the town or published Once in some News paper, published in said town at least 10 days prior to taking effect. they shall also be recorded in a book kept for that purpos and attested by the Presiding officers & recorder
"See. 12 .- It is the duty of the Recorder to keep a true record of all the official procedings of the board, which record shall be at all times subject to the inspection of the publie and shall perform all such duties as may be ro- quired of him by Ordinance
"See. 13 .- It is the duty of the Treasurer to receive all Moneys payable to the Corporation, and to disburse the same on Orders drawn by the President sealed with his seal, and Attested by the Recorder and to keep a true account of All receipts and disbursements and hold the same at all times ready for the inspection of the Board. And shall make a statement of the finances of the corporation in the Month of February each year, which shall be plaised on Record. And a copy of the same posted in three public places in sad Corpora- tion at least one week prior to the Anual Election. And perform all other duties that may be required of him by Ordinance.
"See. 11 .- The board of trustees is here-by invested with authority to make and establish such by laws and Ordinances as are necessary and proper for the good regulations Safety health & cleanliness of the town and the citizens thereof to leavy and collect taxes on all property within the limits of the corporation which by the laws of the state is not for all purposes exemp from taxation, which tax must not exceed One pr cent per annum on the assessed Valuation thereof And its collection of State & County taxes, to establish a grade and regulate and improve the side walks Alleys & Streets, to change the grade. Make compensation to any person injured thereby, to provide drains sewers publie Wells and such other hydraulic aparatus as they may deam necessary for the convenience of the town, and keep the same in repair to regulate Mar- kets, but not in such a maner as to prevent any person from selling the produce of his own farm in such a manner and quantity as he may deem proper. to licence and regulate or prohibit All shows or publie exhibitions (if the lawes of the state are thereby not interfeared with) To provide against fires breaches of the peace gambling disorderly And indecent houses and conduct, and to make any other Ordinance, suitable and proper poliece regulations
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