USA > Iowa > Des Moines County > History of Des Moines County, Iowa, Volume I > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
83
B
Blair, M. W., May 9, 1836 Brown, William, Nov. 19, 1834 Bolick, David Bennett, Herman C.
Blair, Thomas, 1834 Blair, David E., 1834 Beal, Charles
Brown, Bryant
Boyd, William
Bridges, John
Bridges, Solomon, 1834 Blanchard, Ezekiel, 1835
Beeler, George II. Bridges, John Black, Alexander
Ballard, John, 1836
Berry, W. C., 1835
Bane, William, 1836
Brown, Morton, 1836 Blake, Frances, 1836
Ballard, John, 1833
Berryman Jenkins, 1833
Bercht, Frances T., 1833 Bercht, Mrs. Frances T., 1833
C
Cooper, Thomas Cook, George W. Carter, William
Cameron, James
Chapman, William W.
Carter, Job, 1834 . . Carter, Joe, 1834 Chreighton, W. H., 1835 Cartwright, Rev. Daniel, 1836
D
David, Barton B., Aug., 1836 David, John S., May, 1835 Donnell, Jonathan, June 1, 1834 Dorn, Paul, Nov., 1836 Duval, D. J., 1835
Driskell, Angello, 1835 Dovell, Thomas, 1833 Doolittle, Amzi, 1833 Delashmutt, E. N., 1834
English, L. N. Edmonson, Mathew Eoff, John L.
E
Enocks, Samuel D. Elliott, Allen
F
Farris, Jonathan Funk, John Adam, 1836 Fcese, David. Aug. 4, 1834 Foote, John G., 1836
Franklin, N., 1835 Frazier, J. K., 1836 Flaenor, W. P., 1836 Fleenor, Isaac, 1836
Canterbury, Isaac, 1833 Crenshaw, Isaac, 1833 Clark, James Clark, B. W., 1835
Calkins, Serena, 1834
Clark, F. L., 1836
Chuff, Dr. John, 1834 Cock, Robert Crump, Armstead Cowpersthwaite, Wm. P.
84
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY G
Gray, John B. Grimes, James W., Apr. 15, 1836 Garrett, William, Apr. 11, 1836
Gearhart, Stephen, July 1, 1836 Gregg, Azariah, March 17, 1834 Griffith, James, June, 1835
H
Harned, David Hawkins, Smith
Hargis, Samuel Harmon, Nicholas
Hepner, George
Hay, Mrs. A. T., 1835
Hedge, Thomas, Sr., 1836
Hilleary, Alex., Oct., 1833 Hilleary, Jacob, 1833
Harris, John, 1833 Hull, John, 1835
I
Inghram, Thomas, March, 1836 Inghram, John, March 26, 1836
J
Jackson, M. H., July, 1835 Jackson, Mrs. Elizabeth G .. 1834 Johnson, Joel, 1836
K
King, William E.
Leebrick, George Lewis, William Logan, John Lamme, William, 1835 Larkin, L. T., 1835 Lee, Conrad, Sept. 30, 1835
L
Leffler, Jacob, March 15, 1835 Latty, Mathew, Mch. 17, 1834 Leebrick, Samuel, Dec., 1834 Leffler, E. G., 1835 Leffler, William, 1836
Morton, Edward McNight, David McCarver, Merton, 1833
M
Mathes, William Mathes, Jose Moore, Henry, May 4, 1834
Ingraham, Arthur B. Ingraham, Zedock C.
Jones, Thomas Jones, James B. Jones, Abraham
Keeler, William S. Kelly, George W.
Huffman, Jesse, March, 1835 Hunt, Mrs. Ann, 1835 Hunt, C. H., 1835
Hunt. Jesse, Dec., 1834
Hunt, Samuel, Sr., 1833
Hedges, Joash, 1835
Hilleary, Sarah, 1833
85
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
Martin, John Mitchell, James W. McCarty, Isaac W. Mathews, William Moore, John R. Moffat, Levi Mathes, Hepsey
Morgan, William, June 5, 1833
Morgan, Zadock C., 1836
Morgan, Joseph, 1833
Miller, William, 1835
Manley, William, 1835 Magel, Sibert, 1835
Neally, M. W., 1833
N Norton, John C.
Otten, Mrs. John, 1836 P
Perkins, Solonion Priest, Moses Pearson, David, Sept. 28, 1835
Pearson, John, Sept. 28, 1835 Portlock, D. L., 1836 Patterson, John, Sept. 28, 1835
R
Robertson, R. H., 1836 Rorer, David, March 27, 1836 Ryearson, Jacob, 1836 Russell, David, 1836
S
Stephens, Samuel F. Stinson, Gilbert Sackett, John Snelson, Charles H. Sauer, Phillip, 1835 Salladay, J. R., 1836 Seammans, B. B., 1835 (First white child born in Union Tp.) Smith, Ellison, Aug. 15, 1835 Smith, Samuel, Aug. 15, 1835 Smith, Tillman, Aug. 15, 1835
Smith, Jeramiah, Sr., 1833 Smith, W. H., born Aug. 3, 1835 Smith, Samuel, 1833 Stormer, John, Apr. 10, 1835 Sunderland, William, Oct. 15, 1835 Smith, Ezekiel, 1833 Smith, Paris, 1833 Smith, Linneas, 1833 Stewart, William, 1833 Swank, Wesley, 1835 Swank, Joshua, 1835
Teas, Joseph B., 1833 Teas, Geo. W. Travis, John W. Tucker, Thomas
T
Tucker, Benjamin, 1833 Tother. David, 1833 Teas, Charles, 1833
Ross, Dr. William R., 1833 Ross, Sulifand S. Ralston, Robert, Sept., 1836 Rankin, D. C., Oct. 3, 1836 Rankin, A., Sept., 1836
O
86
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
V
Veach, Purnell, 1836
W
White, Simpson S., 1833 Wade, Enoch
Wells, James Warson, Robert
Ward, John, 1833
Warson, Joseph
Walters, Lewis, 1833
Wright, John D.
Wright, William, 1833
Westfall, Reuben, 1836
Wallace, Williams
White, Samuel
Westfall, Jacob, 1834 Wright, Charles, 1836
We do not claim the above list contains all the names of the pioneers who came to the now Des Moines County before the division of old Des Moines County took place; or that it is correct in every respect. With the time and opportunity we have had for investigation it is the best we could do.
The names of pioneers of new Des Moines County, from 1837 to 1840 inclusive, follow :
A
Armstrong, John H., Nov., 1838
Anderson, W. S., 1837
Armstrong, Robert, Aug., 1838
B
Bearns, William, 1837 Blake, Luther. 1837
Bell, Peter B., 1837 Bandy, John, 1838 Belknap, Silas G., 1839 Bandy, E. W., 1840 Bane, John, 1840 Barger, Anthony, 1838
Baumberger, Lewis, Aug., 1837 Baumberger, Jacob, Aug., 1837 Bennell, Mrs. E. C., Aug., 1837 Bernard, Cornelius, Aug. 18, 1838
Brendel, George, Nov. 24, 1839 Bridges, Sol., Oct., 1837 Broadwell, J. M., Nov., 1837 Broadwell, Ellen M., Nov., 1837 Ballard, William, 1838 Browning, Wilton D., April, 1837 Bruce, James, 1837 Bude, John, Sept., 1837 Burkholder, John, April 18, 1837 Bush, Benjamin, Sept., 1839 Byrkit. Mrs. Aug., 1839
Cameron, H. D., 1837 Cameron, Robert. 1839 Cartwright, H. W., Aug., 1839 Carpenter, A. W., Dec .. 1837 Cassell, Conrad, Oct., 1840
C
Clark. W. A., Feb. 3, 1839 Cocayne, H. S., Oct., 1840 Cock, Oliver, March 20, 1839 Comstock, Joab, 1839 Cook, Lyman, March, 1840
87
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
Chamberlain, Mrs. C. H., 1838 Chamberlain, George, 1840 Chandler, George, July 1, 1840 Chase, Kernble, 1837
Church, Juliana, 1839 Clark, William, 1839 Comstock, J. C., 1839
D
Dodge, A. C., June 18, 1838 Dorens, J. B., Oct., 1839
E
Ervin, Nat., July 21, 1837 Evans, Evan, April 28, 1838 Evringham, M. E., 1840 Ewing, D. M., Aug. 9, 1839 Edwards, G. W.
F
Fletcher, C. H., 1839 Foote, Mark A., 1840 Foote, John G., 1840 Fordney, Adam, March 30, 1840 Fordney, William, Nov. 24, 1840 Foster, John T., Sept., 1840
G
Gilmore, R. U. D., 1839 Gannaway. John, 1838 Graham, J. C., 1837 Gonnaway (born), 1839
H
Hunter, William, 1837 Hughes, Luke, March, 1840 Hunter, William, 1837 Hunter, William, Aug. 10, 1839 Hall, Dr. R. W., 1840 Hill, Ellen. 1840 Hunter, W., 1839 Hanna, S. O., 1837 Higley, E. C .. 1839 Hall. Dr. J., 1837 HIurlbut, T. K., 1837
Davis, E. B., 1837 Dee, Warren, Oct. 16, 1838 Dewein, John, 1840
Eads, H. K., Oct., 1840 Eads, S. J., 1840 Eads, Mrs. August, 1837 Egnolf, John, March 8, 1840 Endsly, William, Dec. 16, 1840
Funck, G. H., 1838 Fullenwider, Dr. Samuel, 1837 Fairweather, J. R., Dec. 24, 1839 Fairweather, J. R., Jr., Dec. 24, 1839 Fennirmone, R., 1839 Fletcher, J. C., July 1, 1839
Gear, John H., April, 1837 Goodrich. P. A., March 4. 1840 Green, Joseph, Oct., 1839 Gregg, A. C., 1840
Hagar. Levi, Sept. 30, 1837 I Jaight, Cornelius A., 1837 Haight, H. H., 1837 IIall. C. J., Nov., 1839 Hall, B. J., Nov., 1839 Hannum, Mrs. Alexander, 1839 Haskill, Daniel, May 1, 1837 Hayden, W. F., 1840 Hilleary, James L., 1838 Hillhouse, A. J., Sept. 15, 1840 Hillhouse, William, Oct. 16, 1840
88
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
Howard, Aug., April 18, 1837 Howard, Wesley, 1837 Hudson, Silas A., June, 1839 Hughes, Carleton, Aug. 12, 1837
Hale, Bernard, 1837 Hall, Oliver, 1838 Hanks, A. J., 1838
I
Inghram, W. D., born Aug. 30, 1840
J
Jaggar, E. D., Nov., 1839 Jaggar, F. B., Aug., 1837
Jaggar, H. B., April, 1837
Jordan, Moses, July 9, 1837 Joy, E., April 1, 1838 Jackson, A. P., 1840
K
Kaster, G. T., May 16, 1839 Kaster, W. B., 1839 Kitchen, Mrs. Mollie, 1839
Kriechbaum, John Phillip, Oct., 1839 Kerr, James H., 1838 King, W. W., 1837
L
Latty, J. W., 1839
Laumann, W. B., 1840
Loyd, Joseph A., 1837
Loper, W. R., 1838 Love, Mrs. James, born Feb. 11, 1839 Love, W. D., 1838 Lowry, F. B., 1839
Lowry, G. W., 1840 Lutz, Susan, 1839 Lukenbill, Beu, 1840 Loper, William, 1840
Laughlin, William, 1837 Laughlin, John T., 1837 Laughlin, Lewis A., 1837
M
McCash, W. D., Sept., 1838 McCormick, H. W., July, 1839 Mccutcheon, William, April, 1840 McIntire, William, Sept. 18, 1837 McKell, Mrs. James, Oct. 4, 1837 McKenny, J. Smith, April 15, 1839 McKinny, A. B., 1840 McKinny, T. J., December, 1839 McMaken, J. J., 1839 McMun, J. R., 1837 Mason, Charles, Feb. 19, 1837 Mathews, H. C., 1840 Mauro, W. H., October, 1838 Mower, Peter. April 17, 1838
Messenger, A. J., April, 1839 Moore, J. W., April, 1838 Morgan, Abraham, 1839
Mayers, S. N., 1839 Murphy, James, Aug. 15, 1840 McClure, William, 1839 McElhenney, Robert, 1840 McMullen, Robert, 1840 McCash, William D., 1840
Magel, Elizabeth (born), 1840
Murphy, John, 1837 McMaken, J. L., 1838 Moore, William R., 1838
89
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY N
Nealey, John M., February, 1840
Palmer, Luke, July 23, 1839 Parriott, William, April 17, 1837 Parriott, Lawson Patterson, John, March 28, 1840
Rand, E. D., 1839 Rand, Mrs. E. D., 1837 Ramsey, Michael, 1837 Ramge, Conrad, October ,1837 Rand, Geo. D., 1839 Rapp, Mrs. Geo., 1840 Reed, L. P., March 18, 1837 Rice, David, March 17, 1838
Nichols, Reuben, 1839 P Ping, M., Oct. 14, 1839 Proctor, William, 1839 Porter, Mrs. S., 1838
R
Remey, W. B., April, 1837 Riply, Isaac N., Aug. 23, 1837 Ritchey, John, 1838
Riply, John, Aug. 31, 1838
Robins, Dr. Gilbert, 1837
Robinson, M. W., October, 1838
Ryan, Mrs. Charlotte, 1839
S
Seymour, Wolcott, July 5, 1838 Smith, Ben, 1840 Starr, Henry W., June, 1837 Stewart, Robert, Oct. 28, 1840 Sunderland, Thos. (born May 5, 1839) Swan, John W., 1838
T
Thompson, William, April 18, 1839 Todd, Alvin, May, 1837 Todd, Eli. 1838
V
Vance, J. C., May, 1837
W
Williams, J. Wilson, 1838 Williamson, Robt., April 7, 1838 Wilson, J. B., Aug. 20, 1840
Sales, D. J., April 3, 1839 Shaefer, Martin, Nov. 20, 1837 Sherbey, Solomon, November, 1837 Shelby, J. M., November, 1837 Scott, Samuel, Sept. 29, 1839 Sebring, W. H., 1838
Tansen, A. H., August, 1838 Taylor, James, 1838 Temple, A. D., 1840 Temple, Geo., June 30, 1837
Valentine, J. R., 1838 Van Dyke, B., 1839
Walker, E. S., November, 1839 Walker, Isaac, April, 1839 Walker, James Q., June, 1839
90
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
Walker, Jesse
Wood, Elijah, 1837
Walker, Martin, September, 1837
Woods, James W., April, 1837
Walker, John, April, 1839
Woodward, Erastus, 1838
Wykert, Theodore, April, 1840
Waddle, John, 1838
Waddle, William, 1837
Z
Zeagenheim, Theo., April, 1840 Zion, John, 1838
Zion, Jonathan, 1837
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLIES
List of Names of Members Chosen from Des Moines County During the Terri- torial and State Existence
WISCONSIN TERRITORY
First session convened at Belmont, Wisconsin, October 25, 1836, adjourned December 9, 1836.
Council: Joseph B. Teas, Arthur B. Inghram, and Jeramiah Smith, Jr.
House: Isaac Leffler, Thomas Blair, John Box, David R. Chance, Geo. W. Teas, Warren L. Jenkins, Eli Reynolds.
Second session of Wisconsin Territory convened at Burlington, Wisconsin Territory, November 10, 1837, and adjourned to January 20, 1838.
Council: Arthur Inghram, Robert Ralston, and George Hepner. Arthur Inghram was chosen president of the council.
House: James W. Grimes, Isaac Flenor, Thomas Blair, George H. Beeler, William R. Ross, Shepherd Leffler.
On June 12, 1838, an act of Congress was approved dividing the Territory of Wisconsin and establishing the territorial Government of Iowa, to take effect July 3, 1838. Governor Lucas was commissioned governor of lowa Territory on the 17th day of July and immediately started for Burlington, the capital of the new territory. He arrived at Burlington with Theodore S. Parvin, his private secretary, August 13, 1838. His first official act was to issue a proclamation dated the day of his arrival, dividing the territory into eight representative dis- tricts and apportioning a number of members from each district to the Council and House. The members elected under this call convened in Legislative Assem- bly in Old Zion Church on November 12, 1838. The census of Wisconsin Terri- tory taken in 1836 showed its population west of the Mississippi River :
Dubuque County 4,274
Des Moines County 6,257
10,531
A second census was taken in May, 1838, of the territory which formerly comprised Dubuque and Des Moines counties, which had a population of 22,859.
White, J. W., July 10, 1839
White, W. C., 1838
Wilhelm, G. C., August, 1839
91
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
At this time sixteen counties had been organized out of Dubuque and Des Moines counties. Under this reorganization the territorial limits of Des Moines County were not the same as at the present time. Its population as shown by this census was 4,605. The act establishing Iowa Territory provided the Legislative Assem- bly shall consist of a Council and House. The Council to consist of thirteen members and the House of twenty-six members. The Legislature which con- vened in Old Zion Church on November 12, 1838, was the first session of the Legislature of Iowa Territory.
Members from Des Moines County :
Council: Arthur Inghram, Robert Ralston, and George Hepner.
House: James W. Grimes, George Temple, V. B. Delashmut, Thomas Blair, and George Beeler.
The second session of the Legislature convened at Old Zion Church on the first Monday of November, 1839.
Council: Arthur Inghram, Robert Ralston, and George Hepner.
House: William R. Ross, Shepherd Leffler, L. N. English, Isaac Flenor, and Joseph C. Hawkins.
The third and extra session of the Iowa Legislature convened in Old Zion Church the first Monday in July, 1840.
Council: J. C. Hawkins.
House: Shepherd Leffler, M. D. Browning, Alfred Hebard, Robert Avery, and David Hendershott.
The Fourth Legislative Assembly convened at Iowa City, December 6, 1841, and adjourned February 18, 1842.
Council: Shepherd Leffler.
House: Alfred Hebard, Isaac Leffler, David E. Blair, George Ilepner, James M. Morgan.
The Fifth Legislative Assembly convened at Iowa City, first Monday of December, 1842.
Council: Shepherd Leffler.
House: David E. Blair, George Hepner, James M. Morgan, Abner Hackle- man, and David J. Sales.
The Sixth Legislative Assembly convened at Iowa City, first Monday of December, 1843.
Council: Shepherd Leffler.
House: Alfred Hebard, Abner Hackleman, James W. Grimes, John John- son, John D. Wright.
The Seventh Legislative Assembly convened at Iowa City, first Monday of December, 1845.
Council: Shepherd Leffler.
House: James M. Morgan, John Johnson, E. W. Davis, George Chandler, Richard Noble. Mr. Morgan was elected speaker of the sixth and seventh assemblies.
The eighth session convened at Iowa City in December, 1845.
Council: Shepherd Leffler.
House: James M. Morgan, John D. Wright, John Ripley, A. McMichael, and Joshua Holland.
There were ten territorial legislatures in which Des Moines County was
92
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
represented. Two during the Wisconsin territorial existence and eight during the Iowa territorial existence.
The first Legislature of Iowa convened at Iowa City, the capital, in 1846. Representatives from Des Moines County :
Senate: Milton D. Browning, Samuel E. Fullenwider.
House: David E. Blair, G. W. Bowie, Alfred Hebard, Joshua Holland. The second convened at Iowa City in 1848.
Senate: Milton D. Browning, Alfred S. Fear.
House: T. L. Sargent, George Davidson, John Penny, J. L. Corse.
The third convened at Iowa City, December 2, 1850.
Senate: Elias Lowe, George Hepner.
House: William Harper, Geo. Temple, M. W. Robinson.
The fourth convened at Iowa City, December 6, 1852.
Senate: Milton D. Browning, George Hepner.
House: Justus Clark, James W. Grimes, Wolcott Seymour, J. Wilson Williams.
The fifth convened at Iowa City in 1854.
Senate: Milton D. Browning, W. F. Coolbaugh.
House: George S. Albright, John L. Corse.
Extra session in July, 1854.
Senate: M. D. Browning, W. F. Coolbaugh.
House: T. L. Sargent, J. L. Corse, Joshua Tracy, G. S. Albright.
The sixth convened at Iowa City, December 1, 1856.
Senate: Lyman Cook, W. F. Coolbaugh.
House: Thomas J. L. Perry, J. Willson Williams, E. D. Rand.
The seventh convened at Des Moines, the capital, 1858.
Senate: Lyman Cook, W. F. Coolbaugh.
House: Justus Clark, William H. Clune, and D. N. Shergren for Des Moines and Louisa counties.
The eighth convened at Des Moines, 1860.
Senate: W. F. Coolbaugh.
House: Justus Clark, J. C. Hall, M. W. Robinson.
The ninth convened at Des Moines in 1862.
Senate: John G. Foote.
House: Franklin Wilcox, Andrew Johnson, J. Willson Williams, Calvin Jackson.
The tenth convened at Des Moines, July 1, 1864.
Senate: John G. Foote.
House: James Bruce, J. J. McMackin.
The eleventh convened at Des Moines in 1866.
Senate: FitzHenry Warren.
House : Charles Ben Darwin, Samuel A. Flanders, J. Willson Williams. The twelfth convened at Des Moines, January 13, 1868.
Senate: Gen. Charles L. Matthies.
House: A. G. Adams, Robert Allen.
The thirteenth convened at Des Moines, January 13, 1870.
Senate: Gen. Charles L. Matthies.
House: Robert Allen, A. G. Adams.
93
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
The fourteenth convened at Des Moines, January 8, 1872.
Senate: Charles Beardsley.
House: Thomas J. Sater, William Harper.
The fifteenth convened at Des Moines, January 12, 1874.
Senate: Charles Beardsley. .
House: John H. Gear, B. J. Hall.
The sixteenth convened at Des Moines, January, 1876.
Senate: J. Willson Williams.
House: John H. Gear, William Lynch.
The seventeenth convened at Des Moines, January 14, 1878.
Senate: J. Willson Williams.
House: John H. Gear, William Lamme.
The eighteenth convened at Des Moines, January 12, 1880.
Senate: J. Willson Williams.
House: John H. Gear, William Lynch.
The nineteenth convened at Des Moines, January 9, 1882.
Senate: John Patterson.
House: Wolcott Seymour, Martin Kopp.
The twentieth convened at Des Moines, January 14, 1884.
Senate: Benton J. Hall.
House: William Lynch, W. B. Culbertson.
The twenty-first convened at Des Moines, January II, 1886.
Senate: W. W. Dodge.
House: W. B. Culbertson, John S. Penny.
The twenty-second convened at Des Moines, January 9, 1888. Senate: W. W. Dodge.
House: Fred W. Kline.
The twenty-third convened at Des Moines, January 13, 1890. Senate: W. W. Dodge.
House: Ellison Smith.
The twenty-fourth convened at Des Moines, January 11, 1892. Senate: W. W. Dodge.
House: P. Henry Smythe, James P. Welch.
The twenty-fifth convened at Des Moines, January 8, 1894. Senate: T. G. Harper.
House: C. I. Barker, Hector Ross.
The twenty-sixth convened at Des Moines, January 13, 1896. Senate: T. G. Harper.
House: W. C. McArthur, W. B. Hunt.
The twenty-seventh convened at Des Moines, January 10, 1898. Senate: W. C. McArthur.
House: W. B. Hunt, Lewis M. Jaeger.
The twenty-eighth convened at Des Moines, January 8, 1900. Senate: W. C. McArthur. House: W. D. Dodds, Lewis M. Jaeger, W. B. Hunt, Ex. 27. The twenty-ninth convened at Des Moines, January 13, 1902.
Senate: Fred N. Smith.
House: W. D. Dodds, Lewis M. Jaeger.
94
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
The thirtieth convened at Des Moines, January 11, 1904.
Senate: Fred N. Smith.
House: Henry Ritter.
The thirty-first convened at Des Moines, January 8, 1906. Senate: Fred N. Smith.
House: Henry Ritter.
The thirty-second convened at Des Moines, January 14, 1907. Senate: Fred N. Smith.
House: William D. Dodds, Ilenry Ritter.
The thirty-third convened at Des Moines, January 11, 1909. Senate: Fred N. Smith.
House: William D. Dodds, Ex. 33.
The thirty-fourth convened at Des Moines, January 9, 1911. Senate: La Monte Cowles.
House: Henry Ritter, Samuel H. Sater.
The thirty-fifth convened at Des Moines, January 13, 1913. Senate: La Monte Cowles.
House: James Jamison.
The thirty-sixth convened at Des Moines, January 11, 1915.
Senate: Frank E. Thompson.
House: James Jamison.
JOIEN B. GRAY
Was born in Sheffield, Caledonia County, Vermont, April 9. 1809: omigrated to Black Hawk Purchase (now State of lowa ) m January, 1834; named Burlington in March, 1834.
CHAPTER X
BURLINGTON, ITS FOUNDATION AND GROWTH
The City of Burlington contains by far a greater population than the rest of the county, from which fact it is best to first give its history. We cannot do better in this than to quote from a letter of John B. Gray, written to the Hawk- eye. April 6, 1861 :
REMINISCENCES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF BURLINGTON
"I landed in Burlington, January 10, 1834. Amzi Doolittle, Simpson White and McCarver were the first settlers. Soon after their settlement, the following named persons came with their families: Jeremiah Smith, William R. Ross, Sullifand Ross, Isaac Crenshaw, David Tothero, Mr. Dunham and William Mor- gan. The following young men came about the same time: Benjamin Tucker, Theo Jennings and a Mr. Hopkins, who clerked for Jere Smith, and who died in July, 1834. Amzi Doolittle kept a boarding house at which I boarded. The town at that time contained one small frame house and four log cabins a mile or so back. Early in the fall of 1834, a difficulty occurred between Doolittle, White and McCarver, which resulted in McCarver's leaving the place. After McCarver left, Doolittle and White commenced surveying and laying off lots. I drove the first stake that was driven in the town as a starting point at the southeast corner of the block that their old state house was built upon, and afterwards was burned down. The southeast lot in the above block I purchased of Doolittle, for which I gave him $50, with the understanding that I should have the privilege of naming the town. Doolittle executed the deed in March, 1834. The papers were made out and headed BURLINGTON, BLACK HAWK PURCHASE, which was the first deed made to a town lot in Burlington. About the foth of March the steamboat O'Connell was heard below the point coming up the river. Men, women and children, and Indians, who far outnumbered the whites, flocked to the river bank to witness the arrival. As it approached, it was welcomed with cheers. I gave the name Burlington to the city because I had lived in Burlington, Vermont."
Mr. Gray's letter is too long to copy in full. It tells of a ruffian named Comp- ton, who lived across the river, and of his assaulting Jere Smith. That during the fracas, one Dinwiddie took Smith's part, Compton struck Dinwiddie and in return Dinwiddie got in his work with a penknife, inflicting a wound from which Compton died on the spot. This is the first homicide of which there is a record which took place in Des Moines County. This was in 1835.
We have the following extract by Hawkins Taylor ( Annals of Iowa, Vol. IX, pages 452, 453, 454). In accordance with the pledge given by the members of
95
96
HISTORY OF DES MOINES COUNTY
Des Moines County (to Belmont Legislature) conditional on the establishment of the temporary seat of government at Burlington, Jerry Smith built a suitable building on Front or Water Street (lot 651, O. C.), near where Sunderland's Mill was afterwards built. The building cost $8,000 and was well adapted to the wants of the Legislature, which met the first of November, 1837 (November 6). Early in the fall of 1837, the river filled with floating ice, but it was late in the season before the ice blocked so as to stop navigation. The result was that each thaw would bring boats from below, until late in December. There was great rivalry then among steamboat men in their boats being the first to reach Galena in the spring. A little after dark, a boat came in the night, and before they had made fast to shore some one on board shouted that a mob at Alton had killed the "Abo- litionist Lovejoy" and destroyed his press. (Lovejoy was killed November 7, 1837.) To this announcement there was a cheer of joy sent up from the crowd on shore in which almost all joined, and no man in that crowd would have dared to condemn that mob. There were many, and probably a majority present, who condemned the act of the mob, but the rough pro-slavery sentiments of the day overawed all opposition. That same night a few hours later the new capitol took fire and burned down ( December 13, 1837, at 2 o'clock A. M.). After the fire, the House of Representatives met over the store of Webber & Remey (south- east corner of Main and Columbia streets), and the Council in a small building near by (on the northwest corner of same streets).
We have carefully examined the statements by different parties, and believe Mr. Gray is mistaken in saying he drove the first stake in the original plat of the town called Burlington. Undoubtedly it is true Mr. Gray drove the first stake as he says in his letter, and named the town ; but prior to this time a small portion of land had been laid off into lots. We quote from a letter written by Mr. White to the Chicago Historical Society as it appears in its history of Des Moines County, published in 1879. "The present site of Burlington in 1829 was occupied by a branch of the American Fur Company, who had a trading post with the Indians. In the summer of that year, Amzi Doolittle and S. S. White were employed to put up an additional building to the post. While at the post, they explored the surrounding country and prosecuted their search for claims, feeling confident it would not be long until it could be rightfully occupied. The Black Hawk Treaty was signed September 21, 1832, but did not go into effect until June, 1833. Within two weeks after the signing of the treaty, White, Doolittle and McCarver came across the river and made claim to the land along the river point of the present site of Burlington. They at once built a cabin and took possession of their claim. While the cabin was being erected, these pioneers employed men on the east shore to build a flatboat to be used as a ferry.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.